The Stephenville City Council chambers were filled on Tuesday, July 16 as many came to weigh in or show support of the renaming of the Northwest Loop to Senator Robert J. Glasgow Loop.
The discussion item led off a brief agenda of items for the monthly council committee meeting.
City Manager Jason King led the loop discussion, noting that the resolution for renaming the loop was previously passed by council in June 2023 in honor of the senator for all the work he did at the state level and for the local community in his many civic positions and as the partner of a Stephenvillebased law firm. Glasgow passed away in September 2023.
King said the city has been working with TXDoT for signage changes, and various organizations like emergency services, post office and utility companies for addressing changes to make sure that all mail gets delivered and services are able to get where they’re needed. King added he’s still working on updating Google Maps with the name change.
Stephenville Mayor Doug Svien reported there were some people there to speak as the name change was creating difficulties for businesses and he wanted to give them the opportunity to speak.
Speaking in opposition of the name change were chiropractor Dr. Steven Thomas and dentist Dr. David Stanphill who both acknowledged Glasgow’s accomplishments and suggested memorializing the road in his honor rather than officially changing the name. Both cited the fact that medical professionals will need to update numerous licenses and partner businesses with the address change, leading to fees for new documentation and potential problems if addresses don’t match in corresponding paperwork.
Speaking in favor of the name change were Brad Chilton, Jess Elliott, Paul Golightly and VW Stephens, who spoke of Glasgow’s love for Stephenville and the way he would fight for it at the state level and at home as well as the respect he received for the way he conducted himself in the service of the state. The prevailing sentiment of the supporters is that naming the Loop for him is a great way to commemorate the love he had for his hometown so that people in the future can see it.
Mayor Svien acknowledged the difficulty facing businesses with the address change and he and Public work Committee chair Alan Nix reported that city staff will do everything in their power to make the transition easier for them.
King announced the city had 25 signs to be installed for the loop.
The committees discussed several matters for proposal at the regular council meeting and director of administrative services Darrell Brown delivered a lodging report revealing growth in the city while Ashley Thomas delivered the Main Street quarterly update, reporting success in downtown cleanup, scavenger hunts and the Cincoville downtown event. She also reported that six downtown buildings were vacant and a downtown parking study revealed an average of 30-40 percent spots taken in downtown blocks.