City of Whitesboro, I say thank you. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your City Administrator. I am grateful for the opportunity to actively serve daily with so many others that are employed by the city and grateful to work with each of you to improve the experiences of all who live, work or pass through Whitesboro.
I have the pleasure of working with employees that love the city of Whitesboro and exhibit that love with their daily actions and efforts to improve city services and experiences. Many of you have taken the time to let me know of your appreciation for the services our team provides. Those encouraging words are greatly appreciated and passed along to team members quickly and with great enthusiasm.
I recognize I am a new face to many of you. In short, my family founded Whitesboro. My family has had several businesses over the years in Whitesboro, and I’ve lived in the Whitesboro area for my entire life, except for three years. My decision philosophy flows through three questions - 1) what’s best for the city of Whitesboro, 2) what’s best for its citizens, and 3) what’s best for city employees.
Growth is coming to Whitesboro. My goal, as I believe most of those in Whitesboro’s goal, is to have planned, structured and beneficial growth. Others want to experience the beauty, tranquility and family feeling that Whitesboro provides. Ensuring developers contribute their fair share of the costs associated with such growth is imperative. The Mayor, City Council and I are working to ensure development benefits all citizens with open green spaces, parks, roadways, city infrastructure or services we do not have locally today.
The new water tower construction is underway. The tower will be completed in April of 2026, such a short window of time for generational benefit. To allow citizens to monitor the construction, the city will have cameras that soon will be available for viewing at www.whitesborotexas.com.
The weeks of April 14 and the 21, the city will be offering Spring cleaning trash days as we’ve done historically, but with a bit of a twist. City employees will be offering assistance to citizens with items they are not able to clean/clear without assistance. Please look for more information on the event soon.
The Facebook page “City of Whitesboro” is the best source for updates and a closer look at projects taking place and the citizens/employees involved.
If I may, I have one request of each of you - please communicate with me – in person, email ([email protected]), phone (903-564-4005), letter, social media through Facebook or Instagram. I want to know your concerns, requests and ideas. Improving Whitesboro is a “we thing.” None of us can do it alone, but together – “we” – can.
Growing up in Whitesboro, I recall how much volunteerism benefitted our city. Countless individuals pulling together to clean a park, build a needed facility, improve a home… I want you to know that I’ve already had the pleasure of a new generation of citizens wanting to volunteer with the city to accomplish greater things together. The city benefits from each one of us offering the passions, the skills, the experiences and the interests to build out services, beautification and improvement of our city. Please know that I am a willing partner - to listen, offer assistance, guidance, teaming. Whitesboro needs each one of us.
My closing message to you and to the city of Whitesboro is a set of verses that I heard for the first time at 54 years of age that changed my life – “May the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26.
Phil Harris is the City Administrator for the City of Whitesboro. He can be reached at [email protected]