Recap of City Issues 10-15-10

The current status of Highland Village Road Project is that the contractor is completing the brush removal and grinding of all material on along Highland Village Road.  We determined that we could not use any of the mulch due to the massive amount of poison ivy and poison oak comingling with the mulch.  The contractor has located the 10-ft by 10-ft box culverts and expects delivery within the next two weeks.

I had the opportunity this week to meet with a professor representing The University of Texas at Dallas who is  reaching out to identified cities that have demonstrated excellence in municipal government with the opportunity of providing credited University hours with on site course studies. We will be arranging a future meeting to continue discussions on this opportunity to enhance all employees educational opportunities.

Scott Kriston reports that TXDOT states the FM 2499 section 4 project is ahead of its 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; 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.  The contractor is preparing to install the signal bases and required electrical for the new signal at the intersection of FM 2499 and Highland Shores Boulevard / Castlewood Boulevard.  A four-way stop has been installed until the construction of the traffic signal is completed. TXDOT will open the entire FM 2499 Section 4 project October 30, 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 / FM 2499 intersection, weather permitting. 

PUBLIC SAFETY (POLICE AND FIRE)

Police:

This week, the police department responded to 145 calls for service, made 110 traffic contacts, made 6 arrests, responded to no traffic accidents and performed 372 community policing activities.

Corporal David Harney and Officer Tim Henderson conducted a Police bicycle rodeo at Highland Village Elementary this week.

The Police Department conducted an emergency management exercise that included members of Field Operations, Communications, and Police Auxiliary. The "Tabletop" exercise will be repeated with varying scenarios throughout the following months.

The Bike Rodeo at McAuliffe Elementary this year was a hit with the students and the parents. Corporal Jered Cameron did something different this year by conducting the rodeo in the back field instead of the parking lot. Kindergarten, First and Second grades brought their bikes and rode the course. About two hundred and fifty students, including the school principal Jennifer Mattingly, rode their bikes. The students received goody bags from the police department. Assisting officers were Officer Henderson, Cpl Harney, Cpl Roppolo, Auxiliary Serrie, Auxiliary Ken Morgan, and Auxiliary Killian Friedman.

The Police Department completed four "Operation Shield" installs this week.

The Police Department (represented by Sergeant David Pittinger, Corporal Patrick Finley, Officer Joey Hasten and Officer Luis Flores) participated in the second annual Police Bike Race Against Child Abuse benefiting Alliance for Children in Keller. This event was sponsored by the Keller Police Bike Unit and took place through their park hike and bike trail system beginning and ending at Bear Creek Park. Last year 24 officers from five different police agencies participated in the event raising over $3,000 for Alliance For Children. This year the team from Highland Village took second place. Congrats and good job guys!

Fire:

Calls for Service: Week of Oct 8-14

• Medical Emergencies -  11
• Residential Fire Alarms - 1
• Public Service / Pub Education - 6
• Fire Calls - 2
• Commercial Plan Review - 2
• Station Tour - 1
• CPR Attendees - 9

October is National Fire Prevention month.  The Flower Mound Fire Department, along with assistance from Highland Village Firefighters, brought the highly acclaimed SAFE (Safety and Fire Education) program to Highland Village Elementary and Heritage Elementary schools this week.  The program provides an array of safety tips and education for area youths.  This year, the hilarious Clown Program will address over 8500 elementary school students this year.  McAuliffe Elementary will receive the program on November 1.

Councilman John McGee and his family enjoyed a tour of the fire station on Tuesday.  Councilman McGee's two grandsons came dressed in their full Firefighters Turnout Gear.  

Firefighter Paramedic Mel Harper conducted CPR/1st Aid training for a local Girl Scout Troop this week.

STREET / UTILITY DIVISIONS PROJECTS

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.  Redmoon Broadband has completed their installion the video surveillance equipment on the site.   

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 15 of the 20 tie-ins.  The contractor is preparing to remove and replace the temporary asphalt in Highland Village Road.  This project consists of replacing approximately 5000 feet of water line along Highland Village Road from Brazos Boulevard 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. 

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 approx. 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:

• Painted the inside of the Utility storage bays.
• Responded to three after hour call outs and one resident concern.
• Excavated and repaired a sewer line behind the Motor Pool at 948 to repair an offset joint that was causing backups.
• TV inspected one sewer line and three storm sewer lines to check for problems.
• Unstopped one sewer line blockage.
• Made repairs to the Doubletree lift station SCADA radio.
• Made two 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.

Drainage Crews:

• Repaired safety fencing around the existing headwall in the 600 block of Remington West.
• Excavated & repaired an existing RCP in the 600 block of Savanna. 
• Shot grades & redefined the drainage swale to flow in the 800 block of Tartan Trail eliminating flooding in the 800 block of Lockmoor.
• Excavated & repaired the HDPE drainage culvert in the 1400 block of Highland Village Rd.
• Cleared the drainage easement of trees and debris at the end Stone Canyon.
• Cleared the drainage easement of trees and debris in the 3000 block of Lakeside Dr.
• Met with the resident in the 300 block of Lake Vista South on a creek erosion issue.

PARKS DEPARTMENT

Staff trimmed Cypress trees at City Hall and planted perennial ground cover around trees and turf areas near the parking lot.

Tony Palesano made repairs to irrigation heads at City Hall and various parks.

Wes Nienhuser, Frank Furche and Joey Hardin installed appliances at The Robert & Lee Duvall Center.

Staff at Unity Park prepped athletic fields for soccer and baseball games being held there during the fall season.

The first safety meeting was held in the Utilities building on Thursday morning with all Parks, Utilities and Streets Staff attending.

Parks and Recreation staff has been preparing for the Fall Clean Up that's going to be this Saturday from 9:00 a.m. - noon at Copperas Branch Park. Items residents can dispose of include: yard waste, chemicals, electronics and paper.

The Highland Village Senior All Stars met on Monday (29 attendees) and Thursday (25 attendees) for game day. Thursday was the first day for the seniors to meet at The Robert & Lee DuVall Center.

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

The Highland Village Senior All Stars hosted the annual flu shots at the Highland Shores Community Center last Saturday and Monday.

HUMAN RESOURCES / STAFF TRAINING

Human Resources:

• Jana Onstead attended the annual HR Southwest Conference in Fort Worth this week.  The HR Southwest Conference is the largest regional human resources Conference in the United States. The Conference offers world-renowned keynote speakers, over 100 concurrent conference sessions including three Mega Sessions, networking opportunities and exposure to the newest HR products, techniques and services.