Council Approves Suspension of Water Rate Surcharge effective August 1

Posted By rbutler on Thursday, July 26 @ 7:27pm

The Allen City Council recently approved suspension of the water rate surcharge effective August 1. The City will remain on the current twice weekly water use schedule (Thursday and Sunday for our neighborhood) until until that time.

After August 1 upon transition from Stage 3 of the Drought Contingency Plan to the Water Conservation Plan, there will be no day of use restrictions on landscape irrigation uses for water. However, the City Council strongly encourages all water customers to continue to conserve water and to practice twice weekly landscape irrigation.

School Begins August 27

Posted By rbutler on Thursday, July 26 @ 7:25pm

Classes will begin for all Allen ISD students on Monday, August 27.

No changes have been made to the school starting times for 2007-08. The elementary school day will begin at 7:55 a.m. Middle schools will start at 8:30 a.m. The Freshman Center will begin at 8:15 a.m. and Allen High School students will report either at 8:15 a.m. or 9:15 a.m. based on their schedule.

City Council Approves Stage 3 "Light" Restrictions

Posted By rbutler on Wednesday, June 13 @ 11:38am

Last night, the Allen City Council approved a Stage 3 "Light" designation as part of the Drought Contingency Plan.

Changes to watering restrictions under the Stage 3 "Light" designation, include:

• Effective immediately - Washing or rinsing of vehicles and watercraft by hose will be permitted as long as a shut-off nozzle is used to stop the flow of water when not being used to rinse off the vehicle.
• Effective July 1 - Landscape watering with sprinklers or irrigation systems will be permitted twice a week per a designated schedule. The schedule will be mailed to all water customers on or before June 30.

Allen ISD Web Site Reorganization

Posted By rbutler on Tuesday, May 22 @ 1:07pm

Due to reorganization that will take place in the next couple of weeks, the Allen ISD website will be unavailable from the end of the day May 31st until the morning of June 4th. ParentConnect will also be unavailable, therefore, AISD will be mailing home report cards on May 30th.

Don't Let the Rain Fool You - We're Still in a Drought

Posted By rbutler on Monday, May 14 @ 7:53pm

Here in North Texas, we’re all thankful for recent rain. Lawns are green, plants are blooming and some lakes are filling up.

That’s why some people have asked why the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) service area remains in Stage 3 Severe Drought.

A drought is measured by more than rainfall (or lack of it).

NTMWD relies on three reservoirs—Lake Lavon, Lake Jim Chapman and Lake Texoma—to serve more than 1.6 million people in and around the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. While Lake Lavon—our primary water source—has risen to 94 percent capacity, Lake Jim Chapman is still less than half full.

Other drought factors include:

• Drought conditions in the region and the watersheds of our lakes
• Lake levels/capacities
• Amount of water we’re permitted to draw from our reservoirs (the amount is limited by the State of Texas)
• Current and projected demand for water from our customers, which is increasing

Several projects, initiated prior to the drought, are under way that will add more water to our supply next year and help us keep pace with demand. While NTMWD may relax some watering restrictions later this year or early next year, our region may never return to a time when we could use all the water we wanted without worrying about the consequences.

Water conservation will always be an important part of NTMWD's water management strategy.

So we’re asking you to continue to save. Follow your community’s watering schedule and avoid wasting water. You will find easy water-saving tips at www.NorthTexas.WaterIQ.org

Working together, we can ensure there will plenty of water for our future. Always.

Updated: Monday, May 14 @ 8:53pm

City of Allen Storm Damage Recovery Plan

Posted By rbutler on Thursday, May 3 @ 9:37pm

Due to the impact of the high winds on Wednesday, May 2, a significant amount of tree and fence damage ocurred in Allen. The City's first priority has been the removal of wind damage debris from all streets, alleys, and public property. City staff has received hundreds of calls for assistance with debris removal. In response, city staff has developed the following response plan:

• Curb side pick up of storm damage debris at residential properties will be conducted.
• The City cannot come on private property to help reduce, cut up, or remove debris. The City will collect storm debris from the curb side (along a street) including: damaged tree and shrub plant materials and small quantities of fence boards and shingles. Small or loose plant materials should be placed in lawn/leaf type bags. The materials should not be placed in the street, but behind the curb. Any material placed along alleyways will not be collected by the City.
• All tree material must be no more than 6 feet in length. A limited quantity of fence materials that has been broken down into individual boards will also be accepted.
• The City will not collect whole fence panels or entire fences. The residents may personally take their complete fence panels or fence parts to the Custer Road Transfer Station Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The transfer station is located on Ridgeview Drive just west of Custer Road. Residents must take their driver's license and most recent City utility bill as proof of residency.
• We are not collecting construction or remodeling debris including, but not limited to: large quantities of roofing shingles, plywood, electrical items, computer equipment, sheet rock, dimensioned wood, wood-like products such as Hardi Plank, metal, bricks, rocks, insulation, carpeting, carpet padding, electrical wiring, or dirt.
• City staff will begin residential storm debris removal on Tuesday, May 8. This allows citizens time to trim trees and get the debris to curb side over the next few days. This process should be complete in about two weeks.
• The City has been divided into four quadrants with a work crew assigned to each quadrant.
• You may request pick up of debris at (214) 509-4509. However, City staff will inspect each street for storm debris that has been placed out for collection.
• The cost of this service is paid for as part of your residential waste service fees. This curb service is not being extended to any commercial or homeowner's association owned properties.
• On Friday, May 4, the City is placing 30-yard open top debris containers at two locations: Jupiter Park, south of Main Street and Allen Station Park (in the compacted gravel parking lot) south of Exchange Parkway on Cedar Drive. These containers are intended for storm debris disposal. They are not intended for disposal of household food wastes or household hazardous wastes. After the open top service appears to be reduced in usage, the containers will be removed.
• Please call (214) 509-4509 with your questions.

Power Outages at Allen ISD Campuses

Posted By rbutler on Thursday, May 3 @ 9:27am

Allen ISD will begin today - Thursday May 3 - at all campuses on a regular schedule.

As a result of the storms on Wednesday night, there are power outages at four campuses (Boon, Kerr, Green and Allen High School). There are no power problems at other Allen schools. Once they are able to determine how long the power outages will last, students will either remain or be moved to another campus for the day.

If there is an early release of students planned as a result of the continuing power outages - that information will be communicated immediately on the AISD school website.

Planning and Zoning Plat Discussion

Posted By rbutler on Monday, April 30 @ 4:35pm

At tomorrow night's City Planning and Zoning Committee Meeting, there will be a discussion to consider a Preliminary Plat for Morgan Crossing, Phase 3, being 15.866± acres located at the southwest corner of Angel Parkway (FM 2551) and the proposed Chaparral Drive.

This is in the open field area directly south of our neighborhood.

American Cancer Society's Relay For Life of Allen, TX

Posted By rbutler on Sunday, April 29 @ 3:02pm

It is not too late to get involved in this fun community-wide event and join the fight against cancer. There will be a new team informational meeting on Wednesday May 2 at 7PM in the Club House of the Benton Pointe Apartments (205 Benton Drive, behind the Lowe's on McDermott).

Come and learn more about Relay For Life, how you can get involved, what it takes to put a team together and much more!

Relay For Life is the signature fund raising event of the American Cancer Society. Teams will come together and spend the night at the Allen High School practice field to raise cancer awareness, celebrate cancer survivors, honor cancer victims, and have some fun with live entertainment, food, games, music, children's activities and much more.

So come become part of this worthy event!

Zoning Change Public Hearing

Posted By rbutler on Tuesday, April 24 @ 12:07pm

The City of Allen City Council will be conducting a Public Hearing tonight to Adopt an Ordinance Granting a Change in Zoning for Tract A of PD Planned Development No. 65 from TH Townhome to R-7 residential on 15± Acres of Land Located Southwest of Angel Parkway and Chaparral Road.

This is the same area that was discussed at the Planning and Zoning Committee three weeks ago.