Austin Bridge & Road, TxDOT's contractor on the Hwy. 174 median project, will be striping on Hwy. 174 (Wilshire Boulevard) Sunday and Monday, 7 p.m.-5 a.m. Expect delays due to lane closures. The striping work should be complete by the second week in August. TxDOT's median improvement project on State Hwy. 174/Wilshire Boulevard in Burleson got underway in February 2013. Improvements include replacement of the center turn lane with a raised curb center median with turn lanes, an overlay of the existing pavement, and landscaping. The $4 million project, which is considered a safety enhancement due to the high traffic volume and multiple unprotected left turn movements, is funded by the Federal Highway Administration and TxDOT (approximately 93 percent). The City is responsible for approximately 7 percent of the project, which includes $150,000 for new signal construction, $50,000 for landscape design, $50,000 for landscape and irrigation, and $40,000 for offsite improvements for a total of $290,000. The City received $450,000 from TxDOT's Green Ribbon Program which is being used to fund landscape and irrigation improvements.

Kids and trucks . . . the City's public works department made quite an impression on the youngsters from the Burleson Public Library's Summer Reading Club July 29! Staff demonstrated the Vactor truck, mini excavator, backhoe, street sweeper, skid steer, boom mower and grade-all. The children oohed and aahed, clapped, asked questions and even posed in the buckets! One man said he didn't know who enjoyed it more, the youngster on his shoulders or him. For the rest of the pictures, go to the Monster Machines album on the City Facebook page.

Beat the heat at the outdoor pool at the BRiCk (Burleson Recreation Center). If you are a BRiCk member, admission is free. If you are not a member, you can buy a $4 day pass. The hours are 1 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday; 1 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday; and 1 p.m.-5:30 p.m. on Sundays. Remember to come by and swim for free on Labor Day - Monday, Sept. 1 - which is also the last day the outdoor pool will be open. For more, call the BRiCk at 817-426-9104.

Who was the mayor when you moved to Burleson? Who is the City's chief administrative official? What is the role of city council? We can't answer the first question for you, but City Manager Dale Cheatham (pictured) is the chief administrative official and the city council acts on ordinances and resolutions, approves the annual tax rate and operating budget, and generally makes policy for the overall operation of the City. Burleson has had 20 mayors (Ken Shetter is the current mayor) since it was incorporated in 1912. There have been 12 city managers since the Home Rule Charter was adopted by the citizens in 1969. Want to know more about the history of your city government? Go to the History of the City Government page on the City website.