Update: Jan. 25, 1:35 p.m.
City of Denton officials released an update Sunday afternoon that several city facilities and services have been further impacted due to the icy conditions from Winter Storm Fern.
Service closings and updates include:
- All GoZone services for Jan. 25 are cancelled.
- Both the Utilities Customer Service and Municipal Court lobbies will be closed, but staff will be answering phone calls and accepting online payments on Jan. 26.
- The The Development Service Center will be closed Jan. 26, but will still take emergency calls only. Permitting services can be accessed online. Customers who had inspections scheduled for Jan. 26 will be contacted by city staff to have those appointments rescheduled.
- The Denton landfill and Home Chemical Collection will remain closed Jan. 26.
- All solid waste collections will be pushed back by one day:
- Jan. 26 collections move to Jan. 27
- Jan. 27 collections move to Jan. 28
- Jan. 28 collections move to Jan. 29
- Jan. 29 collections move to Jan. 30
- Programs will the city's recreation facilities have been cancelled and the recreation centers will be closed Jan. 26.
- All programming with Denton public libraries have been cancelled and all Denton public library branches are closed for Jan. 26.
- The Denton Animal Shelter will be closed to the public Jan. 26. Staff will be onsite each day to provide care for housed animals. Call out services will be limited to emergency calls only during this time.
Update: Jan. 23, 2:54 p.m.
Denton officials announced Friday afternoon that several city services will be closed or have amended hours throughout the weekend in preparation for Winter Storm Fern. These facilities include:
- The Denton landfill will be closed beginning at noon Jan. 24.
- The Home Chemical Collection at the Denton landfill will be closed Jan. 24-25.
- All city recreation facilities, including senior centers, will be closed Jan. 24-Jan. 25.
- All Denton public libraries will be closed Jan. 24-25 and all pre-scheduled programming is canceled.
- The Denton Animal Shelter will be closed to the public Jan. 24-25. Staff will be onsite each day to provide care for housed animals. Call out services will be limited to emergency calls only during this time.
If a bus pass is needed to reach an overnight shelter, they are available at city libraries, recreation facilities and fire stations. Since the libraries and recreation centers will be closed Jan. 24-25, bus passes should be obtained from those locations Jan. 23.
Jan. 22
The city of Denton is preparing for the arctic cold front expected to sweep across North Texas starting Jan. 23. The icy conditions are expected to last until Jan. 26 and possibly Jan. 27, according to the National Weather Service.
In a nutshell
Denton officials will be updating residents about city closures and services on a situational basis. Residents are encouraged to sign up for Alert Denton to receive the latest safety and weather notifications.
City staff have prepped the city’s fleet to de-ice the roads ahead of icy weather, activated essential staff shifts for utility and street personnel, and conditioned Denton’s water plants, and the public safety teams will be working throughout the weekend, said Dustin Sternbeck, the city’s chief communications officer.
The Denton County Transportation Authority will have transportation to the Denton Community Shelter, operated by Our Daily Bread, and Salvation Army Denton for those who need a safe place to stay at night.
As of September, the Denton Community Shelter operated by Our Daily Bread can house up to 120 overnight guests at once, though this capacity is expanded for more overnight guests when the temperature drops below freezing, Denton officials said. An application and approval are required to stay overnight, and applications are available in-person at Our Daily Bread, according to the city’s website.
There are also several warming centers at facilities throughout the city that are open to the public during operational hours. Some of Denton County and city warming centers include:
Denton Community Shelter, operated by Our Daily Bread
- 909 N. Loop 288, Denton
- 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m., seven days a week
Salvation Army Denton
- 1508 E. McKinney St., Denton
- 7 a.m.-9 p.m., seven days a week
Civic Center
- 321 E. McKinney St., Denton
- 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Friday
Denton Senior Center
- 509 N. Bell Ave., Denton
- 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Monday-Friday
Denia Recreation Center
- 1001 Parvin St., Denton
- 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Friday
- 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday
MLK Jr. Recreation Center
- 1300 Wilson St., Denton
- 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Friday
- 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday
North Lakes Recreation Center
- 2001 W. Windsor Drive, Denton
- 5 a.m.-10 p.m., Monday-Friday
- 7 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday
Central Fire Station
- 332 E. Hickory St., Denton
- 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday
Frederick Herring Parks & Recreation Center
- 191 Civic Circle, Lewisville
- Friday starting at 5 p.m.-Monday at noon
A full list of the area’s warming centers, their addresses and operational hours can be found here.
What else?
If there are utility-related incidents, such as busted pipes, power outages, downed electrical poles or faulty sewer mains, residents are encouraged to report the issue by calling 940-349-7000.
Anyone who sees a pet out in the cold without proper shelter or drinking water is encouraged to call the city’s animal services department at 940-349-7594 with as many details about the pet as possible.
City-sponsored events for the weekend have been canceled, as well, Sternbeck said.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
Editor's note: This article was updated with My Daily Bread's winter weather capacity and with a Jan. 23 update from the city.
