News Listings

It may seem harmless to pour and scrape your fats, oils, and grease (FOG) down the kitchen drain, but it causes real trouble for your pipes, the City’s sewer – and yourself!

With the holidays approaching, we are having a “Cease the Grease” Roundup where our residents may recycle their cooking oil for free!

Cooking oil may be dropped off at the Citizens Convenience Station November 14 through January 9 (Monday through Saturday 8am to 4pm, and the facility will be closed November 23-25 for Thanksgiving).

Residents must bring ID and proof of residency (water bill). This collection is for cooking oils only, motor oil and other fluids will not be accepted. Thank you for helping keep our sewer lines running efficiently!

MID-WAY REGIONAL AIRPORT PROPOSED AGREEMENT FEEDBACK FORM

The City of Waxahachie public water system, (PWS) ID 0700008, will temporarily convert the disinfectant used in the distribution system from chloramine to free chlorine. The conversion will be for a four-week period and will begin on Sunday, October 1, 2023 and continue through Tuesday, October 31, 2023. During this period, you may experience taste and odor changes associated with this type of temporary disinfectant conversion. This proactive program is required to remove material buildup within the distribution system after prolonged use of alternative disinfectant methods.

Public water systems are required to properly disinfect their water and maintain an adequate disinfectant residual in the distribution system. Chloramine, free chlorine combined with ammonia, is widely used as a disinfectant because it persists for long periods while also limiting the formation of disinfection by-product contaminants. Prolonged use of chloramine coupled with other factors that can impact water quality, such as high temperatures or stagnation of water, may result in the growth and/or persistence of organic matter within the pipes of the distribution system, which may hinder the ability to maintain an adequate disinfectant residual. This temporary conversion to free chlorine, partnered with flushing activities, helps to rid distribution pipes of this organic matter and improve the quality of your water overall.

This program will not affect the water quality in any regards to its use, however, customers who undergo kidney dialysis should consult with your physician prior to treatment during this period, and aquatic pet owners should take appropriate safeguards to protect those pets during this timeframe.

For questions regarding this program, citizens may contact Ruiz Moreno, Water Production Superintendent at (469) 309-4367, e-mail at rmoreno@waxahachie.com or Leila Cole, Administrative Secretary at (469) 309-4326, email at lcole@waxahachie.com.

Friday, September 15th, Municipal Court and Utility Billing will be closed for the day and will reopen at the Charles Beatty Municipal Services Building, located at 412 S. Rogers, on Monday, September 18 for regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8am – 5pm. Both of these offices will be located on the south end of the complex near the railroad tracks. Parking is available on the street or behind the building.

Utility Billing drive-thru and night drop options will no longer be available. To make payments online for either Utility Billing or Municipal Court, please visit the following link: https://www.municipalonlinepayments.com/waxahachietx. For Municipal Court questions, please call 469-309-4070.

UPCOMING ROAD CLOSURE – PATRICK RD
Beginning Thursday, August 3,  Circle H Contractors will be making storm line repairs under Patrick Road. As a result, the intersection at Patrick Road and Marshall Road will be closed until repairs are completed. Please use an alternate route.

UPCOMING ROAD CLOSURE – MARSHALL RD
Beginning Thursday, August 3, Circle H Contractors will be working on a water line underneath Marshall Rd. As a result, Marshall Road from Chimney Rock Drive to Liberty Way will be closed to all traffic. Please use an alternate route.

We appreciate your patience and apologize for the inconvenience. If you have any questions or concerns about this work please call the Public Works Department at 469-309-4300 or email publiworks@waxahachie.com.

The City of Waxahachie was recently informed that the contractor hired to construct the new community pool at Lee Penn Park has unexpectedly defaulted on their contract, and will no longer be able to complete the pool. Unfortunately, the pool will not be open for this summer’s swim season, but staff is working diligently to address the situation and get the project completed.

 “We understand the impact that this situation has on the community, and we share the disappointment and apologize for the inconvenience. City staff and leadership is committed to delivering a community pool that you can be proud of, and we are making every effort to make that a reality. We appreciate your patience and continued support as we work diligently to bring this fantastic new facility to completion,” said Michael Scott, City Manager.

Starting MONDAY JUNE 5^th, City of Waxahachie Street crew will be making concrete repairs in the 300 and 400 block of Northgate Drive.  As a result, Northgate Drive from Cornell Lane to Columbia Avenue will be down to one lane with a temporary traffic light in place. The work is scheduled to take about 10 days, depending on weather. Please use caution and expect delays. If you have any questions or concerns about this work, call the Public Works and Engineering department at 469-309-4300 or email us at publicworks@waxahachie.com.

Waxahachie, Texas will soon welcome a new company to its growing commercial development footprint. Fanatics, a global digital sports platform, will open and operate a new 600,000 square foot e-commerce and wholesale fulfillment facility in Waxahachie.  The new location will create a new, rapid delivery network to better serve fans, partners and retailers in the southern United States with a significant assortment of high-quality licensed sports products across professional and college teams.

This state-of-the-art operation will be located on the Blue Star Development property at the southwest corner of IH-35E and the US Highway 287 Bypass. Fanatics’ project will kick-start development on the site.  It will also serve as the impetus for additional commercial development on the adjacent parcels. 

“We are not only excited and honored to have ​​Fanatics become a piece of Waxahachie's growing economy, we look forward to the enormous success they will have here. Fanatics’ desire to participate in and become active in our community makes this announcement even more special. We welcome Fanatics to Waxahachie!,” said David Hill, Mayor of the City of Waxahachie.     

When fully operational, the company plans to hire up to 250 personnel.  The project will break ground later this year with plans to be operational by the first quarter of 2025.

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About Waxahachie:
Waxahachie is a vibrant and growing community of over 48,000 conveniently located near the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Known as The Crossroads of Texas, Waxahachie’s quality of life is second-to-none with a variety of residential options, an excellent education system, convenient shopping and dining, progressive medical care, and easy access to all the metropolitan amenities that the DFW Metroplex has to offer. Additionally, the historic downtown is recognized as one of the most beautiful cities in the state with character, charm and an amazing heritage. More information: www.waxahachie.com.

About Fanatics:
Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. The company ignites the passions of global sports fans and maximizes the presence and reach for hundreds of sports partners globally by offering products and services across Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles, and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, allowing sports fans to Buy, Collect and Bet. Through the Fanatics platform, sports fans can buy licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods; collect physical and digital trading cards, sports memorabilia, and other digital assets; and bet as the company builds its Sportsbook and iGaming platform. Fanatics has an established database of over 100 million global sports fans, a global partner network with over 900 sports properties, including major national and international professional sports leagues, teams, players associations, athletes, celebrities, colleges, and college conferences, and over 2,000 retail locations, including its Lids retail business stores. 

Starting THURSDAY APRIL 27, 2023 at 8:00am, the Union Pacific Rail Road will be making track repairs at N. Patrick Street. As a result,  N. Patrick Street from W. Marvin Ave. to Water St. will be closed to traffic for that day. Please use alternate routes and use caution in the area.  We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience. If you have any questions please contact the Public Works and Engineering Department at 469-309-4300 or email us at publicworks@waxahachie.com .

Starting Sunday April 16, 2023 at 8:00am, the Union Pacific Rail Road will be making track repairs at Munchus Street. As a result,  Munchus Street from Levi Street to Sadler Street will be closed to traffic for that day. Please use alternate routes and use caution in the area.  We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience. If you have any questions please contact the Public Works and Engineering Department at 469-309-4300 or email us at publicworks@waxahachie.com .

The Waxahachie Municipal Court will be closed on Thursday, April 20^th for Court Training on New Software. Anyone that has an appearance day or ticket due on April 20, 2023 can appear or pay on Friday, April 21, 2023. Please contact the court with any questions at 469-309-4070.

Starting WEDNESDAY MARCH 15, contractors for the City will be repairing the road north of the railroad tracks on N. Jackson Street.

As a result, the road between N. Jackson Street and Smokey Lane will be closed to all traffic until the work is completed.

Please use alternate routes and follow detour signage. If you have any questions or concerns about this work, please call the Public Works & Engineering Department at 469-309-4300 or email publicworks@waxahachie.com.

Any Jurors summoned to the Waxahachie Municipal court on Tuesday, February 28^th for Jury Duty will not need to appear.

All cases have been settled. Please call (469)309-4070 with any questions.

Starting tomorrow FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10 to TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, Brookside Road from Business 287 to Interstate 35 service road will be closed to all traffic.

Contractors will be making emergency repairs to weather related damage to the bridge. Please avoid the area and use alternate routes if possible.

Please contact the Public Works & Engineering with any questions or concerns at 469-309-4300 or email at publicworks@waxahachie.com

Our automated phone system for Utility Billing is currently down. We are working diligently to fix the issue, however until then, there are several options to pay. Customers may pay over the phone with a Utility Billing clerk during business hours at 469-309-4170, online at Waxahachie.com, or the 24-hour night drop box at City Hall. A full list of payment options is available at the link below:

https://www.waxahachie.com/departments/utilities/utility_bill_payment_options.php

 City Hall will be closed on the following dates:

Christmas Holiday: Friday, December 23 and Monday, December 26
New Year’s Holiday: Monday, January 2

For non-emergency needs during this time, please call the Waxahachie Police Department at 469-309-4400. For emergencies, please dial 911. Have a safe and happy holiday!

CITIZENS CONVENIENCE STATION:

The Citizens Convenience Station will be closed on Friday, December 23 through Monday, December 26 in observance of the Christmas holiday. The facility will reopen on Tuesday, December 27 and will resume normal operating hours (Monday through Saturday, 8am to 4pm, located at 499 Lions Park Road).

The Citizens Convenience Station will also be closed on Monday, January 2 in observance of the New Year’s holiday. The facility will reopen on Tuesday, January 3 and will resume normal operating hours.

Citizens using the facility must bring a driver’s license or another form of identification and proof of residency (water bill, garbage bill or tax statement). For additional questions regarding the Convenience Station, please call 469-309-4270.

It may seem harmless to pour and scrape your fats, oils, and grease (FOG) down the kitchen drain, but it causes real trouble for your pipes, the City’s sewer – and yourself!

With the holidays approaching, we are having a “Cease the Grease” Roundup where our residents may recycle their cooking oil for free!

Cooking oil may be dropped at the Citizens Convenience Station November 14 through January 9 (Monday through Saturday 8am to 4pm, and the facility will be closed November 24-26 for Thanksgiving).

Residents must bring ID and proof of residency (water bill). This collection is for cooking oils only - motor oil and other fluids will not be accepted. Thank you for helping keep our sewer lines running efficiently!

Starting Monday Oct 17, Circle H Contractors will begin construction work on Monticello Drive Phase 1 and Phase 2.

Phase 1 is from Cumberland Rd. to Pensacola Dr. and Phase 2 is from Pensacola Dr. to Richmond Ln.

Please use alternate routes and expect delays in traffic on Monticello Drive.

If you have any questions or concerns, email us at pulicworks@waxahachie.com or call us at 469-309-4300.

The City of Waxahachie public water system, (PWS) ID 0700008, will temporarily convert the disinfectant used in the distribution system from chloramine to free chlorine. The conversion will be for a four-week period and will begin on Saturday, October 1, 2022 and continue through Monday, October 31, 2022. During this period, you may experience taste and odor changes associated with this type of temporary disinfectant conversion. This proactive program is required to remove material buildup within the distribution system after prolonged use of alternative disinfectant methods.

Public water systems are required to properly disinfect their water and maintain an adequate disinfectant residual in the distribution system. Chloramine, free chlorine combined with ammonia, is widely used as a disinfectant because it persists for long periods while also limiting the formation of disinfection by-product contaminants. Prolonged use of chloramine coupled with other factors that can impact water quality, such as high temperatures or stagnation of water, may result in the growth and/or persistence of organic matter within the pipes of the distribution system, which may hinder the ability to maintain an adequate disinfectant residual. This temporary conversion to free chlorine, partnered with flushing activities, helps to rid distribution pipes of this organic matter and improve the quality of your water overall.

This program will not affect the water quality in any regards to its use, however, customers who undergo kidney dialysis should consult with your physician prior to treatment during this period, and aquatic pet owners should take appropriate safeguards to protect those pets during this timeframe.

For questions regarding this program, citizens may contact Ruiz Moreno, Water Production Superintendent at (469) 309-4367, e-mail at rmoreno@waxahachie.com or Leila Cole, Administrative Secretary at (469) 309-4326, email at lcole@waxahachie.com.

Starting MONDAY SEPT. 26 – WEDNESDAY SEPT. 28, Contractors for the Ellis County Jail will be setting up a crane to remove and replace HVAC units on the roof. As a result, South College Street between East Jefferson Street and West Madison Street will be closed to all traffic.  The work will begin at 8am and end at approximately 4pm each day until it is completed.

Expect delays and use alternate routes. All work is pending the weather and is subject to change. We appreciate your patience and cooperation. Please contact the City of Waxahachie Public Works Dept. at 469-309-4300 or email publicworks@waxahachie.com with any questions or concerns.

For the next few days, inspection crews will conduct a physical survey of the wastewater collection system. Pipeline Analysis will perform this study, which involves opening manholes in the streets and backyard utility easements.  Information gained from this study will be used to repair and improve the wastewater collection system. 

One important task of the survey will be smoke testing of sewer lines to locate breaks and defects in the system.  During this testing, white smoke will exit through vent pipes on the roofs of homes and through sewer line breaks. The smoke is non-toxic, leaves no residue, and creates no fire hazard.  The smoke should not enter your home unless defective plumbing exists or drain traps are dry. If you have seldom-used drains, please pour a gallon of water in the drain to fill the drain trap. This procedure will help prevent the possibility of smoke entering your living areas through those drains.

Field crews will perform testing of all sewers in the area.  At no time will field crews have to enter your business or residence. Your cooperation is appreciated. Should you have any additional questions concerning this study or if you desire special assistance, please call Mike Rogers, Pipeline Analysis at 800-637-0164 or City of Waxahachie Utilities at 469-309-4320.

Any individuals scheduled for jury duty at the City of Waxahachie Municipal Court at 9 a.m. tomorrow (Tuesday, August 30) will not need to appear. All cases have been settled so no juries are needed for this date. Please call 469-309-4070 with any questions. Thank you!

ATMOS Energy has identified a gas leak near the Waxahachie Creek Hike and Bike Trail south of the Rogers Street pedestrian bridge near Cantrell Street. Repairs are schedule to begin Tuesday, August 30, and this section of the trail will remain closed during that time. Repairs are expected to last at least a day, and could take longer. The trail will remain open from Getzendaner Park to the Rogers Street pedestrian bridge, and from Lions Park to Rogers Street. Thank you to our residents for your patience as the necessary repairs are completed.

The splash pad at Matthew’s Park will be closed through the weekend for necessary plumbing repairs. The park itself will remain open, but the splash pad will be closed. The City’s two other splash pads, George Brown Plaza (209 N Jackson) and Railyard Park (455 S. College) will both remain open this weekend. Thank you for your patience as our crews make these necessary repairs.

For a complete list and map of all City Parks and their amenities, please click below. Have a great weekend!

https://www.waxahachie.com/departments/parks_and_recreation/index.php

Beginning WEDNESDAY AUG 3 to FRIDAY AUG 5, the Street Department crew will be striping part of W. Marvin Ave. As a result, there will be some delay on W. Marvin Avenue from W. University Avenue to N. Grand Avenue.

If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Public Works and Engineering Department at 469-309-4300 or email us at publicworks@waxahachie.com.

Starting MONDAY JULY 11^th, the City of Waxahachie Street Department will be crack sealing the asphalt in the downtown Waxahachie area.

This process helps to prevent larger maintenance problems down the road. As a result, various road closures will be in effect on different days. Please review the attached map and legend for schedule.

Once the crack sealing is complete the Street Department will open up the road by the end of each day.  Schedules are pending the weather and subject to change, please check the City website for up to date information.

Please note that this is a necessary first step to the final task of striping parking spaces. We anticipate striping parking spaces in the fall/winter of 2022.

Expect delays and use the alternate routes when possible. We appreciate your patience and cooperation. Please contact the City of Waxahachie Public Works and Engineering Department at 469-309-4300 or email publicworks@waxahachie.com with any questions or concerns.

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR MAP AND SCHEDULE

Starting MONDAY MAY 23, Andale Construction will begin making asphalt road repair in the Gingerbread Village subdivision off of Brown St/US287.

As result, the streets listed will be restricted:

• Audra Avenue from Brown St/US287 to cul-de-sac
• Etta Avenue from Brown St/US287 to cul-de-sac
• Myrtle Avenue from Brown St/US287 to cul-de-sac
• Modene Avenue from Marian Avenue to End
• Morene Avenue from End to End
• Annette Lane from Audra Ave. to Morene Ave.
• Mary Avenue from Etta Ave. to Morene Ave.
• Marian Street from Brown St/US287 to Modene Ave.

Please note that the order in which the streets will be executed is up to contractor and can be followed via their website at www.HA5info.com. Please expect delays and/or find alternate routes. Please contact us with any questions or concerns at 469-309-4300 or email us at publicworks@waxahachie.com.

South College Street between Railyard Park and Fresh Market Coffee will be closed this Friday, May 6 from 8am – 2pm. Thank you for your patience during this closure.

WEEKEND UPDATE: Crews were on site this morning to assess road conditions at Marvin and Kaufman following last night’s rains and the determination has been made that conditions are too wet to open the intersection. As a result, the intersection will remain closed through the weekend. We are working to complete repairs and resume normal traffic patterns as soon as possible. Thank you to our residents in this area for your patience as work is completed.

Beginning today, March 31, Marvin Avenue will be closed at Kaufman Street due to a water main break and street collapse. While attempting to turn the water back on after finishing repairs, the line broke in a new location further down the intersection.
Field crews are currently repairing the second break but water will need to remain shut off while work is being completed. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to finish the repairs.

Following the vandalism to Waxahachie City Cemetery earlier this week, our Parks and Recreation team that oversees the cemetery has gathered a preliminary list of the stones that were damaged. This is a working list and will be updated as more names and information is known. There are several stones on the list in which the name is listed as “unknown”. This could be one of several reasons – some of the stones were turned over where the name is not visible and are too heavy to move without special equipment. In other cases, the stones are well over 100 years old and are very difficult to read.

Identifying these stones is a long and tedious process, and our team is working diligently to gather as much information as quickly as possible and the list will be refreshed and published as progress is made.

For the most recent list, please click the link below. If you have specific questions you may also contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 469-309-4270.

Working List of Damaged Gravestones

Following the recent vandalism of the Waxahachie City Cemetery, numerous local residents and businesses have expressed desire to help rebuild and repair the damage done to our historic cemetery. Our City Staff and Leadership is overcome with gratitude from these requests and want to communicate to our amazing community the best ways to help.

We ask that any work done in the cemetery be coordinated through our Parks and Recreation team, which oversees and maintains the cemetery. Many of the damaged stones are very heavy and moving or raising them requires special equipment and we want to avoid injuries of those trying to help. Additionally, many of the damaged stones are over 100 years old and require special care and procedures in repairing. We are in the process of reaching out to experts to ensure the best practices are used. To coordinate volunteer efforts, please contact us at 469-309-4270, or email waxahachiecemetery@waxahachie.com.

Many of our residents have also offered financial assistance. This is helpful and appreciated as these repairs will be very costly. A fund has been set up at the City of Waxahachie in which tax-deductible donations can be made. Donations may be made in person (cash, check, credit card) at City Hall, 401 S. Rogers, or mailed to City of Waxahachie, P.O. Box 757, Waxahachie, Texas 75168. Please include CEMETERY DONATION on the memo. Credit card donations may also be accepted by calling 469-309-4170 (wait for prompts to speak to a billing clerk). Citizens are encouraged to make donations to the City directly instead of using online donation services such as GoFundMe. In most cases, these platforms have very high service fees, which is taken out of the donation amounts.

For those who have specifically offered to contribute to a reward, sufficient funding exists with CrimeStoppers and while donations to CrimeStoppers are appreciated, the need is greater for funding of the repairs and restoration of the cemetery.

Regarding the investigation, it has now been determined that this crime occurred after noon on Saturday, February 26 and before 8am on Monday, February 28. Police are still encouraging anyone with tips to contact either the Waxahachie Police Department at 469-309-4426, or email chuckabee@waxahachiepd.org. Tips may also be sent to crimestoppersofelliscounty@gmail.com or by calling 972-937-PAYS (7297).

HELPFUL NUMBERS AND EMAILS:

TO VOLUNTEER:
Call 469-309-4270 or email waxahachiecemetery@waxahachie.com.

TO DONATE:
Checks may be mailed to P.O. Box 757, please include CEMETERY DONATION on memo.
Cash, Check or Credit Card in person at City Hall, 401 S. Rogers.
Credit Card by phone at 469-309-4170; wait for prompt to speak to a billing clerk.

PROVIDE TIPS:
Contact Waxahachie Police at 469-309-4426 or email chuckabee@waxahachiepd.org or CrimeStoppers at 972-937-PAYS (7297) or email crimestoppersofelliscounty@gmail.com.

Residential trash service has been canceled for Thursday, February 24 due to weather. Make-up schedules will be posted as soon as they are determined.

Stay tuned to Waxahachie.com and our social media pages for updates as they are available.

Stay safe and warm!

BROADHEAD ROAD PAVERS IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT

Starting MONDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2022, XIT Paving Company will begin making improvements to the road on Broadhead Road focusing on the replacement of pavers with stamped concrete at various locations.

As a result, Broadhead Road from US287 to about April Lane will be closed for the work while the other side will become a two way lane road for traffic. Please follow traffic control devices. The work is scheduled from 7am to 5pm Monday-Friday and possibly some Saturdays. Expect some delay and contact us if any problem should arise so we can resolve it in a timely manner. We appreciate your cooperation and apologize for any inconveniences. Please note that all work listed is dependent on the weather and is subject to change.

Contact us by calling (469) 309-4300 or email publicworks@waxahachie.com with questions or concerns.

Due to inclement weather, City offices will be CLOSED on Thursday and Friday. In addition to this closure, residential trash service has also been cancelled for Thursday and Friday. 

While non-essential offices are closed, City business may still be conducted with several virtual or online options for the convenience of our citizens. These include online utility bill payment, municipal court online payment, and reporting non-emergency issues. The following link includes City of Waxahachie online services: 

https://www.waxahachie.com/departments/communications_and_marketing/online_services.php 

Additionally, our Municipal Court Docket will be virtual on Thursday. If you are on the docket, please use the link below: 

https://zoom.us/j/3400122838 

For non-emergency needs during this time, please call the Waxahachie Police Department at 469-309-4400. For emergencies, please call 911. Stay safe and warm! 

The Greater Dallas Planning Council has announced its annual Urban Design Award winners for 2021, recognizing projects and individuals for excellence and leadership in urban design and urban planning in the Dallas region. For many years, the GDPC has identified local leaders and organizations in planning, engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, and urban design for their achievements and inspiration to the communities in the Greater Dallas region. This year’s list of award winners continues to recognize outstanding projects and leaders who demonstrate vision and excellence. We are pleased to announce that our Railyard Park was among this year’s recognized projects.

Railyard Park is a 1.2-acre multi-feature park and amphitheater located just steps away from Waxahachie’s prominent, well-preserved downtown. This new city park, which has stimulated downtown revitalization, is at the convergence of the old Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT) Railroad, the former Texas Electric Railway interurban passenger line from the heart of Dallas. This setting along the scenic Waxahachie Creek greenway draws people for its variety of activities, including symphonies, yoga and readings.

For more information on Railyard Park, please visit https://www.waxahachiecvb.com/business/railyard-park.

It may seem harmless to pour and scrape your fats, oils, and grease (FOG) down the kitchen drain, but it causes real trouble for your pipes, the City’s sewer – and yourself! With the holidays approaching, we are having a “Cease the Grease” Roundup where our residents may recycle their cooling oil for free! Cooking oil may be dropped at the Citizens Convenience Station November 22 through January 10 (Monday through Saturday 8am to 4pm, and the facility will be closed November 25-27 for Thanksgiving). Residents must bring ID and proof of residency (water bill). This collection is for cooking oils only, motor oil and other fluids will not be accepted. Thank you for helping keep our sewer lines running efficiently!

Click Here for More Information on the 2021 Holiday Grease Roundup

Please join us this Saturday, October 23 for the annual Texas Country Reporter Festival in Downtown Waxahachie! This year, with construction going on in and around the downtown area, we have created interactive maps to help residents and visitors navigate to the festival easier. These maps include the best access points, a general festival map, and public parking areas. To view the maps and best routes, click the link below. See you at the festival!

https://texascountryreporterfestival-waxgis.hub.arcgis.com/

The City of Waxahachie, Texas, Utilities Department will be increasing associated water fees (Meter Set Fee, Bull Head Meter fee, Road-Cut Fees, etc.) in early October 2021. Proposed increases are still being calculated, but a final proposal will be presented at the October 4, 2021 City Council Meeting. Proposed increases are due to a rise in the cost of doing business and other related items (Winter Storm Uri, COVID-19, Supply-Chain Challenges, Increased Operational Costs in the Private Sector, etc.) It is anticipated that any increases will go into effect on October 11, 2021.

Beginning MONDAY SEPT. 20, GAW Concrete Co. will be making concrete road repair on Shields Parkway from Mushroom Road to US 77.

As a result, Shields Parkway entry points at US 77 and Mushroom Road will be closed for about three (3) weeks. Please use alternate routes and expect delays.

We appreciate your cooperation. Please contact us with any questions or concerns at 469-309-4300 or email us at publicworks@waxahachie.com.

Beginning on WEDNESDAY SEPT 25th, J & K Excavation will begin overlaying asphalt on Broadhead Road. As a result, Broadhead Road from April Lane, moving east about 200 ft. to center median will have only one lane open for thru traffic. Work is schedule to begin from 8:00am to 5:00pm and to last about three (3) days. Please find alternate routes and expect delays.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation. Please contact the City of Waxahachie Public Works Dept. at 469-309-4300 or email publicworks@waxahachie.com with any questions or concerns.

The City of Waxahachie is currently working to update our Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan is a shared vision for the future of the community, with guiding principles to align the work of the City around the issues that matter most to the community.

Community input is an important part of this process, and we encourage our residents to visit the link below and share ideas, engage, and take our citizen survey. Thank you for taking time to share in the future success of our City!

www.waxahachieplan.com 

Standard and Poor’s Rating Services has upgraded the city of Waxahachie’s bond rating from AA- to AA.  According to information released from Standard & Poor’s, the rating increase was based on several factors, including “strong management, with good financial policies and practices.”

The city’s role as a regional economic and retail center as well as healthy residential and commercial growth contributed to the rating increase. Additionally, the report cited that factors such as a local strong economy, close proximity to the DFW Metroplex, strong budgetary performance, healthy fund balance, and transparency measures led to the upgraded rating. The Standard & Poor’s rating comes as a positive indicator in how the City fared during the economic uncertainty resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The guidance of a fiscally conservative City Council and sound day-to-day practices on a management and staff level definitely contributed to the rating increase. Additionally, the leadership and diligence of our Finance Director Chad Tustison and his team most certainly helped in positively impacting this rating upgrade,” said City Manager Michael Scott.

The Standard & Poor’s report indicated that while the City’s rapid growth will likely increase forthcoming financial obligations due to infrastructure and growth-related capital needs, Waxahachie is poised to continue to remain in a healthy financial state into the future.

The increase in the city’s bond rating not only offers a stable option to investors, but may also translate into savings for the city. With a higher bond rating, the city will typically receive more favorable interest rates when issuing debt, which ultimately translates to savings to the taxpayers.

Starting MONDAY JUNE 7, The City of Waxahachie Street Department’s contractor will be installing a concrete drainage flume on Water Street.

As a result, Water Street between North Monroe and Ferris Ave will be closed to all traffic. The work is scheduled for about a week from 7:00am to 5:00 pm. Please expect delays and use alternate routes.

All work listed above is pending the weather and subject to change. We appreciate your patience during construction. Please contact the Public Works & Engineering Dept.  (469) 309-4300 or email publicworks@waxahachie.com with questions or concerns.

The Waxahachie City Council has appointed Amber Villarreal as the new City Secretary during the Council meeting on Monday, May 17, 2021. Villarreal’s appointment follows the retirement of previous City Secretary Lori Cartwright, who served the City since 1999, and the last 14 years as City Secretary.

Villarreal has worked for the City of Waxahachie for over 20 years – starting in 2000 as a VOE student worker. In that time, she has served in a variety of roles, including in the Human Resources Department, as Assistant City Secretary, and most recently as Interim City Secretary. 

“Amber has been a loyal and valuable asset to the City for many years and serving in several roles. With each task she has risen to the occasion and provided excellent service to not only the Citizens, but also her peers. She is a tremendous employee and we look forward to her continued success,” said Michael Scott, City Manager.

As City Secretary, Villarreal’s responsibilities include being the official record keeper for all City records and public meetings. Duties of the City Secretary’s office include posting agendas, recording and posting minutes for City Council and all City boards and commissions, election administration, public and bid notices, open records requests, certain licensing functions, and more.

Villarreal will begin her new role immediately, and is excited to continue to serve our Citizens. “I am thankful for all the support from City Management, City Staff, and City Council and look forward to this next chapter in my life. Lori Cartwright has been a wonderful mentor and I am blessed to have worked alongside her for the last 13½ years,” said Villarreal. Amber and her husband Wally live in Waxahachie and have three children.

As a result of the heavy rains overnight, portions of Waxahachie Creek are flooded. Due to the high waters, please exercise caution in these areas including Getzendaner Park, and the Waxahachie Creek Hike and Bike Trail. The Little Creek Trail is fully open, and may be accessed at either Chapman Park or Brown-Singleton Park as an alternative until the creek recedes.

Additionally, the Citizens Convenience Station will be closed to the public today (Thursday, April 29). Thank you to our Citizens for their patience as our crews work on clean-up efforts. Updates will be posted as they are available.

It is now time to sign up to be a vendor at the Waxahachie Farmers Market.  Come join us at our new location—701 Howard Road—for the 2021 season! 

Applications and information are available at the links below.  An organizational meeting has been set for Thursday, April 15^th at 5:30 pm.  Potential vendors will be able to tour the market, turn in paperwork and pay fees, and ask questions at this meeting. All interested vendors are encouraged to attend this meeting if at all possible.

Grand opening of the market is scheduled for Saturday, May 8^th at 8 am.  Market will be open every Saturday from May 8-October 30 from 8 am to 1 pm. Come visit your favorite vendors and meet some new ones!

For more information on the Farmers Market, please call 469-309-4111 or email asimpson@waxahachie.com. 

2021 Market Requirements and General Information
2021 Vendor Application
2021 Rules and Regulations
Indemnity Agreement
General Information on Cottage Food Requirements

The Waxahachie City Ordinance requires all sidewalks in the City to be constructed, reconstructed, and kept in good repair by the owner of the property fronting the sidewalk.  However, through a new Sidewalk Grant initiative, the City will participate with a matching fund to assist residents with their sidewalk repairs or installation of new sidewalk.  For more information:

• Visit the following link: http://www.waxahachie.com/departments/engineering_department/sidewalk_grant_program.php
• Contact the Public Works Department at 469-309-4300
• Email us at SidewalkGrant@waxahachie.com

Beginning MONDAY FEB 1^st, GAW Inc. will begin making concrete repairs in the alley behind Indian Trace Ln and Kiowa Ln.

Work is scheduled for about a month and will be Monday thru Friday from 7am-5pm. Please use an alternate route. We are asking residents to park in front of their house for the duration of the project. Please call the Public Works & Engineering Department at 469-309-4300 or email at publicwiorks@waxahachie.com with any questions or concerns.

UPDATE:

Starting MONDAY FEB 8 to TUESDAY FEB 9 – P.E.T. Construction will be conducting a water and sewer tap and as a result, the road will be closed to all traffic for those two days from Perry Avenue to Dr. MLK JR. Blvd. The road will be reopened each evening. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience. Please contact the Public Works & Engineering Department at 469-309-4300 or email us at publicworks@waxahachie.com with any questions or concerns.

Starting MONDAY JAN 25^th, XIT Paving will begin construction work on Royal Street. Please use alternate routes and/or expect delays in traffic on Royal Street from US 77/Ferris Ave to N. Gibson Street. Please contact the Public Works & Engineering department at 469-309-4300 or email publicworks@waxahachie.com with any questions or concerns.

Starting TUESDAY JANUARY 19^th, A & M Construction and Utilities Inc., will begin construction on the 2015 Water Distribution System Improvements –Part 2 and 2015 Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation project. 

This project is scheduled to make improvements to water lines and sanitary sewer lines along various sections in E. Marvin Avenue from Peters St. to Hackberry St., Ennis Street from E. Marvin Ave to Union Pacific Railroad; Elder Street from E. Marvin Ave to Cleaver Rd. and Cleaver Road from Ennis St. to Elder St. and parts of Lake Park Avenue. There will also be asphalt road improvements on Ennis Street and Elder Street. Please avoid the area and use alternate routes.

Please contact the Public Works & Engineering department at 469-309-4300 or email publicworks@waxahachie.com with any questions or concerns.

City offices will be closed December 24^th, 25^th and January 1^st.  For non-emergency needs during this time, please call the Waxahachie Police Department at 469-309-4400. For emergencies, please call 911. 

Residential trash pickup will not run on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. If your regular pickup day falls on one of these holidays, your next pickup day will be your next regularly scheduled day. For example, if a holiday falls on a Monday and you have Monday/Thursday service, your next pickup will be Thursday. For questions regarding trash pickup, please call 972-937-8836.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

We have confirmed an ongoing water main break on the 8” water main in the 900 block of MLK JR Blvd just south of Getzendaner in front of an empty lot. The area noted on the map will be without water temporarily during repairs. If you have any questions, please contact our Utilities Department at 469-309-4320.

City offices will be closed November 26th and 27th. For non-emergency needs during this time, please call the Waxahachie Police Department at 469-309-4400. For emergencies, please call 911.

Residential trash pickup will not run on Thanksgiving Day. Pickup will resume on your normally scheduled day. Example: For Monday/Thursday customers, pickup will resume on Monday.

Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Beginning on Monday November 30^th, J & K Excavation will begin construction on the Clift Street, S. Flat Street and E. Madison Street project. This is a corridor rehabilitation project that will consist of replacing utilities: sanitary sewer, storm drain and water lines. There will be improvements to the road with curb & gutter, ADA compliant sidewalks and street lights. The following streets will have traffic control barriers in place and may have delays:

• Clift Street from the southern limits to DR. MLK JR BLVD
• S. Flat Street from Jefferson Street to the BNSF railroad
• E. Madison Street from S. Flat Street to Clift Street

Please contact the Public Works &Engineering Department with any questions or concerns either by phone at 469-309-4300 or email us at publicworks@waxahachie.com.

Starting MONDAY OCTOBER 26^th, Reynolds Paving Co. will be making improvements to the asphalt road on the following streets:

Buffalo Creek Drive from Indian Trace Ln. to Chieftain Dr.
Indian Trace Ln/Kiowa Ln from Buffalo Creek Dr. to Buffalo Creek Dr. (horseshoe loop)
Buffalo Creek Circle from Buffalo Creek Dr. to End
Peters Street from Graham St. to Parks School House Rd.
McKenzie Street from Williams St. to FM813/Brown St.
Barger Drive from FM813/Brown St. to FM813/Brown St. (horseshoe loop)
4^th Street from FM813/Brown St. to Dunn St.
W. Ross Street from FM813/Brown St. to US77/Ferris Ave.

Contractors are scheduled to begin asphalt work in the Indian Hills Subdivision area. Please expect delays or use alternate routes.

Please visit the City of Waxahachie website for update to date information or contact the Public Works & Engineering Department at 469-309-4300 or email at publicworks@waxahachie.com with any questions or concerns.

Beginning on MONDAY OCTOBER 26th, J & K Excavation Inc. will begin Phase 2 of road panel replacement on various sections on Northgate Drive. This final phase will have Northgate Drive closed to all traffic coming from US HWY 77. All access into and/or out of Coleman Junior High School, Walmart, and Credit Union should use Stadium Drive.   If possible, use alternate routes and expect some delays. Please call the Public Works Department at 469-309-4300 or email publicworks@waxahachie.com with any questions or concerns.

The City of Waxahachie public water system, (PWS) ID 0700008, will temporarily convert the disinfectant used in the distribution system from chloramine to free chlorine. The conversion will be for a four-week period and will begin on Thursday, October 1, 2020 and continue through Saturday, October 31, 2020.During this period, you may experience taste and odor changes associated with this type of temporary disinfectant conversion. This proactive program is required to remove material buildup within the distribution system after prolonged use of alternative disinfectant methods.

Public water systems are required to properly disinfect their water and maintain an adequate disinfectant residual in the distribution system. Chloramine, free chlorine combined with ammonia, is widely used as a disinfectant because it persists for long periods while also limiting the formation of disinfection by-product contaminants. Prolonged use of chloramine coupled with other factors that can impact water quality, such as high temperatures or stagnation of water, may result in the growth and/or persistence of organic matter within the pipes of the distribution system, which may hinder the ability to maintain an adequate disinfectant residual. This temporary conversion to free chlorine, partnered with flushing activities, helps to rid distribution pipes of this organic matter and improve the quality of your water overall.

This program will not affect the water quality in any regards to its use, however, customers who undergo kidney dialysis should consult with your physician prior to treatment during this period, and aquatic pet owners should take appropriate safeguards to protect those pets during this timeframe.

For questions regarding this program, citizens may contact Brandon Lacy, Water Production Superintendent at (469) 309-4361, e-mail at blacy@waxahachie.com or Rita Munoz, Administrative Secretary at (469) 309-4320, email at rmunoz@waxahachie.com.

Please note starting TUESDAY OCT. 6^th to TUESDAY OCT. 20^th, the City of Waxahachie Streets Department will be making concrete road repair at the intersection of Swallow Drive and Ovilla Road/FM 664. 

As a result, Swallow Drive at the intersection of Ovilla Road/FM664 will be down to one lane traffic beginning at 7:00am to about 6:00pm for those days. All work is dependent on the weather and is subject to change. Please use caution when driving and expect some delay.

Starting WED SEPT 30^th - J & K Excavation will be improving water lines and road improvements on Kaufman Street from Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd. to the railroad tracks. As a result, one lane will remain open going northbound for traffic.

Please find alternate routes or expect some delay. Please contact Public Works Department at 469-309-4300 or email us at publicworks@waxahachie.com.

J & K Excavation will be installing a storm drain inlet starting MONDAY SEPT. 28^th to WEDNESDAY SEPT. 30^th.  As a result, DR. MLK JR Blvd. /E. Main Street in front of Save More Store/Chicken Shack and condos will be restricted to one lane for traffic. The work is scheduled from 8am to 5pm for those days.  There will be flaggers to help conduct traffic. Please use alternate routes or expect delays.

Please contact the Public Works Dept. with any questions at 469-309-4300 or email publicworks@waxahachie.com.        

Thanks so much,

Please note starting MONDAY SEPT 21^st- THURSDAY SEPT. 24^th, J & K Excavation will be boring underneath the railroad tracks at Kaufman Street.

As a result, Kaufman Street at the railroad tracks will have one lane open for traffic to cross beginning at 7:00am to about 5:00pm for those days.

There will be flaggers to help conduct traffic. Please use caution when driving and expect some delay. All work is dependent on the weather and is subject to change.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation. Please contact the City of Waxahachie Public Works Dept. at 469-309-4300 with any questions or concerns.

Please note starting THURSDAY SEPT. 17^TH to MONDAY SEPT. 21^ST, the City of Waxahachie Streets Department will be re-asphalting Old Italy Road from Howard Road to Lakeshore Drive.

As a result, Old Italy Road will have one lane open for traffic beginning at 7:00am to about 6:00pm for those days. All work is dependent on the weather and is subject to change. Please use caution when driving and expect some delay.

Beginning on MONDAY SEPT. 21^st, J & K Excavation Inc. will begin road panel replacement on various sections on Northgate Drive from US Highway 77 to the Donut Depot.

The project will be in two phases in order to maintain some access to the properties along Northgate Drive but expect temporary restricted access to driveways. If possible, please use alternate routes and expect delays.   

KAUFMAN STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT – PHASE1
Temporary One Lane Closure

J & K Excavation will be installing a storm drain inlet this THURSDAY SEPT 10^th – FRIDAY SEPT 11^th.  As a result, Dr. M. L. K. Jr. Blvd. / E. Main Street from Tuggle Street to Kaufman Street will be restricted to one lane for traffic.

The work is scheduled from 8am to 3pm for those days.  Please expect delays and find alternate routes.

Please contact the Public Works department at 469-309-4300 or email at publicworks@waxahachie.com with any questions or concerns.

Please note starting TUESDAY SEPT 8^TH to FRIDAY SEPT 11^TH, the City of Waxahachie Streets Department will be trimming trees along Farley Street from Coleman to HWY 287. As a result, Farley Street from Coleman to HWY287 will have only one lane open for traffic for those days beginning at 8:00 AM and ending by 5:00 PM. Please find alternate routes and expect delays.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation. Please contact the City of Waxahachie Public Works Dept. at 469-309-4300 with any questions or concerns.

The City of Waxahachie Animal Services will be spraying for mosquitoes on Thursday, August 27, 2020 from 9:00pm to 5:00am. The schedule includes spraying every ten days thereafter. Staff will also be setting and checking traps by quadrants during the remaining warmer months in order to make assessments for numbers of mosquitoes. If at any time the numbers are low and indicate no need for spraying, adjustments will be made accordingly. For questions regarding mosquito spraying, please contact Terri Muniz at (469)309- 4150 or email tmuniz@waxahachiepd.org. This date is tentative, weather permitting, and subject to change.

See below for the tentative spraying schedule:
Thursday August 27
Thursday September 3
Monday September 14
Thursday September 24
Sunday October 4

Please note that beginning WEDNESDAY AUGUST 5th - FRIDAY AUGUST 6th, Madison Street will be closed between Monroe St and Elm St(US77) AND between Elm St(US77) and Rogers St to install utilities.  Work will begin around 8am and end around 4pm each day. Please expect delays and find alternate routes.

Please call the Public Works Department at 469-309-4300 or email at publicworks@waxahachie.com with any questions or concerns.

Please note that the City of Waxahachie Streets Department will be making concrete road improvements on various road panels on April Lane as well as the entry approach into April Lane.

Starting Monday August 10^th, the Streets Department will begin work on the entry approach into April Lane. As a result, only one lane will be open to traffic to access April Lane from and to Broadhead Road. Please use caution and follow the temporary traffic signs when entering and exiting into Broadhead Road.

Crews will be out from 7am to 3pm, Monday – Friday and is scheduled for about two weeks. All work listed above is pending the weather and subject to change. We appreciate your patience and cooperation. Please contact the Public Works Department by phone at 469-309-4300 or email publicworks@waxahachie.com with any questions or concerns.

Beginning July 29, FM66 between US77 and Turner Street will be closed. Construction on this area will last 3 to 4 weeks to rebuild the road completely in one phase. Westbound traffic will be utilizing the existing detour that is used by Eastbound traffic. There will be no impact to other road closures or detours. This work will allow FM66 to re-open for two-way traffic by the end of August.

For questions regarding this project, please call Public Works at 469-309-4300.

The City of Waxahachie Economic Development Department has formed a working group with the Waxahachie Chamber of Commerce and the Navarro Small Business Development Center to explore the feasibility of establishing a business incubator in the city. The purpose of an incubator is to help entrepreneurs get their ideas off the ground by providing support in overcoming the many challenges that new businesses face such as lack of affordable rental space, and the high cost or unavailability of advisory/facilitation services.

The City Economic Development Department will survey entrepreneurs and small business owners to evaluate the degree of interest in our community.
"We need to know if their is a significant number of people who are interested in the incubator,” said Warren Ketteman, Senior Director of Economic Development.

Ketteman added, “If you own a small business or if you are thinking about owning a small business, please take that survey for us”.

If a small business or entrepreneur would like to take part in the survey they can access it at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QKWM6RL. The link to the survey can also be found at www.crossroadsoftx.com.

The survey will close Aug. 3, 2020.

For more information on Economic Development in Waxahachie, visit http://www.crossroadsoftx.com.

Union Pacific Railroad will be working on railroad crossing improvements from the morning of Wednesday, July 8^th through Saturday, July 11^th.  The Ferris Avenue crossing will be closed on July 8^th.  Monroe Street and Elm Street crossings will be closed from the morning of July 9^th through July 11^th.  

During this period of July 8th through July 11, TxDOT will be using Marvin Avenue (FM878) to College Street to Main Street (BUS287) as our detour route for the railroad intersection on improvements on US77.

Governor Abbott Issues New Order

Due to the substantial increases in COVID-19 positive cases, increases in the positivity rate and increase in hospitalizations, Governor Abbott has issued his latest General Order, GA-28.  GA-28 makes targeted adjustments to the reopening plan in an effort to reduce the growing spread of COVID-19 and avoid the need for more extreme protective measures.  The order also strongly encourages individuals to practice good hygiene, social distancing and wearing of face coverings.  People should not be in groups larger than ten people.         

Below is a brief summary of adjustments to the reopening plan:

• Outdoor Events – outdoor gatherings of 100 individuals or less are allowed, but must follow the established health protocols; gatherings of more than 100 individuals are only allowed outdoors with local approval.
• Restaurants – may operate for dine-in service up to 75% of the total listed occupancy; effective June 29, 2020 may only operate for dine-in service up to 50% total listed occupancy; consider having all employees wear a cloth face covering; parties maintain at least 6 feet separation; no tables of more than 10 people.
• Bars – bars or similar establishments that have 51% or more of their gross receipts from the sale of alcoholic beverages may not operate except for drive-thru, pickup or delivery options for food and drinks to the extent allowed by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC). 
• Rafting and Tubing Services - may not operate, including rental of rafts or tubes and transportation of people for the purpose of rafting or tubing.

The City of Waxahachie Animal Services will be spraying for mosquitoes on Thursday, June 11, 2020 from 9:00pm to 5:00am. We will be following a schedule that has us spraying every ten days thereafter. We will also be setting and checking traps by quadrants during the summer months in order to make assessments for numbers of mosquitoes. If at any time the numbers are low and indicate no need for spraying, we will make adjustments accordingly. We expect the process to spray the entire city will take 6 to 8 hours with two trucks and two persons. For questions regarding mosquito spraying, please contact Terri Muniz at (469) 309- 4150 or email tmuniz@waxahachiepd.org. This date is tentative, weather permitting, and subject to change. Please know of the preventive measures you can take to assist us in keeping the mosquito population down.

See below of the tentative spraying schedule.

Thursday June 11
Monday June 22 
Thursday July 2 
Monday July 13
Tuesday July 23
Monday August 3
Thursday August 13
Thursday August 27
Friday September 4
Monday September 14
Thursday September 24
Sunday October 4

SIDEWALK INSTALLATION AT HARBIN AVENUE and SECOND STREET

Starting MONDAY MAY 11, ABF Concrete will be installing ADA compliant sidewalks in parts of Harbin Avenue and Second Street. These improvements will improve walkability and safety in the area around Wilemon STEAM Academy.

Please expect delays from 8:00am to 5:00pm; Monday through Friday on Harbin Avenue from W. Marvin Avenue to Second Street and Second Street from Harbin Avenue to N. Gibson Street.

Feel free to contact Public Works Dept. at 469-309-4300 or email publicworks@waxahachie.com with any questions or concerns.

The City of Waxahachie has issued an updated Disaster Declaration Order in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. This declaration is effective immediately.

This measure essentially extends the initial Order (Issued March 16, 2020) that gives the City of Waxahachie powers to enact certain protective emergency measures that will help to ensure the continued safety and health of our community. The act also allows the City to access reimbursement funding in the event expenses are incurred as a result of COVID-19.

With this Declaration, all previous Mayoral Disaster Declarations are repealed, and incorporates the provisions of any Executive Order or similar directive issued by the President of the United States, Governor of Texas, or County Judge and/or Commisioners Court of Ellis County. Specifically, this order incorporates Governor Abbott’s order GA-18 related to the expanded and systematic plan to reopen Texas. This order also aligns the City with the timelines of any declarations issued by the Governor.

“Issuing this Declaration was necessary to put the City of Waxahachie fully in line with the Governor of Texas as we begin to re-open our state. Additionally, having this order in place will allow the city to continue to access reimbursement funding for COVID-19 related expenses,” said Michael Scott, City Manager.

The City and its staff will continue working daily with state and local health officials and authorities to ensure that the latest information and preventative procedures are enacted for the safety of our community. Updates will be provided as they are available on the City website at www.waxahachie.com, as well as the City’s social media accounts.

For more information or questions regarding this news release, please call 469-285-6895 or email aborders@waxahachie.com.

Extended Disaster Declaration Order May 4, 2020

The City of Waxahachie has partnered with the firm of Pipeline Analysis to conduct a sanitary sewer manhole access and investigations project in the northern portion of the City’s sanitary sewer system with the general boundaries shown in the attached map. This project is scheduled to be performed over a six-week period starting this week. Depending on the location of the manholes, a representative from Pipeline Analysis may contact you, or leave a door knocker to contact them, to arrange a time to gain access to a specific sewer manhole on your property. The Pipeline Analysis employee will be in a company marked vehicle and will be observing all COVID-19 safety precautions, such as safe distancing, wearing face masks and other safety measures. At no time will an employee need to enter your home.

If you have questions please contact City of Waxahachie at (469) 309-4320.

Please note starting WEDNESDAY APRIL 29^th to THURSDAY APRIL 30^th, the City of Waxahachie Streets Department will be making asphalt road repairs on Royal Street.

As a result, Royal Street from US 77 to N. Monroe Street will be closed to thru traffic for those two (2) days beginning at 8:00 AM and end by 5:00 PM.

Please find alternate routes and expect delays. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please contact the City of Waxahachie Public Works Dept. at 469-309-4300 or email at publicworks@waxahachie.com with any questions or concerns.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 23, 2020 (Waxahachie, Texas) The Waxahachie City Council has approved (5-0) a program that will provide some financial relief to citizens in the coming months. This program, which will aid residents, comes one week after City Council approved (4-1) another program that provides financial assistance to local small businesses in these unprecedented times.

            The residential program provides relief to residents in two ways. First, most of our Waxahachie citizens are also conscientious water bill payers each month.  For those that are, the City will refund their water deposit funds and not require such a deposit to remain on file with the City.  For most, this will equate to a check back to them in the amount of $90. Second, a residential trash service monthly charge is $15.32 (including tax).  This program also includes a three month relief plan that would reduce each residential trash service fee to $.01.  This equates to a $45.89 benefit to our 10,887 residential water customers. Together, these breaks could equal up to over $135 in savings over the next three months.

            “We are experiencing something that we’ve never been through, and many of our residents are feeling the economic effects. We put a plan in place to help our local small businesses, and wanted to also extend the same gesture to our residents,” said Mayor David Hill.

In addition to these two programs, the City has already enacted residential relief efforts related to waiving late payment fees and suspending water disconnections for non-payment.  These programs would continue as well.

            “While not a tremendous amount of money, we believe this shows the City’s desire to not only help our small businesses, but our citizens directly. Every dollar counts, especially in times like these,” said City Manager Michael Scott. “Mayor Hill and our Council continue to make taking care of our community a priority, and these actions will help Waxahachie get through this time,” said Scott. 

            For more information on the news release, please email aborders@waxahachie.com or call 469-309-4012.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 20, 2020 (Waxahachie, Texas) On Friday, April 17, 2020, Governor Abbott issued a new Executive Order GA-16, which updated previous Executive Orders, and laid out plans to begin re-opening of the state. This Executive Order GA-16 replaces the previously issued order GA-14, and is supported by the Waxahachie City Council’s latest Declaration.

          Included in the order is the introduction of a “Retail-To-Go” model, which allows for retail businesses that are not considered “Essential Services” to begin providing curbside pickup, shipping, or doorstep delivery, as long as strict compliance with the DSHS requirements are met.[LA1]   The DSHS requirements may be found at www.dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus. This order also states that all schools in Texas will remain closed for the rest of the school year. Also, Texas State Parks will reopen, but again, social distancing and all DSHS requirements must be practiced.

          Additionally, the Governor established a Strike Force to Open Texas, which is comprised of a team of medical professionals and public and private leaders from across the state to develop a strategy and timely to reopen Texas in the safest and most efficient manner.

          The full order may be found at the link below: 
https://gov.texas.gov/uploads/files/press/EO-GA-16_Opening_Texas_COVID-19_FINAL_04-17-2020.pdf

          For questions regarding this news release, please call 469-309-4012, or email aborders@waxahachie.com

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 17, 2020 (Waxahachie, Texas) The City of Waxahachie is implementing a COVID-19 Emergency Loan Program (“Program”) to provide assistance to local businesses suffering from financial impacts related to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.  The purpose of this Program is to provide working capital for personnel costs, rent, utilities, etc. for existing small businesses within the City of Waxahachie, Texas.

Through the Program, $1,000,000 in total funds has been allocated.  The City will provide loans which may equal up to 3 months total operating, payroll, rent, etc. and expenses, not to exceed $50,000 per business.  All loans will be interest free and have no more than a 24-month repayment schedule with up to 6 months first payment deferral.

The application period for this loan will remain open until funding has been exhausted, or until the City of Waxahachie determines that the program goals have been satisfied.

“While we continue to navigate through these unprecedented times, in addition to keeping our community safe, it is also necessary to protect and assist some of our most valuable assets, which include our local businesses,” said Mayor David Hill. “Waxahachie is a strong community that has a long history of taking care of its own, and this instance is no different,” said Hill.

These small business loans are being made available from the City in the form of a “380 Agreement” between the business owner and the City.  A 380 Agreement, per the Texas local government code, allows public entities to provide support to private firms under the premises of economic development or stimulus.

“Waxahachie has implemented many 380 agreements in the past, and this mechanism is a tool that has served us well, and one that has been successful,” said City Manager Michael Scott. “We are in the midst of a time when keeping our local economy afloat is extremely important, and this will help contribute to accomplishing that,” said Scott.

Eligibility & Consideration

To qualify for funding under this Program, the business applicant must meet all of the following criteria:

• Business must be physically located in the corporate city limits of Waxahachie, and must be in compliance with all applicable zoning, land use, and other ordinances.  Non-profit and home-based businesses do not qualify for the COVID-19 Emergency Loan Program.
• Business must have 50 or fewer employees.
• Business must have been in operation for at least 6 months.
• Business must maintain 80% of typical staffing levels throughout the duration of the loan.
• Business must be in good standing (financial & compliance) with the City and creditors.
• Business must submit a COMPLETE application packet including:
  • Completed application form,
  • Most recent tax returns,
  • Balance sheet, and
  • Profit-and-loss statements for the last six months.
• There is a limit of one loan per applicant.
• Once awarded, a 380 Agreement and Promissory Note will be executed to complete the loan process and initiate payment of funds.
• Please note that award of these loan funds may impact funding from other Federal and State programs.  Applicant should check terms of other such grant and loan programs.
• Application for this program does not guarantee award of funding.  Funding will be awarded at the sole discretion of the City of Waxahachie and based on need, investment, and availability.

The application form and complete Program information is available online at www.waxahachie.com, under Economic Development, and COVID-19 Resources. If you have questions regarding this Program, or need assistance with your application, please email emergencyloan@waxahachie.com or call 469.309.4122.

Please note that beginning WEDNESDAY APRIL 15^th - THURSDAY APRIL 16th, The City of Waxahachie Streets Department will be striping Brookside Road. As a result, Brookside Road from Westgate Drive to US 287 Business will be closed to all traffic for two (2) days. Work will begin around 8am and end about 5pm. Please expect delays and find alternate routes.

Please call the Public Works Department at 469-309-4300 or email at publicworks@waxahachie.com with any questions or concerns.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 6, 2020 (Waxahachie, Texas) The City of Waxahachie has issued a declaration that supports the Executive Order GA-14 issued by Governor Abbott on March 31st.

The restrictions in this order continue until April 30, 2020 at 11:59pm, and replace the previous order issued by the City of Waxahachie on March 25, 2020.

The restrictions include remaining home unless obtaining or providing for essential services.  Essential services include such activities as accessing grocery stores, gas stations, essential supplies, and participating in outdoor fitness activities so long as precautions are taken to minimize in-person contact.   Additionally, this order continues to endorse avoiding sit-down dining establishments and instead utilize take out or delivery options for prepared food.  Gyms, cosmetology and salons also should be avoided at this time.  All employers are also encouraged to offer remote work from home opportunities for their employees when possible. 

“Essentially what the City declaration accomplishes is to put our guidelines in line with those that Governor Abbott has issued for the entire state. It’s important that not only our community, but the entire state be on the same page to stop the spread of this virus,” said Mayor David Hill.

In accordance with the guidelines from the President and the CDC, people shall not visit nursing homes, state supported living centers, assisted living facilities, or long-term care facilities unless to provide critical assistance as determined through guidance from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

This order also states that houses of worship are only to hold in-person services if online resources are not available.  If such services cannot be held through remote broadcast, then social distancing, sanitation and environmental cleanliness practices should be instituted.

“This is a tough time for everyone, and our City leaders recognize that. We are fortunate to live in a great community, and we must all do our part to get through it together. This means staying home, practicing social distancing and good hygiene, washing our hands and being respectful of our neighbors,” said City Manager Michael Scott.

City facilities that remain closed include the Waxahachie Civic Center, Sports Complex, Citizen’s Convenience Station and Senior Center. City Hall is also closed to the public, but key staff are on hand to serve citizens though phone and email. Contacts and information may be found on the City website at waxahachie.com, and clicking on the COVID-19 resources page.

For more information or questions regarding this news release, please call 469-285-6895 or email aborders@waxahachie.com.

City of Waxahachie Declaration - April 6, 2020

Due to inclement weather, the work listed below must be rescheduled for another time. A notice will be posted when the new dates have been determined.

Please note that beginning WEDNESDAY APRIL 1st - THURSDAY APRIL 2nd, The City of Waxahachie Streets Department will be striping Brookside Road. As a result, Brookside Road from Westgate Drive to US 287 Business will be closed to all traffic for two (2) days. Work will begin around 8am and end about 5pm. Please expect delays and find alternate routes.

Please contact the Public Works department at 469-309-4300 or email us at publicworks@waxahachie.com with any questions or concerns.

Please note that FRIDAY MAR 27TH through MONDAY MAR 30TH, the right lane will be closed on FM 877 West to install new drainage from S. College St. to US 77.  Work will begin around 8am and end about 4pm for each day.

Please contact the Public Works Department at 469-309-4300 or email publicworks@waxahachie.com with any questions or concerns.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 25, 2020 (Waxahachie, Texas) The City of Waxahachie has issued a Shelter-In-Place order is response to COVID-19. This order takes effect on March 26, 2020 at 11:59 p.m., and will continue through 11:59 p.m. on April 16, 2020.  This order is also in line with similar orders issued by Ellis County and other regional agencies, including Dallas County and Tarrant County.

“It is essential that this virus be slowed to protect the safety and wellbeing of our community and its citizens. The most efficient way to do so is to significantly limit person to person contact, which this order greatly limits,” said Mayor David Hill. “We are coming alongside Ellis County and other neighboring cities and agencies to strengthen restrictions to proactively combat this growing pandemic together,” said Hill.

The Shelter-In-Place Order requires that all individuals anywhere within the City of Waxahachie stay home except for certain essential activities and work to provide necessary business and government services, or perform needed public infrastructure construction, including housing.

Essential activities include tasks necessary to health and safety (including obtaining medical supplies or visiting a healthcare professional), obtaining required supplies such a food, pet food or essential household items, or caring for a family member in another household. Residents are allowed to engage in outdoor activities such as walking or running, but must comply with social distancing requirements of six feet.

Restaurants may only provide take out or delivery services during this time. Religious and worship services may only be provided through video or teleconference. Additionally, all public or private gatherings of any number outside a single household are prohibited. All elective medical, surgical and dental procedures are also not allowed.

Essential businesses include healthcare facilities, governmental facilities, governmental functions, critical infrastructure, and essential retail (includes grocery stores, warehouse stores, convenience stores/gas stations). Businesses that support food cultivation, livestock, and farming are also considered essential. Auto supply, hardware stores, laundromats, and businesses that sell supplies for people to work from home are also allowed. A complete list off allowed businesses is included in the attached Shelter-In-Place Order.

“While the Shelter-At-Home Order does carry restrictions farther, this order is absolutely necessary to protect all members of our community, especially those most vulnerable,” said Michael Scott, City Manager. “It is imperative that all of us comply and work together to stop the spread of this virus. The sooner we do so, the sooner we can return to the normalcy of our daily routines,” said Scott.

The City and its staff will continue working daily with state and local health officials and authorities to ensure that the latest information and preventative procedures are enacted for the safety of our community. Updates will be provided as they are available on the City website at www.waxahachie.com, as well as the City’s social media accounts.

For more information or questions regarding this news release, please call 469-285-6895 or email aborders@waxahachie.com.

SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER - COMPLETE DETAILS

Please note that WEDNESDAY MAR 25TH through FRIDAY MAR 27TH, various lanes will be closed on FM 1446 to install new utilities from Dillon St. to Dunaway St. Flaggers will be provided to direct traffic. Work will begin around 9am and end about 3:30pm for each day.

Please contact the Public Works Department at 469-309-4300 or email publicworks@waxahachie.com with any questions or concerns.

Beginning Tuesday, March 31st through Wednesday, April 1st, the 200 Block of Peters Street (between the railroad tracks and Wyatt Street) during the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM to make water and sanitary sewer taps. Please use alternate routes.

Beginning Monday March 23, the intersection at East University Avenue and Martha Street will be temporary closed for concrete road repairs for about a week.

Please use alternate routes. Please contact the Public Works & Engineering department with any questions or concerns at 469-309-4300 or email publicworks@waxahachie.com

Beginning Monday, March 23 a construction project on city sewer service will begin in the 200 block of MLK Boulevard. Traffic will be reduced to one lane, with alternating flow. This work is expected to last 3-4 days. Please exercise caution if driving in this area, and thank you for you patience.

Please note that TUESDAY MAR 24TH through WEDNESDAY MAR 25TH, there will be lane closures on FM 66 West from US 77 to Turner St. Work will begin around 9am and end about 3:30pm for each day, please expect delays and find alternate routes.

Please contact the Public Works Department at 469-309-4300 or email publicworks@waxahachie.com with any questions or concerns.

Message from Mayor David Hill – March 20

As we continue to make every effort to keep our community safe and healthy during this time, City staff and officials are working closely with our local emergency management teams, also constantly communicating with Ellis County and the State of Texas to stay up-to-date on the latest information and preventative measures. We are fortunate that as of the time of this message we still have no confirmed cases of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) here in Waxahachie.  

We are still encouraging our Citizens to each do their part with diligent handwashing, social distancing, cough control, and surface disinfecting. The public is asked to adhere to the recommended guidelines for prevention to ensure our community remains healthy.

Per these recommended preventative measures, we have also made the decision to close City Hall to public visitors for the time being. Staff is still available for our Citizens, and available through telephone and online resources. We have also closed the Waxahachie Civic Center, Waxahachie Sports Complex, Waxahachie Senior Activity Center, and all park restrooms. 

These restrictions are also in line with Governor Abbott’s Executive Order that prohibits social gatherings of groups of 10 or more people, prohibits dine-in eating at restaurants and bars, and also prohibits visitation at nursing homes. Drive-thru and takeout/curbside/delivery dining is allowed. This order is effective as of 11:59 p.m. on March 20, 2020 and continuing through April 3, 2020 and is subject to extension.

Governor Abbott has also issued another Executive Order allowing municipalities to move local elections to November. While a decision has not yet been made on this for Waxahachie, I can tell you that we are giving very thoughtful consideration to this matter and will soon act accordingly in the best interest of the health and safety of our community.

I want to thank each of our community members for doing their part to help us get to the other side of this temporary situation. I also want to encourage you, if you are able, to support our local businesses. Takeout and online shopping for our retailers will be key in helping our local business owners weather this storm.

A page has also been added to the City website at www.waxahachie.com that includes many links, contact information, and general COVID-19 information to help our citizens navigate through this. As mentioned above, the City of Waxahachie staff and leadership continues to constantly monitor this situation. We truly live in one of the best cities in Texas, and I know that we will all do our part to get through this. Thank you for being Hachie Heart Strong!  

http://www.waxahachie.com/covid-19_resources/index.php

An Executive Order by Governor Greg Abbott was issued today that prohibits social gatherings of groups of 10 or more people, prohibits dine-in eating at restaurants and bars, and also prohibits visitation at nursing homes. Drive-thru and takeout/curbside/delivery dining is allowed. This order is effective at 11:59pm on March 20, 2020, and continuing to April 3, 2020, and subject to extension.

This executive order does not prohibit people from visiting a variety of places, including grocery stores, gas stations, parks, and banks, so long as the necessary precautions are maintained to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. This executive order does not mandate sheltering in place.

For the full Executive Order and more Information please click the following links:

Executive Order From Governor Abbott

Declaration of Public Health Disaster

The City of Waxahachie Emergency Management and Staff continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely and are in daily communication with state and federal agencies to stay up-to-date on the latest information and prevention measures.

The best way to protect yourself and family is to follow the CDC recommendations for handwashing, cough control, surface disinfecting and social distancing.

The City of Waxahachie Emergency Management Office and representatives from the Waxahachie Fire Department have been in almost daily contact with Texas Health and Human Services or the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The State of Texas, Ellis County and the City of Waxahachie have been reviewing their plans for all respiratory virus outbreaks including Coronavirus.  

The public is asked to adhere to the recommended guidelines for prevention to ensure our community remains healthy.

For more information from the CDC and Texas Health and Human Services, please utilize the links listed below:

Texas Health and Human Services:
https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/

Centers for Disease Control on COVID-19:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Basic Information on COVID-19:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/2019-ncov-factsheet.pdf

Common Symptoms:
https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/docs/CoronavirusSymptoms-English.pdf

If Suspected To Have Coronavirus:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/sick-with-2019-nCoV-fact-sheet.pdf

How it’s Spread:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/transmission.html

Information for Expectant Mothers:
Pregnant Women and COVID-19
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/pregnancy-faq.html

Printable Materials:
https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/docs/CoronavirusAlert-English.pdf
https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/docs/StopSpreadofGerms-English.pdf

While at this time there are no known cases of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in Waxahachie, the City of Waxahachie Emergency Management and Staff continue to monitor the situation closely and are in daily communication with state and federal agencies to stay up-to-date on the latest information and prevention measures. 

The City of Waxahachie Emergency Management Office and representatives from the Waxahachie Fire Department have been in almost daily contact with Texas Health and Human Services or the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The State of Texas, Ellis County and the City of Waxahachie have been reviewing their plans for all respiratory virus outbreaks including Coronavirus. 

The best way to protect yourself and family is to follow the CDC recommendations for handwashing, cough control and surface disinfecting. The public is asked to adhere to the recommended guidelines for prevention to ensure our community remains healthy. 

In exercising an abundance of caution, the decision has been made to reschedule the Railyard Park Grand Opening Celebration. City staff is working to get a new date confirmed, and we will announce that as soon as it has been determined. We look forward to celebrating this new amenity with our amazing community when it’s safe for everyone to do so. As a further precaution, we will closely monitor other city-sanctioned events, as well as private events on a case-by-case basis. 

Some sports leagues that utilize the Waxahachie Sports Complex have voluntarily suspended or postponed their games for the time being. Many classes scheduled to be held at the Waxahachie Senior Activity Center have been cancelled and other activities are being evaluated for possible restrictions. City staff and leadership also continues to monitor these facilities. 

Increased cleaning and sanitizing measures are in the process of being implemented at City facilities, as well as, posting of signage to increase public awareness of protective measures that should be followed. We have also encouraged City staff to stay home if they are any of their family members are sick, and to remain home until they have been fever-free for a minimum of 24 hours. Staff has also been instructed to limit face-to-face meetings, and to utilize other forms of communication such as email and teleconference when possible. 

For citizens who normally pay their utility bill in person, alternative ways to pay are also available. Those include the drive-through behind City Hall (Open Monday-Friday, 8am to 5pm), online, and on the phone. You may call the Utility Billing Department at 469-309-4170, or visit www.waxahachie.com, from the main menu choose Departments, then Utility Billing Options. 

As mentioned above, the City of Waxahachie staff and leadership continues to constantly monitor this situation. The safety of our citizens is our top priority, and we encourage our community members to remain calm but cautious as we get through this temporary setback together.

Please note that beginning MONDAY MAR 9^TH to TUESDAY MAR 10^TH, TexasBit will be excavating and preparing Brookside Road for an asphalt pour on FRIDAY MAR 13^th. As a result Brookside Drive from Westgate Drive to US 287 Business will be closed to all traffic on those three (3) days. Work will begin around 7am and end about 5pm for each day, please expect delays and find alternate routes.

We appreciate your continued patience and are available if you have any questions or concerns. Please contact the Public Works Dept. at 469-309-4300 or email publicworks@waxahachie.com if you have any questions or concerns about the closure.

Please note that due to road paving work the intersection at Martha Street and East University Ave will be closed to thru traffic. This temporary closure is in affect as of THURSDAY FEB 20, 2020 and will last about a week. Please use alternate routes. Please contact the Public Works Department at 469-309-4300 or email publicworks@waxahachie.com with any questions or concerns.

Beginning THURSDAY JANUARY 30, 2020, the City of Waxahachie Streets Department will be making necessary drainage ditch repairs by John Arden Drive and Auburn Drive. As a precaution for safety John Arden Drive from Solon Road to Trinity Lane will be closed to all traffic for the day.

 Please use alternate routes and/or avoid the area. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience. Please contact the Public Works Department at 469-309-4300 with any questions or concerns.

Beginning WEDNESDAY JANUARY 15^th, 2020, AXIS Contracting will begin concrete road improvements on the north side of Stadium Drive. As a result, Stadium Drive will have one lane open going one way from Northgate Drive towards FM 813 / Brown Street for about a month. Please expect delays and use alternate routes. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience. Please contact us with any questions at Public Works Dept. (469) 309-4300.

The City of Waxahachie, Texas has partnered with Swagit Productions, LLC to stream their indexed public meetings, live and on demand, on their website portal that can be found at http://www.waxahachie.com/government/city_council/city_council_meeting_live_stream.php.

In 2018, the City began streaming City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission meetings to social media using an iPad and external microphone. Seeking a more turnkey and professional solution, the City turned to Swagit.

Now, Waxahachie’s City Council and P&Z meetings are broadcast hands-free, meaning the City does not need to allocate staff for meeting video production. With the help of Swagit’s Avior™ hands-free broadcast solution, a reliable high definition and dynamic viewing experience is available to over 10,000 resident households. The streaming video includes lower-third graphics, to help identify who is on camera and speaking; full-screen graphics of digital presentations will often have an inset “picture-in-picture” view of the speaker. Swagit’s hands-free EASE™ video indexing solution removes the burden of indexing from the City Secretary’s office who is responsible for keeping meeting records.

After a meeting concludes, its archived video becomes available for accessible on-demand viewing on the City’s website. For ease of access, viewing and sharing, Swagit’s advanced on-demand video indexing solution allows viewers to choose which meeting agenda items they wish to watch, and then jumps directly to that particular video segment.

As an additional convenience to residents, the City also posts all meeting agendas, agenda packets, and minutes on their live stream webpage, regardless of whether a meeting has been broadcast. Waxahachie does not currently use an agenda management solution for document storage, and opted to bundle this hosting into their service with Swagit.

“The City had a clear vision of how to improve their meeting transparency for their citizens,” said Natascha Ross, Swagit Account Manager. “They knew exactly what they wanted, found the solution they needed at Swagit, and embraced it.”

The University of Texas at Arlington and the city of Waxahachie are collaborating on robotic inspections of several miles of the city’s sewer pipelines.

Ali Abolmaali, professor and chair of UTA’s Civil Engineering Department, will lead the pilot project, which will lead to estimates on the remaining service life of the pipelines.

Half the project will be inspection and half will be data evaluation. Data retrieved from the robot will be used for a variety of assessments. For example, core samples taken from the pipes will be analyzed by a scanning electron microscope to relate material chemistry to pipe strength, in addition to using finite element modeling and employing artificial intelligence.

In 2015, Abolmaali—a renowned pipe expert—was awarded a grant to evaluate the conditions of some of the City of Arlington’s pipes. He’s also done pipeline performance evaluations for the cities of Ennis and Frisco. But this project goes beyond his previous work to evaluate the remaining service life for pipelines in Waxahachie.

“This is a tremendous step forward from a project that Professor Abolmaali initiated with the city of Arlington, and it’s wonderful to see the impact that UTA scholarship and research is having on the communities we serve,” UTA President Vistasp Karbhari said. “Professor Abolmaali’s ability to continue enhancing the state-of-the-art in pipeline assessment, along with enabling practical application of the research that results in tremendous cost savings and increase in safety for cities, is a wonderful example of university research having local impact.”

UTA will work with RedZone on the robotic inspection of the sewer pipes and with Public Water Solutions, a water consultant.

“We are excited about the opportunity to partner with UTA on this project,” said Tommy Ludwig, Waxahachie assistant city manager. “Waxahachie continually looks for ways to deliver service to our customers in the most cost-effective and efficient ways possible. We believe that this partnership with Dr. Abolmaali and his team will help us continue in this effort by helping the city prioritize repairs and better utilize the funds allocated to its Capital Improvement Plan.”

Abolmaali, who also is the Dr. Tseng Huang Endowed Professor, noted that Waxahachie’s initial proposed pilot pipeline is made of vitrified clay pipe, a blend of clay and shale that’s been fired under high temperatures.

“This type of pipe usually has been in the ground for several decades,” he said.

Ron Lusk, president of Public Water Solutions, said working with UTA and Waxahachie on this project illustrates the way private companies can work with public entities to help aid capital infrastructure decisions and, ultimately, residents and businesses.

“The frustration with pipe replacement has been the expense and disruption of digging up streets and sidewalks,” he said. “A pipe segment often can’t be replaced without a significant excavation, so the solution up until today has been to replace long stretches of pipe. Now there is an option that allows pinpointing analysis onto almost each and every pipe segment, freeing up much-needed funds. Pipe replacement becomes microsurgery instead of amputation.”

The work will be done through UTA’s Center for Structural Engineering Research and Simulation/Pipeline Inspection. Abolmaali is director of the center.

Please note that beginning Monday January 6, 2020, Circle H Contractors working with the City of Waxahachie will be installing new sanitary sewer lines.

Parts of the Estate of Garden Valley will experience some delay in traffic flow from Broadhead Rd., along Memory Lane to Old Bridge Road.

Please contact Public Works Department with any questions or concerns at 469-309-4300.

We appreciate your patience and are available to answer any questions.

City offices will be closed January 1, re-opening on January 2. For non-emergency needs during this time, please call the Waxahachie Police Department at 469-309-4400. Dial 9-1-1 for emergencies. Have a safe and happy holiday!

Residential trash pickup will not run on New Year’s Day. If your regular pickup day falls on this holiday, your next pickup day will be your next regularly scheduled day. For example, if a holiday falls on a Monday and you have Monday/Thursday service, your next pickup will be Thursday. For questions regarding pickup, please call 972-937-8836.

Starting MONDAY JANUARY 6^th , Texas Bit will be making asphalt road improvements on various streets throughout Waxahachie.

Work hours are Monday – Friday from 7am-7pm. Please expect delays and follow road traffic signs.

Please call the Public Works Department at 469-309-4300 or email at publicworks@waxahachie.com with any questions or concerns.

Residential trash pickup will not run on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. If your regular pickup day falls on one of these holidays, your next pickup day will be your next regularly scheduled day. For example, if a holiday falls on a Monday and you have Monday/Thursday service, your next pickup will be Thursday. For questions regarding pickup, please call 972-937-8836.

City offices will be closed December 24-25, re-opening on December 26. For non-emergency needs during this time, please call the Waxahachie Police Department at 469-309-4400. Dial 9-1-1 for emergencies. Have a safe and happy holiday!

City offices will be closed November 28 and 29. For non-emergency needs during this time, please call the Waxahachie Police Department at 469-309-4400. For emergencies, please call 911.

Residential trash pickup will not run on Thanksgiving Day. Pickup will resume on your normally scheduled day. Example: For Monday/Thursday customers, pickup will resume on Monday.

Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Starting MONDAY DECEMBER 2^ND, J & K Excavationwill begin construction work on East Avenue C from HWY 77 to Ellis Street.

As a result, East Avenue C will be closed to thru traffic. Work hours are Monday – Friday from 7am-7pm. Please expect delays and follow road traffic signs.

Please call the Public Works Department at 469-309-4300 or email at publicworks@waxahachie.com with any questions or concerns.

Beginning on MONDAY DECEMBER 2^nd, McMahon Contractors will begin construction on the East University Street project. The scope of work starts at W. Marvin Avenue and ends at Sycamore Street as well as parts of Martha Street and Ross Street. Work hours are Monday – Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm. Please expect delays and follow traffic road signs.

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. Please contact Public Works Department at 469-309-4308 or email publicworks@waxahachie.com with any questions or concerns about this project.

FM 813 12-INCH WATER LINE: DEAN BOX DRIVE TO SANDSTONE RANCH SUBDIVISION

Starting MONDAY OCTOBER 28^TH, Circle H Contractors will begin installing approximately 2,400 LF of 12” PVC water linefrom Dean Box Drive to the Sandstone Ranch subdivision. Work is scheduled from 8am to 5pm Monday thru Friday until Spring 2020. Please expect delays. We appreciate your patience.  Please contact the Public Works Department at 469-309-4300 or email publicworks@waxahachie.com.

Starting MONDAY OCTOBER 28^TH, HD Cook’sRock Solid Inc. will begin sidewalk installation. This is the initial start of the sidewalk program and at this time the scope and goal is to establish sidewalk where there are sections missing. The new sidewalks will be compliant with the American Disabilities Act (ADA). Sections of existing sidewalk may remain and some will be replaced. This will re-connect the sidewalks and provide a more seamless and safe walk for all of Waxahachie.  

Below is a list of the streets, in no particular order, of scheduled work. Please expect delays at the following streets:

• Parts of Brown Street / FM 813 from  E. Criddle Street to Kirksey Street.
• Parts of E. Marvin Avenue from N. Flat Street to Ennis Street.
• Parts of DR. MLK JR BLVD. from Kaufman Street to Wyatt Street.

 Please call the Public Works Department at 469-309-4300 or email at publicworks@waxahachie.com.

Please note starting MONDAY OCT 21st, weather permitting, the City of Waxahachie Streets Department will be making concrete road improvements on Peters Street.

As a result, a section of Peters Street from Wyatt Street to the railroad crossing, will have one lane open for thru traffic. The work will start at 8:00 AM and end by 5:00 PM for about two weeks. Please expect delays.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation. Please contact the City of Waxahachie Public Works Dept. at 469-309-4300 with any questions or concerns.

Please note starting MONDAY OCT 7^th, the City of Waxahachie Streets Department will be making concrete road improvements at the 100 block section on Hunter Pass.

As a result, Hunter Pass from the 100 block to about 30 feet west, will have one lane open for thru traffic. The work will start at 8:00 AM and end by 5:00 PM for about two weeks. Please expect delays.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation. Please contact the City of Waxahachie Public Works Dept. at 469-309-4300 with any questions or concerns.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE REGARDING NEW PLANNING AND PERMIT TRACKING SYSTEM:

The City of Waxahachie is working to transition to a new Life Cycle Management and Electronic Plan Review System for builders, developers and contractors. The new software system will enhance the customer experience for submitting plans and obtaining permits. Some of the key features of the new software will include the ability to:

• Submit Applications and Payments Electronically
• Schedule Inspections Online
• Track the Status of Permits in Real Time
• Submit Plans and Receive Comments Electronically

The City of Waxahachie water customers may notice a change in the taste of their drinking water for the next few weeks. The city is temporarily converting to the use of free chlorine disinfectant to disinfect the drinking water. This change will be effective for an approximate four-week period.

At the end of the four weeks the city will convert back to a chloramines disinfectant and the utility crews will be flushing fire hydrants to remove any excess buildup of materials.

This proactive program is required to remove material buildup within the distribution system after prolonged use of alternative disinfectant methods. The conversion to free chlorine will take place on October 1. The city will switch back to a chloramines disinfectant on October 30.

During this temporary conversion, citizens may detect a slight chlorine odor. This program will not affect the water quality in any regards to its use, however, customers who undergo kidney dialysis should consult with your physician prior to treatment during this period, and aquatic pet owners should take appropriate safeguards to protect those pets during this timeframe.

For questions regarding this program, citizens may contact Brandon Lacy, Water Treatment Superintendent at 469-309-4361, e-mail at blacy@waxahachie.com or Rita Munoz, Administrative Secretary at (469) 309-4320, rmunoz@waxahachie.com.

In the next few days, inspection crews will be conducting a physical survey of a portion of the City of Waxahachie sanitary sewer system. This survey involves the opening and inspecting of manholes and sewer lines in the streets and easements. An important task of the survey will be the smoke testing of the sewer lines to locate breaks and defects in the sewer system.

The smoke that you see coming from the vent stacks on houses or holes in the ground is harmless, has little odor, and creates no fire hazard. The smoke should not enter your home unless you have defective plumbing or dried up drain traps. If this occurs, you should consult your licensed plumber.

If the harmless smoke enters through faulty plumbing, the potential exists for dangerous sewer gases to enter your home or business. Should smoke enter your home or business, contact a representative of the City of Waxahachie at (469) 309-4320. A crew member can check the sewer lines around your home or business to possibly determine the source of the smoke.

To prevent smoke from entering your home or business: 

• Make sure that all drain traps (also called “U Joints” or “P Traps”) in your home are filled with water by pouring water in the drain. A filled drain trap will keep smoke out of your home or business.

The City of Waxahachie will be working with crews from Burgess & Niple (B&N) to conduct the sewer inspections. Crews may need to access sewer manholes in utility easements on your property. Whenever these lines require investigation, members of the inspection crews will need access to the easements of the sewer lines and manholes.

B&N personnel are uniformed and carry identification badges. Homeowners do not need to be home and at no time will field crews need to enter your home or business.

Photographs will be taken of leaks occurring in the system. We anticipate the smoke testing will require a few hours in your area. Your cooperation will be appreciated. The information gained from this testing is being used to improve the quality of your wastewater collection system.

If you need special assistance or would like more information, please contact:
City of Waxahachie Utilities
469-309-4320

Beginning Monday August 19^th, The City of Waxahachie Water Utilities Department working with Circle H contractors will be making improvements to a sewer line.

As a result, S. Jackson Street will be closed to thru traffic from the E. Franklin Street to E. Jefferson Street.

Work will begin around 7:00 AM and end on 5:00 PM. Depending on the weather and any unforeseen delays, the work is scheduled to last two weeks.

Please expect delays and/or find alternate routes. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your cooperation.

Please contact the City Engineer; James Gaertner at 469-309-4293 or jgaertner@waxahachie.com with any questions or concerns. 

The City of Waxahachie Animal Services will be spraying for mosquitoes on Thursday, July 11, 2019 from 9:00pm to 12:00am and Friday, July 12, 2019 from 12:00am to 3:00am. Spraying will cover all areas of town. For questions regarding mosquito spraying, please contact Terri Muniz at (469) 309- 4150 or email tmuniz@waxahachiepd.org. This date is tentative, weather permitting, and subject to change. Please be advised of the preventive measures you can take to assist us in keeping the mosquito population down.

Tips for protection from mosquitoes:

• Read the directions on the label carefully before applying.

• Apply repellent sparingly, only to exposed skin (not on clothing).

• Keep repellents away from eyes, nostrils and lips: do not inhale or ingest repellents or get them into the eyes.

• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests that DEET-based repellents can be used on children as young as two months of age. Generally, the AAP recommends concentrations of 10% or less, unless disease risk is imminent, then concentration can be increased to 30% or less.

• Avoid applying repellents to portions of children’s hands that are likely to have contact with eyes or mouth.

• Pregnant and nursing women should minimize use of repellents.

• Never use repellents on wounds or irritated skin.

• Use repellent sparingly and reapply as needed. Saturation does not increase efficacy.

• Wash repellent-treated skin after coming indoors.

• If a suspected reaction to insect repellents occurs, wash treated skin, and call a physician. Take the repellent container to the physician.

Many mosquito problems in your neighborhood are likely to come from water-filled containers that you, the resident, can help to eliminate. All mosquitoes require water in which to breed. Be sure to drain any standing water around your house.

• Dispose of any tires. Tires can breed thousands of mosquitoes.

• Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers.

• Clear roof gutters of debris.

• Clean pet water dishes regularly.

• Check and empty children’s toys.

• Repair leaky outdoor faucets.

• Change the water in bird baths at least once a week.

• Canoes and other boats should be turned over.

• Avoid water collecting on pool covers.

• Empty water collected in tarps around the yard or on woodpiles.

• Plug tree holes.

• Even the smallest of containers that can collect water can breed hundreds to thousands of mosquitoes. They don’t need much water to lay their eggs. (bottles, barrels, buckets, overturned garbage can lids, etc.)

Wear light colored, loose fitting clothing. Studies have shown that some of the 174 mosquito species in the United States are more attracted to dark clothing and most can readily bite through tight-fitting clothing of loose weave. When practical, wear long sleeves and pants.

Choose a mosquito repellent that has been registered by the Environmental Protection Agency. Registered products have been reviewed, approved, and pose minimal risk for human safety when used according to label directions. Three repellents that are approved and recommended are:

• DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide)

• Picaridin (KBR 3023)

• Oil of lemon eucalyptus 

The City of Waxahachie Animal Services will be spraying for mosquitoes on Monday July 1st. Crews will begin spraying at 10:00 pm and expect to be finished at 4:00 am. Spraying will cover all areas of town. For questions regarding mosquito spraying, please contact Terri Muniz at 469-309-4150 or email tmuniz@waxahachiepd.org. This date is tentative, weather permitting, and subject to change.

City Offices will be closed Monday, May 27 in observance of Memorial Day. If you have a non-emergency need during this time, please call 469-309-4400. In case of an emergency, please dial 911.

The Citizens Convenience Station will also be closed. Residential trash pickup will run as regularly scheduled.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

The City of Waxahachie Animal Services will be spraying for mosquitoes on Sunday May 26th, Wednesday June 5th, Monday June 17th and Wednesday July 3rd. We will begin spraying at 12:00 am and expect to be finished at 5:00 am. Spraying will cover all areas of town. For questions regarding mosquito spraying, please contact Terri Muniz at 469-309-4150 or email tmuniz@waxahachiepd.org. This date is tentative, weather permitting, and subject to change. Please be advised of the preventive measures you can take to assist us in keeping the mosquito population down.

Tips for protection from mosquitoes:

• Read the directions on the label carefully before applying.

• Apply repellent sparingly, only to exposed skin (not on clothing).

• Keep repellents away from eyes, nostrils and lips: do not inhale or ingest repellents or get them into the eyes.

• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests that DEET-based repellents can be used on children as young as two months of age. Generally, the AAP recommends concentrations of 10% or less, unless disease risk is imminent, then concentration can be increased to 30% or less.

• Avoid applying repellents to portions of children’s hands that are likely to have contact with eyes or mouth.

• Pregnant and nursing women should minimize use of repellents.

• Never use repellents on wounds or irritated skin.

• Use repellent sparingly and reapply as needed. Saturation does not increase efficacy.

• Wash repellent-treated skin after coming indoors.

• If a suspected reaction to insect repellents occurs, wash treated skin, and call a physician. Take the repellent container to the physician.

Many mosquito problems in your neighborhood are likely to come from water-filled containers that you, the resident, can help to eliminate. All mosquitoes require water in which to breed. Be sure to drain any standing water around your house.

• Dispose of any tires. Tires can breed thousands of mosquitoes.

• Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers.

• Clear roof gutters of debris.

• Clean pet water dishes regularly.

• Check and empty children’s toys.

• Repair leaky outdoor faucets.

• Change the water in bird baths at least once a week.

• Canoes and other boats should be turned over.

• Avoid water collecting on pool covers.

• Empty water collected in tarps around the yard or on woodpiles.

• Plug tree holes.

• Even the smallest of containers that can collect water can breed hundreds to thousands of mosquitoes. They don’t need much water to lay their eggs. (bottles, barrels, buckets, overturned garbage can lids, etc.)

Wear light colored, loose fitting clothing. Studies have shown that some of the 174 mosquito species in the United States are more attracted to dark clothing and most can readily bite through tight-fitting clothing of loose weave. When practical, wear long sleeves and pants.

Choose a mosquito repellent that has been registered by the Environmental Protection Agency. Registered products have been reviewed, approved, and pose minimal risk for human safety when used according to label directions. Three repellents that are approved and recommended are:

• DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide)

• Picaridin (KBR 3023)

• Oil of lemon eucalyptus 

NEW WEATHER APP AVAILABLE FOR RESIDENTS:

Would you like to receive cutting-edge weather information about severe storms in the greater Dallas Fort Worth area? Would you like to help improve how severe weather information is delivered to North Texans to keep people safer?

If you are interested, download the CASA Alerts app from the Apple or Android Play store.

The “Downtown Neighborhood” is a proposed zoning district which surrounds the Central Area and provides for a mix of uses consisting of residential, retail and commercial.  The concept is an outgrowth of the Waxahachie Partnership Incorporated which is tasked with partial stewardship of the downtown area.  For more information about Waxahachie Partnership Incorporated, please visit: http://www.waxahachie.com/departments/downtown_development/main_street_program.php.

The linked draft documents below reflect progress to date establishing guidelines and uses for the proposed “Downtown Neighborhood” zoning district.  For questions concerning any of these documents or for the process concerning zoning changes, please email planningandzoning@waxahachie.com.

Frequently Asked Questions - What is the proposal?
Ordinance - DRAFT
Use Chart - DRAFT
Map of proposed DN zoning district
Map of current versus proposed zoning for DN district

The City of Waxahachie has won the “Best Tasting Surface Water in the State of Texas” for 2019.  This award is presented to only one surface water system annually in Texas. 

The competition was held at the Texas Water Utilities Association (TWUA) Annual School, a water industry professional development event held March 3 - March 6, 2019 in Corpus Christi. Winners were selected through analysis and tasting conducted by a panel of judges during a blind taste test.

The competitors were made up of the winners from 9 TWUA Regional Best Tasting Water contests in 2018. The City of Waxahachie won the Best Tasting Surface Water contest at the North Central Texas Regional School in May 2018.  Winning this contest allowed us to compete in the Statewide Best Tasting Water competition representing our region.

Effective March 1^st the City of Waxahachie will be adopting the 2018 International Code Council Building Codes and the 2017 National Electric Code, with local amendments.  Any building plans submitted on or after March 1^st must be designed to the standards associated with these codes.  The new building and electric codes incorporate the latest technology and building materials and provide for additional provisions and options not available under the City’s currently adopted codes.

Also effective March 1^st the City of Waxahachie will adopt a new Building and Community Services Fee Schedule.  This new schedule will eliminate certain fees, while reducing and increasing others, in an effort to bring the costs associated with these fees more in line with neighboring municipalities.  Through the adoption of the new schedule, the City will begin to offer combination building inspections for the first time to streamline the overall inspection process.  In addition, all construction related fees will be incorporated into a single Chapter of the City Code of Ordinances (Chapter 11) for ease of use and reference.   Attached below is a summary sheet with the City’s updated fees. 

Should you have any questions or need any additional information concerning the adoption of the building codes or the updated fee schedule, please contact Assistant City Manager Tommy Ludwig at tludwig@waxahachie.com or at 469-309-4021.    

New Building Fee Schedule

STAY INFORMED!! Did you know that the City of Waxahachie provides an emergency notification service to inform/warn citizens of any potentially unsafe conditions/situations in the local area? Notification delivery options include text message, phone call, and/or email. If you would like to receive this service, you may register by visiting www.waxahachiepd.org and following the steps below:

From the WPD homepage, click “Emergency Notification” from the left menu. On the next page, click “Sign Me Up!”, then follow the prompts to register and customize your notification preferences.

For more detailed instructions, refer to this document:
EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SIGN UP INSTRUCTIONS

If you have any questions or prefer to have a City employee assist you with registration, we encourage you to contact the Office of Emergency Management at (469) 309-4418.

NOTICE OF HISTORIC PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR 2019
If your home is at least 50 years old you may be eligible to receive an exemption on the City portion of your property tax.  In order to qualify, your property generally must be in a near original condition including original windows, doors, siding and other architectural features.  The deadline to apply for the 2019 tax year is March 15, 2019.  For information regarding this program contact Anita Brown, Heritage Preservation Officer, City of Waxahachie, 469-309-4111.

City Hall will be closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday. If you have non-emergency needs during this time, please call the Waxahachie Police Department at 469-309-4400. Please dial 911 for emergencies. Residential garbage pickup will not run Thursday. If your regular day is Thursday, your pickup will resume on your next regularly scheduled day. Have a safe a happy holiday!!

The City of Waxahachie Animal Services will be spraying for mosquitoes on Monday October 1st, Thursday October 11th and Monday October 22nd. We will begin spraying at 12:00 am and expect to be finished at 5:00 am. Spraying will cover all areas of town. For questions regarding mosquito spraying, please contact Terri Muniz at (469) 309- 4150 or email tmuniz@waxahachiepd.org. This date is tentative, weather permitting, and subject to change. Please be advise of the preventive measures you can take to assist us in keeping the mosquito population down.

Tips for protection from mosquitoes:

• Read the directions on the label carefully before applying.

• Apply repellent sparingly, only to exposed skin (not on clothing).

• Keep repellents away from eyes, nostrils and lips: do not inhale or ingest repellents or get them into the eyes.

• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests that DEET-based repellents can be used on children as young as two months of age. Generally, the AAP recommends concentrations of 10% or less, unless disease risk is imminent, then concentration can be increased to 30% or less.

• Avoid applying repellents to portions of children’s hands that are likely to have contact with eyes or mouth.

• Pregnant and nursing women should minimize use of repellents.

• Never use repellents on wounds or irritated skin.

• Use repellent sparingly and reapply as needed. Saturation does not increase efficacy.

• Wash repellent-treated skin after coming indoors.

• If a suspected reaction to insect repellents occurs, wash treated skin, and call a physician. Take the repellent container to the physician.

Many mosquito problems in your neighborhood are likely to come from water-filled containers that you, the resident, can help to eliminate. All mosquitoes require water in which to breed. Be sure to drain any standing water around your house.

• Dispose of any tires. Tires can breed thousands of mosquitoes.

• Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers.

• Clear roof gutters of debris.

• Clean pet water dishes regularly.

• Check and empty children’s toys.

• Repair leaky outdoor faucets.

• Change the water in bird baths at least once a week.

• Canoes and other boats should be turned over.

• Avoid water collecting on pool covers.

• Empty water collected in tarps around the yard or on woodpiles.

• Plug tree holes.

• Even the smallest of containers that can collect water can breed hundreds to thousands of mosquitoes. They don’t need much water to lay their eggs. (bottles, barrels, buckets, overturned garbage can lids, etc.)

Wear light colored, loose fitting clothing. Studies have shown that some of the 174 mosquito species in the United States are more attracted to dark clothing and most can readily bite through tight-fitting clothing of loose weave. When practical, wear long sleeves and pants.

Choose a mosquito repellent that has been registered by the Environmental Protection Agency. Registered products have been reviewed, approved, and pose minimal risk for human safety when used according to label directions. Three repellents that are approved and recommended are:

• DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide)

• Picaridin (KBR 3023)

• Oil of lemon eucalyptus 

Citizens of Waxahachie,
As we begin a new fiscal year on October 1, I am excited about the additions and improvements that are planned for the 2018-2019 budget year.
Waxahachie is experiencing a steady growth on all fronts. New residents are moving here, business are opening, and tourists continue to visit Waxahachie for its history, charm and beauty. We are fortunate that with the influx of people and commerce, that has translated into an increase of revenues so that the City is able to continue offering an excellent quality of life through improved infrastructure, public safety, offering the highest level of customer service to our residents and visitors, and planning and preparing our community for future growth.
These core priorities of City Council are reflected in this year’s budget.
In regards to public safety, staffing will be increased with both the Police and Fire Departments. Three firefighter positions have been added, and will be partially funded through a SAFER grant for the next three years. Three police officer positions, and two civilian support positions have been added at the Police Department. These added positions will help the City maintain the highest level of service and safety in Waxahachie as the number of people we serve continues to grow.
Infrastructure is also a high priority, and this is reflected in $7 million in plans for rehabilitation. Construction is planned for Colonial Acres, East University, and Matthew Street Bridge. Engineering costs have been budgeted for Kaufman Street, Flat Street, Clift Street and Cumberland Street, with a construction plan for next year.
Quality of life improvements also remain a top priority. Our City is blessed with an abundance of green spaces and parks, however, the amenities of many of these spaces are beginning to show their age. There is also a need to add amenities at some of our parks due to a growing population and an increasing number of active residents.
Penn Park is currently in Phase 2 of our aggressive rehabilitation initiative, including irrigation, site lighting, and a revamping of the football field. Funding has also been planned for the design services necessary for Phase 3 of the improvements to Penn Park.
Significant funding has also been budgeted so that Getzendaner Park will receive an all-around much needed overhaul. These improvements will include a facelift to the ADA playground, added electrical hookups, tree trimming, drainage work, and more.
Next to Getzendaner Park, the historic Chautauqua Auditorium will also see improvements. New restrooms will be added to the facility inside unused space in the current ticket booth. Many of the events that utilize this facility have had to rent portable restrooms in the past, and the new restrooms will eliminate that. The Chautauqua will also receive new ceiling fans and audio/visual equipment, including a retractable screen with rear projection that may be used for presentations or to show films. It is also important to note that these improvements will not change the historic aesthetic of this structure.
Additionally, customer service remains a key goal for City leadership. This is reflected in the addition of key staff additions, in an effort to continue to provide an excellent level of service to our citizens.
This is a great time to live, work, and visit Waxahachie. We are growing, and that is inevitable. Because of that, an incredible amount of thought, planning, care, and consideration is made on a daily basis by City leaders and staff to ensure that we grow in a positive manner, and that we continue to be the best Waxahachie we can be. Years of strategy and care have been put into the decisions that are being executed today, and today we are putting great thought into what will continue to make us successful 5, 10, 20 or 30 years down the road.
When decisions are made, we not only consider our heritage and our present situation, but even more we consider our children, grandchildren and future generations. I feel strongly that the Waxahachie we are building for them is a great one, and I couldn’t be more proud. I hope you will join in the excitement.

Sincerely,
Kevin Strength
Mayor of Waxahachie

Why is drinking water disinfected?

Disinfecting drinking water is critical to protecting consumers from disease-causing microorganisms, called pathogens, including bacteria or viruses.  Disinfectants are very effective at inactivating (or killing) pathogens and have enormously benefited public health. For example, the incidence of typhoid fever was reduced by 1000-fold in the US in the last century by implementing the disinfection of drinking water.

The City of Waxahachie public water system, (PWS) ID 0700008, will temporarily convert the disinfectant used in the distribution system from chloramine to free chlorine. The conversion will be for a four-week period and will begin on Monday, October 1, 2018 and continue through Monday, October 29, 2018.During this period, you may experience taste and odor changes associated with this type of temporary disinfectant conversion. This proactive program is required to remove material buildup within the distribution system after prolonged use of alternative disinfectant methods.

Public water systems are required to properly disinfect their water and maintain an adequate disinfectant residual in the distribution system. Chloramine, free chlorine combined with ammonia, is widely used as a disinfectant because it persists for long periods while also limiting the formation of disinfection by-product contaminants. Prolonged use of chloramine coupled with other factors that can impact water quality, such as high temperatures or stagnation of water, may result in the growth and/or persistence of organic matter within the pipes of the distribution system, which may hinder the ability to maintain an adequate disinfectant residual. This temporary conversion to free chlorine, partnered with flushing activities, helps to rid distribution pipes of this organic matter and improve the quality of your water overall.

This program will not affect the water quality in any regards to its use, however, customers who undergo kidney dialysis should consult with your physician prior to treatment during this period, and aquatic pet owners should take appropriate safeguards to protect those pets during this timeframe.

For questions regarding this program, citizens may contact Kendall Borg, Assistant Director of Utilities at (469) 309-4372, e-mail at kborg@waxahachie.com or Rita Munoz, Administrative Secretary at (469) 309-4320, rmunoz@waxahachie.com.

The City of Waxahachie Animal Services will be spraying for mosquitoes on Monday September 17th. We will begin spraying at 3:00 am and expect to be finished at 7:00 am. Spraying will cover all areas of town. For questions regarding mosquito spraying, please contact Terri Muniz at (469) 309- 4150 or email tmuniz@waxahachiepd.org. This date is tentative, weather permitting, and subject to change.

SMOKE TESTING OF THE WASTEWATER COLLECTION SYSTEM
In the next few days, the City of Waxahachie will be working with crews from Burgess & Niple (B&N), to conduct a physical survey of a portion of the sanitary sewer system. The important task of the survey will be the smoke testing of the sewer lines to locate breaks and defects in the sewer system.
B&N personnel are uniformed and carry identification badges. Homeowners do not need to be home and AT NO TIME WILL FIELD CREWS NEED TO ENTER YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.
B&N crews will begin passing out flyers to the surveyed area below on Monday, August 13, 2018. The smoke testing will begin Thursday, August 16, 2018 and should be completed by Friday, September 7, 2018.

Due to construction on Alexander Drive, the entrance and parking lot to Chapman Park on Clark Lane is closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Until further notice, please use the parking lot/entrance off of 813/Brown Street.

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your cooperation. Please contact Public Works Dept. at 469-309-4300 with questions or concerns.

Starting MONDAY JUNE 26, 2023, contractors for the City of Waxahachie will be making concrete road repairs on Eubanks Street from N. Getzendaner Street to the end. Please follow detour signs and expect some delay.

If you have any questions or concerns about this work, please call the Public Works and Engineering Department at 469-309-4300 or email  publicworks@waxahachie.com.

Posting of Tax Rate and Budget Information
Notice of Tax Rate Public Hearing 
Notice of Proposed Budget Public Hearing

https://www.midlothian.tx.us/FormCenter/Administration-5/MidWay-Regional-Airport-Proposed-Agreeme-115