Negative comments unecessary

Submitted by City Administrator Joe Shephard

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1 Neither the builder/owner of the motel, City Officials, nor the Howe Police Department had or have any intentions of allowing the construction and/or operation of a brothel in the City of Howe

Recently the City of Howe was approached by an individual requesting information on constructing a motel in Howe Since the property was not zoned to allow this type of business, the owner of the property requested a zone change At the end of the legal process, the request was denied by both the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council

This letter is not about the hotel, but about the comments made by William Stambaugh when he exercised his first amendment right of free speech during an interview with Reporter Alexis Dominquez of KXII Channel 12 on July 19

I have heard from many of the citizens of Howe who were, and still are, embarrassed by the terms Stambaugh used in a recorded interview with the press and in his insinuation the owner of the business, the Officials of City of Howe, the Howe Police Department and the citizens of Howe would allow the motel to become the epi-center of crime in Grayson County The interview was available to be viewed at wwwkxii com

Let me assure Stambaugh, all who live in Howe and to all who may

2 Neither the builder/owner of the motel, City Officials, nor the Howe Police Department had or have the intention of allowing the construction and/or operation of a business engaged in the sale of illegal drugs or to allow a business to become a center for the illegal drug trade

3 Stambaugh made the comment the motel would be “cheap” If he meant it would be of less than desirable construction let me assure him and the citizens the City of Howe has strict construction standards Those same standards are used by most if not all cities in Grayson and Collin Counties If he meant the cost of renting a room would be at the lower end of the scale for motels, he may have a point but that does not necessarily mean it would be unkempt, dirty or unfit for habitation Motel 6, La Quinta, Holiday Inn and other motels of this nature may take exception to being given the label Stambaugh gave them during the interview

I would hope those who have seen the video would not assume the language Stambaugh used in exercising his free speech right is representative of the citizens of Howe because it is not The vast majority of the citizens of Howe express their views and treat one another with civility and respect even when they are in disagreement.