Recap of City Issues 11-18-10

The contract to replace the HVAC units on the roof of City Hall has been executed and the contractor expects to start work the week after Thanksgiving. The work includes duct work inside the offices of City Hall as well and that work will commence first. We will work to establish a plan for working around the offices with minimal disruption beginning that week. The project will take approximately 70 days.

TXDOT FM 2499 section 4 project 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 installing the 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.  The contractor is mowing the r.o.w. as required by their contract as weather permits.

TXDOT held the Public Hearing for IH 35E project commencing at the President George Bush Turnpike to FM 2181.  This was the public's opportunity to review the Environmental Assessment document along with the design schematic of the project and for the general public to provide comment. The Public Hearing was held at Lewisville High School, Councilmember Meek, Wilcox and Davis all attended, TXDOT first gave a project over view and then received comment their was a total of 4 speakers.  TXDOT is hoping to receive the Finding Of No Significant Impact, (FONSI) by this January 2011, this will allow TXDOT and Denton County Officials to work with the State Legislators on funding the identified short fall that's needed for construction, with construction possibly happening as soon as late 2012 or early 2013.

Laurie Mullens and Sandy McCoy delivered Holiday Gift Pass - Look for the Gold Bow! posters to the participating businesses in Highland Village. They also began visiting all the Highland Village businesses to explain the program and solicit participation. The postcards will reach our residents this weekend or early next week. We've also sent to 13000 households to the north.

PUBLIC SAFETY (POLICE AND FIRE)

Fire:

Calls for Service: Week of Nov 12-19

• Medical Emergencies -  8
• Residential Fire Alarms - 1
• Motor Vehicle Accidents  - 4
• Fire Calls - 1
• Public Service Calls - 2
• Commercial Fire Alarms - 2
• Commercial Plan Review - 4
• Commercial Inspections - 1

On Thursday, Chief Tatum attended the Denco Area 9-1-1 board meeting held in Lewisville.

Highland Village resident Ms. Pat Johnson, with the Friendship Circle Women's Group of the Flower Mound United Methodist Church, presented fleece blankets to the Fire Department to be given to fire, rescue and disaster victims. The blankets may be distributed to Highland Village and surrounding cities residents in times of need.

Police:

This week, the police department responded to 140 calls for service, made 177 traffic contacts, made 4 arrests, responded to 4 traffic accidents and performed 454 community policing activities.

Corporal April Roppolo and Corporal David Harney both taught LETS this week at Heritage Elementary School to the fifth grade students.

Corporal April Roppolo, Sergeant Dennis Oliver, Corporal Patrick Finley, Corporal Greg Arrington, Corporal David Harney, and Detective Corporal Doug Bell all attended the awards ceremony at Briarhill Middle School. Twelve students received the HVPD "Certificates of Appreciation." Parents also attended the event.

Officer Tim Henderson attended the Rambling Oaks Thanksgiving Dinner this week. Many of the residents are unable to travel due to their medical needs or do not have family that will be visiting them for the holidays.

The Highland Village Women's Club (with assistance from the Police Department and Fire Department) "Our Village Glows" toy drive is underway for this year. The toys collected will be disbursed to needy children within our area. Please bring a new unwrapped toy to one of our Toy Boxes located at City Hall, Fire Station and Police Storefront (next to LA Fitness) or you may bring it to "Our Village Glows" on Tuesday, November 30th, 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Thank you for your donation.

The Police Department continued with our "Tabletop" exercises this week. This training was for a bank robbery in progress.

The Police Department hosted training for Radar Instructors at our facility this week.

STREET / UTILITY DIVISIONS PROJECTS

Scott Kriston reports that the MSC GC has his subcontractors working on minor punch list items.  Access control & video surveillance are active on the entire site.

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

Scott Kriston held a pre-construction meeting this week for the 24" / 27" manhole restoration project phase 1.  This project consists of rehabilitating 50 manholes on the City's trunk main along the lake to restore integrity of the manholes and stop the I&I.  The contractor has 6 months to complete the project.

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.  A final walk through was performed last week, the contractor is working on the punch list.  This project consisted of replacing approximately 5000 feet of water line along Highland Village Road from Brazos Boulevard to Lake Vista. 

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 through April 2011.

Utility Crews:

• Abandoned ten valves on the abandoned Highland Village Rd water line as part of the AC water line replacement project.
• Responded to two resident concerns.
• Excavated and repaired a sewer service line on Creekside Way.
• Located three areas of utilities infrastructure.
• TV inspected one sewer line to check for cause of stoppage.
• Unstopped one sewer backup.
• Assisted the Streets crews with the installation of the floor paint in the MSC storage building.
• 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:

• Inspected an existing drainage easement in the 3000 block of Northwood, future repairs are being scheduled to ensure proper flow.
• Flushed the driveway culverts on Horseshoe Dr. and repaired a broken pipe to prevent erosion.
• Installed concrete on rip rap rock in the 600 block of  Duvall.

Street Crews:

• Installed the floor paint in the MSC storage building.
• Made asphalt repairs on Highland Village Road, Sunday Haus & Nowlin.
• Installed the side walk ramp at the Spring Oaks Dr. Turn Around Project.

PARKS DEPARTMENT

Parks staff is finishing putting up Christmas lights at the Municipal Center, Public Works building and The Robert and Lee DuVall Center.

Wes Nienhuser and staff at Unity Park made rye grass applications to all soccer fields.

Wes Nienhuser is involved in building cabinets and drawers at the Recreation Assistant's desk at the Duvall Center.

Staff is preparing to stain and paint the Parks' storage area floor at the Duvall Center.

Bill Aycock and staff have completed landscaping and plant installation at the new Veterans Memorial site at the Municipal Center.

Crews will soon start annual baseball field renovations in preparation for the spring season.

Tony Palesano has been adjusting watering cycles on irrigation systems in the parks for the winter season. 

New windscreens were installed at the Sellmeyer Tennis Courts.

Recreation staff completed software training. The new software will allow online reservations, enrollments and credit card transactions.

Fince Espinoza and Andra Boxberger met with Celebrations to finalize plans for the Father and Daughter Dance in February.

Senior All Stars:

Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday were Game Day and Pickleball with the addition of the Wii. Thursday was the monthly Potluck lunch.

HUMAN RESOURCES / STAFF TRAINING

Human Resources:

• Jana Onstead attended a Texas Municipal Retirement System Conference in Austin this week.
• Thursday was the "Great American Smokeout".  HR provided survival kits for any employees who were interested in quitting.
• Martha Butz attended a TMHRA Board meeting in Austin on Friday.

Fire:

• On November 14-19, Captain Vince Jones attended Command and Control Decision Making on Multiple Alarm Incidences at the National Fire Academy held in Maryland. 
• Highland Village Firefighters attended EMS Continuing Education training this week regarding Excited Delirium in patients.