Recap of City Issues - May 22, 2009

Scott Kriston attended the weekly TXDOT FM 2499 project meeting.  The project status is as follows:  A total of 5 spans of the Poindexter bridge are poured on the north bound lanes.  The contractor will continue to perform  concrete pours of the southbound bridge spans next week starting at 6 a.m.  The pours are expected to last 10 hours each.  The contractor is prepping the southbound lanes at the railroad south to FM 407.  The contractor poured the north bound lanes from Highland Shores / Castlewood to the Northwood / Castlewood intersections. 

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Sue Thompson reports the monthly Precinct 3 Task Force meeting was held in Highland Village this week.  The meeting is chaired by Denton County Commissioner Bobbie Mitchell, and the purpose is to provide updates on transportation projects. Those in attendance received updates on such projects as FM 407, especially the section between Briarhill Boulevard and Chinn Chapel Road, which is currently scheduled for a November, 2009 let date, and Section 4 of FM 2499.  Construction continues on Section 4 of FM 2499 through Highland Village.  Due to lake levels, construction on the bridges is on hold.  Castlewood/Northwood is closed for construction and detours are in place and also for Harlington Drive south of the railroad tracks is closed with a detour to Fairland.  The next meeting will be held on June 22nd in Lewisville.

Sue Thompson attended the monthly Lewisville Area Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee meeting.  Sharon Dahl, District Coordinator for Representative Myra Crownover, District 64, spoke on healthcare issues.  Denton County Commissioner Bobbie Mitchell provided information on I-35E improvements.  The project has been divided into 3 sections, the middle section beginning at the Bush Toll road and traveling north across Lake Lewisville to FM 2181, will be constructed, and at this time is planned to be 16-18 lanes.  Timing for the improvements is not yet determined. State Rep. Crownover's "smoke free workplace" bill died in this Legislative session.  

PUBLIC SAFETY (POLICE AND FIRE)

Fire:

• This week Senior University of North Texas Emergency Administration and Planning Student, Ben Dierksmeier began serving his 240 hour internship at the Highland Village Fire Department. Under the direction of Chief Tatum and HVPD Communications Supervisor Jackie Cottongame, Ben's responsibilities during his internship will include reviewing and revising the City's Emergency Management Plan, inventorying supplies and equipment and conducting a hazard analysis and mitigation survey. UNT Internship Director Amy Holt worked with Chief Tatum and Staff in bringing the Internship Program to the Fire Department and providing this valuable service.
• Ben resides with his parents in Highland Village, has a double major in Emergency Management and Sociology and will be graduating in December. Ben has been nominated for the Peace Corps and hopes to pursue his Masters and Doctoral Degree after completion of his Peace Corps work.
• The Highland Village Fire Department responded to 16 calls for service May 15-21st. This included 1 residential fire alarm, 7 medical emergencies, 2 motor vehicle accidents, 1 grass fire,4 public service calls, and 1 mutual aid structure fire in Lake Cities.

Police:

• Students from BHMS received HVPD Certificates. These students were Suzanne Vallez, Justin McManus, Jessica Thompson, Nathan Cannon, Paris Johnson, and Ben Johnson. Attending officers were Sergeant David Pittinger, Corporal Onay Nunez, and Corporal April Roppolo.
• This week the Police Department responded to 167 calls for service, made 79 traffic contacts, made 5 arrests, responded to 5 traffic accidents and performed 677 community policing activities.

STREET / UTILITY DIVISIONS PROJECTS

The Street Division repainted and improved markings by painting direction arrows and stripes at following locations: Briarhill Boulevard @ Highland Shores Boulevard, Highland Village Road @ Justin Road (FM 407) and various other locations.

The Street Division trimmed trees on Highland Village Road.

Scott Kriston & David Clark met with BW2 engineers to discuss the 2008 wastewater restoration project.  The project is currently in the design phase with the engineer organizing all of the data gathered from field surveys the City's Utilities crews performed last summer.

Scott Kriston attended a bid opening at the UTRWD water plant for the rehabilitation of the Doubletree Ranch lift station project.  One bid was received.  The engineer is evaluating why only one contractor bid the project and is waiting on their responses.

Scott Kriston attended the monthly project meeting for the UTRWD 60-inch water line project.  Project status is as follows: 

Utility Crews:

• Responded to three after hour call outs.
• Made two excavations to repair a water lines.
• Unstopped two sewer line stoppages.
• Raised one manhole up 7" to grade.
• Moved equipment around in preparation for the new 948 Service Center.
• Are clearing brush and installing drainage pipe at the Southwood Well lot for the materials storage piles that will be relocated there permanently from the Municipal Service Center site.
• Performed maintenance on well lots, lift stations, fire hydrants and the water distribution and wastewater collection system.

Drainage Crews:

• Are clearing brush and installing drainage pipe at the Southwood Well lot for the materials storage piles that will be relocated there permanently from the Municipal Service Center site.
• Applied bti Briquettes in the 200 block of Elmwood and 3000 block of Buckingham in an attempt to control the mosquito population in those areas.
• Removed mud from drainage easement in the 700 block of Windsor court from the rain event last weekend.

PARKS DEPARTMENT

Parks' crews removed two large trees located alongside the trail at Silverthorne Park.

All crews are involved in mowing cycles throughout the city.

An electrical contractor was called in to make repairs at the Unity Park Baseball Complex.

A contractor has been removing dirt this week that was located behind the Unity Park baseball and soccer game field area.  This will provide additional parking for these events.

Staff placed signs advertising the upcoming Red White and Blue festival throughout the city this week.

The Highland Village Senior All Stars met on Monday (31 attendees) and Thursday (31 attendees) at the Highland Shores Community Center for game day.

Thirteen Senior All Stars met on Tuesday for needle working and card making.

On Wednesday, 33 Highland Village Senior All Stars went on the Choctaw Casino trip.

HUMAN RESOURCES / STAFF TRAINING

Jana Onstead and Vanesa Childers attended the monthly NTSHRM luncheon in Denton.  The speaker topic this month was "Staying Connected in a Disconnected World".

On Tuesday another "Lunch n Learn" was hosted for employees.  The Director of Food & Nutritional Services at Medical Center of Lewisville discussed nutrition.

CITY MANAGER / CITY COUNCIL

Members of Council attended the monthly Precinct 3 Meeting on Monday in the Council Chambers at the Highland Village Municipal Complex.

Mayor Costa, Council Members Combs, Meek and Wilcox, and Community Development Manger Thompson attended the Flower Mound Chamber Luncheon on Tuesday at Celebrations  The luncheon celebrated the graduation of the 2008-2009 Leadership Flower Mound Class..

All members of Council attended the Highland Village Community Development Corporation (4B) Meeting on Wednesday evening.  Presentations and a public hearing were conducted regarding the possible acquisition of the Doubletree Ranch to be used for the Soccer Complex approved by voters in 2004 as part of the 4B 1/2 cent sales tax.