---

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

December 21, 2005

Christmas Tree Collection Begins January 9

The City of Burleson Solid Waste Division will begin curbside collection of real, cut Christmas trees on January 9 and will collect the trees daily the first week, then revert to standard limbs/brush collection schedules thereafter.  All collected trees will be mulched and that mulch will be made available to Burleson residents free of charge. 

The City of Burleson mulches all trees, limbs and brush collected at the curb, as well as all yard waste delivered by residents to the Compost Center.  Burleson residents may come to the Compost Center at 620 Memorial Drive and retrieve mulch for free.  Residents wishing to dispose of real, cut Christmas trees prior to January 9 may drop trees off at the Compost Center on Memorial Drive during the regular operational hours on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Residents are encouraged to mulch all yard waste and cut Christmas trees.  Using extra mulch in gardens and flower beds will provide additional insulation to protect plants during the winter months.  Please ensure that all ornaments, tinsel and decorations are removed from the cut trees prior to placing them at the curb or delivering them to the Compost Center for mulching.

For more information about Burleson solid waste services, or the post-holiday tree collection program, visit www.burlesontx.com or call 817-447-5410 ext 271.

Questions about this news release should be directed to the public information officer at 817-447-5400 ext 286.

 

---

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

December 13, 2005 

 Higher Education Center Comes to Burleson

Higher education is coming to Burleson!  On Monday, December 19, 2005 at 9 a.m., representatives from Hill College, Texas Wesleyan University, and the City of Burleson will host a ceremonial lease signing on the site of the new Hill College/Texas Wesleyan University in Burleson.  This ceremony will mark the adoption of an agreement allowing Hill College and Texas Wesleyan University to begin offering for-credit and continuing education courses in Burleson. 

The establishment of Hill College and Texas Wesleyan in Burleson presents a tremendous opportunity for area residents who many now find it easier and more convenient to take college courses, complete degrees, receive job-related certifications, and enjoy continuing education classes closer to home.   

The center in Burleson will be the fifth piece of the Hill College system and the third site for Texas Wesleyan University.  The schools will offer day, evening, weekend, and internet courses in a variety of subjects, bringing to Burleson an opportunity for students to complete coursework for two- and four-year degrees in a number of fields. 

 Registration for the spring semester at the new center begins January 5 and classes will start on January 11 for Texas Wesleyan and on January 17 for Hill College.  Courses will be offered in art, computer science, education, English, emergency medical services, government, history, journalism, math, physical education, psychology, religion, sociology, and speech.   

Texas Wesleyan will offer a two-year completion degree in EC-Grade 4 generalist elementary education at the Burleson center and plans to expand degree offerings in business and liberal studies.  In addition to offering courses in both regular school semesters, Hill College representatives plan to offer courses during mini-mesters, the first of which will begin in March 2006. 

 Hill College/Texas Wesleyan University in Burleson is located at 130 E. Renfro on a property formerly owned and occupied by the First United Methodist Church of Burleson.  The City of Burleson now owns the property and is leasing space to Hill College and Texas Wesleyan for the creation of the new college center.   

On December 1, the schools jointly hosted a public meeting at the new site, offering information about curriculum plans for fall and listening to feedback from community members about what types of course offerings they would like to see offered here.  More than 60 people attended the meeting and Hill College awarded its first scholarship to the Burleson center. 

The lease-signing ceremony is open to all interested media and community representatives.  In addition to the lease signing itself, the ceremony will offer opportunities to hear from representatives of both schools and the City of Burleson about this historic event in the city’s history.  The event begins at 9 a.m. at the Hill College/Texas Wesleyan University center (130 E. Renfro, Burleson, Texas 76028).   Questions about the new Burleson center should be directed to:

Questions about this news release or the lease signing ceremony should be directed to the City of Burleson public information officer at 817-447-5400 ext 286.

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 5, 2005

Burleson’s Holiday Activities Kick Off This Saturday!

Santa’s Breakfast

On December 10, Santa will be making his annual trip to Burleson to eat breakfast with the kiddos. There will be a special pancake and sausage breakfast with all the trimmings in Santa’s honor. Children young and old can enjoy a walk through a winter wonderland, create crafts, and have their faces painted. Parents, be sure to bring your cameras to capture the moment when your young ones have their special moment with St. Nick. Tickets will be available at the Community Center throughout November. Advance tickets are $2.75 for children and $3.75 for adults. Breakfast will be served from 7:30-11:30 a.m. at the Burleson Community Center, 500 Chisenhall Park Lane.

Parade of Lights and Tree Lighting

The parks and recreation department is again teaming with the Burleson Rotary Club to top off the holiday festivities with a bang! The Rotary Club will host the annual Parade of Lights featuring floats, cars, horses, and other entries, all showing off their holiday lights. The parade begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday, December 10 and will travel from Kerr Middle School, up Johnson Avenue to Ellison Street, and through Old Town. To register a parade entry, pick of an entry form at the Burleson Area Chamber of Commerce, Burleson City Hall, or Service First Mortgage.

This year’s theme is ‘Blessings of Christmas’ and entrants are encouraged to design floats that reflect this theme. All entries must include holiday lights and the use of music is a plus! The registration fee is $5 per float/entry. Entrants will begin lining up at Kerr Middle School at 4:30 p.m. and judging will be completed prior to the beginning of the parade. For more information about the Parade of Lights, call 817-447-7300 and speak with Lisa Keese or call the Burleson Area Chamber of Commerce at 817-295-6121.

Everyone is invited to follow the parade to the corner of Johnson Avenue and Ellison Street, where the City’s winter wonderland awaits. The community tree will be covered in lights and Santa will be on hand to flip the switch. He’ll also be available for pictures with the kids, so bring those cameras. And before the evening is over, the crowd will be treated to a holiday fireworks extravaganza to top off the fun!

These activities will require that a number of streets in the Old Town area are blocked off beginning at 2:30 p.m. on December 10. Drivers should be aware of the following street closures.

Ellison Street at S.W. Anderson

Additionally, all driveway entrances to the front parking area of First Baptist Church ( Johnson Avenue at Ellison Street) will be closed beginning at 2:30 p.m. All other side streets affected by the parade route will be blocked only until the end of the parade.

These closures are necessary to allow clearance of the parade route and to protect people and property from any potential hazards associated with the fireworks show.

A map showing the parade route and the location of all intersection barricades is available in PDF format here, and copies of this news release and the PDF map file will be available on the City of Burleson website at www.burlesontx.com.

For information about the full range of holiday activities hosted by Burleson’s parks and recreation department or about the Parade of Lights hosted by the Burleson Rotary Club, please visit the website listed above or call 817-295-8168.

Questions about this news release should be directed to the public information officer at 817-447-5400 ext 286.

 

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 2, 2005

Holiday Closures of City Facilities

With the holidays approaching, the City of Burleson would like to remind you that all Burleson municipal facilities will be closed on the following dates to allow City employees to celebrate the holidays with their families:

Solid waste (trash) collection schedules during these holidays are as follows:

Additionally, the City of Burleson 's annual Employee Awards Luncheon will be held on Wednesday, December 14. To allow all City employees to attend this annual event, the public hours of operation at several City facilities will be affected. Those facilities and hours are:

The City of Burleson apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciates the public's patience in allowing all City employees to participate in this special and important event each year.

The Employee Awards Luncheon is the City's annual opportunity to recognize employees with service and attendance awards, various forms of departmental recognition and a special award for the Employee of the Year.

Emergency response of public safety departments will not be affected by any holiday-related closures.

Questions about this news release should be directed to the public information officer at 817-447-5400 ext 286.

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 2, 2005

Notice of Road Closure – Hidden Creek Parkway

Due to road construction, Hidden Creek Parkway will be closed between Hidden Oaks Drive and Dobson Road beginning December 14, 2005. This construction is the latest step in the overall expansion of Hidden Creek Parkway and the closure of this section of roadway is expected to last approximately four (4) months.

During this phase of the construction project, the I-35 W service road ( South Burleson Boulevard) will be the only way to access the Hidden Creek Estates subdivision.

All City service departments, including fire and police, the Burleson Post Office, and the Burleson Independent School district have been notified of this impending closure and the alternative traffic routing requirements.

This project is part of the construction of Hidden Creek Parkway from SH 174 east across the city to East Renfro. To date, construction is ahead of schedule due to the dry weather. The parkway east of I35-W is scheduled to be completed in May 2006, while the parkway west of I35-W is expected to be complete in May of 2007. Construction of Hidden Creek Parkway is funded by the half-cent 4A Sales Tax which was approved by the citizens of Burleson in 2000.

The parkway bridge over I35-W is being paid for and constructed by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2006. For information about the Hidden Creek Parkway project, please contact the project engineer Lance Barton at 817-447-5410 ext 253. Information about the Hidden Creek Parkway construction project is available on the City of Burleson website at www.burlesontx.com. Just click on the Hidden Creek Parkway Project News icon on the home page.

Questions about this news release should be directed to the public information officer at 817-447-5400 ext 286.

 

---

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:       December 1, 2005

 City Human Resources Director Retiring
New Director Already On Board

 Analeslie Muncy has been the human resources director for the City of Burleson since 2000.  But on January 6, 2006, she will retire, ending a long and varied career in service to North Texas municipalities.  For Burleson, this will be a time of transition, but one made smoother by the recent appointment of a new human resources director, Mark Bryza. 

Analeslie Muncy is an attorney.  She spent 23 years in the City of Dallas legal department, 9 of those as the city attorney.  Beginning in 1992, Muncy represented a number of North Texas cities as an attorney with the law office of Taylor, Olson, Adkins, Sralla, and Elam.  That firm specializes in representing municipalities, and during her tenure there Muncy was the city attorney for Burleson.  Much of her professional experience focused on personnel law, so when Burleson had a director position open in its human resources office, Muncy was a natural choice. 

Having now served from within Burleson City Hall for over five years, Muncy reflects that, “In my previous job at the law firm, I saw how 25 different cities operated.  Observing Burleson and other cities, as an attorney, I thought this seemed like one of the best places to work.  It turns out that is very true. The people here are friendly and helpful and this has been a great environment to work in.”  Muncy says that much of her time in retirement will be spent enjoying her seven grandchildren, traveling, pursuing the hobbies she has neglected during her career, and doing more of the volunteer work that is close to her heart. 

City Manager Bill Davison said of Muncy, “Analeslie has been a great support to the City of Burleson, both as an attorney and as the director of human resources. She has always demonstrated compassion and professionalism in all that she has done for us. She came on staff just in time to make my tenure as city manager better than it might otherwise have been. She has been loyal to the employees and administration of the City. She has never been hesitant to strongly and professionally express her views. She is a true confidant.”

Mark Bryza is the newly appointed human resources director who will take the reins as Muncy retires.  Bryza spent more than 25 years in service as an assistant city attorney for the City of Dallas, gaining experience as a trial attorney and offering counsel on a broad range of issues.  He worked on a number of high-profile projects for Dallas and says it brings a great sense of accomplishment to look at community features such as the expanded North Central Expressway, the new runway at DFW Airport, or the American Airlines Center and know that he did work that helped make those things possible. 

Born in the Chicago area, Bryza’s family moved to Texas while he was in secondary school and he found in the Metroplex a place he felt truly at home.  He has lived in Texas for much of his life and received his law degree from Southern Methodist University.  Said Bryza, “I get a real sense of satisfaction and enjoyment out of working in the public service arena.  I have already found Burleson to be a friendly place to work and I look forward to the opportunity to serve the Burleson community.”

Burleson’s human resources department currently reports directly to Deputy City Manager Curtis Hawk.  Regarding Muncy and Bryza, Hawk said, “I have worked with Analeslie in two communities, for a total of about 10 years. It has been a real pleasure. I will miss her expertise, her integrity, her professionalism, and her friendship in our day-to-day work life. I feel very confident that Mark will demonstrate a similar level of performance on the job, and will meet the standards set by his predecessor – after all, she helped train him. I am looking forward to our association, and what he brings to our staff.  Our HR director is responsible for our risk management program as well as the traditional personnel and human resource functions.  As with Analeslie, Mark’s legal background and work experience fit in very well.”

Burleson’s human resources office is located at Burleson City Hall at 141 W. Renfro.  For information regarding this news release, contact the public information officer at 817-447-5400 ext 286. 

 

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 11, 2005

New Community Skateboarding Park:
the result of a Unique Partnership

The Burleson Community is happy to announce the opening of a new 8,000 square foot skateboarding park. The park will be open for business beginning Tuesday, November 15, and the official grand opening will be November 26. Join the community to celebrate the opening of this new recreation facility and watch Burleson's skaters show off their skills.

Part of what makes this venue so special is that it is made possible by a unique partnership between the City of Burleson and St. Matthew Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The City of Burleson created a skate park within an existing City park nearly two years ago, but it was closed following complaints from neighboring residents. A short time later, the City and St. Matthew began negotiating a contract that would allow a skate park to be opened again in Burleson, using the City's park equipment and the church's property.

Under the new agreement, the City of Burleson will maintain all skate park equipment, which has been constructed on St. Matthew's property, and the church will staff the park, providing the adult supervision the community had requested. The park is a fenced, safe facility and all skaters wishing to use the park will have to show a church-issued I.D. card and wear protective gear. Skaters under the age of 18 will need their parents' approval to be issued a park I.D. The identification cards will help the staff supervisors know who is in the park and make skaters more accountable for following the park's posted rules.

The grand opening of the new skateboarding park will be Saturday, November 26 at 11:00 a.m.

Skateboard Park information

• Located at 380 N.W. Tarrant Avenue in Burleson

• Open for business November 15, 2005.

• Grand opening November 26, 2005.

• Hours: Weekdays 4-6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sunday 1-6 p.m.

• I.D. cards: mandatory to skate; one-time fee of $5; can be obtained at the ARC facility at St. Matthew church; parental permission required for those under 18.

• All safety gear will be required for skaters inside the fenced area of the park.

• Contact Melissa Hagler at 817-996-5454 or 817-295-5832 for more information.
  
  

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 10, 2005

Household Hazardous Waste Collection November 19

On November 19 , the City of Burleson will host a household hazardous waste (HHW) collection event. Burleson residents needing to safely dispose of HHW items can do so from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Municipal Service Center at 1675 John Jones Drive .

The material is collected by the City of Fort Worth 's Crud Cruiser, which will accept items such as paint, antifreeze, batteries, acid, motor oil, fluorescent bulbs, pool chemicals, pesticides, transmission or brake fluid, degreasers, craft chemicals and aerosol cans. Only material from residences can be accepted. Material from commercial enterprises will not be accepted.

The cruiser cannot accept any ammunition, asbestos, building materials, butane or propane cylinders, explosives, medical waste, PCB's, radioactive material, smoke detectors, or tires.

Only Burleson residents may participate in the collection because the event is funded through the solid waste fees they already pay to the City. Participants should bring their City of Burleson water/solid waste bill as proof of residency Trying to verify residency off of driver licenses is difficult and delays the drop-off process.

As the Crud Cruiser has limited space available, those with large quantities of HHW are encouraged to take their items to the Environmental Collection Center (EEC) located at 6400 Bridge Street in Fort Worth . That is especially true for those who have large quantities of paint, because the paint trailer is what fills up the fastest at these events. Burleson residents may take HHW material to this facility throughout the year, regardless of their participation in the local collection event.

For information about the ECC's hours of operation or what material is accepted there, call the ECC Information Line at 817-871-5257. For information about the local collection event on November 19, call Burleson's environmental services division at 817-447-5410 ext 269.

top of page

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:       November 10, 2005

Burleson Christmas Holiday Activities Require Street Closures

The Burleson Community always celebrates the Christmas season with flair and 2005 will be no exception.  On December 10 , the annual Parade of Lights will begin at 6:00 p.m., followed by the lighting of the community tree and a fireworks display. 

These activities will all take place in Burleson's Old Town area.  The parade will take its traditional route from Kerr Middle School up Johnson Avenue to Ellison Street ; then through Old Town to Main Street , and circling back through the adjacent neighborhoods to the school.  The community Christmas tree will be on the police department lawn at the corner of Johnson Avenue and Ellison Street and the fireworks will be visible along the parade route and throughout Old Town

These activities will require that a number of streets in the Old Town area are blocked off beginning at 2:30 p.m. on December 10.  Drivers should be aware of the following street closures.

• Ellison Street at S.W. Anderson

• Ellison Street at S.W. Johnson Avenue

• Magnolia at S.W. Anderson

• Magnolia at S.W. Johnson

• Haskew at Renfro

• S.W. Johnson at Renfro (Beginning at 5:00 p.m. and including the left turn lanes on Renfro and Johnson)

• S.W. Johnson at S.E. Tarrant Avenue (closed after the parade)

Additionally, all driveway entrances to the front parking area of First Baptist Church ( Johnson Avenue at Ellison Street ) will be closed beginning at 2:30 p.m.  All other side streets affected by the parade route will be blocked only until the end of the parade.

These closures are necessary to allow clearance of the parade route and to protect people and property from any potential hazards associated with the fireworks show. 

A map showing the parade route and the location of all intersection barricades is available in PDF format (attached) and copies of this news release and the PDF map file will be available on the City of Burleson website at www.burlesontx.com

For information about the full range of holiday activities hosted by Burleson's parks and recreation department or about the Parade of Lights hosted by the Burleson Rotary Club, please visit the website listed above or call 817-295-8168. 

Click here for Christmas parade route

top of page

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 31, 2005

City Codes Now Available Online

The City of Burleson's full Code of Ordinances is now available online. For the past two years, the City of Burleson has been working to make the City codes accessible on the City's website. Now, in collaboration with Municipal Code Corporation, the City has achieved that goal.

Visitors to  www.burlesontx.com can now click on a link to City Ordinances and be taken to the site for Municode.com, where they can view the complete text of all Burleson ordinances enacted as of March 10, 2005.

According to City Secretary Mary Kayser, this service is one the City has wanted to offer online for some time. Said Kayser, "Heading into this project, we knew it would take some time. We took the opportunity to make sure that all of the City's ordinances had been updated to accurately reflect current state law and that any contradictions between the ordinances were addressed." The Burleson City Council adopted the re-codified ordinances on October 13. The City anticipates supplementing the online codes several times during each year, to keep the electronic version as current as possible.

Everyone at the City is excited that Burleson is now making this service available to residents and other website visitors. Burleson's webmaster, Sheri Campbell-Husband, echoed the idea that this is something the City has wanted to do for years, saying, "The City receives requests for copies of ordinances almost daily. Making that information available to the public online means that citizens can get their questions answered quickly, 24-hours per day; seven days per week. That kind of access to information about local government is what municipal websites are all about."

The addition of the online codes is merely one more step in the City's recent efforts to upgrade its website and move into the realm of online services.

Anyone with questions about the City's website may call or e-mail the webmaster at webmaster@burlesontx.com or 817-447-5400 ext 286. Questions about the online codes should be directed to the city secretary at 817-447-5400 ext 213.

top of page

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 19, 2005

Burleson Animal Shelter Gets New Phone Number

Beginning Thursday, October 20, 2005, the Burleson Animal Shelter will have a new phone number; 817-447-5426.

Since opening in its current location in 2004, the shelter had not had a stand-alone phone number. Instead, the shelter had been assigned an extension on the phone system installed for the City’s service center. This arrangement had proved confusing for many people trying to contact the shelter.

Now, the Burleson Animal Shelter has its own phone line, separate from the service center phone system, allowing customers to call the facility directly. The City will continue to provide recorded information about animal services on the service center information line, so that callers can get information after regular business hours. That recording can be accessed by calling 817-447-5410 and choosing option 5 from the menu.

During the transition period, the shelter’s old phone line (817-447-5410 ext 241) will be re-directed to the office of the animal services supervisor, so anyone calling that number will still be connected to the shelter staff. This will give staff the opportunity to inform people about the new phone number and will minimize the number of calls for service missed while the public is learning about the new phone line.

The Burleson Animal Shelter is located at 1695 John Jones Drive in Burleson, just one mile south of the intersection of SH 174 and FM 731 ( John Jones Drive). The shelter is open to the public Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The shelter is closed on Sunday and Monday.

For additional information about Burleson Animal Services, call 817-447-5426 or 817-447-5410 ext 241.

For information about this news release, contact the public information officer at 817-447-5400 ext 286.

top of page

---

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 18, 2005

Burleson City Manager Announces Retirement

Council Appoints Deputy Manager to Fill the Vacancy

Bill Davison became Burleson’s city manager in October 2001. At last night’s City Council meeting, he officially announced his plans to retire at the end of January 2006. The City Council accepted this announcement and then voted to appoint Curtis Hawk to be Burleson’s new city manager, effective February 1. Mr. Hawk has served as deputy city manager in Burleson since March 2002.

Davison’s retirement caps a municipal career of nearly 39 years, including service in three Metroplex cities. He began his career in the City of Mesquite, where he worked for nine years, advancing to the position of superintendent of water utilities. He then went to the City of DeSoto as the assistant director of public works, a position he held for six months before being promoted to director of public works. Davison joined the City of Burleson as director of public works in 1981 and was named executive director of operations (equivalent of a deputy city manager position) in 1992. During his tenure as executive director, he was charged with oversight of the public works, fire, parks and recreation, engineering, facilities maintenance, community development, environmental health, and code enforcement departments. After nine years in that position, including two stints as a co-acting city manager, he was appointed city manager in 2001. Since that time the police, fire, golf services, and economic development departments have reported directly to him, as have the two deputy city managers.

The Burleson Community has undergone a great deal of change in the 25 years that Bill Davison has worked for the City. It has experienced tremendous population growth, which has presented numerous challenges that Davison has helped the municipal organization to meet. He has played pivotal roles in developing a number of important capital improvements programs and related bond packages and in successfully presenting those proposals to the citizens of Burleson.

Reflecting upon his career, Davison said, “It is with some reservation that I have chosen to retire after more than 38 years in city government. Being a public servant at every level of the organizational ladder, I have been blessed with one opportunity after another. It has always been my desire to serve others while trying to make a positive contribution to the community. I will miss being a part of the City of Burleson organization. It is unique due to the character of the employees. Most all of the employees want to be public servants who make a difference in the lives of others. Many changes and improvements have taken place during the time I have served the City. However, I have never accomplished anything by myself. It takes many people working together to make a difference and the Burleson employees are excellent at that. Our City Council is progressive and determined to meet the quality of life issues for the citizens. They have changed from time to time, but their focus is always positive. I will always be thankful for the opportunities they have given me.”

Beginning February 1, 2006, the city management reigns will be taken by current Deputy City Manager Curtis Hawk, who came to the City of Burleson in 2002 with 30 years of public service experience, including just over 10 years as city manager in Southlake and time as assistant city manager in both Frisco and Abilene. During his time in Burleson, the finance, human resources, library services, engineering, and community development departments have reported directly to Hawk.

In recent years, Hawk has been the lead staff representative in various transportation concerns, working in conjunction with the City Council, attending meetings of the Regional Transportation Coalition, the Tarrant Regional Transportation Coalition, other transportation-related organizations to present Burleson’s transportation needs and concerns to the region at large. Additionally, he has served as the City’s chief legislative liaison, working directly with the legislative and congressional delegations representing the Burleson Community.

Regarding these organizational changes, Hawk says,”I’m very happy for Bill as he enters this next phase of his life. I’m grateful to him for getting me here in the first place and to the City Council for giving me the privilege of following Bill. I consider it an honor. Given the challenges facing the City of Burleson in the next few years, I’m very excited about the opportunity. I view the Council’s decision as recognition that we have a quality staff and as an affirmation that continuity is especially important at this time in our history.”

Burleson’s Mayor Ken Shetter expressed his gratitude to Davison for his service to the Burleson Community, saying, “ Bill Davison has served the citizens of Burleson well throughout a long and distinguished career as a public servant.  During his tenure as city manager, Burleson has experienced strong economic development gains, improved residential development standards and the investment in public safety and infrastructure has kept pace with explosive population growth.  Bill’s accomplishments will continue to pay dividends for the citizens of Burleson for many years to come.” He indicated that the council was optimistic about Burleson’s future with Hawk in the manager’s chair. “ Curtis Hawk brings a wealth of experience to the city manager position.  He is well-respected throughout the region as a leader who knows how to get things done.  We are lucky to be in a position to transition to a new city manager without skipping a beat.  Curtis has been a vital part of the city management team that has provided tremendous leadership for Burleson for the past several years,” Shetter said.

Curtis Hawk holds a bachelor’s degree in government and a master’s degree in urban affairs from the University of Texas at Arlington. He has taught a number of public administration courses at the School of Urban and Public Affairs at UTA and in 1998, that university honored him as a Distinguished Alumnus. He lives in Burleson with his wife, Deborah. They have four adult children and four grandchildren.

top of page

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 15, 2005

Mosquito Tests Positive for West Nile in Burleson

Tarrant County Public Health notified Burleson environmental services officials this week that Burleson’s most recent mosquito test returned a positive result for West Nile Virus. The positive result came from a mosquito captured for tests from a vacant lot in the Brushy Mound area on September 8.

The September 8 test was the fourth mosquito sample Burleson submitted to Tarrant County Public Health this season. This is the first West Nile positive sample ever submitted from within Burleson’s city limits, although Burleson has participated in the testing program for several years. Testing begins in June of each year and Burleson conducts tests twice monthly. To date, there has been no report to indicate that any person or animal in Burleson is carrying West Nile Virus; just the tested mosquito.

The City of Burleson is taking several steps to control the mosquito population. The parks department is dredging canals and working to eliminate standing water in public spaces. Crews are also inspecting areas such as retention ponds and putting mosquito larvae-eating bacteria in stagnant water to kill the mosquito larvae before they reach the adult (flying) stage. The City is not spraying for mosquitoes because spraying only kills the mosquitoes that come into direct contact with the insecticide. Additionally, differing species of mosquitoes are active at different times of the day, so spraying at set times of the day only affects certain species of mosquitoes. According to the Texas Mosquito Control Association, treating larvae is 80 percent more effective than spraying adults, and it doesn’t produce the harmful side effects often associated with spraying. The environmental services division is working with the Tarrant County Public Health Authority to collect and test mosquitoes throughout the Burleson area and tests are conducted in Burleson twice monthly.

West Nile Virus (WNV) is a flavivirus that can infect humans, birds, mosquitoes, horses, and some other mammals. It was introduced in America in 1999. Certain species of birds and mosquitoes carry the virus, with mosquitoes contracting it when they feed on infected birds or horses. Most commonly, the virus is transmitted to people when an infected mosquito bites a human. WNV is not spread by person-to-person contact or by caring for someone who is infected. Most people who become infected with WNV will not have any type of illness or may experience mild fever, headache and body aches before fully recovering. If illness were to occur, it would occur within 3-15 days of a person being bitten by an infected mosquito. Only about 20 percent of people who become infected develop West Nile fever, which carries symptoms such as fever, head and body aches, occasional skin rashes, and swollen lymph glands. In a very few people, particularly the elderly, WNV can affect brain tissue or cause encephalitis or meningitis, although less than one percent of people who become infected every get severely ill. If signs or symptoms of encephalitis or meningitis become a concern, seek medical care immediately.

Residents should be aware that the state health department is no longer collecting dead birds. According to the CDC, there is currently no evidence of WNV spreading directly from birds to people. Dead birds carry a variety of diseases and should never be handled with bare hands. Dispose of any dead bird by using gloves to place it in a plastic bag for disposal. People should never directly handle animal carcasses and should always wash their hands with soap and water afterwards.

As regards mosquitoes and WNV, citizens can and should always take protective measures by:

1. Staying indoors at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active
2. Dressing in long sleeves and pants when outside
3. Using insect repellent with at least 20 percent DEET and following product instructions when using repellants on children
4. Draining standing water in your yard and neighborhood where mosquitoes can breed

Combating the problems of mosquitoes and WNV is a community effort. The environmental services division reminds residents that very small amounts of water can attract mosquitoes and create mosquito breeding environments. Eliminating places where mosquitoes can breed is the best way to control them. Some specific ways residents and business owners can help do that are:

• Get rid of old tires, buckets, or any containers that hold standing water, or empty them regularly.
• Empty plastic wading pools weekly and store them indoors when not in use.
• Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets.
• Move water cooler drain hoses frequently.
• Change water in birdbaths and scrub them twice each week.
• Empty pets’ watering pans daily.
• Empty water from trays under potted plants.
• Put mosquito-eating fish in ponds.
• Clean clogged roof gutters.
• Treat standing water that cannot be drained with Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti).

With residents and City staff working together, the Burleson Community can effectively control the mosquito population and minimize exposure to WNV.

Additional information about Tarrant County Public Health’s program to test for WNV is available at http://health.tarrantcounty.com. Just click on the link for “Latest Information on West Nile Virus” in the upper right corner of the page.

For more information about the City of Burleson’s mosquito management efforts, call environmental services at 817-447-5410 ext 269.

top of page

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  September 12, 2005

EDGEHILL ROAD CLOSURE BEGINS MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

Beginning Monday, September 19, Edgehill Road in Burleson will be permanently closed at the Burleson-Crowley city limit line, approximately 1200 feet north of the intersection of Edgehill Road and Cedar Ridge Lane.   The closure is due to the connection of Summercrest Boulevard to F.M. 731. 

Burleson drivers should now use Summercrest Boulevard. as their route to and from F.M. 731.  Edgehill Road traffic from Burleson will be detoured to Cedar Ridge Lane and then to Summercrest Boulevard.  Hampton Road traffic from Crowley will be detoured to Blue Gill Lane and then to Deer Creek Drive.

The attached PDF file contains a map showing where the road will be closed and the planned detour routes.

For additional information about this closure, contact Burleson’s department of engineering services at 817-447-5400 ext 292.

---

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 12, 2005

 TRINITY TRASH BASH EVENT SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

What’s swimming in Burleson ? The answer isn’t always good, but with your help, that can change! Keep Burleson Beautiful and the City of Burleson invite all area residents to join them as they fish litter and debris out of Texas waters as part of the Trinity Trash Bash. The event will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, September 17. At 11 a.m., lunch will be provided to volunteers at Warren Park on S.W. Johnson Avenue.

Each year, litter blocks storm drains, reduces aesthetic appeal and property values, and kills thousands of animals through ingestion or entanglement. Trash Bash volunteers are asked to help improve water quality, restore natural beauty, and reduce potential threats to human health and wildlife. On Saturday, the community’s historic “creek cleanup” event will take on a new look as volunteers work to clear litter and debris from area storm drains that are connected to our local natural waterways. Cleanup sites have been selected based on the need for litter abatement and the availability of safe access for volunteers.

The cleanup is supported by the Lake and River Cleanup Program, a partnership between Keep Texas Beautiful and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The program helps community organizations, scout and youth groups, schools, local governments, businesses, and concerned citizens across the state host waterway cleanups and environmental education activities.

The Trash Bash event will be capped off with lunch and a special environmental fair at Warren Park. Then, around noon, the Trash Bash volunteers will team up with the participants in the local Cans for Cash event and help fill a school bus with aluminum cans! This project is part of the City Recycling Challenge, which is a national contest that rewards cities for recycling aluminum beverage cans. Created by The U.S. Conference of Mayors and Alcan, the Challenge will award a total of $40,000 to participating municipalities for furthering recycling efforts.  As many as eight cities could win across four population-based divisions. That means that Burleson will be competing with other cities of comparable size across the country, and the cities that collect the most cans will win the cash prizes.  Awards are to be used to further promote recycling efforts. By accepting the awards, cities agree that the money will be used for this purpose. Anyone wishing to bring cans to Warren Park on Saturday can help Burleson Fill the Bus!

If you would like more information on organizing a cleanup in your area, visit www.ktb.org or call Keep Texas Beautiful at 1-800-CLEAN-TX. Groups and individuals wishing to participate in the Trinity Trash Bash may register at Warren Park beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday the 17th or register in advance of the event by calling environmental services. For more information on the Trinity Trash Bash or the City Recycling Challenge,or to register for the event, please call environmental services at 817-447-5410 ext. 269.

top of page

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  September 1, 2005

City of Burleson 's Response to Hurricane Katrina Recovery Efforts

In response to the damage caused to the southeastern gulf coast by Hurricane Katrina and the related flooding in New Orleans , today the City of Burleson formally notified the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) and the Texas State Operations Center (SOC) of equipment available to the relief and recovery efforts.  This information has also been supplied to the Office of U.S. Congressman Chet Edwards.  Representative Edwards and his staff have provided valuable assistance to the City in communicating with FEMA and other federal agencies.

Burleson has offered use of its Mobile Command Vehicle (MCV) which the City obtained via a $450,000 grant from the Department of Homeland Security.  The MCV provides personnel on the ground with command communications including land line (traditional) and cellular telephones; radio communications at the VHF, UHF and 800 megahertz frequencies; and facsimile machines.  Also aboard the MCV is a pan-tilt-zoom camera mounted atop a telescoping mast able to reach heights in excess of 30' feet.  The MCV also includes restroom and conference facilities.

In addition to the MCV, Burleson has made available equipment for use in fire rescue, including a 3,500 gallon tanker for non-potable water; an air compressor for filling SCBA bottles; up to 40 SCBA bottles and 20 complete SCBA air packs.  Burleson has also offered use of a front-end loader with trailer and two tandem axle dump trucks.

Personnel from the City of Burleson 's Fire and Police Departments will accompany the MCV to the designated area.  Four teams of two are identified for deployment with each team scheduled for assignment in the field of one to two weeks.

Deployment of these personnel and assets will be at the direction of FEMA, SOC or other coordinating agency.  In compliance with directives from these agencies as well as local organizations in the damaged areas, the City of Burleson will not be sending any assets until requested to do so by FEMA, SOC or other coordinating agencies. 

The City's Citizen Emergency Response Team (CERT) will meet at 6:30 this evening (9/1/05) and be placed on standby.  CERT members may be needed to staff area shelters or provide other volunteer services to coordinating agencies.

Burleson Mayor Ken Shetter will join other area mayors at an emergency meeting of the Johnson County Mayor 's Council to be held this evening (9/1/05) at 6:30 p.m. at the Cleburne City Hall .  At this meeting, mayors will discuss coordination of the Johnson County response.

Finally, the City is working with local representatives of the Red Cross to provide, if needed, overflow shelters for refugees from the damaged areas once other area shelters have reached their capacity.  Currently, there are no plans to open a shelter in Burleson.  Area churches, houses of worship and other organizations interested in offering facilities as shelters should contact Director of Emergency Management Singleton.  City coordination of all shelters is necessary to ensure shelters are adequately staffed and sufficient supplies are available.

The City encourages all citizens to avoid making trips to the damaged areas unless in direct response to a specific request from a relief agency such as the Red Cross or Salvation Army or other coordinating agency on the ground.  Hundreds of well intentioned volunteers arriving in the damaged areas without being requested to do so will create additional problems for already strained relief agencies and organizations.  

The City further encourages all residents of Burleson to contribute to the relief and recovery efforts.  Contributions can be made through the Red Cross and Salvation Army as well as other organizations.  Citizens wishing to make financial contributions to relief agencies or to find out other ways to assist relief and recovery efforts may visit www.networkforgood.org on the Internet.  Local houses of worship and civic organizations are encouraged to lead relief efforts for their members and coordinate these efforts with their companion organizations in the damaged areas. 

For more information, contact Director of Emergency Management Stacy Singleton at 817-447-5400 x220 or via email at SSingleton@burlesontx.com .

top of page

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 30, 2005

Collect Aluminum Cans to Fill the Bus

September 1-16, 2005

Have you ever seen a school bus filled with aluminum cans ? The Burleson Community is hereby challenged to make that happen and to show the entire nation what Burleson's civic pride is all about!

The City of Burleson and Keep Burleson Beautiful are joining with the Burleson Independent School District in asking the Burleson Community to participate in a nationwide campaign to recycle aluminum cans. From September 1 - 16, 2005, Burleson families, businesses, and schools are encouraged to collect aluminum beverage cans for recycling. Then bring the cans that you collect to Warren Park on Saturday, September 17, 2005 between 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. for a special grand finale event where we will Fill the Bus with recycled cans!

The City Recycling Challenge is a national contest that rewards cities for recycling aluminum beverage cans. Created by The U.S. Conference of Mayors and Alcan, the Challenge will award a total of $40,000 to participating municipalities for furthering recycling efforts.  As many as eight cities could win across four population-based divisions. That means that Burleson will be competing with other cities of comparable size across the country, and the cities that collect the most cans will win the cash prizes. Awards are to be used to further promote recycling efforts. By accepting the awards, cities agree that the money will be used for this purpose.

For information about the City Recycling Challenge and the Fill the Bus project, contact Burleson's environmental services office at 817-447-5410 ext 269.

---

CharacterAwards Luncheon September 29, 2005

Burleson’s City of Character Steering Committee is making plans for the annual Character Awards Luncheon, to be held on Thursday, September 29, 2005.  This year’s keynote speaker will be Craig McNeil, assistant district attorney for both Johnson and Somervell Counties.  Mr. McNeil has recently returned to the area from Iraq, where he served as a prosecutor for the U.S. military.  As part of his duty there, he was sent to the infamous Abu Ghraib prison to investigate the prisoner abuse allegations. These experiences, along with his experience practicing law in our own region, certainly qualify him to reflect on some of the character issues our society faces and how important character is in our everyday lives.

The awards luncheon will also feature recognition of the winners of the 2005 Character Essay Contest.  The contest offers students in grades K-12 the opportunity to write an essay about “people of character” in their lives, and compete for prizes including $50 savings bonds.  Contest entries must be turned in by September 16 and full contest rules are available in pdf format on the City of Burleson website at www.burlesontx.com.  Essays will be judged by members of the Burleson Area Retired School Employees Association. Please note: the entry deadline has been extended to September 23rd.

The Character Awards Luncheon will be held beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Burleson at 590 NE McAlister Road.  Tickets for the luncheon are $3 each and they can be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce or from any Character Steering Committee member.  The Character Steering Committee wishes to thank Huguley Memorial Medical Center for sponsoring the luncheon again this year.

The City of Character Steering Committee is made up of representatives from the City of Burleson, the Burleson I.S.D., the Burleson Area Chamber of Commerce, the Burleson Ministerial Alliance, and several individual families and businesses from the area. The committee has been the driving force behind the City of Character initiative in Burleson since the program was adopted in April 1999. For more information about the City of Character initiative or the awards luncheon, call 817-447-5400 ext 286 or the office of the Burleson Area Chamber of Commerce.

top of page

---

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:     June 29, 2005

 City Holiday on July 4

The City of Burleson will observe the Independence Day holiday with the following facility closures and suspensions of service.

 All City facilities and services will return to their regular hours of operation on Tuesday, July 5.

 The Independence Day Parade, hosted by the Burleson Lion’s Club begins at 4:15 p.m. on July 4. The City’s fireworks celebration and concerts begin at 6 p.m., with the gates at Hidden Creek Sports Complex opening at 5 p.m. 

top of page

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 22, 2005

June 27 Road Closure for Hidden Creek Parkway Construction

Beginning June 27, 2005, the City of Burleson will close the section of Hidden Creek Parkway between the Chisenhall Park pavilion parking lot and Deborah Street for the duration of the Hidden Creek Parkway construction. Barricades are tentatively scheduled to be in place Friday, June 24.

East bound traffic traveling from SH 174 ( Wilshire Boulevard ) on Hidden Creek Parkway will be detoured into the Pleasant Manor subdivision area on Pleasant Manor Boulevard . Access to the small pavilion parking lot adjacent to Hidden Creek Parkway will be maintained for the next several months. Ultimately, these parking spaces will be eliminated by the road expansion and a new lot will be constructed.

This road closure is necessary because two of the power poles being relocated by TXU for the Hidden Creek Parkway construction project will end up in the existing Hidden Creek Parkway asphalt pavement, creating an unsafe condition for traffic. When Hidden Creek Parkway is complete, the relocated poles will be safely behind the curb line.

Questions about the Hidden Creek Parkway project or this road closure should be directed to Lance Barton in the Burleson Engineering Services Department at 817-447-5400 ext 231.

top of page

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 23, 2005

 Hot Sounds of Summer
Concerts Return to Old Town

 The streets of Burleson’s Old Town will be filled with music again on Friday nights beginning May 27 as the Hot Sounds of Summer concert series returns for 2005. This year’s series features seven popular bands performing on six different nights, presenting a variety of musical styles. And best of all, the concerts are FREE! Just come to the corner of Main and Ellison streets with your lawn chairs and dancing shoes! These concerts in Old Town begin at 7:30 each Friday night through the end of June.

May 27 – Deryl Dodd – Country & Western

June 3 – Dennis Cavalier – Cajun

June 10 – Brave Combo – Nuclear Polka

June 17 – Crawfish – Oldies, Buffet-style

June 24 – The Morris Price Band – Classic Rock & Country

The series is topped off at the annual Independence Day Fireworks Celebration. On July 4 at Hidden Creek Sports Complex, come out to see two great bands. The Insiders kick things off at 6 p.m. with a country and western set. This group tours with Charlie Pride and can be heard on local radio stations throughout the DFW area. Then, the Party Crashers take over the main stage, playing a variety of favorites from the ‘50s through the ‘90s. Just after dark, Burleson punctuates this American birthday celebration with a spectacular, choreographed fireworks display.

The Independence Day Fireworks Celebration is a truly entertaining family event. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and picnic baskets to enjoy the show. The gates to Hidden Creek Sports Complex will open at 5 p.m. For more information about the Hot Sounds of Summer Concert Series or the Independence Day Fireworks Celebration, contact the parks and recreation department at 817-295-8168.

For additional information about this news release, contact the public information office at 817-447-5400 ext 286.

top of page

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 21, 2005

 Burleson Public Library Hours Changing May 1

The Burleson Public Library hours of operation will change beginning May 1, 2005. The library has been open on Sunday afternoons and closed on Thursdays since 2001, but that is about to change. This change will allow the library to accommodate business people and students who need library access on Thursday, a popular day for meetings and homework preparation.

With these changes, the library will be open until 8 p.m. three days per week and the total number of hours the library is open to the public will increase by two per week. The new weekly operational schedule for the library is:

Monday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Tuesday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday Closed

For information about this change in the library’s hours of operation or for information about how to reserve a meeting room at the library, call 817-295-6131. For information regarding the contents of this news release, contact the public information officer at 817-447-5400 ext 286.

top of page

---

 

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 21, 2005

 Become an Animal Shelter Volunteer

Next Volunteer Orientation Session on February 26

Wagging tails, purrs of appreciation, and the smiles of joy on the faces of adopting families. These are just some of the rewards of volunteering at the Burleson Animal Shelter.

The City of Burleson animal services division provides animal care and control for the Burleson community with help from a band of dedicated volunteers who assist with duties ranging from washing dishes and doing laundry to walking dogs and helping rehabilitate and socialize sheltered animals.

On Saturday, February 26, the City of Burleson is offering an orientation session to provide information about the volunteer program. Attendees will learn about the animal services mission and operations, the volunteer opportunities at the shelter, and how to apply to serve as a shelter volunteer. The orientation runs 1-3 p.m. and is held at the Municipal Service Center at 1675 John Jones Drive. Snacks will be provided. Following the orientation session, attendees will have an opportunity to tour the animal shelter and ask questions of the staff. Orientation attendees and perspective volunteers under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian with them for the session.

The homeless pets in the Burleson area need all the love and attention they can get. So if you are interested in learning more about how to volunteer at the Burleson Animal Shelter, call 817-447-5400 ext 241 by February 24 and reserve your place in the orientation class.

top of page

---

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : February 1, 2005

SEVERAL NORTH TEXAS CITIES TO COOPERATE IN WARRANT ROUNDUP

Violators Urged to Take Advantage of Amnesty Period or Face Arrest

In an effort to clear a large backlog of outstanding arrest warrants, representing hundreds of thousands of dollars in potential revenue, the City of Burleson, in partnership with several other north Texas cities, has established a warrant amnesty program and is encouraging offenders to pay up or go to jail.

Twenty-three entities, including the cities of Burleson, Cedar Hill, Cleburne, Crowley, Forest Hill, Godley, Grandview, Haltom City, Hurst, Keene, Keller, Kennedale, Mansfield, Venus, Westlake, White Settlement, and Willow Park are participating in the amnesty program, as are the Johnson County Attorney’s Office and the Johnson County Justice of the Peace courts. During the amnesty period, people who pay their fines will have the amount due reduced by $50 per warrant. The cities of Arlington and Fort Worth will participate in the warrant roundup that will take place later this year, but are not offering amnesty on warrants.

Burleson’s participation in the program is being coordinated through the Municipal Court. The amnesty period will run February 1-28. Burleson’s Municipal Court Supervisor Yolanda Trevino reports that Burleson has 2,200 outstanding warrants on 1,263 defendants, representing $657,880 in total fines owed. Those defendants who come in and pay their warrants during the amnesty period not only get a reduction in their fines, but will avoid arrest during the warrant roundup. To allow people ample opportunity to pay their fines during the warrant amnesty period, the Burleson Municipal Court will be open for extended hours February 1-28. Those hours are:

Some people have outstanding warrants in multiple jurisdictions. For information on paying an outstanding fine, contact the court in the city where the citation was issued.

A variety of payment options are available for those who wish to take care of their tickets, including cash, money orders, Visa and MasterCard. Personal checks will not be accepted.

Any questions regarding this press release may be directed to the undersigned at Burleson City Hall (817-447-5400 ext 286) or Burleson Municipal Court Supervisor Yolanda Trevino at (817-447-5360 ext 23).

Public Information Officer
Sheri Campbell-Husband
City of Burleson
817-447-5400 ext 286
scampbell@burlesontx.com

top of page

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 17, 2005

New Mobile Command Vehicle Unveiled

The City of Burleson unveiled its new mobile command vehicle at a special ceremony on Wednesday, January 12 at 2:30 p.m. at Burleson Fire Station One.

In 2003, the City of Burleson was awarded a $455,374 State Homeland Security Grant by the Department of Homeland Security. The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) serves as the local grant administrator. The grant was awarded for the purchase of a mobile command vehicle. The command ehicle will serve public safety and emergency operation needs in the southern and southwestern portions of the 16-county region served by the NCTCOG.

A significant portion of the nation’s homeland security efforts will be carried out at the local and regional levels. This new command vehicle enables Burleson and the NCTCOG region to play a significant role in those endeavors. We hope you will be able to join us on Wednesday and see, first hand, the newest public safety tool available to our region.

For additional information about the command vehicle, please contact Stacy Singleton, Director of Emergency Operations, at 817-447-5400 ext 220.

---

Top of Page