[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6528231,"mediaKeyId","3413721-39bfe1ed415a884dac999dae61470b03","parentId",3413721,"title","Little Elm swears in new council member, names youth council and proclaims NF Awareness and Public Works weeks","audioSeconds",522,"startMs",3394000,"endMs",3916000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3413721-39bfe1ed415a884dac999dae61470b03&start=3394&end=3916","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3413721-39bfe1ed415a884dac999dae61470b03/thumbnail_3394000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6528231/Little-Elm/Denton-County/Texas/Little-Elm-swears-in-new-council-member-names-youth-council-and-proclaims-NF-Awareness-and-Public-Works-weeks","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6528231-6c4d5262f79511ee648434c5e3b90d3b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144033&Signature=Dwliat20O252lpb2V8XL46FZhJKL6IZAplQr9KfIdvj67rqetCa1EhtS9NdWFSf9kLdbpE-ikV9sfkUN0c4NSFrswaD2Xe50fQbLOnuDCWX1h9Pb86g0keQjt3rKhImEaKzWtJadN3Mhm7BHGSPE0jzDbsRwHjlvtl0ZcBPNtwHVmgxgt2senVw-K6cdwsMhbaRIlbNW~b4-dHbHlp0ZhJsT-USOAT2KObULR1Ebv-SOy9mI4JM3m3Erd-bAs9NM2RSB6Xbmr17gpeJiA0E39HGn4hq9HI3Uk8Y~l4mZznBqq5adobByHXjwxiQG-ONSfKnhdgM-fXzsRiDT8JFZiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Little Elm","date","2025-05-20T00:00:00Z","article","The Little Elm Town Council completed several ceremonial and recognition items during its May 2025 meeting, including administering the oath of office, presenting youth council members and issuing proclamations.

Tony Steen took the oath and the town clerk certified the election for the office of council member Place 2. Following the oath, Steen thanked family and supporters and said he was grateful for another opportunity to serve on the council.

The council also presented certificates and recognition for the mayor's math challenge and honor roll of dual-enrollment graduates; staff identified the top math challenge participants and distributed certificates of recognition to several students. The council announced that 13 students had been selected to serve on the Little Elm Youth Council; staff said the program will begin meeting in August and that members come from multiple area schools, including Little Elm High School and other district or private schools.

Two proclamations were presented and read aloud. The council proclaimed May 2025 as Neurofibromatosis (NF) Awareness Month, noting local families affected by the condition and commending the Children's Tumor Foundation and local advocates. The council also designated the week of May 18 through May 24, 2025 as National Public Works Week and praised public works professionals for their role maintaining infrastructure and public health.

The consent agenda for the meeting was approved by council voice vote earlier in the session with no recorded opposition.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Little Elm - Town Council - May 20, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The council administered the oath to Tony Steen (Place 2), presented 13 members of the Little Elm Youth Council, and issued proclamations recognizing May 2025 as Neurofibromatosis Awareness Month and May 18'May 24, 2025 as National Public Works Week; council also approved the consent agenda earlier in the meeting.","taxTitle","Little Elm, Denton County, Texas","taxId",52812,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6528236,"Community Waste Disposal reports fewer missed pickups, highlights local recycling and outreach",106,26000,132000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3413721-39bfe1ed415a884dac999dae61470b03&start=26&end=132","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3413721-39bfe1ed415a884dac999dae61470b03/thumbnail_26000.jpg","/articles/6528236/Little-Elm/Denton-County/Texas/Community-Waste-Disposal-reports-fewer-missed-pickups-highlights-local-recycling-and-outreach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6528236-c94f330ac7bfed8fb4d0016c549fc4f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144033&Signature=GzZmdyqLBjuu-wKgykSzrIsWjNhKrb-ngXtCo3zKhQtQVuOO0sj5o4wO1CEkNO-VdutfskN8kqd~o7~5NpEs4pdOqsMrI15b~lG9n16GvZOIEF3Tn--w7ZbLuIzUWg9Twb-UY~~Pyz6J8lyw6NlxSUid4GPx5cW79r~zcbDYBZ-yUYpM1Wno8tB1nNINXWYcmTqMbfY6Avc7eX9yKwFs2JcL~~K0dNw-zrTyxSMCZMcq4sucPzblTERSNekdLULb-4j6ZULcqYk3w9zCYTKIIkOyd1cI6hMbXuFHs3TlxhIpe2ezYtRl~0pk0YKuH3BwLYaa1cmpPr5L8~fZQNBFQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Robert (Bobby) Medikovic of Community Waste Disposal presented the company's annual report to the Little Elm Town Council, reviewing service changes, performance metrics and community outreach activities.

Medikovic said Community Waste Disposal has served the Little Elm area since the late 1990s and described operational investments, including a new vehicle purchased in summer 2023. He attributed a reduction in the company's compressed natural gas (CNG) footprint to a broader industry trend and said, \"In the last 10 years, the CNG footprint has reduced the carbon by 20% in the state of Texas.\" He reported service reliability improvements, stating, \"So far in 2025, we're at 1.5 misses per day,\" down from earlier industry figures of roughly 2.2 misses per day.

Medikovic reviewed local recycling activity and partnerships. He said schools in Little Elm diverted about 65 tons of cardboard and other materials from the landfill in the prior year and recounted the company's participation in local events including Earth Day activities, Juneteenth, the Big Easy Bridal event, Special Olympics support, medication take-back or community cleanups, and partnerships with the Rotary Club and Little Elm ISD. He noted the company has donated benches and placed recycling containers at the Lakefront and is coordinating with town staff to purchase additional recycling containers for public areas.

Medikovic also recognized local volunteers and staff. The presentation included a certificate from the Texas House of Representatives presented to Michelle Hamrick (referred to in the meeting) recognizing a volunteer award; Medikovic said Representative Richard Hayes presented the award and the mayor had a town proclamation for local recognition. The presentation emphasized Community Waste Disposal's local outreach and awards from the Recycling Coalition of Texas.

The council offered brief thanks and had no follow-up action recorded on the report. Medikovic closed by inviting questions and noting the company will continue to work with the town on recycling containers and community events.

","Robert Medikovic of Community Waste Disposal presented the company's annual report to the Little Elm Town Council, citing a drop in missed pickups to about 1.5 per day so far in 2025, ongoing school recycling totaling roughly 65 tons, expanded community events involvement and recent awards for town partnerships.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6528241,"Little Elm council denies appeal to allow oversized storage shed at Montessori property",1360,2055000,3415000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3413721-39bfe1ed415a884dac999dae61470b03&start=2055&end=3415","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3413721-39bfe1ed415a884dac999dae61470b03/thumbnail_2055000.jpg","/articles/6528241/Little-Elm/Denton-County/Texas/Little-Elm-council-denies-appeal-to-allow-oversized-storage-shed-at-Montessori-property","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6528241-4c54e82ad0d087d63da1b4b14c67a390/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144033&Signature=MRLM5Fe6uAMbygRPNCkWUJhYVSBeknMEK08JydxQK0iZVCTUsiqrADQ8ZjOB0zWZOnLgSXHVzz0EdK4yAAswXRaEBsH8UUwXx6YimMGGM3aOZcx645yWSS8QAM7bejZp4Ku1p4Ea0QO1yR6A2YJHepfXgbdLiXMAO6s43ceC6GIymV22bbfCUa0udSZ2BmzxSwFqOhPgO0Ewxoa4ZudS3arRBud1Jeziu9Bu3~3y4olIg9vtDBBaw1D3SSR17XxvacASdGaBDoSdq4DKf2LdO6rsxslgpbZSPDGHJBSXug~a88fQ9a3TOoirbkgWSQyQ2zi11LACD9EbMpHzif9TZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Little Elm Town Council on May 2025 denied an appeal from the owner of a property that includes Little Elm Montessori and an adjacent mixed-use development, rejecting a request to allow a 288-square-foot prefabricated storage shed that exceeded the size authorized under the site's planned development and a previously issued conditional use approval.

A staff member told the council the town's planned development (PD) and development agreement allowed only a 12-by-12 storage structure; the applicant had received an administrative conditional use approval for that size but the structure placed on site measured roughly 288 square feet and would require a building permit. The director of development services denied an exception, the Planning & Zoning Commission voted 5–1 to deny an appeal, and the applicant then appealed to the council for final review.

The issue combined two separate compliance concerns: a zoning/development-agreement violation because the structure exceeded the size shown in the approved PD and a permitting issue because a building of that size requires a building permit. Staff also told council members that any approval would still require separate federal clearance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers because part of the property lies within a flood/flowage easement that falls under Corps jurisdiction.

The applicant, who identified himself as Shekari, told the council he had not realized there was a size limitation and asked the council to approve the existing structure. \"Yes. So it was my mistake. I didn't realize there is a size limitation,\" he said. He also said the shed is behind the building and not visible from the street and that he believed neighboring properties had larger storage.

Council members asked whether a building inspection had been performed (it had not, because no building permit was issued) and whether the applicant had prior Corps approvals for earlier site plans. Staff said the applicant had a prior Corps approval for an earlier version of the project but would need a new or updated Corps clearance for changes to the plan. Staff recommended that, if the council were to approve the larger structure despite the violations, the council should require the applicant to obtain a building permit, resolve outstanding site items, and secure any required Corps approvals before the structure remained in place.

After discussion, a council member moved to deny the appeal and a second was called. The council voted in favor of denial. The council's action upheld the director's and Planning & Zoning Commission's denials and left the applicant the option of pursuing the appropriate PD amendment or additional permitting and Corps approvals if he wishes to legalize the structure.

Council action and next steps

The motion to deny the appeal passed on a council vote recorded as unanimous in the meeting record. Staff advised the applicant that the remaining options include applying for a PD amendment and pursuing the Corps of Engineers and building-permit clearances required to place a structure at the site lawfully. The council also emphasized the site had outstanding items from prior approvals that staff and the Planning & Zoning Commission had flagged.

","The Little Elm Town Council voted to deny an appeal by the owner of Little Elm Montessori seeking approval for a 288-square-foot prefabricated storage structure that exceeded an approved 12-by-12 accessory building and lacked required building permits and Corps of Engineers clearance.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Little Elm swears in new council member, names youth council and proclaims NF Awareness and Public Works weeks

Community Waste Disposal reports fewer missed pickups, highlights local recycling and outreach

Little Elm council denies appeal to allow oversized storage shed at Montessori property