Lorne Liechty Perspective

Today I had the opportunity to tour the County with the Mayor of McLendon-Chisholm and members of their Comprehensive Planning Commission. The purpose was to evaluate developments around the County to help them shape their Comprehensive Plan. Great forward thinking idea. I appreciate the opportunity to accompany them and provide any ideas I was able to contribute. Thanks to Justice of the Peace Mark Russo for inviting me.

In anticipation of the 250th Birthday of the United States, here is a moment in history from:

This Week In 1776: May 4-10:

Things are heating up as our Nation moves closer to a formal separation from Great Britain.

On May 4, 1776, Rhode Island (https://www.history.com/topics/us-states/rhode-island), the colony founded by the most radical religious dissenters from the Puritans of Massachusetts Bay Colony, becomes the first North American colony to renounce its allegiance (https://docs.sos.ri.gov/documents/civicsandeducation/teacherresources/Act-of-Renunciation.pdf) to King George III (https://www.history.com/topics/british-history/george-iii). Ironically, Rhode Island would be the last state to ratify the new American Constitution (https://www.history.com/topics/constitution) more than 14 years later on May 29, 1790.
Subsequently, on May 10, 1776, the Continental Congress authorized each of the thirteen colonies to form new state governments.
Source: history.com and wiki source

COMMISSIONERS COURT AGENDA

Agenda: May 12, 2026

The Commissioners Court Agenda for May 12 contains multiple items necessary for managing the normal operations of our County, and several items which focus on specific neighborhoods. Here are some items that may be of special interest:

1. Discussion regarding the installation of speed humps in the Alexander Ranch subdivision. (Item 8)
2. Discussion of possible road repairs and conversion of private streets to county roads in Bent Trail Estates. (Item 9)
3. Update on the status of revisions to the County’s Master Thoroughfare Plan. (Item 12)

I would love for everyone to come to observe or speak on any topic you’d like, but if you wish you can go to the county website to watch online.

https://rockwallcountytexas.com/Archive.aspx?AMID=125 -447f5275dcff8b150c73d5f1fc0e5acc

I love attending this event each year and feel honored to have such great Mayors in our county.

Even though there are not a lot of races to be decided this is still a very Important Election! Make sure you get to the poles to vote…

The Primary Runoff Election takes place on May 26, 2026. See the sample ballots for the races to be decided.

Important Dates:
May 15, 2026 – Last Day to Submit an Application for Ballot by Mail
May 18, 2026 – First Day of Early Voting by Personal Appearance
May 22, 2026 – Last Day of Early Voting by Personal Appearance
May 26, 2026 – Last Day to Receive Voted Ballot by Mail

Rockwall County Elections Department
1101 E. Yellowjacket Ln. Suite 150 Rockwall, TX 75087
Open Monday – Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Phone: (972) 204-6200

www.rockwallvotes.com

I am so proud to be part of helping to bring the Ten Commandments Monument to Rockwall County. I hope everyone is able to come and join this historic event.

Read the Blue Ribbon New article linked here:

https://blueribbonnews.com/2026/04/ten-commandments-monument-dedication-set-for-may-23-at-rockwall-county-historic-courthouse/

In anticipation of the 250th Birthday of the United States, here is a moment in history from:

This Week In 1776:

April 29, 1776:

A committee that included Benjamin Franklin (https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/benjamin-franklin/), Samuel Chase (https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/samuel-chase/), and Charles Carroll (https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/charles-carroll-of-carrollton/) arrived in Montreal to encourage Canadians to join the Patriot Cause. The Canadians, being Catholic and French-speaking, were not convinced and remained loyal to the Crown.

COMMISSIONERS COURT AGENDA

There are a lot of important items on the Commissioners Court Agenda for Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Here are some of the items residents may be particularly interested in:

1. Multiple change orders with budgetary impact and other items to consider as we get close to completing renovations of the Sheriff’s office. (Item nos. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.)

2. Multiple Professional Service Agreements to be considered as we ramp up our efforts to improve roads. (Item nos. 15, 16, 17 & 18.)

3. Also road related, we will be considering modifications to the proposed Memorandum of Understanding With the Regional Transportation Council Regarding the Outer Loop. (Item 19)

4. Approving May 23 as the date for the Dedication Ceremony for the 10 Commandments monument that was approved almost one year ago.

Agenda: https://rockwallcountytexas.com/Archive.aspx?AMID=125 -cd5046d2fbe30f4dd87d49cd751db6a4

I would love for everyone to come to observe or speak on any topic you’d like, but if you wish you can go to the county website to watch online.

As the month of April comes to an end, we spent time this weekend supporting the Child Advocacy Center in Rockwall County. The Go Blue For Kids campaign supports the prevention of Child Abuse.

Saturday night we attended the CAC Gala with hundreds of other Rockwall County residents. Today, on Blue Sunday, we participated in a prayer event at the Rotary Peace Pole in San Jacinto Plaza, to pray for the victims of Child Abuse and for the abuse to end!

The Rockwall County Commissioners Court has been working hard with TxDOT to move road projects forward. Some projects are big and some are smaller. Here are some of the projects that you will see starting in the near future which will affect our County and particularly Precinct 3 (Please note that the following are projections and subject to change based upon TxDOT schedule changes, weather and other factors):

1. The relocation and widening of FM 549 from SH 276 to SH 205. This contract was let in February of 2026, and construction should start this summer, and is scheduled to be completed by the summer of 2029.

2. The FM 548 Resurfacing Project consists of spot flexible pavement repairs and a 2” asphalt overlay from SH 205 to SH 276. The project is scheduled to be awarded at the Texas Transportation Commission Meeting on April 30, 2026. Once the contract is executed, there is a 2-month project delay built into the schedule for contractor mobilization and material acquisition. Construction is anticipated to take 5-6 months to complete.

3. The FM 550 project, that let in April 2026 at a cost of $2.3M, includes 4 locations in Rockwall County and is comprised of the following:

• FM 550 at Rabbit Ridge – Construct left turn lanes and install a traffic signal.
• FM 740 at Fire Station in City of Heath – Install traffic signal.
• SH 276 at Rochell Road – Restripe pavement to allow for left turn lanes and install a traffic signal.
• SH 276 at FM 551 – Restripe pavement to allow for left turn lanes and install a traffic signal.

This project is also scheduled to be awarded at the Texas Transportation Meeting on April 30, 2026. Once the contract is awarded, there is a 3-month delay built into the schedule for material acquisition, and construction is anticipated to take 7-8 months to complete.

In an important ruling for religious liberty, a federal appeals court has upheld the Texas law requiring public schools across the state to display the Ten Commandments.

I am grateful that our school districts can put back the posters that were privately donated displaying the 10 Commandments in all their classrooms!

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/federal-court-upholds-texas-law-requiring-ten-commandments-public-classrooms

Federal court upholds Texas law requiring Ten Commandments in public classrooms The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday ruled in favor of a Texas law mandating Ten Commandments be displayed in all public schools.