Town of Little Elm Executive Report December 2022

Integrity

Westandupforwhatisrightevenin thefaceofachallenge,anddowhat isright,evenifnoonenotices.

Customer Service

Whethertheanswerinvolvesgoing theextramileordeliveringbadnews, wearecourteous,patient,humble, andprofessional.

Innovation

Weallowthefreedomtotrynew things,andrecognizethatthrough creativityandreasonable risk,wewillbuildastronger, healthierTowntogether.

Efficiency

Wewillfindtheshortestpathona routeorinaprocess,andoperate withoutwaste,withproperuseof taxpayerdollars,andwithout compromisingquality.

EXECUTIVE REPORT

DECEMBER 2022

The Lawn at The Lakefront™

The contractor is laying out building corners and locations for sidewalks.

Lakeside Youth Sports Complex

Lime stabilization of the ball fields has begun and progress continues on the restroom and concessions buildings.

Public Safety Annex

The architect has nearly completed the feasibility study. Staff is reviewing a revised one-story design.

Wayfinding

The contractor has received punch list items for the vehicular wayfinding signage, and we are working with our design consultant on trail signage.

US HWY 380

Weather delays slowed the project throughout November and December, but paving should continue in the Little Elm portion mid-January.

Lakefront Screening Wall, Behind Palladium

Construction of the wall is complete, and the contractor is cleaning and restoring the site.

Woodrow Circle Reconstruction

The project has been awarded to Quality Excavation, and construction is anticipated to begin this month.

Polar Plunge

Join us in The Lakefront™ at Little Elm for the Polar Plunge presented by DFW Surf on January 7!

Registration will take place at noon followed by The Polar Plunge at 1 P.M.

Tickets will include access to the Polar Plunge event, a T-shirt, hot chocolate, and access to The Cove at The Lakefront® for the after-party. You must show your shirt to gain access! Pizza will be provided at the after party for each plunger.

Be prepared to bring the heat for this plunge as there will be prizes for the youngest, oldest, and the best dressed participant. Register here!

Big Easy

Join us on March 4 for Cajun favorites, live Zydeco music, a 5K, and a 10K! This event also features food trucks, crawfish, and frozen drinks!

The event is open to all ages. Each participant will receive a T-shirt, beer glass, and one free beer. Come join us and help celebrate the Mardi Gras season together.

Find more information and register here!

Courtesy Drop Site

We have a NEW address for our Courtesy Drop Site. The location is still the same but the address has been updated to 1690 E. Eldorado Parkway. Learn more about the drop site here.

Solid Waste Guide

The 2023 Solid Waste Guide is now available for residents! This guide details information regarding trash and bulk trash pick up, the courtesy drop site, and provides a calendar for 2023.

Town Briefings

Elections

Candidate packets for the May 6, 2023 General Election are now available for District 5 and Place 6 At-Large. Physical copies are located in the library and an electronic version is posted on the elections page of our website: https://www.littleelm.org/1341/Voting.

The filing period will open Wednesday, January 18 at 8 a.m. and close Friday, February 17 at 5 p.m.

December Highlights

The Cove® Holiday Store was a huge success! The event completely sold out, as 60 kids were able to pick out two gifts to give to their parents, with staff will assisting and wrapping them. We hope to expand the event so even more kids can participate next year.

Upcoming Events

Swim lessons will resume beginning Saturday, January 21. Group lessons are available for kids ages 3 to 14; private lessons are available for people ages 3 to adult. Town employee and resident enrollment is currently open, with non-resident registration opening January 9.

January Holiday Hours

welcome

Aboard

My name is Betty Pamplin and I started as the Controller in Finance in December. I have a BAAS in Leadership Development with concentrations in Business and HR Management from UNT. I have also earned my CGFO certification from GFOAT. I have over 20 years of municipal experience with 16 of those years spent in Finance. I began my municipal career with the City of The Colony working in the departments of Fleet, Utility Billing and Development Services before finding my passion in the Finance department. Prior to coming to the Town of Little Elm, I held the role of Finance Director for the Town of Prosper for three years and Accounting Manager for the four years prior to that.

My family and I moved to Little Elm in 2014. My husband and I have three boys ages 28, 25, and 15 and our youngest is a sophomore at Little Elm High School. We have two ragdoll cats, Archie and Edith, aka “The Bunkers”. My favorite hobbies include reading, walking the local trails and parks, and quilting.

Budget & Performance Specialist Shane Urrutia graduated with his Masters in Public Administration from the University of North Texas.

Wastewater Treatment Operator Bryan Tatum received his first certification. He's now a Class C Wastewater Treatment Operator.

Emergency Coordinator Travis Calendine received the Member of the Year Award from the International Emergency Drone Organization.

December Housing Report

Sales Tax Update

The Town received a distribution for the month of December 2022 from the State Comptroller’s office in the amount of $1,102,808. This sales tax distribution is for reported sales for the month of October and represents 8.33 percent of collected sales tax distribution for our 2023 budget. October 2022 taxable sales reflects an increase of 12.75 percent or $124,693 from the October taxable sales last year. The FY 2023 budgeted sales tax revenue reflected a 2 percent increase over last year’s actuals/estimates. The Town’s YTD reported sales tax revenue is over FY 2023 projected budgeted sales tax revenue by 10.5 percent.

Statewide, the Comptroller’s office reported that sales tax collections year to date are up by 12.4 percent for December 2022 sales tax revenue compared to December 2021.