On the Horizon - July 2024

Before After

On the Horizon NEWSLETTER

City Bid Opportunities

Interested in doing business with the City of Carrollton? Register as an interested vendor to receive email notifications when new bids are advertised. The City regularly seeks bids for supplies, equipment, professional services, and other services such as janitorial, construction, landscaping, irrigation, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and more. cityofcarrollton.com/bids carrolltonbids.ionwave.net

Apply to Serve

The City’s boards, commissions, and committees are comprised of citizens who volunteer their time, knowledge, and expertise to make a difference in Carrollton. By lending a more diverse viewpoint for City Council to consider, their actions help shape public policy. Interested in serving? Stop by City Hall (1945 E. Jackson Road) Wednesday, August 28 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. for an opportunity to meet with staff liaisons and other board members to learn more about each service opportunity. Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday, September 6. cityofcarrollton.com/boards

City Home Improvement Grants

Financial support is available for eligible homeowners.

If your home could benefit from some rehab or replacements, the City offers several neighborhood incentives that can assist low to moderate-income homeowners with eligible home repairs to improve safety and health issues. These include:

Emergency Repair Grant*

• Up to $5,000 available to make the house safe, sanitary, or habitable

• Eligible projects: replacement of A/C or heating units, plumbing issues, and interior emergency repairs (roof leaks that caused water damage)

Minor Home Repair Program (MHRP)*

• Up to $10,000 available to make exterior home repairs

• Eligible repairs: general minor repair projects (siding, fascia, exterior trim), exterior house painting, roofing repair or replacement, accessibility modifications, and interior emergency repair (plumbing and electrical)

People Helping People

• Up to $5,000 available to make minor exterior home repairs

• All work done by community volunteers

• Eligible repairs: repainting a house, minor siding repair, minor exterior work, and code violation repairs (exterior work only)

Ineligible projects for the grants above include tree removal, cosmetic repairs, structural repairs (e.g., foundation), fence repairs, and walkway repairs.

Properties located within a Neighborhood Empowerment Zone (NEZ) are eligible for specific incentives and programs, as well as other grants through the City’s IMPACT (IMProvement in ACTion) initiative, such as:

Single Family Rehabilitation Incentive: Receive up to 25% in reimbursements with a maximum incentive of $20,000 for exterior projects such as windows, driveways, fences, and more on homes that are at least five years old.

Single Family Demolition/Rebuild Incentive: Monetary incentives available to demolish an existing single-family home within 12 months of grant approval – up to 100% of the cost of demolition – and rebuild a new home on the same lot within 24 months. The incentive also includes a 10-year City property tax rebate dependent on the value of the new construction.

NEZ Minor Home Repair Program: Receive up to $7,500 for essential repairs needed to bring the home into City code compliance. Eligible repairs can be completed on the home exterior or on the property itself.

For all programs, applications must be received and approved before the work begins to be eligible. For more information and to determine if the property is eligible, visit the website below.

*Funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program.

Audiobook Player Built for Listening

Carrollton Public Library cardholders can carry their favorite audiobook in their pocket thanks to a Playaway® device. Each device comes pre-loaded with an audiobook from a wide selection of adult and children’s books, making it ideal for home, car rides, or on-the-go listening. Simply plug in and enjoy for free anytime, anywhere. No CDs. No downloading. No internet. Just Press Play!

cityofcarrollton.com/library

Back-to-School Resources

The Carrollton Public Library offers the following free resources to help make the school year easier for everyone:

• Mobile hotspots (one-week checkout)

• Online test prep and homework help resources

• Self-paced LearningExpress Library courses

• 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten

• Ask-a-Librarian assistance for computer instructions, research questions, and more

Visit the link below for more information and upcoming events.

cityofcarrollton.com/library

Leak Adjustment Reminder

Carrollton Utility Customer Service reminds residents of the City’s leak adjustment program. A resident may qualify for a reduced water bill for main plumbing leaks, excluding irrigation and pools. Leaks that have occurred during January, February, and March can have an impact on the annual sewer rate by inflating the winter quarter average. Even leaks on non-main plumbing lines, like irrigation systems and pools that do not qualify for a credit, may still qualify for a reduction in the annual sewer rate.

cityofcarrollton.com/UCS

Avoid Recycling Contamination

Non-recyclable materials entering the recycling stream (such as liquids or plastic bags) contaminate recyclable materials.

Recycling is an important habit to develop for the environment; however, many individuals throw everything away because they are unsure of what goes in the recycling cart. Follow these tips to keep recyclables out of the landfill.

1. Know What to Throw

Tips: no glass broken into small pieces, Pyrex, or heat-resistant glass

Tips: remove soapy residue from detergent containers; no plastic bags, bubble wrap, packing peanuts, plastic wrappers from food or packaging, or foam packaging

Tips: no metal smaller than a credit card, aluminum foil soiled with food, loose soda tabs, bottle caps, razor blades, needles, or sharps

Tips: remove all staples/paper clips and the plastic windows from envelopes; no pieces smaller than a credit card, tissue/sparkly wrapping paper, napkins, or paper towels

Tips: remove packaging tape, bags/liners, and shipping labels; no used paper plates, to-go cups, or wet/soiled materials

2. Empty. Clean. Dry.™

Keep all recyclables free of food and liquid. One dirty item can contaminate an entire truckload, so make sure recyclables are empty, clean, and dry.

3. Don’t Bag It

Never bag or bundle recyclables. Place items loosely in the container.

* Keep lids on bottles or toss them in the trash; they’re too small to recycle by themselves.

cityofcarrollton.com/recycling

Volunteer for Carrollton’s CARE Team

Train as a CARE Team member and help reduce the time it takes to deliver lifesaving support to a cardiac arrest patient.

Every year in the City of Carrollton, more than 100 lives, on average, are lost to cardiac arrest. Some of these victims may have been friends or family and might have even been less than one mile away from someone who could have helped while awaiting emergency services.

Carrollton is the first city in the State of Texas to adopt a groundbreaking initiative that aims to put AEDs in the hands of CPRtrained citizen volunteers to reduce the time it takes to deliver lifesaving care to a patient in cardiac arrest. It’s called the 4 Minute City™ Program, and help is needed. The City is actively recruiting volunteers from the community to join the Cardiac Arrest Rapid Engagement (CARE) Team.

As a CARE Team member, individuals will:

• Learn CPR

• Be issued an Avive Connect AED

• Attend quarterly resuscitation skills training with Carrollton Fire Rescue and fellow CARE Team members

• Be a part of a team in the community aimed at saving more lives from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

To be eligible to join the CARE Team, each team member must:

• Live in the City of Carrollton

• Be at least 18 years of age

• Be willing to attend initial and ongoing training

• Pass a criminal background check

Ready to join a movement in the City of Carrollton that will help save lives? To learn more about the 4 Minute City™ Program and apply for the CARE Team, visit the website or use the contact information below.

469-986-8677

4mc@cityofcarrollton.com avive.life/carrolltontx

Interested in a Career in Law Enforcement?

Take the Carrollton Police Department’s Civil Service Entrance Exam on Saturday, September 7. The starting salary is $75,000 per year, increasing to an eight-year top out of $105,953. To be eligible to apply, applicants must be at least 21 years old and have completed at least 60 college credit hours.

Not 21 years of age? Apply for the Detention Officer position and gain valuable law enforcement experience. Three years’ experience as a Detention Officer eliminates the college requirement for applying to be a Police Officer. The minimum age to apply is 18.

A Lateral Entry Program is also available for certified applicants who have completed all initial training and have at least one year of continuous service as a paid, full-time Police Officer, including out-of-state agencies (pending approval).

joincarrolltonPD.com

File of Life Packet

Prior medical conditions? Allergies? Medications? Unfortunately, many medical emergency calls are treated without knowledge of the patient’s medical history. The File of Life puts these answers in the hands of first responders when a person is unconscious or unable to talk, allowing them to treat the patient safely and quickly. In turn, that information can be passed on to awaiting physicians at the emergency room.

Pick up a free packet at the Carrollton Fire Administration Office (1111 W. Belt Line Road, #100), fill it out detailing any medical history and medications, and place it on the refrigerator using the magnetic holder provided. Remember to keep all information updated regularly.

972-466-3070

Pick Up a Free Leisure Connections Magazine

Discover City-sponsored events, Library programs, and the many classes and activities at Carrollton’s recreational facilities.

Carrollton’s Leisure Connections

magazine is a residents’ guide to free and inexpensive community events, activities, and programs provided by the City.

Activities for the Over 50 Crowd: The Carrollton Senior Center offers a variety of programs for active adults, such as seminars, fitness classes, educational programs, social engagement opportunities, games, as well as creative arts and fun group outings.

Adaptive Recreation: Carrollton offers activities and programs to those with special needs of all ages as well as a fully accessible, synthetic turf baseball field.

The Arts & Fitness: Cultural arts & dance classes, dance fitness, indoor cycling, Pilates/ yoga, and core fitness are available.

Community Events: Find upcoming events, including free concerts, festivals, live entertainment, movies, holiday experiences, and more in every issue, including the City’s signature Festival at the Switchyard.

Education: CPR/AED classes, computing and coding programs, and a range of outdoor offerings are available year-round.

Golf, Esports, Martial Arts, & Tennis: Indian Creek Golf Club, the Esports Center, Oak Creek Tennis Center, and a myriad of adult and youth leagues, martial arts, sports camps and classes are all listed.

Library Story Times & Activities:

Carrollton’s two Public Library locations offer story times for ages birth to 5+, reading programs for all ages, job skills programs and resources, computer classes, and special events throughout the year for free.

From learning a new hobby to getting active, there’s something for everyone. Pick up a free copy at a City facility or visit the link below.

cityofcarrollton.com/leisuremag

Protect from Scammers

Oncor collaborates with utilities across the country to help raise awareness about common impostor utility scams.

Some customers in Oncor’s service territory have been approached or contacted by impostors who are trying to scam customers. These thieves falsely represent themselves as Oncor employees to collect money or credit card information and may imply that the customer’s electric service will be disconnected if they do not pay.

While Oncor delivers electricity to more than 13 million Texans, it is not a retailer and does not sell the electricity directly to customers. No Oncor employee will ever stop by a home to collect a payment, nor will they ask via phone, text, in person, or online for credit card information.

Red Flags: What to Look for

• Threat to disconnect

• Request immediate payment

• Request for prepaid debit card information

• Request for payment via cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin

Ways to Protect Yourself

• Do not give out credit card information or purchase prepaid cards. Oncor will never ask to collect money to avoid service disconnection or shutoff. Delete the email or text, hang up the phone, or shut the door.

• Do not let a stranger come into the home. Oncor representatives do not need to enter the home, especially to perform work.

• Always ask and verify identification. Oncor employees and authorized contractors performing work for Oncor will always wear company uniforms, carry company identification, and drive company vehicles.

• Verify online information and make sure to visit Oncor’s official websites.

Call Oncor to confirm an employee’s identity, but if there is a safety risk, call 911 immediately

888-313-6862

bit.ly/OncorScamAwareness

Upcoming Events

Neighborhood Networking Workshop: Active Shooter Workshop, Aug. 14, 6-8 p.m., Municipal Court, Community Courts Room – Get an in-depth look at the characteristics of an active shooter and how bystanders can play a crucial role in alleviating the impact.

CPR/AED Training, Sept. 5, 6-7:30 p.m., Carrollton Fire Administration – Learn compressions-only adult CPR, AED use, how to respond to choking incidents, and child & infant CPR.

Pooch Pool Party, Sept. 7, 10-3 p.m., Rosemeade Rainforest – Bring your dog to splash around and play with their four-legged friends. Dog admission is $7 but free for humans. There will be on-site rabies vaccinations from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., dog-friendly vendors, and free City pet registrations from Carrollton Animal Services & Adoption Center.

Neighborhood Networking Workshop: Crime Prevention Workshop, Sept. 25, 6-8 p.m., Municipal Court, Community Courts Room – Learn crime prevention methods, including resources and tools for reporting incidents, crime prevention strategies, safety precautions, and community engagement tips.

Carrollton Culture Fest (formerly World of Foodies), Sept. 28, 3-9 p.m., Downtown Carrollton – Experience a world of diverse cultures all in one place with live performances from talented artists celebrating rich traditions from across the globe. Delicious food and unique crafts, artwork, and cultural artifacts will be available for purchase.

• Aug. 24: Library Puzzle Exchange

• Oct. 2: Metrocrest Job Fair (preregister or walkups welcome)

• Oct. 2: Special Needs Fall Bash (for all ages and abilities)

For more information and a complete list of upcoming events and programs, visit the link below.

cityofcarrollton.com/events