Recap of City Issues - December 4, 2009

Scott Kriston reports that the TXDOT FM 2499 project contractor is installing the Pedestrian tunnel north of the KCS Railroad, installing the 84-inch UTRWD water line casing north of the KCS Railroad, excavating the south bound lane at FM 2499 & Castlewood and is excavating the FM 2499 connection at FM 407.

Sue Thompson reports the 10th annual Our Village Glow was held Thursday, December 3rd at the Shops at Highland Village presented by the Highland Village Women's Club, The City of Highland Village and the Shops at Highland Village.  The event was scheduled for Tuesday, December 1st, however due to inclement weather the decision was made to move the Glow to Thursday evening.  The cold December evening didn't keep the 2000+ from enjoying the local school choirs, hot chocolate, and tree lighting at this annual community event.  Denton County Commissioner Bobbie Mitchell provided the invocation, the crowd was welcomed by representatives of Regency Center and the Highland Village Women's Club. Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Scott McDearmont welcomed everyone on behalf of the City, and introduced Sue Thompson to flip the switch this year to light the 60' tall tree.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Sue Thompson reports that she and Laurie Mullens attended the monthly merchant meeting at the Shops at Highland Village and provided updates on various topics, including the "Our Village Glows" which was moved to 12-3-09 due to inclement weather.  Also received positive feedback on the Holiday Pass Program from several of the merchants present as well as updates on the road projects and "black Friday" sales.

PUBLIC SAFETY (POLICE AND FIRE)

Fire:

Training/Meetings:

• Assistant Chief Collier attended a FIANT meeting on Wednesday.
• On Monday, Chief Tatum, Asst. Chief Collier, Captain Nokes and Captain Jones attended the monthly Officer's meeting.
• Captain Chip Willis held a pre-plan meeting for the Santa Day Parade.  Those in attendance were Chief Tatum, Ron Knox, Charles Mitchell, Sam Smith, Karl Schlichter, Mark Stewart, Fince Espinoza, and Andra Boxberger. 

Fire Calls for Service

• Fire Department personnel responded to 29 calls for service the week of Nov 20-Dec 3rd.
• 16 Medical Emergencies
• 3 Structure Fires
• 5 Public Service Calls
• 1 Public Assist
• 1 Motor Vehicle Accident
• 1 Odor Investigation
• 1 Commercial Fire Alarm
• 1 Welfare Check

Public Relations:

• Captain Chip Willis met with various business owners and managers regarding their participation in the upcoming Santa Day Parade to be held next Saturday, December 12.  The Santa Day Parade will begin at Highland Village Elementary School at the corners of Sellmeyer and Brazos.  The parade will travel west on Brazos to the Community Center located at Highland Shores Blvd and Community Center Drive.

Police:

• This week, the police department responded to 110 calls for service, made 101 traffic contacts, made 7 arrests, responded to 1 traffic accidents and performed 671 community policing activities.

STREET / UTILITY DIVISIONS PROJECTS

Streets:

• The Street Division installed the "No Train Horn" signs at Highland Village Road and at Briarhill Boulevard. The quiet zone area at railroad crossings was activated this week.
• The Street Division made a concrete street repair on Creek Haven Drive at Highland Shores.
• Boulevard that was caused by water damaging the base under the pavement.
• The Street Division cracksealed areas that showed stress cracks in the asphalt pavement in the Village Estate II subdivision.

Utilities:

• Scott Kriston reports that the Highland Shores Paving project contractor is preparing to install the new asphalt pavement on the west bound lane from Remington west to Briarhill, weather permitting.   Two-way traffic has been established from Highland Village Rd through the Briarhill intersection.   
• Scott Kriston & Gay Durden met with a rep from KI Furniture to discuss furniture needs for the new MSC.
• Scott Kriston & Justin Praesel met with BW2 Engineers, Inc to discuss Utilities projects.

Utility Crews:

• Relocated the WLAN from 948 to Double Tree and are currently experiencing a faster, more reliable network connection to City Hall.
• Responded to three after hour call outs and four resident concerns.
• Delivered notices to neighboring residents about upcoming construction of new MSC.
• Turned off 12" water line for FM2499 contractor so they could install the UTRWD 84-inch casing pipe.
• After multiple backups this weekend, crews TV inspected a sewer line behind the FM407 well lot.  Inspection found that the line was collapsed and was immediately excavated and repaired.
• Located two areas of utility infrastructure for proposed franchise utility work.
• Located a sewer line cleanout that had been overlaid by asphalt
• Assisted the Parks Dept. with repair of a sewer line at the Pilot Knoll Park.
• Cleared one sewer backup and repaired three water line leaks.
• Performed meter rereads, water turn on/turn offs, and leak checks.
• Performed maintenance on well lots, lift stations, fire hydrants and the water distribution and wastewater collection system.

Drainage Crews:

• Are near completion on wrecking & filling the old pool located on the Double Tree Ranch property.
• Are performing bar ditch, and drainage line maintenance in various locations throughout the City.

PARKS DEPARTMENT

City staff, Highland Village Women's Club and The Shops of Highland Village agreed to move the date of this year's Our Village Glows from Tuesday to Thursday due to the rain forecasted.  It turns out that Thursday is a much more desirable event day.  We hope everyone was able to attend.

On Thursday, Park's staff set up the Our Village Glows supplies and equipment in preparation for the show that night.

Parks staff has been busy decorating the municipal complex with Christmas lights for the Holiday Season.

Tony Palesano has been assisting American Landscape Systems with the replacement of the irrigation controllers to the Calsense system for the municipal complex, fire station, the Brazos practice field and the Brazos median between Medina and HIghland Village Road.

The Highland Village Senior All Stars met on Monday (18 attendees) and Thursday (35 attendees) for game day.

Eleven Senior All Stars met on Tuesday for open game time.

On Wednesday, 13 Highland Village Senior All Stars met at Barnes and Noble for Book Club.

HUMAN RESOURCES / STAFF TRAINING

Human Resources:

• Human Resources will begin screening applications in December for the Director of Parks and Recreation position.  Interviewing will not begin until January.

CITY MANAGER / CITY COUNCIL

Council Member Meek toured the Flower Mound Emergency Center and Flower Mound Imaging Center on Monday, November 23rd.

Mayor Costa took part in the Reading for Boys and Girls Club of Denton County event at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore at The Shops at Highland Village on Friday, November 27th.

Council Member Meek and City Attorney Palumbo attended the 7th Annual 26th Congressional District/TxDOT Transportation Summit hosted by Congressman Michael Burgess at the Texas Motor Speedway on Monday, November 30th.

Mayor Costa met with Denise Griffith and other representatives from Operation Peace of Mind on Tuesday, December 1st.

Deputy Mayor Pro Tem McDearmont attended the Music for a Cause Luncheon at Majesty's Inspirational Dinner Club in Flower Mound on Thursday, December 3rd.  The event was held to recognize the truly outstanding contribution of our military service men and women and their families, and the hardships that so many have experienced as a result of combat-related stress, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other stress-related mental illnesses.

Mayor Costa and members of Council joined residents at the annual "Our Village Glows" tree lighting ceremony sponsored by the Highland Village Women's Club on Thursday evening.  The event, which was held at The Shops at Highland Village, was held two days later than originally scheduled due to bad weather in the area on Tuesday.