Page 54 - Hurst FY19 Approved Budget
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Community Services also administers the Information Technology Division. This
division is responsible for maintaining the City’s extensive network of servers, PC’s and
various software programs while providing technical support and training. Parks and
Recreation personnel maintain eighteen city parks, two aquatics centers, and a tennis
center, one historical site, a multi-purpose recreation center and the Senior Citizens’
Activity Center. The 30,000 square foot Senior Center offers many “open” activities
for members including games, billiards, fitness and other activities. These activities
are called “open” because members are not required to pre-register. Seniors simply
show up and have fun. The Facilities Maintenance Division maintains all other facility
sites citywide. The Library offers a diverse collection of materials in various formats.
An outstanding literacy program provides additional services to the community,
including reading improvement and a GED program. In 2014, $7.5 million in Certificates
of Obligation were issued to reconstruct Chisholm Aquatics Center. In 2016, the City
issued $5.4 million in Certificates of Obligation to renovate Central Aquatics Center and
repair the roof at the Recreation Center.
The Fire Department provides the citizens of Hurst with fire protection, emergency
medical services, emergency rescue and hazardous material response. The Fire
Department focuses on four primary services: Fire Prevention, Fire Operations,
Emergency Management and Ambulance/Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Fire
Prevention focuses on reducing the potential for fire and loss of life in the City. Fire
Operations is responsible for providing fire suppression, rescue and emergency medical
service. All firefighters are trained as emergency medical technicians. Emergency
Management monitors weather conditions, warns citizens of severe weather activity
and educates the public on how to react to emergency situations. The Ambulance/
EMS division provides for the emergency care and transportation of the sick and injured
within the City. The Fire Department operates Emergency Medical Services with two
front-line ambulances. In 2017, the city issued tax notes in the amount of $1.18 million
for the purchase of a 150 foot ladder truck.
The Police Department’s role is to enforce local, state and federal laws and to protect the
citizens of Hurst from crime and disorder. The Operational Services and Administrative
Services Divisions perform a variety of law enforcement functions and services.
Operational Services handles emergency and non-emergency calls for police service. It
also provides for the timely investigation of felony and misdemeanor violations of the
law. Administrative Services is responsible for maintaining criminal records, prisoner
detention, internal affairs, crime prevention and operation of the 9-1-1 communications
center. The Police Department has two storefronts in operation in order to make Hurst
police officers more accessible to the public and to reduce criminal activity. One is in
North East Mall, located near the entrance to Sears, and the other is on Highway 10
at 752 E Pipeline Road. The City has entered into an inter-local agreement with the
City of Bedford for a sharing arrangement Police Storefront which moved the Police
storefront to 752 E Pipeline Road. The new location houses three officers along with
the Crime Victim’s Assistance Coordinator and a Mental Health Coordinator. In fiscal
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