Farewell address: Mayor Don Warren celebrates Tyler’s progress and community spirit.

Story by Joycelyne Fadojutimi, photos by Michael Cavazos Photograph

The recent State of the City luncheon brought citizens, businesses, and elected officials together in one place – at the W.T. Brookshires Conference Center.

The event opened with a prayer. And Leadership Tyler graduated Class 38.

The importance of this State of the City cannot be overemphasized.

It is Mayor Don Warren’s 5^th and last address to his beloved City, Tyler, Texas. He has been on the City Council since 2014. His final “fireside chat,” was an occasion to share some thoughts, accomplishments, and what lies ahead. Hence, he gave a comprehensive overview of Tyler – its people, the projects and economic outlook.

Mayor Warren described Tyler as a vibrant and supportive community where people greet strangers. It is a city where residents express a genuine kindness towards one another, which becomes particularly evident during challenging times, such as natural disasters or community crises.

It is noteworthy to mention that there was intermittent applause from the audience during the tête-à-tête as a show of support and appreciation for the community initiatives discussed, particularly in reference to projects aimed at improving the quality of life for residents.

Additionally, Warren emphasized the importance of community cooperation and collaboration highlighting how the city comes together to help those in need. This atmosphere of camaraderie is complemented by ongoing developments aimed at enhancing infrastructure and public services, contributing to a sense of progress and shared responsibility within the community.

As a result, Tyler is garnering national recognition. 

*USA TODAY rated Tyler as the:
#1 City in Texas to move to in 2024.
#1 in 2024 Top places to retire.

*Rent.com rated Tyler as the:
#5 in Best Cities for pets.

*LIVABILILTY Top 100 cities to live in the U.S. rated Tyler as the:
#11 in Top 25 places to live in the Southwest.

*RetirementLiving: JOURNAL OF RETIREMENT RESEARCH rated Tyler:
#9 in 10 Best Cities to Retire in Texas.

Mayor Don Warren’s fireside chat with City Manager Ed Broussard.

According to Mayor Warren, it is the collective community spirit and engagement in addition to having a good city manager in Ed Broussard who is a visionary, yet practical and hardworking that catapulted Tyler to national recognition.  Without mincing words, Mayor Warren expressed his appreciation for the city manager. He stated that hiring Mr. Broussard has been the number one factor in improving the community and described him as someone who has significantly contributed to the city’s well-being over the past decade.

“Hiring Ed Broussard as our city manager has been the number one thing that we have done to make our community better,” Warren said.

He reflected on their shared experiences during challenging times, like COVID and various weather events, thereby highlighting the effective leadership and relationship that helped the city come together.

Most importantly, Mayor Warren highlighted several key community projects, improvements, and infrastructure developments such as:

Emergency services: FIRE station #2.  This new fire station will improve response times for South Tyler, offering more bays and equipment, crucial for effective emergency services and  improve response times while enhancing the efficiency of fire services across the city.

Traffic Congestion Solutions: Mobility Study. The city is addressing traffic congestion throughmultiple initiatives. For example,  the Tyler mobility study aims to enhance traffic flow, particularly through major areas such as Tower and Broadway. In addition, the initiative includes the extension of Copeland Road, which is expected to alleviate some of the traffic on Broadway.

New Road Development. Plans for developing Centennial Road will create an east-west corridor, further aiding traffic distribution throughout the city.

Economic Growth. Developments in District 4, including a new medical school at the University of Texas at Tyler and a bustling retail area near the West Loop, are anticipated to stimulate local job creation and enhance educational opportunities in healthcare.

Water Infrastructure Improvements. Mayor Warren talked about having better customer service in the Water department plus crucial upgrades to the water system, including an expansion to accommodate future growth.  The John Souls Corporation water line expansion is part of a broader strategy to enhance Tyler’s water capacity and reliability, ensuring better service for residents and businesses.

But wait, that is not all about water infrastructure.

Storm Water Management. Mayor Warren discussed how the city has focused on improving its drainage system, especially evident after addressing a collapsed drainage pipe on Jeff Davis Drive. Hence, a larger, more efficient pipe has been installed to enhance stormwater management.

Community Support Initiatives. The address emphasized community-focused projects, such as the Miracle League field, which provides opportunities for children with special needs to participate in sports, thereby promoting inclusivity. Also,  Hill Park opened in 2015, and Stewart Park generously donated by the Stewart family  are all significant for quality of life in the community.

Mayor Don Warren’s Legacy

Mayor Warren reflected on his legacy with the following thoughts:

“I’d love to say the legacy would be the parks, you know, the parks guy or the Conference Center or the downtown revitalization. I think we’ve accomplished a lot. But I do think that the most important thing that we accomplish is the fact that we need to continue to love that neighbor.”

In fact, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve, highlighting his pride in being from Tyler, Texas:

“Thank you for the opportunity to serve such a great city, a beautiful city, the city where I was born and bred.”

Don Warren – Mayor, Tyler, Texas.