Recap of City Issues 04-29-11

On May 17th, the Highland Village Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a public hearing on an agenda item to review and consider amendments to Ordinance 07-1023, a Planned Development District providing a mixed-use development of non-residential and residential uses, known as the District of Highland Village. These amendments would amend approximately 5.46 acres of an existing concept plan and would allow 98 multi-family units on the tract west of Briarhill and north of FM 407. Complete information on this agenda item  will be posted  on the City's web page on Friday, May 13th.

TXDOT FM 2499 section 4 project is still an active construction zone. The outer driving lanes are closed to traffic in various locations; 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 zones.  The contractor is cleaning up staging areas and working on punch list items.  

TXDOT FM 407 project consists of constructing 1.164 miles of 4 lane divided concrete roadway from Briarhill Blvd. to Chinn Chapel Rd.  The project is awarded to Tiseo Paving Co.  They have a 15 month contract to complete the project.  TX DOT started charging time to the contractor on March 7th.   You should expect traffic delays along the entire length of the construction zone for the duration of the project.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

On Thursday Laurie Mullens attended a Denton County Communicator lunch hosted by NBC DFW. The lunch was held to introduce us to NBC's new Denton County reporter. This is a big move for a TV station and the first in the metroplex to become hyper-local in this way. The reporter lives in Denton County and only covers Denton County stories. There was about 10 NBC staff members in attendance; beginning with a welcome from the General Manager and News Director to information from the new Denton County reporter. An NBC reporter facilitated the meeting asking all of us what stories and aspects of our community we'd like to see covered. Attending the meeting from the county were city, county, CVB, hospital and school PIO's. Laurie provided NBC a packet of story ideas and her contact information.

On Wednesday afternoon Laurie Mullens and Lori Wright attended a ribbon cutting for Optimized Local Search Services. The ribbon cutting was a joint event with the Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce.

     PUBLIC SAFETY (POLICE AND FIRE)

Fire:

Calls for Service: Week of April 22-28

• Medical Emergencies - 10
• Fire Calls - 4
• Public Service Calls - 3
• Mutual Aid - 1
• Structure Fire - 1
• Motor Vehicle Accident - 2
• Commercial Fire Alarm - 2
• Residential Fire Alarm - 1
• Commercial Plan Review - 1

Highland Village Firefighters held their annual Awards Banquet on Sunday, April 10th at Sneaky Petes Banquet facilities.  Awards were presented for the following categories:

Rookie of the Year: Scott Taylor & Rhett Rimmer

Paramedic of the Year: Jared Middleton & Bobby Dukes

Distinquished Member of the Year: Tony Sorsby

Along with an official Swearing-In-Ceremony and Badge Pinning, members with five and ten years of service were recognized for their accomplishments.

Congratulations to Driver Operator Tony Sorsby who completed his Fire Officer 1 and Fire Instructor 1.

Possum Kingdom Wildland Fires are now contained and we received this email from a member of a West Texas Fire Department: "I'm sure I speak for every department between here and Possum Kingdom when I say thank you to a multitude of departments for the response of equipment and personnel during the fires. As an immediate neighbor, many departments in Parker County responded to help at PK. It was clear though, that Palo Pinto County has many neighbors as we saw apparatus from all over North Texas working to save property and protect lives. What a brotherhood we are all so fortunate to be a part of. Those that participated experienced some once in a career fire conditions and a chance to make a huge difference in many people's lives. Thanks for being there."

STREET / UTILITY DIVISIONS PROJECTS

The FM 2499 screening wall project bid opening was last week.  This project consists of constructing approximately 300 ft. of brick screening fence, 200 ft. of wrought iron fence along FM2499 at the Explorer Pipeline easement and replacing the existing brick panels south of Highland Shores Blvd.  Project is awarded to Ratliff Hardscape, Ltd.  Contracts are being signed.  A pre-construction meeting is scheduled for May 3rd.  The contractor will have 120 calendar days to complete the project.  

The MSC site improvements project subcontractors are working on minor punch list items.  The City & FNI are working on closing out the project.  Staff is reviewing the FNI pay estimate. 

The Oak St well lot fence replacement project consists of removing and replacing approximately 400 ft. of perimeter fence at the well lot site.  The contractor completed the wood and wrought iron portion of the fence.  The wrought iron gate installation was started this week. 

The 24" / 27" manhole restoration project phase 1.  This project consists of rehabilitating 50 manholes on the City's 24-inch SS trunk main along the lake to restore integrity of the manholes and stop the I&I.   The contractor washed down all manholes.  The contractor has plugged all I&I and applied the cementitious lining.  The contractor is currently installing the epoxy lining in the manholes. 

The Winding Creek and Oak Forest sanitary sewer line replacement project consists of replacing 3,700 feet of sanitary sewer main line and associated manholes on Winding Creek and Oak Forest.  This project originated as a result of the I&I smoke testing project.  It is currently advertised for bids with the bid opening on May 17th.

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

The AC Water Line Replacement project consists of replacing approximately 14,000 ft. of water line in the east side of the City.  The Village Estates, Villa Park, Merriman Dr., Mosswood, Sellmeyer, Desiree, Perro Pl. & Medina Dr. areas are the water lines to be replaced.  The contractor is working on restoration of the Merriman, Mosswood and  Medina areas.    The pipe crew is installing new pipe on Village Estates.  You should expect traffic delays in the areas the contractor is working in.

Chinn Chapel Rd phase 1 reconstruction contractor has extended their schedule to a June anticipated completion.  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 June 2011.

Utility Crews:

• Justin Praesel attended the TEEX Surface Water Production II class in Lewisville.
• Took the Highland Village RR Automatic Horn System down for sensor repairs.
• Completed the water fill line adjacent to the MSC Utilities bay for City equipment that require water to operate.
• Flushed 14,540 linear feet of sanitary sewer line as part of the sewer line maintenance program.
• Replaced meter cans on Villa Park and Hawthorn Circle.
• Repaired a SCADA communications failure at LS #9.  Failure was due to lightening in the area from a recent weather event.
• 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 systems.

Drainage Crews:

• Cleaned creek crossings after the recent rain events.
• Completed the creek restoration in the 3100 block of Northwood.
• Removed weeds and debris from the drainage culvert in the 3000 block of Overlook.
• Met with a resident in the 300 block of Winston regarding a flooding issue. 
• Met with a resident in the 4000 block of Abigail on a drainage easement issue.
• Added 2 - 2' risers on the whye inlet box at the Southwood Materials Storage site.

PARKS DEPARTMENT

Park staff planted spring flowers in shrub beds in most parks and municipal grounds.

Wes Nienhuser made fertilizer applications to turf areas in parks, medians and municipal grounds.

A representative of Calsense irrigation systems met with Tony Palesano, Wes Nienhuser and Van Tinch regarding final installation and operation of that system on Thursday.

The Pilot Knoll crew trimmed up shrubs and small trees in the easement of FM 2499.

Repairs were made by a plumbing contractor to the Copperas gate house this week. New signs were installed at several areas within Copperas Park by park staff.

All crews are currently involved in mowing cycles in city parks, medians and municipal grounds.

The Basic & Beyond Dog Obedience classes started this week at The Robert and Lee DuVall Center. The classes take place on Monday and Tuesday evenings.

Camp Gladiator fitness boot camp started a new session this week at Unity Park. The boot camp is offered Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

Highland Village Senior All-Stars

4/25/11: Game Day, Texas Hold'em and Pickleball: 30 attendees

4/26/11: Game Day and Pickleball: 20 attendees

4/27/11: Texas Hold'em: 8 attendees

4/28/11: Game Day, Bridge and Pickleball: 30 attendees

The Robert & Lee DuVall Center

4/25/11: Basic & Beyond Dog Obedience: 6 attendees

4/26/11: Basic & Beyond Dog Obedience: 7 attendees

4/27/11: Zumba: 9 attendees

HUMAN RESOURCES / STAFF TRAINING

Human Resources:

• Human Resources Director Martha Butz, who serves on the Texas Municipal Human Resources Association Board of Directors, held a meeting this week with the Awards Committee to select recipients of the association's annual awards. From nominees across the state recipients were named for Professional of the Year, Rising Star and Innovation.  Ms. Butz will present the awards at the Annual Conference to be held in May.
• Jana Onstead attended a monthly meeting for the North Texas Society for Human Resources Management (NTSHRM) on Thursday.  The topic for this month's luncheon was "Benefit Plan Design Ideas and Tips"

Fire:

• On Wednesday, Chief Tatum and Assistant Chief Collier attended the Quarterly Meeting of the Texas Fire Chief's Association North Region held at the new William E. Peterson Emergency Operations Center in the Plano Fire Department.  Texas Fire Chief's Association Executive Director presented an update on legislative issues pertaining to fire and emergency services in the North Texas area while North Richland Hills Fire Chief Andy Jones presented an update from the Texas Municipal League and ISO (Insurance Services Office).  The Texas Forest Service was also on hand to provide a recap on the recent wildfires in the Central and West Texas Regions.
• Highland Village firefighters conducted their annual multi-company Night Live Fire Drills at Tarrant County College on Wednesday evening from 6-10:30 pm.  This training is a yearly requirement to maintain our ISO (Insurance Services Office) rating of 2.   Lewisville Fire Department provided Fire and EMS coverage for our city during this time.
• Assistant Chief Collier attended a Training Officers Meeting in Oklahoma on Tuesday.
• On Thursday, Assistant Chief Collier attended the Texas Commission of Fire Protection (TCFP) Commissioner's Meeting that was held in Austin