Image of a field of bluebonnets with the Rowlett Water tower in the background
April 8, 2022

  News You Can Use...                     

Volunteer Recognition Event

A community is created by its PEOPLE, and one of the greatest assets Rowlett has is the sheer volume of citizens who volunteer to help their City. As April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month, at this week’s City Council Meeting we held our Annual Volunteer Recognition and took the opportunity to honor some AMAZING citizens who give their time, knowledge, and talents to make Rowlett the incredible community we all enjoy.  

Image of the GED Team at the Rowlett Public Library receiving an award from the Mayor Pro Tem in front of City Council at City Hall


Volunteer of the Year
The GED Team at the Rowlett Public Library

Bill Wilson, Marilyn Hicks, Denis Rottler, Maurice Toniolo, and Patricia Riaboy
Recognizes outstanding individual contributions to the City of Rowlett and its programs, services, and events.
See their story here…

Image of Platinum Volunteer of the Year – Frank Merriman holding his award with Mayor Pro Tem and the City Manager in front of City Council at City Hall


Platinum Volunteer of the Year
Frank Merriman

Runner up to the Volunteer of the Year, awarded to one who made a significant contribution by way of their volunteerism.
See his story here…

Image of Diamond Volunteer of the Year – Ozzie Cutter holding her award with the Mayor Pro Tem and City Manager in front of the City Council at City Hall



Diamond Volunteer of the Year
Ozzie Cutter

Recognizes the citizen with the greatest number of volunteer hours.
See her story here…

Image of Richard Huff Excellence in Community Service Award – Stephen Causey holding his award with the Mayor Pro Tem in front of City Council at City Hall


Richard Huff Excellence in Community Service Award Stephen Causey

Since 2005, Rowlett Mayors have had the honor of recognizing a Rowlett resident with the highest volunteer award. This service award is named after one of Rowlett’s most civically engaged citizens, Richard Huff.
See his story here…



Screen shot of the GIS Public Portal website.

New GIS Website Launches 

We are pleased to announce the launch of our new and innovative GIS website! What is GIS, you ask? Well, the City’s Geographical Information System Department provides geospatial services and solutions that enable and transform the way citizens, private businesses and City staff make decisions, and obtain and distribute information. This new Rowlett GIS Public Portal was created with a goal of promoting engagement, transparency, innovation and efficiency by providing easy-to-use interactive mapping applications, downloadable maps, online search tools and accessible data to our community.
 
Bottom line? The new GIS Public Portal makes it quicker and easier to find relevant GIS data, mapping products, and a visual display of Rowlett information to serve your needs!
More info… 

Image of two people singing and a crowd gathered around them at the Farmers Market on the lawn on Main Street in Downtown Rowlett

Farmers Market 

This week, we kicked off the Rowlett Farmers Market! Hosted by the City of Rowlett Parks and Recreation at the The Village of Rowlett Downtown, the Farmers Market will be held every  Thursday evening from 5:30-8:30pm through July 28. Visit with local vendors while shopping for produce, flowers, meats, honey, eggs, and more.
More info…



Graphic image with a cartoon person standing on the podium speaking to two other  cartoon people. With text reading 2022 Candidate forums.

Rowlett Chamber of Commerce 
Councilmember Candidate Forum

City Council Candidate Forum
Monday, April 11 - 7:00 p.m.
Church in the City (6005 Dalrock Road)

The Rowlett Chamber of Commerce hosts this in-person opportunities to hear candidate platforms and ask questions of those running for Councilmembers Places 1, 2, 4, and 6. Please send questions to councilcandidatequestions@rowlettchamber.com and put "Council Candidate Questions" in the subject line. Emails without the correct subject line may not be forwarded to the correct folder.
 
The forum will also air live on the City of Rowlett Facebook page . OF NOTE: this FB live event will not be moderated – it is simply an additional opportunity to view the forum -  so please do not ask questions of the candidates during the event.
 
The forum for Mayoral Candidates was held this week, watch it here… 
For more information, please visit www.RowlettChamber.com.

Image of a high school student holding a trash bag and a trash pick up claw, picking up trash in Pecan Grove Park.
Image of a group of high school students gathered in front of a van.
Image of two High School girls holding a trash bag and trash pick up claw picking up trash in Pecan Grove Park

Rowlett High School Students Give Back! 

Thank you to this great group of Rowlett High School students taking their rotation cleaning up Kid’s Kingdom and Pecan Grove Park each week – the park looks amazing for the Easter Eggstravaganza tomorrow!!
 
Other RHS groups performing park cleanup rotations include Girls Basketball and Volleyball teams, Step Team, Student Council, Class of 2024 officers, Drill Team, Football Team, National Honor Society and Boys Basketball.
More info…


Graphic image with the recycle symbol which is three green arrows, each of the arrows has one word written on them" Reduce, Reuse, Recycle"

Free Electronic Recycling & Document Shredding 

Saturday, April 9 
9am-1pm | Rowlett High School front parking lot.

Time to clean out the garage and haul those old boxes of papers down from the attic! Keep Rowlett Beautiful and Life Message sponsor this event, which allows us to get rid of old electronics cluttering up our homes in an environmentally safe manner. Document shredding is also offered, the first three boxes are free, any additional are $5 each. More info…

Image of a group of children at the park looking for Easter eggs.



Easter Eggstravaganza 

Saturday, April 9, from 10 am – 12 pm at Pecan Grove Park. Bring your baskets and hunt for treat-filled eggs, enjoy lots of kids activities and games, food trucks, and photos with the Easter Bunny.
More info…

Image of a man and a woman holding Easter Baskets with their golden retriever dog.


Easter Pup-A-Palooza

Saturday, April 9, from 2 pm – 4 pm at Scentral Bark Dog Park (at Herfurth Park). Dog treat-filled egg hunt and fun contests including Best Trick, Best Bark, Waggiest Tail, Biggest Dog, and Smallest Dog.
More info…

 Rowlett Public Library News         

Image of 9 librarians standing in front of a book shelf.

National Library Week AND National Library Workers Day 

This was a big week at the Rowlett Public Library! We celebrated the hard work our Librarians and Library staff put in to make our Library one of the best in the state. The Rowlett Public Library offers opportunities to connect with media, programs, ideas, and classes--in addition to books. Most importantly, YOUR Library connects community members to each other. We invite you to join, visit, and advocate for your local library.

More info on resources and how to get a Library card… 
Follow your Library on Facebook and Instagram 

Image of local MMA fighter Abril Anguiano



Women’s History Month 

The Library ended Women’s History Month with a presentation by undefeated local MMA fighter Abril Anguiano.

Image of the head of the bronze statue of Mark Twain that sits in front of the Rowlett Public Library.


Next Week’s Library Programs

Seed Bombs Family Gardening  – April 9 @ 11am
Maker Monday Craft Program – April 11 @ 6:30pm
Resume Assistance – April 16 @ 2pm
More info about these and all the other great Library programs…

Community Development News      

Graphic image with text reading "Yard of the Season"

Neighborhood Planning Spring Yard of  the Season Awards 

Deadline is Monday, April 11
Yard of the Season is recognition program dedicated to improving the quality of life and the appearance of our neighborhoods and community. Citizens and businesses are all encouraged to participate and showcase their exquisite and unique yard! This is also a wonderful opportunity to recognize the hard work and dedication achieved by your neighbor in maintaining their yard. Four yards, one in each quadrant of the City, are chosen each season - we appreciate the efforts demonstrated by so many Rowlett residents to create such impressive green spaces! More info…

A image of a mother and son who is holding their dog standing in front of their house with a sign that says "Texas Smart Yard"


Texas Smart Yard

Deadline is Monday, April 11
Tell us who in our community is working on environmental gardening practices! We want to showcase landscapes that work with nature, not against it. 
More info here... 

Parks & Recreation News                

Image of a hallway in the wetzone that looks old.
BEFORE
Graphic image of the Wet Zone Water park logo that has a hippo on it.
Image of the wetzone hallway with a fresh coat of paint on it.
AFTER

Staff is getting things ready for their 2022 Summer season at the Wet Zone Water Park. Not only are they hiring for summer positions now, they’re also making sure that everything looks excellent before opening day in May.
 
Do you have have a teen looking for a GREAT summer job? More info… 

Police Department News                 

Image of a male and female cop




Congratulations to Danielle Valenzuela and Min Oh, who were sworn in this week as Rowlett Police Officers.  We hope you’ll give them a friendly wave when you see them out about in our community. Welcome to the team!

Fire Department News                     

Fireman in a ladder fixing a flagpole with an American Flag flying next to a tree.


Rowlett RFD to the Rescue! 

The crew from Station 3 was able to help a school in need over the weekend. The flag pole at a charter school here in town has been inoperable for a while, and they wanted to fly the American flag. The firefighters were able to use Ladder 3 and ran a new rope and tied the clips for the flag. The school was so grateful - plus, the kids got an impromptu fire truck tour.  The flag is now waving proudly!

Engineering Department News         

Image of a storm drain.




Lakeland Trail

Image of a storm drain.

North Rock Construction is working on the punch-list items identified during the final walkthrough. An inspection from a Registered Accessibility Specialist was conducted this week and found everything to be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.  

  Next Week's City Meetings             


City Council

City Council Special Work Session - April 12 @ 5:30 pm 

Regular meetings occur the first and third Tuesdays of every month. The next meeting is..
April 19 @ 7:30pm (Work Session 5:30pm - check agenda once posted)

Watch meetings live on RTN16 (cable channel 16) or online...
More info...

Boards and Commissions 

Arts and Humanities Commission Meeting- April 12 @ 6:30 pm
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Meeting- April 13 @ 6:30 pm
Library Advisory Board Meeting- April 14 @ 6:30 pm

Agendas and Meeting Minutes 
Meeting Calendar

Rowlett, Texas

The Rowlett Action Center

Your one-stop-shop for assistance!

Call 972.412.6100 for in-person help. 

Submit a request or ask a question here...

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4000 Main Street, Rowlett, TX 75088

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