Upcoming May 18th, 2015 Council Meeting Swearing-In and Remembrance Dedication for the late Mayor Bill and Laura Wilkinson
Please join your friends and neighbors for the swearing in of Mayor Mike Donnelly and Council-Members Dr. Ara Minassian and Steve Durbin as they begin their new 2-year term. This evening will be a very special one as the town remembers and pays tribute to former Mayor Bill Wilkinson and Laura Wilkinson. The meeting begins at 7:00pm and all are invited to attend and take part.
Double Oak Spring Clean-Up Weekend scheduled for May 22, 23, 24
Waste Management containers will be in the town hall parking lot over this weekend for Double Oak resident use. These containers are only for yard waste items such as tree limbs, bushes and other green yard waste. When full, the containers and parking lot will be closed and please ensure all material goes into the WM containers and nothing left on the ground.
Discussions at Council Meetings on possible November 2015 Ballot Measures
The town council has been discussing placing items on the November ballot for Double Oak citizens to vote on. The item(s) which will be on future agendas for discussion will be Local Sales Tax Options (and all related matters) and calling for an election on those measures in November. Discussions to date have focused on (1) Road Maintenance and Repair; (2) Crime Control and Prevention District. There is an information box on the town website to read more on the subjects. Local Sales Tax Options are voted on by the citizens.
Update: At the April 20th council meeting, there were further discussions about these business items and council voted to create the Double Oak Crime Control and Prevention District and made appointments to the DOCCPD temporary board of directors. This board will hold posted public meetings in the future and residents are welcome to attend these meetings.
Most of Double Oak’s current 1% sales tax revenue is most likely generated by Double Oak residents and if the measures are placed on the November ballot, registered voters will be asked to vote yes or no to increasing the sales tax revenue to go towards dedicated street repair and public safety crime control and prevention district. Sales tax measures and discussions on calling for items to be placed on November ballot will continue at future council meetings so please feel free to stop in and hear discussions and ask questions.
Fiscal Year 2015 – 2016 budget planning and work begins soon
Budget discussions will begin in June to prepare for the next fiscal year which begins on October 1st. The current operating budget was balanced by bringing over some reserve funds from the balance sheet. Double Oak’s ad valorem property tax rate is 0.22481 per $100, which is one of the overall lowest in all of Denton County. Part of the budget planning discussions will be developing the M & O proposed budget and setting the appropriate tax rate. The town may well need to consider an increase to the ad valorem property tax rate this next fiscal year in addition to asking the residents to approve, if called for in November, the local sales tax measures election.
Our town recently received another clean and very good annual audit report. Our town has very little debt and does not have any finance bond indebtedness. Double Oak primarily operates on the principle philosophy of pay as we go and keep a good sound financial reserve for emergencies, operations of the town and unexpected business items that pop up. Council welcomes residents to attend our meetings and budget workshops as we proceed preparing the next fiscal year budget. Let me finish by saying that I do believe our town needs additional revenue to keep it in good steady financial shape and to adequately take care of today’s municipal needs and financially prepare for the future needs of our town.
“RE” Ranch Estates District 11-5 Accessory Building
The Planning and Zoning Commission will be reviewing this section of our town ordinances to determine if there are any amendment recommendations to forward to town council for consideration. Please check with town hall to see when P & Z Commission meetings are scheduled. These meetings are posted public meetings.
Sign Up For Code Red Alerts and Stay Informed
Denton County is now providing, for all residents, the opportunity to sign up for Code Red Alerts via www.dentoncounty.com website. This is an important tool to stay informed of severe weather information and other emergencies. You should also think about having weather alerts on your smart phones and weather radios in your homes.
Annual DOVFD July 4th Parade and Picnic
Chief Joe Dent and members of the DOVFD are already making preparations for this wonderful annual event. They need volunteers to help set up and break down, people to help with food, drinks and games. Students in need of volunteer community service hours for school and other organizations find this is a perfect & easy way to pick up some of those required hours. Needed are items or services to auction off with all proceeds going to the fire department. You can find more information about the DOVFD and annual 4th of July parade and picnic @ www.dovfd.org.
If you wish to volunteer or donate-sponsor items, please contact DOVFD Fire Station @ 972-539-7683 or Chief Joe Dent @ 972-839-1493 or Captain Kathy Heimerdinger.
Remember to start getting those floats and other items ready for the parade. Let’s make this year’s event one of the biggest and best ever. There will be lots of good food, drinks, music, fun for kids and adults, and, neighbors to visit.
Bonnie Howard – Recognized as 2014-2015 Girl Scout Gold Award Recipient
Double Oak is proud to join family, friends and the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas in congratulating Bonnie Howard on her achievement. The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest level of achievement in Girl Scouting. Your town is very proud of you Bonnie!
Car Show May 30th in the Downing M.S. Parking Lot
A “Cars & Coffee” Car Show/fundraiser will be held on Saturday, May 30th from 9:00 a.m. to Noon in the Downing M.S. parking lot and donations will be accepted. Proceeds will go toward the purchase of a new portable defibrillator for our Double Oak Police to use when responding to emergencies in the community. If you have a classic car (any shape or model) come and show it off! A minimum $10 entry donation per car is requested. Or if you don’t have a car to display, just come and enjoy the fun – and bring the whole family, and friends and neighbors too! For more information, contact organizer Kathy Maybury with the Double Oak Women’s Club at 972-978-3068.
Happy Mother’s Day
The town extends special wishes of appreciation to all mothers, grandmothers and ladies on Mother’s Day.
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