As part of TxDOT’s widening project, Preston Road will be reduced to one lane between Eldorado Parkway and Mockingbird Lane on Friday, Feb. 26 and Saturday, Feb. 27.  Flaggers will stop traffic on either end of the closure and then allow traffic to flow in alternating directions through the single open lane.

 This section of Preston Road will operate with a single lane between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday, and between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday.  If weather delays the work, this lane closure will continue on Sunday, Feb. 28, between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. 

Motorists should expect delays at this location on Preston Road.  Through traffic can use Dallas Parkway to the west or Custer Road to the east as alternate routes.  Motorists are urged to use caution in the area and to watch for flaggers.

 

This year the City of Frisco will get about $300,000 from the federal government in the form of community development and housing grants. The city wants resident’s help in deciding how this money should be spent.

“Its Frisco money,” said Assistant City Manager Nell Lange. “They work hard for that money and need to be involved in how it is spent.”

The city has put a 13 question survey on their Web site and is asking residents to complete the survey so that they gain input on what residents want to do with the money. The survey is part of the consolidated plan that the city is required by the federal government to complete every five years. The money is received annually and the survey results will give the city a five year plan of how to spend the money locally. They also have focus groups to gain input year-round.

The Housing Coordinator for the City of Frisco, Stacy Brown, said one of the things that came from a the last survey was to rehab 20 houses in five years and so far they have completed 19 of those projects.

“We are just here to serve the people,” she said. “We are going to be here to implement what people want.”

The grant money is spent in one of four categories; housing, homeless, community development and non-homeless special needs.  Each category has specific rules for what the money can be used for within that category, for example the city cannot build a house with the money but can buy land for Habitat for Humanity to build a house on or can rehab a house that is already in place. They previously purchased three lots for habitat, bought food for Meals on Wheels, and helped to fund a case worker at Samaritan Inn who was working with Frisco clients.

All of the organizations that are given the grant money through the city must be 501(c)3 organizations and if they are first time grant receivers their books will be audited. The city and federal government monitor closely how the money is spent and if is spent incorrectly the government will ask for it back.

The results for the survey will be discussed at the March 10 ‘Focus Group’. The meeting is from 2-4 p.m. in the Vivian McCallum room on the fourth floor of the George A. Purefoy Municipal Center, 6101 Frisco Square Blvd.

Frisco residents can complete the survey online through March 3. It typically takes about 20 minutes to complete and can be found at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/THPGKX3

 

 

TxDOT plans to start installing a concrete barrier along the east side of Custer Road, between Eldorado Parkway and US 380, beginning Feb. 24 and lasting through Feb. 27 (weather permitting). Theprocess of installing this barrier will include intermitten lane closures along the roadway, and motorist should expect delays during the day. During the time of construction motorist are encourage to seek an alternate route such as Preston Road to the west or Stonebrook Drive to the east.

The Frisco City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to hold an amendment charter election in May.

The charter review committe, made up of 10 Frisco residents, looked at the charter for six months before submitting 14 propositions to change various parts of the charter. The council first saw the propositions in December and has given the public and council members various opportunities to comment on the propositions.

A member of the charter review committee spoke to the council Tuedsday night before they voted asking them to include all 14 propositions on the ballot.  The propositions suggested are due to changes in state law, langauge changes or  other propositions are are such things as extending the term limits for elected office to be extended to three terms istead of the two .

All 14 propositions will be included on the May ballot.