City Connections - December Edition

Wholesale Utility Rate Adjustment

A pass-through component is reflected in your utility bill for wholesale water and sewer charges from the UTRWD.  These charges are determined to provide billing that equals the amount actually billed to the City by the UTRWD.

Each year, effective with the November billing, this rate is updated to reflect increases or decreases in rates from the UTRWD, adjusted by a reconciliation of billed amounts compared to actual charges incurred previously. 

Since adopting this methodology in FY 2008, the total amount billed to residents through FY 2009 is within $3,000 of the $6.6M actual wholesale costs paid to the UTRWD.  However, increases from the UTRWD will result in a projected shortfall of $215,058 next year.  Thus, rates are to be adjusted to address this shortfall. (There is no markup associated with these charges).

Updated wholesale water will result in a 4.5% increase for an average bill (usage of 12,000 gal), while wholesale sewer charges will reflect a smaller increase of 1.6%, resulting in an average increase of 2.8%.

Change in Wholesale Rates 

                                  Previous                Updated
Whls Water   
    Base Charge          $16.30                   $16.72      
    Volume Charge    2 / 1000 gal         .75 / 1000 gal

Whls Sewer 
     Base Charge          $16.69                  $16.69 
     Volume Ch       1.60 / 1000 gal         1.73 / 1000 gal

Change in Average Bill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Cold Weather Is On Its Way!

 

Here are tips to assist you during the winter to help prevent frozen water pipes:

1. Be sure to disconnect all outside water hoses.  This will prevent an overnight freeze from bursting either the faucet or the pipe it is connected to.
2. Insulate pipes or faucets in unheated areas with pipe wrapping materials that are available at any hardware stores.
3. Locate your shut-off valve.  Some homes have accessible valves, while others only have shut-off valves in the meter boxes.  Please keep our Utility Service number handy, so that you may contact us in the event of an emergency.
4. Any plumbing inside your home that is facing an outside wall should be considered during winter months.  To help prevent these pipes from freezing, open the cabinets to expose the pipes to the warm inside.

Winter Averaging

The amount of water a residence uses during the winter months determines what the sewer bill will be for the rest of the year.  It's difficult for most people to get a "feel" of how much water they use and where they use it.  Here's information to help:

Regular Shower - 25 gal.

Full Tub - 36 gal.

Toilet - 3-6 gal.

Washing Machine - 30-60 gal.

Save Your Drains, Bag the FOG (Fats, Oils & Grease)

• Grease from cooking makes its way into your private sewer pipes and the City’s sewer mains when you dispose of it by pouring down your kitchen sink drain.
• Grease disposed through your kitchen sink clogs your drains and creates sewer back-ups.  Blocked sewer pipes cause raw sewer to back up into your house, and could cause the City’s sewer mains to clog causing raw sewer to back up into your neighbors houses.  Sewer back-ups lead to expensive cleanup and plumbing repair bills that must be paid for by the home owner.

  Wipe or scrape dishes before washing.
  Remove grease or oil from your pans with a paper towel before washing.
  Dispose of food scraps into the trash and minimize the use of garbage disposals.
  Cool down grease, pour it into a container and dispose of it in the trash.

Save a Life – Learn CPR

The Highland Village Fire Department conducts monthly CPR and Health Care Provider courses. This training covers Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for Adults, Infants and Children and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training.

Upcoming Class Dates:  Thursday, December 3  6:00-9:00 p.m. and Thursday, January 7  6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
CPR Costs: $25 for residents, $45 for non-residents ~ HC Provider Costs:  $35 for residents, $55 for non-residents
A form of ID is required for address verification. Class size is limited; please contact Highland Village Fire Department at 972-317-0890 to sign-up.

Highland Village Fire Department Presents the First Annual Santa Parade & Santa Day at The Fire Station

When:   Saturday, December 12, 2009
Time:    10:00 a.m. Santa Parade - beginning at Highland Village Elementary
and travelling down Brazos Boulevard to the Highland Shores Drive and
ending at the Highland Shores Community Center 
11:00 a.m.  - 2:00 p.m. Santa Day at the Fire Station
Where:  Highland Village Fire Station    
1200 Highland Village Road

Pictures with Santa Claus
Bring your Camera to capture your special photos
TEXAS CLASSIC CARS will be featured in the Parade

There will be cookies and hot chocolate, face painting, children’s area and a whole lot more!

You don’t want to miss this year’s Santa Day...it will be the best year ever.

 

Highland Village Has it All – Come See for Yourself!

Everything you need for your holiday shopping, gift giving, party planning and family gatherings can be found right here in Highland Village! The holiday shopping season offers you an opportunity to discover the new stores of Highland Village.

By staying in Highland Village you can enjoy the cheerful Christmas decorations, avoid the holiday crowds and receive a hearty “thank you” from local store owners. That’s a part of the season which shouldn’t be overlooked. So, look around, abundant gifts wait to be purchased right here at home. Keeping those dollars in Highland Village benefits us all and that’s a gift you can feel very good about giving.

Look for the Gold Bow – Receive a Special Gift

A postcard announcing the Holiday Gift Pass Program – Look for the Gold Bow! was sent to you in mid-November. When you’re out doing your holiday shopping and dining, take your card to participating businesses in Highland Village and receive a special gift. We do “Have it All” in Highland Village – including businesses who want to reward you for patronizing their establishments this holiday season!

Highland Village Pet Licensing – It’s the Law.
It’s Simple. It’s Because You Love Your Pet!

Who Needs a City of Highland Village Pet License?

Highland Village city ordinance requires all dogs and cats over 4 months old and kept within the City limits to have a current license. License tags are to be worn by the animal when outside the residence. Violators can be cited for failure to comply resulting in a fine.

What are the Benefits of Licensing?

• A license tells everyone your pet is not a homeless stray.
• Found pets can be reunited quickly with their owners.
• Your pet license is proof your pet has been vaccinated against rabies.
• License fees support the care for the stray and homeless animals housed in the City’s animal shelter. Other services funded by pet licensing include medical treatment and vaccinations for the animals adopted to their new families, education and outreach programs.

How Do I License My Pet?

By Mail: Mail a copy of your pet’s current rabies vaccination certificate, complete with your mailing address and phone number, along with a check or money order made payable to Highland Village Animal Registration. Send to: Highland Village Animal Registration, c/o PetData, PO Box 141929, Irving, TX 75014-1929

By Mail: Mail a copy of your pet’s current rabies vaccination certificate, complete with your mailing address and phone number, along with a check or money order made payable to Highland Village Animal Registration. Send to: Highland Village Animal Registration, c/o PetData, PO Box 141929, Irving, TX 75014-1929

Online: You are eligible to register online if you have received a full-page renewal notice in the mail and you are not required to submit any paperwork (such as an updated rabies certificate). Please have your notice ready, and visit the PetData website at www.petdata.com (select Highland Village from the city list). A convenience fee of $1.75 will apply for each online transaction.

How Much Does it Cost to License my Pet Each Year?

Pet - $5.00
Senior Citizen (65+) Pets – No Fee
Service Dogs – No Fee
Replacement Tag – No Fee

Pet - $5.00 Senior Citizen (65+) Pets – No Fee Service Dogs – No Fee Replacement Tag – No Fee Who Can I Contact with Questions?

 

PetData Licensing: 214-687-9129 or www.petdata.com 

Highland Village Animal Care: 972-317-6551 or mburke@highlandvillage.org

Christmas Tree Recycling

December 26 to January 2
Copperas Branch Park
100 Copperas Branch Park Dr. - Front Parking Lot
Please remove all decorations

Resolution Run

5K Run/Walk & 5K Four-Legged Friend Run
Benefiting the Highland Village Trail System
Saturday, January 16, 2010

8:00 a.m. Race Day Registration
9:00 a.m. 5K Race Start
9:15 a.m. Dog Race Start
Registration Fees:
$22 Adult; $15 Students/Kids; $25 Dog & Partner Entry
Location: Highland Village Office Suites behind Wal-Mart, 1 block north of 407 on 2499
Register by January 8 and receive a long sleeve Resolution Run T-shirt
Sign up at the Parks and Recreation Office at City of Highland Village or online at www.terrafirmapromo.com/events/resolution

Help us Name It!

The City of Highland Village and the Parks and Recreation Board are soliciting your suggestions for naming a new city facility to be located at 948 Highland Village Road. The complex will be the new home of the Parks and Recreation Department including a senior center meeting facility. The criteria for naming the new facility are summarized as follows:

• The name shall be familiar to the majority of citizens, easy to recall, unique and lasting
• The following guidelines should be considered and are listed in order of importance:
  1) By outstanding of predominate physical characteristics of the land such as:
• Those occurring naturally
• Landmark significance
• Historical significance
• Manmade features

2) In honor of a deceased community leader
3) In honor of a deceased national or state leader
4) Based on the activity, event, or function of the land

Please submit your suggestions via email to younameit@highlandvillage.org no later than December 16, 2009.  You may also attend the Parks and Recreation Board meeting scheduled for December 21, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. and make your suggestions in person.