Recap of City Issues - May 1, 2009

On Thursday evening, the use of City facilities for organized league games was postponed through May 10, due to the spread of virus H1N1.  At this time, games may resume on May 11.  We have been in contact with the president of the Highland Village baseball/softball league and have communicated that the determination may change as we know more about the flu situation we are facing.  The change could result in fields being open earlier or later than May 11, depending on if the situation seems to be spreading, or is contained.

Scott Kriston attended the TXDOT FM 2499 phase 4 weekly project meeting this week. The TXDOT FM 2499 project status is as follows:  The contractor is finishing the installation of the pillar cross members for the proposed bridge at the Hickory Creek Branch of Lake Lewisville.  Bridge decking has started to be constructed on the Poindexter bridge.  The contractor is installing retaining walls along the entire project.  Harlington Drive and Saddlebrook Drive access will be closed to traffic for a 3 month period so they can construct the south bound lanes of FM 2499.   The contractor has milled the old asphalt roadway and is cutting the new grade of FM 2499.  KCS Railroad has delivered the materials for the new railroad crossing on FM 2499.  The railroad contractor will have TXDOT close FM 2499 on May 5th & 6th to install the new crossing.  The TXDOT contractor has installed the asphalt base for the northbound and southbound lanes from Highland Shores Boulevard north to approximately 500 feet south of the Northwood / Castlewood intersection.  Steel has been laid out & tied in the southbound lanes, concrete pavement will be poured within the next few weeks.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Sue Thompson reports that she, Dorothy Palumbo and City Councilmembers Mr. Don Combs and Mr. Austin Adams attended the monthly Precinct 3 Task Force meeting hosted this month by the Town of Flower Mound and chaired by Denton County Commissioner Bobbie Mitchell.  The purpose of the meeting is for Denton County, and its consultant, to provide updates on transportation projects within Precinct 3.  Highland Village is always interested in the updates on Section 4 of FM 2499 and the future improvements to FM 407 from Briarhill Boulevard to Chinn Chapel Road.  We are also interested in the future improvements to I-35E and other roadways having an impact on our residents and businesses.  The next meeting will be held at HV City Hall on Monday, May 18th at noon.  This meeting is usually the 4th Monday but was rescheduled due to the Memorial Day holiday on May 25th.

PUBLIC SAFETY (POLICE AND FIRE)

This week the Police Department responded to 173 calls for service, made 56 traffic contacts, made 14 arrests, responded to 2 traffic accidents and performed 405 community policing activities.

STREET / UTILITY DIVISIONS PROJECTS

Streets:

• The Street Division installed speed humps and signage on Fairland Drive and Marchwood Drive due to high volume of traffic on those streets. The speed humps are to control the speed in those areas.

Utility Crews:

• Responded to five after hour call outs.
• Made six excavations to repair sewer lines.
• Flushed and TV inspected nine sewer lines to locate buried infrastructure and check for possible bad spots.
• Assisted EGW Utilities in water line leak detection using new sonic sound wave listening technology.
• Made 24 water meter change outs.
• Raised a manhole in the area of the upcoming smoke test.
• Started moving equipment around in preparation for the proposed Municipal Service Center.
• Made repairs to the Idlewild Water Storage tank SCADA radio and other electronics that were damaged by lightening from the storm event.
• Performed maintenance on well lots, lift stations, fire hydrants and the water distribution and wastewater collection system.

Drainage Crews:

• Are in the process of forming & pouring the concrete wing walls at the Sellmeyer Park project.
• Cleaned various creek crossings and culverts after recent rain event.

Matthew Kite, Scott Kriston & David Clark met with Freese & Nichols this week regarding the design of the Municipal Service Center.  Items discussed were construction phasing, current site conditions & the Public Works building floor materials.

PARKS DEPARTMENT

Spring soccer season is over in Highland Village

All crews are involved in mowing cycles in parks and municipal grounds. 

Wes Nienhuser is involved in weed control and making applications of fire ant bait in various parks. Tony Palesano made repairs to irrigation systems in parks and medians.

Wild flowers that were seeded along the Inland Trail last fall are now blooming in those areas.

Staff is preparing to construct protective railing on the new headwall walk way area that was built be the Drainage Department at Lower Sellmeyer Park.

Local Boy Scout troops are holding camp outs at Pilot Knoll Park this week end.

The Highland Village Senior All Stars met on Monday (19 attendees) and Thursday (38 attendees) at the Highland Shores Community Center for game day.

Eleven Senior All Stars met on Tuesday for AARP Defensive Driving Class.

The Senior All Stars met at Zone Action Center for the Senior Putt-Putt league on Friday to play against the YMCA and Flower Mound senior groups.

HUMAN RESOURCES / STAFF TRAINING

Municipal Court:

• At the regular Council meeting held on Tuesday, Judge Ron Hurst was honored by the Mayor, Council and staff for 30 years of service as Municipal Judge. He was appointed on April 9, 1979 by Mayor Urby Nowlin and the City Alderman. In the presence of Judge Hurst's family and court staff, Mayor Costa presented the Judge with a plaque and a representative from Congressman Burgess' office presented him with a signed letter from the Congressman. Judge Hurst has been employed long than any other city employee and has no plans for retirement in the near future. Congratulations to Judge Ron Hurst!

Parks:

• Rhoda Savage, Fince' Espinoza and Tommy White attended the bid opening for the upcoming Brazos Project on Wednesday.

Police:

• Corporal Patrick Finley attended a mandatory New Supervisor Training at COG in Arlington.

CITY MANAGER / CITY COUNCIL

On Saturday evening, April 25, 2009 Mayor Costa attended the Bandana Ball Casino Night Benefiting Youth & Family Counseling.  She also attended the Community in Schools of North Texas Celebrating Successes Stars, Stetsons & Stilettos Event earlier in the evening.

Council members Adams and Combs attended the Precinct 3 meeting in Flower Mound on Monday.

Tuesday Mayor Costa, City Manager Leavitt and Parks and Recreation Director Savage met with a resident to discuss "Keep Highland Village Beautiful".

Early voting for the May 9, 2009 Municipal and LISD Election was conducted Monday through Friday.  Early voting will continue on Monday and Tuesday, May 4th and 5th.  All Highland Village residents vote at the Municipal Complex Police Training Room during Early Voting and in the Council Chambers on Election Day.