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DeSoto city officials have announced a new initiative offering senior citizens discounts on essential utility services, including water, sewer, drainage, and refuse services.

The initiative aims to provide financial relief to elderly residents by reducing their monthly utility expenses.

Residents aged 65 and older are eligible to receive these discounts when they submit a completed application and proof of age.

Once approved, the discounts will be applied to future billings.

The discount structure includes a reduction of $3.00 on the monthly charges for both water and sewer services.

For drainage services, the monthly charge is reduced to $2.50, down from $6.00.

The refuse (garbage) service fee is reduced to $27.07 from the standard $29.99.

To apply, residents must submit their application along with a copy of their driver’s license or photo ID as proof of age.

Applications can be faxed to 972-230-5795 or delivered in person to the Utility Billing office located at 211 E. Pleasant Run Road, DeSoto, Texas.

For more information or assistance with the application process, residents can contact the DeSoto Utility Billing office.

The post DeSoto Announces Utility Discounts for Senior Citizens appeared first on DeSoto Tribune.

The City of DeSoto is providing clearer guidelines for residents for trash pick-up from Republic Services.

Residents may put out either one large bulky item weekly or up to three cubic yards of small bulk items and bundled brush.

These items should be placed next to the trash cart on Thursday or Friday’s second service day of each week.

Smaller bulk items or extra bags should be placed directly next to the trash cart.

Three cubic yards are described as a pile that is three feet deep, three feet tall, and nine feet wide.

Acceptable items include:

• Bundled bags of leaves and small twigs
• Extra bags of household trash (up to five per collection date)
• Small piles of limbs that are cut, tied, and bundled

Brush and Large Bulk Trash Guidelines:

For brush and large bulk trash, residents will need to call the Action Center at (972) 230-9600 to schedule a pick-up.

Those items must be placed at the front of the property.

The brush service is transitioning to a once-per-month, on-call service with a limit of ten cubic yards per month.

Examples of acceptable large bulk items include:

• Up to 15 heavy-duty bags of leaves per collection date
• Small bushes, tree branches, and other bundled foliage
• A/C window units, refrigerators, and freezers (with freon removed and tagged)
• Small furniture items such as end tables, coffee tables, bookcases, and window blinds
• Large items like mattresses, sofas, dining room tables, washers, and recliners
• Small DIY construction projects such as toilets, sinks, wall panels, and interior doors, cut into four-foot lengths with nails removed or hammered down

For more information or to schedule a pickup, residents can contact the DeSoto Action Center.

The post Brush and Bulk Trash Pickup Guidelines Updates appeared first on DeSoto Tribune.

DeSoto Police Chief Joseph Costa has been named one of the finalists for the top cop job in the city of Austin.

Costa is a candidate for the currently unoccupied chief role in the Texas capital and could be soon headed to Austin.

He is among more than 30 candidates that are being considered for the position.

Costa first arrived in DeSoto in 2012 from the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department where he worked since 2005.  

Before relocating to Texas, Costa had a distinguished 25-year career with the Massachusetts State Police.

His roles included patrol officer, radar enforcement, homicide investigations, narcotics, and Internal Affairs.

He also served on the Massachusetts Governor’s Auto Theft Task Force, the DEA Task Force, and worked with the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.

In Texas, Costa continued his law enforcement career, serving as a Sergeant/Investigator with the Texas Lottery Commission and as an Investigator with the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office.

He holds a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice/Education from Boston University and a Master’s Proficiency Certificate from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCLOE).

Costa is also a graduate of the DEA Drug Unit Commanders Academy and the FBI National Academy.

“We believe in Chief Joe and are supportive of any path that he chooses to pursue,” said DeSoto Mayor Rachel L. Proctor in a statement.

“Joe is a valuable member of our community and has done an excellent job of building a police department that we are proud of and that serves the people of DeSoto well.”

The post DeSoto’s Police Chief Joseph Costa Named Finalist for Austin’s Top Cop Position appeared first on DeSoto Tribune.

The DeSoto Police and Fire Departments have released their call volume reports for the week of June 2 to June 8, detailing a busy period for emergency services in the city.

The DeSoto Police Department handled a total of 2,332 calls during this period.

Most of these were neighborhood patrol calls, which accounted for 767, a 4% increase from last week’s 738 of the total directed patrols, followed by 360 calls.

Business-related calls numbered 256, while animal-related incidents prompted 76 calls.

Officers responded to 58 calls regarding suspicious activity and handled 301 traffic-related incidents.

Meanwhile, the DeSoto Fire Department responded to 232 emergency calls for service in the same week.

Of these, 164 were medical calls, highlighting the critical role of medical response in the department’s operations.

The remaining 68 calls were categorized under fire and rescue, including 4 major vehicle accidents, 1 Diesel Tanker Fire, 1 Car Fire, 1 Trash Fire, and 14 Fire Alarms.

Notably, 84 medical calls required additional assistance and manpower from a fire engine.

The data from these reports provide valuable insights into the types of emergencies and routine calls that the city’s first responders handle, aiding in the continuous improvement of their efforts.

The post DeSoto Police and Fire Departments Weekly Call Volume Reports appeared first on DeSoto Tribune.

The DeSoto Corner Theater is set to host an evening of musical enchantment featuring the smooth and soulful sounds of jazz and neo-soul.

The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 22, at the DeSoto Corner Theater located at 211 E. Pleasant Run Road.

The concert is set to begin at 7 p.m.

The event promises to be a night of rhythmic bliss for music lovers of all stripes.

The concert will showcase the talents of K.Avett and Mahogany, two artists renowned for their ability to blend the melodies of jazz with the modern vibes of neo-soul.

Their performances are expected to captivate the audience with rich harmonies and rhythms that resonate with the heart and soul.

Draper Wynston, a notable figure in the music scene, will host the evening, giving the atmosphere a seamless flow of entertainment.

The event is an opportunity for the community to come together, have fun, and share in the universal language of music.

Attendees are encouraged to bring friends and family to experience live music at its finest.

With free parking available, the DeSoto Corner Theater aims to make this event accessible to everyone looking to indulge in a night of cultural and musical exploration.

The concert is expected to be a memorable experience that will leave attendees with a lasting impression of the smooth music of jazz and neo-soul.

For more information about the event including ticket information click here.

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