

			4th of July Flag Flying
			Hurst Creek MUD drought contingency plan
			POA common areas tranferred to The Village
			Results of the May 9, 2009 General Election
			Census 2010
			White tail deer trapping
			Coyotes
			Security and Emergency Response
			Operation of Golf Carts on The Hills Roads
			The Hills

4th of July Flag Flying

I recently received an email from a resident of The Hills who asked me to remind our neighbors to fly their American flags this 4th of July. Her husband is a World War II veteran and greatly enjoys riding around the Village when flags are flying.

On July 4th each year Americans join with their families and friends to celebrate Independence Day commemorating the anniversary of the signing of our Declaration of Independence. The document begins, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal … with certain inalienable rights that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

In tribute to the men and women who created our nation and those who followed and sacrificed to protect our freedoms, I request your help in flying as many American Flags as possible on this Fourth of July.

Let us make The Hills a sea of Red, White, and Blue!

Doug Lindgren
Mayor, Village of The Hills

HURST CREEK MUD DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN

The Hurst Creek MUD Board of Directors recently amended the District’s Water Conservation Plan to include the following provisions relating to voluntary and mandatory water conservation measures during periods of drought. These amendments are required by the District’s water sale contract with the LCRA and are effective July 2, 2009.

This summary highlights the major provisions of the plan. For the complete text of the Drought Contingency Plan, please Click here or request a printed copy from the District office at 102 Trophy Drive, The Hills, Texas 78738. Our telephone number is 261-6281.

The current combined capacity of Lakes Travis and Buchanan is 1.14 million acre-feet, so we are in Stage One – Mild Water Shortage Condition, and are requesting voluntary reduction in water use. For current lake levels and information please visit the LCRA’s website at www.lcra.org.

In the event of mandatory water restrictions, which may be necessary if the lake levels continue to fall, we will place signs at the entrances to The Hills, in addition to posting notice on the website and providing notice with the utility billings.

Water-Use Restriction Guidelines

Stage 1 – We ask for voluntary water conservation action to be observed by limiting irrigation to an every other day water schedule using even number addresses for Monday, Wednesday, Friday and odd number addresses for Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday watering.

Stage 2 – Lawn watering is restricted to twice a week based on odd/even addresses. Even number addresses will be Monday, Thursday and odd number addresses will be Tuesday, Friday. Watering is not allowed between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Washing of paved or hard surface areas is not allowed.

Stage 3 – Lawn watering is restricted to once per week based on addresses. Addresses ending in 1 or 2 will water on Mondays. Addresses ending in 3 or 4 will water on Tuesdays. Addresses ending in 5 or 6 will water on Wednesdays. Addresses ending in 7 or 8 will water on Thursdays. Addresses ending in 9 or 0 will water on Fridays. Watering is not allowed between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Washing of paved or hard surface areas is not allowed. Washing of motor vehicles is permitted by hand and bucket only on designated water days and times.

Stage 4 – Irrigation of landscaped areas is prohibited.

Water Shortage Conditions Criteria Summary

Stage 1 – Mild Water Shortage Conditions (Voluntary Measures)
Requirement for initiation - One or more of the following:
a. Demand greater than 80% of treatment capacity for three days.
b. Demand greater than 85% of treatment capacity on single day.
c. Total stored capacity is less than 50% of total capacity for three days.
d. When combined storage of lakes Buchanan and Travis is less than 1.6 million acre-feet.

Stage 2 – Moderate Water Shortage Conditions (Mandatory Measures)
Requirement for initiation - One or more of the following:
a. Demand greater than 93% of treatment capacity for three days.
b. Demand greater than 95% of treatment capacity on single day.
c. When combined storage of lakes Buchanan and Travis is less than 900,000 acre-feet.

Stage 3 – Severe Water Shortage Conditions (Emergency Measures)
Requirement for initiation - One or more of the following:
a. Demand greater than 95% of treatment capacity for three days.
b. Demand greater than 97% of treatment capacity on single day.
c. When combined storage of lakes Buchanan and Travis is less than 600,000 acre-feet.

Stage 4 – Emergency Water Conditions
Requirement for initiation – Controlled by General Manager, may include:
a. Major water line breaks, loss of distribution pressure, or pump system failures that cause substantial loss in its ability to provide water service,
b. Natural or man-made contamination of the water supply source, or
c. Any other emergency water supply or demand issue the Hurst Creek MUD general manager or the Hurst Creek MUD Board determine to warrant the declaration of Stage 4.

Pro-Rata Curtailment of Water
Pro-rata curtailment of water will occur if the LCRA declares a drought worse than the drought of record in accordance with the LCRA Drought Contingency Plan.

Enforcement

When we observe violations of the water restriction guidelines, the following actions will occur:
First Violation – Customer is notified of actions to be taken if violations continue.

Second Violation – Issue surcharge of $200.

Third Violation – Issue surcharge of $700.

Fourth Violation – Cut off service. A $500 reconnection fee plus a deposit based on 125% of the maximum monthly bill over the past year will be required to reconnect service.

POA COMMON AREAS TRANSFERRED TO VILLAGE RULES AND REGULATIONS BEING DRAFTED

Recently the Hills Property Owners Association transferred ownership to the Village of The Hills a number of tracts previously known as “Common Areas”. This transfer of ownership will save the POA money as the Village pays no property taxes, while the POA does. Also, the Village enjoys some degree of sovereign immunity from potential lawsuits involving the common areas.

Many of these common areas back up to residents’ back yards, and from time to time various residents have landscaped adjacent portions of the common areas, placed trampolines, swings, and other private property in the common areas, and made other uses of the areas.

Often these private uses of the common areas have resulted in disputes between neighbors.

The Hills Board of Aldermen is in process of drafting rules and regulation regarding private uses and activities in these common areas; until these rules are finalized, the Board is requesting that Hills residents refrain from all activities in the common areas, including dumping, cutting of trees and bushes, and the placement of private property in the areas.

As soon as the rules are finalized they will be published on the Village website, "villageofthehills.org"

Please call the Village offices at 261-6281 if you have questions or comments regarding the common areas.

RESULTS OF THE MAY 9, 2009 GENERAL ELECTION

Doug Lindgren, Mayor, and J. R. Smith and Lloyd Troeltzsch, Aldermen, were elected to serve two-year terms on the Board of Aldermen. They were sworn in on May 14, 2009 at the regular meeting of the Board of Aldermen. Jim Lennon, who will serve for a one year term on the Board of Aldermen, was appointed and sworn in on May 14th, 2009 at the regular meeting.

CENSUS 2010

The U.S. Census Bureau has announced the start of hiring for the 2010 Census.

These temporary, part-time jobs offer pay, flexible hours up to 40 hours a week, weekly paychecks and the chance to work near home. Workers are needed in The Hills and the surrounding area.

Call (866) 861-2010 to schedule a basic employment test.

WHITE TAIL DEER TRAPPING

The city is again trapping white tail deer. This is even more necessary now than it was before we surrounded the city by a fence as the deer that are inside the fence continue to breed. In order to try to ensure a healthy herd we must try to keep the deer population at a reasonable level. This is not easy to do in an area that has seen a building boom during the past few years, thus removing natural areas that sustained the deer in times past. The Hills works closely with Texas Parks and Wildlife who gives us our permit to trap. Please do not feed the deer. Deer, who should be foraging on their own, can become quite aggressive when humans feed them. Even if you are not concerned for your own safety, please consider your neighbors who may reap the consequences of your actions. Reminder – vandalizing trapping nets or feeders or interfering with trapping activities (including allowing a dog to interfere) are criminal offenses and will be dealt with by law enforcement officers.

COYOTES

Reports of sightings of coyotes in The Hills should remind us that coyotes are indigenous to this part of the country. They continue to survive in areas that have become urbanized. Efforts to eradicate them in various parts of our area have been unsuccessful for the most part. Please keep your small pets under close supervision. Cats seem to be particularly delicious to the coyote palate. Do not leave pet food outside. If you feed a pet outdoors make sure you bring the food inside when the pet is finished eating and never leave food outside overnight.

SECURITY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE

The Hills has been most fortunate in having an extremely capable Deputy Constable who not only polices our roads but is charged with upholding the laws of the State of Texas. That includes vandalism by juveniles and criminal acts by those of all ages. He has solved many of the acts of vandalism that have occurred in our community and restitution to those affected has been made in most cases. If you, your home, property or vehicle is the object of vandalism or a criminal act call “911” which will alert both the constable and the sheriff’s office and also call The Hills Security at 261-6171 so that an incident report may be filed (this phone number is also listed in the Lakeway Residents Directory). The city again encourages parents to supervise their youngsters and their children’s friends. Several acts of vandalism in the city park have resulted in extra costs and time spent by volunteers in both cleaning up and contacting contractors.

Insurance Rates

The ISO (Insurance Service Office, Inc.) has notified The Hills that their insurance rating system has lowered The Hills insurance rating from a five to a two. This should result in a lowering of homeowner insurance premiums depending on the individual insurer. Some insurers use ISO ratings and some do not. If you need further information to take to your insurer please stop by the village office at
102 Trophy Drive.

Operation of Golf Carts on The Hills Roads

According to Constable Vann, state law allows unlicensed and unregistered golf carts to be driven on public streets to access the golf course during daylight hours. However, the Constable may issue citations for golf cart violations of traffic laws and unsafe operation – reckless conduct.

The Hills

The Hills has been an incorporated city in Texas since 1997.

The United States Post Office has designated our official address as, “The Hills, Texas 78738”. If you are having checks, stationery, address labels, etc. containing your home address printed you might want to make sure that “The Hills”, not “Austin or Lakeway”, appear on those items.

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