Attendance Matters…Sometimes

When former Frisco councilman Bill Woodard stepped up to the podium during Citizens’ Input on December 2, 2025, he talked about how he was “most proud” of the professionalism shown by board and council members while serving on the dais.  We broke down his speech in our first blog Selective Outrage and noted we had several questions.

What is the attendance requirement for board/commission members?   

How many council meetings or work sessions have sitting council members been late or absent from? 

How many of these appointed residents are re-appointed by the same city council members if they have failed the commitment to make the meetings?

The city website reads “Regular Attendance” is expected.  What is “Regular Attendance” and how is that defined?    According to Ordinance 09-10-62, “”Any member of a board, commission, or committee who is absent from three (3) consecutive regular meetings, or twenty-five percent (25%) of regularly scheduled meetings during the twelve month (12 month) period immediately preceding and including the absence in question, without explanation acceptable to a majority of the other members shall forfeit his or her position on the board, commission, or committee.”

Next, I found that that there is a Reporting Process for each board/commission which creates an annual yearly report for each one.  It lists the current members, the appointment/expiration date of their position, number of meetings they attended and percentage of attendance. 

The most recent annual reports were on the agenda of the Governance Committee in January 2026. We went through each board/commission.

Animal Advisory Committee has seven appointments.  Of those seven, 4 members had 100% attendance.  However two members had 78% percent attendance and the final member, “the VICE CHAIR” only had 67% attendance.  Luckily, a new appointment to Place 7 (the former Vice Chair) was made on 10/1/2025.

Arts and Culture Advisory Board has seven 7 appointments. Of those seven, two members had 100% attendance.  Three members had 90% attendance, one member had 80% attendance, and the final member had 70% attendance

Board of Adjustments/Construction Board of Appeals / Reasonable Accommodations Board has 5 appointments with three alternate positions.   Out of the five appointments, three of them had 100% attendance, which is what you would expect for such an important board.  However, 2 of the appointments only had 67% attendance.

Frisco Chronicles is wondering why those two appointments are still on the board?  At 67% why not replace and give the alternates a chance to serve? 

Community Development Corporation has seven appointments and is one of most important boards. It is tasked with the promotion and development of new or expanded business enterprises, parks and other community projects. The CDC derives its funding from 1/2 of 1% of all sales tax collected in Frisco.  It then spends those dollars by purchasing land, funding construction, and investing in the infrastructure necessary to support these elements.

We would expect attendance to be important on this board.  Three of members had 100% attendance while two had 89% attendance.  The concern is the two remaining members who only had 78% attendance.  Was anyone replaced?  One member with 100% attendance was replaced because their term ended.  The two with 78% attendance are still serving the final year in their term which ends 9/30/2026.

Economic Development Corporation oversees implementation of a coordinated development plan that is submitted to the City Council each year as a part of the FEDC annual budget. The plan includes short-term and long-term goals for the economic development of the city, proposed methods for the elimination of unemployment and underemployment, and enhancement of the tax base through the expansion and development of a sound industrial, manufacturing and retail base within the city.

The EDC is a vital board just like the CDC so we would expect attendance to be vital. The EDC has 7 appointments.  In the annual report for 20-25 it shows three members had 100% attendance, two members had 91% attendance, one member had 80% attendance.  The final member and most shocking had 73% attendance.  

Question: Mark Hill, who was the FISD representative for the EDC could only make 73% of the meetings how will he plan better if he becomes Mayor?  We ask because we heard him brag at two forums now about his position on the EDC, yet he only attended 73% of the meetings.  Maybe he was too busy planning his run for Mayor to attend.

Hike and Bike Advisory Board has 7 appointments.   Shockingly only one member had 100% attendance, and two other members had 92% attendance.  What was the attendance rate of the 4 remaining members?  One had 75%, two had 67% and the final member had 33% attendance.

Were any members replaced for attendance issues?  One member who had 67% and 33% attendance were removed because the terms expired. 

Since Fromer Councilman Bill Woodard has made it clear “biking” is his passion where was his outrage for the professionalism of the 4 members 75% and below on attendance.  He did not take to the citizens pulpit to try and humiliate these folks like he did others.

Multicultural Committee was established in 2024 to advise City Council and Frisco city staff on promoting cultural awareness, events, and celebrations representing Frisco’s diverse ethnic and cultural communities. The Committee supports community-led cultural celebrations and connects cultural organizations with city resources. It is made up of 7 appointments.   One appointment had 91% attendance, three appointments had 73% attendance, and 3 of them are listed as N/A (not available).   No one has been removed from the committee. 

Where was Bill Woodards outrage for the fact that one committee with 7 appointments only has one member meeting the attendance requirement.

Parks and Recreation Board is responsible for the development and implementation of the planning vision for the Parks and Recreation system in Frisco.  It has 7 appointments.  Two appointments have 100% attendance; two appointments have 89% attendance and 78% attendance.  The last person only had 33% attendance. 

The appointment with the lowest attendance was replaced.

Planning & Zoning Commission reviews and makes recommendations to the City Council regarding: Proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Ordinance, and the Comprehensive Plan and zoning change requests.

The commission has final authority regarding plats and site plans. Members of the commission also serve on the Capital Improvements Advisory Committee and make recommendations to the City Council regarding the impact fee ordinance.

The Committee has 7 appointments and luckily for the most part they all have good attendance.  Three members have 95% attendance, two members have 86% attendance, one member has 82% attendance, and the final one has 77% attendance.  At least they are within the cities requirements for such an important board.

The Social Services and Housing Fund was created in October 2002, seeks to fund service programs which support affordable homeownership and rental options for families that work in Frisco. The Social Services and Housing Board is responsible for approving loan requests from the fund, including the down-payment assistance programs.

According to the annual report they have 7 appointments.  Four of the appointments have 88% attendance.  One appointment had 75% attendance, and another had 63% attendance.  The last member has N/A so we don’t even know the attendance.

Not one person had 100% attendance, and they are still serving on board today.

Frisco Chronicles could go on and on, but we have made our point!  Where was Watchdog Bills anger then for the professionalism of members of council and boards and commission.  Every year hundreds of residents apply for these positions which are political appointments by the city council members.  One would think if an appointment could not keep their commitment or meet the attendance requirement they should be removed. Again, where was Bill Woodards outrage and anger then.  His outrage is selective against two council members.   Then he wants to use his pulpit at citizens’ input to display that selective outrage and his Facebook page to call out selective bad behavior all while pardoning his own.  It’s the Frisco Way!

Quality Jobs: Frisco vs Plano

Over the past 15–20 years, bringing “quality jobs” or corporate headquarters to Frisco has been a common campaign theme across many city council and mayoral candidates. As Frisco transitioned from a bedroom suburb into a regional employment center, candidates across political factions have run on platforms tied to economic development, corporate relocations, and high-wage job growth.

For communities like Frisco, smart corporate development isn’t just about landing big company logos—it’s about long-term financial health, balanced growth, and protecting taxpayers. Cities like Frisco have to think carefully about what kind of development they pursue and where it goes.

Mayor Cheney and other city leaders have frequently said Frisco “must pursue” major employers so the city becomes a regional job center instead of a commuter suburb.  Cheney has emphasized pursuing large corporations and creating office districts where employees can live, work, and socialize.

Lifestyle Frisco wrote an article in October 2019 titled “Mayor Jeff Cheney Announces Re-Election Campaign” which centered around Mayor Cheney’s own words.  Cheney continues, he was seeking residents votes on May 2, 2020, so he can continue to bring more jobs, expand the tax base, create beautiful neighborhoods, and provide top tier entertainment. He notes that Frisco won our FIRST-EVER Fortune 500 relocation with Keurig Dr Pepper.  He continues, the goal is to deepen our Sports City USA brand by adding the National Soccer Hall of Fame, professional lacrosse, and an esports team. His political mailer in 2020 listed his so-called wins. It still does not compare to Plano’s wins that will bring more high paying quality jobs that have a better economic impact to the city.

For years we have listened to candidates and current Council Members talk and campaign about bringing “high-paying primary jobs” to reduce commutes for residents, diversify the city’s tax base, and to support the city’s financial stability.   In the most recent special election, we were shocked to learn our newly elected council woman, Ann Anderson stated she was glad that AT&T chose to relocate to Plano.  Wait what?

Frisco Chronicles began to question have our city leaders fulfilled their obligations and promises to Frisco residents?   Shockingly, no!  Residents need to pay attention.

Frisco vs Plano Comparison

Who is the largest employer in each city?

Frisco: Frisco Indepenent School District – 8,800 employees vs Plano: JP Morgan Chase – 11,261 employees

Frisco vs Plano Economic & Corporate Landscape

Which city has added the most corporate jobs?

Frisco: 5000 to 7000 vs City of Plano: 25,000+

Which city has had the greatest Economic Impact?

Frisco Annual Payroll Impact: Roughly $500M to $1Billion vs Plano Annual Payroll Impact: Roughly $2 to $3 Billion

Frisco Property Tax Impact: Tens of millions annually vs Plano Property Tax Impact: Hundreds of Millions over time

Frisco

  • Major employers are a mix of private and public sector.  Frisco has attracted some high-profile corporate offices, but its largest employers tend to be public sector or regional service-focused, rather than Fortune 500 headquarters.
  • The focus has been on building a diversified but smaller-scale corporate base rather than creating a dense Fortune 500 corridor.
  • There’s evidence of success in certain sectors, but less concentration of high-paying corporate headquarters jobs compared to Plano.

Plano

  • Plano has built a robust corporate ecosystem, especially along Legacy West/Legacy Business Park, attracting Toyota Financial Services, JPMorgan Chase, NTT Data, Fujitsu/Ericsson, and Capital One.
  • The city has successfully attracted major Fortune 500 companies which created tens of thousands of corporate jobs and generated billions in annual payroll and hundreds of millions in property taxes.
  • Plano’s strategy has emphasized large-scale corporate relocation and campus development, which creates a strong economic multiplier effect.

Community Impact Comparison:

Frisco’s Potential Issue: With a large portion of the top employers in the public sector, Frisco’s economic growth may be more sensitive to government budgets, policy changes, and public funding cycles, rather than the stable expansion seen in private corporate headquarters. This could limit long-term job growth and tax base expansion.

Resident Impact Comparison

Plano: Residents benefit from high-paying corporate jobs, a strong tax base that funds public services, and a built-in ecosystem that encourages additional businesses and amenities.

Frisco: While still attracting quality employers and offering amenities, the job base may be narrower in sectors that generate higher wages and broader economic spillover. Public sector dominance among top employers may limit diversity in employment opportunities.

WHO WINS: FRISCO OR PLANO

  • Plano emerges as the city with a more aggressive, high-impact corporate strategy that directly benefits residents through employment opportunities, payroll tax revenues, and large-scale infrastructure support.
  • Frisco has been moderately successful in attracting employers but may face long-term challenges due to the nature of its largest employers and a less concentrated corporate corridor.

ELECTION TIME: VOTE WISELY

You constantly here residents in Frisco complain they are tired of growth without infrastructure.  Why is that?  Because our city leaders have done nothing to reduce our commute to local jobs or bring quality paying jobs to our community.  By putting a heavy emphasis on “TOURISM” and “HOSPITALITY” they have created more traffic issues and attracted less quality paying jobs. 

A recent big win the city likes to talk about is Universal Kids Resort, which is bound to add to Frisco’s traffic congestion.  City leaders are hoping that over the years tourist attractions will bring in enough tax revenue to offset what the corporate relocations could have brought to our community. 

A search of the internet for jobs at Universal Kids Resort displays the following available jobs: Lobby Attendant, Quick Service Associate, Dispatcher, Full Time Lead Technician, Lifeguard, Ride Operator Attendant, Wardrobe and Costume Supervisor, and many more.  The requirement a HS Diploma or GED, Customer Service Experience.  No pay scale offered for any of the positions.  Universal offers very few highly paid management positions. 

We did find one job for a Senior External Affairs & Corporate Communications Manager which states a bachelor’s degree in political science, Public Relations, Communications, Business Administration or related field is required.   It also says at least 7+ years of corporate communications, legislative, government or external affairs experience is required, or equivalent combination of education and experience. 

Why is all this important? 

Every election the same people stand before us and ask for our vote, and Frisco Residents who are none the wiser continue to just elect the same regime.  The result is our leaders have failed to bring quality paying CAREERS to our community.  This will affect us down the road when it comes time to paying the big bonds they have asked us to pass over the years.

John Keating’s website brags he has served on the council “FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.” Frisco Chronicles is curious if he can name one Corporate Relocation (besides the PGA) that he pushed hard to win that brought high paying quality jobs to Frisco? Keating’s website lists his priorities as Mayor and not one of them directly states the goal to bring high quality CAREERS AND CORPORATIONS that protect taxpayers.  He offers the same priorities just re-written that he has failed to complete before in his decade on the dais.  Keating’s time is up!

Laura Rummel is back to also ask for your vote!  Her website states her priorities include Frisco’s infrastructure, smart growth by asking developers to offer smaller format housing options such as condos, townhomes, zero lot line home alternatives and fuel innovation and entrepreneurship.  Her website states, “Start-ups typically provide slow and steady organic growth for the city, as well as bringing high-paying jobs, two attributes I would like to see us continue to recruit here to Frisco.   

How will Laura Rummel help Frisco compete with Plano and the economic windfall they are having with corporate relocations?  Rummel has had 5+ years on council now and she has no win to call her own! It takes a long time for startups to grow into a Capital One or AT&T and provide an economic impact to residents that we need here. 

In closing, when will Frisco Residents say WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH AND WE WANT HIGH PAYING QUALITY JOBS THAT CREATE AN ECONOMIC IMPACT like other surrounding cities.  The big wins Frisco claims are great, but they are nothing compared to our neighbor the City of Plano which has built one of the largest corporation corridors in North Texas.  Plano employers include major financial institutions, corporate headquarters, tech firms, and large service centers that anchor Plano’s economy and make up a significant share of local jobs. A linear “corporate corridor” lined with major employer logos, emphasizing Plano’s role as a corporate hub

Frisco residents need to ask, “How will we repay the $1 Billion in debt we have?” Frisco leaders have dropped the ball and if you look down the road none of the “WINS” our current leaders like to claim will bring in the billions that major corporate relocations could have. At the last city council meeting you saw them approve a warehouse along the 121 roadway – is that the best use of that land or could it have gone to something else that would have brought in more high-quality paying jobs.  Frisco’s future is not as bright as residents would think when it comes to financial stability.  The One Billion in debt has to come from somewhere so where will it come from?   Get Wise Frisco!

Disclaimer: This blog includes satire, parody, and comic relief.  It contains summarized accounts created solely for humor and commentary.  Any resemblance to real events is either coincidental or intentionally satirical.  Reader discretion — and a sense of humor — are advised.

Largest Employers in Frisco

EmployerSectorEmployees
Frisco ISDEducation~8,800
Dallas CowboysSports & Entertainment~2,000
City of FriscoGovernment~1,800
HCL TechnologiesCorporate~1,500
T-MobileCorporate~1,300
Keurig Dr PepperCorporate~1,200
AmerisourceBergenHealthcare700+
Baylor Scott & White HealthHealthcare600+
Collin CollegeEducation500
Mario Sinacola & SonsConstruction500
OracleCorporate400
Baylor Medical Center of FriscoHealthcare450
LexipolCorporate420

Top Employers in Plano, TX

Plano’s largest employers based on the most recent city and economic data (2025–2026 estimates):

  1. JPMorgan Chase – ~11,261 employees (regional/corporate operations)
  2. Bank of America – ~6,566 employees (back office/operations)
  3. Capital One Finance – ~5,649 employees (finance services)
  4. Toyota Motor North America, Inc. – ~4,938 employees (North American HQ)
  5. PepsiCo Foods North America / Frito‑Lay – ~3,759 employees (food & beverage)
  6. Ericsson – ~3,346 employees (telecom/IT)
  7. AT&T Foundry and Services – ~2,500 employees (IT/telecom center)
  8. Liberty Mutual Insurance Company – ~2,100 employees
  9. JCPenney – ~2,000 employees (corporate headquarters)
  10. NTT DATA, Inc. – ~1,968 employees (tech services)

Why Frisco Always Smells Like Roses in the Dallas Morning News

Alright, grab your popcorn —this one has all the makings of a classic Frisco Chronicles feature: money, media, and that familiar scent of roses wafting through the pages of the Dallas Morning News.

All Good in the Frisco Hood: Brought to You by… Medium Giant?

By now, longtime Frisco residents have noticed a curious phenomenon. Whenever the Dallas Morning News (DMN) writes about Frisco, the city sparkles. Streets are shinier. Leadership is visionary. Problems? What problems? If Frisco had potholes, DMN would probably call them “community engagement craters designed to slow traffic and save lives.”

Which raises the obvious question: why does Frisco always smell like roses in the DMN? Not weeds. Not smoke. Roses.

For years, residents have speculated. Maybe DMN is afraid of being cut off from exclusives. Maybe access journalism is alive and well. Or maybe—just maybe—it’s about the oldest motivator in local government and media alike:  Money.

Enter Stage Left: Medium Giant

Here’s where things get interesting. A sharp-eyed reader recently connected a few dots that deserve a closer look. The Frisco Economic Development Corporation (FEDC) has entered into several contracts over the years with a company called Medium Giant.

Whose Medium Giant, you ask?

They’re an “integrated creative marketing agency.” Which is marketing-speak for we make things look good. Even better? Medium Giant just happens to be the sister company of the Dallas Morning News.

Cue the dramatic music. So now the question isn’t why DMN never seems to publish critical reporting on Frisco or its leadership. The question becomes: would they dare?

Follow the Money (Because It Always Tells a Story)

When we reviewed city check registers, we noticed multiple payments over the years made to Medium Giant. Not chump change. Not lunch money.  Not “oops, forgot to expense that Uber.”

The total?  $2,105,631.76

That’s over two million dollars paid by Frisco entities to a company tied directly to the same organization responsible for shaping Frisco’s public narrative in one of North Texas’ largest newspapers.

Now, we’re not saying this proves corruption. We’re not saying there’s a secret smoky backroom with editors and city staff clinking champagne glasses.  We’re not even saying there’s an explicit quid pro quo.

What we are saying is this: If you were the DMN, would you risk torching a relationship connected—directly or indirectly—to a $2 million revenue stream by publishing hard-hitting, unvarnished reporting about Frisco’s leadership, finances, or controversies?

Hit Pieces for Some, Rose Petals for Others

What makes this dynamic even more eyebrow-raising is DMN’s recent track record. The paper has shown it’s perfectly willing to publish aggressive, sometimes glowing-less-than-rose-scented coverage of candidates who fall outside the Frisco inner circle.

Just ask: Jennifer White, Mark Piland, John Redmond

Funny how the gloves come off for political outsiders, but stay neatly folded when it comes to City Hall, current council members, and current city leadership.

Journalism, Marketing, or a Blurred Line?

Let’s be clear: Medium Giant being a marketing firm isn’t inherently wrong. Cities hire marketing agencies all the time. But when the marketing arm and the newsroom live under the same corporate roof, the public has every right to question whether the coverage they’re reading is journalism… or brand management.

Because from where residents sit, the pattern looks less like watchdog reporting and more like: “Frisco: Presented by Medium Giant, distributed by DMN.”

Final Thought

Transparency isn’t just about open records and posted agendas. It’s also about who controls the narrative—and who’s being paid behind the scenes while that narrative is shaped.

Two million dollars isn’t small change. It’s not accidental.  And it certainly isn’t irrelevant.

So the next time you read a glowing DMN article telling you everything in Frisco is just peachy, ask yourself: Is this news… or is this advertising with better grammar?

Disclaimer: This blog includes satire, parody, and comic relief.  It contains summarized accounts created solely for humor and commentary.  Any resemblance to real events is either coincidental or intentionally satirical.  Reader discretion — and a sense of humor — are advised.

Who Hit ‘Send’? Meadow Hill Estates Residents Ask How Their Emails Became Campaign Ammo

Frisco Chronicles has received multiple complaints from residents of Meadow Hill Estates after an email landed in what appears to be every single email inbox in the community. The message, sent from a Gmail account — StopMillerAutomotive@gmail.com — urged residents to vote in the Frisco Special Election for Ann Anderson.

The writer of the email openly states “I spoke to this candidate about our issue” which is problematic since he never gave the other candidate a chance to share their view on the community’s issue. Based on one conversation with only one candidate you then send an email to your entire community telling them how to VOTE? Did the writer of this email do any research into other projects where citizens objected to something nearby their home and if Ann Anderson supported it.

For example, Universal Kids! Ann Anderson spoke on 2/7/2023 in FAVOR of Universal Studios. She ignored the numerous residents who lived in Cobb Hill and throughout Frisco, that came out and said they did not want a theme park that close to their community because of the noise, traffic and potential crime it could bring. Ask residents today if it has affected their home values in that community and how many Airbnb’s now exist there. She said at the forum the other day we need to be mindful of where we place projects near communities and used the hospital power plant as an example, yet she was in Favor of Universal Kids which is going to have roller coasters looking into people’s backyard! Her words and actions – DON’T MATCH!

That raised an obvious question residents can’t shake: How does a random Gmail account suddenly have the private email addresses of an entire neighborhood?

Not a Guessing Game — It’s a Privacy Issue

Residents aren’t speculating for sport. They’re concerned because there are only a few realistic ways someone could obtain a complete HOA email list:

  • Through HOA records
  • Through property management systems
  • Through board-level access to resident data

Those email addresses are not public information. They are collected for official HOA business, not political campaigning.

From the complaints we received, many residents believe the sender may be a current HOA board member or someone with inside access to HOA records.

The Meadow Hills Estates Facebook Page Raises More Questions

Adding fuel to the fire, residents pointed us to the Meadow Hill Estates Facebook page, which states it is “run by volunteers.” That page has posted about Miller Automotive on December 10, 2025 and several other times throughout the past year.

The overlap between the campaign email content and the Facebook posts has residents asking whether the same individual — or group — is behind both. And if so, how much access do they really have?

HOA Data Is Not Personal Property

Here’s the part that matters most. If a board member obtained residents’ email addresses solely because of their position, those addresses are HOA property, not personal contacts. Using them for anything outside official HOA business — especially electioneering — is widely considered improper and, in many cases, explicitly prohibited.

HOA board members have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of the association — not personal political agendas.  Using confidential resident data to influence a city election crosses a line that residents say should never be blurry.

Texas Attorney General Complaint Incoming

According to one Meadow Hill Estates resident, a formal complaint is being filed with the Texas Attorney General regarding the use of private HOA data for political purposes. That makes this more than neighborhood drama — it’s a legal and ethical issue.

We Reached Out to 4Sight Property Management

Frisco Chronicles contacted 4Sight Property Management, which oversees Meadow Hill Estates, asking the following: Did your company approve or authorize this email?  Do you have rules or policies governing how HOA board members may use resident contact information?  What safeguards exist to prevent misuse of confidential HOA data?  We are currently awaiting their response and will update readers when one is received.

The Bigger Question

This isn’t about whether someone supports Ann Anderson or opposes Miller Automotive.  It’s about trust.  Residents trusted their HOA to safeguard their personal information — not turn it into a campaign mailing list.  We hope Ann Anderson herself did not know about this email because if she did that it could be problematic also. 

Until someone explains who hit “send” and how they had the power to do it, Meadow Hill Estates residents are left wondering whether their HOA is protecting them… or politicking with their privacy.

Stay tuned. Frisco Chronicles will follow this story wherever it leads.

Disclaimer: This blog includes satire, parody, and comic relief.  It contains summarized accounts created solely for humor and commentary.  Any resemblance to real events is either coincidental or intentionally satirical.  Reader discretion — and a sense of humor — are advised.

Mental Health Check

In April of 2021 you would have thought an El Paso dust storm full of tumbleweeds came through Frisco and upset the equilibrium of our city.  As we discussed in our earlier blogs Where There Is Smoke PT 1 and There is Fire PT 2, there has been a long standing point of contention between the Frisco Firefighters Association and the city in regards to workers compensation. 

In 2021 the city opposed House Bill 2242 brought forward by Jared Patterson, Texas State House Rep for Frisco.  In 2023 the FFA and Patterson brought HB 471, and they have been working extremely hard to get it or similar legislation passed in Austin that would protect first responders across Texas.  The fight for more protection by the FFA and Jared Paterson has continued into our 2025 Texas Legislative Session.

Even though we knew about the El Paso dust storm, my wife and I were still shocked on May 16, 2023, after tuning into the city council meeting online, like we have done every other Tuesday for years. Mayor Cheney presented a proclamation to Denton County MGMR, for all the work they do each day relating to mental health.  Mental Health Awareness Month aims to increase awareness about the vital role mental health plays in our overall health and well-being and provide resources and information to support individuals and communities in need of mental health support.  

At that same meeting, during Citizen Input (23:00 minute mark), Frisco Firefighters Association President, Matt Sapp, along with Retired Frisco Fire Chief Mark Piland, and Assistant Fire Chief Cameron Kraemer to address the termination of Kraemer, a 27-year Veteran of the Frisco Fire Department. 

What?  After 27-years serving our city and its residents without hesitation, Kraemer was terminated BY EMAIL while on medical leave and under medical supervision for PTSD which we go into more detail about in our blog Backdraft which we really encourage you to read.   

By the end of the meeting, I wanted to scream like Alanis Morrissette…

Isn’t it ironic?
Don’t you think?
A little too ironic

Where are we two years later? It is Mental Health Awareness Month again, and the second anniversary of Kraemer’s termination BY EMAIL while on medical leave.  The fight is not over, not even close!  It’s time to peel back the curtain on a firehouse-sized problem simmering here in Frisco? Buckle up, this one’s got smoke, politics, and no small dose of Texas-sized irony.

Smoke, Stigma & Silenced: Mark Piland

Since then, Retired Fire Chief Mark Piland has had his name wrongfully smeared and his 40-year stellar career in public service wrongfully attacked by City of Frisco leaders for speaking out on behalf of Kraemer and the Frisco Firefighters Association when he attempted to run for Frisco City Council.

The Legislative Lifeline

When your city will not support you, what do you do?  The Frisco Firefighters Association has continued the fight and has been in Austin off and on the last several weeks with local State Rep Jared Patterson to fight for more protection for public safety employees in the State of Texas.   Just today, HB331 officially headed to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law!  The bill marks the final piece of legislation language from last session’s HB471 that our Frisco Firefighters have been advocating for the past three legislative sessions.

A Firefighters Fight: Cameron Kraemer

And Cameron Kraemer, where is he? Kraemer, while still under medical supervision, started the fight of his life against our very own City of Frisco.  After a hearing on September 21, 2023, before the Texas Department of Insurance, the DMN reports that the administrative law judge hearing the case ORDERED THE CITY OF FRISCO, which is self-insured, to pay Kraemer benefits and any accrued but unpaid income benefits in a lump sum with interest as provided by law.  According to John Riddle, president of the Texas State Association of Fire Fighters, Kraemer’s case is being watched throughout Texas, and it is important to the state’s 18,000 firefighters in 195 communities.  Riddle said in the DMN, “For now, Frisco is among the most aggressive cities in fighting its injured employees at City Hall and the Legislature — and because of that, employees like Cameron Kraemer pay a high price.”

The battle continued as Kraemer took his case before the DOJ for them to determine if he was able to sue the city for wrongful termination which we wrote about in our blog Big Time Casino Payout. The DOJ ruled Kraemer could move forward with a lawsuit so in August 2024 Cameron Kraemer filed a lawsuit for wrongful termination against the City of Frisco in Collin County.  Based on the research we have done, Kraemer is going to win, and we think he will win big!  You can learn more in our December 2024 blog Kraemer vs City of Frisco that we wrote which lays out the details. 

Final Thoughts from the Hillside Winery Whistleblower

Ask yourself why.  Why is the city spending hundreds of thousands on a private law firm to fight so hard and drag this out for so long, when clearly, they are in the wrong?  Why is the city spending tax dollars fighting our public safety employees instead of protecting them and just doing the right thing?   What will this cost us, the taxpayers, when he wins? Our guess…. MILLIONS! But that is not all. We are hearing rumors of other lawsuits that have been or will be filed by former employees of the FD against the City of Frisco.  We are digging into that now! 

They had all the time in the world to prance around asking us to vote to change the use of EDC funds for a Frisco Center For The Arts but they cannot simply make things right with the firefighters. Instead, we have Councilwoman Meinershagen calling them 300lb bullies and complaining that they are fighting for protections that directly affect their life. We have Bicycle Bill Woodard, who wants you to believe the firefighters are lazy (his words during the May 2024 election), and they want to bankrupt the city.  You can’t get a paycheck from a bankrupt city, so why would they want to do that?   Cheney and Keating want you to believe that our RETIRED Fire Chief was fired after a stellar career with the city and 10 years of perfect performance reviews.  Not to mention, in our PIR requests and federal FOIA’s, we found his entire 40-year career was stellar with not one deficient performance review.  Lastly, no one is paying attention to the fact that in the last 6 to 8 months, several (rumor is 6 to 8) of our firefighters are saying Hasta La Vista Baby either via retirement or quitting their job.  They are going to work for other organizations and cities where they are valued.    

Just hope and pray your house does not catch fire because we were already short staffed and now it is getting worse!  The city loyalists just turn a blind eye as always, and function as if nothing if wrong.  They want you to believe we have nothing to be worried about, but as a taxpayer you can bet, I am worried!  Big Time Payouts, the loss of experienced firefighters from our roster puts citizens and businesses in jeopardy.

Reference Articles:

DMN: Frisco changes workers’ comp policy for first responders            June  1, 2024

DMN: Frisco Firefighter fired while on medical leave wins workers’ comp case     10/12/23