Recap of City Issues - February 19, 2010

On Tuesday the annual tri-city State of the City Luncheon was held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Lewisville. As in the past, the Mayors of Flower Mound, Highland Village and Lewisville presented their information in a video format. Different this year, however, was that the three cities shared a theme and produced a joint video open and close. This year the theme was a play on the CBS program The Amazing Race - our videos were The Even More Amazing Race. Each Mayor "ran the race" through their city to bring their residents the state of their cities. The cooperation between the three cities and the shared theme made for an enjoyable and informative presentation. Our video will be available on our web site and HVTV very soon. A special thanks goes to Highland Village resident Shawn Griffith. Mr. Griffith volunteered his services to direct, produce and edit the joint open and close as well as serve as the emcee at the event. He also provided commemorative t-shirts which were sold at the event for $10 each with the profits going to Christian Community Action, the 2009 Non-Profit of the Year. T-shirts are still available for purchase - see Laurie Mullens if you'd like one for yourself. Also participating either in the video or behind the scenes and deserving of special thanks are Pedro Miranda, Sue Thompson, Michael Leavitt, Scott Kriston, David Clark, Rob Wachal, Frank Furche, Fince Espinoza, Nancy Sharp, Pat Brown and  several Senior All Stars.

Scott Kriston reports that the TXDOT FM 2499 section 4 project contractor is pouring concrete on the south bound lanes at FM 2499 & Castlewood and is in the process of barricade removal at the FM 2499 connection at FM 407.  TXDOT anticipates opening the FM2499 / FM407 intersection to traffic in 3-weeks, weather permitting.

Scott Kriston reports that the Highland Shores Paving project contractor is cleaning up the site & working on sprinkler repairs.  A final walk through was performed.   Contractor is finishing up the punch list items. 

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Sue Thompson and Laurie Mullens attended the monthly merchant meeting at the Shops at Highland Village, and provided updates on Highland Village happenings.  Sue reported that the site plan for a Buffalo Wild Wings Grill and Bar to be located on the FM 407 and Chinn Chapel Road at the corner of the Shops was submitted for review and consideration. Regency Centers announced they have leased space in the Shops to a restaurant chain specializing in authentic Japanese table-side hibachi and cuisine. Mt. Fuji Restaurant has leased space next to the AMC theatre and is slated to open for business this spring, Regency officials said.

PUBLIC SAFETY (POLICE AND FIRE)

Fire:

HVFD conducted 83 hours of fire training and 45 hours of medical continuing education training this past week.

Fire Calls for Service

• Fire Department personnel responded to 16 calls for service the week of February 12-18.
• Medical Emergencies - 7
• Structure Fire - 1
• Motor Vehicle Accident - 1
• Odor Investigation - 1
• Mutual Aid - Medical - 1
• Smoke Investigation - 1
• Gas Leak - 1
• Public Service - 3

This past Saturday, February 13th, Fire Department personnel responded to a fully involved structure fire at 906 Highland Village Road.  Off duty Highland Village Firefighter Jack Lacy discovered the fire at approximately 1:20 AM while driving to the fire station after completing his duties at Denton Presbyterian Hospital, where he works as an ER Technician.   Jack immediately stopped, called 911 and was instrumental in getting the two residents out of the burning house.  Highland Village firefighters were provided vital mutual aid from the Lake Cities, Lewisville, Little Elm and Flower Mound Fire Departments.  One of the residents was transported to the hospital by Flower Mound Medic 501 and later released.  Although the house suffered heavy damage, we can be thankful that some sentimental items were saved and the residents escaped serious injury.  All units cleared the fire scene at approximately 6 a.m.

On Thursday, Captain Vince Jones, Firefighters Sorsby, Hinkle, Halfmann, Clasby and Caudle along with Captain Chip Willis attended the 5th annual Chili Cook Off at McAuliffe Elementary.

Police:

This week, the police department responded to 124 calls for service, made 112 traffic contacts, made 5 arrests, responded to 4 traffic accidents and performed 361 community policing activities.

Senior Animal Care Officer Michelle Burke put together an "Adopt A Pet" and adopted out two of our homeless dogs, Liam and Molly.  Liam's new family (The Ogrodniks) have already sent us an email and said that Liam is "a good sweet dog; so loving and already a very good listener, you all took really good care of him and it shows.  We are so honored and blessed to have him in our family."  It's little notes like these from our adopting families that make it all worth while! 

McAuliffe Elementary recently sponsored a "Chili Cook-Off" that the Police Department attended and participated in.  The event was a huge success, raising over $10,000.  Corporal April Roppolo and Corporal David Harney manned a table and entered their chili into the contest.  Auxiliary Renee Olsen (who worked the event table) said that the parents came back and wanted David's recipe.  The other personnel from the Police Department were Officer Delana Jones, Auxiliary Williams, Auxiliary Jones, Auxiliary Kelly, Auxiliary Conrad and Auxiliary Olsen. 

STREET / UTILITY DIVISIONS PROJECTS

Streets:

The Street Division cleaned up trees that had fallen  across the streets throughout the city during the large snow event.

The Street Division built a temporary parking lot and a road on the east side of Unity Park.

Utilities:

Scott Kriston reports that the MSC project contractor has mixed in the lime stabilization for the front & south side parking lot, installed forms for the concrete and will pour concrete next week, weather permitting.  The framing and dry wall contractor continues to work inside the Parks & Rec building.  The fence contractor is setting the perimeter fence along the south side of the lot.  The equipment building and parking structure foundation subgrade is currently being laid out for a concrete pour later next week. 

Scott Kriston met with BW2 Engineering , Inc. & discussed the status of all open Public Works projects.

Utility Crews:

• Responded to seven after hour call outs and one resident concern.
• Excavated and replaced 168 feet of sewer line on Spring Oaks.
• Excavated & repaired a water line on Shasta.
• Excavated & repaired a fire hydrant on Briarhill due to a traffic incident. 
• Unstopped five home owner sewer line backups.
• Located three areas of utility infrastructure.
• TV inspected two sewer lines.
• Raised three water main valves to grade & poured concrete pads.
• Assisted HVFD by turning off water service during a structure fire on Highland Village Rd.
• 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:

• Excavated & installed a construction entrance to the Unity Park Water tower site & regarded the bar ditches in the area to drain correctly.
• Cleaned debris from inlet boxes and grate inlets caused from the recent rain & snow melt events.
• Demolished an inlet box on Misty Oak.  It will be reconstructed next week, weather permitting.

PARKS DEPARTMENT

Parks staff has prepared the Unity Park soccer fields for games that began on Wednesday.

The Village Church will be assisting the Parks Department in cutting back our native grasses on Brazos median, City Hall and the Fire Station this Saturday.  They'll have 120 - 150 volunteers.

Parks staff has been helping city residents with disposal of damaged tree limbs by chipping and loading them into dumpsters set up at Copperas Branch Park.

Staff at Copperas are still involved in restroom renovations in order to get ready for the Spring season.

Tommy White has been in contact with Texan Sports Turf concerning baseball field renovations at Unity Park.

Wes Neinhuser is making application in parks and municipal grounds for winter weed control.

Tony Palesano is working on the Calsense irrigation system as well as doing plumbing repairs and adjustments to facilities in buildings at Copperas Branch Park.

The staff at Pilot Knoll Park are re-roofing park picnic shelters.   

Last Friday night was the Father and Daughter dance held at Celebrations Grand Ballroom. The event sold out once again with 400 people attending the event. Everyone enjoyed the dinner, music, door prizes, and a rose for every daughter.

Senior All-Stars

The Highland Village Senior All Stars met on Monday (22 attendees) and Thursday (30 attendees) for game day. Thursday was also the monthly potluck lunch.

Sixteen Senior All Stars met on Tuesday for open game time and the Helping Hands project.

On Wednesday, 53 Highland Village Senior All Stars went on the Choctaw Casino trip.

HUMAN RESOURCES / STAFF TRAINING

Human Resources:

• Martha Butz, Jana Onstead and David Clark met with a Loss Prevention Consultant for our workers compensation carrier, who will assist with future safety meetings.

Police:

• Captain Corry Blount attended a grant workshop in Arlington at COG this week.  This is the training required for the grant the Police Department received for the license plate readers.
• Chief Ed O'Bara attended a meeting with Finance and other department heads to discuss next year's budget. 
• Sergeant Sheri Morrison attended a meeting for all administrative personnel where Finance Director Ken Heerman explained some changes in our current taxable benefits policy.

CITY MANAGER / CITY COUNCIL

Mayor and members of Council attended the Annual Tri-City State of the Cities luncheon on February 16.

Mayor Costa participated in the Annual McAuliffe Chili Cook Off and Silent Auction on Thursday, February 18.