Council hopes trucks bring bucks for city

Published Sunday, March 16, 2008

By Chris Butler

A Fort Worth-based trucking company is expected to relocate to Rhome later this year, possibly in late July, although Rhome residents shouldn't expect a formal announcement for two more weeks.

Rhome City Council members unanimously voted in favor of a special use permit Thursday that will allow Best Used Trucks owner Eddie Walker to move his store to the corner of U.S. 81/287 and Randall Street, near the Heil Company and Dairy Queen. The store sells 18-wheeler tractors and has been in business on I-35 W north of Fort Worth since 2001.

Mayor Mark Lorance couldn't offer exact figures, but said the business would bring new jobs and revenue to the city if it opens in Rhome. Walker wants to relocate to Rhome because the lease on his land in Fort Worth is expiring soon, and he believes the city is a more attractive location for business because "of all the traffic that goes through there."

Rhome has a population of about 1,400, but 60,000 drivers travel through the city everyday, said Arlington-based accountant Peter Chaney last year in a financial report to the council.

Now that the council has given its approval, Walker will buy the land, even though the surrounding properties are currently zoned commercial.

"We just want to put a building up and sell trucks," Walker told council members.

The company currently brings in revenues of $6 million a year, although he expects that number to increase to $8 million after it moves to Rhome because he plans on increasing the number of trucks.

The majority of the company's sales taxes would go to Wise County, said Dianne Schafer, company vice president.

"If we are the seller then the money stays here. If a finance company finances (one of our trucks) and the buyer is from another county or out of state then that money goes out of state. Right now the majority of our business is in Tarrant County because that's where we currently are. If we move to Rhome then the money would be here in Wise County," Schafer said.

Many current employees in Fort Worth will work at the new Rhome store, but the business should have at least a few job opportunities for any interested Wise County residents, Walker said.

"We hope to make an announcement that we're coming to Rhome in two more weeks. It will probably be four or five months before we're set up to open," he added.