Iron Horse Boulevard Reconstruction Begins

On April 11, 2023, officials from the City of North Richland Hills and the Economic Development Administration (EDA) celebrated the start of the Iron Horse Boulevard reconstruction project with a groundbreaking ceremony at Prestige Ameritech, the nation’s largest medical mask manufacturer and one of the city's major employers. A $4.2 million EDA grant is funding most of the project, reducing the local dollars needed to reconstruct the street. This grant was the largest amount awarded by the EDA across the 16-county North Central Texas region. 

Speakers for the groundbreaking included Mayor Oscar Trevino, Mike Eastland, Executive Director for the North Central Texas Council of Governments, and Jorge Ayala, Regional Director for the EDA. Dan Reese, President of Prestige Ameritech, also shared about the company’s long history on Iron Horse Boulevard and their rise to become the nation’s largest producer of medical masks. The event video and more information about the project can be found on the city's website.

Early Voting Begins April 24

Early voting for the May 6 City Charter and City Council election will take place April 24 through May 2. You can vote early at the North Richland Hills Library, 9015 Grand Ave., the former Bursey Senior Center, 7301 Bursey Rd. or any polling location in Tarrant County. Voting hours and locations can be found at www.nrhtx.com/vote.

City Charter Election

26 proposed amendments to the City Charter will be listed on the ballot as Propositions A through Z. They propose changes to the following categories of the Charter:

• City Officials (Propositions A - E) - Strengthen ethics provisions for City officials and update the procedures for hiring the Municipal Court Judge, Municipal Court Clerk and Assistant City Secretaries.
• Planning & Zoning (Propositions F - I) - Update the process for appointing and removing Planning & Zoning Commissioners and streamline the development process.
• Civil Service (Propositions J - X) - Limit the Civil Service system, which was created in the 1970s, to only include sworn public safety employees and make hiring practices more efficient, allowing the City to better compete in today's job market.
• General (Propositions Y - Z) - Remove or modify language that conflicts with or is preempted by state or federal laws. Remove redundancies or inconsistencies, and correct typographical errors.

It's important to vote the entire ballot. A voter information guide, sample ballot and more information can be found at www.nrhtx.com/charterelection.

City Council Election

There is one contested City Council race. Unopposed candidates will also appear on the ballot. Visit www.nrhtx.com/filings to review candidate application forms which include their contact information. You are welcome to contact each candidate directly to learn more about them. 

Place 1: Tito Rodriguez

Place 3: Suzy Compton

Place 5: Blake Vaughn

Place 7: Kelvin Deupree and Dana Harris

NRH Celebrates 70^th Anniversary

Guess who turns 70 this year? We are proud to say it’s the City of North Richland Hills, as we incorporated on April 25, 1953. Over the last 7 decades, North Richland Hills has grown from a small farming area to a dynamic innovative community that more than 70,000 people call home. We are proud of our heritage and the accomplishments that have been made over the years. Join us on the city’s website and social media over the coming weeks, as we share fun facts, look at the people and places that are a part of NRH history and see how far we have come. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Nextdoor. 

We also invite the community to our Flashback to the 50s event between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25 at the North Richland Hills Library, 9015 Grand Ave. Enjoy 1950s-themed snacks, activities, a photo booth, a fun craft for teens and adults, and browse a display of popular books from that era. At 4:30 p.m., there will be a special storytime featuring classic children's books from the 1950s and at 6:30 p.m., a 1950s dance party for the young (and young at heart). Staff will be dressed in 1950s-themed attire that day; and visitors are welcome to dress up, too. 

Additionally, on Friday, May 12 at 7 p.m. head to the NRH City Hall Plaza, 4301 City Point Dr. for the final concert in the Sounds of Spring series featuring “Moving Colors” to hear classic hits through the decades. NRH Parks & Recreation will have a photo memory board on-site, as well as coloring pages and stickers with the 70th Anniversary logo for kids. Visit www.nrhtx.com/sounds for more information.

When you see the 70^th Anniversary banners hanging up around NRH, we hope it prompts you to celebrate our great city. We would love to know your favorite memories of NRH through the decades! Share your photos and stories with us by emailing communications@nrhtx.com.

Audit Shows City's Finances in Good Order

The City of North Richland Hills' Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and Single Audit for Fiscal Year 2022 were recently presented to the City Council for acceptance. After roughly 700 hours of review, the independent audit firm of Whitley Penn LLP gave the City’s financial statements and internal controls an unmodified or “clean” opinion. An unmodified opinion provides the highest level of assurance that can be given on a set of financial statements. Both documents are now available online at www.nrhtx.com/acfr.

The ACFR provides an overview and analysis of the City’s financial statements for the previous fiscal year and demonstrates the City’s commitment to stewardship and accountability with public funds. The City’s ACFR provides a comprehensive look at the City’s financial condition, funds, compliance, and statistical information. The Single Audit is required when the city receives $750,000 or more in federal assistance (grants) or $300,000 or more in state assistance. These documents exhibit the City’s ongoing strong financial position and compliance with municipal, state, and national standards.

The City has also received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association for the 38th consecutive year. In order to be awarded a Certificate of Achievement, a government must publish an easily readable and efficiently organized annual comprehensive financial report. This report must satisfy both generally accepted accounting principles and applicable legal requirements. A Certificate of Achievement is valid for a period of one year only. 

Upcoming Events

Fossil Creek Mountain Bike Trail Ride

NRH Parks & Recreation and the Fort Worth Mountain Bike Association are hosting an Open Trail Ride at the Fossil Creek Mountain Bike Trails on Saturday, April 15 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Riders of all ages are welcome to attend.

Sounds of Spring Concert Series

The Sounds of Spring Concert Series kicks off on Friday, April 21 at 7:00 p.m. on the plaza in front of City Hall. Admission is free. Seating is on the lawn, so don’t forget to bring a blanket or lawn chair. A variety of food trucks will be on-site for each concert.

Flutasia Flute Choir

Take a musical trip around the world through enchanting flute melodies from the Americas to East Asia. Enjoy a free performance by the Flutasia Flute Choir on Monday, April 24 at 7 p.m. at the NRH Library, 9015 Grand Ave. A community flute choir founded in 1991, Flutasia performs a wide variety of music, from classical to modern, including works unique to the flute ensemble.