Recap of City Issues 9-24-10

This week was the opening of our new Municipal Service Center and the Robert & Lee DuVall Center. I know this has been long time coming and you (Public Works & Parks Employees) all deserve it. I have been so very fortunate to be part of the growth and development of our Utilities, Streets, Drainage and Parks Department field service crews for the City of Highland Village.  There are so many hard working individuals that have worked to develop and create the foundation of one of the most successful and essential services a city must provide - our core infrastructure of Public Works & Parks that provides the streets; Utilities that provides the water, wastewater removal and storm drainage and Parks that provides our amenities for every resident. 

I would like to say thank you to everyone who has had to pack up and move twice in the last six months. Thanks to those who had to operate out of trailers for the last 10 plus years or so and office out of remodeled storage tanks, old houses, old military storage huts and water towers.  All of you have been patient and your patience allowed us to plan and develop a Municipal Service Center and Community Center that all of us should be so very proud to say that we are part of in Highland Village!  Thank you to everyone for your hard work and patience!

Scott Kriston reports that TXDOT states the FM 2499 section 4 project is ahead of it's April 2011 completion schedule.  FM 2499 is now open from Highland Shores Boulevard to Orchid Hill Lane. This section of FM 2499 is still an active construction zone. The outer driving lane is closed to traffic and delays and detouring during working hours are to be expected. The posted speed limit is 40 miles per hour and will be enforced.  No parking is allowed in the construction zone.  A four-way stop has been installed at the intersection of FM 2499 and Highland Shores Boulevard / Castlewood Boulevard until the construction of the traffic signal is completed. TX DOT anticipates opening the entire FM 2499 Section 4 project October 2010.  The contractor is mowing the r.o.w. as required by their contract as weather permits.  The contractor is redefining the offsite drainage areas where easements were obtained during the design process.  The contractor is constructing the Northwood / FM2499 intersection, weather permitting.

PUBLIC SAFETY (POLICE AND FIRE)

Fire:

Calls for Service: Week of Sept 17-23

• Medical Emergencies -  8
• Commercial Fire Alarms - 2
• Residential Fire Alarms - 2
• Public Assists - 2
• Power Lines - 1
• Commercial Fire Inspections - 2
• Commercial Plan Review - 1

This week Highland Village Firefighters that hold the Texas Commission on Fire Protection's certification as a Driver/Operator of Emergency Vehicles went through vigorous testing for the position assignment.  The testing consisted of a written examination, oral interview panel and pumping and driving exercises.  Participants were Charles Hinkle, Jared Middleton, Tim Moehlman and Tony Sorsby.  

Highland Village Fire Captains and Firefighters attended EMS continuing education training this week at the Fire Station.

Firefighter/Paramedics Charles Hinkle and Scott Taylor installed a car seat for a resident this week.

Police:

This week, the police department responded to 138 calls for service, made 156 traffic contacts, made 9 arrests, responded to 2 traffic accidents and performed 456 community policing activities.

Corporal April Roppolo and her partner "Officer Patty" gave a safety lecture at Highland Village Elementary this week. The topics were Stranger Safety, Gun Safety, Vehicle Safety and When to Call 9-1-1. April said that everything went well and that "Officer Patty" was a great hit with the kiddos!

Corporal April Roppolo conducted a LETS graduation for sixty-nine 5th graders at Highland Village Elementary. All students received a LETS Certificate from the Police Department. Guest speakers at the event were Germany exchange student Anna, Corporal Patrick Finley, Detective Andrea Musick, Officer Luis Flores, and Officer Ryan Urbanek.

In accordance with General Orders, Chief O'Bara has appointed Paul Scholz as Auxiliary LT to replace Mike McCoy.  Lt Scholz will be leader of Team 4.  We congratulate Paul and look forward to working with him in his new capacity.  Sgt Oliver will be the PD Auxiliary Liaison to Lt Scholz and Team 4.

In recognition of the combined team efforts in community policing by all personnel (police officers, communication officers, civilians, and auxiliary), Chief O'Bara has awarded the Certificate of Merit to all department personnel for their individual assistance in making his vision of community policing a reality here in Highland Village.  This includes keeping us the Safest City in North Texas for the 9th consecutive year as recently announced by the City.  Uniformed personnel will receive an award bar.  Formal recognition for all personnel will occur at our annual awards banquet.

STREET / UTILITY DIVISIONS PROJECTS

Streets:

The Street Division striped the parking lot  at Unity Park for No Parking in front of the entrance to the ball fields.

The Street Division installed street signs on Village Parkway (FM 2499) and installed signs for the Police Department  E-Watch signs entrances to neighborhood along Village Parkway (FM 2499).

The Street Division finished the forming up for the retaining wall at the end of Spring Oaks Street and will pour the concrete Monday morning.

Utilities:

Scott Kriston reports that the MSC project is wrapping up; the GC has his subcontractors working on minor punch list items.  Dallas Security is installing the access security on the site.  Staff moved in this week.  The grand opening was held on Tuesday of this week.   

The Oak St. GSR site improvements project GC is constructing the pump house and chemical facilities.  

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

The Highland Village Road water line replacement project sections 1 & 2.  RKM Utility Services, Inc. has installed all of the new water line and made 19 of the 20 tie-ins.  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 through October.  You should expect minor traffic delays in the area for the duration of the project. 

Sanitary sewer smoke testing phase 3 is complete.  This project consists of smoke testing 83,500 linear feet of VCP sewer main located in the south and east portions of the City.  The contractor is preparing the report for submittal to the City with all deficiencies listed that require correction.  The smoke testing portion of the project is complete.  

Chinn Chapel Road phase 1 reconstruction contractor is on schedule.  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.

Utility Crews:

• Moved everything from the temporary Doubletree modular offices to the new 948 offices.
• Turned water off to the 12" line between Bluebonnet and Sellmeyer to make new water line ties in on Horseshoe and Lake Vista.
• Flushed one sewer line.
• Made three utility infrastructure locates.
• 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.
• Turned water off to the Clearwater C neighborhood to make the new water line tie in on Highland Village Road and Springway.
• Excavated and plugged the 18" sewer main under Highland Village Road during the road collapse at the boat ramps.

Drainage Crews:

• Is close to completing the erosion control project in the 700 block of Highland Hills. 
• Met with resident in 3000 block of Shoreview on flooding issues.
• Met with resident on bar ditch maintenance. 
• Cleaned various creek crossings after recent rains. 
• Removed fallen trees from creek behind the 800 block of Highland Hills to establish proper channel flow.

PARKS DEPARTMENT

Park Staff are preparing for fall planting at various shrub beds in Parks and Municipal grounds areas.

Park staffs at Unity Park and Copperas are involved in ongoing athletic field preparation for fall baseball and soccer league play at those Parks.

The Parks and Recreation Department held their first NFL Punt, Pass and Kick competition last Saturday at Unity Park with several contestants in various age groups competing.   Winners will continue on to compete at the sectionals which will be held in Southlake at Dragon Stadium. 

Park staff was involved in the ribbon cutting and open house held at the Robert and Lee Duvall Center at 948 Highland Village Road on Tuesday evening.

The Marcus High School Cross Country Team is hosting a meet at Copperas Branch Park this Saturday the 25th, which will include schools from the surrounding area.   

HUMAN RESOURCES / STAFF TRAINING

Human Resources:

• Jana Onstead and Vanesa Childers attended a Fisher & Phillips Training Seminar on employment law in Dallas on Tuesday.
• Benefit representatives from ICMA, Colonial and Nationwide were available to meet with individual employees this week.
• Over the past couple of months employees have had opportunity to earn $50 for participating in activities that could help establish healthy habits.
• The city hosted two Lunch N Learns, biometric screenings were offered last January, cancer screenings were offered at the Benefit Fair last May and challenges for water and healthy food consumption were all part of encouraging a healthier lifestyle.  Fifty-seven employees participated in the incentive opportunity.  We will continue to find ways to promote and encourage employees to establish healthy lifestyles.
• Martha Butz attended the Metroplex Human Resources Association meeting in Bedford on Thursday.