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Wings
There has been a lot of news coverage surrounding the aerial spraying of insecticide for mosquitoes that can carry the West Nile virus during this summer's outbreak of the disease.
Much of Dallas County, including Farmers Branch, was sprayed Sunday and Monday nights from specially-equipped airplanes at an altitude of about 300 feet. And while its too early to tell how effective the aerial spraying has been, there are some things we know.
First, the West Nile outbreak this summer has been the worst in recent memory with five human cases, so far, in Farmers Branch, among the well more than 200 in the county.
Also, the City is equipped to spray on the ground from a truck, but that "fog" stays at ground level and is not able to get over fences or into more secluded areas away from roadways. Nonetheless, all residential areas of our City have been ground sprayed at least four times this year and that program will continue as long as West Nile virus is an issue this year.
 Aerial spraying was never a preference but was judged to be a necessary action, considering the public health risk posed by West Nile virus this year. We certainly understand those who expressed concerns about it which is why we responded with as much information as we have, through a special phone number (972.919.9868), radio broadcast (1670 AM) and Internet dispatches (farmersbranch.info, Branch Mail and Branch Bulletin). State and federal health authorities endorsed the action as safe, but beyond that, the very smart people we have working in the Farmers Branch Environmental Health Department, headed up by Stacy Wright, gave us all a great deal of comfort that this was the right thing for Farmers Branch.
Now, we wait.
Around the county, mosquito traps will tell us if the aerial spraying effort was successful in reducing the mosquito population. Once we have those results, we will know if additional aerial spraying is necessary or if this chapter is over.
You'll know as soon as we know.
In the meantime, thanks for your comments, your concerns and your trust.
> Send Gary a Message
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BreakingNEWS
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Aerial spraying for mosquitoes is concluded, for now
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FeaturedSTORIES
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FARMERS BRANCH ~ One of the most important measures of local resident satisfaction with Farmers Branch activities, events and services is now open as the 2012 Farmers Branch Citizen Survey has been launched.
In order to encourage as much participation as possible this year, an open copy of the survey is available online for any resident to complete. In addition, 8,000 surveys were randomly mailed to residents.
About 80 percent of all residences in Farmers Branch will receive a survey in the mail, with approximately 6,000 mailed to single family addresses and 2,000 mailed to multi-family residences. Officials said that breakdown of 75 percent to 25 percent closely mirrors the ratio of single-family to multi-family homes in the City.
The sampling period runs from August 20 through September 17.
"We use this survey for budgeting, for planning programs, services, activities and events," said Farmers Branch City Manager Gary D. Greer. "We value appraisal of our performance in the never-ending quest to take it to the next level, to always strive to do more, to do better."
The bi-annual survey has been conducted since 2008 and includes 27 questions, focusing on resident satisfaction with city provided services, ranging from public safety to residential trash pickup to special event offerings and more. Results will be compared against the two previous surveys, presented to the City Council and released to the public.
"Let us know what's important to you," Mr. Greer said. "We will look forward to sharing our report card once the results are in."
  
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Fire Department celebrates promotions in quiet ceremony
FARMERS BRANCH ~ In a quiet mid-morning ceremony, steeped in tradition, Farmers Branch Fire Chief Steve Parker last week officially celebrated six members of the department for appointment and promotion.
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Firefighters Kyle Green (left) and Terry Evans received their appointments after returning from a house fire.
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Filling the office left vacant by an earlier retirement, Gabriel Vargas was promoted to the position of EMS Division Chief. Longtime Farmers Branch Fire Department veterans Johnny Garcia and Jason Shelby were promoted to Driver while Jonathan Castro was promoted to Lieutenant.
Firefighters Terry Evans and Kyle Green were unable to attend the ceremony as they had been called to a house fire about an hour earlier but received their official appointments later in the day.
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Name: Alexis Jackson 
Department: Planning
Title: Senior Planner
Background: I have over 11 years experience in community planning and urban design with what I consider areas of expertise in comprehensive planning, land use and zoning analysis, site planning, design guidelines and public involvement with an emphasis on integrating social media tools. I received my Masters of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Florida, and my American Institute of Certified Planners registration which I have used extensively throughout the State of Florida and Texas. I am active in both the American Planning Association and the Congress for the New Urbanism.
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Photo by Richard Posey
School supply drive Manske Library staffer Randy Patterson hands school supplies donated by library patrons to Metrocrest Social Services' Director of Volunteers & Special Programs, Nicole Newkham. Earlier this month, more than 900 school supply items were donated in lieu of $3,200 in Library fines. Metrocrest Social Services will dispense the school supplies to families in need. |
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Coming Up
SEP 3
SEP 4 & 18
SEP 8
SEP 15
SEP 22
SEP 29
OCT 2 & 16
OCT 9
OCT 20
OCT 19-20
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FARMERS BRANCH ~ After presentations at August public meetings, the update to the Comprehensive Plan for the central area of the City was approved by the Farmers Branch City Council at their regular meeting, August 21.
Farmers Branch Planning Director Andy Gillies explained the overall Comprehensive Plan is the long term development blueprint for how the city should grow in the future. This update is for the central area of the City, generally bounded by Stemmons Freeway, Marsh Lane, Fyke Road and LBJ.
An explanatory video on the Central Area Plan remains available on YouTube and has been viewed more than 300 times in August.
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City offices to close Labor Day
FARMERS BRANCH ~ City offices and facilities will be closed on Monday, September 3 in observance of the Labor Day holiday. The only exceptions will be the Farmers Branch Community Recreation Center and Historical Park, both of which will be open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. The fitness area at the Rec Center will open at 6 a.m. In addition, there will be no garbage collection on Monday, September 3.
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LBJUpdate
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Welch bridge partially reopened; Ratcliff bridge expected 8/24
FARMERS BRANCH ~ The weekly update on the Interstate 635 expansion project has been made available by LBJ Express, the construction team responsible for the five-year project that will completely renovate the freeway from the Dallas North Tollway to Interstate 35E. This update is for August 22, 2012.
Denton Drive: On August 27, Denton is scheduled to be closed between LBJ and Villa Creek for several weeks. Traffic will be detoured via Harry Hines and Ford.
Josey Lane: The drainage project on Josey from Maybrook to LBJ continues with one lane closed in each direction. The completion date has been extended to early September. Following the completion of drainage work, construction of the permanent paving of Josey and the east end of Villa Creek will begin. Various lanes will be closed on Josey through November.
Treeview Road: Treeview has been reopened but will be closed for one night during the next week to pave the connection with the new westbound frontage road.
Webb Chapel Road: Drainage work from Maybrook to LBJ has been rescheduled to take place this weekend of August 24-27. Various lanes will be closed in both directions. Access to the hospital at Maybrook/Medical Parkway will be maintained at all times.
Joe Ratcliff Pedestrian Bridge: The bridge is expected to reopen Aug 24.
Marsh Lane: Expect pavement and bridge work to continue on the west side of Marsh south of Ridgeoak until November.
Midway Road: Both U-turn lanes are closed. Dallas Water Utilities relocation on the south side of the Midway/LBJ intersection has one lane closed in each direction. The scheduled completion of utility work has been extended until late September. Atmos will also be installing a new gas line crossing Midway south of LBJ following the water line project. The Atmos line is expected to be bored across Midway with minimal traffic impact.
Welch Road: The Welch Road bridge is partially reopened. The westbound to eastbound U-turn lane is scheduled to be opened on August 24. The entire bridge, including both U-turn lanes, is expected to be reopened by October.
Dallas North Tollway: On August 23 eastbound LBJ will be narrowed to 3 lanes at the DNT. On August 24 westbound LBJ will be narrowed to 3 lanes at the DNT. Trinity will perform bridge demolition at the DNT interchange on Labor Day weekend, August 31-September 2. Beginning Friday night, August 31, the southbound DNT will be closed until noon Saturday, September 1. Beginning Saturday night, the northbound DNT will be closed until noon on Sunday, September 2. Various lanes of the DNT in both directions will be closed throughout the weekend.
Other Locations: Various main lanes of LBJ will be closed frequently during night-time hours. There will also be intermittent night-time closures of various LBJ entrance and exit ramps. Full updates and additional information can be found at www.lbjexpress.com.
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Volume 2.34 | Number 78
Branch Bulletin
is published weekly by the Communications Office of the City of Farmers Branch, TX.
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About the City of Farmers Branch
 An historic community in the geographic center of the DFW Metroplex, Farmers Branch boasts a residential population of 28,800 and a daytime employment population of 66,000. Located on the northwest border of the City of Dallas, the City's 27 parks and lush greeenbelts feature nationally-acclaimed, award-winning soccer fields, football facilities as well as baseball and softball complexes. The city's location in the center of the Metroplex and only 15 minutes away from both DFW Airport and Love Field, along with the 2,200 hotel rooms within the city, make Farmers Branch an ideal location for residents and for business. For more information on the City of Farmers Branch, visit farmersbranch.info, visitfarmersbranch.com, lovethebranch.com
or call 972.247.3131. |
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