City Connections - January Edition

Christmas Tree Recycling

December 26 to January 10

Copperas Branch Park

Drop trees off in designated area in front parking lot

Please remove all decorations

Fall/Winter Photo Contest - Give Us Your Best Shot!

We’ve begun our Fall/Winter Photo Contest, which will run through February 28. Cash prizes will be awarded for Best Overall, Holiday/Special Occasions, Architecture/Structures, Nature/Wildlife and Black and White Photos. Details and contest forms are online at www.hvparks.com

Copperas Branch and Pilot Knoll Park Day Use Passes:

Annual passes will go on sale January 3 for 2011. Resident passes will be $35 and senior (65 and over) resident passes will be $20

Resolution Run

5K Run/Walk & 2K Four-Legged Friend Run

Benefiting the Highland Village Trail System

Saturday, January 15, 2010

7:30 a.m. Race Day Registration ~ 9:00 a.m. 5K Race Start  ~ 9:05 a.m. Dog Race Start

Registration Fees: $22 Adult; $15 Students/Kids; $25 Dog & Partner Entry; $2 Chip Timing

Location: Highland Village Office Suites behind Wal-Mart, 1 block north of FM 407 on FM 2499

Sign up at the Parks and Recreation Office at The Robert & Lee DuVall Center or online at www.terrafirmapromo.com/events/resolution

Senior All-Stars

Choctaw Casino Day Trip

• Wednesday, January 19
• Cost for the trip is $5
• Bus will leave from Copperas Branch Park at 9:00 a.m.

Holocaust Museum

• Wednesday, January 26
• Cost for the trip is $9
• Sign up by January 12
• Bus will leave from the Municipal Complex at 9:30 a.m.

Sign up for the trips at The Robert & Lee DuVall Center at

Adult Softball Starting This Spring!

This spring the Parks and Recreation Department will be offering two recreational softball leagues. We will be offering a men’s and coed league! The season will begin on March 23. Each team will be guaranteed 8 games. The top four teams will make the play-offs. Space is limited to 8 teams per league, so don’t delay getting your team registered! Registration will run from February 1 to March 4. The cost of the league will be $380 per team. Teams that win the post season tournament will receive trophies and t-shirts. Second place teams will receive trophies. You can find more information online at www.hvparks.com

Father and Daughter Valentine’s Dance at Celebrations

Father Daughter Dance: February 4, 2011 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Tickets go on sale January 3, 2011 for residents ($25) and January 10, 2011 for nonresidents ($30). 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 or online at www.activenet.active.com/hvparks

Feel free to contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 972-317-7430 with any questions.

Community Education Instructors

The Parks and Recreation Department will be offering Community Education Classes this spring as part of the new programming that will be offered at The Robert & Lee Duvall Center. We are seeking enthusiastic instructors with innovative ideas. We hope to offer quality leisure educational and recreational programs to enhance the quality of life of Highland Village residents. We seek instructors that will allow us to offer progressive classes that constantly challenge and explore. If you possess a skill or valuable knowledge that you would like to share with your community, be sure to contact the Parks and Recreation Office at 972-317-7430. Instructors will be compensated through a contract basis based upon class registration.

Highland Village Police Auxiliary

HVPD and You!

Highland Village Police Auxiliary members are our most vital assets because they assist us with multiple tasks which allow officers to continue to respond to calls for service. Members are issued Police Auxiliary uniforms and meet monthly at the Police Department to discuss current and upcoming events.

Special Events

The primary duty of Police Auxiliary members is to assist the police department at the numerous special events held in our community throughout the year (BalloonFest, Highland Village Days, Village Glows, Parades, Holiday Events at Copperas Branch Park, Halloween and more!)  Auxiliary personnel assist with traffic direction and control and increase the department’s visibility.

We’re excited to be your partner in crime prevention! Contact Corporal April Roppolo at 972-317-5558 ext. 519  to Join our Team Today!

Animal Registration Information

All animals within the city limits must be registered.

Pet Registration Now Available Online!

Visit the online registration website at http://petdata.com/cs/hvg/mail.htm.

Pet Registration By Mail

• Complete the Registration Form. (located on the city web site)
• Include the registration fee (per pet) and this payment must be in check or money order form.
• Include a copy of your current rabies vaccination.
• Include your return address and your tags will be mailed to your residence.

Any animal found at large within the city limits is subject to impoundment. Dogs must be contained inside a structure, within a fenced area or on a leash. Cats trespassing upon or damaging the property of others may be contained by the property owner and will also be impounded. Fees are charged for redemption and citations may be issued for repeat offenders.

Will Your Pet Get Home Safely?

We all want to ensure that lost animals have the best possible chance of returning home...these days, one of the best ways to do that is by implanting a grain-sized microchip that will provide a record of identification for life.

Microchips are a quick and reliable way of making sure lost pets have the best possible chance of returning home.  Animals often get loose or get away without a collar or tag, so a microchip offering permanent identification can be a lifesaver.

Save a Life! Learn CPR!

The Highland Village Fire Department conducts monthly CPR / 1st Aid courses for our residents and our neighboring communities.  Training covers Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for Adults, Infants and Children and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training. Upcoming CPR classes will be held on:

Wednesday, January 12 ~ Wednesday, February 9 ~ Wednesday, March 2

Held at the Highland Village Fire Station from 6:00 pm-9:00 pm

CPR costs are $25 for residents of Highland Village and $45 for non-residents. Class size is limited, please sign-up early!  Please contact the Highland Village Fire Department at (972) 317-0890 to register. 

Countdown to the A-train and Regional Rail Connectivity

On December 6th, the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) and Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) jointly hosted the “Countdown to Connectivity,” the official kick-off event to count down the days to the opening of DCTA’s new 21-mile A-train regional rail service, which will connect with DART’s Green Line at their Trinity Mills station.

The event began at DCTA’s newly completed Hebron Station in Lewisville where DCTA board members and staff, elected officials, chamber representatives, and school children boarded the A-train for a four mile trip to DART’s brand new Trinity Mills station, located at Trinity Mills Road and Broadway Street in Carrollton. At Trinity Mills, DART board and staff, City of Carrollton officials and Green Line passengers greeted the A-train’s arrival.

“This was a historic day for all of North Texas, as we began to officially count the days to the A-train opening, connecting Denton. Lewisville, Highland Village, Dallas, Fort Worth and surrounding areas via passenger rail, while also addressing our region’s transportation challenges and mobility issues by enhancing air quality, preserving energy resources and expanding transportation options,” said Charles Emery, DCTA Board Chairman and member of the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC).

Slated for completion in mid-June 2011, the A-train will connect residents and visitors to Denton County from both Dallas and Tarrant counties via a regional rail system. Construction began on the $314 million project in April 2009. In addition to construction of the 21-mile rail line, the A-train project includes five new rail stations, a bicycle/pedestrian trail, a regional rail operations and maintenance facility and a new generation rail vehicle to be delivered in 2012. Construction is currently 75% complete with much of the southern section of the corridor nearing 90% completion.

Over the last few months as the agency transitions from rail construction to planning for rail operations, DCTA staff and board have been working diligently to prepare for the late Spring opening of the A-train. This preparation has included the creation of a new fare structure, the implementation of bus route changes to connect with the new rail stations and the adoption of A-train service levels and hours of operation.  A significant hurdle for the fare structure was the adoption by DART and DCTA of a reciprocal fare agreement.  This enables DCTA passengers with the appropriate regional fare media to utilize DART’s system at no additional charge. In November, the DCTA board also announced that it would honor citizen requests and launch a pilot program during the first year of rail operations to include service on Saturdays and later service on Friday nights. 

While the special event on December 6th was the ceremonial kick-off to begin the countdown to the A-train launch, Denton County residents have been anxiously awaiting the launch since DCTA’s creation in 2002. The recent strategic decisions and preparations being made by DCTA illustrate that the A-train is one-step closer to reality. Six months and counting!

DCTA Passes are Available at City Hall

The City of Highland Village now has DCTA passes for sale. Stop in to purchase your Access, Connect, Local or Regional passes.

• Access - 10-Ride Book - $30
• Connect - 10-Ride Book - $13
• Connect Monthly Pass - $45
• Connect Monthly Pass Reduced - $25
• Local System 10-Day Pass Book - $40
• Monthly Local System Pass - $90
• Monthly Local System Pass Reduced - $32
• Regional 10-Day Pass Book - $70
• Monthly Regional Pass - $120
• Monthly Regional Pass Reduced - $32

 For details on the types of transportation services offered by DCTA, the routes and schedules, visit www.dcta.net.

How to Protect Stormwater Quality

You can protect our untreated water resources:

• Do 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 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 apply pesticides or fertilizers when rain is expected;
• Do not direct fallen leaves to the storm inlets, they will block the flow of water and cause flooding.

Water Main Flushing Program

During the winter months, it is not uncommon to see fire hydrants open and water flushing through the lines.  This is a standard operation to circulate potable water in the mains to maintain disinfection at the required levels.

Winter Averaging

The amount of water a residence uses during the winter months determines what the sewer bill will be for the rest of the year.  It’s difficult for most people to get a “feel” of how much water they use and where they use it.  Here’s some helpful information:

Regular Shower - 25 gal.

Full Tub - 36 gal.

Toilet - 3-6 gal.

Washing Machine - 30-60 gal.

If you would like additional information on water conservation or information regarding our water, please call the Utilities 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:

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.

Insulate pipes or faucets in unheated areas with pipe wrapping materials that are available at any hardware store.

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.

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.

Save Your Drains, Bag the FOG (Fats, Oils & Grease)

Grease from cooking makes its way into your private sewer pipes and the City’s sewer mains when you dispose of it by pouring down your kitchen sink drain.

Grease disposed through your kitchen sink clogs your drains and creates sewer back-ups.  Blocked sewer pipes cause raw sewer to back up into your house, and could cause the City’s sewer mains to clog causing raw sewer to back up into your neighbors houses.  Sewer back-ups lead to expensive cleanup and plumbing repair bills that must be paid for by the home owner.

• Wipe or scrape dishes before washing.
• Remove grease or oil from your pans with a paper towel before washing.
• Dispose of food scraps into the trash and minimize the use of garbage disposals.
• Cool down grease; pour it into a container and dispose of it in the trash.

If you have a billing question, please contact Utility billing at 972-899-5090.