New Year to bring new hours for some city services

In keeping with a trend among both public and private sector organizations, a variety of city departments will be transitioning to a new weekly work schedule effective Jan. 7, 2020. Namely, the Customer Service counters at City Hall (6800 Main St.) will be open a half hour earlier and a half hour later four days a week: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. This change will provide customers an additional hour four days a week in which they can come by City Hall to conduct transactions (such as paying utility bills or pulling permits) earlier in the morning or later in the evening. To offset those extensions, the counters will be open 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Friday. As during any time the counters are closed, customers can still access their accounts online, make a payment via the automated phone system (972-625-2741, option 4), or utilize the drive-thru drop-box on the north side of the building. Please visit our website for more information.

Upcoming holiday closures, trash/recycling notices

City offices, facilities, and the library will be closed Tuesday, Dec. 24, and Wednesday, Dec. 25, for the Christmas holidays. There will be no trash/recycling service on Dec. 25. Service will resume on Thursday, Dec. 26, and be delayed one day the remainder of the week.

The same closures will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020, for the New Year's Day holiday. The library drive-through drop-box will close at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, and reopen at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 2. There will be no trash/recycling collection on Jan. 1. Service will resume on Thursday, Jan. 2, and be delayed one day the rest of the week. For information about collection, call Environmental Services at 972-624-3131.

#ICYMI: Students catch rides on fire engines, PD cruiser

Dec. 12 was a big day for McKinley, Cassandra, and Charles from Camey Elementary! As part of a City Manager's contest in which students were asked to submit ideas on how to improve the community, the three winners were given rides to school in a police car or fire truck. Our Police and Fire personnel had a great time and we hope the kids did, too. They earned it. Click the photo to check out the video on our Facebook page.

Grandscape to welcome Andretti Indoor Karting & Games March 2020

Did you hear? Andretti Indoor Karting and Games will bring high-speed electric super karts, bowling, virtual-reality gaming, arcade games, a ropes course, unique dining, legendary event space and much more to The Colony when it opens on March 3, 2020. The entertainment and gaming center is located adjacent to Nebraska Furniture Mart in the growing Grandscape development. Named after the legendary racing family, Andretti Indoor Karting and Games offers nearly 100,000 square feet of nonstop action and excitement. Check out the latest press release online.

Don't forget: Safety first as holiday shopping season continues

As the holiday shopping season gets into full swing, the anticipation of seeing family, attending parties, and seeing the joy on the faces of little ones begins to grow and grow. Although an exciting time for all of us, we should remember that thieves, pickpockets, burglars and muggers look forward to this season, too. Crooks love this time a year because of all the shopping bags in cars, homes glittering with gifts, and malls and parking lots full of unsuspecting shoppers and gift-givers. With all that in mind, residents are encouraged to check out some holiday safety tips from The Colony Chief of Police David Coulon.

What else is In THE News?

At its most recent regular meeting, The Colony City Council approved $145K in funding an Eastvale Storm Drain Improvements Project, scheduled to begin in January, with an estimated completion date of May 2020;
the City Council approved $381K in funding for a cutting-edge sewer-line rehabilitation project on Curry Drive and Carr Street;
the City Council approved a contract in the amount of $254K for a new generator at the Police Department that will provide additional back-up power to the PD administrative offices and 9-1-1 Dispatch Center;
Spring is just around the corner! Looking for a great Christmas gift idea? Give the gift of fun and recreation! Check out the many programs and activities offered through Parks & Recreation for January through April 2020 in the Spring issue of the PlayTC! catalog, now available online;
following City Council approval, fees for various services at Stewart Creek Park have increased, including annual permits and day passes. The park fee increases go into effect on Jan. 1, 2020. For more information, visit the Stewart Creek Park page of our website or contact Parks & Recreation at 972-625-1106; and,
The Colony Animal Services is currently treating many of its dogs for a strain of canine influenza. It is extremely important that dog owners ensure their pets do not get loose and end up at the shelter, lest they be exposed to the virus. More information is available through The Colony Animal Services Facebook page.