Hello and I hope everyone had a fun and safe spring break. I’ve got many items to cover with you in this month’s column so let’s get started and I’ll touch on the highlights:
Double Oak Honors Denton County Precinct 4 Constable John Hatzenbuhler
The March 21st town council meeting was very festive and well attended. Most of the audience came to participate in honoring and recognizing Denton County Precinct 4 Constable John Hatzenbuhler for his years of dedicated and honorable service. Several of John’s neighbors and friends were present, along with many of his deputies and staff from his Precinct 4 office. John’s lovely wife, Fran, was there and the town presented her with a pretty bouquet of roses. The council presented Constable Hatzenbuhler with a proclamation that spoke about his law enforcement career to date, which includes serving as a Double Oak Town Marshal in the early days of the town, recognized his efforts to keep kids away from drugs and his many awards which include a Presidential Point of Light Plaque. The council and Chief of Police Derrick Watson expressed sincere thanks to Constable Hatzenbuhler and his staff for their outstanding work and thanked John for all of his help in the Town of Double Oak over his long career. Thank you Constable Hatzenbuhler and Fran for all you have done.
Town Council Elections for May 14th Cancelled; Town Hall will be used as a Denton County Voting Site
There will be no town council elections this year. The seats up for election were all uncontested at the filing deadline, so the town has cancelled its election. The town will have a new mayor and a new member to the town council in May. Tom Pidcock, who has faithfully served the town as an elected official for over 17 years will be sworn in as the next Mayor of Double Oak in May. I cannot say enough good things about Tom and what he will bring to the position. Tom and his wonderful wife, Janice, have lived in Double Oak over twenty years. Tom is a very conservative individual and direct about his views. He has a respectful relationship with all town employees, members of council and citizens of our town. Tom is a military veteran who honorably served his country in the US Army. He knows what it means to be a small business owner, having owned a local real estate firm for a number of years. Tom was the driving force to revive the annual golf tournament which benefits the Double Oak Volunteer Fire Department and has served on the organizing committee with others. Tom will bring new ideas and passion in his role as mayor. He will be a terrific leader and representative of Double Oak for the next two years. Congratulations Tom, my friend.
Dr. Ara Minassian will be returning to council to serve another two-year term. Ara has done a masterful job during his first council term and has learned a lot and has contributed a great deal to the council-staff team. Congratulations to Dr. Minassian and keep up the good work.
A new member to the council-staff team will be Steve Durbin. Steve is a business executive who will bring a good business view approach to all matters that come before the town. He is a good man who will serve the town very well, Congratulations Steve.
The remaining members of the council are Tracy Scott Miller, John Dondrea and Gary Garrett. These three men really take their elected roles very seriously and do an outstanding job. Best wishes to each of you and thank you.
When the incoming mayor and council take their oaths in May and join the remaining members, the town will have a very experienced and seasoned council overall. I know these men well and I know the time that each will put in doing the work they have been elected to do. They are all great leaders and make themselves available to meet with residents when asked to do so. Double Oak thanks each of you for your service as our town elected officials, and expresses a sincere thanks to your family members for supporting you during your term.
Also, Double Oak Town Hall will serve as a voting site for the Denton County Elections Office. I advise you to check the Denton County website at www.dentoncounty.com to find more information. You may also check with your local town hall and school district for more voter information.
Simmons Road Natural Gas Well Site News
The Town of Double Oak, working with both the landowner and the natural gas pad site operator, communicates this notice to inform town residents and the surrounding community:
The plugging of the one drilled gas well and abandonment operations and procedures has begun effective Tuesday, March 29, at the natural gas well site located at Simmons Road and FM 407. Once the gas well is plugged per Texas Railroad Commission procedures, the restoration of the site back to pre-drill condition, which was pasture land, will commence per town ordinance and the landowner’s wishes.
The town cautions drivers on Simmons Road to be alert for truck traffic during this plugging and restoration. The process is expected to last a couple of weeks.
For more information, please contact Charlie Wright, Director of Public Works for the Town of Double Oak @ 972-539-9464.
Simmons Road Project
Finally, the project has a start date of Monday, April 4th. The contract and notice to proceed has been awarded to Quality Excavation, Ltd. The town engineer, staff, contractor and public utilities have had their pre-con meeting. The reconstruction project consists of roadway and storm drain improvements from just south of FM 407 down to Kings Road. The scope of work includes, but is not limited to: road demolition, traffic control, paving, signage and pavement markings, storm drain improvements and road surface enhancement to concrete which will give the road a longer life span.
The town requests your patience during the 9 to 12 month construction phase. There will be times when the road is only one way and you will have to detour around to follow the contractor traffic pattern. Also, there will likely be the need to reduce vehicle traffic speed in the work zone. When posted, please obey the posted construction zone speed limit signs. I have instructed staff to keep the town website current with important Simmons Road construction updates – www.double-oak.com. Please check the town website for frequent updates and other important information.
Cedar Crest Project
The town and contractor are in the process of wrapping up this project. Good improvements were made to the drainage structures and significant grass sod improvements were completed in the median. Also, the town had the contractor complete a partial asphalt overlay up to the north point, and the remainder of the roadway will be included when FM 407 is improved and widened.
Bartonville Water Supply Corporation 2011 Annual Meeting
The annual meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 26th @ 7:30pm at Crossroads Bible Church. All BWSC members should receive a letter which contains all needed information, including a proxy statement form. For more information, please contact the BWSC offices at 817-430-3541.
Flower Mound Elementary School News
One of the benefits of being Mayor is getting invited to meet and speak with students and our youth. We really have some incredible students who live in Double Oak and our surrounding communities and towns. Along with Flower Mound Mayor Melissa Northern, I recently visited with the kindergarten classes at Flower Mound Elementary. These children came into the cafeteria and were on their best behavior. They asked both Mayors very good questions and many stated why they like where they live. It was a very enlightening 30 minute conversation. Parents, you should be very proud of your kids, they are awesome!
Another benefit is the Mayor and Counci
l from time to time receives letters from students from both of our school districts. We recently received some well thought out letters from students in Ms. Beth Phillips 3rd grade class at Flower Mound Elementary. The letters we received were from her students who live in Double Oak. They asked about dog parks, play parks, sidewalks and littering. The students will all receive reply letters and certificates of good citizenship for their classroom efforts. Thank you to Ms. Phillips 3rd grade class and keep up your good work!
Marcus Boys Basketball Team Class 5-A State Champs
The Town of Double Oak congratulates the Marcus Boys Basketball Team, winners of the Texas UIL Class 5-A State Championship!
I have said many times that the town is very fortunate to be served by both the Denton ISD and Lewisville ISD, both award winning and top notch school districts with outstanding academics, bands and athletic programs. Thank you to all the teachers, staff, coaches, volunteers and parents who support the schools.
Please drive with caution and school zones
With the recent time change, some students are out in the early morning in the dark catching buses and making their way to school. Please be alert when driving to students who are waiting by the side of the road for their bus and biking-walking to school. And a firm reminder as we enter into the last of the school year: There is ZERO TOLERANCE for speeding or hand held use of you cell phone when in the town’s active school zone.
John B. Wright Park
The town council has approved for the purchase of an approved ADA picnic table for the park. The purchase will be completed with funds that citizens have donated to the park fund over the last several years. This will be a nice addition to the park for all to use. I do ask that you help keep the park clean by disposing of all trash in the nearby trashcan.
Double Oak Women’s Club News
The Double Oak Women’s Club is accepting applications for the DOWC 2011 Scholarship. Applications are available at Double Oak Town Hall, Marcus High School and Denton Guyer High School. For more information, please visit the town website at www.double-oak.com and look under the latest news section link or contact DOWC Community Service Chairperson Claire Garlick @ 817-247-5122 or [email protected].
The DOWC Annual Casino Night Fundraiser is scheduled for April 9th @ town hall. This is always a great evening and a good fundraising event for the club. They are looking for donations of prizes to give away this evening such as: gift cards, restaurant gift cards, oil change gift cards, sports tickets, tickets to movies and events and any other items that might be good giveaway prizes. Please contact DOWC Community Service Chairperson Claire Garlick @ 817-247-5122 or [email protected] for more information or to donate.
The DOWC Pancake Breakfast and Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Saturday morning, April 16th, at town hall, so mark your calendars now. IHOP of Highland Village is helping out by donating pancakes and food items. THANK YOU to IHOP of Highland Village. Donations of plastic eggs and wrapped candy are needed. Please contact DOWC Children’s Socials Chairperson Patil Minassian for more information @ 940-783-4220. Also, check the town website for more information on times for the breakfast and Easter Egg Hunt @ www.double-oak.com.
Town of Double Oak Employee Recognized
The town council would like to recognize Town Secretary Charlotte Allen, as she celebrates her nine year anniversary with the town. She has become a legendary fixture here and from all of us Charlotte, we say congratulations and thank you for your service to Double Oak.
Third (1st) Annual Double Oak Volunteer Fire Department Golf Open
This year’s DOVFD Open Golf Tournament will be held at the Lantana Golf Club on Monday, April 18, 2011. It will begin at 8:00am with a shotgun start and use the Florida Scramble format. Last year’s event was a HUGE success and lots of fun. Many of you wanted to play last year, but already had other things to do on your schedules. Be sure now and mark your calendars for this fun golf event which raises money for the Double Oak Volunteer Fire Department. This year’s tournament still needs sponsors, players and volunteers. Also, the tournament organizers welcome any donations of gifts and goodies that could be used for raffles, goodie bags and the live auction which will be held during lunch after all are finished playing. For more information, check out the town website at www.double-oak.com or www.dovfdgolf.com for upcoming golf news or contact Charlie Wright @ 972-539-9464 or [email protected].
THE TOWN WISHES ALL A HAPPY EASTER!
 GIF.gif)
