City of The Colony Electronic Newsletter • Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019

VOA Classic underway!

The Volunteers of America Classic at the Old American Golf Club is underway and continues daily through Sunday, Oct. 6.

This is the state's only LPGA tournament and represents the pinnacle of women's professional athletics in North Texas. Check out the following links for all the details. See you at the Old American!

Egret deterrence efforts resume

In an effort to encourage the birds to move on with their migration now that they can all fly, city staff will resume "hazing" activities (including the use of noisemakers) in affected neighborhoods starting Wednesday, Oct. 2.

As in the spring, staff will be deploying the “banger” and “screamer” noisemakers primarily in the morning and evening hours. Residents should be aware that these items are intended to be very loud, and could possibly mimic the sound of a gunshot. Additionally, the launcher for these noise makers has a similar shape to that of a small pistol. Noisemakers will not be fired directly at birds. The intent is merely to scare the birds away from the area. More details about this effort is available on our website.

City Council approves Homestead Exemption

During its annual budget deliberations, The Colony City Council routinely seeks ways in which it can save money for its residents. In addition to approving the FY 2019-20 budget last month (which includes a 1/4-cent reduction to the tax rate), the City Council authorized an ordinance enacting a new homestead exemption for elderly and disabled homeowners.

Essentially identical to Denton County’s existing homestead exemption, the City of The Colony’s new exemption is for disabled homeowners or homeowners 65 years old or older. It grants qualifying homeowners a “freeze” on the value of their homestead as of tax year 2019, or the first year that an individual qualifies for the exemption. The valuation freeze then establishes a ceiling on the homestead’s city property taxes. Please visit our website for more information.

Utility rate increase to fund ongoing infrastructure upgrades

Alongside completion of the FY 2019-20 budget during public deliberations in August and September, The Colony City Council approved mechanisms for funding important upgrades to the Stewart Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). The upgrades represent the next phases of a years-long process already underway to ensure the facility is operating at a level in line with continued growth and economic development, as well as to meet mandated guidelines set by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

In order to fund Phases II and IIA, which are estimated to cost a total of about $51 million, residents and businesses will experience a 5% increase to their utility rate effective Oct. 1, 2019. It is the first of five annual increases of the same percentage between now and 2023. The bulk of the funding (about $40 million) is needed for continued expansion of the WWTP’s capacity in order to reach 6.1 million gallons per day as required by TCEQ. Much of the funding will also go toward upgrading the facility’s critical dewatering systems at a cost of about $11 million, among other improvements. Please visit the city's website for more information.

Park Loop Trail Extension Grand Opening Oct. 12

Join The Colony Community Development Corp. Board from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at Perryman Park (4930 South Colony Blvd.) as we celebrate the opening of the new Park Loop Trail extension with a Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening ceremony. Bring your bike or take a hike on the new trail and win a great prize! Breakfast provided to attendees. Please RSVP to Kathy at 972-624-3957 by Wednesday, Oct. 9. Visit the city's website for more information.

Aquatic Park staff recognized

Austin Galvan has been named TCAP Employee of the Year while Samantha Aguirre earned Volunteen of the Year. Learn more about them on our website!

What else is In THE News?

Movies in the Park Oct. 4 - The next installment of our Movies in the Park event features a FREE showing of The Secret Life of Pets 2 at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, at The Colony Five Star Complex. More information is on our website.
Owl & Howl Prowl Oct. 16 - Join us for a rare chance to stay on the Shoreline Trail after hours during a leisurely, guided “Owl & Howl Prowl” from 6 to 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16. Participants will look for wildlife and their tracks with Texas Master Naturalist Donna Cole. Listen and learn how to identify sounds from local nocturnal animals. Get educated about the wildlife that lives around and among us and how we can coexist peacefully. Register online today!
Fall Clean-Up Oct. 19 - Don't forget! The annual City-Wide Fall Clean-Up is from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 19, at Hawaiian Falls. Residents of The Colony may bring trash and refuse, such as large tree limbs, furniture, appliances, lumber, remodeling debris, fencing materials and scrap metal for convenient disposal. For more info, call 972-624-3131 or visit our website.