February Farmers Branch News & Elections Info
Dear Neighbors,
I am excited about our upcoming city elections and providing you the following information and updates about things happening in Farmers Branch.
One of the most important things we do each year is elect new members to our City Council. As a reader of my newsletter, you know that I take my responsibility to you and to the city very seriously. It’s imperative that we elect good people who have the highest integrity and will serve us, the residents, and not themselves.
I have made myself accessible to everyone in the city and promised to always respond back to you when you reached out to me. I held town hall meeting to hear from you and listen, not to dictate to you.
I will only endorse individuals who I believe will work the way I have to serve you. Therefore…
I AM SUPPORTING CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 4 CANDIDATE RICHARD JACKSON
I am thrilled to endorse Richard Jackson as he runs to become our next City Council representative for District 4 and I am asking for you to vote to support him also.
As you know, I have had the privilege of serving our city for the last five and a half years. As my term expires in May, I wanted to make absolutely sure that we would have a representative on council who would work for you as I have, one who:
- Believes in serving others first and not themselves
- Is accessible and responsive to all residents of our city
- Will be our voice and will advocate to make sure our precious tax dollars are being used wisely and not wasted
- Will work to make our city better, just as I have done
RICHARD JACKSON is just that person! Richard is a family man, a veteran, and an area resident since 1982. As an executive with one of the largest retirement service providers in the US, Richard designs and implements specialized retirement plans for some of the largest corporations in America.
Richard is a community leader. He mobilized Farmers Branch residents to rid our city of a nuisance AirBnB property being used for illicit and disorderly activities. He continues to combat aggressive panhandlers that have made 635 and Marsh their home. He is passionate about our city and will represent District 4 very well as Councilman.
Look for information about Richard in your mail very soon and when he knocks on your door.
Please join me on May 7th in supporting Richard Jackson for the future of Farmers Branch
STATE & LOCAL ELECTIONS COMING UP
State Elections are right around the corner…
- Early Voting for State Elections begins February 14 and runs thru February 25
- Election Day for State Elections is March 1
February 14-18 Monday – Friday 8AM TO 5PM
February 19 Saturday 7AM TO 7PM
February 20 Sunday 12PM TO 6PM
February 21 Monday NO VOTING
February 22-25 Tuesday-Friday 7AM TO 7PM
FARMERS BRANCH LOCAL ELECTIONS are right around the corner for Council District 1 and Council District 4
- Early Voting for Farmers Branch Elections begins April 25 and runs thru May 3
- Election Day for Farmers Branch Elections is May 7
April 25-29 Monday – Friday 8AM TO 5PM
April 30 Saturday 7AM TO 7PM
May 1 Sunday 12PM TO 6PM
May 2-3 Monday & Tuesday 7AM TO 7PM
Make sure your voice is heard…VOTE!
As a reminder, residents can Vote Anywhere in Dallas County
WORKING AT THE POLLS
Want to make some extra money? Dallas County Elections Department is always looking for individuals to assist at the polling locations assisting voters during the voting process.
Clink on the link: WORKING ELECTIONS
FEBRUARY CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
The City Council meetings for February will take place Tuesday, February 1st and 15th, at 6pm, in the City Council Chambers. The meetings are open to the public. The Study Sessions will take place at 3:00pm prior to each meeting in the upstairs meeting room.
Citizens are always welcome to address the City Council on any topic during the Citizen Comment portion of Council meetings or on agenda items at the proper time during a Council meeting provided they have signed-up in advance per the Mayor’s order. Citizen Comment Forms must be submitted no later than 5:30pm on Council meeting days. Citizens are given 3 minutes to speak to any topic as long as they are cordial and don’t make disparaging remarks to Council or staff. This is your time to bring issues to the attention of Council and the City.
The agenda for the Council Meetings and Study Sessions may be found by clicking on AGENDA.
Call 972.919.2503 or send an email to Amy Piukana at amy.piukana@farmersbranchtx.gov for more information about speaking.
WHAT IS THAT PILE OF DIRT?
I have received a lot of calls regarding the “mountain” of dirt that has appeared at Josey and 635 on the TxDot property.
TxDot is using the property along 635 as a staging area for the I-35 Expansion Project. Similar operations were conducted during the LBJ expansion process. This material will be used for road base for the highway expansion.
If you want more information on this, TxDot has been asked to attend the City Council Study Session on Tuesday afternoon, at 3pm, to provide an update on the project.
GREEN GRABBER BULK PICK-UP, WEEK OF FEBRUARY 7
Just a reminder that the week of February 7th is BULK ITEM collection week for the Green Grabber. Bulk consists of furniture, mattresses, appliances, etc. No tree trimmings.
The second thru fourth week of each month the Green Grabber will only pick-up BRUSH (tree trimmings)
Residents may call for a “special bulk pick-up” by The Green Grabber if necessary. Special Pick-ups are done on Wednesdays. Call 972-919-2597.
If you see brush or bulk items on your street that have not been picked-up or were placed after the Green Grabber has already come by please call the city to have it picked-up. Let’s Keep Farmers Branch Beautiful.
FREE MEAL FOR SENIORS
The First Monday Breakfast for February takes place Monday, February 7th , at 8:15am and will be limited to the first 100 people. Free for TBC members and $5 for non-members.
See all of what is happening by reviewing The Branch Connection NEWSLETTER.
BELLA ROAD CONSTRUCTION BEGINS IN MARCH
At its January 11 meeting, the Addison City Council gave final approval for the Bella Lane Connector project.
This road will extend Bella Lane in Addison through Brookhaven College to Alpha Road in Farmers Branch. It will provide improved access to the Brookhaven College Campus and add a detention pond near the Bella Lane South Extension.
The Addison Council’s vote is the final approval required for the project to begin, scheduled in early March. It may take 12 months to complete. Addison will pay the majority of the cost for street paving, bridge installation, water, storm drainage, landscape, and the detention pond.
The total project budget is $3.68M and is being shared between Farmers Branch ($480,000), the Town of Addison ($1.6 million) and UDR ($1.6 million).
Once completed, Farmers Branch, Addison and Dallas County Community College District will each be responsible for maintenance within their borders.
WHAT TENNANTS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CODE ENFORCEMENT
Are you an apartment tenant with a complaint?
The City of Farmers Branch Code Enforcement Division inspects every apartment complex in the city on an annual basis. Code Enforcement also responds to tenant complaints. Do you have a broken appliance, a leak under the sink, pest control problem or a malfunctioning heating system your landlord has failed to fix? We can help.
In order to file a tenant complaint about an issue inside your apartment, do the following:
1. Notify your landlord or property manager immediately. Document who you spoke to and when.
2. If your problem isn’t resolved in a reasonable amount of time, report your concern to Code Enforcement using the FBTX Connect App or call 972.919.1414. Be sure to leave your phone number and email address if you have one.
3. A Code Enforcement Inspector will contact you to make an appointment to visit your apartment. The inspector may invite the landlord/property manager to the inspection too.
4. If a code violation is verified, the inspector will give the landlord a reasonable amount of time to fix the problem. If the problem isn’t fixed in accordance with the law, Code Enforcement will take further action as necessary.
Code Enforcement cares about the safety of every resident and that includes apartment tenants. If you have a problem with your rental unit, report it to Code Enforcement if your landlord is non-responsive.
*Tenants must report complaints to their landlord / property manager before Code Enforcement will perform an inspection.
**Code Enforcement cannot enforce lease agreements or provide legal advice.
The City’s Finance Department upgrade to the online utility billing feature on the City’s website is almost complete. This upgrade is expected to be complete in February of 2022 and will provide an easier and more secure way to pay your utility bill online.
Beginning February 1, customers will be able to access the new system and will need to set up a new account to make online single payments or auto payments.
Detailed instruction on accessing and setting up your new utility bill pay account will be available on the City’s website. Customers can access more detailed information at www.farmersbranchtx.gov/utilitybill If you have specific questions or concerns regarding your water bill, please call customer service at 972.919.2525.
DO YOU HAVE A CRACKED OR CRUMBLING SIDEWALK?
Cracked, crumbling and eroded public sidewalks are a problem. They are unsightly, hazardous and can lead to bigger problems in our neighborhoods.
That’s why our City’s Street Maintenance Division helps repair them, under certain conditions.
The problems can include cracks, scaling (scaled or chipped concrete), section depressions, buckled concrete and drainage. They all deserve attention, but some are more urgent than others.
When sidewalk issues are reported, the area is inspected to determine if it meets one or more of the following criteria:
1) Deviates from the adjoining section by one and one-half (1-1/2) inches or more
2) Severe scaling with at least one (1) inch depressions
3) Severe drainage problem determined to be a health or safety issue
NOTE: The sidewalk must be a PUBLIC property that is maintained by the City. Private walkways or sidewalks owned by HOAs do not qualify.
Cosmetic problems are generally not repaired by the City unless they meet one of the above criteria. Click HERE to read the full policy. Call our Public Works Department at 972.919.2597 to request a repair.
February 5, 6 – 8 pm, Farmers Branch Rec Center, Residents $12 / Non-residents $16
Come enjoy a night among the stars. The Rec Center staff is excited to welcome dads and daughters for an unforgettable night of activities including music and dancing, refreshments, a keepsake photo, and more. All ages welcome. Purchase tickets in person or over the phone. A limited quantity is available. No ticket sales at the door. A charm bracelet and a charm will be given to all daughters attending. Each year they attend, a new charm will be given.
Make your evening even more special by upgrading to the Extravagant VIP Package. The Extravagant VIP Package includes admission for two, a reserved table, special dessert tray, take-home centerpiece, and priority-pass for a keepsake photo. Space is limited. For more information or to buy tickets, call the Farmers Branch Community Recreation Center at 972.247.4607
SENIOR HOME REPAIR PROGRAM OFFERED THRU METROCREST SERVICES
Do you know a senior or disabled resident who needs some home repair? We can help.
The City of Farmers Branch City Council recently created the Home Rehabilitation Program to help our seniors and disabled residents. It’s funded with $50,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act passed by Congress. The goal is to help Farmers Branch seniors and disabled residents remain safe and independent in their homes by providing home repairs and accessibility assistance. Eligible projects include failed plumbing fixtures, clogged or broken sewer lines, damaged electrical switches and outlets, leaking roofs or broken air conditioning or heating units or code violations.
The program allocates funds up to five thousand dollars ($5,000) for any eligible homeowner. Projects will be approved until funding is depleted.
An applicant must be a resident of the City of Farmers Branch who owns a residence in Farmers Branch and is either above the age of sixty-five (65+) or who is disabled in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and based on income level.
To apply for this program, schedule an appointment with the Metrocrest Services Senior Case Manager at 972-446-2100.
Click HERE for more information.
As you can see, there’s lots happening in our city… Click on the following links to see what else is going on:
Farmers Branch Historical Park
Farmers Branch Chamber of Commerce
Please let me hear from you regarding any questions, comments or concerns you have about our great city. Thank you again for allowing me to represent you.
Terry