By: Lindsay Starr Platt, Correspondent

Thursday at Harker Heights Library, senior citizens gathered for “Harker Heights Trade Secrets”. Harker Heights Mayor Rob Robinson spoke in front of the group and helped compile a list of topics that were of importance to the residents.

“Really appreciate the way Joyce gets a speaker here to talk about important subjects,” said Pat Toner, Belton Resident.

Residents wanted to know the answers about sidewalk ordinances, street lighting in their neighborhood, new businesses, building codes and noise ordinances.

Toner may be a Belton resident, but she enjoys coming to these meeting because she likes to spend time in Harker Heights.

“We just did another friendly annexation south of Fuller Lane to clean up some boundary lines,” said Mayor Robinson.

With a population of 26,700 residents, attendees wanted to know if they would ever have their own school district. Killeen Independent School District has 43,000 enrolled students. The mayor explained how it wouldn’t be feasible financially or politically for Harker Heights to have their own school system.

Mayor Robinson also let residents know that any new streets going in now will have sidewalks on both sides of the street.

“I enjoy talking to the people. I enjoy sharing what is going on in Harker Heights. I appreciate the attentiveness and the questions,” said Mayor Robinson. “It’s nice to talk to people with dialogue, that works so much better.”

Harker Heights is known for being a popular place for retirees, and the question was asked, “Will Harker Heights ever get a senior center?”

The attendees agreed Harker Heights is growing and resembles very little from the original 1960 map, when the city was founded. The boundaries have moved several times. One resident remarked her address has changed three times since she has resided in Harker Heights. Harker Heights tax rate has not been raised for at least eight years.

Next on the agenda for “Harker Heights Trade Secrets”  will be speakers talking about how to prevent house fires.