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Rowlett News
April 21, 2017
Good day everyone. Here is this week's news.
Probable Identify of New Grocery Chain Coming To Town:
For those that haven't guessed the company name for this new grocery chain in the USA, Jeff Winget posted on Facebook that he thought this would be a Lidl grocery store. The site plans for this unnamed store in Rowlett and the named Lidl store in Rockwall are identical. I'm fairly certain Jiff is correct. A request for Alternative Building Materials came before the council this past Tuesday and was approved. Don't expect immediate construction. Rockwall approved their store the first of this year and no construction has started. They could be just getting their ducks in a row for expansion similar to what HEB has done in different parts of the DFW area.
May 6th Council Election:
Several people have asked me who I recommend they vote for during the upcoming election. I will not recommend anyone but will tell you who we are going to vote for and why. If you are interested go to this link on our website. If you aren't interested just go to the next paragraph in this newsletter.
https://sites.google.com/site/rowlettseniors/who-we-plan-to-vote-for-in-the-may-6th-council-election
Early Voting Information
The Early Voting location for the City of Rowlett will be held at the Rowlett Annex, located at 4004 Main Street. Rowlett registered voters, whether residing in Dallas County or Rockwall County, may vote at any Dallas County Early Voting location to participate in the election of your City Council.
Early Voting Hours
Monday, April 24 through Friday, April 28 - 8:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday, April 29 - 8:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday, April 30 - 1:00pm - 6:00pm
Monday, May 1 through Tuesday, May 2 - 7:00am - 7:00pm
No matter how you vote just please vote!
From April 18th Council Packet: Item 7E :This refers to the new Public Safety Radio Tower On Schrade Rd.
Consider action to approve a resolution approving and ratifying a contract for the purchase of real property located at 8491 Schrade Road, being more specifically described as Lot 1, Block 1, Joy Lutheran Church Addition, for the installation, construction and operation of a radio tower as an integral part of a multi-jurisdictional radio system participation agreement.
After construction began, it was brought to the attention of City staff that the construction was being performed on the adjacent property, Lot 1, which was not owned by the City.
The cause of this miscalculation is currently under review. However, rather than re-commencing construction of the tower on the City’s adjacent lot, staff negotiated a purchase of Lot 1 so that the City would own both adjacent lots, giving the City slightly more than 8 acres which can be used for public safety facilities and other municipal purposes. Since the tower is an integral part of the public safety radio system that will be used by several cities, and since the system’s completion date is imminent, the purchase of Lot 1 needed to be completed as quickly as possible.
The purpose of this item is to ratify the purchase of the adjacent property to continue construction of the tower.
Purchasing the land where the tower was being constructed cost the city nearly $500,000.
The city's reply:
In February of this year, the City of Rowlett began construction of a radio tower to support a multi-jurisdictional public safety radio system. In March, it was determined that the construction began on the adjacent property, which was not owned by the City. Staff studied and presented three potential solutions to the City Council. These included a land swap with the owner of the property – the offer of which was declined; relocating the tower to the City-owned lot; or purchasing the land on which the tower construction was underway. After review, the land purchase was determined the best option, as it keeps a critical public safety project moving forward and avoids the lost cost of relocating the tower. This purchase also creates an additional strategically located City asset for possible future public safety facilities.
The City recognizes the concern this situation generates and is engaging an independent party to conduct a thorough review to determine how the miscalculation occurred.
Additional Sources on this Subject:
From CBSDFW: http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2017/04/19/rowlett-pays-big-money-for-building-radio-tower-on-wrong-land/
From Ron Miller's Rowlett Rambling Blog: http://www.rowlettramblings.com/
Other Council Actions: Link to packet: http://rowlett.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5165
Discussion of policy on Donated Art:
Ms. Tamra Williams, is a member of the Arts & Humanities Commission and a Rowlett resident of long standing. Tamra Williams will donate two sculptures in memory of family members and offered as a catalyst to encourage additional donations of public art works. The pieces are to be placed at Fire Stations #1 (3900 Miller Road) and #4 (6800 Rowlett Road) respectively.
Highway 66 Visioning Plan:
The Highway 66 Visioning Plan would encompass landscape and irrigation along the State Hwy 66 medians and entry features at both the east and west ends of State Hwy 66.
The Scope of the project will include from the far West city limit to Applebee’s and then again from Chiesa to Heritage Parkway on the East end of State Hwy 66.
Plant selections will include Liriope, Pennisetium Grass, Gulf Muhly, Flame Acanthus, Russian Sage, Coreopsis, Blue Grama, Upright Rosemary, Autumn Sage and similar plantings. Trees will include High Rise Live Oaks, Texas Redbuds and Crape Myrtles.
Entry features will encompass a large entry feature wall with “ROWLETT” designation on one side and a similar stone wall on the opposite side.
The goal is to have designation both coming into and going out of the City of Rowlett.
Entryway features will be placed at State Hwy 66 and Dexham on the West end of Rowlett and at State Hwy 66 and Heritage Parkway to the East.
By partnering with TxDOT and KRB, the City of Rowlett is essentially receiving almost $2 million worth of landscape and hardscape at no cost to the City. Maintenance will be picked up by the city one year after completion.
Miller and Chiesa Roads Sidewalk project:
Approved a resolution of support for the Miller Road and Chiesa Road Sidewalk project as applied for in the 2017 Transportation Alternatives Set -Aside. Call for Projects and authorize the Mayor to execute the necessary documents for said services.
.
This project is not yet funded. The resolution is in the hopes that the North Central Texas Council of Governments will provide funding. Maps are included in the council packet linked above.
Request to approve alternative Building Materials for grocery store.
Consider and take action on a resolution for Alternative Building Materials to allow metal louvers. The subject property is located at 1901 Lakeview Parkway, Approved.
An item to approve an ordinance adopting the Project Plan and Financing Plan and adopt the Bylaws for the Downtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone.
This was approved and with 50% participation instead of 75% participation for 20 years. This allows more to go to the general fund than originally proposed.
Consider an ordinance granting two Major Warrants to eliminate each of the minimum height
requirements in “Sub Area 2” and “Sub Area 3” of the Signature Gateway (E1) District.
This item was pulled by the council and delayed to May 2nd when another public hearing will be held.
Zoning Change Request:
Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance approving a rezoning request from both Rural Neighborhood Form-Based District (RN-FB) and Urban Neighborhood Form-Based District (UN-FB) to New Neighborhood Form-Based District (NN-FB). The subject properties are located at 3200 and 3600 Hickox Road. Approved.
From Friends of Rowlett Animals:
4/22 - Aspasians Marketplace, Wilkerson-Sanders Memorial Stadium 1201 T L Townsend Dr, Rockwall, TX 75087 9am-5pm
Please join Friends of Rowlett Animals at Aspasians Spring Marketplace! Come visit our friendly volunteers to learn more about FRAs, and how you can become a part of our amazing organization! Adoptable dogs will be onsite from 11am-3pm. We will also have lots of fun and games for the whole family. Hope to see you on April 22!!
4/29 - Kid Fish, Rowlett Community Park 9am-12pm
FRAs will be walking some of our amazing shelter pups around the park during Kid Fish. Come say hi and maybe meet your new best friend!
9am-1pm
Sign in at Wet Zone
Take some pride and ownership of YOUR city -- it’s fun and rewarding! Volunteers of all ages are invited to join Keep Rowlett Beautiful, Inc.in a city-wide parks, streets and lakeshore cleanup effort. All ages are welcome. EVERYBODY (individuals, families, schools, groups . . .) is encouraged to do their part to help clean up our beautiful city. Don’t miss this popular semi-annual event!
FOOD • MUSIC • PRIZES: All volunteers are invited back to the pavilion after the cleanup for a volunteer appreciation luncheon. Enjoy hot dogs, drinks, chips and cookies. Listen to music and share your stories of the day. Prize drawings of goods and services are donated by local Rowlett merchants. Contact Martha Brown at Keep Rowlett Beautiful, Inc. for more information: (972) 463-3929, mbrown@keeprowlettbeautiful.org. Sign up at www.keeprowlettbeautiful.org.
From Community Services Officer Chad Caldwell
I am in the process of gathering info from all of those citizens in Rowlett who have security cameras at their homes and are willing to share that video with police officers to view. The main beneficiaries of this list will be CID in their efforts in solving crimes but, in extreme circumstances, it could benefit other officers as well. This program is completely VOLUNTARY AND CONFIDENTIAL. Please review the document below and if you wish to participate, complete the form and email it to me directly at ccaldwell@rowlett.com
Thank you so much,
Officer...Read more
CrimeWatch_Security_Camera_Form.pdf
Rowlett/American Cancer Socety Fundraiser
Fundraiser at Fish City Grill - 445 Coneflower Dr. - Firewheel Town Center - Tuesday, May 2, 2017 from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Fish City Grill will donate 15% of the days proceeds to Relay for Life of Rowlett/American Cancer Socety. The event is
sponsored by the Nomad Class of First United Methodist Church of Rowlett. Please bring your friends and help us to have a
good turn out. The food is also really good. Thanks for your support.
Rowlett Parks & Recreation Activites:
UPCOMING EVENTS
Kid Fish: The Rowlett Parks and Recreation Department is proud to once again host Kid Fish! Community Park will be stocked with 500 pounds of adult catfish on Saturday, April 29th. Come join the fun from 9:00am – 12:00pm. Prizes and trophies will be awarded to winners in three age divisions.This is a free event.
Cardboard Boat Regatta: Immediately following Kid Fish at 1:30pm Community Park will be full of spectators waiting to see who will float, sink or swim at the fourth annual “Rowlett Cardboard Boat Regatta”. Contestants will make boats out of cardboard & tape and will rely on their inventions to keep them afloat as they race across the Community Park Pond. Pre-registration is required & all teams will need to collect their own cardboard. Life vests are mandatory for all team members. Trophies will be awarded to the winners!WET ZONE WATERPARK
Registration is now open for the Rowlett Rays - Wet Zone's summer swim team! Practices begin afterschool in May with swim meets starting in June! Swimmers have the chance to compete in Regionals and State in July! Cost is $155 which includes a team swimsuit, swim cap, t-shirt, and TAAF Regional fees. For more information, visit us www.wetzonewaterpark.com/swimteam.
Make your birthday party a splash this summer at the WetZone Waterpark! Pavilions throughout the park are available to rent and come with snow cones for all the kids, a quarter sheet birthday cake, plates, utensils, plus a t-shirt for the birthday child! Haley the Hippo will also make an appearance to make your big day even more special! Price is $100 for 1.5 hours, and $30 for each additional 30 minutes plus $6 per guest. Find more information online at www.wetzonewaterpark.com.
Join us this summer on the court with our youth basketball league! Registration is now open through May 26th for players ages 5 – 12 with an 8 game beginning June 24th! Visit us online at www.rowlett.com/youthsports for more information.THEMED BIRTHDAY PARTIES
Looking for a place to hold your next birthday party? Look no further, the Rowlett Community Centre is the place for you! You bring the party and we will bring the fun. You don’t have to worry about any paper goods, balloons, cake, or punch. We will have that ready for you! For more info, please call 972-412-6170.
Seniors:
Rowlett Community Center: From Jill Bean
We have AARP Defensive Driving on April 29th at 9:00am and you MUST preregister!
Don’t forget about all the fun fitness programs that happen at the Rowlett Community Centre including Walking Club (Mon & Wed), Senior Stretch (Mondays), Get Energized with Jill (Mon, Tue, Wed), SAIL (Tuesdays), PACE (Wed & Fri), Tap Dancing (Thursdays), Line Dancing (Fridays).
Need transportation? Contact STAR Transit at 877-631-5278 to schedule your trip at least 24 hours in advance on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday from 8am-1pm! This is a FREE service that provide City of Rowlett senior transportation options to the Rowlett Community Centre and Rowlett Public Library!
SCOR - (Senior Citizens of Rowlett)
SCOR is still looking for seniors that need help with paying utilities bills, medicine, groceries etc. They will also look at other expenses. Their phone number is 469 863 3179.
Older Americans Month Information and Health Fair Information: May 11th.
Lifetime National Park Pass
Senior citizens can get a lifetime National Parks pass for only $10, but not for much longer
The price increase comes after Congress approved the National Park Service Centennial Act in December 2016. From WFAA
Bridge - From Ann Etheredge
Bridge, every Thursday, 10:00a.m. - 3:00p.m. Please contact Ann Etheredge at 972-412-0588 for further information.
Chick-fil-Bingo:
Held at their restaurant on Wednesday April 26th.at 8:30 am.
Lunch Around Town:
This month the lunch around town will be held at the Rowlett Dairy Queen at 11:30 am on Tuesday April 25th . The address is 4510 Lakeview Pkwy.
Joke of the week: From Bob Vickers
Yesterday, I was at Costco buying a large bag of Purina dog chow for my loyal pet, Bruce, the Wonder Dog, who weighs 191 lbs.
I was in the check-out line when a woman behind me asked if I had a dog. What did she think I had, an elephant?
So, because I'm retired and have little to do, on impulse I told her that no, I didn't have a dog, I was starting the Purina Diet again.. I added that I probably shouldn't, because I ended up in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms.
I told her that it was essentially a Perfect Diet and that the way that it works is, to load your jacket pockets with Purina Nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The food is nutritionally complete so it works well and I was going to try it again. (I have to mention here that practically everyone in line was now enthralled with my story.)
Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive care, because the dog food poisoned me. I told her no, I stopped to pee on a fire hydrant and a car hit me.
I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack he was laughing so hard.
Costco won't let me shop there anymore.
Watch what you ask retired people. They have all the time in the world to think of crazy things to say.
Have a great week!
Gaylyn & Larry Beckham