Recap of City Issues 7-16-10

Scott Kriston reports that the TXDOT FM 2499 section 4 project 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, weather permitting.  The proposed traffic signal for the FM 2499 / Highland Shores / Castlewood intersection is ordered, there is a 2 month lead time for delivery & installation.

     PUBLIC SAFETY (POLICE AND FIRE)

Police:

This week, the police department responded to 156 calls for service, made 55 traffic contacts, made 1 arrest, responded to 1 traffic accident and performed 696 community policing activities.

The Highland Village Animal Care unit received a monetary donation to assist with medical treatment and care for the shelter animals.

The Police Department completed an initial interview with a Police Officer candidate for our last open position. This applicant is also scheduled to attend an oral board next week, which is the next step in the hiring process.

Fire:

• Calls for Service the week of July 9-15:
• Medical Emergencies - 9
• Commercial Fire Alarm - 1
• Structure Fire - 1
• Fire Call - 1
• Mutual Aid - Medical- 1

Other Activities

• Commercial Hydro - 2
• Commercial Plan Reviews  - 3
• Commercial Inspections - 1

Chief Tatum and Assistant Chief Collier interviewed and offered a conditional job offer to a candidate for the open position of Firefighter Paramedic.

STREET / UTILITY DIVISIONS PROJECTS

Streets:

The Street Division made some concrete street repairs at 2900 and 2845 Hillside Street and on Castlewood Boulevard at Excalibur Drive due some base failures.

The Street Division are saw cutting and getting prepared to make concrete street repairs next week at Tartan Trail and Silverthorne Trail due base failures.

Utilities:

Scott Kriston reports that the MSC project mason is working on the stone work for the PWB & REC buildings, wall & fence. The window contractor finished installing the store front windows on the PWB building.  The AC was started up this week in the PWB.  The ceiling grid is installed inside the PWB & REC buildings, an overhead inspection was performed this week, the contractor is working on a small punch list.  They will call for a Building Official inspection prior to installing the ceiling tiles.  The millwork contractor is installing the cabinets in the REC & PWB buildings.  The roofing contractor is finishing the REC & MP roof.  The carpet was installed inside the REC building this week, the sports floor is scheduled to be installed next week.  

The Oak St. GSR site improvements project painting contractor completed the painting in the tank interior.  He is priming the outside of the tank and will be painting the outside of the tank next week.  A holiday test & inspection will be called for next week.  The GC will then mobilize and start demolition and rebuilding the rest of the lot. 

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

The Highland Village Road water line replacement project sections 1 & 2.  The City's new message board sign was deployed to warn traffic.  RKM Utility Services, Inc. began working this week.  They installed approximately 200 feet of new water line and made one tie-in.  This project consists of replacing approximately 5000 feet of water line along Highland Village Road from Brazos Blvd. to Lake Vista.  The contractor will be onsite for 4 months.  You should expect minor traffic delays in the area for the duration of the project.

Chinn Chapel Road phase 1 reconstruction contractor mobilized this week.  They set up signage and erosion control.  This project is a Town of Copper Canyon project funded through Denton County bonds.  It consists of drainage improvements and road reconstruction on Chinn Chapel from approximately 100 feet north of FM 407 to Orchid Hill Lane.  The contract has 500 calendar days to final completion.  There will be traffic detours throughout the duration of the project; you should expect traffic delays in the area.

Matthew Kite, P.E., Scott Kriston & BW2 Engineering met with LDJR Engineering this week to discuss review comments for the proposed Church of LDS located in the western part of the City.

The Utilities Division took delivery of the budgeted F-450 service truck with valve exerciser this week.  This unit will be deployed as part of the City's valve maintenance program as mandated by Homeland Security & TCEQ.  The City is required to verify the location of every water main valve and operational status of each as part of this mandate.  We will be working with Rob Wachal, GIS Administrator, to create mapping and gather GPS locations of all valves and operate them with the tool on this truck to be in compliance with the mandate. 

Utility Crews:

• Responded to three after hour call outs and one resident concern.
• Performed two line locates of utility infrastructure.
• Unstopped three sewer line blockages.
• Raised one meter box and replaced five.
• Changed out two meter curb stops for future AMR system.
• Replaced five sewer clean out caps that were found missing during the phase II smoke test.
• Isolated the water line at Highland Village Rd. & Brazos Blvd. for the Highland Village Rd. Water Line Replacement Project Sections 1 & 2.
• Cleaned out 54 valve stacks and operated valves for the Highland Village Rd. Water Line Replacement Project Sections 1 & 2.
• Excavated and repaired a meter leak on Winding Bend.
• Removed old lift station pump controls and installed upgraded controls in the Pilot Knoll overnight camping lift station for Parks Dept.
• 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:

• Installed a construction entrance at 310 Highland Village for contractors to stock pile clean fill dirt for future uses.
• Cleaned debris from 300 ft of the creek located along the200 block of Sellmeyer.
• Clean debris from the whye inlet boxes in the 900 block of Lake Breeze.
• Made an 18-inch RCP tie-in and began the installation of a 10-foot curb inlet box for the Spring Oaks Turnaround Project.
• Met with residents in the 200 block of Brookdale regarding private property flooding issues.
• Met with a resident in the 4000 block of Abigail regarding erosion in an existing drainage easement located on the property.

PARKS DEPARTMENT

Park staff at Pilot Knoll Park is preparing to do road repair work in the overnight camping area due to wash out areas caused by recent heavy rains.  The Streets and Drainage department has offered assistance with this project and it is very much appreciated. Justin Praesel has also been helping Park staff out by doing electrical repair work on the septic system at that site and we appreciate his efforts as well.

Staff at Unity Park is prepping the baseball fields for the second week of the AAYBA World Series Tournament that will continue on Sunday the July 18th. 

Wes Nienhuser has been making weed control applications in the Parks.

Tony Palesano has been making irrigation adjustments to systems in Parks and Municipal grounds.

Tommy White met with a contractor this week concerning restroom replacement at Unity Park Kids Kastle / soccer field area.

This is the fifth week of Kids Kamp at Briarhill Middle School. The field trips this week included Owens Farm, Cabela's, Skating, and the Old Town Swimming Pool.

Senior All Stars

The Highland Village Senior All Stars met on Monday (22 attendees) and Thursday (27 attendees) for game day. 

Thirteen Highland Village Senior All Stars met on Tuesday for open game time.

On Wednesday, 6 Highland Village Senior All Stars National went to the Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Ft. Worth.

HUMAN RESOURCES / STAFF TRAINING

Human Resources:

• Bill Parsons, City employee and resident, was recognized during the Mayor's comments at Tuesday's Council meeting. Mr. Parsons is retiring later this month after 25 years of service to the citizens of Highland Village. Currently the Maintenance Superintendent, Mr. Parsons has served the city as a volunteer firefighter and achieved the rank of Assistant Fire Chief. Mayor McDearmont proclaimed July 22, 2010 as Bill Parsons Day.  We will miss Bill and wish him the very best in his future endeavors.
• On Tuesday our representative from ICMA was available to meet with employees about existing 457 accounts or discuss setting up an account.
• Jana Onstead, Martha Butz and Jane Ponder held orientation on Wednesday for our newest police officer, Ryan Urbanek.  
• Martha Butz and Jana Onstead met with a representative from Higginbotham and Associates to review benefit package plan design options for the upcoming budget year.

Police:

• Chief Ed O'Bara attended the annual Texas Police Chief Leadership Series (TPCLS) in San Antonio. The Texas Police Chief Leadership Series is a 40 hour legislatively mandated management course for police chiefs in Texas. The program is specifically designed to assist police administrators in developing their leadership skills and to help them recognize those factors that impact the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies. Instructors consist of nationally recognized experts in each area of the curriculum to provide the highest caliber of instruction available.

Fire:

• Captain Chip Willis provided training for the Fire Department on Forcible Entry techniques and proper tool operations.