Recap of City Issues - March 27, 2009

Scott Kriston attended the TX DOT FM 2499 phase 4 weekly project meeting this week. The TX DOT FM 2499 project status is as follows: The contractor is installing the pillar cross members for the proposed bridges at Poindexter Branch & installed some drill shafts on the Hickory Creek Branch of Lake Lewisville. Bridge beams are planned to be delivered and installed on the Poindexter branch bridge starting April 1st.  The contractor is installing retaining walls along the entire project. The contractor completed the concrete pouring on the north bound lanes from the KCS Railroad to FM 407. They are currently pouring the concrete pavement cut-outs and drive entrances. They anticipate switching traffic to the new pavement April 1st.  TX DOT is installing the drainage infrastructure across the intersection of Highland Shores Blvd. and FM 2499, flaggers will perform traffic control during this operation.  KCS Railroad has ordered materials and is preparing to install the new railroad crossing on FM 2499.

Laurie Mullens, Sue Thompson, Mayor Costa and I attended the official groundbreaking for the Hebron Rail Station sponsored by the DCTA on Friday, March 27th.  Scott Neeley, DCTA Executive Vice President , welcomed everyone and introduced dignitaries in attendance and Denton County Commissioner Bobbie Mitchell gave the Invocation.  Chairman of the Board Charles Emery provided a brief history of the DCTA and the A-Train Rail project.  Mr. Emery thanked the Board of Directors, the partner cities of Denton, Lewisville and Highland Village, and recognized several in attendance who were instrumental in the process of getting to break ground for the Hebron Station.  There were several groups who actually shoveled dirt during the groundbreaking ceremony.  The next groundbreaking is scheduled for Friday, April 3rd at 2 PM for the MedPark Station in Denton.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Sue Thompson and Dottie Palumbo met with Nika Reinecke, Economic Development Director for the City of Lewisville, to discuss the proposed site plan and future uses for the Hebron-121 Rail Station, and conceptual ideas for the Highland Village-North Lewisville Rail Station location. 

Sue Thompson attended the monthly Precinct 3 Task Force meeting chaired by Denton County Commissioner Bobbie Mitchell, to receive updates on transportation projects in the area, such as Section 3 and 4 of FM 2499, the FM 407/FM 2499 intersection, and the future improvements to FM 407 from Briarhill Boulevard to Chinn Chapel Road.  The proposed date for the section of FM 407 from Briarhill Boulevard to Chinn Chapel Road was moved back to November, 2009 from August, 2009.  This date can still be moved back up once all ROW issues have been resolved. 

Laurie Mullens, Sue Thompson, Mayor Dianne Costa and I attended the monthly Lewisville Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon held at Sneaky Pete's.  The subject for the luncheon was the "State of the Chamber/Annual Report for the year 2008", which was presented by President of the Lewisville Area Chamber, Matt McCormick and Past Chair, Mary Jacoby.

PUBLIC SAFETY (POLICE AND FIRE)

The Highland Village Fire Department responded to 27 calls for service the week of Mar 20-26.  This included: 21 medical emergencies, 1 mutual aid at Copperas Park, 2 residential fire alarms, 1 commercial fire alarm, 1 odor investigation, and 1 public service call.  Fire personnel conducted a fire alarm inspection for Chicken Express.

The Insurance Institute of Texas, represented by Mark Hanna, came out this week for a press release concerning their donation of our Lock, Take and Hide signs that are posted all over the city. 

Captain Blount, Lt Schlichter and Cpl Harney presented a HVPD Certificate of Merit to one of Corporal April Roppolo's former HVE students who is now a Marine, Zachary Ball.  The presentation was done at Highland Village Elementary School. Corporal Roppolo said that she spoke with Zachary's Mom and she said the family was so touched by the school and the police department taking time out to honor Zachary and that it really meant a lot to them.

STREET / UTILITY DIVISIONS PROJECTS

Scott Kriston met with Jason Pierce of the UTRWD to discuss water conservation and drought contingency plans. 

Scott Kriston met with a representative of the Highland Shores Owners, Inc. to discuss their plans on rebuilding their private concrete trail located near Shadowwood Circle and FM 2499.

Scott Kriston met with the UTRWD and CH2M Hill at lift station #1 this week.  CH2M Hill is designing the rehabilitation of the station. They took core samples of the lift station's concrete cover and looked at the electrical panels for a condition assessment.

Scott Kriston, Justin Praesel and Tim Bruedigam performed a final walk through for the Public Works improvements at the Chicken Express restaurant this week.  The contractor is working on a small punch list.

Utility Crews:

• Responded to seven resident emergency calls.
• Performed one emergency turn off and responded to three after hour call outs
• Installed new auto flush device for water line maintenance on Highland Forest.
• Changed out water meters as part of the water meter change out program.
• Removed and replaced a sanitary sewer clean-out boot in the Clearwater Subdivision.
• Performed maintenance on well lots, lift stations, fire hydrants and the water distribution and wastewater collection system.
• Drainage crews regraded drainage swale in the 3000 block of Northwood to establish proper flow.

Drainage crews:

• Continue to install gabion barriers to prevent further erosion in the creek located behind the 800 block of Highland Hills.
• Cleaned various inlet boxes and creek crossings after the recent rain event.

PARKS DEPARTMENT

Staff finished replacing the roof on the day use restroom at Pilot Knoll Park.

Wes Nienhuser treated the Unity Park Baseball Fields for turf insects.

Tony Palesano repaired and replaced fixtures in the Pilot Knoll Park overnight area restroom.

The South Crew started relocating dirt at Unity Park left over from Inland Trail construction.

The North Crew replaced mulch and cleaned shrub beds at the Fire Station and City Hall.

Wes Nienhuser and Tommy White put up trail markers per the Corps of Engineers on some of the natural trails in the western part of the City.

Wes Nienhuser helped out the Inland Trail Steering Committee with some natural surface trail maintenance.

The Highland Village Baseball and Softball Association will have their annual opening day baseball parade this Saturday from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.  It will start at McAuliffe Elementary; head south on Briarhill Boulevard and end at the Unity baseball fields.

Senior All Stars:

• The Highland Village All Stars met on Monday (21 attendees) and Thursday (30 attendees) at the Highland Shores Community Center for game day.
• On Wednesday, 32 Highland Village Senior All Stars went on the Choctaw Casino trip.
• On Friday, 17 Highland Village Senior All Stars met at Texas Twister for the Putt-Putt Golf League.
• On Saturday the Highland Village Senior All Stars will meet for "The Grass is Blue" at the Grapevine Opry.

HUMAN RESOURCES / STAFF TRAINING

Human Resources:

• A representative from Nationwide Retirement Solutions was available on Wednesday to answer questions for employees about 457 accounts and review retirement portfolios.

Fire:

• Chief Tatum met with City Council candidate Ms. Jeannetta Collier for an overview of the Fire Department. Fire Department personnel provided a tour of the station for Ms. Collier.
• Chief Tatum attended a Rotary meeting on Thursday evening.
• Assistant Chief Collier attended a training officer's meeting at the Denton County Fire Marshal Office.

CITY MANAGER / CITY COUNCIL

Council members Adams and Combs attended the Precinct 3 Task Force Meeting held in Lewisville on Monday.

Mayor Costa attended the Lewisville Area Chamber Luncheon on Tuesday at Sneaky Pete's.

Also on Tuesday, Mayor Costa, Mayor Pro Tem McDearmont, and Council members Adams and Combs attended the Highland Village Community Development Corporation meeting at the Municipal Complex.

On Wednesday morning Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Robichaux and Council member Calvin attended a meeting with Staff and Regency at the Municipal Complex.

Mayor Costa, Mayor Pro Tem McDearmont and Council members Combs and Calvin attended the PediPlace 15 Year Celebration on Thursday evening.

Friday morning Mayor Costa attended the DCTA A-Train Groundbreaking at the Hebron Station location in Lewisville.

The City Council, at their March 24, 2009 meeting recognized Highland Village student Ms. Madison Ramirez for winning the Southwest Airlines Adopt-A-Pilot Tie contest.  Ms. Ramirez submitted the award-winning design and was selected from over 3100 submitted entries.