City of Burleson E-Newsletter

City of Burleson, Texas

April 8, 2011

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Lieutenant earns fire department's

Fire Officer of the Year honors Picture of Chief Wisdom and Lt. Mike Jones

Two uncles, three departments, and great supervisors have molded Burleson Fire Department Lt. Mike Jones into the kind of supervisor that earned him Fire Officer of the Year for the department. The award was presented to Jones by Fire Chief Gary Wisdom on March 22 at the 2010 Firefighters Awards Banquet. Jones, 35, is a lieutenant/emergency medical technician intermediate (EMT-I) at Fire Station #1. He serves as the president of Burleson Professional Firefighters Association Local 4025 and on the firefighter advisory board for the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. Read more

Numbers improve in shortened railroad crossing enforcement measures

The timeframe was shorter and compliance was higher in the railroad crossing enforcement detail March 30 that included the combined efforts of Union Pacific Railroad and the Burleson Police Department's traffic unit. Only two citations were issued for disregarding a traffic control device at a railroad crossing. One driver was stopped and cited at the Renfro Street railroad crossing and the other driver was pulled over at the Alsbury Boulevard railroad crossing. The detail ran 90 minutes. Read more

Rinse, flatten and recycle - curbside recycling is easy and fun for family

If the weather forecast predicts winds higher than 20 miles per hour keep your recycling inside for the next scheduled pick up. Curbside recycling bin Recyclables packed inside a bin that does not have a lid on it will litter the neighborhood when the wind kicks up. When the wind is brisk, emptied recycling bins can blow down the street and into your neighbor's yard. One green 18-gallon bin is provided for each residence that has a utility account with the City. Recycling is collected once a week. No separation of items is required. Toss your plastics, glass, cans, and paper into one bin. Getting items ready for recycling can be a fun family event. Rinse, flatten, and recycle! Read more

Illustrate 'A Sound You Can Live With' in Fire Prevention Poster Contest

It's a sound you can live with, and illustrating that thought just might net you a $50 savings bond. The City's fire marshal's office and the Mayor's Youth Council are working together on a Fire Prevention Poster Contest to spread the message, "A Sound You Can Live With: Smoke Alarms." This poster contest is for kindergarten-seniors. The artwork must be complete by April 15. Read more

Burleson will host Cinco de Mayo Picture of Folklorico dancer

celebration May 6

The City of Burleson and La Buena Vida de Burleson will host the annual Cinco de Mayo festival Friday, May 6, 6 p.m.-11 p.m. The event will take place in the parking lots between Eldred Street and Ellison Street (around First Baptist Church, 317 W. Ellison St.). There will be entertainment, carnival rides and great food. Vendors bringing jewelry, candle and home décor items have already signed up for booth space. The food gamut runs from traditional Mexican food to State Fair staples like corn dogs, sausage on a stick and turkey legs. For more call 817-426-9291.

State launches 'Talk. Text. Crash' campaign for Distracted Driving

If you talk or text while driving, chances are you may end up in a crash. The Texas Department of Transportation launched the Distracted Driving Campaign on March 30. April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The goal is to raise awareness and encourage Texans to put down their cell phones while driving. In 2010 Burleson police officers wrote reports on 538 crashes. Driver inattention was cited as a contributing factor in 66 of the crashes and as a "may have contributed" in 28. Distraction in a vehicle was a contributing factor in 11 crashes and as a "may have contributed" in five crashes. Cell phone use counted as a factor in four crashes and as a "may have contributed" in four crashes. Read more

Firefighters awarded at annual banquet Picture of B Shift

Burleson firefighters were honored for their work and dedication March 22 at the 2010 Firefighter Awards Banquet. Taking home the Fire Officer of the Year award was Lt. Mike Jones. Firefighter Rob Moore earned the Fire Chief's Award, and the 10 firefighters who work B shift at the City's three stations won the award for busiest shift by handling 983 calls in 2010. Read more

Open house is April 14 for Mobility and Thoroughfare Development Plan Update

The City of Burleson will host an open house for the citywide Mobility and Thoroughfare Development Plan Update at Burleson City Hall at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 14. This plan is currently under design. The open house is a come-and-go event. Large maps of the current roadway system will be on display. Attendees will be encouraged to pinpoint the areas that they believe are transportation issues. The focus of the plan is on multi-model transportation, safe and inviting pedestrian and bike travel, and public transit options. If you have an interest in traffic, bike paths or other transportation ideas, be sure to mark your calendar. Read more

Mayor's Book Club features acclaimed western novelist Elmer Kelton

The 2011 Mayor's Book Club spotlight is on acclaimed author, Texan Elmer Kelton, and his book, The Time It Never Rained. The Mayor's Book Club event is April 12, 7 p.m., at Hill College of Burleson. Talking about Kelton will be Dr. Judy Alter and Dr. James Ward Lee. Alter and Lee recently edited a book, Elmer Kelton: Memories and Essays. Copies of that book will be available April 12. The hour-long lecture will be followed by a reception. Read more

Register to vote by April 14

If you are a resident of the city of Burleson, are over 18 years of age, and registered to vote, you may vote in the May 14, 2011, Burleson City Council election. The deadline to register is Thursday, April 14. Voter registration cards are available at city hall (141 W. Renfro St.) and the Burleson Public Library (248 S.W. Johnson Ave.) and through election offices in Tarrant County and Johnson County. The May 14 ballot includes four of the seven seats on the Burleson City Council. Three of the four races are contested. There is a four-way race for the unexpired term for Place 6. Read more

If you can't make it to a Burleson City Council meeting, watch it on video

Do you want to know how a vote went at a Burleson City Council meeting? View the video, live or at your leisure, on the City website. Click on the meeting date, then click on the item you are interested in. There is a tab for streaming video of the Planning and Zoning Commission. Official minutes of council and commission meetings are not posted on the City website until the council/commission members have approved those minutes at their next scheduled meeting.

Stay in the loop with the April City Focus newsletter

What's happening in May in Burleson? Read your copy of the new City Focus newsletter that is mailed to residents who have utility accounts with the City. If you are not a utility customer but you still want to be in the loop, download your copy of the April City Focus from the City website. The April City Focus spotlights Cinco De Mayo, the opening of the Hot Sounds of Summer concert series, household hazardous waste and electronic recycling collection, and the Police Open House.

Be informed about City government

Do you know what's going on in your City? Choose the form of communication that best suits your style by going to the Communications page on the City website. We have City news releases, streaming video of meetings, the free weekly E-Newsletter, City Focus monthly newsletter, City of Burleson Facebook page, Burleson Progress Report, Annual Financial Report, Connect-CTY emergency phone notifications, and the City of Burleson Twitter page.

Thank you for your interest in the City of Burleson's programs, services and events. Post this E-Newsletter on your Facebook profile and Twitter by clicking on the icons at the top of this E-Newsletter. Enjoy your weekend!

Sally Ellertson
City of Burleson

Public Information Officer

sellertson@burlesontx.com

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