FACT SHEET

Settlement Agreement between the United States of America

and

the City of Wills Point, Texas

 

On July 24, 2012, the Department of Justice entered into a settlement agreement with the City of Wills Point, Texas, under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).

The Department of Justice initiated a compliance review of the City of Wills Point in February, 2010, as part of Project Civic Access, a Department initiative to ensure greater access for persons with disabilities to state and local government programs, services, activities, and facilities. An on-site survey of the City's buildings, programs, and services was conducted in April, 2010. City staff worked cooperatively with the Department throughout the compliance review process in order to reach an agreement.

Facilities and programs surveyed by the Department and covered by the agreement include: Cartwright Community Center, Lester Park Ballfield, Northside Ballpark, City Hall & Police Department, Municipal Center, Senior Activity Center, Sewer Treatment Plant, Chamber of Commerce & Community Center, and the Historical Society Museum.  The Department also reviewed the City's emergency management procedures, employment policies, and sidewalks.

The text of the settlement agreement specifies the modifications the City of Wills Point will be making to its programs, services, and facilities.  Among other things, the City has agreed to:

Wills Point was founded in 1873 and was named after its first American settler, William Wills. The area is known for its annual Bluebird Festival, which celebrates the large number of bluebirds in the area and the continued efforts to preserve the bluebird population.  The City has a total area of 3.1 square miles and is located 38 miles east of Dallas.  According to census data, the City has a total population of 3,496 and approximately 23.8 percent of residents have a disability.

The agreement requires most actions to be completed within three years.  For the required accessibility modifications to sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, transportation stops and curb ramps, the City will work with the disability community to prioritize and complete these modifications within five years.  The Department will actively monitor compliance with the agreement until it has confirmed that all required actions have been completed.

 

Project Civic Access | archive.ADA.gov Home Page