Recap of City Issues - May 28, 2010

Scott Kriston reports that the TXDOT FM 2499 section 4 project contractor is finishing the concrete coping walls, cut outs, sidewalks, added storm water inlets and driveway connections on the north bound outside lane as weather permits.  The contractor is mowing the r.o.w. as weather permits.  The contractor is preparing to redefine some offsite drainage areas where easements were obtained during the design process.  The contractor moved into the Northwood / FM 2499 intersection & began to construct it, they anticipate approximately 4 weeks to build, weather permitting.  Most of the work is taking place on the Corinth side of the project now.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Sue Thompson reports Highland Village hosted the monthly Precinct 3 Task Force meeting on May 24, 2010.  This monthly meeting is chaired by Denton County Commissioner Bobbie Mitchell. The purpose of the meeting is to provide a updated report on roadway construction projects within the Denton County Precinct 3 area.  The next phase of improvements to FM 407 from Briarhill Boulevard to Chinn Chapel Road is expected to begin in the next month.  Construction is expected to take approximately 15 months.  Construction has begun at the intersection of Castlewood and Northwood at FM 2499.  Detours are in place and citizens were notified.

PUBLIC SAFETY (POLICE AND FIRE)

Fire:

On Friday, Highland Village Fire Department conducted Physical Agility Testing for twenty-five applicants that applied for the Firefighter Paramedic position.

Fire Calls for Service

Fire Department personnel responded to 25 Calls for Service the week of May 21-26:

• Medical Emergencies - 11
• Odor Investigation - 1
• Public Service - 2
• Public Assists - 2
• Residential Fire Alarms - 4
• Commercial Fire Alarms - 4
• Public Education Event - 1

Fire Personnel conducted three Fire Alarm Inspections, two Fire Protection Finals and completed a Hydro test for commercial businesses this week.

Students at McAuliffe Elementary school held Box Car Races on Friday. Highland Village Fire Personnel had earlier responded to a fire alarm at the school and while they were at the school, the students asked them to participate in the races.  Firefighter/Paramedics Charles Hinkle, Amber Wade, Scott Taylor and Matthew Luttrell fashioned a medic "box" car and labeled it 481.

Firefighters provided a tour of the Fire Station and the Firemen's quarters to a three year old and his family who were celebrating his birthday this past Saturday.

Nancy Sharp attended graduation from Leadership Lewisville on Thursday evening.  The event was held at the Hilton Garden Inn ~ Lewisville.

Police:

This week, the police department responded to 146 calls for service, made 170 traffic contacts, made 12 arrests, responded to 4 traffic accidents and performed 262 community policing activities.

Officer Jason Lafortune has begun Phase 2 in our Field Training Program.

One our citizens recently left some pet beds for us to use at the shelter.  We have a number of citizens that drop off items for us to use that do so anonymously just to provide help to our operation.  Thank you to everyone that helps! 

A resident recently sent us the following:  "I just wanted to give you an update on Buddy Jo, the low-rider lab.  You called me a couple years ago to see if we had room for Buddy in our animal rescue program.  He had been in the shelter for over 6 weeks and was heartworm positive with little interest.  When we took him in, he was so shy and timid.  We treated his heartworms, got him neutered and vaccinated and ready for adoption.  However, during the 6 weeks of heartworm treatment, my husband fell in love with him and ended up adopting him.  He has broken out of his shell and become such a good dog.  He smart and can site, stay, leave it and high five.  I am proud to live in the in a city that has such a proactive animal shelter with community support.  As a representative of the animal rescue community, I can confidently say that we like working with you and Highland Village is known for being on the best shelters in the area.  You look out for the animals and work hard to find them homes.  You even help other shelters when able.  Since animal rescue is mainly volunteer based, working with shelters that are rescue friendly helps us be more efficient.  Thank you." 

STREET / UTILITY DIVISIONS PROJECTS

Utilities:

Scott Kriston reports that the MSC project mason is working on the stone work for the PWB & REC buildings. The window contractor is installing the store front windows on the PWB & REC buildings.  The flooring contractor is installing the tile floors in the REC building.  The dry wall & painting contractors are working inside the PWB & REC buildings.  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. and discussed the status of all open Public Works projects.

Utilities staff gave a farewell party to Gay Durden with cake, punch and gifts.  She is retiring on May 28th.  We will all dearly miss her smiling face and cheerful attitude.

Scott Kriston performed a final walk through on the Lanier Way Cul-De-Sac improvements this week.  The contractor is working on a small punch list.

Utility Crews:

• Unstopped one sewer line blockage.
• Responded to five after hour call outs.
• Replaced five old style curb stops in preparation for a future AMR installation.
• Dressed three yards that were damaged from line breaks.
• Assisted Layne Texas during the well testing at the well lots and Doubletree irrigation wells.
• Set 3 water meters for the new MSC facilities.
• Brought the Highland Shores well lot online as water usage has started to increase.
• Installed and configured chemical leak alarms at the Highland Shores well lot.
• Performed semi-annual maintenance on the RR Automatic Horn System at Highland Village Road and Briarhill Boulevard RR crossings.
• 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:

• Completed redefining the drainage swale in the rear easement on Newhaven.  
• Cleaned trash and debris from around the retention pond on Quail Cove.
• Cleaned various creek crossings to restore proper flow. 
• Removed brush and debris from around pond at the Doubletree Ranch.
• Met with residents in the Chapel Springs and  Castlewood Estates subdivisions regarding ground water issues.
• Cleaned several driveway culverts along Highland Village Road of leaves and debris to restore proper bar ditch flows.

Streets:

The Street Division made some asphalt street repairs on Big Elm Street and Snowdon Court due the the wear, tear and the age of the pavement.

The Street crew painted crosswalks, stop bars and inland trail crossings throughout the city and will continue through next week.

PARKS DEPARTMENT

Parks staff has been performing regular maintenance throughout the city.

Parks staff has been preparing Unity Park and Copperas Branch Park for the Red, White and Blue Festival by spreading time release ant bait and assuring the properties represent the city well.

Parks staff at Copperas Branch Park installed new signage for the automatic self pay station at the gate house this week.

A contractor removed and replanted trees from the Oncor easement area at Briarhill Blvd. to the pond area at Marauder Park. 

The boat dock at Copperas Park has been repaired and is open to park visitors.

Andra Boxberger and Fince Espinoza met with representative from Marcus High School Cross Country Booster Club to finalize plans for the Red, White and Blue 1K / 5K.

Recreation staff has been busy finalizing vendor plans, staff assignments and contracts for the Red, White and Blue Festival.

Red, White and Blue Sponsorship Committee (Sue Thompson, Laurie Mullens, Andra Boxberger) met with representatives from Ben E. Keith to finalize their sponsorship commitment.

Recreation staff ordered six hundred pounds of farm raised catfish for the Red, White and Blue Festival family fish-out.  The fish will be delivered next week. 

Axis Contracting, Inc. has poured the trail connections across FM 2499 located at Village Park and Market Trail.  In order for the connections to be completed, TXDOT will form up and pour the ADA ramps that connect the crosswalk to the trails.  They are scheduled to be done next week.

Senior All Stars

 The Highland Village Senior All Stars met on Monday (19 attendees) and Thursday (24 attendees) for game day. 

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

On Thursday, 22 Highland Village Senior All Stars went to the see the play "Wicked" at Fair Park Music Hall.

HUMAN RESOURCES / STAFF TRAINING

Human Resources:

Jackie Cottongame and Bobby Salmon attended the Supervisory Series, "Understanding and Managing Generations," on Wednesday in Keller.

Jana Onstead and Vanesa Childers attended the NTSHRM luncheon in Corinth on Thursday.

Vanesa Childers completed the process for E-Verify set up.  E-Verify provides an automated link to federal databases to help employers determine the employment authorization of new hires.  The web based verification is a companion to the Form I-9 that has been in place since 1986.

Fire:

Assistant Chief Collier and Captain Chip Willis attended Firearms Qualifications at the Denton County Sheriff' Office on Tuesday.