Thank you for allowing me to update you on current and upcoming events in Flower Mound. As you are probably aware, the Town Council recently unanimously voted to place the Town Manager on administrative leave. Because this is a personnel issue, I cannot discuss the specifics but I can tell you this decision was made after careful consideration, due process and with the best interests of the community in mind. We realize that this period of uncertainty is difficult, especially for our Town’s employees, but we expect to have a final resolution soon.

While I can’t yet address the issues that led to this decision, I can tell you that your town’s leadership is fully committed to the creation of a collaborative and cooperative culture at Town Hall.  Instead of you (or prospective residents or businesses) believing you have to fight Town Hall, we want Town Hall to fight for you.  Thank you for your support of this goal.

Another critical issue for the Council has been the unprecedented number of West Nile virus cases in our community. As a Councilmember, we are charged with protecting the health and well-being of residents and we take this responsibility very seriously. It was encouraging to see the report from Denton County stating the aerial mosquito control spraying program resulted in a 56 percent reduction in the mosquito population. The Denton County Health Department is also reporting a substantial decrease in the number of new West Nile cases. Although we knew the aerial mosquito control spraying program would not completely eradicate the County of the virus, it was another valuable weapon in our arsenal to fight this record-breaking West Nile season in our Town.

Last month, I was honored to be a part of the construction of Flower Mound’s first community-built playground, Fort Wildflower. I would like to personally thank the local businesses, thousands of volunteers and town employees who unselfishly gave their time and resources so our children would be able to enjoy this amazing, one-of-a-kind playground. I hope every time you visit the playground and see a child smile; you are reminded this project was a success because of your desire to make our community better. Since Build Week, the Parks and Recreation staff have been putting the finishing touches on Fort Wildflower and making all the necessary safety checks. I encourage all residents to attend the Fort Wildflower official opening ceremony on Saturday, October 20. Additional details are in the works and more information will be posted as soon as it is available on the Town’s website at www.flower-mound.com.

Over the past few months the Development Process Review Committee (DPRC) has been meeting regularly to make recommendations on how Flower Mound’s development process can be improved. The DPRC Chairman presented eight recommendations to Council that will reduce staff and developer time, eliminate unnecessary or redundant paperwork, and empower Flower Mound to creatively and aggressively pursue the quality development residents want. The committee will continue to examine Town ordinances and policies and we look forward to their additional recommendations. The DPRC continues to meet every other Tuesday at the Shirley Voirin Social Senior Center next to Town Hall.  All of the committee’s meetings are open to the public and I invite residents to attend and offer their input. DPRC agendas are posted on the Town’s Agenda Center located at www.flower-mound.com/AgendaCenter.

With the cooler temperatures coming our way, I encourage residents to get out and enjoy our Town’s extensive hike and bike trails, parks, and facilities (remember the 4 D’s to prevent mosquito bites). Our Parks and Recreation staff has put together a wide array of activities for the whole family over the next few months. Whether it’s the award-winning Pumpkin Dive or our annual Veterans Day ceremony, there is an opportunity for everyone to make a lasting memory in the Town we love to call home. As always, for more information about upcoming events, please visit www.flower-mound.com.