On Tuesday, the Coppell City Council meeting covered plans to apply the concepts of a Smart City for the purpose of a more environmentally cohesive community.
This approach is mostly grasped by citizens with a positive outlook, as it comes with the promise of reliance on local sources of energy/water. The project is expected to be completed by 2040, having achieved many ecologically progressive goals for the city.
However, concerns over converting Coppell to a Smart City were voiced by citizen Sue McCarthy.
“I was made aware that there is a backdoor into all technology, and it can be hacked. You have had that happen, with data being released,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy said sustaining a Smart City would not create tax revenue because a more technology-oriented society would leave less jobs available for citizens.
Fulgent Genetics, Inc., a company centered around certain pathological subspecialties (dermatology, gastrointestinal, surgical, etc.) in order to perform readings on cancer patient’s samples, expressed interest in a building location in Coppell.
A public hearing was held to speak in favor/against creating a reinvestment zone so as to pass a tax abatement. Two components of the [tax abatement] process were completed Tuesday evening, to be followed up with a public hearing notice on their company website for the next 30 days.
Director of Community Development and Economic Development at the City of Coppell, Mindy Hurley, expressed Fulgent Genetics’ intentions for a permanent location in Coppell.
“Buying a building [in Coppell] is significant because that means the company is invested in the welfare of the community long-term,” Hurley said.
Over the course of Tuesday’s meeting, council members discussed Coppell’s competition with Southlake and Keller for the most fit city in 2024. Councilman Mark Hill stated that early voting ran through April 30, with the election being held on May 4.
Councilman Don Carroll applauded Coppell’s public safety staff for their sentimental gesture welcoming cancer patient Lauren Gutierrez back to Mockingbird Elementary School on Monday morning.
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