What S Happening in Copper Canyon August 2010

What’s Happening in Copper Canyon – August 2010

By Sue Tejml

Mayor of Copper Canyon

Despite a very negative Economic Climate, Copper Canyon increases its Assessed Property Value this year by $13,465,885 or 8.157 Per Cent.

Copper Canyon’s Assessed Property Value, according to the Denton Central Appraisal District, increased from$165,071,098 last year to $178, 536,983 this year – or a $13,465,885 net increase. The value for some land and homes decreased but several new homes were added. And the value of “producing” mineral interests increased. Mineral interest values are not added to the county tax rolls until they are producing actual royalty income for the owners. Some of our mineral interest owners, like the Methodist Children’s Home, do not live in Copper Canyon. But their producing mineral interests pay property taxes here.

Winning Bond Bidder Northstar Bank Agrees to allow the Town to pay additional Principal in first three years, thus reducing overall interest payments on the $2 Million Dollar Bond.

The Town’s increased tax revenues, due to the increased total appraised property values, has allowed the Mayor and Council to ask Northstar Bank to voluntarily agree to an increase in principal payments in the early years of the twenty year bond issue. Northstar has agreed to our request, so the overall interest payment on the $2 million dollar bond will decrease. Thank you, Northstar, for voluntarily agreeing to our request.

Energy Transfer Pipeline encounters huge free flowing Artesian Spring under Orchid Hill Lane

Construction Manager Gary McBride of ETC said they were amazed to hit a natural artesian spring only 30 feet under Orchid Hill Lane’s northern road right of way! The spring was producing over 300,000 gallons of water a day! McBride immediately had the water tested – it is pure spring water. Then he lined up water tankers 24/7 to haul off the unexpected volume of water encountered. As of my printing deadline, the Railroad Commission of Texas has still not told ETC how to permanently dispose of the water. ETC would like to direct the flow of natural artesian spring water back into Lake Lewisville. Fortunately, the flow of spring water has decreased to a manageable 13,000 gallons a day.

Orchid Hill remains a temporary construction zone from Chinn Chapel Road west to Copper Canyon Road and the reduced speed limit is 20 mph 24/7. However, the double fines in a construction zone are only in effect when workers are present.

Energy Transfer gives $5,000 to Sponsor Copper Canyon’s first Cookbook

Energy Transfer Pipeline gave $5,000 to sponsor Copper Canyon’s first Town Cookbook! With ETC covering a large portion of the cost of hard cover binders, category divider pages, paper, and printing – the Town should be able to sell the cookbook for $15 to $20 each and have enough money left after publishing expenses to give college scholarships to graduating Copper Canyon high school seniors in 2011.

The cookbook is limited to 250 binders for this First Edition. And 108 are reserved to cooks donating recipes plus members of the Cookbook Committee - if those individuals want to purchase the cookbook. Reservations for the cookbook are being taken now on the Town web site and at the front desk of Town Hall. The Cookbook Committee decided on a loose leaf suede binder, as the Members believed that additional Town residents would want to contribute recipes once they saw the quality of Copper Canyon’s first edition.

Collages of color photos of Copper Canyon residents and their children and grand children cooking will be on each category divider tab page. Compiling these photo collages has been a fun task for the members of the Cookbook Committee. If you want additional information or have photos to contribute contact Cookbook Chair Pris Johnson, Vice Chair Nita Humphreys, photographer Denise Remfert, or Members Robin Fleury, Bev Gerard, Kaye Hill, Rita Lokie, Mary Maddoux, Gerri Mariano, Sandi Pruett, or Mayor Sue Tejml.

Many Town Residents Suggest opening FM 2499 to relieve Traffic Congestion

I had left word with TxDot’s Area Engineer Gary Bailey two weeks ago with the same request. Gary had replied that FM 2499 north of Orchid Hill Lane was not complete and could not be opened, but he would personally check on FM 2499 from Orchid Hill Lane south. He did. The southern section of that road may appear complete, but it still needs to be striped and a sound wall needs to be constructed from the Poindexter Creek Bridge south to Harwood Drive to protect abutting Highland Village homeowners. Bob Turner of Ed Bell Constructiontold me he would construct the soundwall as quickly as possible, but he had yet to even receive the change order from TxDot to do so.

So, please be forewarned. Anyone driving past a Road Closed sign will be ticketed. And traffic tickets are NOT cheap. On Fm 2499, the enforcing officers will be from the Highland Village Police Department.

Detour Route for the southern end of Chinn Chapel Road – Woodlands Drive vs. East Jernigan Road.

Copper Canyon residents, and commuters from neighboring areas, are welcome to come to Town Hall Monday night August 9th 7 p.m. and express their concerns and suggestions to our Town Council. It will take approximately 3 to 4 months to complete the drainage project and the rebuilding of the southern end of Chinn Chapel Road from the intersection of Rolling Acres Drive north through the Harlington Drive intersection. The goal is to open Harlington Drive from Chinn Chapel Road to FM 2499, as soon as possible to relieve commuter congestion.

Our Deputy Sheriff Jason Quigley and our Town Engineer Brian Haynes both believe that the Woodlands Drive detour route is the safest. Our former County Commissioner Jim Carter agrees with them, due to his experience when Chinn Chapel Road was closed 5 years ago for major rebuilding. Their reasoning is that the most dangerous intersection is Chinn Chapel Road and East Jernigan. It is a blind curve for southbound and eastbound traffic. And southbound drivers going illegally through the Road Closed signs might possibly broadside eastbound drivers exiting East Jernigan onto Chinn Chapel Road.

I respectfully disagree with them. To me it is more dangerous to route commuter traffic through a residential neighborhood like the Woodlands with children playing near Woodlands Drive and residents regularly walking that road. An additional danger is the blind hill where Copper Woods Drive becomes Woodlands Drive. Drivers going east cannot see over that hill to see if vehicles are parked on the street that would force them into the lane of oncoming traffic. Our senior Deputy Sheriff Jason Quigley has gone door to door at the top of this hill to explain to adjacent homeowners the importance of NOT parking on the street. To date, all homeowners have received him courteously and voluntarily complied with the Town’s “No Parking” request. Our sincere thanks to those homeowners for understanding the necessity of this safety precaution while the Detour Route is on Woodlands Drive.

Unfortunately, there is no ideal Detour Route for Chinn Chapel Road. But please do come and express your views to the Council on Monday night 7:00 p.m. August 9th. Public Input is at the beginning of the Council Meeting.

Intersection of FM 407 and Jernigan Road – Drivers: Use your turn signals EARLY ON to help our Deputy Sheriffs determine if they can help you by directing traffic.

In the meantime, the Chinn Chapel detour route is through Rolling Acres Drive and the residential neighborhood of Chinn Chapel North. However, Copper Canyon is paying for two Deputy Sheriffs to direct traffic at FM 407 and Jernigan Road for two hours during the morning rush hour and two hours during the late afternoon rush hour Monday through Friday. Traffic going west on FM 407 from Jernigan Road should need minimal help from the Deputies. However, traffic trying to turn east onto FM 407 from Jernigan Road will need all the help they can get. Our Deputy Sheriff Jason Quigley has respectfully asked that you turn on your turn signals as soon as possible, so the Deputies can gauge ahead of time if you need their assistance with traffic direction.

Butch Mallam offers Town Residents his organically grown Giant Garlic

If you would like to share in Butch Mallam’s gigantic organically grown garlic cloves, please stop by Town Hall. He has generously offered them to the Town Hall staff and any Copper Canyon residents who would like to partake. Butch has lived in Copper Canyon on Estates Drive since 1974 and was a Mayor Pro Tem on the Town Council for decades. Thank you, Butch!

Town’s First Clean Up Day is Saturday October 2nd – Chaired by Marshall Warren of the Woodlands!

Five vendors have been secured for the Town’s first Clean Up Event!

Thanks to Jeri Harwell of Republic Waste for providing gratis two dumpsters for regular household trash – paper, boxes, magazines, lumber, fencing materials, etc. We are negotiating to address bulky items like mattresses and cast off furniture.

Dave Lackie with Stubbs Recycling has agreed to dispose of metal and batteries.

Melissa Stephens of Cintas will shred documents.

Brad Chism of ComputerCrusher of Denton will crush hard drives for $10 each and for free dispose of monitors, cell phones, and their connecting cords by giving them to charities.

A vendor for disposing of tires will also be arranged.

Ann Duncan of Upper Trinity Regional Water District will handle hazardous waste for $84 per household. Please make a reservation for your household’s disposal of hazardous waste on the Town web site or at the front desk of Town Hall. Acceptable materials are:

AcidsAerosol CansAntifreeze

Batteries (car)Batteries (Household)Brake Fluid

Craft ChemicalsHobby ChemicalsDegreasers

Drain CleanersFertilizersFluorescent Lights

FungicidesGasolineHerbicides

Household CleanersItems with MercuryMotor Oil

Oil FiltersPaints/Stains/VarnishesPaint Thinners

Pest StripsPesticidesPharmaceuticals

Photo ChemicalsPool ChemicalsSolvents

Unwanted Fuels

On Clean Up Day, Saturday October 2nd from 8-noon, please present your latest Bartonville Water District local utility bill to identify your household as an eligible Copper Canyon residence to participate.

Hot Dog Lunch and Dessert Baking Contest to Accompany Town Clean Up Day

The Hostess Committeeand the Cookbook Committeewill be arranging a Hot Dog Lunch and a Dessert Baking Contest to accompany our first Town Clean Up Day. For the kids there will be two Bounce Houses (one for older kids and one for younger kids), Popcorn Machines, Snow Cone Machines, and rides up top on the Argyle Fire District fire engine. More details will be in the Mayor’s article in the September edition of the Cross Timbers Gazette. But save the date of Saturday October 2nd. Hopefully, we will have as many residents participate as came to the Town’s 35th Birthday party!

Neighborhood Watch Members please Email Mayor Tejml if you are willing to continue as a Block Captain another year

Please email Mayor Tejml at if you are willing to continue as a Block Captain another year. Additional training sessions by the Denton County Sheriff’s Office will be offered twice in September, either Saturday morning or a work day evening for two hours each. You can choose the date most personally convenient for you. Dates and details will be sent to you later this month.

National Night Out will also be celebrated in conjunction with the Town’s Clean Up Day Saturday October 2nd; however, Copper Canyon will have a “Noon Out”, instead of a Night Out. Volunteers will be appreciated to help with that event.

Fortunately, the number of serious crimes in Copper Canyon has remained minimal. No doubt attributable to the sheer volume of residents willing to volunteer their time to be a Block Captain and stay vigilant for their neighbors’ welfare. However, with all the simultaneous road construction underway at the same time in Copper Canyon, your observations and your “eyes and ears” will be much appreciated.

State Comptroller’s Stimulus Grant of $23,030 for Energy Efficient Remodel of Town Hall

The following six items will be included in the energy efficiency remodel of our 30 plus year old Town Hall.

(1) A 5 ton 16 SEER heat pump air conditioner to replace our older 12 SEER one. This unit will air condition the Council Chambers and any renovation that includes the vacant fire bay adjoining the Council Chambers.

(2) Twelve 38” x 48” Lowe E Energy Efficient Windows for our old windows.

(3) Radiant Barrier SolaShield to reduce roof –to-attic energy transfer.

(4) Three wind turbines for roof ventilation.

(5) 15” to 20” thick fiberglass blown insulation in attic to meet or exceed R49 factor. Replaces R-11 factor, 6” thick old insulationcurrently installed in attic.

(6) Weather stripping for five exterior doors.

Our thanks to Town Administrator Donna Welsh for painstakingly pursuing this very document intensive State grant.

Denco 911 is fortunate to have Flower Mound’s City Manager Harlan Jefferson willing to serve a Seventh Term on the Board

Harlan Jefferson has been Flower Mound’s City Manager for four years and its Chief Financial Officer/Town Treasurer for nine years prior to that. He graduated from the University of North Texas’s prestigious Masters Program in Public Administration. He was in the City of Denton’s Finance Department for 3 years prior to that.

Harlan has voluntarily served with distinction on Denco 911’s Board of Directors for 12 consecutive years. The Board has elected Harlan to a variety of Denco 911 Board positions.

Once again this year, no less than six area towns are nominating Jefferson for re-election: Denton, Flower Mound, Justin, Lewisville, Little Elm and Pilot Point. (Copper Canyon should be on that list, but I missed the deadline to submit out Town’s name as a nominee for Harlan.)

Most people who know me personally, and as a Mayor, know the tremendous respect that I have for Harlan Jefferson. He is not only an outstanding City Manager, probably the premier one in my judgment, but he is an incredible individual. I will definitely ask Copper Canyon’s Town Council to vote to keep Harlan on the Denco 911 Board.

North Texas Tollway Authority votes 7-1 for “County Line” extension route!

Our Denton County Commissioners Court is to be saluted for working as a “team”. Their wise long range planning recently secured an overwhelmingly favorable 7 to 1 vote for the “County Line” extension route of the North Texas Tollway. This particular toll road has been an “economic engine” for the towns and counties along its current route, from the city of Dallas north through the Galleria area and on into Collin County. (The “Platinum Corridor”, as it is affectionately nicknamed.) And the 4B Tollway extension further into North Texas is expected to continue this economic windfall along its route.

County Judge Mary Horn said the “Impact will occur primarily adjacent to the frontage roads of the facility. The preferred County Line alignment shares the potential economic benefits between both counties” - Collin and Denton. In total frontage exposure, Denton County will have 9.8 miles or 24% of the frontage roads; Collin County will have 30.9 miles or 76% of the frontage roads. The current terminal end of the Tollway will be in the Town of Pilot Point in Denton County.

Please make a special effort to thank Commissioners Hugh Coleman of Precinct One, Ron Marchant of Precinct Two, Bobbie Mitchell of Precinct Three, Andy Eads of Precinct Four, and County Judge Mary Horn. All five members of Denton County’s Commissioners Court were present July 21st for their unified presentation to the Board of Directors of the NTTA. It was a momentous occasion. In the future, your county property taxes will have serious relief bythe property taxes generated from the retail and commercial businesses that develop along the northern extension of this incredibly successful Tollway.

History: DentonCounty JudgeMary Hornsummarized the history of this project. In January 2005 the Commissioners Courts of both Collin County and Denton County approved resolutions for a proposed northern route extension of the Tollway which would follow their mutual county line. In 2007, the Collin County Commissioners Court withdrew its approval for that route and proposed a route through the town of Celina that was totally within Collin County. In 2010 the NTTA Board of Directors considered 3 alternate route alignments: the original “county line” alignment between Denton and Collin Counties; an eastern route through Celina and totally with Collin County; and a western route primarily within Denton County.

Denton County has Bond Funds Available NOW for the “County Line” extension: John Polster, with Innovative Transportation Solutions, Inc., reviewed the actual funding already provided NOW by Denton County for the Tollway’s extension. In Denton County’s TRIP-08 Bond Program, $20 million was allocated toward the construction of Dallas North Tollway frontage roads. These funds are available for IMMEDIATE use. TRIP-08 Bond funds totaling $1.5 million are available for immediate use for the design of the DNT 4B extension.