Former City of Southlake Public Works employee Bill Hollings was named a Star of Texas recipient by Governor Greg Abbott.
Mr. Hollings, a traffic supervisor, passed away in August of 2020 due to his injuries from a July 2020 traffic accident believed to be caused by a drunk driver. At the time of the accident, he was aiding the Southlake Police Department in keeping an intersection safe after the traffic signals lost power.
Governor Greg Abbott presents the Star of Texas award to Vivian Hollings on behalf of her late husband, Bill Hollings.
The Star of Texas Awards honor all Texas peace officers, firefighters, emergency medical first responders, and federal law enforcement officers who are seriously injured or lost in the line of duty. Private citizens who were seriously injured or passed away while aiding or attempting to aid a peace officer, firefighter, or emergency first responder in the performance of their duties are also eligible to receive a Star of Texas Award. Southlake Police Chief James Brandon nominated Mr. Hollings in the private citizen category.
“The City of Southlake is pleased that Bill could be honored in this way. He was devoted to his beautiful family and his faith. We are lucky to call him one of our own,” said Southlake City Manager Shana Yelverton.
Southlake Assistant Police Chief Ashleigh Casey with Vivian Hollings, wife of the late Southlake Public Works employee Bill Hollings who died while assisting the City's traffic patrol in keeping an intersection safe after the traffic signals lost power.
Forty-six Texans were honored this year. Governor Abbott started the ceremony with remarks telling the families and audience: “We pray with gratitude for you and your families. The service of your loved ones will never be forgotten.”
The entire ceremony can be viewed here- https://control.resi.io/webplayer/video.html?id=a030e9e1-8d02-484b-ab74-56b50f7a3e50. Mr. Hollings’ family is seen accepting his Star of Texas Medal at 2:32:36.
When it comes to providing a multitude of services from one central department, Public Works comes to mind.
The department plays a vital role in distributing services that contribute to the quality of life for our residents, businesses and visitors from quality infrastructure to water quality and mobility.
They also provide safety and security by taking protective measures to reduce infrastructure risk within the City of Southlake.
“Our professionals take great pride in serving the citizens of Southlake,” Director of Public Works Rob Cohen said. “We implement the Southlake standard when it comes to taking care of City’s infrastructure needs, maintaining mobility and providing our customers with safe drinking water. Our team is well-versed and trained; it is a true honor and privilege serving alongside our public works professionals.”
There are several divisions of Public Works that contribute to the health and safety our community: Environmental Services, Streets and Drainage, Wastewater, Water, Mobility, Facilities, Engineering and Administration.
All divisions are staffed with knowledgeable professionals who are dedicated to providing the Southlake community with world-class service by protecting the public’s interest and improving quality infrastructure.
The Environmental Services Division promotes environmental wellness through public awareness, resource conversation and programs. Their ultimate goal is to protect public health by utilizing regulatory programs in addition to public education to teach others how to utilize the environment’s natural resources through storm water management, as well as Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) and water conservation programs.
The Streets and Drainage Division maintains the City’s infrastructure including roadways, stormwater infrastructure, and sidewalks. They oversee 209 miles of streets and 36 miles of drainage ditches, gutters, street curbs and medians. This division is often the first division called to assist first responders with blocked roadways from flooding, downed trees, debris or other disaster relief.
The Wastewater Division manages the daily operations of Southlake’s sewer system. They repair and perform preventative maintenance on over 200 miles of wastewater pipeline in addition to 13 lift stations. Staff also inspects and maintains over 3,000 manholes. Their tasks are required to be in compliance with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ) and most staff members are licensed in TCEQ Wastewater Collections.
The Water Division serves as the infrastructure side of Southlake Water Utilities. This team covers more than 11,314 water accounts, three major pump stations capable of processing more than 26 million gallons of water daily, storage tanks with a capacity of 21 million gallons of water per day, 302 miles of distribution pipe, 2,838 fire hydrants and 7,764 water valves. If customers have an interest in conserving water, the City offers programs and services that allow customers to conserve water and detect leaks in their water systems.
The Mobility Division is centered around mobility project management. The Traffic Team is responsible for roadway safety that includes signal operation, school zones and crosswalks. The division also works with regional partners in an effort to improve mobility.
The Facilities Division is responsible for all preventative maintenance on City buildings and structures. The team oversees almost 1 million gross square feet of infrastructure such as buildings and parking garages. They also coordinate project management for capital renovations and assist in planning future buildings.
The Administrative and Engineering Division oversees the planning, design and construction of the Capital Improvement Program, as well as identifies, manages and oversees infrastructure projects in Southlake.
Visit our website for more information about the Public Works Department.
Over the last few weeks, traffic has significantly increased on the roadways. People are slowly returning to work and school, and businesses are working towards increasing capacity.
If you would like to know the status of traffic conditions before you hit the road, visit the ConnectSouthlake.com website. The home page features a Waze map that displays traffic conditions in real time to help you prepare for your trip. The map features an array of conditions from major and minor accidents to road hazards, construction and lane closures. Weather conditions such as flooding, ice on the roadway, fog and freezing rain are also listed.
The map serves as a resource for those who would like to know traffic conditions ahead of time so they can plan their routes accordingly and prepare for a safe trip.
Taking proactive measures not only helps you reach your destination in a timely manner, it also helps to decrease anxiety and possible collisions when operating in high traffic areas.
For more updates on Southlake Mobility, follow us on Facebook and sign up for the Connect Southlake e-newsletter.
Currently, there are six roundabouts located within Southlake: N. White Chapel/Dove Road, Dove Road/Peytonville, Carroll/Dove, Carroll/Continental, S. White Chapel/Continental and N. White Chapel/Highland. The roundabout located at Zena Rucker Road and Tower Boulevard will be the seventh once construction is complete.
Out of the six roundabouts, four are single-lane and two are dual-lane. The new roundabout that will be located on Zena Rucker Road will also be a single-lane. The driving rules of a single and dual-lane roundabout require the following:
When approaching any roundabout, make sure you slow down and yield to traffic that is already in it. If you plan to turn right at the roundabout, use the right turn lane, if one is provided, and yield to vehicles exiting the roundabout. Be sure to watch out for pedestrians in the crosswalk. If you plan to go straight or turn left, watch vehicles to your left and enter only when you see a gap in the traffic. Drive into the roundabout in a counterclockwise direction. Before you approach the desired exit, please signal accordingly.
SINGLE LANE ROUNDABOUT
When navigating a dual-lane roundabout, as seen at the intersection of N. White Chapel Blvd and Highland, additional steps are required. Pay attention to the signs when approaching the roundabout and select the appropriate lane along N White Chapel based on the direction you want to go. Do not pass other vehicles or change lanes within the roundabout. All of the exits out of the roundabout are to the right. If you’re looking to turn right at the roundabout, you must be in the right lane upon approach. If you’re looking to continue straight through the roundabout, the second exit, you can be in either the left or right lane. If you’re looking to turn left at the roundabout, you need to be in the left lane upon entry and take the third exit to the right. If you’re looking to completely turn around, you must be in the left lane upon approach, pass all three exits, and continue in the opposite direction you came. Make sure to use your turn signal to alert other drivers you are exiting the roundabout.
Drivers approaching the roundabout from Highland St are in a single lane and can turn right using the right lane of the roundabout from E Highland St or the dedicated right turn lane from W Highland St. All Highland St traffic that is not turning right must yield to both lanes of traffic in the roundabout and then get into the left lane.
DUAL LANE ROUNDABOUT
Here’s a quick video on navigating roundabouts.
For more information about roundabouts or Mobility News, follow the Southlake Mobility Facebook page or visit www.ConnectSouthlake.com.
