Past Meeting Agendas with Minutes:

• Town Council

• Planning and Zoning Commission

• Media and Communications Committee

• Events Planning and Coordination Committee

Past TOWN NOTICES

• FINAL REMINDER: Spur 399 Ext Virtual Public Scoping Meeting March 10, 2021

• Proclamation of the Mayor - July 7, 2020

• REC New Hope 138-kV Transmission Line Project Proposal June 4, 2020

• Letter from the Mayor Angel Hamm regarding COVID-19 - March 17, 2020

• TxDOT Notice of Virtual Public Scoping Meeting - Proposed Improvements to US 380 from Coit Road to FM 1827

• NCTCOG December 2021 Public Input Flyer

• NCTCOG December 2021 Public Input Flyer - Spanish

• NCTCOG October 2021 Public Input Flyer

• NCTCOG October 2021 Public Input Flyer - Spanish

• NCTCOG September 2021 Public Input Flyer

• NCTCOG September 2021 Public Input Flyer - Spanish

• NCTCOG August 2021 Public Input Flyer

• NCTCOG August 2021 Public Input Flyer - Spanish

• NCTCOG June 2021 Public Input Flyer

• NCTCOG June 2021 Public Input Flyer - Spanish

• NCTCOG April 2021 Public Input Flyer

• NCTCOG April 2021 Public Input Flyer - Spanish

• NCTCOG March 2021 Public Input Flyer

• NCTCOG March 2021 Public Input Flyer - Spanish

• NCTCOG February 2021 Public Input Flyer

• NCTCOG February 2021 Public Input Flyer - Spanish

• NCTCOG January 2021 Public Input Flyer

• NCTCOG January 2021 Public Input Flyer - Spanish

• NCTCOG December 2020 Public Input Flyer

• NCTCOG December 2020 Public Input Flyer - Spanish

• NCTCOG November 2020 Public Input Flyer

• NCTCOG November 2020 Public Input Flyer - Spanish

Past ARTICLES

• Collin County to open more vaccine hubs next week—-article dated 1/29/2021

• Collin County COVID-10 Vaccine Update by Curative

• Four COVID-19 vaccine hubs operating in Collin County

• DSHS to provide 6000 vaccine doses to Collin County

• Collin County ready to host vaccine mega center

• Collin County Commissioners meeting January 11, 2021 update

• Collin County COVID-19 Vaccine Information

• Vaccine Wait List

• Collin County Expands Vaccine Partnership with Local Cities

• Vaccine Doses Arrive for Collin County Waitlist

• Texas House and Senate to hold power outage hearings 2/25/21

  Today is Texas Independence Day and Gov. Abbott is opening the state back up effective Wednesday, March 10, 2021.

  Texas Governor Greg Abbott made the “statewide announcement” Tuesday afternoon that it’s time to open Texas 100% and he ended the mask mandate.

  “Under no circumstance can someone be punished for not wearing a mask,” said Gov. Abbott.

  By next Wednesday, March 10 all business of any kind can open at 100% and ending statewide mask mandate.

• New Hope wants to hear from.....YOU! Tell us what you think. Please go to this link and take a one-question survey telling us what you think about Governor Abbott's announcement last week that March 10, 2021, the State of Texas can start opening back up. We encourage your comments, keeping in mind that kindness and civility are expected. Thank you for your time!

• So what are your thoughts on Daylight Saving Time? Click HERE to let us know your opinion and comments. Thank you for your time!

• Winter Storm Recovery Telephone Town Hall with special guests State Representative Matt Shaheen, FEMA, and the SBA

  Thursday, March 18, 2021

  6:15 PM - 7:15 PM CDT

• EVENT REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

  Those who register for the telephone town hall will receive an automatic phone call on Thursday connecting them to the live event via telephone. If you have any questions about the event, don't hesitate to contact my office at (972) 202-4150.

  The failures of our energy grid and lack of communication provided to the public during Winter Storm Uri were unacceptable and those responsible for the operation and management of our energy grid will have to answer for the glaring collapse experienced last month.

  With many Texans working to recover from last month's winter storm, and even more still looking for answers, I will be hosting a live telephone town hall to provide information regarding the ongoing investigation as well as details about the resources and programs that may be available to your household or business.

  I look forward to speaking with you Thursday night.

  Semper Fi,

  Van Taylor

  Member of Congress

• Is Your Vehicle Registration Expired? The temporary waiver granting the suspension of registration renewal requirements ends April 14, 2021. Motorists must come into compliance by renewing their registration on or before April 14, 2021. Click HERE to go to the TXDMV website.

• COVID-19 Waivers Of Texas Driver Licenses And Identification Cards Coming To An End. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced that the waiver on expiration dates for DLs and IDs will end on April 14, 2021. Click HERE for full article with Texas DPS link.

TOWN OF NEW HOPE TRASH COLLECTION SURVEY - TIME’S RUNNING OUT - LAST TWO DAYS!! We value your opinion and appreciate your time.

The purpose of the survey is to consider going to a single trash collection service to help keep our roads in good condition. Larger trucks, such as trash trucks, can be quite heavy and cause direct deterioration to our roads. Given the high number of trash vendor options, these trucks are continuously on our Town's roads. The Town Council will review survey responses in the next monthly meeting, on April 27, 2021.

Please take advantage of any of these options because we want to hear from as many folks as possible before April 27, 2021, when survey results will be presented during the regular monthly Town Council meeting.

To view Town Council Meeting information, go to www.newhopetx.gov, click on the Meetings tab, then click on AGENDA (which will be posted no later than 7:45pm Saturday April 24, 2021) below the meeting entitled

TOWN COUNCIL SPECIAL MONTHLY MEETING

Tuesday April 27, 2021

****************************************************

You can use THIS LINK to take the survey on Google drive if you have a google (gmail) account

OR

If you or someone you know doesn't have online access, you can leave a message @ 972-548-2489 with your name, address and phone number. Someone will contact you to drop off a paper survey form that you can fill out. Or you can email the request to mediacommunications@newhopetx.gov and someone will respond to you as well.

OR

You can take the survey by clicking on the button below. Items marked with an asterisk (*) are required

See article under Public Notices section above for all information regarding upcoming May 1, 2021 election - Notice of Joint General and Special Election

Particular to New Hope is a special election on a proposition For or Against the legal sale of beer and wine in the Town of New Hope

McKinney announces operations at vaccine hub will end by April 30

STORM RECOVERY INFORMATION

• Business and Residential Storm Recovery and Relief for Collin County

• Storm Recovery Resources for North Texans

• Texas Rent Relief Program Opens February 15th

• Small Business Relief Grant Application and Information Sheet

COVID / VACCINE RELATED INFORMATION

• You Can Sign Up On Multiple COVID-19 Wait Lists

• NEW! Confirm you are on the vaccine wait list

Click HERE to see letter advising June 2021 Oak Meadows street upgrades

Click HERE to see a video about NATIONAL NIGHT OUT Drawings, Giveaways, Fun and Food!

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT 2021 Town of New Hope Sign up here to make a difference.

PRE-REGISTER FOR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT 2021 TICKETS

Scan the code or click HERE to receive online tickets to the event.

This is the second required Public Hearing for the Collin County Hazard Mitigation Action Plan (HazMAP). If you would like to attend this virtual WebEx meeting please register via the link below.

The WebEX is scheduled for Wednesday, January 12th. 

Below are additional details for the meeting, including a link to register.  Everyone will need to register to receive the WebEX login information to attend.  This is needed to provide FEMA and TDEM with an accounting of who attended the meeting.  When you and other attendees register via the link below, you should automatically receive an email with the call-in information after a few minutes.  If you do not, please email me at rgurney@co.collin.tx.us. 

Meeting Information

Date: Wednesday, January 12th 

Time: 9:00AM – 10:30AM

Format: Virtual via WebEx

Registration Link: https://collincountytx.webex.com/collincountytx/j.php?RGID=rc4ba2d8519aac7db33c53896ed9b1f37

Questions or issues: rgurney@co.collin.tx.us

We have a tentative agenda.  This may change.  Once it is finalized I will send out a PDF of the agenda as well.

 Agenda

·         Welcome/Introductions

·         Overview (PowerPoint)

·         Open Discussion and Citizen Comments

·         Next Steps

·         Closing

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Randall Gurney

Assistant EM Specialist

Collin County

972-548-5581 (d)

214-250-7112 (c)

rgurney@co.collin.tx.us

Facebook post from GRAYSON COLLIN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

Grayson-Collin Electric Cooperative is ready for the winter weather and officially entering storm mode. We have taken the precautionary measures to be able to provide the best services to you, our members - given the winter storm warning.

We are working alongside with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to monitor grid conditions. Here is what we know so far from ERCOT:

- ERCOT is ready for the weather and does not expect to issue rotating outages

- ERCOT is under watch through Sunday, February 6

- ERCOT modeling shows a record winter peak to hit Friday morning, exceeding last year's peak electric use across the state. They still expect to have sufficient reserves to meet electric needs across the state.

ERCOT issued a press release today regarding the winter storm and their preparations: https://www.ercot.com/news/release...

While preparations were made over the past year and ERCOT does not expect grid issues, it is important to conserve where can during extreme weather events, cold or hot. Find energy-saving tips at tcectexas.com/seasonal-tips

Our operations team will continually monitor the ERCOT grid. Member can monitor the ERCOT grid at ercot.com

We value each member and want you each to know we are here and we are doing everything in our power to keep power on.

GENERAL AND SPECIAL ELECTION MAY 7, 2022

Election information

Last day to register to vote: Thursday, April 7, 2022 (Postmarked)

Last day to apply for Ballot by Mail: Tuesday, April 26, 2022 (Received)

Early Voting: Monday, April 25, 2022 - Saturday, April 30, 2022; and Monday, May 2, 2022 - Tuesday, May 3, 2022

Early Voting Locations

Election Day Vote Centers

New Hope residents sample ballot

Two amendments to Texas’s state constitution will be on the ballot on May 7.

The addition of both of these amendments was authorized by the Texas State Legislature via joint resolutions. A simple majority approval from voters would mean the current Texas Constitution has been amended 517 times since being drafted in 1876.

Here is a breakdown of what the language of these ballot propositions say and what they mean.

Proposition 1 - What it says: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for the reduction of the amount of a limitation on the total amount of ad valorem taxes that may be imposed for general elementary and secondary public school purposes on the residence homestead of a person who is elderly or disabled to reflect any statutory reduction from the preceding tax year in the maximum compressed rate of the maintenance and operations taxes imposed for those purposes on the homestead."

What it means: In short, this amendment would lower the property tax rate for elderly and disabled homeowners in Texas.

Homeowners in Texas who meet this criteria have a ceiling for the taxes they pay for maintenance and operation expenses for elementary and secondary public schools. Complexities of this tax ceiling have rendered homeowners who are disabled and/or over the age of 65 unqualified to benefit from tax reductions that were passed into law by the Texas State Legislature in 2019. This amendment would essentially extend this tax relief to them.

Proposition 2 - What it says: "The constitutional amendment increasing the amount of the residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation for public school purposes from $25,000 to $40,000."

What it means: Homeowners who experience financial hardship as a result of the death of a spouse have legal recourse that makes it unlawful for creditors to sell a debtor’s home. This feature, called “homestead exemption,” can also provide tax relief to these widowed homeowners.

State law has a limit for the amount of market value homeowners are able to reduce from their homes when paying school property taxes: $25,000. This constitutional amendment would increase the limit to $40,000.

MAY 24, 2022 PRIMARY RUNOFF ELECTION

Last day to register to vote: Monday, April 25, 2022 (Postmarked)

Last day to apply for Ballot by Mail: Friday, May 13, 2022 (Received)

Early Voting: Monday, May 16, 2022 - Friday, May 20, 2022

Early Voting Locations

Election Day Vote Centers

Sample Ballots

Early Voting, Ballot by Mail, and Election Day Rosters

THE TOWN OF NEW HOPE WISHES YOU A HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY…….

Congratulations, America—Monday marks the 246th commemoration of the day the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Second Continental Congress.

The Congress actually voted to separate from Great Britain two days earlier, and possibly didn't sign the document until August. Some argue the US didn't really become a country until we began operating under the Constitution in 1789.

Still, since then, the country has grown from 13 colonies with about 2.5 million people to 50 states and 14 territories with a population of more than 330 million. The economy has swelled to roughly $24T. Advances in public health—public sanitation, the germ theory of disease, and more—have cut the child mortality rate from more than 45% to under 1%, and our citizens live 35 years longer on average.

We've built almost 4 million miles of paved roads and more than 5,000 public airports. More than 2.7 million miles of power lines electrify the country, with about 85% of households having access to broadband internet and 92% having at least one computer. In 1800, 95% of the population lived in rural areas, and now about 83% live in urban areas. The US has also been responsible for more than 800 human visits to space—the most of any other country with a space agency.

While there will always be challenges to face and improvements to make, we've come a long way since the beginning. Here's to the next 246 years.

Follow this LINK for a listing of local celebration events.

4th of July Quotes from our Founding Fathers

George Washington, 1st U.S. President

“While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian.”
– The Writings of Washington, pp. 342-343.

John Adams, 2nd U.S. President and Signer of the Declaration of Independence

“Suppose a nation in some distant Region should take the Bible for their only law Book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited! Every member would be obliged in conscience, to temperance, frugality, and industry; to justice, kindness, and charity towards his fellow men; and to piety, love, and reverence toward Almighty God … What a Utopia, what a Paradise would this region be.”– Diary and Autobiography of John Adams, Vol. III, p. 9.

Thomas Jefferson, 3rd U.S. President, Drafter and Signer of the Declaration of Independence

“God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever; That a revolution of the wheel of fortune, a change of situation, is among possible events; that it may become probable by Supernatural influence! The Almighty has no attribute which can take side with us in that event.”– Notes on the State of Virginia, Query XVIII, p. 237.

John Hancock, 1st Signer of the Declaration of Independence

“Resistance to tyranny becomes the Christian and social duty of each individual. … Continue steadfast and, with a proper sense of your dependence on God, nobly defend those rights which heaven gave, and no man ought to take from us.”– History of the United States of America, Vol. II, p. 229.

Benjamin Franklin, Signer of the Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution

“Here is my Creed. I believe in one God, the Creator of the Universe. That He governs it by His Providence. That He ought to be worshipped. That the most acceptable service we render to him is in doing good to his other children. That the soul of man is immortal, and will be treated with justice in another life respecting its conduct in this. These I take to be the fundamental points in all sound religion, and I regard them as you do in whatever sect I meet with them. As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the system of morals and his religion, as he left them to us, is the best the world ever saw, or is likely to see; But I apprehend it has received various corrupting changes, and I have, with most of the present dissenters in England, some doubts as to his divinity; though it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it, and think it needless to busy myself with it now, when I expect soon an opportunity of knowing the truth with less trouble. I see no harm, however, in its being believed, if that belief has the good consequence, as probably it has, of making his doctrines more respected and more observed; especially as I do not perceive, that the Supreme takes it amiss, by distinguishing the unbelievers in his government of the world with any peculiar marks of his displeasure.”
– Benjamin Franklin wrote this in a letter to Ezra Stiles, President of Yale University on March 9, 1790.

Other Independence Day Quotes

“The American Revolution was a beginning, not a consummation.” ~Woodrow Wilson

“Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed – else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.” ~Dwight D. Eisenhower

“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.” ~Thomas Paine

“Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better.” ~Albert Camus

“If our country is worth dying for in time of war let us resolve that it is truly worth living for in time of peace.” ~Hamilton Fish

“This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.” ~Elmer Davis

“You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.” ~Erma Bombeck

“Let freedom never perish in your hands.” ~Joseph Addison

“Liberty is always dangerous, but it is the safest thing we have.” ~Harry Emerson Fosdick

“In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.” ~Franklin D. Roosevelt

“This, then, is the state of the union: free and restless, growing and full of hope. So it was in the beginning. So it shall always be, while God is willing, and we are strong enough to keep the faith.” ~Lyndon B. Johnson

“For what avail the plough or sail, or land or life, if freedom fail?” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Those who won our independence believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty.” ~Louis D. Brandeis

“It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you.” ~Author unknown, sometimes attributed to M. Grundler

“Liberty is the breath of life to nations.” ~George Bernard Shaw

“America is much more than a geographical fact. It is a political and moral fact – the first community in which men set out in principle to institutionalize freedom, responsible government, and human equality.” ~Adlai Stevenson

“We on this continent should never forget that men first crossed the Atlantic not to find soil for their ploughs but to secure liberty for their souls.” ~Robert J. McCracken

TIME TO CUT BACK WATER USAGE

July 16, 2022 – 9:15 p.m.

The North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) is requesting that those receiving water purified by NTMWD reduce their water use immediately, especially outdoor water use. The NTMWD Wylie Water Treatment Plant Complex had to cease producing water at one of its four water treatment plants unexpectedly on Saturday, July 16 to perform critical maintenance required to return the plant back to full water purification capacity. All customers in the region are strongly encouraged to conserve water and reduce outdoor watering until further notice is issued by NTMWD. This call to action is due to water production quantity, and not water quality – the water is safe to drink and use.

NTMWD supplies significant volumes of wholesale water to communities across most of Collin County, Rockwall County, north Dallas County and Kaufman County. Portions of some adjacent counties are served by NTMWD as well.

This is a precautionary call to action, as NTMWD’s water purification capacity remains adequate for basic services including household use and for public safety. The ongoing regional drought coupled with increasing discretionary outdoor water use and irrigation has stressed the water purification and distribution systems. NTMWD must perform critical maintenance at its Wylie Water Treatment Plant Complex to restore that capacity.

The critical maintenance involves six sedimentation basins at the plant which take particles out of the water during the treatment process. These six basins help in the production of 210 million gallons of water per day. Due to peak water demands by customers, the accumulation of sediment has accelerated and impacted the ability for the plant to efficiently process water through the treatment process. Crews will be working around the clock to restore treatment capacity through these basins.

The week-long outlook by the National Weather Service Fort Worth/Dallas includes high temperatures with hot conditions and continuation of the current drought – which emphasizes the importance of this regional call to action to conserve water and reduce outdoor watering.

New Hope Residents - Our trash vendors should be under contract with our town to operate in the area. This helps us manage the weight of trash vehicles on our streets and confirm appropriate liability coverage. There is an application process in which Barnes is the only vendor that has provided a complete application form. Can you please reach out to your trash vendor asking them to send in an application by July 26th? They can get the application from our town secretary by emailing secretary@newhopetx.gov.

2022 NATIONAL NIGHT OUT

Calling Town of New Hope residents! Our town's Events Planning Committee is looking for additional members. This committee heads up events for our town, most notably our annual National Night Out. If you like helping with fun activities, please join our committee! Email epcc@newhopetx.gov today with your contact info!

November 8, 2022 General and Special Election This post is being made to encourage you and everyone you know to be prepared to cast your vote in the upcoming election.

If you need assistance with voter registration,

*please leave a voice mail at New Hope Town hall 972-548-2489 or *send an email to mcc.admin@newhopetx.gov

Someone will gladly assist you in participating in one of our most cherished freedoms.

Last day to register to vote: Tuesday, October 11, 2022 (Postmarked) --

Voter Registration Application

Last day to apply for Ballot by Mail: Friday, October 28, 2022 (Received)

Absentee and By-Mail Voting

Early Voting: Monday, October 24, 2022 - Friday, November 4, 2022

Early Voting Locations

Election Day Vote Centers

Notices

Sample Ballot Precinct 4

Sample Ballot Precinct 9

Note: The Town of New Hope will make every effort to provide the following information as it becomes available.

*Early Voting, Ballot by Mail, and Election Day Rosters (Coming Soon)

Voter Registration Information

Voting for Disabled Persons

Absentee or By-Mail Voting

Collin County Elections website

There are a couple new options in Texas. They are

-Track My Ballot

-My Voter Portal

Election Frequently Asked Questions

The Town of New Hope wishes you and yours a blessed, happy and safe Thanksgiving. We hope you enjoy these various observations about Thanksgiving.

JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."

TONY SNOW “If you think Independence Day is America’s defining holiday, think again. Thanksgiving deserves that title, hands-down.”

MICHAEL STRAHAN “That’s one of the great things about Thanksgiving: Football’s on!”

WILLIE NELSON "When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around."

MAYA ANGELOU “Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.”

VOLTAIRE “Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.”

TECUMSEH “When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself.”

MELODY BEATTIE "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow."

SAM LEFKOWITZ "When asked if my cup is half-full or half-empty my only response is that I am thankful I have a cup."

JIM DAVIS "Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie."

JOHNNY CARSON “Thanksgiving is an emotional holiday. People travel thousands of miles to be with people they only see once a year. And then discover once a year is way too often.”

HOWIE MANDEL “I’m from Canada, so Thanksgiving to me is just Thursday with more food. And I’m thankful for that.”

KEVIN JAMES “Thanksgiving, man. Not a good day to be my pants.”

DEBBY RYAN “Every Thanksgiving, we all write down three things we’re thankful for and put them in a hat. Then we pass the hat around the dinner table and everyone has to guess who wrote what!”