Well, here it is, my first article as Mayor of Highland Village. I have been fortunate to have enthusiastic support of my appointment to Mayor and I’ll need that support as I write these monthly articles! It is my hope I’ll be able to share with you my love for Highland Village, the activities and events you can participate in, information you need and how you can be more involved in our community.
Most of you know me as Charlotte, the Realtor. That’s my full-time, paid job. One of the perks of being a Realtor is seeing many different communities. I can tell you, maybe with just a little bias, that Highland Village is the best place to live in north Texas. D Magazine agrees. The Best Suburbs edition of D Magazine is hot off the press and once again Highland Village has landed in the top 10. It’s not surprising to us because we’ve been in the top 10 in the magazine since 2004. No matter where we are ranked in the “Best of” lists, it is always our goal to keep Highland Village as a destination point, a city people want to come to for shopping, dining, playing and, of course, to make their home. To do this we need everyone to do their part, and there are a lot of ways you can help make Highland Village the best place to be in North Texas.
I hear over and over how much everyone enjoys our parks and trails. And there is a lot of excitement and anticipation for our newest park, Doubletree Ranch Park. I’m not sure everyone realizes, but our trails and Doubletree Ranch Park are funded by sales tax dollars. Every time you shop or dine in Highland Village you are helping build a trail or a soccer field. Beautiful open spaces and places for healthy activity are one of the attributes that make Highland Village a destination point. So remember to not only shop our local businesses, but spread the word about Highland Village to your family and friends.
Another way you can help keep Highland Village a top rated community is by volunteering your time on a board or commission. That is how I started my service to the community; I volunteered to serve on the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission. My experience as a Realtor was beneficial to this commission. But “experience” is not a requirement for appointment to a board or commission; we just look for those with a desire to serve the city. Each year in July the Council requests applications from residents’ interested in serving on a city board. If you’ve ever wondered how you can give back to your city, I hope you’ll consider applying. Just contact our city secretary, Diane Callahan, or search “volunteer opportunities” on the city website.
We can’t deny that Highland Village is a top rated community because of our beautiful homes and well-manicured, lush, green lawns. You know where I’m headed here, we are fortunate to currently only be in Phase 1 of water conservation. When I hear of other cities that are only able to water twice a week or one day every two weeks, I know we are blessed in Highland Village. We can’t take our supply of water for granted. We typically have to move to the next phase of our water restrictions – no watering on Monday and Friday – in late July or August for a few weeks. I hope you’ll consider how much water you use and look for every way you can cut back on your water usage.
And finally, another thing you can do is download the Eye on Highland Village app to your mobile phone. This app is your personal way to tell city staff of areas in the city that need attention. Maybe it’s a dead tree along the trail, a bush that blocks line-of-sight at an intersection, or a place where water is collecting and mosquitoes can breed. All you have to do is open the app, choose the issue and add your comments. If you want staff to respond to you, include your contact info or you can remain anonymous. We do have very attentive staff in our city but they can’t be everywhere at all times. I have found they are very appreciative of residents alerting them to areas that need attention. All you have to do to get the app is search “Go Request” in the app store on your phone and you’re good to.
So that’s it for my first article to you. Not as tough as I thought it would be! I hope you got at least one new thing you can do to make your city the best place to live in North Texas. Enjoy the summer, spend time with family and friends and I hope to see you around Highland Village!
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