[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-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",[32,75,87,99,110],{"_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",6701094,"mediaKeyId","3859321-c8971fe94270b02591cc3bf1c95cf7d9","parentId",3859321,"title","Glenn Heights officials present timeline and safety plans for South Ewell Road expansion","audioSeconds",500,"startMs",976000,"endMs",1476000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3859321-c8971fe94270b02591cc3bf1c95cf7d9&start=976&end=1476","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3859321-c8971fe94270b02591cc3bf1c95cf7d9/thumbnail_976000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6701094/Glenn-Heights/Dallas-County/Texas/Glenn-Heights-officials-present-timeline-and-safety-plans-for-South-Ewell-Road-expansion","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6701094-38e4e3932a016483e721cb84088c5c66/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442779&Signature=MUl4tgIngsOU5urYvnPeLgKKquFjyLgAryn63V7xvr2HHcjoHaVMcv8e3jT0CzFbbrjn5~spG8-g~-N-h-LetfikBbk-ZGHYEXSMFrV9S0ose3t3x7M3hiZqJAidoqAp6~AlyRWwQfPALRSalCpIDlJPa4ebuCt8ZqhMrHcSajdTqp3YFtuQWOixIOfxR94IOjB-VZPPbinaRUWvficAUVp4onsyyqrvUeqfZ9DabkUOvvk37YWg6Xu~rpO4iBUrRK7qcc~kGpBBNPklVpshoO7XE476gbU6hAY6d5EnXkmNb1oyx0xx2QAJucQj3JMKILhXLHsmZAPrhUC0XnlTaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Glenn Heights","date","2025-06-17T00:00:00Z","article","Glenn Heights city officials on Monday presented an update on the South Ewell Road expansion project, describing plans to widen the roadway from its current two-lane configuration to five lanes, install new underground storm drainage, add sidewalks and place a new traffic signal with dedicated turn lanes at the O'Villa/Harmony intersection. The council heard that construction is expected to begin in late July or August and that the city accepted a contractor whose 180-day completion schedule was a primary factor in selection.

The project presentation was given by Michael Westfall of Westfall Engineering and introduced by Andrew Waits, Glenn Heights director of public works. Westfall said the corridor, which he described as “just over 2,000,” is currently deteriorated, with pavement, drainage and erosion issues and rising traffic from nearby single-family development and the adjacent school. “The roadway not only is gonna go to concrete, it's gonna be, expanded in width,” Westfall said, describing a final cross-section with two through lanes in each direction plus a center turn lane adjacent to commercial parcels and a transition back to two lanes near Harmony Road.

City materials and Westfall noted several design features intended to address safety and multimodal access: underground storm pipes with inlets along the curb, new pedestrian crosswalks at O'Villa in all four directions, and sidewalks along the residential side with the commercial-side sidewalks to be constructed by future developments. Westfall told the council that three bids were received at the May 28 opening and that the low spread—about $65,000, roughly 2 percent—meant the city prioritized schedule. The apparent low bidder offered a 270-day schedule while the selected contractor proposed 180 days; officials cited the 90-day time savings as a deciding factor to reduce disruption during high traffic periods.

Council members asked about resident notifications, school-bus and peak-period traffic controls, and debris removal. Waits said construction updates will appear on the city's website and that the contractor must maintain at least one lane open in each direction during construction; a detailed phasing plan will be submitted by the contractor. When Councilmember Lightfoot asked who is responsible for removing broken or derelict equipment, Westfall said the city’s construction inspector will ensure the contractor clears equipment and debris before project completion.

No formal vote on the project was held during the update; Westfall said the next steps are a pre-construction meeting and contractor mobilization. Officials repeated that the timeline could be extended for inclement weather days.

The council earlier approved consent agenda items that included this update; separate minutes note consent approval. The city did not provide a single linear measurement unit for the “just over 2,000” figure in the presentation.

Looking ahead, staff said residents should check the city website for construction phasing maps and updates once the contractor’s detailed schedule and notification plan are finalized.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Glenn Heights - City Council - Jun 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff and the engineer gave an update on the South Ewell Road expansion, describing a conversion from two lanes to five, underground drainage, new signalization and a likely late-summer start with a 180-day contract.","taxTitle","Glenn Heights, Dallas County, Texas","taxId",69451,"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},6701078,"Council moves to simplify stop-sign ordinance, empower traffic engineer to manage inventory",669,2602000,3271000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3859321-c8971fe94270b02591cc3bf1c95cf7d9&start=2602&end=3271","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3859321-c8971fe94270b02591cc3bf1c95cf7d9/thumbnail_2602000.jpg","/articles/6701078/Glenn-Heights/Dallas-County/Texas/Council-moves-to-simplify-stop-sign-ordinance-empower-traffic-engineer-to-manage-inventory","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6701078-d6b0fc0365f8adc760cad7ed7556d73e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442779&Signature=IA09XkWyQjfc4BKQOmd3njTIUp6nc6EOXRn23iIH0G4avMfLNyrLRcz8W0Jbr1cyB-8vCxjCnv9OFn86aWnsWtMwftvOZc0IlDEo8lXp6sR413MgmS0rYCPrWZee7dz3m5CwPeW0AFORv-tYjaHMQ4o8YmIeP58wRIhuYMEk0XgGMzXLI3W62Ybj9E8q-ma98ZQfJg3lrstDtBG5VFV5YGGj-lmbbSkoL0eKYCOptBMwh5NJRwOCRE~ytdBoc9vYplSfuHg8LSjXdVoL59QqQl~BX7CKvh9Mt~nmDs~eL~b9Vjr7RWGYKCenG2fYOfGevexvyd5Z~rhe8p2s7FIsPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Glenn Heights officials offered a first reading of Ordinance O-09-25, which would amend the city's traffic code by removing a lengthy, clause-by-clause inventory of stop-sign intersections and instead rely on the city’s traffic engineer and public-safety staff to maintain and place stop signs under established standards.

City Manager Clifford Blackwell framed the change as both a safety response after a recent incident and a cleanup of cumbersome ordinance language that lists roughly 40 intersections. Blackwell and the city attorney argued the current code is “cumbersome, confusing and prone to error” when changes are needed. The attorney told the council that delegating placement to the traffic engineer and following the state’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices would allow staff to respond faster when signs need to be added or removed.

Chief Moore, who conducted a street-by-street assessment, presented the department's recommendations for stop-sign placement and said the police department will enforce signs once they are installed. Councilmembers asked about resident requests and notification: staff said residents should contact the police department (the chief) to request a study of a neighborhood location, and that the city is preparing details for notifying affected streets when new signs are installed. Councilmember Bruton asked whether blinking-warning flags or temporary alerts would be used for new stop signs; staff said that approach is reasonable and under consideration.

Blackwell said the second reading will present a shorter ordinance that repeals the specific list and replaces it with a simpler delegation statement; no final action was taken at the first reading.","After a recent traffic incident, city staff proposed repealing the ordinance’s long list of intersections and delegating stop-sign placement to the traffic engineer in line with the state manual; a revised ordinance will appear at second reading.",{"_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},6701084,"Glenn Heights council reviews rewrite of employee personnel policy; city proposes six-week parental leave and police-academy support",478,1861000,2339000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3859321-c8971fe94270b02591cc3bf1c95cf7d9&start=1861&end=2339","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3859321-c8971fe94270b02591cc3bf1c95cf7d9/thumbnail_1861000.jpg","/articles/6701084/Glenn-Heights/Dallas-County/Texas/Glenn-Heights-council-reviews-rewrite-of-employee-personnel-policy-city-proposes-six-week-parental-leave-and-police-academy-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6701084-a6300eab9d95a485150c482092364e1f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442779&Signature=iRmJds0b47vVbsbWmqGhTSiB~F83pUWd0bdZlh7qw25Y~yIhsLXM09BX-1lM8POoD1gH7nHaQ~67p5wIViwLyJqluNL2cA3cB6LoyLPVaIx8GaaDMt3w42AlTYg38JG6AN9gcryzQtnpNF3PPLbGXixCj131pEEAqlGu~IVWPxeAHHis9TRmMFEiZprEokh3EhpEzPypqrcUGNxWuOfd3vmCeqQCkRLTfFxm7ExtuxDwIRNDKRr5HgsuqijAtpQBNFnaT5xXX2Pz1cPOzBBHpH8vCZYuylPxmt3LHMnuyvoby8Hz79VNXf~NYzmrMAtDLUfBUnFSdOg3evf0bu1pUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Glenn Heights City Council held the first reading of Ordinance O-08-25, a comprehensive rewrite of the city's employee personnel policy that would replace policies not substantially updated for more than a decade. Janice Porter Braithwaite, the city's human-resources director, presented key proposals including a six-week paid parental leave provision, tuition and direct-cost payments for employees attending a police academy, and clarifications to holiday and jury-duty leave rules.

Porter Braithwaite described the parental-leave proposal as paid leave “following the birth of an employee's child or the placement of a child with an employee in connection with adoption, foster care, or other legal placement.” She said the policy covers placements for youngsters “17 and under” and that the six weeks of paid parental leave would be available per calendar year and would “coincide with FMLA and those regulations.” Councilmember Benford asked whether the leave must be taken within a year; staff confirmed the intention is to mirror standard 12-month timing and that the provision is per calendar year.

The draft policy also proposes that the city pay tuition and direct costs for employees who enroll in a police academy, keep employees on payroll while enrolled, and create a police-cadet classification and associated pay grade while trainees attend the academy. “If approved by the city, the city will provide payments for tuition and direct costs. While enrolled, the employee will remain as an employee in the current position earning current salary and job benefits,” Porter Braithwaite said.

Council members raised questions about holiday language, specifically a 9/11 memorial day currently described for fire personnel. Porter Braithwaite and Deputy Chief Moore noted that fire personnel take a 48-hour personal allotment and must use one of those personal days for 9/11; councilmembers asked staff to include police and dispatch in that recognition and clarified how personal days are administered in public-safety departments. Council also asked whether the city would close early the Wednesday before Thanksgiving; staff said such operational decisions are set by the city manager and do not necessarily require formal policy language.

Porter Braithwaite said the revised employee personnel policy is included in the council packet and that a second reading will occur at the council’s first July meeting. No final vote was taken at the first reading.","Council held the first reading of an updated employee personnel policy proposing six weeks of paid parental leave (per calendar year), tuition support for staff attending the police academy and edits to holiday and leave language; second reading scheduled for the first July meeting.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":46,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6701089,"Glenn Heights council discusses expanding rental registration as rentals rise; no new regulations set",360,1836000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3859321-c8971fe94270b02591cc3bf1c95cf7d9&start=1476&end=1836","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3859321-c8971fe94270b02591cc3bf1c95cf7d9/thumbnail_1476000.jpg","/articles/6701089/Glenn-Heights/Dallas-County/Texas/Glenn-Heights-council-discusses-expanding-rental-registration-as-rentals-rise-no-new-regulations-set","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6701089-b9e9c86bfc0f01e4b466fac3cb9bd3c6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442779&Signature=OFP3ChIUrJEy3uyKk9~biTcUkvd4OtNdXtu2Ymy0t2j4MLbKZz0dxKtrIH9IulXEXckKe7M9tD55H1xhF3K4O64z6daoWa3Bm6rMH0hFWDRo5y1xoe-rdR7FaRRNGQGNxxNsAS2dUU5P6SvWDWFodMYv3Wem4iEWzuf0Ktxj0hkZAL-gCCZfaYZ0ORXnRyGwPaYrIrZ~yRpbXRBYO8sP8Cat13fzANSqVyQItQXPO9J5Ma8dBQHvym930EU-wpYwH4czIo5HOdrjFFUFmktmipL6EYe6xoSm3Lk-D4KBxieTvGDNkH8DKURSKI9O8DPTGCFNtl-JRD6~LajuHDuqVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilmembers on Monday discussed proposed amendments to the city’s rental registration program amid a noted rise in rental properties locally and statewide. Mayor Sonya A. Brown introduced the item as an effort to protect neighborhood cleanliness, tenant rights and the city’s appearance while tracking increases in single-family rentals.

The discussion began with Brown saying the policy was proposed to City Manager Clifford Blackwell as a response to more houses being rented rather than owner-occupied. She said the goals are to “make sure that tenants also know their rights and that they are protected as renters” and to reduce the risk of absentee landlords allowing properties to fall into disrepair.

Councilmember Benford asked whether the city could share rental-registration information with homeowners-association management companies so HOAs could be aware of rental properties in their communities. Blackwell said the city could “come up with something” to enable that partnership. The council did not vote on a specific data-sharing protocol; staff were asked to explore options.

Councilmembers also asked whether the city can regulate rent levels. The attorney and council said the city lacks authority to dictate rents. Mayor Brown said, “I’m gonna go on a limb and say no,” when asked if the city can regulate landlord pricing; the city attorney concurred by explaining the limits of local authority on rent regulation.

Councilmembers and Brown discussed alternative approaches such as exploring workforce housing and programs to help early-career professionals access stable housing; those ideas were presented as options for future policy work rather than formal proposals. The item was presented as a discussion; no ordinance or fee changes were adopted at the meeting.

Staff indicated they will return with draft amendments and, if appropriate, recommended processes for interagency coordination and HOA notification.","Council discussed proposed amendments to the city's rental registration program to track rental properties, share data with HOAs, and protect tenant rights; council was told the city cannot cap or regulate rent levels.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6701075,"Council approves consent agenda including financial reports and South Ewell Road update",177,767000,944000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3859321-c8971fe94270b02591cc3bf1c95cf7d9&start=767&end=944","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3859321-c8971fe94270b02591cc3bf1c95cf7d9/thumbnail_767000.jpg","/articles/6701075/Glenn-Heights/Dallas-County/Texas/Council-approves-consent-agenda-including-financial-reports-and-South-Ewell-Road-update","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6701075-145c27f80d92a62da78533386eca1571/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442779&Signature=khOVlo4xP1ikC8msQ5LFu4c-IkArEIG7t9f8vbSRPP2O3Na7InzbLq~nMq2~I9p-IrGbjugECZq~NAychTfeF458rATZRDvaQlvO4ao4GOEMs1GSmD~hXzTu0kHHkAbPFkRhZhljvsbEDoDOXqrZPhBVR8cWVSqlUCboLrqZkaask0JKVa0ZMJFyY4hZBRXCeDY8Zonlmkfqg0TQVuA88Zeu5aNbtWH0aOdjfXUx4hqJiK1GxLKtFVoQ46LMaGVcycXcXmcLtHTF8KToynkXjc27oS95PrgOElseFDJosn2~ev3Ly2tJy4xBgt5guBi5r7rrxXnoQqN2ZNo0uWJ6ig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Glenn Heights City Council approved its consent agenda during Monday's meeting. The council voted to approve consent agenda items 1 and 2 (vote recorded as 5-0) after a motion to approve those items and to pull item 3 for separate acknowledgement. After discussion and presentation of the May 2025 financial reports by Sherry Roberts, the council later moved and seconded to approve consent agenda item 3; the vote was recorded as 5-0.

Sherry Roberts, who presented the financial reports, answered questions about the status of the city's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report audit process (the ACFR). Roberts said auditors will be on-site the following Wednesday for interviews and paper review due to privacy constraints and that staff hope to have a draft, if not a final, ACFR available by the council’s first meeting in August. Roberts said the auditors are “deep in it” and the year under audit is 2023-24.

The approvals on the consent agenda included the South Ewell Road expansion update presented by Public Works and Westfall Engineering (see separate article) and the acknowledgment of the May 2025 financial reports. The meeting record shows no dissenting votes on the consent items.","Glenn Heights approved consent agenda items including the South Ewell Road update and acknowledged receipt of the May 2025 financial reports; recorded votes were 5-0 on the consent items presented.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Glenn Heights officials present timeline and safety plans for South Ewell Road expansion

Council moves to simplify stop-sign ordinance, empower traffic engineer to manage inventory

Glenn Heights council reviews rewrite of employee personnel policy; city proposes six-week parental leave and police-academy support

Glenn Heights council discusses expanding rental registration as rentals rise; no new regulations set

Council approves consent agenda including financial reports and South Ewell Road update