Recap of City Issues 6-11-10

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Red, White and Blue Festival this year. The day started with a 5K/1K fun run and the family fish out. This was the largest race to date with over 300 runners. The morning events concluded with the Arbor Day Proclamation and the giving out of Texas Red Bud trees.  The evening events at Copperas Branch Park included music by Brandon Rhyder and Johnny Cooper. The night concluded with a spectacular firework show! The attendance is estimated between 6,000 to 8,000 people which is a great turnout with the record temperatures.  Thank you to all the city staff for working so hard to make this event successful.

On Thursday, the DCTA held a meeting on the New Member Cities Admission Policy.  Mayor McDearmont and I attended, along with the Mayors and City Management of the cities of Denton and Lewisville.  The topic of discussion was focused on new membership to the Board and the current by-laws of the DCTA. 

Scott Kriston reports that the TXDOT FM 2499 section 4 project contractor is finishing the concrete coping wall near the Poindexter bridge as weather permits.  The contractor redefined the dirt knob on the northwest corner of the Harlington Dr. intersection. 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 is constructing the Northwood / FM 2499 intersection, they anticipate approximately 4 weeks to build, weather permitting.  Most of the work is taking place on the Corinth side of the project now.

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 millwork contractor is installing the cabinets in the REC building.  The dry wall & painting contractors are working inside the PWB, EQU & STO buildings.  The electrical & duct work installation is nearing completion in the PWB.  The dirt contractor installed sod around the site perimeter and removing the erosion control.  The perimeter concrete flume is being poured this week.   

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

Matthew Kite, P.E. & Scott Kriston attended the UTRWD CAC meeting this week to hear the presentation from the design team for the Taylor regional Water Treatment Plant Hypochlorite Generation System.

Scott Kriston met with HVPD and Redmoon at the MSC site to review the status of the proposed installation of the video surveillance system.

Matthew Kite, P.E. & Scott Kriston met with BW2 Engineers & Lee Engineering to discuss the FM407 / Highland Village Rd. intersection left turn lane.

Layne mobilized this week at the Lake Vista well site to begin the well upgrade.  It is anticipated to be in service by next week.

Utility Crews:

• Worked along with other City departments at the annual Red White and Blue Festival.
• Jose Guevara and Darren Dodd attended a Vactor operation & maintenance class this week sponsored by CLS.
• Brought City utility infrastructure to grade along FM 2499
• Are finishing up electrical controls for the new Lake Vista well.
• Performed Itron leak detection testing with an Itron rep. from New York.
• 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:

• Redefined the drainage swale in the 300 block of Karen Renee Court
• Redefined the bar ditch in the 300 block of Whittier Street 
• Redefined the bar ditch in the 2300 block of Briarhill Boulevard
• Mobilized and began cleaning the creek crossing RCP's on Whittier St.

Streets:

The Street Division assisted the Parks Department by going around and cleaning up areas and removing directional signs from the Red. White and Blue festival.

Street Division made a concrete street repairs in front of 64 Remington Drive due to base failure cause by ground water.

The Street Division made concrete sidewalk repairs at 2285 Strathmore Drive due to base failure.

PARKS DEPARTMENT

Park staff had a busy week cleaning up after the Red White and Blue event at Copperas Park.

The automatic self pay station is operational at Copperas Branch Park.

Staff at Unity is preparing to re-sod, top dress and aerate the athletic fields after the baseball season concludes this weekend.

The new pond fountain pump as been installed at Village Park and the fountain is now working.

Wes Neinhuser has been making weed control applications at parks and municipal grounds.

Tony Palesano has been adjusting and repairing irrigation systems in parks and medians.

Trees from the Oncor easement areas at Briarhill and City trail have been transplanted at Marauder Park and Saint James Place.

Senior All Stars

The Highland Village Senior All Stars met on Monday (21 attendees) and Thursday (22 attendees) for game day. 

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

On Friday, 10 Highland Village Senior All Stars went to the Frisco Rough Riders game

HUMAN RESOURCES / STAFF TRAINING

Human Resources:

• The Supervisory Series last training class was on Wednesday in Keller.  Jackie Cottongame, Communications Manager in Police, Heather Miller, Assistant Finance Director, and Bobby Salmon, Drainage Supervisor, attended.  The series consisted of eleven four hour classes focusing on various topics that included managing, communicating and leading.
• On Thursday Jana Onstead held orientation for Jose Lazo in the Drainage Department.  We are glad to have Jose join our staff!
• Martha Butz attended the NTMA board meeting in North Richland Hills on Thursday.  Human Resource representatives from the surrounding area attend to discuss training needs and share information.
• Jana Onstead and Martha Butz met with representatives from Higginbotham and Compass Resources.  Compass Resources provides assistance to employees in locating options for cost effective medical services.