Community Heartbeat Bullard
The people behind the pulse of our community
BULLARD, Texas , Few city leaders know Bullard as intimately as Pam Frederick. A lifelong public servant and longtime resident, Frederick officially stepped into the role of City Manager in November 2024, continuing a decades-long journey of serving the community she calls home.
With a background as a classroom teacher for 30 years and more than two decades in elected service, including time as both Mayor and City Council member, Frederick brings a unique blend of institutional knowledge and personal investment. She also served as Smith County Commissioner for Precinct 1 before returning to Bullard to help guide the city’s next chapter.
“God puts us where we are supposed to be if we just pay attention,” she said.
As City Manager, Frederick oversees daily city operations, implements ordinances passed by the City Council, and works closely with staff and community stakeholders to ensure Bullard’s growth remains both sustainable and community driven. She’s quick to credit the city’s dedicated staff: “We have some amazing, knowledgeable, and dedicated people working here.”
Among the projects currently on Frederick’s desk is one of Bullard’s most ambitious infrastructure efforts yet: the development of a new, state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant. Planning for this facility has been in the works for years, and Frederick emphasizes its importance in keeping pace with the city’s rapid expansion, an annual growth rate of 8–10%.
“This one is taking some tenacity, that’s for sure,” she admitted. “Every year that goes by, costs go up, and we have to stay ahead of that.”
To stretch resources further, Bullard recently entered into an interlocal agreement with Smith County to tackle much-needed road improvements, a cost-sharing strategy that allows the city to pave five streets for the price of one. “That’s exciting to me,” Frederick said with a laugh. “You have to know what a dork I am, but I get proud driving through town and seeing progress, even lined-up trash carts made me proud once!”
Her passion for Bullard shines brightest when she talks about the people. “That’s what makes Bullard unique, the people and their pride in this community,” she said. “We’re growing fast, but we’re intentional about protecting our small-town feel.”
That growth comes with challenges. As more families move in, drawn by the quality schools, clean streets, and safe neighborhoods, the strain on city services increases. Frederick says the city is embracing its role as a bedroom community to Tyler but wants to see more commercial development to keep consumer dollars local and ease the tax burden on homeowners.
Growth, she notes, is a double-edged sword. “Yes, your tax base grows, but so does the need for investment in roads, water, sewer, and public safety. You have to manage growth well, or it manages you.”
One long-term dream? A walkable downtown, full of local shops, lofts, and gathering spaces, a vision that once neared reality with support from TxDOT grant funding. Though the grant was pulled, Frederick hasn’t given up. “We still want a beautiful, Hallmark-style downtown. It would give people a reason to stay, shop, and stroll.”
Another priority for Frederick is addressing what she sees as a growing disconnect between the city and its citizens, largely due to the loss of local newspapers and the limitations of social media.
“We don’t have a great way to consistently put out the positive things that are happening here,” she said. “If people don’t get the right information, they make assumptions. And that hurts progress.”
That’s why she’s eager to partner with new platforms like ETX Bell to reconnect with the community and provide greater transparency. “People want to be involved, but they don’t always know how. We need to open that door again.”
Looking ahead, Frederick says community involvement will play a central role in Bullard’s next comprehensive plan, the city’s roadmap for the next 20 to 25 years. She encourages residents to participate in shaping that future, and to remember why they chose Bullard in the first place.
“Take pride in your neighborhood, volunteer, join a committee. Think about what brought you here and why you stay. This is home, and it’s amazing.”
