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DATELINE DOUBLE OAK -
One of the issues on which I ran last year for Mayor was to encourage more of us involved. Not only is that Double Oak's history, it's the American way and our best shot at a future that suits us. This last year we have had numbers of neighbors involved in all sorts of issues and in many different capacities and I am extremely pleased we have six neighbors who have filed to run for the three (3) Town Council seats that will be up for election in May of this year.
While John Dondrea is running to keep his seat on Council, both David Mize and Lissa McCarthy will be relinquishing their elected roles. They have served us well in many different capacities over these last few years and I trust they will continue serve even in volunteer capacities. Lissa, our Town Treasurer, will continue in that role, with Jerry Lamel as Deputy Treasurer. Together, we can count on their continued stewardship with financial and budgetary excellence we have seen over the last several years.
Stay tuned for the campaign signs and activities you'll see in the next couple of months as they will be your choices to join Council members Mike Donnelly and Jerry Lamel and to help steer Double Oak through the next two years.
Town Council members Dondrea and Donnelly hosted a town-wide information meeting Saturday morning March 8th about the cellular antenna tower Verizon would like to construct behind Town Hall. Verizon folks reiterated their interest in erecting an 80' pole (no outside antennas or dishes on the pole itself.) Verizon is offering to pay the Town a monthly or annual payment, in exchange for the footprint behind Town Hall on which the pole would stand.
Verizon engineers believe the spot behind Town Hall is where they need additional coverage for better reception in the general area, although they may be as interested in placing it on the other side of the fence,
on the Downing Middle School property, if Double Oak Council rejects it. We have heard it will be an eyesore, not in keeping with Double Oak's rural-ish look and feel, could affect property values and may be a health hazard. On the other hand, neighbors say it will bring money into Double Oak, is simply a sign of the times like adding the middle school, enlarging the fire station or watching gas wells and pipelines proliferate. Town Council is scheduled to deliberate the Verizon cell tower issue at its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, April 7th, 7:00 pm, Town Hall. Please join us to give us your thoughts.
Town Hall and the Town Square were alive with kids and their families Saturday morning, the 15th of March, thanks to the ladies of the Double Oak Women's Club and its Community Service Committee. Hundreds of
brightly colored, candy-filled Easter eggs were pounced upon by the children in the beautiful spring morning.minutes. Before and after the sugar high, the Women's Club also prepared a full pancake breakfast,
serving pancakes by the dozens. Sausage, pancakes and syrup, milk, good strong coffee and Easter candy: brilliant! The ladies raised several hundred dollars for the benefit of the Double Oak Police Association. Thank you all.
The Women's Club also celebrated its annual Casino Night, earlier this month. Their traditional get together of good fun, good food, great spirit and high stakes, which benefits the Double Oak Volunteer Fire Department and college scholarships was lots of fun for great causes. What a fun evening to see friends and neighbors and help a good cause or two. As always, thanks go to the women and their families who worked hard so we could all have a great time and benefit others. Double Oak's social calendar rocks!
You will notice a couple of housing 'starts' in Camryn Downs and West Oaks. The former subdivision has been'released,' by Town Council because its entire infrastructure is complete. In the West Oaks, while infrastructure continues to be in-process, enough has been completed for Town Council to have given the green light to two houses being built. Of course, no certificates of occupancy will be issued until the entire subdivision is completed, but you will begin seeing framing.
Our Town Engineer, Dale Hoelting, compiled a Town Drainage Plan last year, to begin to address some of the watershed and water flow areas in town that do not have drainage easements, ditches and channels 'down
stream.' Town Council has asked Dale to hold meetings with the different neighbors within these drainage areas over the next few months, to get their input directly, so stay tuned. (Copies of the Drainage Plan are available at Town Hall, should you want to review one.)
Last month's Denton County Precinct 4 Transportation Committee Meeting addressed the progress and status of road work on all of our nearby County roads and there is a lot going on! Unfortunately for our neighbors in Carruth Estates, FM 407 is being widened in their midst, exacerbating some of their already challenging drainage issues. Because of the good relationships forged through our former Precinct 4 County Commissioner Jim Carter, current County Commissioner Andy Eads, TXDOT executives, Carruth Estates resident and Council member Mike Donnelly, concerned and vocal neighbors and others, we are working through some of the oversights and difficulties of major road "improvements," ensuring the safety and neighborhood security we
expect in the midst of "progress!"
Expect to see Council take the Verizon cell tower into consideration at its first meeting in April, on the 7th. We would appreciate your attendance and input, so join us. We are also asking that any voting Double Oak resident interested in receiving informational e-mails about Town issues submit an e-mail request to the Town Secretary, at town_secretary@double-oak.com. Your e-mail address will be kept confidential by the Town Secretary and used exclusively to notify you of important town issues.
My best wishes to you and to your family for a very Happy Easter.
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