VOL. 1 | NO. 11
PROSPERTIMES Friday July 14, 2017 | Prosper, Texas
Collin County Sheriff pursuing con artists
Collin County Sheriff Jim Skinner is warning citizens throughout Collin County and the DFW Metroplex to be on the alert for a dangerous scam being perpetrated by individuals posing as Collin County Deputy Sheriffs. Individuals posing as Deputy Sheriffs are calling citizens and advising them there has been a warrant issued for their arrest for failing to answer a jury summons. The citizen is directed to remain on the telephone and bring cash to the Sheriff's Office in McKinney where they are to meet the "deputy" in the parking lot in order to pay a fine. These criminals attempt to keep their victims on the phone in order to keep their victim from calling the real authorities while they are on the way to bring money. Sheriff Skinner wants the public to know that NONE of their deputies, or ANY other law enforcement official, would EVER contact anyone and request they bring money to pay a fine. THIS IS A SCAM!! Law enforcement does NOT take money, in any form, from citizens for any purpose!! If you, or anyone you know, is contacted in this manner, please report this immediately to your local law enforcement authorities or the Collin County Sheriff's Office at 972-547-5100. The Collin County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating this scam and will pursue these fraudsters until they are captured. In the meantime, THEY NEED YOUR HELP to spread the word about this scam to everyone you know and to report any communications you receive to law enforcement as soon as possible. Working together, we will put these crooks behind bars where they belong. Sheriff Skinner has a message for these con artists: "It is only a matter of time...we have a fresh towel waiting in booking for your mug shot."
Cornerstone helps families get ready to go back to school Cornerstone Assistance Network NCT kicks off the 20172018 school year by making sure local kids have all they need to begin a successful academic year. This year Cornerstone NCT will assist 250 kids by providing a new backpack, needed school supplies for the child’s specific grade and school, spirit wear and a new pair of shoes. There are still about 50 kids that need to be sponsored and the deadline is quickly approaching. You can sign up on our sign up genius at http://www.signupgenius.com/ go/10c0e45a5ac2aa4fe3-back3 or contact Courtney Chamblee at courtney@cornerstonenct.org. To make a monetary donation, go to Cornerstone NCT by visiting the website at www.cornerstonenct. org and choose the contribute tab or drop off your donation at Lighthouse Christian Fellowship. Additionally, neighbor families get to “shop” from donated clothing items for back to school clothing on July 25th and 26th. If you would like to help, sign up http://www.signupgenius.com/ go/10c0e45a5ac2aa4fe3-back4 for a shift. Cornerstone would like to thank to all their volunteers and donors for making this event happen! Be a part of helping this organization get these kids off to a great start this school year!
Joyce Godwin Joyce@CedarbrookMedia.Com
The law is loosely referred to as the no texting law but, actually, HB 62 is about distracted driving and trying to change behavior of individuals behind the wheel. Distracted drivers caused more than 100,000 crashes statewide in 2015 resulting in 422 fatalities, the Texas Department of Transportation
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reported. Sponsored by Representative Tom Craddock, the Distracted Driving bill was signed into law June 6 by Governor Greg Abbott and goes into effect September 1. Fines will be $25 to $200. The Texas distracted driving prohibitions: Drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using wireless communications devices; Learners permit holders
Roadwork rules at Town Council meeting Lisa Ferguson Special to The Prosper Times Road construction projects and improvement issues dominated discussions at the Prosper Town Council meeting Tuesday night. The trio of items on the consent agenda were quickly passed by councilmembers. With no members of the public wishing to speak, they moved forward to tackle the regularagenda and public-hearing portions of the meeting. The latter included a request for a
variance to a section of the Town’s sign ordinance for the Tribute Senior Living facility under construction near Preston Road and First Street, which was tabled until the July 25 meeting. A request was heard to rezone a portion of the Rogers Middle School property, at Richland Boulevard and Coit Road, to allow for the addition of five temporary portableclassroom buildings on the site. The buildings were recently placed at the school adjacent to five other temporary buildings that were
moved there during the last school year. The request, which was recommended for approval by Planning and Zoning, was made to allow for reductions along Richland of both the town’s required 30-foot building and 25-foot landscaping setbacks to 10 feet to accommodate the additional buildings. Several councilmembers raised concerns about future traffic and pedestrian-safety issues that could arise as a result of the request. The council was advised by Hulon Webb,
are prohibited from using handheld cell phones in the first six months of driving; School bus operators are prohibited from using cell phones while driving if children are present; Drivers are prohibited from using handheld devices in school crossing zones; Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Amarillo, Galveston, El Paso, Corpus Christi, Missouri City, the Canyon, San Angelo, Snyder, Hurst, Lakeway, Stephenville and Wichita Falls are among the more than 60 Texas cities that have enacted local distracted driving laws. Little Elm adopted a hands-free law in early January. Prohibited activities while driving in the Dallas-Fort Worth-area city include using a handheld device to talk, text and take photos. Fines begin at $100 and go up to $500. A warning period ran through the end of February. See No Texting, page 3
Executive Director of Development and Community Services, that a temporary concrete sidewalk will be constructed adjacent to the buildings on Richland. “I think given some of the concerns that were raised at previous council meetings about other incidents related to traffic safety (and) pedestrian activity, I’m not surprised that they took the time to examine it and discuss it during this meeting”, said Senior Planner Alex Glushko. Councilmembers approved the Rogers rezoning request, which should allow the town to inspect and See Council, page 2
Book Trail is a new feature for Prosper Parks
A bench helps to create a peaceful scene on part of the book trail around Eagles Landing Park.
Joyce Godwin Joyce@CedarbrookMedia.Com For anyone who hasn’t been on a book trail, a treat awaits at the park behind Judy Rucker Elementary School, 402 South Craig Street — Eagles Landing Park. It’s a collaboration between the Prosper Community Library, Prosper Public Works, Prosper Parks and Recreation and Texas A&M AgriLife to bring literature outdoors to those utilizing the park, ball fields and walking trail.
“The mission of the collaboration is to promote literacy, fitness and family engagement together in a nature setting,” Library Director Leslie Scott said. Twenty-three permanent four-foot podium posts with large colorful platforms are equally placed along a 0.7mile walking trail that surrounds recreation fields. The platforms allow for children’s picture book pages to be encased in plexi-glass so stories may be read aloud as families or children walk the trail. Each two-page spread is laminated
Joyce Godwin/PROSPER TIMES
to preserve the illustration colors and the integrity of the book.” Scott said she changes out the books every three weeks to encourage returning to the trail and to offer diverse literature. Scott said she saw similar book posts being offered in other communities, but wanted something more permanent. She met with Public Works Director, Frank Jaromin, to determine the feasibility of the project and the two determined the goal was not only attainable, but there was room for improvement.
The project met a goal of taking the library’s literature collection outside of the brick and mortar typical way of exposure to literature. The books provide enjoyment for the entire family; however, they primarily target early literacy and include themes of animals, nature, and healthy living. Literacy begins in the first three years of life, and this non-traditional way of reading also creates a positive connection with literature. The entire community, including students and families who visit the See Book Trail, page 3
Gates of Prosper construction beginning to take shape Joyce Godwin Joyce@CedarbrookMedia.com
Renee Marler/PROSPER TIMES
Construction crews put the finishing touches on Dick's Sporting Goods and Field & Stream, which are full of merchandise, in preparation for their targeted August opening.
Scheduled for completion September 1, the Gates of Prosper is beginning to show glimpses of the finished product. Anyone driving close to the intersection at Preston Road and U.S. Highway 380 can get a view of the ever-changing landscape from the rising store walls to the planting of hundreds of trees as construction continues. The finished property should contain 550,000 square feet of space which will include a location for a substation for the Prosper Police Department. This will allow police to be on site to monitor the large retail property and its surrounding areas. As with most construction projects, the end date can change regularly. Mayor Ray Smith says that is the case with the Gates of Prosper and he thinks a more realistic completion date may be closer to October 1. The goal is to be open before the shopping season for the holidays. Pending a few outstanding leases, they hope to have it filled by the end of the year says Smith of the developer Blue Star Land and Lincoln Property. Joe Hickman, See Gates of Prosper, page 3
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Friday July 14, 2017
PT C o m m u n ity C a l e n da r Friday, July 14th
Kroger Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting: You’re invited to the Grand Opening of the newest Kroger Marketplace in Prosper from 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. The new location is at 4650 W. University Drive. Fun Fridays at Frontier: 10:00 a.m. at the pavilion at Frontier Park. A partnership between the Community Library and the Parks & Recreation Department, Fun Fridays at Frontier is an informal, casual morning featuring a different art, craft or exercise each week. Registration not required, but children must be accompanied by a parent during all activities.
Monday, July 17th
Prosper Planning & Zoning Commission: Meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month in the Municipal Chambers, 108 W. Broadway at 6:00 p.m. Prosper ISD Board Meeting: The Board of Trustees meet on the 3rd Monday of every month at 7:00 p.m. The meetings take place at the Central Administration Board Room located at 605 E. 7th Street. Prosper Ladies Tennis Club: Plays Monday nights for all 2.5 and higher players. Contact Michele Williams for more information at m19williams@gmail.com or 469-583-1051. Residential Bulk Trash Pickup: From Preston Road to Coit Road. Call 469-452-8000 or email Prosper@ WasteConnections.com by 4:00 p.m. Friday, July 14th to be placed on the schedule.
Tuesday, July 18th
Prosper 5-0 Club: Games and dominoes every Tuesday,
9:30am to 11:30am, in the basement of First Presbyterian Church, 300 S. Coleman. ALL ARE INVITED!
Wednesday, July 19th
Prosper Economic Development Corporation: The PEDC Board regularly meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. The Prosper Economic Development Office is located at 170 N. Preston Road, Suite 50. All meetings are open to the public.
Thursday, July 20th
Prosper Community Library: Board meetings are on the third Thursday of each month at 6:15 p.m. at the Prosper Community Library, located at Reynolds Middle School, 700 N. Coleman Road. Prosper Chamber Ladies in Leadership: Ladies in Leadership is a division of the Prosper Chamber of Commerce. Join in to help connect with fellow ladies in the community. This month’s meeting is sponsored by The Body Shop and will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. The Prosper Rotary Club: The Club meets Thursday afternoons from 12 - 1 p.m. at the Prosper Independent School District Administration Building (605 E. Seventh St., Prosper, TX 75078). Everyone is welcome. Lunch is $10. Please RSVP by emailing Melody Lehmann (melsmailbox73@gmail.com) if you plan on attending.
Cornerstone Assistance Network of North Central Texas is a faith based non-profit that unites with others the
—Revelation 21:5
Kenny Thacker Special to the Prosper Times
My wife made her annual pilgrimage to the garden center this week. It’s the time of year for splashes of color to appear around our home. The garage gets cleaned, the windows get washed and everything gets a fresh coat of paint. It’s time for new life, and all the
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later this month by signs at Custer Road. Construction likely will start next spring on a traffic signal at Prosper Trail and Custer, which should be operational by Fall 2018. Final plans are expected soon for the expansion of Prosper Trail to four lanes from west of Preston Road to Coit, where the intersection will be built out with permanent traffic signals likely by next spring. In September of 2020, Bulla said, construction bids will be accepted for a project to widen and realign Custer. The first four lanes of the six-lane thoroughfare will curve east to connect more smoothly with the existing road north of Frontier Parkway. Although the ultimate widening
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smells and blooms and blossoms are annual reminders of fresh starts and new leases on life. And all of us welcome those. As a culture, we are currently preoccupied with re-inventing and re-creating ourselves in every imaginable way. We all seem to be desirous of some sort of do-over. Perhaps the reason that makeovers are so “en vogue” is that hardly anyone in our society is satisfied with themselves. This dissatisfaction is a result of a spiritual hunger that isn’t being fed. It comes from knowing deep down that something is wrong that we can’t make right; that something is broken that we can’t fix. The best we can do is a new coat of paint, or a new job, or a new partner. We hope that a fresh start will change our lives for the better. Barabbas was supposed to have been the man on the middle of the three crosses that stood on the hill overlooking the city that day. Instead, all the charges against him were dropped and he walked away scot free, as
of Frontier Parkway from Preston Road to Custer to include four of its six lanes is not scheduled until 2024, look for some work – including culvert extensions and the construction of shoulders alongside the road – to begin there early next year, with a temporary traffic signal becoming operational possibly by next spring. Also impacting Frontier Parkway, between the Dallas North Tollway and Preston Road, an agreement formalizing the partnership between Prosper, Celina and Collin County should be completed this fall for a much-anticipated overpass above the Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail crossing. Design plans for the project
Jesus took the place reserved for Barabbas. Talk about a chance for a do-over! But the odds of Barabbas ending up back in prison were astronomically high, because all he got was another chance, he didn’t get another heart. The gospel isn’t about getting a new chance, it’s about getting a new heart. Defining salvation as a “divine do-over” is an incomplete view of what Jesus accomplished on the cross and in the resurrection. Like Barabbas, Jesus took our place and we have been set free. Unlike Barabbas, we have been “made new” with hearts that seek to love and obey. Jesus didn’t only give His life for us, He gives His life to us. As we believe and trust, He empowers us to live in the power of Easter every day. Don’t settle for a new chance when you can have a new life! Be blessed, Kenny Thacker
should get underway in January and may take nearly a year to complete, followed by another year obtaining right of way easements and making necessary relocations. Although construction of the bridge may not start until early 2020, Bulla said the Prosper Town Council “is going to do whatever it can to push other (municipal and government) leaders to hopefully improve the momentum” of the project. Farther west, it may take about a year to complete a pair of bridges over Doe Branch Creek that will ultimately connect Fishtrap Road to FM 1385. Construction bids for that project may start being accepted in September.
Finally, demolition work on Main Street, from Town Hall to First Street, could commence late this month. Utility and drainage work would begin soon after, followed by street paving in late September or early October. Bulla said the city aims to complete the work on Main Street prior to starting construction on Broadway Street to hopefully avoid a parking shortage in the area. The plan is to have the streets completed by the time Town Hall opens next spring. Following the executive session, the Town Council meeting was adjourned.
then immediately glossed through those pages. And once again, I found myself wondering why we do it. It’s probably a whole branch of psychological analysis too intense for me to research and write about. As I watched others scan ahead, I made myself not partake in the behavior. I have challenged myself to this will against the scanning ahead. I also observed people looking at books in this same way. Many look at the cover and read the inside cover synopsis, but surprisingly most adults only seem to gloss the pages quickly for font size. Children and teens on the other hand look much closer at the inside pages of books. Teens read the inside synopsis much like adults do, but they thumb slower through the pages perhaps for size font or some mysterious force that will speak to them that this is the book for them. Children are my favorite to watch scan a book, because it’s complete and obvious judgment. Children begin a gloss and are frequently drawn right into it. They see a word or picture
that catches their eye and they either stand right in their spot and begin to read or they sit down right where they are and begin to read. The smallest of readers are captured by a visual element and they too are lost to the world around them. They are just as likely to, not only sit down with the book, but also lay down and become lost in the pages. This all happens while simply scanning ahead. It’s a beautiful thing to observe. One moment the judging is taking place and then next they are transported to a magical place and their faces show every emotion of the journey. Just for fun, the next time you pick something up of substance like a magazine, a book, documents, or even the paper, stop and see if you too are scanning ahead. If so, I hope you ask yourself why you just did it. And if you are lucky enough to have a child in your life, watch their scanning ahead behavior. I promise you it’s the most rewarding people watching you’ll do.
PT I n O t h e r W o rds
A Cedarbrook Media Publication
Sports Reporter Renee Marler 214.592.7512 Renee@CedarbrookMedia.com
Candidates can visit dickssportinggoods.jobs to apply and learn more about joining the DICK’S Sporting Goods and Field & Stream team.
demonstrate Christ’s compassion by serving our neighbors in need. With the help of volunteers, they conduct intakes twice a month where they meet with new and current neighbors to hear their stories, help where they can, and give guidance where
“Behold, I am making all things new.”
From page one issue occupancy certificates for the buildings and construct the sidewalk in time for the start of the new school year on August 14. Michael Bulla, Prosper’s Capital Improvements Project Manager, presented an update on several major road construction and improvement projects that are planned throughout town. (The full report can be viewed at www.prospertx.gov/government/ town-council/minutes-agendaspackets/.) Stop signs were installed earlier this week at Frontier Parkway (FM 1461) and Coit Road, to be followed
DICK’S Sporting Goods expects to hire 175 full-time, part-time and temporary positions for its upcoming DICK’S Sporting Goods and Field & Stream in Prosper, TX, expected to open in August. More details are in the release below.
Community Info, Outreach, and Prayer Groups
PT IN HIS PRESENCE
Council
they cannot. If you need help, call 972-689-9115 and leave a message. Intakes are done on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information about Cornerstone, visit cornerstonenct.org. Bethlehem Place is Prosper’s only Food Pantry located on the parking lot of Prosper United Methodist Church at Third and Church streets. The food pantry is open for food distribution every Tuesday evening from 6-7 p.m. Bethlehem place greatly appreciates any food or monetary donations to support this organization. Please visit www.bethlehemplace. org for more information Prosper Mom’s in Prayer is open to women who have a heart to pray for their school age children. For more information on Mom’s in Prayer, visit www.momsinprayer.org. For local meeting information for your child’s school, contact either Christy Rubin at 469-995-6061 or Karina Anderson at 214-566-7762. Karina is able to answer questions in Spanish as well as English. Prosper Community Library Summer Hours: Monday/ Wednesday 2 p.m. – 8 p.m., Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. For questions or more information, contact Library Director Leslie Scott at 469-219-2499.
Leslie Scott
Prosper Times contributor
Do you scan ahead? I’m a people watcher — plain and simple — I enjoy watching people. I don’t do it to critique, make assumptions, nor to criticize. I simply enjoy watching people. Recently I noticed an insignificant situation that happens to most of us, which I knew I was reacting to, and I decided to change my behavior. That behavior is what I will call scanning ahead. I believe we all do the scanning
ahead tactic in some form. I was recently handed a binder of information and the first action I wanted to take was to thumb through the binder to look at its contents. Scanning through 150 pages of information was not a solution to anything. I obviously cannot read that fast, nor would it serve to answer any questions about the content of the binder other than confirm there really were 150 pages of information included. So why did my palms itch to thumb through the binder? Why was it so incredibly tempting to peek ahead? I had to hold myself back physically to not turn pages ahead and mentally had to tell myself to stop thinking about it. I’m sure if someone were watching me, my dilemma was funny to watch play out in puzzlement and frustration on my face. After the meeting, and receiving the satisfaction of getting to actually look through each of those pages, I began paying more attention to the scanning ahead I do and that others do. In several situations I watched as others were handed papers and
Leslie Scott is the Director for the Prosper Community Library.
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Friday July 14, 2017
No Texting From page one “We are reviewing it [HB 62] now as we are not yet sure how it will change policing and traffic enforcement in Prosper until it takes effect,” said Assistant Police Chief Gary McHone in an email. “But it’s safe to say that we’re definitely in favor of any tools that can help make our streets and Town safer. Also, Prosper PD personnel will receive training on all of the laws passed this legislative session, including HB 62.” McHone says once they get to see the final version of the law, they will determine the best way to conduct local enforcement. The law will have to be codified into the Transportation Code and “when we see a violation and when we can take action, we will,” McHone said. “Changing unsafe behavior is our goal; this does not always require issuing a citation. If there are educational opportunities, then we will explore those as well, which would have the same impact of stopping unsafe behavior.” “There are several prongs to Traffic Safety,” Said Police Chief Doug Kowalski. He referred to the five ‘E’s: Engineering, Education,
Encouragement, Enforcement and Evaluation. With engineering in the case of HB 62, there have already been several electronic enhancements to operate functions of a smart phone by handsfree voice commands. There are also Apps that can sense when a phone is in a moving vehicle, and render it inoperable while automatically responding with a pre-programmed text message reply. “There will be an education campaign to advise drivers of the specifics of the new law and when it goes into effect,” Kowalski said. Also, “during an initial period, offenders will be stopped, advised and warned or encouraged to follow the law.” These first three phases are to gain voluntary compliance with the law. “Following the other phases or flagrant violations, offenders will be stopped and issued a citation in an effort to gain compliance,” Kowalski added. There will also be an evaluation period after which it will be determined if the new law helps to cut down on traffic accidents. Anyone interested in more information about this or any other law can read the Texas statutes on line at http://bit.ly/2sLMPGd.
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PT F i re D e pa rt m e nt i n c i d e nt re p o rts July 5: Public service assistance in the 1600 block of Rock Ridge Drive; EMS call excluding vehicle accident with injury in the 400 block of East First Street; Two public service calls on Lovers Lane and Richland Boulevard; Motor vehicle accident with no injuries on West University Drive and Dallas Parkway; EMS call excluding vehicle accident with injury in the 700 block of Toledo Bend Drive; Lightning strike (no fire) in the 2400 block of Dawn Mist Drive, Little Elm; Fire in the 400 block of Connemara; Alarm system activation (no fire), unintentional in the 3200 block of South Preston, Celina; Lightning strike (no fire) in the 4200 block of San Juan Avenue; False alarm or false call in the 900 block of Bridgeport Drive; False alarm or false call in the 5700 block of Stockport Drive; No incident found on arrival at dispatch address in the 200 block of South Main Street; Public service assistance on LaCima Boulevard and East First Street; Hazardous condition in the 4400 block of East University Drive. July 6: Alarm system sounded due to malfunction in the 1400 block of East University Drive; EMS call excluding vehicle accident with injury in the 600 block of South Dallas; Motor vehicle accident
with no injuries on East University Drive at Navo, Little Elm; Building fire in the 1900 block of Plantation, Aubrey; EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury; Smoke detector activation due to malfunction in the 2200 block of Palo Duro Drive. July 7: EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury in the 3200 block of East Frontier; Motor vehicle accident with injuries on East Frontier at North Custer Road; EMS call excluding vehicle accident with injury in the 800 block of English Ivy Drive; Alarm system activation, no fire - unintentional in the 1400 block of Millers Creek Drive; EMS call excluding vehicle accident with injury in the 1300 block of Packsaddle Trail; Lock out in the 1000 block of Deer Run Lane; Hazardous condition in the 1200 block of Packsaddle; EMS call excluding vehicle accident with injury in the 1500 block of Gentle Way; Alarm system sounded due to malfunction in the 1200 block North Preston Road; EMS call excluding vehicle accident with injury in the 1000 block of Lancashire Lane. July 8: Smoke detector activation due to malfunction in the 700 block of Calaveras Court; EMS call excluding vehicle accident with injury in the 300 block of East Second Street;
Motor vehicle accident with injuries on North Custer Road at East Prosper Trail; Lock out in the 4900 block of Rockcress Court; EMS call excluding vehicle accident with injury in the 1300 block of Packsaddle Trail; Smoke investigation in the 500 block of East First Street; No incident found on arrival at dispatch address in the 900 block of South Coit Road. July 9: EMS call excluding vehicle accident with injury in the 5700 block of Glencoe Drive; EMS call excluding vehicle accident with injury in the 1500 block of Cedar Ridge Drive; Unintentional transmission of alarm in the 25900 block of East University, Little Elm; Smoke detector activation due to malfunction in the 700 block of Salada Drive; EMS call excluding vehicle accident with injury in the 1000 block of Caribou Drive; Arcing or shorted electrical equipment on Hickory Creek Drive. July 10: EMS call excluding vehicle with injury in the 5700 block of Colchester Drive; Odor investigation in the 3000 block of Blackthorn Drive; Arcing or shorted electrical equipment in the 1000 block of West Prosper Trail; False alarm or false call in the 4700 block of West University Drive. Editor’s Note: Information found on the Fire Department website at www. prospertx.gov/fire-department.
Water science cook activity for summer
Joyce Godwin/PROSPER TIMES
The cover of “Plant the Tiny Seed” by Christie Matheson is shown on one of the displays on the Prosper book trail. This is the book currently being featured and it will be changed by Library Director Leslie Scott in a couple of weeks.
Book Trail From page one park on game days, benefit through the creative offering of literature while enjoying nature. “Children of our community benefit by their families exposing them to literature in a creative way outdoors in nature,” Scott said. “Daycare facilities who treat their classes to the trail as a field trip to entertain and educate benefit as well. Many in the community were not aware an innovative opportunity like this could be offered, and the feedback received is all positive, grateful, and of wonder.” The library director’s vision was brought to reality by the design,
construction and installation of the trail posts by the Public Works department as the collaboration between the town departments involved and Texas A&M AgriLife is inclusive. “Tristan Cisco, Water Conservation Education Coordinator, ordered materials, assisted in creating the prototype engineering, as well as helped to create the posts,” Scott said. “Paul Naughton, Parks and Recreation landscape architect, created a graph of the placement of the posts where they would be equally spaced and the designated number of posts to keep children’s attention. Texas A&M AgriLife assisted the Town of Prosper by providing a monetary donation. The project is easily adaptable for other cities.”
Courtesy Photos
Water Science is one way to keep cool in the July heat at the Prosper Library and Prosper Parks and Recreation program. Fun Friday at Frontier meets all Fridays in July at the Pavilion at 9 a.m. Each week youngsters explore different types of science. Programs are for all ages of children and typically last 45 minutes.
PT K i ds S a y …
Trey Trey was completely prepared for our interview and even brought a paper replica he made of a library for me (this young man knows the way to a librarian’s heart!). He’s 9 and going into fourth grade which he says means more complicated math, harder lessons to learn new things, and he will meet new people. His favorite color is orange with black as a second favorite, his favorite animal is a shark, and he likes pepperoni pizza from Pizza Hut.
Leslie Scott Special to the Prosper Times
Do you have a favorite book? Not just one that I know of. There are a lot of books in the world, so it’s hard to choose. Do you have a favorite game? All games are good to play, except for the ones that are poorly
made. What would a poorly made game be? A game you can’t finish, like a beta game. What is something that makes you happy? That one is hard. Oh, my family! What is something that makes you scared? The dark. I’m going to name some items and you tell me what you would make out of them. Straw: probably cut it up and make a tree. Sock: I’d sew it and make a sock plush. I’ve made those. Gallon milk container: a watering can. What is the largest word you know? Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. What’s the shortest word? No. If you could go anywhere, where would you go? New York. I would check out all the attractions I want to go to. I would probably move there, I want to live there or Tampa, Florida. Tampa is close to the sea, they have nice beach houses,
and it’s close to Orlando. The last time we were there we went to the Clearwater Aquarium to see Winter the dolphin. He has a prosthetic fin and there was a movie about him. Is that your favorite movie? No, I don’t have a favorite. There are so many to choose from, and there are a lot coming up. I can’t pick one because in the future it might be something else. I do like Indiana Jones though. What do you want to be when you grow up? There’s actually three things! An astronomer, an architect, or an artist. Could you be all three at once? Probably. Do you think you’ll own your own business someday? I don’t know. If I dream it, then I can believe it. EDITOR’S NOTE: Prosper Community Library Director Leslie Scott has a unique opportunity for candid discussions with youngster of all ages. She is sharing these experiences through the Prosper Times.
Gates of Prosper From page one president of Blue Star Land, was a speaker for the Prosper Chamber of Commerce a couple of years ago, before construction began at the Gates of Prosper. He presented an overview of the project. He pledged that, even though the construction process would destroy the trees on the property at the time, an abundance of trees would be planted throughout the project. And a glance at the property today shows exactly that. Large trees are already being placed along the roadways within the project. The Northeast corner of that intersection is only a portion of what is expected to be an 800-acre planned mixed-use development on both sides of Preston Road. Close to 20 years after the Dallas Cowboy’s owner Jerry Jones purchased the land through his Blue Star Land company, part of the construction is coming together for a retail center that will greatly affect the town of Prosper and its tax income. The new shopping center will bring choices to Prosper residents that have not previously been available without traveling outside the community. It’s an exciting time to be in Prosper with so much development and growth going on. Follow the Prosper Times for regular updates on existing projects as well as The Gates of Prosper.
Renee Marler/PROSPER TIMES
Construction is underway in phase two of the Gates of Prosper, which will offer a variety of restaurants and shops.
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PROSPERTIMES 4.
A weeding tool. This type of tool can save you a lot of time in the weeding department. There are a number of different weeding tools to choose from. From hand-held tine rakes to motorized tillers, you will select the type of weeding tools you need based on the size of the garden and landscaping area. 5. A spade, also called a garden shovel. This tool would be beneficial for digging up larger areas of ground, working the soil and prying and loosening the soil. It can be used for edging a garden bed or for compacting soil. 6. A sprayer. Sprayers come in all shapes and sizes. They are used to water hard-to-reach areas. They are used to spray
Eight Landscaping Tools You Should Always Have We in Prosper are so lucky to have many new neighbors arriving by the day, it seems, due to all the recent growth around us. With Toyota and FedEx headquarters opening up shop, as well as many others, we are meeting with lots of new clients that, well, are just not very familiar with the basic things gardeningtype folks take for granted. So, this column should help them and just beginner types as well! In order to keep your beautifully landscaped yard in our great city of Prosper tip top condition, there are several must-have tools to maintain your yard’s beauty. Not only will this make maintenance easier, it also helps to keep from damaging plants that you so carefully picked and added to your landscaping. 1. A small tiller. This tool is good for breaking up the ground for proper water penetration, weed control and aeration. It is extremely important that the ground be penetrable for watering, for fertilization and for oxygen. This tool is also a good idea if you plan on planting annuals, so you can prepare the soil in the spring planting season. 2. A small trowel. This can be used to dig the holes to plant your annuals, or for digging up weeds in the hard-to-reach areas
Construction continues toward completion in Prosper Joyce Godwin Joyce@CedarbrookMedia.com It’s no secret that Prosper is growing exponentially and with that growth comes construction. Here is a report with the help of the Town of Prosper’s website to help readers get a heads up on closed streets and others under construction. There are construction updates and summaries with the complete information online at www.prospertx.gov. CONSTRUCTION UPDATES The Engineering Department publishes weekly updates on all major construction projects. To view Capital Improvement Projects, go to the town’s website to http://bit. ly/2pn1DsS. To inquire about a specific project, including projects that are not listed in this report please contact the town by email at engineer@ prospertx.gov or phone at 972-346-3502. PARKS PROJECTS Frontier Park — North Field Improvements: Construct three new all-weather youth baseball-softball fields and two all-weather multi-purpose fields. Also includes the construction of additional parking lots, bridge over pond with trails and park accoutrements. Project anticipated to be complete for Town’s Spring 2018 season. Status Update: Concrete crews have stabilized sub grade and have begun setting steel for fire lane construction. Contractor continues to work on field fencing and mow strips around baseball fields; Foul poles and scoreboard supports have been placed; Foundation of concession building has been poured. Drainage system for field No. 5 is underway. STREETS AND TRAFFIC Richland Boulevard and Lovers Lane (Gates of Prosper): Developer project. Construct four-lane minor arterial roadways for Richland Boulevard (Preston Road — Lovers Lane) and Lovers Lane (U.S. 380 — Preston Road) to serve the Gates of Prosper development at the northeast corner of U.S. 380 and Preston Road.
with bigger tools. If you need to transplant some of your plants, this is the tool to use so you can carefully dig up your smaller plants with as little root and stalk damage as possible. 3. A pruning tool. If you have shrubs and bushes, you will have to trim stems and branches to keep your plants in nice looking form and to trim off dying or dead branches. Some plants can also have a woody or very fibrous inner core, so it is more beneficial to use a pruning tool to keep as little damage as possible to your plants.
Status Update: Subgrade crews continue to wait on testing of 42-inch water line prior to stabilization of sub grade on Lovers, north of Richland. Deflection testing tentatively scheduled for this week. Engineer is working on addressing Town and TxDOT comments received on signalization of Richland and Preston. West Prosper Road Improvements, Phase I: Construct four-lane (ultimately six-lane) concrete curb and gutter roadway on Gee Road from U.S. 380 to 800 feet north. Construct two-lane (ultimately six- lane) concrete curb and gutter roadways from 800 feet north of U.S. Highway 380 to Fishtrap Road, and Teel Parkway from U.S. 380 to Fishtrap Road. Construct two-lane (ultimately four-lane) concrete roadway of Fishtrap from Gee Road to Teel Parkway. Status Update: Utility crews have finished repairs of damaged storm sewer on Fishtrap and have replaced pavement and road has been reopened. West Prosper Road Improvements, Phase 2: Construct two-lane (ultimately sixlane) concrete curb and gutter roadways from intersection of Fishtrap and Gee roads to F.M. 1385. Project also includes the construction of a 45-foot wide bridge over Doe Branch Creek, and the reconstruction of asphalt connection of F.M. 1385 to Fishtrap. Status Update: Staff has completed reviewing 80 percent of plans for road and bridge construction over Doe Branch Creek. Staff assessing options to expedite construction and reduce overall costs. Town staff contacted TxDOT again to coordinate approval process for the realignment of F.M. 1385 at Fishtrap Road and approval of the remaining $1 million of the $4 million in Regional Toll Revenue financing for the WPR projects. U.S. 380 (Denton County Line – Lovers Lane): TxDOT project. Improve four-lane undivided rural roadway to a six-lane suburban freeway with frontage roads in each direction between the Denton County Line and Lovers Lane. Through traffic on U.S. 380 will bypass the SH 289 and Dallas Parkway intersections when completed. Status Update: Drainage crews continue to work on Phase II improvements. Contractor has finished removal of old pavement and has begun placing fill for bridge over Preston Road. Sub-grade crews are preparing deceleration
insecticides and they are used to fertilize plants and areas of your landscape. The area you have to work with will also depend on the size and capacity of the sprayer tool you use. Too small of a sprayer and you will be constantly refilling. Too large of a sprayer and you may not be able to get it into delicate areas without damaging plants and other landscaping features. 7. A three-prong cultivator. This tool is great for breaking up the ground and keeping the soil loose. A cultivating tool can also be
lane to Wal-Mart near Lovers Lane for early completion of pavement. The entire project is expected to take 24-30 months to complete. TxDOT Project Tracker — http://apps.dot. state.tx.us/apps-cq/project_tracker. Frontier Parkway (DNT — Preston Road): Collin County project. Improve twolane rural roadway to a four-lane (ultimately six-lane) divided suburban arterial between the Dallas North Tollway and Preston Road, including an overpass over the BNSF Railroad. A two-lane access road will be provided to the north of the overpass to provide access to properties in Celina. Status Update: The Town of Prosper and the City of Celina both approved resolutions supporting the project on January 12, 2016. Collin County will manage the design and construction of the project. A timeline for construction has not yet been determined. First Street (DNT — Coleman Street): Improve two-lane rural roadway to a four-lane divided suburban arterial between the Dallas North Tollway and Coleman Street. Project includes concrete curb and gutter roadway, underground drainage improvements, twelveinch water line, and median lighting. Engineer has delivered revised plans for realigning roadway between BNSF and Coleman Street. Staff has begun right-of-way acquisition. A timeline for construction is to be determined once funding for construction is allocated. Staff is coordinating with franchise utilities within the area. Prosper Trail (Kroger — Coit Road): Improve two-lane rural roadway to a four-lane divided suburban arterial from 1,000 feet east of Preston Road to Coit Road as well as the Coit and Prosper Trail intersection. Project includes concrete curb and gutter roadway, underground drainage improvements, and median lighting. Status Update: Engineer resubmitted revised drainage drawings for review. ROW exhibit from Engineer for northwest corner of Coit intersection has been delivered to owner. Staff has initiated appraisal for property based on initial feedback from parcel ownership. Once ROW has been acquired, utility relocations at Coit intersection are anticipated to take four to five months. Work continues with franchises foreseen to be conflict and town staff has forwarded suggestions to consultant regarding S.U.E. scope and locations.
Friday July 14, 2017
used to help control weeds in the more open areas although you need to be careful with such tools so you do not damage the extended roots of trees and plants in your garden. 8. A spring brace rake. The rakes will help you keep your landscaping areas free of debris and dead leaves. They can also be used to even out the ground areas around plants for a not uniform appeal visually. By no means are these listed tools the only tools that will make your gardening experience easier and much more enjoyable. They are simply the most common and recommended tools you should have in your gardening and landscaping tool set. If you are on a budget, these tools are also very cost effective. And, most of these tools are very simple to use. With a little patience and time, you can have your landscaping looking as if a professional has been hard at work! Question: Jimmie, I have had a nice Bermuda lawn for over 10 years. My trees have matured nicely over this time but now they just seem to be providing too much shade underneath them and my lawn has become sparse and is dying in spots. After doing my research I obviously need to switch out my lawn to St. Augustine. I noticed there is more than one kind. I was considering using Palmetto variety. Is this a good choice? Thank you for your time. Jack B. in Prosper Answer: Hi Jack, the Palmetto variety has been around now for several years and overall has performed pretty well. However, its winter-hardiness has been questioned. The better option to go with would be Raleigh St. Augustine. It has a better track record for our area. Until next time…Happy Gardening!! Jimmie Send your landscaping and gardening questions to Jimmie Gibson Jr. at http:// www.absolutelybushedlandscaping.com or jimmie@absolutelybushed.com Jimmie is a Prosper resident and the owner of Absolutely Bushed Landscaping Company, an award winning, family and veteran owned and operated business created in 1980 to provide the highest quality custom Outdoor Renovation available to homeowners in the Dallas Ft. Worth metroplex.
Old Town Streets 2015: Reconstruction of existing two-lane asphalt roads to a concrete roadway without curb and gutter (Fifth, McKinley). Status Update: Staff to begin negotiations on design contract now that funding allocations to Frontier Parkway project have been resolved by other sources. Decorative Monument Signs: Construct eight decorative stone and steel signs at La Cima and First (three), First and Coit (two), and Coit and Richland (three) intersections. Status Update: Power install set for July 19 for Coit and Richland. Broadway (McKinney - Coleman): Reconstruct existing concrete paving to typical downtown section with two lanes of travel, head in parking, and extra wide sidewalks. Project also includes the installation underground drainage, 12-inch water line, sanitary sewer crossings, landscaping and street lights. Status Update: Staff has reviewed 50 percent of plans, waiting for delivery of lighting and landscaping. Coordination of improvements with franchise utilities continues. Coit Road Median Lighting (US 380 First Street): Design and construct decorative median lighting in center of medians on Coit Road, between U.S. 380 and First Street. The decorative poles and LED light fixtures will be of the same design as those installed on Preston Road. Since the width of Coit Road is less than Preston, the wattage of the new lights will be reduced to mitigate light spilling into the adjacent neighborhoods. Status Update: Project is expected to bid this month. Coit Road (First Street - Frontier Parkway): Design four lanes of an ultimately six-lane concrete, curb and guttered, divided roadway with underground drainage. Status Update: Thirty percent of plans received June 6. S.U.E. Schematic received Level B and D are complete. Engineers are coordinating with Utilities and Prosper Trail Road Project. See Construction, page 8
PROSPERTIMES
Friday July 14, 2017
WeAreProsper.com | Page 5
Watermelon Caprese Salad with Balsamic Vinegar Reduction
PT I n G o o d Ta ste
Makes: 6 servings 12 slices watermelon cut into rounds or squares, approximately 3 inches wide and 1/2 inch thick, with seeds removed 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons honey 1/2 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 12 slices salt, to taste pepper, to taste 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, loosely chopped 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 sprig basil, for garnish Place watermelon slices on paper towels and cover with additional paper towels to absorb excess fluid. In small saucepan over medium heat, add vinegar and honey. Stir to blend, bring to simmer and reduce heat. Stir occasionally until mixture is reduced by almost half. (Do not let reduce too far or allow to froth.) Set aside to cool slightly. On large platter, place watermelon slices and top each with slice of cheese. Add salt and pepper, to taste, then sprinkle basil leaves evenly over top. Drizzle with olive oil, followed by reduced balsamic vinegar. Garnish with sprig of basil. Tip: Use red and yellow watermelon for an extra pretty presentation.
Watermelon Rind Slaw
Makes: 4 one-cup servings Dressing: 1/4 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt 1/4 cup low-fat sour cream 1 1/2 tablespoons stone-ground mustard 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon sugar 1 teaspoon poppy seeds 2 teaspoons olive oil salt, to taste pepper, to taste Slaw: 4 cups grated watermelon rind (fruit and green peel removed) 1 cup grated carrot 1 1/2 cups diced fresh pineapple In small bowl, blend Greek yogurt, sour cream, mustard, vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, poppy seeds, olive oil, salt and pepper thoroughly. Set aside. Place watermelon rind on several layers of paper towels to soak up excess fluid. In medium bowl, place dressing, rind, carrot and pineapple, and toss to thoroughly coat.
Watermelon Caprese Salad with Balsamic Vinegar Reduction
S
Watermelon Slice Ice Pops
FAMILY FEATURES
Makes: 5-15 servings liced or diced, grilled or blended, there are countless ways to 5-15 watermelon slices, cut into prepare watermelon. With some fruits, half or more is wasted when triangular wedge shapes, you throw away the seeds and peel, but you may be surprised to about 1/2 to 1 inch thick, learn that you can use an entire watermelon, including the rind, to with seeds removed make delicious and refreshing dishes. 5-15 ice pop sticks Most people think of watermelon as a sweet, juicy snack perfect for hot summer days, but with its high water content (92 percent), the fruit is more Insert ice pop stick into rind of each slice. than just tasty. It’s also an ideal way to keep your body hydrated. What’s Optional variation: After inserting more, the ability to use the entire fruit makes watermelon one of the most sticks, freeze ice pops before serving. versatile and value-conscious options in the produce department. An average watermelon consists of about 70 percent fruit and 30 percent Superfood Smoothie rind. Hollowed out, the rind is an attractive way to serve any number of Makes: 3 cups recipes, but the rind is actually edible, too, and can be stir-fried, stewed or pickled, or even enjoyed raw. This yummy slaw gets its distinctive crunch 2 cups cubed and seeded watermelon from the watermelon rind, which is packed with citrulline and arginine, two 1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries compounds that may aid in healthy blood flow. 1 cup raspberry kefir Watermelon is also a flavorful substitute for tomatoes, as shown in this 2 tablespoons orange juice traditional Italian appetizer, and contains higher levels of lycopene than concentrate any other fresh fruit or vegetable per serving, according to award-winning 2 tablespoons hemp nutrition author and registered dietitian Elizabeth Somer. 2 tablespoons agave syrup Additionally, it lends some sweetness to a spicy salsa and a refreshing ice (optional) twist on a summery salad. You can also try blending watermelon with other fresh fruits for a super smoothie or mixing it up with some adult libations Place watermelon, raspberries, raspberry (and don’t forget, you can justD B kefir, concentrate, L transform K M Q the R rind J ZintoA a mini-keg N B T inSminutes; X O T N T orange Y J juice R E D S K hemp, I N S N add a pour spout). agave syrup and ice, if desired, in G Devery T bite Y Lof fruit, V D juice A and X Drind N at A T K E P G blender V N YandK blend S Juntil Z smooth. V E T W J E Find more ideas for using watermelon.org.
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Watermelon Rind Slaw
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It's Almost Football Season!
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10710 Eldorado Parkway Suite 140 Frisco, TX 75035
Zarmin Lalani, DDS MS Board Certified Diplomate American Board of Pediatric Dentistry
Page 6 | WeAreProsper.com
PROSPERTIMES
Friday July 14, 2017
Eagle HYPE
TM
Dedicated to Prosper Sports
Renee Marler Renee@CedarbrookMedia.com Steele Walker. Even the name oozes of “cool”. But the Prosper native is much cooler than even the name suggests. Walker, who hit .481 his senior year, with seven home runs, made him an instrumental player in Prosper's 2015 State Championship. He then went on to play baseball for The University of Oklahoma. Walker said playing for a coach the caliber of Prosper's head baseball coach, Rick Carpenter, prepared him for higher level baseball. Walker said, “He's had like 30 players
drafted so he's amazing. I gained so much knowledge from Coach Carpenter. He helped me become mentally ready to handle the pressure as the big moments just kept getting bigger and bigger.” As a freshman at OU, Walker hit .290 with three home runs. Last season, as a sophomore, he improved dramatically - hitting .333 with eight home runs. And people noticed. “I got a call from General Manager, Eric Campbell, inviting me to the Team USA Baseball trials and I was just so thankful for the opportunity,” said Walker. At the trials, Walker went through two rounds of cuts from the original 35 player roster, down to 31, then the final 26.
“I go out there every day and play the game to the best of my ability, I try to stay calm and just relax,” said Walker. The first series, held in Cary, North Carolina, was the International Friendship series against Chinese Taipei where Walker was named the series MVP after hitting .400 with a .733 slugging percentage. The USA Baseball Collegiate National Team swept the Chinese Taipei team 4-0 in the best-of-five game series after game four was canceled due to rain. Capitalizing on that winning momentum, Walker and USA Baseball took on Cuba in another best-of-five series. USA Baseball won the series 3-2 and Walker was once again
Wrestling “King” joins Prosper ISD Renee Marler Renee@CedarbrookMedia.com Prosper wrestling has a new coach with a royal name. Coach Sion King comes to Prosper in his 12th year of teaching and coaching.
named series MVP after hitting .476 with a .667 slugging percentage. “I was very humbled. God's in control and it's by his grace I am able to do any of this,” said Walker. Walker has had two home runs this summer, four doubles, a triple, drove in nine runs and scored 11. When asked about his baseball future, Walker is quick to say he is open to all possibilities. “I am open to wherever the Lord leads me; whether it's baseball, the ministry or a career. I'll follow His direction,” says Walker.
King grew up wrestling in Sacramento, California and by his senior year was one of the best wrestlers in the state, placing 2nd in High School Wrestling Nationals. He was also a football all-district tight end and the Northern California Champion in Olympic Weightlifting. King went on to wrestle for Sacramento City College where he was a two-time Junior College All-American and Athlete of the Year. He transferred to Adams State University and was a Division II NCAA National Qualifier after finishing in the top 10. After moving to West Texas A&M to be near his now wife, Tanya, he graduated and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Sports and Exercise Science. King got his first head coaching job at Hereford High school in Hereford, Texas. In his 4 years in Hereford, the girls were the Texas State Dual Champions, and placed as high as 3rd in UIL State. The next three years, King coached at Randall High school, closer to his home. At Randall, King lead the boys team to a State Championship. King then moved across town and became the head coach at Palo Duro High School. During his four years there, the boys’ team placed 4th at the State Dual Championships, and both the boys’ and girls’ teams placed in the top 5 at the UIL State Championships. King coached the school’s first ever boy state champion when 2 of the boys won State in 2016. In his 11 years coaching wrestling in Texas, King has been named the Regional and State Coach of the Year, as well as the assistant Regional and State Coach of the Year. “I teach and coach because I want to help kids become the best person they can possibly be,” said King. “And to help them accomplish their dreams along the way.” King and his wife, Tanya have three children; 11-year-old son, Ryelan, 9-yearold daughter, Presley, and 8-year-old son, Braylan. They will be moving from Amarillo where King was a deacon at his church for the last 7 years. King still occasionally competes in wrestling. In 2015, he won the USA Veterans National Championship in Folkstyle wrestling.
PROSPERTIMES
Friday July 14, 2017
Prosper Archery Hits the Target Renee Marler Renee@CedarbrookMedia.com The Prosper archery team competed at State and Nationals and is heading to Worlds at the end of the month. Qualifying for Worlds is an impressive feat for any team, but almost unheard of in an inaugural year of a program. First year archery instructor Becky Hedges
said, “When we had the first meeting I expected a handful of people, but we had 200 show up.” Because of the huge amount of interest and limited practice times and facilities, they were forced to use a lottery program to choose only 30 to be a part of the team. The team practices twice a week at Texas Archery Academy in McKinney and holds an optional practice on Saturday mornings. Bill Robinson assists Hedges and will be taking on the high school training. Robinson's daughter, Adriana, an eighth grader at Reynolds Middle School, was his motivation.
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“Adriana was really excited to be a part of the team and I saw the need. I got certified and it's been terrific,” said Robinson. Hedges said she is grateful for the opportunity to offer a sport in which students of all degrees of athleticism can participate and excel. “Archery teaches these kids composure, gives them confidence and there's a real feel of camaraderie within the team,” she said. The team will head to Worlds in Orlando July 20 – 22. The Prosper Times will have a follow-up after they return.
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CHILDREN + TEENS + ADULTS
Page 8 | WeAreProsper.com
PROSPERTIMES
7 on 7
Friday July 14, 2017
Prosper football skill players get a head start on the season by playing 7-on-7 at Lone Star High School.
Construction From page 4 Prosper Trail (Coit Road Custer Road (FM 2478): Design of a four-lane, curb and guttered, divided roadway with underground drainage with the construction of a new four-lane bridge over Wilson Creek. Status Update: Engineer has completed initial deed research. Field Survey is 100 percent complete. Soil borings are complete; analysis of soil borings is complete. Base maps are 95 percent complete. Began roadway and bridge layout. Began Hydraulic analysis of Wilson Creek Working with Utilities. Coordinating with engineers on Coit Road. Working on schematic plans. 30 percent of plans due in August. Parvin Street (Broadway to Eighth), Sixth Street (Coleman to Church), Third Street (Church to Lane): Reconstruction of existing two-lane asphalt roads to a concrete roadway without curb and gutter with new eight-inch water on Parvin Street, Seventh Street to Fifth Street. Status Update: Bids were opened. Council awarded contract on April 25. Contracts returned from Contractor May 23. NTP to be sent dated June 6. Three residents from Parvin and Third Street, and six residents from Sixth Street, attended public meetings held June 21 - 22. Those who attended appreciated the discussion of the impending work and the impact to the surrounding area. Traffic Signal (FM 2478 and Prosper Trail): Installation of temporary span wire traffic signal at the intersection of Custer Road and Prosper Trail by TxDOT. Status Update: TxDOT Area
Office working on alignment and grade issues on east side of Custer to facilitate construction of signal. Received signal plans from TxDOT. Staff has reviewed and returned comments to TxDOT. Signals should be installed by February 2018. In the interim, TxDOT anticipates the installation of a “four-way” stop in late July. FM 1461 (SH 289 to FM 2478): Re-grading and building up of roadway shoulders to provide additional pavement width on Frontier Parkway. Includes the installation of stop signs on FM1461 at FM 2478 (Custer Road) intersection until construction of a west bound left turn lane with temporary span wire traffic signal can be built. Crews will also construct left turn lanes, both east and west bound, at Coit Road with the creation of a four-way stop. Once road work is completed, a separate TxDOT project is scheduled (Spring 2018) to install a temporary span wire traffic signal at the Coit Road intersection. Status Update: Anticipate awarding of contract by Commission in July with a notice to proceed issued in August. Town staff expects signal installation in approximately nine months. In the interim, TxDOT has scheduled the installation of “four-way” stop at Coit Road on July 10. Craig Road (Preston Road to PISD): Replace the existing asphalt pavement on Craig Road with sixinch cement treated base and install three inches of Type B and two inches of Type D Asphalt pavement. Status Updates: Contractor is scheduled to start work July 6. Crews are expected to begin reconstruction of the south-bound lane of Craig Road, between First Street and
Preston. The work is expected to be completed in July.
Contractor is expected to cross Dallas Parkway in mid-July.
WATER AND WASTEWATER
Lower Pressure Plane Elevated Storage Tank: Construct a 2.5-million gallon elevated storage tank (water tower) on the south side of Fishtrap Road East of Teel Parkway to serve the Lower Pressure Plane. Status Update: Town Council awarded contract for design to Freese and Nichols Inc. at the April 11 Council meeting. Under preliminary design.
Prosper Trail Elevated Storage Tank: Construct a two-million gallon elevated storage tank (water tower) on the north side of Prosper Trail, midway between Preston and Coit roads. Status Updates: Crews have constructed driveway and have finished site grading, fence construction to begin when weather permits.
Lower Pressure Plane Water Supply Pipeline Phase I: Construct approximately 25,800 feet of water line to provide additional water to the Lower Pressure Plane. Water will be pumped from the Custer Road Pump Station to the new elevated storage tank on Fishtrap Road. Status Update: Town Council awarded contract for design to Freese and Nichols Inc. at the April 11 Council meeting. Under preliminary design.
Lovers Lane Segment 42” Lower Pressure Plane Water (Gates of Prosper): Construct 2,400 linear feet segment of a 42inch water line under Lovers Lane from Richland Boulevard to Preston Road prior to developer constructing roadway. Status Updates: Staff still awaiting density and deflection testing results from contractor
Prosper Trail Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV): Install a 12-inch Pressure Reducing Valve on existing water line west of BNSF of Prosper Trail. Status Updates: Crews have completed the installation of vault and equipment. Concrete crews have begun setting up the sidewalk replacement. Public Works Interceptor: Install a Sewer Interceptor that will allow the effluent currently pumped from the Wastewater Treatment Plant Lift Station to gravity flow to Upper Trinity River Water District, and to regulate the flows between UTRWD and North Texas Municipal Water District to optimize flows and subsequent costs. Status Updates: Utility crews have placed 2,200 LF of sewer main.
Custer Road Pump Station Improvements: Expand the pumping capacity of the Custer Road Pump Station to 25 MGD firm pumping capacity, serving the Lower Pressure Plane. This work will defer the need for the LPP Pump Station and Ground Storage Tank to 2021. Status Update: Town Council awarded contract for design to Freese and Nichols Inc. at the April 11 Council meeting. Under preliminary design.
FACILITIES
Town Hall / Multi-Purpose Facility: Construct a Town Hall / Multi-Purpose Facility to serve the Town's increasing needs, including administrative offices, Council
chambers, municipal court, library, multi-purpose rooms, and other functions. Estimated cost includes construction services, equipment, and furniture. Status Updates: Structural crews have finished steel framing and placed cupola. Interior framing continues on all floors. Masonry crews are nearing completion of stairwells and elevator shafts. Mechanical crews continue to work on internal utilities and mechanical improvements. Town Hall Infrastructure Project: Reconstruction of Main Street (First Street to Broadway) to curb and guttered concrete roadway. Project also constructs additional street within alley easement south of Broadway to Crockett. In addition to pavement, project includes water, sewer, and drainage improvements for Town Hall, as well as lighting and landscaping improvements for Main Street. Status Updates: Utility crews installing water line from Town Hall site to Broadway. Work continues on the construction of drainage improvements on Crockett at Broadway. Staff awaiting AT&T’s completion of relocations adjacent to Town Hall to facilitate pole removal on Broadway.
DRAINAGE
Church and Parvin Drainage Improvements: Design of underground storm sewer currently flowing through an unimproved alley and across residential lots east between Church Street and Parvin Street, north of Broadway and south of Seventh Street. Status Updates: Engineer has provided design options. Staff continues to work on property acquisition.