Recap of City Issues - October 24, 2008

The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) has selected the Highland Village Police Department to receive a major international award for its community policing efforts with its innovative Value Based Policing.

On November 12, 2008, Police Chief Ed O'Bara will receive the 2008 Community Policing Award at the annual IACP Conference in San Diego, CA.  HVPD's Value Based Policing will be featured at the conference in a community-policing workshop for other law enforcement professionals.

The Highland Village Police Department's "Value Based Policing" is an innovative, easily adaptable and cost effective way to focus daily performance of Patrol Officers on activities that fully support and strengthen the policing expectations of our community.   One of the greatest benefit of the model is that it fully focuses patrol attention on the prevention of crime and encourages officers to actively seek and engage in opportunities that involve positive interactions with citizens.

On Friday, the Mayor and Lt. Schlichter  joined April Roppolo at Briarhill Middle School to present the HVPD Recognizing students certificates to 18 students for making the right choices.

Scott Kriston, Matthew Kite & Sue Thompson met with BW2 Engineers on Monday to discuss the platting process of 948 Highland Village Road, receive "as-built drawings for the Highland Shores water line replacement project and deliver the executed task order for the Oak Street well lot GSR painting / pump station rehabilitation project.

Scott Kriston met with the developer for the St. James Subdivision on finalizing his punch list.  The only item left is to clean and shape the drainage area located on the west side of the subdivision.

The TXDOT FM 2499 project status  is as follows:  Currently the right of way prep continues, installation of the SWPPP continues, installation of the stormwater pipe continues on the south end, retaining walls are scheduled to start soon on the south end of the project, and they plan on starting to install the drill shafts for the proposed bridges on the north end of the project.  TXDOT has instructed the contractor to saw cut limbs on trees that were damaged outside of the right of way, and save as many trees as they can within a 4 foot zone along the right of way boundary line, provided they will not interfere with any other part of the construction process or proposed infrastructure.  Franchise utilities have discovered additional infrastructure that needs to be relocated.  TXDOT is verifying drainage easements along the entire project.  Explorer Pipeline is scheduled to start relocation of their two gas lines that cross the TXDOT right of way on October 22nd, weather permitting.

Firefighters continue to provide public education on fire safety and fire prevention to the local schools.  This week they provided fire safety tips to the students at DKH Academy.

The Parks and Police Departments, along with the Lion's Club, had a Plaque Dedication for the new Spring Rocker at Bruce Lockhart Lions Club Park.

Rhoda Savage, Tommy White and Fince' Espinoza attended the NRPA Conference in Baltimore last week and returned to the office on Monday. 

Fince' Espinoza, Tommy White, Sue Thompson and representatives from the Police Department met with Regency Centers regarding Our Village Glows

Don't forget Hogwart's Fall Festival this weekend at Unity Park!

The Parks Department held the fall Clean up at Copperas Park on Saturday and were assisted by members of the Maintenance, Utilities, Streets and Drainage Departments. As usual the event attracted a large number of residents for waste disposal.   A total of 376 cars entered the park.

The South Crew has been preparing Kids Kastle for the Hogwarts Festival this weekend at Unity Park. 

All crews are planting fall color in the plant beds.

Wes Neinhuser and the Pilot Knoll Crew are painting and repairing the exterior of the Pilot Knoll Gate house.

Tony Palesano has been making repairs to irrigation systems in the median areas and various parks.

The Drainage crew assisted the Utility crew in repairing a French drain and sidewalk at 2150 Tartan Trail.

Bobby Salmon met with residents on Highland Hills Lane to discuss private property erosion and what the City drainage department can do to assist them with their issue. 

The Drainage crew replaced curb inlet man way lid with locking lid at 2145 St. Andrew.

The Drainage crew installed larger rip rap rock to prevent further erosion at 642 Duvall.  

Utility crews made two sewer line repairs at Meadow Bend and Tartan Trail. 

Utility crews performed a TV inspection with the tractor camera at 802 Lake Haven to search for a missing manhole. They were successful in locating the buried manhole and raised it to grade.  

Utility crews assisted the drainage crew on a TV inspection of drainage line at Sellmeyer and Medina. 

Utility crews performed maintenance on well lots, lift stations, fire hydrants and the water distribution and wastewater collection system. 

Utility crews raised several manholes in basin #10.

Utility crews performed grease trap inspections in the commercial areas this week. 

Utility crews assisted Diversified Power with quarterly generator PM. 

The Highland Village Fire Department had 26 calls for service the week of Oct. 17^th - 23^rd. This included: 2 fire alarms, 10 medical emergencies, 5 public service calls, 1 vehicle lock out, 2 odor investigations, 2 smoke investigations, 1 gas leak, 1 fill-in for Lake Cities and 2 structure fire calls.  The Fire Department also conducted a sprinkler inspection and reviewed blueprint plans for a new business.

This week, the police department responded to 145 calls for service, made 69 traffic contacts, made 5 arrests, responded to 10 traffic accidents and performed 514 community policing activities.

An employee meeting was held Wednesday afternoon.  Departments recognized new employees and provided updates on current projects.  Michael Leavitt asked that we continue providing quality service to our citizens and encouraged each department to monitor spending in these tough economic times.

Firefighter/Paramedic Amber Wade successfully completed and passed the two-week Driver Operator Course. Congratulations, Amber!

Sergeant Sheri Morrison attended the annual Texas Association of Property and Evidence Inventory Technicians conference.  This is the only opportunity currently offered to become a certified property technician in Texas.  Sheri was also elected to the board of directors for the association (one of only six) and will serve a term of two years.

Sergeant Paul Kimberlin attended ASP Baton Instructor Certification.

Corporal Detective attended a investigative photography school sponsored by Dallas Police Department.

Corporal April Roppolo conducted Safety Lectures at Highland Village Elementary this week.  There were approximately 130 students present and all were given handouts and taught about a number of personal safety aspects. 

Mayor Pro Tem McDearmont attended the Fall Clean-up held at Copperas Branch Park on Saturday, October 18th.

Mayor Costa and members of Council attended the Charter Review Committee meeting on Tuesday, October 21st to receive an update on the progress of the committee.

This week Mayor Costa and City Attorney Palumbo attended the National Multi-Modal Transportation Steering Committee Meeting in Riverside, California.

Mayor Costa helped the Police Department present certificates to students who do the right thing at Briarhill Middle School on Friday morning, October 24th.