City Connections - March Edition

Stormwater Pollution

PRE-EMERGENT ORGANIC HERBICIDES

Late winter and spring will bring a new growing season requiring lawn maintenance and proper application of fertilizers and herbicides.  Improper application of lawn care chemicals can result in the pollution of stormwater, which flows untreated through storm drains into the nearest water body.  High levels of herbicides in a water body can kill the aquatic plants and animals, and make the water unsafe for humans.  Reduce stormwater pollution by using organic alternatives.  For example, pre-emergent organic herbicides prevent seeds from establishing roots; seeds cannot grow without roots.  By using pre-emergent organic herbicides, you prevent weeds from growing and prevent toxic chemicals found in traditional herbicides from entering storm drains.  The time to apply pre-emergent organic herbicides is in February and March.

HELP PREVENT STORMWATER POLLUTION BY:

• Following the manufacture’s directions when using any lawn care products.
• Avoid applying lawn care products on windy days.
• Avoid applying lawn care products 24 hours before a heavy rain.
• Purchasing organic herbicides, and other organic products from your local nursery and hardware stores.

Landscape Water Management Ordinance

 

The City of Highland Village has a landscape water management ordinance where a person commits an offense if he or she allows exterior plumbing leaks to exist, allows the irrigation or watering of lawn or landscape located on property owned leased or managed by that person in such a manner that causes a constant stream of water onto a street or alley in excess of fifty (50) feet from the property line, irrigating a lawn or landscape during any form of precipitation, this includes automatic sprinkler systems, or irrigating lawn or landscape when the ambient temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

SPRINKLER HEADS AND SYSTEM MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENT

A person commits an offense if he or she operates a lawn or landscape irrigation system or device on property that he or she owns leases or manages that has broken or missing sprinkler heads or has not been properly maintained to prevent the waste of water. Please visit our website to view the complete ordinance.

Water Meters and Wastewater Cleanouts

 

Early spring is the time that grass starts to grow again.  Keep your water meter box exposed, so the City can locate it in the event of an emergency and so the meter reader can locate it to properly read the water meter.  It is just as important to locate and uncover your wastewater lateral clean out.  In the event that you have a wastewater lateral stoppage, the City will attempt to clear the obstruction upon execution of a release of liability form.  However, the City cannot assist with clearing the stoppage if the clean out is unable to be located.  The City of Highland Village Utilities Division has 24-hour emergency service for your water and wastewater utility needs.  During working hours, call our operations office at 972-317-2989 and after hour’s call 972-317-6551 or you can e-mail us at www.highlandvillage.org

Private Sewer Lateral Back-Ups & Tree Roots

Sanitary sewer systems are constructed as a network of manholes and pipes that flow from each building that generates sewage to a wastewater treatment plant.  Private lateral services are pipes from the building to the sewer main.  Tree roots are a common cause of many house back-ups.  A chemical root controller can be purchased at your local hardware supply and used annually, in some cases, to help prevent a blockage caused by roots.  Follow all instructions to gain the maximum benefit from a root controlling product.    

Election Day – May 14, 2011

The City Secretary’s Office is responsible for conducting municipal elections as prescribed by the Election Code of the State of Texas. The city’s website has pertinent information, which includes, but is not limited to: dates and times for early voting, last day to register with Denton County to vote in the municipal election and deadlines for candidates wishing to run for Council Places 3, 5 or 7.

If you are interested in running for Council, you may call the City Secretary’s Office at 972-899-5132 or click on the link “2011 Municipal Election” on the city’s website to obtain an electronic copy of the City Council candidate packet. The candidate packet includes the necessary forms (application to place name on ballot, petition for a place on the city general election ballot, etc.) utilized by candidates during their election campaign.

The City Secretary’s Office will accept applications Monday, February 14, 2011 through Monday, March 14, 2011. Applications will be received Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The City will conduct a joint election with the Lewisville Independent School District.  As a result, the ballot will include City Council candidates (Places 3, 5 and 7) and school district Board of Trustee candidates (Places 6 and 7). If you would like additional information regarding the school district election, please call 469-713-5200.

Spring Clean-up

When:    Saturday, March 26, 2011
Time:     9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Due to limited capacity, may close early!
Where:  Copperas Branch Park

The Spring Clean-up Collection Event is an opportunity for Highland Village residents to dispose of the following – and at no cost to you!

• Hazardous Waste
• Tree & Lawn Clippings
• Paper to be Shredded
• Electronics & Batteries (All Types)
• Miscellaneous “stuff” you don’t want anymore - but someone else might.

Please bring this notice or your driver’s license showing a Highland Village address to be admitted to the collection site. Contractors will not be admitted. For more information call: (972) 317-7430

Highland Village Senior All-Stars

St. Patrick's Day Social and Game Night

March 12, 2011
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Cost: $4/person and an appetizer, side dish or dessert to share
Please sign up and pay by Thursday, March 10, 2011

Shopping at Sam Moon and lunch at Cordon Bleu

March 23, 2011
Bus leaves the City Municipal Complex at 9:30 a.m.
Cost: $18/ includes a 3 course lunch at Cordon Bleu and bus ride
Please sign up and pay by Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Online Registration

Parks and Recreation is now offering online registration, providing you a quick and easy way to register for activities and reserve facilities without ever having to leave your home!

Reservations for field and court rentals, pavilions, Pilot Knoll campsites, and recreation programs can now be done online at www.activenet.active.com/hvparks

Save a Life – Learn CPR

The Highland Village Fire Department conducts monthly CPR and 1st Aid Training for our residents and neighboring communities. Training covers Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for Adults, Infants and Children and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training. 

Upcoming CPR and 1st Aid Classes:  Wednesday, March 2 ~ Wednesday, April 6

All courses are held at the Highland Village Fire Station from 6:00 pm-9:00 pm.

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. 

Easter Egg Hunt – April 16 at 10:00 a.m. Sharp!

Each year the City of Highland Village holds their annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Unity Park baseball/softball field facility (Behind Briarhill Middle School). This event is free to the public and includes pictures with the Easter Bunny, face painting, a bounce house and fire engine.  The Hunt starts immediately at 10:00 a.m. If Hunt is cancelled due to rain, it will be held the following Saturday at Unity Park, April 23 at 10:00 a.m.

Community Education Classes

The Highland Village Parks Department is now offering community education classes. Classes include:

Zumba Fitness. Moving the world to a new beat.
Are you ready to party yourself into shape? That's exactly what the Zumba program is all about. It's an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party that's moving millions of people toward joy and health.

Sew Fun Camp
A camp designed to motivate your child to learn and build self esteem as well as motivate and stimulate their creativity. The camp enables your child to gain valuable first hand experience. Curriculum includes: Safety and operation of sewing machine, use and care of small and large sewing equipment, and basic sewing techniques making fun crafts. Bring your own machine or use one that is available. Come have fun and build new friendships.

American Red Cross Babysitting and CPR
Come learn the skills to be a responsible babysitter.  Learn how to care for children and infants, be a good leader and role model, keep you and children safe, write resumes and interview for jobs, make good decisions, solve problems and become certified in Child/Infant CPR. Come have fun with lots of activities and learn a life time skill. Everyone will receive a Babysitter Training Handbook.

Community Spanish
A survival guide for English speakers. This program is intended for any English-speaker who wishes to learn limited amounts of everyday Spanish. This course prepares non-Spanish-speaking persons to use everyday Spanish-language phrases, so that they may be friendly, helpful citizens in common public settings.

Fitness Boot Camp
Camp Gladiator is partnering with the City of Highland Village to offer a boot camp in the evenings at Unity Park during the Spring.

Spring Tennis Programs
The City of Highland Village’s tennis program is being coordinated and supervised by Kelly Langdon, USPTA & Austin Wynne USPTA. Classes will be taught for ages 3 and up at the Unity Park Tennis Courts starting in March. Please visit www.hvparks for a complete list of classes and prices for each session. For more details on the classes and contact information visit https://tnttennis.net/

Good Manners Workshop for Dogs
This workshop is a 3-Week behavior intensive and focused workshop that teaches your dog Patience, Self-Control and Manners around people, guests and other dogs.

Visit hvparks.com for class details and to sign up!

Adult Softball

This spring the Parks and Recreation Department will be offering two recreational softball leagues. We will be offering a men’s and coed league! The season will begin on March 23. Each team will be guaranteed 8 games. The top four teams will make the play-offs. Space is limited to 8 teams per league, so don’t delay getting your team registered! Registration will end March 11. The cost of the league will be $380 per team. Teams that win the post season tournament will receive trophies and t-shirts. Second place teams will receive trophies. You can find more information online at www.hvparks.com

Making 9-1-1 Work for You - Things Kids Need to Know

In an emergency, the best thing that you can do is tell your parents, a teacher, or another adult you trust right away. But if no one is around, you may have to call someone else for help. Here is what you need to know about where to find help and how you can make sure it gets to you FAST:

Know what 9-1-1 is.

9-1-1 is the phone number you can call from any phone when you need help or you see someone who needs help right away.

Know when to call 9-1-1.

You should only call when someone or something is hurt or in danger and you need a police officer, a firefighter, or medical care.

Know what happens when you call 9-1-1.

After you dial, the person who picks up on the other end will be someone who works at a 9-1-1 center and whose job it is to help you. They may ask you to do things to help or ask you questions. It is important that you follow their directions as best you can. They will send someone to wherever you are and stay on the phone with you until everyone is safe.  

Never hang up.

Even if you called 9-1-1 by accident, or if you think the problem has gone away, it is important that you stay on the phone until the call taker tells you it is alright to hang up. It is the call taker’s job to make sure that you are OK and that help has gotten to whomever needs it. In situations where you aren’t able to talk or have to leave, keep the phone off the hook so that the 9-1-1 operator can hear what is going on in the room. Most times, they will be able to use the computers at the 9-1-1 center to find your address.

Memorize important stuff about you and your family.

Being able to tell the 9-1-1 operator things like your address, your parents’ names, and your phone number will get help to you faster.

Know where you are.

If you aren’t at home and don’t know the address where you are, look around and try to find a street sign or a building with a name on it so that the 9-1-1 operator knows your exact location.

Try not to be scared.

When you call 9-1-1, you become the eyes and ears for the call taker. Help will get to you much faster if you stay calm and can tell the call taker everything that is happening and can answer all the call taker’s questions.