Volume 13 • Number 1 A City of Burleson Newsletter January • February 2008 EAST MEETS WEST VIA HIDDEN CREEK PARKWAY Cross that bridge! Burleson’s fire trucks, police cars and Following speeches from Mayor Ken police motorcycle made the maiden Shetter, former Mayor Byron Black, voyage, lights blazing, across the former Commissioner Ron Harmon, four-lane parkway in south Burleson. Texas Department of Transportation Excited motorists followed, honking District Engineer Maribel Chavez, and their horns as they went down in history Deputy City Manager David Wynn, the as the first motorists to cross the bridge. ribbon was cut on the opening of the Orval Hall Excavating of Fort Worth Hidden Creek Parkway bridge over I-35W constructed the parkway, and the bridge, on Nov. 27. that links Hwy. 174 on the west side of CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
See more holiday pictures – Page 5! COMING TO A CURB NEAR YOU INSIDE ... If everything stays on schedule, the first collection of curbside recyclables will be Monday, Jan. 7. MAYOR’S MESSAGE 2 Bright green 18-gallon recycling bins from the private contractor, Community Waste Disposal (CWD), have VALENTINE’S DAY already been delivered to homes. Each residence will get DANCE 2 one bin. An extra bin can be purchased for $10. The cost is the same for replacement bins. GAS WELLS 3 CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 BAD WEATHER CLOSINGS 3
VETERANS HISTORY Tears Flow at Memorial to Veterans PROJECT 4 Local military veterans earned an emotional tribute Nov. 10 when the CHRISTMAS IN brick memorial around the fountain at Renfro Square was dedicated. BURLESON 5 Speeches by Mayor Ken Shetter and Congressman Chet Edwards, an CALENDAR 6 impromptu flyover by a World War II plane as emcee Matt Powell was speaking, and Soulful Sounds’ medley of fight songs from each branch KNOW WHERE of service brought tears to the eyes of veterans and their families. The TO GO 7 Burleson High School ROTC posted the colors, David McDowell read the poem “I Am A Veteran,” and BHS student Lonnie Kitts played Taps on his trumpet. SPEEDING COSTS 8 CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
WWW.BURLESONTX.COM • CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS CHANNEL 27 FROM MAYOR CITY MAKES VALENTINE’S DAY SPECIAL FOR FAMILIES KEN SHETTER It’s billed as a special evening together. It’s so special that the City’s parks and Recently, at the ceremony celebrating recreation department is expanding the the opening of the Hidden Creek Father/Daughter, Mother/Son Valentine’s Parkway bridge over I-35W, former Dance to two nights. Johnson County commissioner and Corsages, pictures, dinner and dancing tireless transportation advocate Ron will be the talk of the town on Friday, Feb. 8, or Saturday, Feb. 9, when parents Harmon said it was a “red letter day” for celebrate Valentine’s Day early with Burleson. Considering the improved their children. The event is 6 p.m. to mobility (for citizens and public safety 9 p.m. in the gymnasium at the Burleson officials) that Hidden Creek Parkway Community Center. will create, I think we all agree with The cost is $15 per couple for pre-event that sentiment. tickets, or $25 per couple at the door. The It took the hard work and commitment corsages and pictures are provided with the of many public servants, over many years, price of the ticket. Tickets will be available at to make Hidden Creek Parkway a reality. the center, located at Hidden Creek Parkway and Chisenhall Park Lane, starting Monday, While those of us in office today have had Jan. 14. For more information, call the the pleasure of shepherding the project to community center at 817-295-8168. its conclusion, it is important to recognize the work of former Mayor Byron Black, former Mayor Pro-Tem Jerry Allen, former council members Jim Bailey, Rick Green EAST MEETS WEST and Toby Ford, former city managers Bill CONTINUED Davison and Kay Godbey, and former Assistant Burleson to Renfro Street on the east side. Freese and Nichols City Manager Jean Crawley. designed the parkway. The bridge is a Texas Department of Finally, it is the citizens of Burleson who deserve the most Transportation project. credit for making Hidden Creek Parkway a reality, because The extension of Hidden Creek Parkway was approved by the it never would have happened without the approval of the voters via a bond election in 2001. Half cent sales tax funds and 4A sales tax in 2001. It takes a lot of patience and foresight water/wastewater bond funds were used to finance the City’s to approve taxes for new transportation projects, especially portion of the extension. Connecting the east and the west cost when it takes years to realize the benefits. Without that the City more than $17 million. The City paid a little over half patience and foresight we would not be making a million for the design of the bridge. Construction of the the significant improvements to our transportation bridge, at a cost of $6.7 million, was funded by TXDOT. The infrastructure that allow us to capitalize on our growth $6.7 million includes the construction of four ramps on to and (rather than experience severe growing pains). off of I-35W. So, thank you, citizens of Burleson.
TONS OF WASTE BYPASS LANDFILL
The City’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection event kept more than 15,000 pounds of waste out of the landfill. The most popular household hazardous BUNNY DAZE COMES EARLY IN 2008 waste was 10,000 pounds of latex paint. Residents The Easter celebration hosted by the City of Burleson’s parks and from 141 Burleson homes participated. recreation department is slated for Saturday, March 15, from 11 a.m. Residents can dispose of household hazardous to 3 p.m. at the Burleson Community Center. waste year-round by taking a City water or solid The fun includes bounce houses, dance troupes, face painting and waste bill to the Environmental Collection Center booths. The Easter Egg Hunt will start at 2 p.m. Parents are (6400 Bridge St., Fort Worth). The ECC is open encouraged to bring cameras to take pictures with the Easter Bunny. Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. To find out what the ECC Anyone who is interested in setting up a booth should call Paula Benjamin will accept, call 817-871-5257 or log on to at the community center at 817-295-8168, after 2 p.m., Monday www.fortworth.gov, click on “government,” through Friday. The Burleson Community Center is located at Hidden “find it,” “department list,” “environmental Creek Parkway and Chisenhall Park Lane. management,” then “household chemicals.”
2 EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO WEEKLY FUN TIME LIVE KNOW ABOUT GAS WELLS ... LOCK-IN HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE If you want to know more about the gas well in your neighborhood, just log on to the City of Burleson web site at www.burlesontx.com. The City’s public works department has launched a web page full of everything you need to know about the more than 30 gas wells inside the city limits. Log on to the City web site, go to “online features” in the center of the page, and click on “Gas Well Drilling Information.” The page includes a map of all of the gas well sites, description of the drilling process, the City’s It’s chaperoned by a police officer, one gas well ordinance, and pictures of acceptable practices. The web trained counselor for every 30 students, and a site explains the exploration, extraction, production, transport, full staff. It gives children in that lost age storage, distribution and marketing group, third through eighth grade, something involved with gas wells. The gas well safe and fun to do, and it gives parents a map includes the company name, much-needed night off. well name, the address of the well, It’s the Planet Kidz/Fun Time Live lock-in at and a contact phone number. the Burleson Community Center. The fun The City’s gas ordinance requires happens every Saturday night, 7 p.m. to wells to be drilled more than 11 p.m. The cost is $9 per child plus money 500 feet from a home, religious for concessions. Children have to sign in and institution, public building, stay inside the building until their parents walk hospital, school or public park. in and sign them out. The site also includes web site The fun includes costume, dance and addresses for the gas well compa- food eating contests as well as sporting nies as well as links to the Texas competitions and scavenger hunts. Students Commission on Environmental from Burleson, Crowley and Joshua attend. Quality, American Petroleum The center is located at Hidden Creek Institution, Texas Railroad Parkway and Chisenhall Park Lane. For more Commission, Environmental information about Planet Kidz/Fun Time Live, Protection Agency, Occupational Safety and Health log on to www.funtimelive.com. Administration, and Barnett Shale Energy Education Council. For more information about the City’s involvement, call Paula Benjamin at 817-295-8168. CheckCheck TVTV andand rradioadio fforor badbad weatherweather closingsclosings If the Burleson Independent For closing information: School District closes for bad CBS 11 KTVT TV and Texas 21, www.cbs11tv.com weather, the City of Burleson will too. The City closings will be FOX 4 TV, www.myFOXdfw.com listed on local TV and radio web sites. ABC WFAA 8, www.wfaa.com/closings Essential personnel will be NBC KXAS 5, www.nbc5i.com/closings/index.html working to keep streets and property safe even when the WBAP 820 AM/KSCS 96.3 FM Radio, www.WBAP.com weather turns bad. In most cases, residential trash will be picked up KCLE Radio, 1140 AM, Cleburne unless the streets are too treacherous to KTFW 92.1/KFWR 95.9, Fort Worth travel. If sanitation workers cannot pick up the trash, it will be picked up on the next scheduled collection day. KRLD, 1080 Radio, www.krld.com
3 Memorial to Veterans CONTINUED The memorial to U.S. military veterans started as a fountain with room for 200 bricks to be inlaid in the sidewalk. Rocky VETERANS BECOME PART Bransom, one of the developers for Renfro Square, made room for 900. More than 1,000 bricks have been ordered. OF RECORDED HISTORY The bricks list the veteran’s name, branch of service, and What better way to learn about history than to hear it the name of the conflict, if any, that he/she served in. from the ones who lived it. In 2000, the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project The City of Burleson added to the memorial to the was created to record the memories of veterans of World veterans by ordering the seals from each branch War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian of service ... U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines, U.S. Air Gulf War, and the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Force and U.S. Coast Guard. The seals will be mounted on In 2003, the Burleson Heritage Foundation and local the ledge of the fountain. veterans started compiling oral histories by interviewing veterans, recording those conversations on videotape, and The brick memorial is an ongoing project. The cost is $45. preparing the videotapes to be part of the Library of To order a brick, call Etch-It at 817-447-8520. Congress. More than 14 of the foundation’s interviews, which have been recorded since 2003, have been delivered to the Burleson Public Library. The library is taking the lead in getting even more recollections recorded and shared both here and through the Library of Congress. During the Nov. 10 Burleson Veterans Ceremony at Renfro Square, Burleson Mayor Ken Shetter announced the library’s stepped-up efforts, which have been dubbed the Burleson Veterans History Project. At that ceremony, veterans and their families picked up a field kit explaining the project, a registration form, and a copy of the questions that will be asked during the interview. Interview times for veterans are being scheduled through the library, which is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. The library is closed on Sunday. Once local oral histories are recorded they will be available for viewing at the library and, eventually, on a web site. Copies of the interviews will also be sent to the Library of Congress. The web site for the Library of Congress project is www.loc.gov/vets.
For more information about the Burleson Veterans History Project, call Library Director Gayla Tennison at 817-295-6131, ext. 265, or e-mail her at [email protected].
4 SANTA, SYRUP AND SONG ... CITY HOSTS ST. NICK FOR COMING TO A CURB BREAKFAST AND TREE LIGHTING NEAR YOU CONTINUED Santa stayed busy in Burleson on Dec. 1. He made it to the Burleson The monthly collection rate will increase Community Center for Santa's Breakfast, rode in the Burleson Rotary from $15.83 to $17.84 Club’s “Texas Christmas” parade, and even flipped the switch (with the to accommodate the help of two winning artists) to light Burleson’s Christmas tree before he curbside recycling. settled in his sleigh to listen to Christmas wishes. The parks and recreation Curbside recyclables department hosted more than 1,000 children and their families at the will be picked up pancake and sausage breakfast. Winds kept the fireworks show from between 7 a.m. and leaving the ground that night, but dancers and singers at the tree lighting 6 p.m. on Monday, kept everyone entertained. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. CWD will collect numbered plastic containers (1-5 and 7); unbroken glass bottles and jars of all colors; aluminum cans; rinsed-out tin food cans; dry, unyellowed newsprint (including slicks and ads); phone books; magazines/catalogs/junk mail; chipboard (thin cardboard such as cereal boxes); uncoated cardboard; and empty aerosol cans. Cardboard and cardboard boxes must be broken down (flattened) and stacked under the recycling bin. The city will be divided into four zones for recycling, bulky items (special pickups) and brush collections. Switching to zones changes the number of special collections from once a week to once a month for homes. Residents in Zone 1 will have special pickups during the first full week of the month. In Zone 2, the collection will be the second week; Zone 3 will be the third week; and Zone 4 residents will have special collection pickups the fourth week. The current plan is for Zone 1 residents to have trash collection on Monday/Thursday and recyclable collection on Monday. For Zone 2, garbage collection is Tuesday/Friday with recyclable collection Tuesday. Zone 3 residents put trash out on Monday/Thursday and recyclables on Thursday. And Zone 4 residents will have trash picked up on Tuesday/Friday and recyclables on Friday. Some residents will have their garbage collection days changed by one day. If a homeowner’s collection days change, that homeowner will be notified before Jan. 7. For more information about curbside recycling, call Public Works Director Dave Stringer at 817-447-5410, ext. 250, or Assistant Director of Public Works Rey Gonzales at 817-447-5410, ext. 271.
5 CALENDAR OF EVENTS January February
Tuesday, Jan. 1 Saturday, Feb. 2 City facilities (except Hidden Creek Golf Course) Beginner archery class, community center, are closed for New Year’s Day 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 4-week class Wednesday, Jan. 2 - Friday, Jan. 4 Friday, Feb. 8 or Saturday, Feb. 9 Games and movies, library, 2 p.m.-5 p.m. Father/Daughter, Mother/Son Valentine’s Dance, community center, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. (see story) Thursday, Jan. 3 “Greenhouses for your Gardening Hobby,” library, Thursday, Feb. 14 6:30 p.m. Valentine Party, senior activity center, call 817-295-6611 Saturday, Jan. 5 Burleson City Council meeting, city hall, 7 p.m. Beginner archery class, community center, Thursday, Feb. 28 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 4-week class Burleson City Council meeting, city hall, 7 p.m. “Rebecca,” Read The Book-Watch The Movie group, library, noon Monday, Jan. 7 THEY ARE TAPPING, DANCING Curbside yard waste collection event (set recyclable AND DRAWING ... brown paper yard bags of grass and leaves by the curb by 7:30 a.m. (call 817-447-5410 for more information) A whole lot of dancing Tuesday, Jan. 8 and drawing are going on at Teen Advisory Board, library, 6 p.m. the community center in “Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress,” Anything But January and February. Mystery Book Club, library, 6:30 p.m. Month-long dancing, tumbling and cheering classes start Friday, Jan. 4 and Feb. 1, and Tuesday, Jan. 8 and Feb. 5. Thursday, Jan. 10 On Fridays, the Burleson Community Center schedule Burleson City Council meeting, city hall, 7 p.m. includes Tapping Tots, 12:30 p.m.; Mommy and Me Saturday, Jan. 12 Tumbling, 1 p.m.; Tap and Ballet, 1:30 p.m.; Co-ed “Howl’s Moving Castle” movie, 1 p.m., library Tumbling, 2 p.m.; Tumble and Cheer, 4 p.m.; Tap and Wednesday, Jan. 16 Ballet, 4:30 p.m.; and, Tap, Clogging and Jazz, 5 p.m. Pancake lunch, senior activity center, call 817-295-6611 On Tuesdays, the schedule includes Preschool Drawing, 3:30 p.m.; Elementary and Cartoon Drawing, 4:30 p.m.; Thursday, Jan. 17 Tapping Tots, 6 p.m.; Mommy and Me Tumbling, 6:30 p.m.; “California Girl,” Mystery Lover’s Book Club, library, 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tap and Ballet, 7 p.m.; and Co-ed Tumbling, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 21 To sign up, call the Burleson Community Center City facilities are closed for Martin Luther King Day at 817-295-8168. “The Bridesmaid,” Girl’s Only Book Club, library, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22 CITY HOSTS STOMP-OFF TO Teen Book Club, library, 6 p.m. PROMOTE RECYCLING Elder Care Seminar - “Depression, Drugs, Alcohol The City and Keep Burleson Beautiful (KBB) and Aging,” library, 6:30 p.m. collected 446.65 pounds of aluminum cans during Thursday, Jan. 24 Burleson CAN Recycle Month. Approximately $290 Burleson City Council meeting, city hall, 7 p.m. went to KBB. The City and KBB hosted a “Stomp-Off.” Participants Friday, Jan. 25 competed to stomp the most cans in 30 seconds. Top Opposite Day Lock-In/Gaming Tournament, library, winners in three categories won a crape myrtle. 6 p.m.-10 p.m. The City recycling center, located at 124 S.W. Haskew, is Tuesday, Jan. 29 open Tuesdays and Fridays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Tae Kwon Do, community center, 6 p.m./beginners; Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon. Starting in January, 7 p.m./advanced residents will also be able to recycle at the curb with the City’s curbside recycling.
6 MAYOR’S FOCUS IS ON FAMILIES AND WHERE IS THAT? BURLESON’S FUTURE Ever wondered where the public policy or public interest work,” Compost Center is? Need the Shetter said. Burleson Public Library for a He is the executive director of Safe homework emergency? Here’s City Commission, Inc., a nonprofit a quick reference guide to that develops and supports crime City facility locations. prevention and crime reduction programs and provides for collaboration among Tarrant Animal Shelter – 1695 John Jones Dr. Pictured are Olivia, Ashley, Lexi, Ken County’s public safety and crime (FM 731, south of and Hogan Shetter prevention agencies. SH 174/Wilshire Blvd.) The mayor’s priorities for Burleson Burleson Mayor Ken Shetter was include responsible management of Burleson Memorial Cemetery recently chosen as chairman of the the explosive growth, maintaining 490 Memorial Plaza Tarrant Regional Transportation high standards in public safety, (off East Renfro, past Fire Station 2) Coalition. He is also a member of the improving the transportation executive board of the North Central infrastructure, developing a sound City Hall – 141 W. Renfro Texas Council of Governments and economic development plan, (building faces Ellison) is active in several regional public maintaining fiscal discipline, and the policy planning organizations. continued revitalization of Old Town. Community Center – 500 Chisenhall The 35-year-old is a home-grown Shetter is active with the Park Lane (off Hidden Creek Pkwy., success story. Shetter is a 1990 Strengthening Families Initiative, south of SH 174/Wilshire Blvd.) graduate of Burleson High School. He which is based on improving earned a bachelor of science degree in economic success, health and Compost Center – 620 Memorial Plaza education from Baylor University in wellness, a safe and vibrant (off East Renfro behind Fire Station 2) 1994, followed by a master of arts community, and child and youth degree in applied sociology from The development. The mayor is also Fire Station 1 – 828 S.W. Alsbury Blvd. American University in Washington, instrumental in the Burleson (between Summercrest and FM 731) D.C., in 1995. While attending The Opportunity Fund, which he and American University, Shetter was others hope will provide an Fire Station 2 – 650 Memorial Plaza a dean’s scholar and a sociology endowment to help Burleson (off East Renfro) department fellow. students achieve at least a In May 1998, Burleson’s future community college education. Heritage Visitors Center mayor graduated from Baylor Law In the spring of 2008, the Mayor’s 124 W. Ellison School with a juris doctor degree. As a Youth Council, which includes (corner of Wilson and Ellison) third-year law student, he was a students ages 13 to 19, will come member of Baylor’s prestigious Mock to fruition. Library – 248 S.W. Johnson Ave. Trial Team and recipient of the 1998 Ken Shetter and his future wife, (across from Warren Park) Scott, Douglass, Luton & McConnico Ashley, were introduced by mutual Evidence Award. friends, Kristin and Alan Ayars. Municipal Court – 247 Elk Dr. Following graduation, the mayor Ashley worked as a case worker for (in Burleson Sub-courthouse) practiced law for seven years. Shetter AIDS Resources of Rural Texas. She is officed in Old Town Burleson where now the regional recruiter for Texas Police Department – 225 W. Renfro he had a general civil law practice Wesleyan University and works at the (corner of Bransom and Renfro) that dealt primarily with real estate Burleson campus. title law. He practiced in that realm The mayor and his wife exchanged Recycling Center – 124 S.W. Haskew for seven years and is still licensed to vows Dec. 16, 2000. The family (near First Baptist Church) practice law. includes three children, 10-year-old Shetter was elected mayor in Lexi, 5-year-old Hogan, Senior Activity Center – 216 S.W. June 2004, during his second term 4-year-old Olivia, and Johnson Ave. (next to post office) on the Burleson City Council. Frenchy, a wire-haired In May 2005, the mayor’s fox terrier. Service Center – 1675 John Jones Dr. career focus changed. The Shetters are members (FM 731, south of “I had always planned to of the First United Methodist SH 174/Wilshire Blvd.) practice law for five to 10 years, Church of Burleson. then go into some type of Ken Shetter
7 ANIMAL TETHERING RULES HAVE CHANGED Did you know ...
The Texas Legislature passed a new law concerning how and Speeding costs. According to when pets may be restrained using chains, tethers or other the Texas Transportation Code, the tie-outs. The City adopted a similar ordinance to protect both speed limit on city streets is 30, pets and people. unless otherwise posted. The speed Animals that are tied outside using chains or tethers tend to limit on I-35W, inside the become more aggressive, especially when tied to a fixed point city limits, is 65, except in such as a tree or porch. construction zones where it is 55. According to the new law, an animal cannot be tied out for Speeds on Hwy. 174 vary from more than three hours in a 24-hour period. The chain or tether 55 to 40. The speed on FM 731 must be attached to a properly fitted collar, not wrapped varies from 40 to 55. In school directly around the animal’s neck. And, a restrained animal must zones it is generally 20. have access to water and shelter, have a restraint that does not Exceeding the speed limit by 11 miles in a become entangled, and stay within the owner’s property. residential zone will cost you $118. That’s $25 An animal may not be left unattended, outside, for the fine and $93 for court costs. The fine with a restraint that unreasonably limits movement increases by $5 for each additional mile over between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., within 500 feet of the limit. a school, or in extreme weather conditions. Fines and court costs are higher in a school A restraint unreasonably limits an animal’s zone. Driving 31 in a school zone will cost you movement if it uses a collar that is a pinch, $165 ... $47 for the fine and $118 for court prong, or choke-type and is not properly fitted costs. Each additional mile costs $7 more. to the animal, is unsafe, or causes injury. Speeding on I-35W, Hwy. 174 and FM 1902 nets a fine of $137 for going 11 miles over. Fines For more information about the new tethering laws, log on to increase in $4 increments. www.burlesontx.com, click on departments, then click on animal services. Or, call the Burleson Animal Shelter at 817-447-5426. Court costs will increase by $4 on Jan. 1.
City of Burleson PRSRT STD 141 W. Renfro, Burleson, Texas 76028-4261 U.S. Postage PAID Burleson, TX 76028 Permit No. 11
An official publication of the City of Burleson
City Council Mayor Ken Shetter, Stuart Gillaspie, Jim Wadlow, Matt Powell, Claudia Humphreys, Dan McClendon and Chip Stephens
The Burleson City Council normally meets on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. in the city hall, 141 W. Renfro. Call 817-447-5400 (toll free 877-447-5460) for meeting dates. Visit our web site at www.burlesontx.com.
Published by the City of Burleson Office of Communication Services
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