Seagoville Quarterly Newsletter
Fourth Quarter 2019
National Night Out
On October 1st, 2019 the City of Seagoville along with several neighborhood crime watch groups will take part in the 36th Annual National Night Out.
Neighborhoods throughout the city are invited to join forces with thousands of communities nationwide for National Night Out. National Night Out is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) and your Seagoville Police Department.
The National Night Out program is dedicated to the development and promotion of various crime prevention programs that include the efforts of neighborhood watch groups, law enforcement agencies, businesses, civic groups, and individuals devoted to safer communities.
The mission statement of the Seagoville Police Department is to develop and promote partnerships within these various groups and organizations for a safer community.
In an effort to develop these partnerships, several area crime watch groups within the City of Seagoville are gathering throughout the city on Tuesday, October 1st, 2019 from 6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. The common goal of each of these groups is to promote safer neighborhoods, community awareness, and relationships with their local Law Enforcement and City Leaders.
Seagofest - October 3-6, 2019
The Annual Seagofest Parade will kick off the event on Thursday October 3, 2019 at 5:30 PM in Old Downtown Seagoville followed by a weekend full of live entertainment, vendors, carnival rides, car show, and lots of other fun stuff.
David Fox and KSGV 95.5 Seagoville Community Radio will be live on site rocking the event!
Make plans to attend Seagofest!
Seagoville Animal Services News
The Seagoville Animal Shelter and Seagoville Texas Animal Advocates & Rescue (STAAR) volunteers will be hosting several animal adoption events over the next few months at Lowe’s home improvement store in Forney, our local Tractor Supply on Malloy Bridge, and Petco in Mesquite Texas. Dates and times for these adoption events can be found on the animal shelter website and Facebook page.
Seagoville Animal Services and the Animal Shelter will also be hosting a low cost spay and neuter clinic on October 8, 2019 in the parking lot at Victory Baptist Church located at 900 N. US Highway 175. If you would like to book an appointment for the low cost spay and neuter clinic you can do so by calling 972-472-3500 or by visiting www.spayneuternet.org
For any other details, questions, or just general information pertaining to Seagoville Animal Services or direct shelter adoptions you can call Animal Services Officer Justin Harley at 972-287-6838 or by email at jharley@seagoville.us
Fall 2019 National Drug Take Back Program
On October 26, 2019 from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, your Seagoville Police Department in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will host an event focused on removing potentially dangerous prescription medications from our nation’s medicine cabinets.
The event known as the National Drug Take-Back Program will provide residents with a safe means of disposing of expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceutical / prescription medications along with other medication by turning them over to Law Enforcement officers for proper disposal.
This one day event, which is held twice a year helps bring national focus to the issue of prescription medication and controlled substance abuse. The program provides an opportunity for Law Enforcement to collaborate with DEA and establish a safe collection site.
Where?
Super One Food Store, 125 Hall St.
When?
October 26, 2019 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
For more information on this event, contact Crime Prevention Officer Richard Clemmo or Sergeant Tim Talley at 972-287-2999, or by email at rclemmo@seagoville.us or ttalley@seagoville.us
John Bunker Sands Wetland Center Wings Over the Wetland-October 26, 2019
KEEP SEAGOVILLE BEAUTIFUL ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION - NOVEMBER 2, 2019
This year Keep Seagoville Beautiful will offer native bedding plants instead of trees. Our tree donor was not able to get trees this year, but has offered to provide bedding plants as a replacement. Follow the City of Seagoville website and the Keep Seagoville Beautiful Facebook page for details as we are able to confirm them.
City of Seagoville Board and Commission Openings
The City of Seagoville is currently accepting applications from residents who are interested in serving on a Council appointed board or commission. Applicants must be able to pass a criminal background check and not convicted of a felony, a class A misdemeanor, a misdemeanor classified as an offense against public administration or official misconduct, a misdemeanor classified as an offense against public or decency, a misdemeanor violation of any law intended to control the possession or distribution of any controlled substance, or any offense involving moral turpitude. Board members serve in a volunteer capacity and must be able to attend meetings held monthly in the evenings.
Boards include: Keep Seagoville Beautiful, Library, Planning and Zoning Commission, Board of Adjustments, Library Board, Seagoville Economic Development Corporation, and Animal Shelter Oversight Committee.
Terms for board members last for two years, ending in June of the designated year. Council normally appoints board members in June unless vacancies are being filled. Currently there are vacancies on Planning and Zoning Commission, Board of Adjustments, Library Board, Keep Seagoville Beautiful, and Seagoville Economic Development Corporation.
Information on the purpose and duties of each board is available on the city’s website at
http://www.seagoville.us/index.aspx?nid=103. The application form is available on the website and is also available at the Seagoville City Hall, 702 N. Hwy 175. For more information contact the City Secretary’s office at 972 287-6819.
Addressing Loud Noise and Sounds
People passionately believe in their right to quiet enjoyment of their surroundings. Conflict often arises when one person’s sounds become another person’s noise. This article contains an overview of the city ordinances and Texas statute addressing noise, and how these complaints can be potentially prosecuted.
Unreasonable and loud noises are prohibited under Chapter 13, Article 13.03, of the City of Seagoville Code of Ordinances. It is unlawful for any person to make, cause or allow to be made any unreasonably loud or raucous noise within the city which may be offensive to a reasonable person of normal sensitivity within the area of audibility.
There is no exclusive list of these types of noises and sounds; however some examples cited in the ordinance include the playing of loud-speakers, radios, stereos and musical instruments in such a manner or volume as to disturb the peace or to be unreasonably offensive to a reasonable person or occupants of other premises in the vicinity. More so, as defined by this ordinance, any means of any loud and disturbing noises are strictly prohibited after the hours of 11:00 PM and before 6:00 AM
There are some defined exceptions outlined in this Chapter that include construction equipment being operated between the hours of 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM, maintenance and lawn equipment, outdoor warning sirens, public safety vehicle sirens, the operation of farm equipment, organized athletic events and the ordinary noise of children at play.
The City also has an ordinance addressing the keeping of a loud animal. The keeping of such an animal is covered in Chapter 5, Animal Control, section 5.01.012 Noisy Animals. Under this section of the ordinance, no person shall harbor or keep on his premises any animal of any kind that makes or creates an unreasonable disturbance of the peace of the neighbors or occupants of adjacent premises, or people living in the vicinity thereof, or suffer or permit such animal to make or create unusual noises by howling, barking, bawling or otherwise. A person shall be deemed to have violated this section if they have been notified by the neighbors or a representative of the City of such disturbance and have failed, for a period of twenty-four (24) hours, to correct and prevent its recurrence.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has upheld that these type of ordinances using a “reasonableness” standard “clearly establishes an objective reasonable person standard. These words describe noise of the type or volume that a reasonable person would not tolerate”.
Texas state law also addresses noise in Chapter 42 of the Penal Code. Under Section 42.01, Disorderly Conduct, a person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly makes unreasonable noise in a public place other than a sport shooting range, or in or near a private residence that he has no right to occupy. For purposes of this section, a noise is presumed to be unreasonable if the noise exceeds a decibel level of 85 after the person making the noise receives notice from a peace officer that the noise is a public nuisance.
The State has, within its police power, the right to protect the tranquility, quiet enjoyment, and well-being of the community.
How are these noise complaints addressed? Noise is defined as a sound, especially one that is loud or unpleasant or that causes disturbance. The definition of noise is subjective to each individual. The Seagoville Police Department will respond to any complaint of loud noise. You are urged to call the Police Department’s non-emergency number to report the location or vicinity of your noise complaint.
What can I expect in making a noise complaint? You can call and make an anonymous complaint, or you can simply inform the Police Dispatcher that you do not wish to be contacted by the responding officer(s) investigating the noise complaint if you do not wish to be involved. Be aware, however, if you choose to remain anonymous or not cooperate the responding officers are limited in their enforcement options to quell the noise.
Texas state law only allows peace officers to enforce noise violations at will that are in excess of 85 decibel, and only after the responsible party has been warned of the violation and neglects or refuses to remedy the sound pollution. The Seagoville PD does have decibel meters to measure the intensity of the noise.
Sound pollution above an 85 decibel level has been deemed unreasonable noise by the Courts, and is therefore considered objective and evidence for enforcement by a peace officer. As previously mentioned, your expectation of unreasonable noise is subjective to each individual person. If the sound pollution is determined to be at a volume of less than 85 decibel, the responding officer(s) will require your cooperation for prosecution of the offender(s) should you wish to do so. You will be required to sign a Citizen’s Desire to Prosecute form in the presence of the officer. This form will be provided to you. The officer will retain the form, complete a report and then submit the documents to the Municipal Court. You will likely be summoned to the Seagoville Municipal Court for any court proceedings regarding this complaint and potentially be required to testify against the Defendant.
Where and how are these violations prosecuted? All noise complaints, whether a violation of city ordinance or state law, are Class C Misdemeanors. These offenses are punishable by fine only. All cases will be filed with the Seagoville Municipal Court. The Court will be burdened to determine the reasonableness of the noise and make their ruling.
What to consider in noise complaints? The volume of the sound, the time of day, the type of sound, and consistency and duration are all considerations in the investigation of noise complaints.
Fire Department News
The Seagoville Fire Department has been awarded the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant in the amount of $359,512.35. This grant will allow the department to add three new positions which will bring the daily total of fire personnel to eight.
Smoke detectors save lives, Daylight Savings Time is a great reminder to change the batteries in your smoke detectors. When you change the time on your clocks, replace the batteries in your smoke detectors.
Finance Department - Interim Financial Report Third Quarter 2019
Annual Christmas Tree Lighting - December 5, 2019 at 6:30 PM
Join the City of Seagoville for this Christmas season tradition. The 13th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Event Sponsored by the City of Seagoville and Oncor Electric Delivery.
Musical entertainment is traditionally provided by the choral departments of local elementary schools.
Santa will be with us for this festive event. There will not be a professional photographer with Santa so families are encouraged to bring their cameras for this great photo opportunity.
Seagoville Senior Center 2nd Annual Shreveport - Bossier City Trip
December 10-12, 2019
Story Time and Book and Art Club - Fridays at 11:00 AM
Home school families with older elementary age students also have a book and art club that is meets at the same time on Friday.
Recent Stories and Crafts
Dates To Remember
City of Seagoville Holiday Observations. City Hall , the Library and Senior Center will be closed.
Monday, October 14, 2019 - Columbus DayMonday November 11, 2019 - Veteran's Day
November 28-29, 2019 - Thanksgiving
December 25, 2019 - Christmas