Hot Sounds of Summer kicks off tonight!

Are you ready? The City's five-week Hot Sounds of Summer concert series jumps off tonight, May 29, with Reagan James, best known for making it to the Top 10 on NBC's "The Voice, and ends June 26 with crowd favorite Le Freak, bringing disco back to Burleson. J.D. Monson, country/classic rock, is the headliner June 5. Journey fans don't want to miss ESCAPE on June 12, and a 2014 favorite, Buddy Whittington, is bringing back the blues on June 19. The 16-year-old James, a sophomore at Burleson's Centennial High School, is an R&B/pop artist. She was on Team Blake (Shelton) on "The Voice." Before that, at the age of 14, James won the Kidd Kraddick in the Morning Show Nationwide Talent Scout competition for her singing and songwriting.The Hot Sounds of Summer showcases free 90-minute concerts that start at 7:30 p.m. every Friday between May 29 and June 26 at the intersection of Ellison and Wilson streets (124 W. Ellison St.). Come down early and eat at one of the more than half a dozen Old Town restaurants, then set up your lawn chairs and blankets in the street for the concert. More  

Early voting for Place 3 starts June 1

Early voting for the June 13 runoff election for Place 3 on the Burleson City Council starts Monday, June 1. Early voting hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m., June 1-June 5 and 7 a.m.-7 p.m. June 8-June 9. All voting is at Burleson City Hall, 141 W. Renfro St. The Place 3 race is between DanO Strong and Curtis E. Hawk. Election Day is Saturday, June 13, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. If you have questions please call 817-426-9662. 

Do you know how to report a power outage when the storms break out?

Did you know you can register with Oncor's text Oncor outage reporting tool before a power outage occurs? Text "REG" to 66267 to register your phone number to be able to notify Oncor of your outage and receive updates about restoration. You will need to have your ESI ID (on your electric bill) handy when completing registration. Once you are registered, all you have to do is text OUT to 66267 to report an outage. To view a map of the Oncor service area and the reported outages, go to the Oncor Storm Center.   For our residents who are United Cooperative Services customers, to report an outage, call your local office (Burleson, 817-447-9292) or use the "Report an Outage" form on the UCS website, which can be accessed via smart phone or tablet (eg. iPad). To expedite restoration efforts, have your account number handy. 

It's deadline day for Citizens Police Academy applications

Have you applied? Citizens Police Academy, a free 10-week class, starts in June. Applications are due today, May 29. Why do you want to participate? You'll learn about the Burleson Police Department's organization, recruiting process, the Texas Penal Code, criminal investigations, search and seizure, building searches, traffic law enforcement, narcotics investigation, SWAT, patrol procedures, and more. Instructors demonstrate how to search a building for an intruder, then participants practice what they've learned. Students even solve a mock homicide scenario. They also ride along with an officer or monitor the communications office. The 2015 academy starts June 4 at 6:30 p.m. Applications are available online, and at the Burleson Police Department. The academy is every Thursday, 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m., for 10 weeks. It is open to men and women, 18 or older. Citizens must submit an application packet which consists of the application, a waiver form, and consent for criminal history check. What are you waiting for?

Firefighters are trained to rescue you

Did you know that Burleson firefighters are trained in confined space rescue, hazardous materials, swift water rescue and urban search and rescue? With all of the storms and flooding statewide in the last few weeks, the most talked about certifications are Swift Water Rescue and Urban Search and Rescue. Swift Water Rescue is a technical rescue that involves the use of specially trained personnel, ropes, and mechanical advantage systems that are often much more robust than those used in rope rescue because firefighters are up against the added pressure of working in moving water. The main goal is to use or deflect the water's power to assist in the rescue of the endangered person(s). The Burleson Fire Department has 30 firefighters trained as Swift Water Rescue technicians.Urban Search And Rescue (USAR) involves the location, extrication, and initial medical stabilization of victims trapped in confined spaces. Structural collapse is most often the cause of victims being trapped, but victims may also be trapped in transportation accidents, natural disasters and collapsed trenches. Learn more by going to the Burleson Fire Department's Special Operations page.   

It's all about Super Heroes at library's Summer Reading Club

The Burleson Public Library is gearing up for Summer Reading Club with exciting programs, prizes, and fun for readers of all ages. Returning this year is the popular online registration and reading log, with a new build-your-own superhero game for kids and teens. Readers of all ages will also have weekly challenges that could earn them extra prizes from June 1 to July 31. All you need to do is sign up and log what you've read! This year's theme for children is "Every Hero Has a Story" and many activities will include a superhero theme. More 

Sign up for Vacation Home Checks

Are you making vacation plans? Don't let a burglar ruin them. You can request free Vacation Home Checks from the Burleson Police Department for the time that you are gone. You can fill out a Vacation Home Check online. The police need your name, address, contact information, departure date/destination and return date, your local emergency contact, and vehicle and home security information. The security checks will be limited to no more than 14 consecutive days and not more than 30 days per year. The goal is to have your home checked on an average of once every 24 hours, workload permitting. For more information call 817-426-9903.  

Veterans, share your story through Veterans History Project

Did you know that Operation Remember now has a YouTube channel? The goal of the City's Burleson Veterans History Project, which is part of Operation Remember, is to archive the personal histories of Burleson's veterans and present their stories in a way that encourages every generation to learn more about our veterans' contributions to our country and community. The Operation Remember YouTube channel includes interviews with veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. These veterans are from all branches of the military. The Burleson Veterans History Project is linked to the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. A field kit explaining the project, a registration form, and a copy of the questions that will be asked during an interview is available through the Burleson Public Library. Call Amanda Cadenhead at 817-426-9212 or Heather Huse at 817-426-9202 to schedule an interview or to obtain additional information about the Veterans History Project. Now check out the Operation Remember YouTube channel!  

Ready to learn self-defense?

Are you ready to learn some self-defense? If you said yes, and you are a woman, the BRiCk is offering a Women's Self Defense program starting Monday, June 1. Sign up to obtain some key knowledge on how to protect yourself! The instructor is a 7th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do with more than 30 years experience. She has also owned her own martial arts dojo for more than 22 years. Classes are on Mondays, starting June 1, 7 p.m.-8 p.m. This class is free to members and $15 for non-members for the month. Pre-registration is required at the BRiCk front desk at 550 N.W. Summercrest Blvd. Call 817-426-9104 for more information. 

Pay your City utility bill your way!

We make it easy for everyone to pay their utility bill. You can set up your utility account to draft automatically from your checking account. Stop by Burleson City Hall to fill out a form and submit it with a voided check. You can pay online, pay over the phone, or pay in person either by coming inside city hall or using our drive-through on the east side of the building. To pay over the phone, call 1-855-498-9971. This automated service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You will need your utility account number and the amount you would like to pay. If you want to pay in person, stop by 141 W. Renfro, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For more details, call 817-426-9601. 

Do you want to be a vendor for the Christmas in July Craft Fair?

The Burleson Senior Activity Center is hosting a craft fair on Saturday, July 18, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the center at 216 S.W. Johnson Ave. (next to the post office). This is your chance to shop early for unique handcrafted crafts and gifts for your friends and relatives. If you are a crafter and you're interested in selling your one-of-a-kind handmade items, call the Burleson Senior Activity Center at 817-295-6611. 

Report problem areas to police department's traffic division!

Speeding through neighborhoods, using neighborhood streets as a cut-through to avoid traffic, drivers ignoring stop signs . . . these can all be problems for our residents. If you have a radar/traffic enforcement request, let us know. You'll need to supply the following information: your name/address/contact information; the type of complaint or request; date/time/location/vehicle description; and if you have a picture of the vehicle, attach that to the email as well. Send your concern to the Burleson Police Department's traffic division. Let's keep it safe out there! 

Trash/curbside recycling contractor takes six holidays a year

New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day . . . those are the holidays that the City's contractor for trash/curbside recycling collection observes. The only deviation from that schedule is if the weather makes it too dangerous for the trash trucks to safely make it down residential streets. If you are on the Monday/Thursday route and your trash and curbside recycling are not picked up on Monday, the trash will be picked up on Thursday, and the recycling will be picked up on the following Monday. This year, Independence Day falls on a Saturday so there will be no interruption to the trash/curbside recycling service. The official City holiday is Friday, July 3. The city's Recycle and Compost Center will be open on Friday, but closed on Saturday, July 4. We'll post what's open and what's closed July 3-4 as the date draws closer.  

Junior Fire Academy has doubled!

Do you want to be a firefighter? The deadline to apply for the Burleson Fire Department's four-day Junior Fire Academy is July 1. This year, the Junior Fire Academy is so popular that we've doubled it. The free academy is for students who are entering the fifth grade in the fall of 2015. The first session is Monday-Thursday, July 27-30, 8 a.m.-noon. The second session is Monday-Thursday, Aug. 3-6, 8 a.m.-noon. Each academy is limited to 15. Participants receive their own bunker gear, tour the fire stations, and learn about disaster safety, extrication, fire safety, fire hydrants, fire hoses, and search and rescue. Applications are available at Fire Station #1, 828 S.W. Alsbury Blvd., and online. Contact Firefighter Jon Wheat or Secretary Kristie Menchaca at 817-426-9176 for more information.

Read City agendas and minutes

Are you looking for agendas for City meetings? You can still access them through the Public Notices page on the City of Burleson website, but now you can go straight to the agenda by using the Agendas & Minutes page. You can see current meeting agendas as well as past meeting agendas, minutes, and video (city council and Planning and Zoning Commission meetings are live streamed and archived).