Recap of City Issues - January 23, 2009

The City has enlisted the services of Crannell, Crannell and Martin to provide a design of an offset cul-de-sac on Spring Oaks Drive in the Chapel Springs Subdivision. The firm will also be providing  replats of the two lots affected by the construction of the proposed cul-de-sac and taking those documents to P&Z in February for their review and approval. After P&Z action the item will be brought to Council for final approval. This will allow the construction of a turn around sufficient to operate the City's emergency equipment on this street and it will eliminate the temporary easement that currently exists at this location.

On Saturday, January 17, Parks, Medical Center of Lewisville, Highland Village Parks Foundation and OPUS West sponsored our first ever "Resolution Run".  There were 269 registered runners and 55 dog walkers that participated.   This will be a yearly event benefiting the Inland Trail.  The Parks Department would especially like to thank all of the volunteers and the Police and Fire Departments for their assistance in making this a very successful event.                         

Senior All-Stars met on Tuesday for card making day.  Wednesday was the monthly Choctaw Casino trip.  Thursday was game day and pot luck.  On Saturday the Highland Village Senior All Stars will meet for a chili supper and games.

Highland Village Fire Department donated a "Birthday Party with the Firemen" to the McAuliffe Elementary school as part of their fundraiser.  This past Saturday, a five year old girl and her family and friends enjoyed the birthday party at the Fire Station.  She was very excited to spend some time with the firefighters and have her photo taken on the Fire Engine.

Scott Kriston attended the TX DOT FM 2499 phase 4 weekly project meeting.  The TXDOT FM 2499 project status  is as follows:  The contractor is installing the drill shaft concrete caps for the proposed bridge at Poindexter Branch & Hickory Creek Branch of Lake Lewisville.  Franchise utilities are working on relocating their infrastructure that needs to be relocated inside the TXDOT right of way.  The contractor is installing stormwater pipe along the right of way at various locations.  The contractor is installing retaining walls along the entire project.  Final grade has been cut on the north bound lanes from the KCS railroad south to FM 407.  Asphalt will be place next week to be followed by concrete within a few weeks.  As of January 12, their are 405 construction workers working on the jobsite.  

Scott Kriston attended the UTRWD 60-inch water line monthly project meeting.  The contractor has installed approximately 100 feet of the proposed 210 foot tunnel on the District of Highland Village property.  They anticipate moving to the east and starting the Briarhill tunnel within the next few weeks.

Scott Kriston met with a local Boy Scout proposing to perform a drainage project for the City by installing stormwater inlet decals on existing stormwater inlets in order to obtain his Eagle Scout status.  He anticipates completing the project by the end of May, 2009.

Wes Nienhuser is currently applying winter weed control applications in the Parks and Medians.  The North Crew is working on Copperas Athletic Field preparing for the Spring practices.  Pilot Knoll crew is involved in roof replacement for various picnic shelters. 

Tommy White met with a resident about donating trees to Murray Park.  Tommy also attended a Pest Management Conference in Arlington on Thursday. 

Parks crews are renovating the "blast ball "field at unity park, renovations include a new concrete pad for bleachers and dugouts.

Utility crews responded to nine (9) emergency after hours call outs.  Calls included sewer backups, water leaks, and an intrusion alarm initiated by the SCADA system.

Utility crews finished a project to replace approximately 500 feet of sanitary sewer main on Windy Court.  The television inspection of the line revealed several broken spots in the main.  The crews installed approximately 250 feet of new main this week.  

Utility crews TV inspected four sewer lines and cleared three sewer backups. 

Utility crews responded to two emergency turnoff's due to the freezing temperatures freezing the private water sprinkler lines.

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

Drainage crew added some top soil and additional seed for erosion control in the 3000 block of Lake Creek. 

Drainage crew replace the approach & throat of the curb inlet in the 3000 block of Kimberly.                                    

Drainage crew removed dirt and debris from a drainage culvert. Possible tree removal may be needed in the 3000 block of Creek Haven.  

Drainage crew shot grade for future work in the 3000 block of Kimberly.

Corporal Patrick Finley and Officer Luis Flores gave a station tour to nine Cub scouts and nine adults.

Corporal April Roppolo spoke with approximately four hundred and twenty students from  kindergarten through third grade at Rayzor Elementary in Lantana about police work and the function of the police vehicle and what special equipment is on the vehicle, training, etc.  

This week the Police Department responded to 146 calls for service, made 89 traffic contacts, made 7 arrests, responded to 6 traffic accidents and performed 605 community policing activities.  

The Highland Village Fire Department responded to 18 calls for service the week of Jan 16^th -22nd.  This included 9 medical emergencies, 2 commercial fire alarm, 1 smoke investigation, 1 motor vehicle accident, 2 residential fire alarms, 1 public assist, 1 structure fire - mutual aid and 1 gas leak.  The Fire Department also conducted 1 plan review and 7 inspections for new businesses.

The Dallas Human Resources Director invited Martha Butz to a meeting at Dallas City Hall on Thursday. He hosted the President of the International Personnel Management Association National Office to meet with selected HR Professionals in the Metroplex to discuss establishing an IPMA Chapter in Texas. The City of Highland Village is a member of IPMA and has utilized their validated testing services in the Police and Fire Departments.

Assistant Chief Collier met with the Fire Chiefs' that were involved with the deployment to Hurricane Ike to discuss strategies and planning for future deployment and processes in improvement to the current system.

Chief Tatum and Assistant Chief Collier attended the P & Z Planning session to introduce the Fire Master Plan.

Richard Skipworth, UT crew Leader, attended a TEEX sponsored Pump and Motor class this week in Corinth. 

Last week, Sergeant Sheri Morrison attended the annual Laserfiche conference, along with Alicia Richardson and Melanie Lewis.

Mayor Costa and City Secretary Richardson attended the Flower Mound Chamber Luncheon on Tuesday at Celebrations.