City of The Colony E-Newsletter • Wednesday, July 19, 2023

City of The Colony flag and Tree City USA flag

Filing period for November election begins July 22

The Colony City Council will hold its General Election for single-member council districts on Nov. 7, 2023. This year, Places 3, 4, 5, and 6 are up for election for three-year terms. In order to be a candidate in this election, applicants must have been a resident of the city for not less than 12 months immediately preceding Election Day and be a Texas registered voter. Each candidate applying to run for a particular council place must reside within that place or district.

An application must be filed with the City Secretary prior to the end of the official filing period, which formally begins July 22 and continues through 5 p.m. Aug. 21. Applications may be presented to the City Secretary in person or by mail before the deadline at City Hall, 6800 Main St., The Colony, TX, 75056. To contact the City Secretary’s Office, email [email protected] or call 972-624-3105. Additional information is available on the Election 2023 page of the city's website.

TCPD Honor Guard and new Assistant Chief Matthew Winnett

Winnett promoted to Assistant Chief

On Friday, July 7, TCPD Lt. Matt Winnett (pictured at center) was promoted to Assistant Chief. Chief Winnett will now lead The Colony Police Department's Patrol Division. Congratulations on your promotion and keep up the great work!

Senior Center offering free box fans to those in need

Free fans for seniors

This summer in North Texas has seen multiple Excessive Heat Warnings. If you or someone you know is in need of a box fan during these hot summer days, please call The Colony Community/Senior Center at 972-624-2246 or send an email to: [email protected].

Graphic showing heat stroke, heat exhaustion symptoms

This heat is no joke

During heat waves like those we've experienced so far this summer, it's important to check on your friends, family, and neighbors daily. Extreme heat can be hazardous for everyone, especially for older adults, children, and people with access and functional needs. Know the symptoms and act fast if you notice someone suffering heat illness. Visit www.Ready.gov/heat for more tips.

Flyer promoting The Colony EDC's BIG Grant program

The dedicated, hardworking staff over at The Colony EDC are BIG fans of local businesses in our community. The EDC's Business Improvement Grant (BIG) program was established in 2018 to help local businesses improve the exterior of their facilities by offering annual matching grants of up to $2,500 for signage, facade, landscaping and other visual upgrade projects. Businesses can receive one grant per year. Visit TheColonyEDC.org for more information.

The Colony Library now offering Pressreader

The Colony Public Library is excited to announce a new electronic resource - PressReader! PressReader is available both online and on mobile devices (Apple iOS and Android) and includes free access to newspapers and magazines from around the world. Browse over 7,000+ publications from 120 countries in 60 different languages – search by publication title, country, language, or subject category. To access PressReader: 1) Download the PressReader app or go to PressReader.com; 2) Click Sign In (not Sign Up); 3) Click the Library or Group button from the Sign In pop-up; 4) Search and select The Colony Public Library from the list; and 5) enter your library card information and click Sign In. You will need to sign in every 30 days. For more info, call 972-625-1900, ext. 3.

Graphic showing July is highest month of the year for water-related accidents, fatalities

The Safe Boating Campaign reminds us that July is an extremely busy time of year on our nation’s waterways, so please wear your life jacket and use an engine cutoff device when out on the lake. Always boat sober and operate your vessel in a safe and friendly manner.

City of The Colony receives GFOA Budget Award

What else is In THE News?

During its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 18, The Colony City Council recognized the city's Finance Department for earning a Distinguished Budget Award from the Government Finance Officers Association. This is the 12th year in a row the city has earned this award. Pictured are, from left, Assistant City Manager Tim Miller, Interim Finance Director Cheryl Fields, and Mayor Richard Boyer. Less than half the cities in Texas receive this award each year, Miller said, which reflects a city's commitment to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting.
Also on Tuesday, The Colony City Council approved the reallocation of $689K of previously budgeted funding for other, outdated projects to instead be used for renovations of the former Stewart Creek Elementary facility in Stewart Peninsula. The city purchased the former school earlier this year, and will be converting it into a new recreation center and community center. For more info, watch the replay of Tuesday night's meeting online.
Don't forget: Annual weather conditions have necessitated continued implementation of Phase 1 of the City's Drought Contingency Plan (PDF). Residents are encouraged to follow a twice weekly watering schedule determined by your address. Visit www.TheColonyTx.gov/water (PDF) for more information.
We encourage residents to visit our website to learn more about sprinkler use, swimming pools, and other watering tips as we move through the year’s peak water-usage period. Visit our website for answers to frequently asked questions about water use and conservation.