Town gets favorable ISO review
By LAURA CHILDRESS

Little Elm residents should soon see a decrease in their home insurance rates, following an ISO rerate.

Fire Chief Joe Florentino noted during Tuesday’s council meeting that the department recently received the results of its ISO review, with Little Elm property in town being rated a Class 3 and recently annexed property along Hwy. 380 being rated a 10.

“While the results are not official, we’re pleased with the rating,” Florentino said. “We were shooting for a 4.”

The new rating mean property owners should see up to an 11-percent decrease in residential insurance rates and a 16-percent decrease in commercial rates.

Property owners will have to request the decrease from their insurance.

Florentino added that the department will continue to work on improving the town’s ISO rating. With improvements to Eldorado and water lines, he said the town could be looking at a rating of 2.

Following their rejection of a counterproposal by Hackberry for fire and ambulance services, citing they weren’t in favor of subsidizing neighboring communities, the council revisited a similar proposal from Lakewood Village.

Acting Lakewood Village Mayor Mike Schnittker noted that the town is in a little different position than Hackberry since it is a Class B city and, thus, its tax rate is capped at 25 cents per $100 evaluation.

Schnittker added that Lakewood Village had reviewed LEFD’s budget from 2006-07 so that the cost of the second firestation wasn’t figured in and felt $58/meter was more realistic.

He added that the Lakewood Village council executed a contract for a $60/meter charge, with no run charge, as proposed by Little Elm at its recent monthly meeting.

Little Elm Councilman David Hillock suggested that Lakewood Village look into a public safety tax to provide the funding if necessary.

Fellow Councilwoman Dee Dee Lear added that it is unreasonable for Little Elm residents to be forced to wait on an ambulance from a neighboring community because Little Elm is responding to a municipality not paying for the service.

The council tabled the matter until additional revenue sources can be investigated and LEFD can verify the actual cost to residents.

The council approved a contract with Allison Engineering for a sanitary sewer system evaluation on the west side of town.

Public works director Doug Peach explained that additional capacity is available in an Oak Point wastewater treatment plant and might be more feasible than the project currently planned across Lewisville Lake.

The council also reviewed a wooden fence extension from a brick wall in Eldorado Estates West Phase II at 2440 Trail View, but concluded that the fence meets all town ordinances in place at the time that section of the development was platted. Staff noted that they had contacted the developer of the property, no longer on-site, about the possibility of sharing the cost for extending the brick wall, but they weren’t interested.

The council said should the homeowner’s association decide to extend the wall, it would be at their expense.

In other business:

* The council approved, following a public hearing, the rezoning of 2.35 acres south of US Hwy. 380 and west of FM 1385 as light industrial. The property was recently annexed by the town.

* The council held two public hearings on the voluntary annexation of 114.625 acres of potential commercial property south of US Hwy. 380 in the Spiritas Ranch development.

* The mayor proclaimed Oct. 7-13 as Fire Prevention Week in Little Elm.

* Resident Joe Deaver asked that the council take action to alleviate the odor from the wastewater treatment plant in the Wynfield Farms area. Deaver also noted concerns with the LEISD stadium lighting and traffic at Wynfield and Eldorado.

* The council approved the consent agenda, consisting of the minutes of the Sept. 18 precouncil meeting, public hearing and regular council meeting; a resolution suspending the Atmost Energy rate change; and the final plats of Virgina Parkway, Phases 1A and 1B, southwest of Doe Creek Road and Hwy. 380, Muehlstein’s Paradise Peninsula, north of Hillside and Riney Road; and the Water Tower Addition, northwest of Sunflower and FM 423.

* The council accepted Councilwoman Dee Dee Lear’s resignation from the Little Elm Economic Development Board Corporation because of family obligations and appointed David Hillock in her place.

* The council awarded the redesign of the town’s website to CivicPlus.

* The council voted to contract with AT&T to upgrade the town facilities’ internet connection.

* The council approved resolutions allowing temporary batch plants in Sunrise Bay and on the east side of Garza Lane for infrastructure improvements.

* The council received an update on remaining 2004 bond projects, including the Preston on the Lake emergency exit, expected to be completed by the end of the month.

* The council was notified of a North Central Council of Governments meeting staff will be attending Friday regarding NTTA 121 toll funding. The town has submitted three projects, including the Witt elevated bridge and Woodlake Parkway realignments, for consideration.