Recap of City Issues - April 16, 2010

Scott Kriston reports that the TXDOT FM 2499 section 4 project contractor is demolishing & pouring the concrete, the coping walls, cut outs, sidewalks and driveway connections on the north bound outside lane, as weather permits.  TXDOT reports that the TDLR inspection was performed on the pedestrian tunnel.  The contractor closed & sealed the pedestrian tunnel located north of the KSC Railroad.

PUBLIC SAFETY (POLICE AND FIRE)

Fire:

Highland Village Firefighters participated in the last phase of the training series provided by SR & FS.  The series provided low-angle rope rescue techniques and in-service training was provided on the new rescue jacks that will provide vehicle stabilization for motor vehicle accidents.

Chief Tatum met with a graduate student of the University of North Texas' Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program to discuss budget preparation and management regarding emergency services.

Fire Department personnel responded to 20 calls for service the week of April 9-15

• Medical Emergencies - 11
• Motor Vehicle Accidents - 2
• Smoke/Odor Investigations - 1
• Public Medical Assists - 3
• Public Service Calls - 2
• Public Education - 1

Police:

This week, the police department responded to 148 calls for service, made 107 traffic contacts, made 4 arrests, responded to no traffic accidents and performed 479 community policing activities.

Girl Scout Troop 8953 is going to help the Highland Village Animal Control Shelter out by hosting a pet supply drive to include the items that we requested.  The girls will have collection bins at each of the 3 Highland Village Elementary Schools through the month of May.  They expect to present us with the items received the first week of June.

Jason Lafortune has been hired as our newest Police Officer starting Monday, April 19th.  He is a recent Collin County Law Enforcement Academy graduate.  Jason lives in Corinth and has previous experience in the financial industry.  We welcome him to our team and look forward to working with him in the future.

Tucker is currently staying at the Highland Village Animal Shelter until we find him a new home.  He is such a cutie! 

The Highland Village Animal Care Unit found a new home for one of our residents this week.  It seems that "Reesespieces" won the heart of one of our citizens the moment they saw him.

STREET / UTILITY DIVISIONS PROJECTS

Streets:

The Street Division made concrete sidewalk repairs at 2015 Highland Forest Drive and a concrete curb street repair at 725 Duvall Boulevard.

The Street Division made asphalt street repairs at Shade Tree Street and Doubletree Drive and one at 309 Duvall Boulevard due to base failure.

The Street Division crew crack sealed Horseshoe Drive  and in the Montclair Subdivision.

Utilities:

Scott Kriston reports that the MSC project contractor is schedule to pour the concrete for the parking paving area located on the east side of the lot on Saturday, weather permitting.  The motor pool & fuel pumps will be closed until the paving is complete and the 7 day concrete break is in compliance with the spec. Update on the Rec bldg: Floor contractor started leveling the floor this week.  The dry wall & painting contractors continue to work inside the Parks & Rec building.  The electrical & duct work rough is being installed in the PWB.  The equipment building and the storage building steel is currently being installed as weather permits.  

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

Utility Crews:

• Responded to four after hour call outs and 11 resident concerns.
• Excavated and repaired one main line sewer clean out on Justin Road.
• Aligned the rings on one manhole. 
• Repaired a valve nut on a water line valve on Quail Ridge.
• Located two areas of utility infrastructure.
• Cleared stoppages at two sewer lines.
• Installed an automatic water line flushing unit at the dead end water main on Duvall.
• Assisted the Drainage Division with a concrete pour on Timber Way.
• Flushed over 930 feet of sewer lines for sewer line maintenance.
• Attended Competent Person Training at 310 Highland Village Road.
• 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:

• Laid sod in the 600 Block of Timber Way after inlaying Rip Rap Rock with concrete to prevent erosion.
• Cleaned a curb inlet box of debris from illegal dumping.
• Cleared the drive ways at Lift Stations 3,4 & 6 of overgrown grass and silt. 
• Pot holed for utilities in the bar ditch in the 1200 block of Highland Village Road for bar ditch maintenance. 
• Met with a resident about standing water in the 100 block of Blue Bonnet.
• Cleared a blockage in a drive way culvert in the 100 Block of Post Oak.
• Attended Competent Person Training at 310 Highland Village Road.

PARKS DEPARTMENT

The North Crew has been re-mulching flower and shrub beds as well as adding seasonal color those areas around City Hall.

Some City Trail areas are starting to show signs of wild flowers that were seeded last fall.

The contractor has started construction and installation on the automatic gate at Copperas Branch Park which will replace the honor system pay station at that location.

The South Crew has been involved in making repairs to Kids Kastle at Unity Park.

All crews are involved in spring mowing cycles in Parks and medians.

The boat dock and walkway at Copperas Park is damaged and closed at this time but should be open within a couple of weeks after repairs are made and new pylons are added for stabilization.

Tony Palesano has been adjusting watering cycles on irrigation systems at various Parks and Municipal grounds.

Wes Neinhuser has been making weed control applications as well as applying fertilizer per spring schedules at all Parks.

Park staff conducted four interviews for the trail crew park tech 1 position on Thursday.  We should have a new employee by next week.

Park staff has been coordinating with TXDOT to ensure the feasibility of future soft-surface trails along the shoreline.

Parks staff has been setting up the trips for this year's Kids Kamp program.  We'll be taking trips four out of five days of the week beginning on June 13th and ending on August 14th.

The Highland Village Road Sidewalk project is in it's final stages.  Sod is currently being applied and that portion of the project should be completed by the end of next week weather permitting.

The contractor has begun construction of the Lake Vista Trail connection and is constructing the forms in preparation to pour concrete early next week.

Senior All Stars

The Highland Village Senior All Stars met on Monday (22 attendees) and Thursday (29 attendees) for game day. 

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

On Friday, 19 Highland Village Senior All Stars took a trip down Antique Alley. Antique Alley spans the historic communities of Cleburne, Grandview and Maypearl.

HUMAN RESOURCES / STAFF TRAINING

Human Resources:

• Jana Onstead and Safety Committee members David Clark, Charles Mitchell, and Tommy White conducted a semi-annual safety inspection of City Hall and the Police and Fire Departments on Thursday.  Special thanks to Richard Smith for assisting with access to certain areas.
• Martha Butz presented the Highland Village Performance Appraisal System to a group of colleagues in Farmers Branch on Thursday. The Dallas HR Public Sector Group is a branch of the Dallas Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and is comprised of area HR professionals who work in the public sector.

Fire:

• Assistant Chief Collier attended a State Firemen's Fire Marshal (SFFMA) Workshop held in Weatherford on Thursday. Attendance is a requirement for all Certification Coordinators as part of their continuing education in order to maintain the department's participation status within the Certification Program.

Police:

• Detective Andrea Musick attended a training session for Criminal Interview and Interrogation held in Irving.
• Sergeant Dennis Oliver attended a Sig Sauer Armorers School that was held in Louisiana.  He is now a certified Sig Sauer Armorer.
• Officer Chris Carver and Corporal Clint Webb both attended Intermediate Crime Scene training in Arlington at the COG facility.  This is one of the classes needed by these officers to obtain their Intermediate Peace Officer Certification through TCLEOSE (our certifying agency).

CITY MANAGER / CITY COUNCIL

Mayor Costa, Mayor Pro Tem Combs and Council Member Meek attended the Highland Village Business Association Luncheon on Tuesday.

Mayor Costa also met with a student from University of North Texas on Tuesday to discuss the city's budget process.

Council Member Wilcox traveled to Austin with the Flower Mound Leadership Class on Tuesday.

Mayor Costa held the first of four "Evening with the Mayor" events scheduled for this month on Thursday.  This meeting was held for residents of Briarhill Estates to allow for open discussion of city and area issues and concerns.