City Connections - January Edition

Water Conservation

Water conservation is just as important during the winter months as during the summer months.  In the City of Highland Village, sewer rates are taken from winter averaging.  The following are just a few ideas that could help you and your family conserve water: 

1. Check every faucet in you home for leaks; if a leak is detected, have it repaired as soon as possible.  A slow drip can waste 15 (fifteen) to 20 (twenty) gallons of water per day.
2. When you wash clothes or dishes, wash only full loads even though your machine may feature a short cycle.
3. Install water saving devices such as water saving shower heads, or flow restrictors.  They are easy to install and available from your local hardware store, these devices can save up to 3 (three) gallons of water per minute.
4. Do not use your toilet as an ashtray or waste basket.  Every time you flush a tissue or cigarette butt, or other small bits of trash, you use 3 (three) to 7 (seven) gallons of water.  This usage depends upon the age of your plumbing fixtures.

If you would like additional information on water conservation or information regarding our water, please call the utility operations office at 972-317-2989.

Cold Weather Is Here!

Here are tips to assist you during the winter to help prevent frozen water pipes:

1. Be sure to disconnect all outside water hoses.  This will prevent an overnight freeze from bursting either the faucet or the pipe it is connected to.
2. Insulate pipes or faucets in unheated areas with pipe wrapping materials that are available at any hardware stores.
3. Locate your shut-off valve.  Some homes have accessible valves, while others only have shut-off valves in the meter boxes.  Please keep our Utility Service number handy, so that you may contact us in the event of an emergency.
4. Any plumbing inside your home that is facing an outside wall should be considered during winter months.  To help prevent these pipes from freezing, open the cabinets to expose the pipes to the warm inside.

Sanitary Sewer Overflows

Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSO) has become a major issue with the Federal & State Agencies in recent years.  A recent study shows that 43% of all SSO’s are caused by pipe blockages.  Of those pipe blockages, a large portion of them are attributed to Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) in the collections systems.  Naturally, Cities target the Food Service Establishments by inspecting required grease traps on a monthly cycle.  But we must all be reminded to not pour grease down the sink from our holiday meals. 

How to Protect Stormwater Quality

You can protect our untreated water resources:

• Report illegal dumping;
• Do Use the least toxic alternatives for managing pests and diseases in landscapes;
• Do Follow package directions when applying pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers;
• Do not apply pesticides or fertilizers when rain is expected;
• Recycle or properly dispose of toxic chemicals in your home.  For more information on free drop-off locations for household chemicals, call the City of Highland Village Public Works Office at 972-899-5091.
• Do not direct fallen leaves to the storm inlets, they will block the flow of water and cause flooding.

Share Some Love this Year – Adopt a Pet!

See what dogs and cats are available for adoption at this link. To adopt a pet contact Michelle Burke 972-317-6551 or mburke@highlandvillage.org

Having a Garage Sale? You Can Now Post Your Sign Sooner

Council recently approved the second and final read of amendments to the sign ordinance allowing a resident advertising a garage, yard or estate sale to post two signs after at 8:00 a.m. the Friday before the sale and remove the sign by 6:00 p.m. the Sunday after the sale. One sign is allowed per street frontage of the property and one sign can be placed on a residential property at a remote location with the consent of the property owner. Garage sale signs are not allowed on vehicles, fences, poles, trees, medians, railings, right-of-way or publicly owned land. Businesses are now allowed to display a temporary banner sign up to three times a year and for 60 days during the months of November and December. Each business is allowed one banner, unless the business has two facades, then two banners are allowed.

Save a Life – Learn CPR

The Highland Village Fire Department conducts monthly CPR and Health Care Provider courses. This training covers Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for Adults, Infants and Children and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training.

Upcoming Class Dates:  Thursday, January 7, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. and Thursday, February 4, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

CPR Costs: $25 for residents, $45 for non-residents ~ HC Provider Costs:  $35 for residents, $55 for non-residents

A form of ID is required for address verification. Class size is limited; please contact Highland Village Fire Department at 972-317-0890 to sign-up.

Resolution Run

5K Run/Walk & 5K Four-Legged Friend Run
Benefiting the Highland Village Trail System
Saturday, January 16, 2010

8:00 a.m. Race Day Registration
9:00 a.m. 5K Race Start
9:15 a.m. Dog Race Start
Registration Fees:
$22 Adult; $15 Students/Kids; $25 Dog & Partner Entry
Location: Highland Village Office Suites behind Wal-Mart, 1 block north of 407 on 2499
Register by January 8 and receive a long sleeve Resolution Run T-shirt

Sign up at the Parks and Recreation Office at City of Highland Village or online at www.terrafirmapromo.com/events/resolution

Highland Village Senior All-Stars

Choctaw Casino
Wednesday, January 20 and February 17
Register by the Monday before the trip.
Cost is $5, includes $10 Casino play money and a $5 food coupon.
The bus leaves from the City of Highland Village Municipal Complex at 9:00 a.m. and leaves Choctaw at 4:00 p.m.

Texas Discovery Gardens
Wednesday, January 13
Cost of trip will be $8.50 per person plus lunch on your own.
Bus will leave the Municipal Complex at 9:30 a.m.
Please sign up by January 6.

Canton Flea Market
Friday, January 29, 2010
Cost of trip will be $5.00 per person plus dinner on your own.
Bus will leave the Municipal Complex at 9:00 a.m.

Ft. Worth Rodeo - World’s Original Indoor Rodeo
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Cost of trip will be $23.00 per person.
Bus will leave the Municipal Complex at 1:00 p.m.

Registration for all events takes place at the Parks and Recreation department at the Municipal Complex, 1000 Highland Village Road (Cash or check only.) For more information on individual events, contact us at 972-317-7430.

 

Father and Daughter Valentine's Dance at Celebrations

Father Daughter Dance: February 12, 2010 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Tickets go on sale January 11, 2010 for residents ($21) and January 19, 2010 for nonresidents ($24). (Cash or check only.)

Come enjoy dinner and a rose, dancing and door prizes. Space is limited.  Dress Semi-Formal. You may register in person at the Parks Department in City Hall, corner of Brazos Blvd.and Highland Village Rd. Feel free to contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 972-317-7430 with any questions.