Recap of City Issues - June 20, 2008

Sue Thompson attended the monthly Lewisville Area Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs meeting on June 19th.  The speaker was Denton County Judge Mary Horn.  Judge Horn provided update information on the Master Plan Concept for the future Denton County Administrative Complex to be constructed between Loop 288 and Mayhill Rd. south of Morse Drive.  The County purchased 41 acres at that location to construct a phased Administrative Complex.  Phase I is funded and is ready to be bid and includes a 59,000 sq. ft. building which will contain the Health Department and Child Protective Services. Future phases include Phase 2 at 27,000 sq. ft. - Adult Probation, Phase 3 at 93,000 sq. ft. - Elections, Information Services, TABC, Game Warden, and Facilities and Phase 4 at 79,000 sq. ft. for Commissioner's Court, Auditor, Budget, Treasurer, Constable 1, Justice of the Peace 1, Human Resources, Civil District Attorney and Texas Cooperative Extension.  Judge Horn also provided information on the 2008 Bond election.  Sue provided updated information on the construction of Section 4 of future FM 2499.

Firefighter/Paramedic Charles Hinkle completed the distribution of 18 car seats through a grant the Fire Department received from NCTTRAC. The Medical Center of Lewisville’s neo-natal intensive care and newborn nursery were the recipients of the car seats.  He also installed a car seat for a resident’s family member who was visiting this week.

Last Friday, on June 13th, Corporal Doug Bell, along with representatives of the United Methodist Women of the Flower Mound United Methodist Church, presented the Children’s Advocacy Center of Denton County with checks totaling $3,500.00.  The donation will go toward the capital campaign for CACDC’s new building.  Cpl. Bell suggested and conducted a presentation on the Children’s Advocacy Center to the women’s group as a possible recipient of the proceeds from the UMW’s Annual Spring Tea fundraiser. 

Corporal April Roppolo collected donations at Peter Piper Pizza for the Children's Advocacy Center of Denton County.

Our "No Hats, No Hoods, No Sunglasses" bank program received attention by the Dallas Morning News this week.  This program has been adopted by several departments including Lewisville Police Department and Plano Police Department.

On Monday night, Rhoda Savage, Fince Espinoza, Tommy White and Members of Inland Trail Steering Committee, Parks Board and BW2 Engineers walked through Wichita Forrest to determine a proposed path for Copperas Trail.

McAuliffe Elementary gym was full of kids kamp campers this week.  The camp will be underway until August 15, 2008. 

On Monday, the Senior All-Stars met at the Highland Shores Community Center for game day. (22 All-Stars attended)

On Thursday, the Senior All-Stars met at City Hall in the council chambers for game day.  (17 Residents and 11 Nonresidents attended.) 

On Friday the Seniors went to the Choctaw Casino.  They enjoyed a day full of friends and fun.    

Cheryl Dudich completed the July senior newsletter.  The newsletter will be printed, folded and mailed out next week.

The Highland Village Police Department sponsored the First Annual "When Pigs Fly" Police Bike Race this past weekend.  The race was a great success and several departments participated along with our own four man team of Highland Village Police Department Bike Officers.  Our department was represented by Officer David Harney, Corporal David Pittinger, Officer Clint Webb, and Corporal Onay Nunez who, as a team, took second place.  Other departments represented at the race were University of North Texas Police Department, Tarrant County College Police Department, Keller Police Department, Trophy Club Police Department, and Roanoke Police Department.  The University of North Texas team won first place with a time of 20:05.  The UNT representatives also had the top three times as single riders for the course.   

All of the funds collected for the bike race were to benefit the Children's Advocacy Center of Denton County.  Their representative was presented with a check for $3278.81.

The bike race went off without a hitch and the Police Auxiliary were a big assistance in making that happen.  Thanks to everyone that helped and participated!

Fire Department personnel completed five commercial inspections for businesses this week as well as one plan review.

Parks Crew dug a trench for the new security cameras at Unity Park.

Parks Crew installed Balloon Festival banners on light poles. 

Wes Neinhuser and the Pilot Knoll crew are preparing to remodel the rest rooms at overnight camping area.

Tony Palesano has been working with a contractor involved in installing and making repairs to the irrigation system at Village Park.

The Parks North Crew has been busy cleaning up broken tree limbs sustained from storm damage in several parks.

Wes has also been involved in weed control at the new practice soccer complex. 

The Highland Village Fire Department had 27calls for service the week of June 13th – 19th, this included; 5 structure fire calls, 13 medical emergencies, 2 odor investigations, 2 injured persons, 1 motor vehicle accident, 2 public services, 1 welfare check and 1 residential fire alarm.

This week, the police department responded to 151 calls for service, made 56 traffic contacts, made 6 arrests, responded to 5 traffic accidents and performed 897 community policing activities.

The Police Department conducted the first step in the Sergeant assessment process to fill the open Sergeant's position.  The four candidates applying for that position are Corporal David Pittinger, Corporal Jered Cameron, Corporal Steve Rodriguez, and Officer Christie Perry.

Council members were invited to join Parks Director Rhoda Savage and BW2 Engineers, on Monday evening June 16th to hike the potential Copperas Trail alignment(s).  The hike began at the trail head located in Murray Park and proceeded down Sellmeyer and crossed over to Lions Club Park through the Wichita Forest area.

On Thursday June 19th Mayor Pro Tem McDearmont attended the Medical Center of Lewisville's Community Advisory Board Meeting.

Michael Leavitt, City Manager            
06/20/08