Residents at Frisco town hall meeting took time to speak to city staff about their concerns.[/caption]

At a town hall meeting Monday night a variety of topics were discussed from burying power lines to the expansion of roads such as Legacy Drive. However most of the discussion centered around the new mosquito surveillance response plan.

Several residents were at the meeting along with city staff. Those who could not make it to the meeting were able to call in with their questions or concerns.

The meeting first served as a place to present the new surveillance plan.

“Our plan addresses only the targeted mosquitoes that are known to potentially carry the West Nile Virus,” Environmental Health Supervisor Julie Stallcup said. “Our plan does not address treatment of nuisance mosquitoes or surveillance of nuisance mosquitoes.”

Frisco contracted Municipal Mosquito to do the trapping and testing of mosquitoes. Entomologist Patrick Prather said the plan Frisco has is a disease response program in which Municipal Mosquito will respond to disease infected mosquitoes in a scientific manner in a targeted application.

Prather and Stallcup said Municipal Mosquito would look at areas with saturated grounds and stagnant water where a large amount of mosquitoes gather.

Many callers asked questions about how youth can become more involved and if the city would be testing areas near the lakes.

Stallcup said the best way for youth to be more involved was to become educated about the process of testing the mosquitoes and how to keep safe from mosquito bites during the summer. She also said the lakes will be one of the areas that will be addressed.

Burying power lines

One resident asked about an upcoming meeting of the planning and zoning commission to bury power lines and where the city is in the process.

Mayor Maher Maso told the gentlemen that the city is having multiple meetings with  attorneys and consultants regarding the matter. He even discussed the possibility of delaying construction in order to ensure the right decision is made.

Police Training

Some residents who called in asked about specific training for police officers. Residents wanted to know what the Frisco Police Department is doing to prevent situations similar to the recent pool party incident in McKinney.

Police Chief John Bruce said state law requires officers to undergo Crisis Intervention Training, which helps them learn the escalation methods in dealing with any circumstance.

Maso also mentioned programs residents can become involved with like Junior Police Academy and Citizens Police Academy. Other programs include Community Emergency Response Team, Citizens Fire Academy and City Hall 101.

Road expansion

One resident asked if there were plans to expand roads such as Legacy Drive, Main Street and Lebanon Road. The resident said he commutes to work several times a week and avoids taking the toll roads, which he assumed everyone else does as well as the roads have become heavy with traffic.

Director of Engineering Paul Knippel said all of those roads have been identified as candidates for expansion but the city has not set any time tables as of yet.

Outdoor Warning Sirens

Frisco Fire Chief Mark Piland also took the time to explain the outdoor warning sirens are not tornado sirens despite some residents’ belief that it is.

Piland said when the sirens are sounding it most likely is weather related,  but it could also mean there is a hazmat situation.

He urged residents that once they hear the sirens, it means to go inside and take shelter.