Fall has been a busy season for the Town of Flower Mound and we anticipate November to bring even more exciting news and events. This month, we will celebrate our veterans at the annual Veterans Day ceremony from 1 to 3 p.m. on November 11 at Flower Mound High School. This is a great opportunity to set aside our busy lives and remember the wonderful soldiers who fought for our freedom, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. During the event, hundreds of local JROTC units, Girl Scouts, and Boy Scouts will participate in the Veterans Review. It is a great event and I invite all our residents to attend.
The Town will also host the Ninth Annual Dorothy’s Dash on November 10 at Flower Mound High School, held in honor of former Town of Flower Mound employee Dorothy Walkup, who lost her battle with Multiple Sclerosis in 2004. This is another excellent event for the community to come together for a great cause with all proceeds benefitting the Lone Star Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. After the run, be sure to attend the kickoff of the Living Local campaign. Living Local is a comprehensive campaign promoting all healthcare resources, restaurants, and retail businesses in Flower Mound. There will be a festival featuring food tastings, shopping opportunities, live music, children’s area, and health screenings from Flower Mound vendors. By Living Local, we support jobs within our community, small business owners, and fund municipal services such as road maintenance, new parks and trails, in addition to our police and fire departments. I encourage you to learn more about this exciting program by visiting the convenient (and mobile) website www.livinglocalfm.com.
During the November 5 meeting, the Town Council will discuss the Town Manager search and consider potential search firms. This is an extremely important decision and we will consider all factors when it comes to finding the right person for our Town. More information will be posted on the Town’s website to keep you informed as we move forward in this process.
Following a review by the Planning and Zoning Commission on November 12, Council will consider a request for mixed-use zoning for the proposed Lakeside DFW project during the November 19 meeting. Throughout the process with Lakeside DFW representatives, we have kept what is important to our residents in mind as we focus on bringing an attractive and dynamic development to the area that would allow both residents and visitors to fully enjoy the amenities and Grapevine Lake. We will also work to keep you informed as more information becomes available regarding this project.
Recently, the Town learned of Atmos Energy’s plans to clear the easement located above the section of gas pipeline within Flower Mound due to safety concerns. While the community’s safety is our top priority, these plans impact many of our heavily-treed areas. As you are aware, Flower Mound prides itself on being named a Tree City for the past 18 consecutive years and has also received the Scenic City designation for its picturesque landscape. Our goal is to work with Atmos Energy to determine the best way to clear the easement responsibly, by ensuring resident safety and sparing as many trees as possible. The Town has received invaluable support from State Sen. Jane Nelson, who is also a Flower Mound resident, regarding this matter.
In October, the Town met with Atmos Energy representatives to further define the impact of the planned easement clearing. After the initial meeting, the Town Arborist, staff, and fire personnel traveled with Atmos Energy along the pipeline to conduct a general overview and determined which areas would be more heavily impacted. A formal tree survey will be now be conducted and is anticipated to be complete by the end of November. We will continue to provide updates on this situation as work progresses.
Throughout the upcoming holiday season, I encourage you to slow down, take time out, and enjoy spending time with your families. After all, they are the reason why we work so hard throughout the year. If you are looking for holiday activities to enjoy as a family, there is plenty to do in Flower Mound! Please be sure to visit www.flower-mound.com/specialevents for all the event details.
 GIF.gif)
