Development services director oversees new elementary school

WILMER – Before Joe Flores, City of Wilmer’s Development Services Director joined the team in that city, he was involved in the Wilmer community under Dallas ISD construction services for the past 10 years.

He was part of the team to remodel the Wilmer High School/Stadium.

He was also the project manager who opened the Early Childhood Center and the project manager who championed daily to bring in the new Wilmer Elementary School.

That school is now being built at the corner of Beltline Road and Goode Street.

Flores is in a unique situation where he is able to keep watch over his projects from a different vantage point since he is working with the city now.

He is very aware of the ins and outs of what needs to be done to make sure the new school being built meets the highest standards with the least amount of unnecessary money spent.

“Just last week there were issues with drainage flow,” Flores said.

“I assisted DISD by reached out to director of the extraterritorial jurisdiction areas for Dallas County and I also met with the owner of the Pearl property, and both were more than willing to assist in keeping the project on schedule.”

Flores said the new Wilmer elementary project has been, by far his most challenging one for several reasons.

The land is cut in half with a huge drainage ditch, which will eventually be covered up and enclosed in a concrete box culvert and hid from sight from the play fields installed above it.

The land did not have water or sewer utilities; Goode Road is undersized, and the foundation became very cost prohibitive because the piers had to be cased due to the water location.

As the development services director in Wilmer, Flores is responsible for administration of the city public works and enforcement of construction standards for the city.

He has many more goals he would like to put in place in the growing city too.

“It is my dream to work with DISD to develop the entire 30-acres of land located at the corner of Beltline and Goode Street and to bring us a Walmart,” he said.

“So, at this time next year our kids will have both a new elementary school and a new Early Childhood Center.”

The new elementary school is scheduled to open next August.

“With all candor, I fell in love with the city because it is small and I feel that the city of Wilmer gives me the opportunity to come to affect real change for the kids in this community,” Flores said

In the evenings, he attends night school at UNT Dallas College of Law, and this week he headed to Austin to take his bar exam.

“The City is fortunate to have Mr. Flores as part the Wilmer team. In his short time here,” said Interim Wilmer City Administrator Dr. John Hubbard. “Joe has proven to be a valuable addition to residents and fellow employees.”