City Connections - August Edition

Water Your Landscape Wisely

A common misconception is that you must water your lawn daily or every other day.  The truth is, daily watering will WEAKEN your lawn.  Water deeply and infrequently.  Don’t be waterless, water less, water smart.

WANT TO SAVE WATER BY THE YARD?

• Check the setting on your irrigation system, set to water only 1 inch a week
• Walk the system checking for leaks, repair any leaks found
• Don’t water during any form of precipitation
• Turn water off when water begins to run off the property

Water Use Conservation
Phase One – Seasonal Conservation In Effect Now

Mosquito Prevention is the Best Solution

• Empty out standing water from idle containers.
• Flower pots
• Buckets
• Cups, dog bowls
• Clean bird baths regularly.
• Clean out leaves & standing water from French Drain systems

Properly Dispose of Yard Waste

Residents and businesses are becoming more aware of the impact that improper disposal of yard waste has on their landscape, wallet, and local lakes, rivers, streams and creeks.  By leaving grass clippings and leaves on your lawn, you are supplying it with natural fertilizers and you spend less money on store-bought fertilizers.  A nearby storm drain may become clogged if grass clippings and/or leaves are swept or blown into the storm drain.  Clogged storm drains may cause flooding and requires that the City come out and clean the storm drain.  Yard waste in a local waterway depletes the oxygen level in the water, which is harmful to aquatic life.
What should you do with your yard waste:

• Remove yard waste from streets, sidewalks and driveways.  Blow or sweep grass clippings or tree leaves back up into the yard where they can help provide additional nutrients to your lawn.
• Don’t bag it.  Use grass clippings or fallen leaves as mulch or shred them and use them to fertilize the lawn and protect landscape plants from extreme weather.  Mulching mowers and blades make this easy.  If you have a compost bin, add the yard waste to that bin.
• If you hired a company to care for your lawn, educate them on proper lawn care.

Become CPR Certified!  Learn to Save a Life!

The Highland Village Fire Department conducts monthly CPR for our residents and neighboring communities.  Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for Adults, Infants and Children and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training are provided in this course.

CPR classes will be held on Wednesday, August 4 and Wednesday, September 8 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

CPR costs are $25 for residents of Highland Village and $45 for non-residents. Class size is limited, please sign-up early! Please contact the Highland Village Fire Department at (972) 317-0890 to register.

Want to volunteer? We can use your expertise!

There are many volunteer opportunities for the City of Highland Village.  In September, Council appoints volunteers to the various Boards, Commissions and Committees to serve two-year terms. By serving as a volunteer on one of the City’s Boards, Commissions or Committees, you will contribute to the growth and development of Highland Village. As a volunteer your expertise and recommendations will be utilized by City Council and City Staff to shape the future of Highland Village. You will also benefit from learning how the City operates and forms policy. In order to be considered you must fill out a volunteer application. For more information on how you can serve your city or to fill out a volunteer application, look at Volunteer Opportunities under the Quick Links menu at www.highlandvillage.org or call the City Secretary at 972-899-5132.
Please return your completed application by August 13.

DCTA Announces New Commuter Vanpool Program

Does traffic make your head spin? If you live or work in Denton County, you can start a vanpool through your employer or create one of your own for as little as $64.29 per person per month for an eight-passenger van and $33.79 per person per month for a 15-passenger van. Wheelchair accessible vans are also available for an additional fee. You’ll still save a lot of cash, especially with DCTA covering half the fuel expenditures. On average, vanpool participants cut their commute costs by many hundreds of dollars per year.

As part of our vanpool program, you can take advantage of our Guaranteed Ride Home program, ensuring that you will be able to get home when you need to. Vanpooling makes your commute easier, puts money back in your pocket – and takes care of your travel needs.

Employees are not the only ones to benefit from this program. First off, there are some great tax benefits available that could save you thousands, thanks to public support for public transportation. If you help subsidize the vanpool cost for your employees, you may be eligible for a tax deduction on the amount provided. Plus, if you already help pay for parking costs, needing fewer spots will reduce your budget. Not to mention the benefits you will get by having happier employees! When it comes right down to it, there has never been a better time to hop on a vanpool program. Good for you, good for your employees, good for everybody! For more information about your projected savings, visit DCTA.net.

Today’s the day! To get started, email info@dcta.net or call 972.221.4600 and DCTA will work with you to find other interested vanpoolers in your area.

Take a Bus

In an effort to alleviate the traffic congestion in and around the school zones, the Police Department is kicking off a new campaign to encourage families to make use of existing bus services to school next year. 

• A school bus seats 60 children – the average bus in Highland Village only has 25 riders.
• More students riding buses will relieve some of the frustrations associated with the traffic problems at the school.
• It is the “Earth Friendly” thing to do.

For information regarding the availability of bus service in your neighborhood please call Durham School Services at (972) 221-4557.

Oncor to Begin CREZ Line Construction in Highland Village

In July Oncor began construction activities on the 20-mile Northwest Carrollton-Roanoke Junction 345kV transmission line. A 2-mile portion of the existing line passes through Highland Village near the intersection of Village Parkway at Highland Shores and continuing east to Sellmeyer Lane.
The project is part of the Competitive Renewable Energy Zones (CREZ) initiative that will bring wind power generated in West Texas to the Dallas-Fort Worth area and is expected to be completed in the Highland Village area by December 15.
Phase one of construction includes modification of the existing towers to support a larger conductor and is anticipated to reach Highland Village in mid to late July. One to two cranes and smaller support equipment will be used on Oncor’s right–of-way to access each lattice tower.
Phase two will begin just west of Bartonville in early August and is expected to reach Highland Village in mid to late August. Phase two consists of wire crews installing the insulators on the tower and the installation of new conductor. All construction activity will take place within Oncor’s existing right-of-way.

Construction activities will take place between 7:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. while in Highland Village. Watch the city website for information regarding possible closing of sections of City Trail in this area.

Sewer Line Flushing

The City’s Utilities Division flushes the sewer mains in all neighborhoods throughout the year.  Sewer mains are located inside the City’s right of way or easements.  Some easements are inside back yards that City crews will need to access.  Sewer main flushing consists of using high pressure water sent through a hose to scour the buried pipeline.  You should experience no service disruption or adverse effects from the flushing project provided your home plumbing is maintained & is in good condition.  You will receive notification prior to City crews being in your area.  It is recommended that you regularly run water in all seldom used or unused drains in your home to fill the pea traps, close all toilet lids & check all plumbing vents for obstructions.  If you do experience water coming out of your drains, you may need to contact a third party plumber to inspect your private plumbing & take corrective action at your expense.  Cleaning sanitary sewer mains is a necessary process so the City can remain in compliance with TCEQ mandates and provide the residents with a safe & reliable sanitary sewer collections system that is free of blockages. 

23rd Annual Lion’s Club Balloon Festival
August 20-22, 2010

Balloon glow on Friday and Saturday evening at dusk. This year there will be a full carnival and rides. Arts and crafts will be for sale along with food and drink vendors. Please bring $5 for a parking donation, but admission for the festival is free!

Friday - August 20, 2010   5:00 - 10:30pm
5:00 PM - Gates open.  Arts and Crafts Booths Open
Friday 5:00 - 6:30pm  The Linda Atwell Duo
Friday 8:30 - 10:00pm  Jon Rutherford & The Professional Honkey Tonkers
Friday at Dusk  - Balloon Glow with Field Announcer, Glen Moyer
Friday and Saturday - Mike Roberts, Rockin' Party Rentals Live DJ
5:30 - 6:30 PM - Linda Atwell Duo
8:00 - 10:00 (to be announced)
Dusk - Balloon Glow
10:30 PM - Closing

Saturday - August 21, 2010    6:00am - 11:00pm
6:00 AM - Gates Open
Saturday 8:30 - 10:30am - Radiofire
Saturday AM and PM Shows - TKO Sport Kite Team
Saturday 11:15am - 1:15pm - Turning Point Dance Studio (Bartonville, TX)
Saturday 2:00 - 4:00pm - Brian Shuck
Saturday 4:30 - 5:45pm - Justin Gabreilli "Amplify Atlantic"
Flag Presentation and Field of Honor Ceremony - US Navy Reserves
Saturday 8:00 - 10:00pm Kat Moore Band
Saturday at Dusk - Balloon Glow with Glen Moyer
11:00 - Closing

Sunday - August 22, 2010    6:00am - 12:00pm
6:00 AM - Gates Open
7:00 AM - Balloon Races Begin, Pancake breakfast
8:00 AM - NOON - Arts and Crafts booths open
Noon - Festival Closes

Visit www.hvballoonfest.org for more information and a detailed schedule of all the events!

Give us your Best Shot! A Summer Photo Contest

Get outdoors and take your camera with you. The City of Highland Village is excited to announce a photo contest that will run over the summer months. Cash prizes will be awarded for Best Overall, Faces of Highland Village, Landscapes, Wildlife, and Youth. The summer photo contest will end September 10, 2010. Details and contest forms are online at www.hvparks.com