eWYLIE

November 30, 2006

Welcome to eWYLIE, the City of Wylie’s e-newsletter.  Our goal is to provide you with the timeliest information about city programs, events and services.

Council Approves Location for new City Hall, Library and Recreation Center

At a special called meeting on November 28, the Wylie City Council approved a site location for the new Library, City Hall and Recreation Center.  Located on the Wells Property, the site is nestled north of a tree line in between FM 544 and Brown and just east of what will be the new alignment of FM 1378 (Country Club), which is scheduled to start construction in fall 2007.

At the same meeting, Council and City staff continued discussion regarding the design, construction and scope of these new facilities with the architects (Holzman Moss and ArchiTexas) and construction consultant (Thos S. Byrne).

Along with approving the site location, Council provided the following direction:

·          instructed architects to move forward with designing all three buildings;

·          requested that architects prepare designs to address both initial scope and options for future phasing;

·          advised to continue evaluation of shared space alternatives; and

·          asked staff to prepare funding options, for Council review, which would provide the opportunity for all three buildings to start construction in early 2008.

All three municipal buildings were approved by Wylie voters in the November 2005 bond election.  At this time, construction on the $8.1 million Library is scheduled to begin in January 2008 with completion in early 2009; while construction on the $8.6 million City Hall and the $10.2 million Recreation Center is scheduled to begin in early 2009.

The Wells Property is approximately 253 acres purchased in February 2005.  The property is near Wylie High School just north of FM 544, south of Brown, and east and west of FM 1378 (Country Club).  Yet to be masterplanned, the Wells Property is to be used primarily as a regional park and nature preserve as well as serve as the location for these new City facilities.

 

Reach for a Star Adoption Continues through December 8

The Star Tree was unveiled at the November 14 Wylie City Council meeting.  There are approximately 350 Stars available for adoption.  Anyone interested in adopting a Star can do so at one of these locations. 

Business

Address

Wylie Municipal Complex

2000 Hwy 78 N

American National Bank

301 S Hwy 78

Bank of America

1301 E FM 544

Brookshire’s

701 S Hwy 78

Capital One Bank

1100 W Brown

Dr. Jeff Hambrice

520 W Brown, Suite A

First Baptist Church of Wylie

100 N First Street

Inwood National Bank

200 S Hwy 78

New Hope Christian Church

499 S Hwy 78

St. Anthony’s Catholic Church

404 N Ballard

Texans Credit Union

430 S Hwy 78, Suite 199

Wal-Mart

2050 Hwy 78 N

Woodbridge Golf Club

7400 Country Club Drive

Residents, businesses and community organizations are encouraged to adopt a Star and purchase clothing and toys for that child.  The Star includes the child’s first name, age, sizes and wish list.  Items given may be the only gifts the child receives during this holiday season.

The deadline to return an adopted Star with gifts is December 8.  The Star and gifts can be returned to the location where it was picked up or to the Wylie Municipal Complex, 2000 Hwy 78.  It is important to return the Star.

When adopting a Star, the City asks that you please limit each star to three gifts; and only two if a bike is given so that families with more than one child will have an equal Christmas.  When returning the Star and gifts, we ask that you do not wrap gifts.

If you miss the deadline to return your Star and gifts, please contact 972.442.7970 or publicinfo@wylietexas.gov.  It is very important that we know which stars have been returned.  

Reach for a Star

 

Chamber Christmas Parade and City Treelighting to be Held December 2

Parade entries accepted through December 1

Each holiday season, the City of Wylie sponsors a Treelighting ceremony in association with the annual Wylie Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade.

This year’s event will be held Saturday, December 2, in Historic Downtown Wylie.  The Parade begins at 6:30 pm with the route beginning at Oak and Jackson, running along Ballard, and ending at Jefferson and Jackson.  The Treelighting takes place immediately following the Parade at the Birmingham House, 301 N Ballard.

The Chamber of Commerce will accept float entries through Friday, December 1.  Businesses and organizations can enter a float through the Chamber website:  www.wyliechamber.org. 

 

Stone Road Construction Project Underway

Tri-Con Services, Inc. has begun construction to expand Stone Road from South Ballard to Akin from a two-lane asphalt street to a four-lane divided concrete street.  The first portion of the project includes utility relocation.

City staff encourages drivers who use Stone Road to be cautious of construction and to possibly seek an alternate route.

This nine-month project is phase 1 of the street project approved by voters in the November 2005 bond election that will have Stone Road eventually expanded to a four-lane divided concrete street to Vinson.
 

Library Hosts an Assortment of Holiday Events

In December, the Smith Public Library invites residents to attend one of several holiday-themed events.

Breakfast and Pictures with Santa Claus

On Saturday, December 2, the Friends of the Library will sponsor an opportunity to have breakfast and/or a picture with Santa Claus.  Breakfast and pictures will take place from 8 to 10 am and cost $8 per child or $24 per family.  Tickets for breakfast and pictures can be purchased at the Library.  Pictures only with Santa will take place from 10 am to 1 pm and cost $5 per child.  A ticket is not required for pictures only.

Teens Holiday Party

On Monday, December 11, the Library will host a Teen Holiday Party from 4:30 – 6 pm.  The Party will include holiday music, crafts, games and more.    

Ebenezer Scrooge

On Tuesday, December 12, the Library welcomes Jerry Young for his annual performance of “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens.

Smith Public Library

800 Thomas

Phone:  972.442.7566

e-mail:  libinfo@wylietexas.gov

 

Muddy Creek Bike/Hike Trail Opens

In early November, the City, along with Dallas County, opened the Muddy Creek Preserve Trail.  This trail is a partnership between the City of Wylie, City of Sachse and Dallas County.  The project features a .5 mi, 10-ft wide hike/bike trail in the Dallas County part of Wylie off of Pleasant Valley Road and Elm.  Another .5 mi, 10-ft wide hike/bike trail has been installed nearby in the City of Sachse.  Eventually, there are long-range plans for this trail to be connected throughout Wylie.

City of Wylie Parks

Parks and Recreation Places 2nd at Equipment Rodeo

In October, Wylie Parks and Recreation participated in the Texas Recreation and Parks Society (TRAPS) Equipment Rodeo for Regions 2 and 3 in Mesquite. 

The City of Wylie placed 3rd in the overall competition, which included teams from Region 2 and 3 combined.  As a team, Wylie placed 2nd in Region 3, which also includes Plano, Garland, Rowlett, Farmers Branch, Carrollton, Allen, and Grand Prairie.  Region 2 cities included:  Corinth, Southlake, Weatherford, Colleyville, Denton, Lewisville, Highland Village, Flower Mound, Bedford, Arlington, Ft. Worth, Grapevine and Keller.

City of Wylie individual results:

Overall Place

Region 3 Place

Individual

Event

1st Place

1st Place

Ron Thompson

Backhoe

2nd Place

1st Place

Jimmy England

Playground Inspections

3rd Place

2nd Place

Rico Govea

Zero-turn Mower

5th Place

3rd Place

Mark Jones & Daniel Ramirez

Irrigation

 

3rd Place

Stuart Rodriguez

Nail Driving

Other City of Wylie participants and event judges were Archie Whitt, Dennis Sewell, Aaron Clampitt, Brent Stowers, Matt Green and Greg Wilson.

 

Animal Shelter Expansion Completed

On November 17, the City of Wylie held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the expansion to its Animal Shelter.  The expansion, which cost approximately $500,000, included the following improvements:  new canine building with 30 kennels, “bonding” room where an adopted pet can interact with owner’s pet to ensure compatibly, additional office space, a new euthanasia room and a new parking lot.

Pet Adoption

 

Stage 3 Water Restrictions Remain in Effect

The City of Wylie remains under Stage 3 (Severe) of its Drought Contingency Plan.  The goal for water use reduction under Stage 3 is a reduction of five percent in the amount of water used within the City.

The main water restrictions limit landscape watering with sprinklers or irrigation system to one day a week on residential trash pick-up day and prohibit landscape watering from 10 am until 6 pm.  City of Wylie water customers should follow the City’s Drought Contingency Plan. 

Wylie residents who are served by East Fork or Wylie Northeast should follow the watering restrictions and watering days as defined in their Drought Contingency Plan.

Drought - Water Restriction Information          

 

Feel free to forward eWYLIE to a neighbor, colleague or friend.  If you wish to unsubscribe to eWYLIE, please e-mail ewylie@wylietexas.gov with “unsubscribe” in the subject heading.

 

Please send any comments or feedback to Mark Witter, Public Information Officer, at publicinfo@wylietexas.gov.