By Bill Sullivan

Finding enough money to provide citizens with top-notch facilities and services is always a challenge, especially in these economically trying times. In Frisco, some creative thinking and deft planning has helped relieve some of the pressure on those precious funds.

The City is in the final phase of implementing six projects funded by an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG), part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The $825,800 award was obtained through a collaboration of City departments, each of which offered input into how they might make their facilities a bit more environmentally friendly.

Effective November 1, the City of Frisco will move to Stage 3 drought restrictions as outlined in its Drought Contingency and Water Emergency Response Plan at the direction of the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD).

The NTMWD reports Lavon Lake could be dry by fall 2012, under worst case conditions.

During the October 17 Town Hall meeting, North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) representative Mike Rickman cautioned residents to use water wisely. Gary Hartwell, Frisco’s Director of Public Works, reiterated the importance of shutting off sprinklers.

As Director of Public Works for the City of Frisco, Gary Hartwell spends a lot of time thinking about water. He even goes so far as to take the job home, using his own irrigation system, landscaping and yard as a test site for new equipment and ideas. Over the past few years, “smart” controllers have come and gone, but one part of his system remained constant.

“I’ve always had the standard spray heads and some rotors in my backyard,” he said.

A few months ago, Hartwell decided to test yet another controller. In the course of making the change, the manufacturer’s representative mentioned a new product: high efficiency spray nozzles that insure that more of the water you try to put on your lawn actually ends up there.

Effective August 19, the City of Frisco is moving to Stage 2 drought restrictions in the Frisco Water Management Plan, at the direction of the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD).

Frisco’s Stage 2 water restrictions call for a 5% reduction in water use by mandating residents take the following actions:

By Bill Sullivan When North Texas temperatures start to climb and rain becomes little more than a rumor, the phone starts ringing. Folks all over Frisco begin focusing on their yards and the sprinkler systems that keep them healthy during the hot, dry summer months, a convergence of events that makes Mike Barth a busy [...]

Persisting drought and a reduced, regional water supply due to the potential threat of zebra mussels are two more reasons why Frisco residents need to use water wisely.

As a result, the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) which supplies water to Frisco, as well as 45 other cities and communities, will initiate Stage 1 of its Water Conservation and Drought Contingency and Water Emergency Plan beginning April 19.

“The good thing is, our own plan meets all the conditions of the district’s (NTMWD) Stage 1 requirements,” said Gary Hartwell, Director of Public Works. “For Frisco residents, there are no surprises, no changes and no new requirements.”