ISSUE 34 • FEBRUARY 2023 City of Waxahachie Employee Newsletter CHARLES BEATTY MUNICIPAL BUILDING UPDATE Progress continues at the Charles Beatty Municipal Building in the 400 block of South Rogers Street. Recently, permanent power was installed and A/C units will be running in the next few weeks. Work has started on lock out/tag out procedures, masonry work is being finished in the back and framing is being completed on the Chamber of Commerce's new space within the retail building. Next, roofing materials will arrive to complete the roof work. The new facility is expected to be completed in mid 2023, and will house the Planning, Public Works and Engineering, Utilities, and Building and Community Services Departments.

HISTORIC PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION The City of Waxahachie provides a tax exemption for historic properties approved by the Heritage Preservation Commission. This exemption amounts to 25% of the city portion of assessed property taxes. The exemption must be applied for annually and completed applications are due no later than March 15. To apply for the historic property tax exemption, please visit the following link: https://bit.ly/3GJt33X

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2021 SIDEWALK PROGRAM UPDATE Contractors are setting forms and tying steel to put in new sidewalks along Peters Street, starting at Graham and stopping at the Lexington Avenue intersection. Once completed, contractors will move on to North Harbin Avenue and North Gibson to work on that portion of the program. The photo above shows the sidewalk ready for concrete on Graham and Peters. The contractors are finished with sewer and are currently working on the storm drain in the Bellevue Park part of the storm line. The contractors are ahead of schedule for Phase 1.

NEW FIRE ENGINE CONSTRUCTION

FIRE STATION 4 CONSTRUCTION

Our Apparatus Committee recently visited the Pierce Factory in Appleton, Wisconsin from January 11-13 for the final inspection of Engine 4. The factory has since completed the corrections provided by the committee and the engine is now back in Texas. Equipment is being taken to the engine so it can be mounted in the compartments.

Progress continues on the new Fire Station 4 as seen in the latest photo. Recently, brick was laid on the exterior of the building, interior framing was completed, and all mechanical, electrical and plumbing roughins were completed, interior drywall was placed, and more work was completed. Upcoming work includes finishing exterior brick, installing doors and windows and more. Fire Station 4 will be located at 850 South Interstate IH 35-E in Waxahachie, and is on track to be completed by June 2023.

The engine is scheduled to be in service by February 10 and a push-back ceremony will be scheduled shortly after.

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PLANNING DEPARTMENT RECEIVES THE 2022 RICHARD R. LILLIE PLANNING EXCELLENCE AWARD The City of Waxahachie Planning Department received the Richard R. Lillie Planning Excellence Award from the American Planning Association - Texas Chapter in October 2022. The City of Waxahachie is one of 44 municipalities in Texas to receive the award. The evaluation criteria for the Planning Excellence Award include the level of training of Planning Commissioners and professional staff, professional qualifications of the planning staff, and the currency and completion of planning-related projects, such as the City's Comprehensive Plan update. The comprehensive plan is a policy document that guides Waxahachie's future growth and development based on the resident's vision and aspirations for the future. Learn more about the 2022 Comprehensive Plan update by visiting the City's website (view here).

DANCING WITH THE ELLIS COUNTY STARS Join us in supporting Waxahachie Police Department's own, Officer Taylor in the 2nd Annual “Dancing with the Ellis County Stars,” on February 11, 2023, with partner Ann Montgomery, County and District Attorney! Six pairs of Ellis County's finest will light up the stage as they compete for the Mirror Ball Trophy. You can give your favorite couple, team "Law & Order", a head start by voting here. Place as many votes as you'd like, at $5 per vote up until the night of the event. Tickets are currently sold out. Make sure you don't miss Ellis County's best entertainment of the year!

GOOD LUCK OFFICER TAYLOR! Saturday, February 11 6:00pm Waxahachie Civic Center

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LADIES NIGHT OUT DOWNTOWN Join us every second Thursday of every month for Ladies Night out in Downtown Waxahachie! Join participating stores for sips, snacks, and sales from 5pm-8pm. This month's theme is Galentine's!

WINE & CHOCOLATE STROLL DOWNTOWN WAXAHACHIE Join the Waxahachie Downtown Merchants Association on February 11th from 1pm-5pm and stroll through historic Downtown Waxahachie sampling wine and desserts at 12 of our locally owned businesses. Tickets are $30 and are limited. Tickets can be purchased at www.DowntownWaxahachie.com.

HACHIE GRAS IN DOWNTOWN WAXAHACHIE Saturday, February 18 11 am-Midnight The event will kick-off at 11am with a parade through downtown Waxahachie, beginning at Railyard Park, down College Street to the Courthouse, down Rogers Street and back to Railyard Park. Keyun & the Zydeco Masters will be on stage until 1pm at Railyard Park. Over 11 bars, breweries and restaurants will be featuring your Mardi Gras favorites including live music, crawfish, drinks, jambalaya, costumes, lattes and cigars. Plus, pedi cabs will be available for your transportainment!

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New Hires

Daisy Dickson Payroll Assistant Finance

Waxahachie Employees

Ryan Boyd Accounting Manager Finance

Shatarius Slaughter Utility Billing Clerk Utility Billing

Billy Stephens Sam Rice Utility Worker - Water Firefighter Distribution Waxahachie Fire Dept.

Ashlynn Smith Jarred Mason Glenn Grones Police Dispatcher Senior Code Maintenance Worker Parks & Recreation Waxahachie Police Dept.Enforcement Officer Community Services

Promotions

Anniversaries Stephanie Adrian, 5 years Water Distribution

Derrick Young Lieutenant - Police Department Dustin Koch Sergeant - Police Department

JD Cobb, 5 years Facility Maintenance

Marielena Salazar Accounting Tech - Finance

Justin Johnson, 5 years Wastewater Collection John Taylor, 10 years Streets

Johnathon Sullivan Water Production - Utility Plant Operator

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SUNDAY

MONDAY

February 2023 TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

1

THURSDAY

2 Black History Month

FRIDAY 3

Groundhog Day

SATURDAY 4

National Wear Red Day

SAGU Half Marathon

Daddy Daughter Dance @ Civic Center

5

6

8

7 National Frozen Yogurt Day

9 National Kite Flying Day

Community Theater: Arsenic & Old Lace

11

10 Ladies Night Out Downtown

Community Theater: Arsenic & Old Lace

Dancing With Ellis County Stars Wine & Chocolate Stroll Downtown

12

Super Bowl Sunday

Community Theater: Arsenic & Old Lace

13

14 National Clean Out Your Computer Day

15 Valentine's Day

16

17

20

Fat Tuesday/ Mardi Gras

National Love Your Pet Day

27

22

21

President's Day

26

Hachie Gras Downtown Waxahachie Symphony: Zin, Zhou, Vila Piano Trio

Galentine's Day

Lincoln's Birthday

19

18 Random Act of Kindness Day

Single Awareness Day

23 Ash Wednesday George Washington's Birthday

28

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National Chili Day

24

25 National Pancake Day

Recipe of the Month

Southwest Spaghetti Squash Casserole

INGREDIENTS 1 spaghetti squash, roasted and flesh scraped out with a fork into spaghetti-like strands 2 teaspoons olive oil 1/4 cup finely chopped green onions 1 jalapeño, seeds removed and finely chopped 3/4 cup black beans (canned), rinsed and drained 1/2 cup frozen corn, defrosted 1/2 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste 1 cup red enchilada sauce 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese Chopped tomatoes, cilantro and green onions for toppings (optional)

DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 375° F. In a large oven safe skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. When the skillet is hot add in the green onion and jalapeño. Sauté for 2 minutes then add in the black beans, corn, shredded chicken, chili powder, cumin and garlic powder. Season with salt and pepper and stir together until combined. Add in the spaghetti squash strands and enchilada sauce. Stir together until combined and top with the shredded cheese. Bake for 15 minutes or until warmed through and the cheese is melted. Top with chopped tomatoes, cilantro and green onions if desired.

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Healthy Hachie Wellness Program The City of Waxahachie has implemented a voluntary Employee Wellness Program for full-time employees to practice living a healthy lifestyle. Full-time employees who complete the wellness program requirements and wellness activities during the program year will qualify for a Wellness Day Off in the following calendar year. Similar to the program under US Wellness, the plan will run from October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023. Employees will need to complete their annual exam (300 points), online Health Assessment through MyCigna.com (200 points), and 1000 points from wellness screenings and activities. Instead of logging your points through the online portal with US Wellness, employees will complete the Healthy Hachie Wellness Program Form previously sent out, and submit the completed form to Human Resources at [email protected]. Completed forms should be submitted to Human Resources no later than 5 P.M. on September 30, 2023. The Wellness Committee will be planning events throughout the year for employees to attend. Employees also have access to numerous wellness resources through the MyCigna portal, including mental health support, discounted fitness memberships, and more! Please disregard the wellness points listed on the MyCigna Portal for as it does not relate to the City’s internal wellness program.

recipes! Get points for trying new healthy

s over We will provide healthy recipe along! the next 4 months to help you

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