Page 38 - Hurst Budget FY21

CITY SERVICES

The City of Hurst municipal government consists of ten operating departments each responsible
for providing a variety of services to the citizens that live here. They include: Community
Services, Fire Department, Police Department, Fiscal Services, Human Resources, Judicial and
Legislative Services, Public Works, Economic Development, Planning and Community
Development and Administration/General Services.

The Community Services Department is the administrative arm of the Parks, Recreation,
Aquatics, Senior Citizens Center, and Library Divisions. It is primarily responsible for managing,
planning, coordinating and directing the activities of these divisions. It also administers the Parks
Donation Fund, Community Services Half-Cent Sales Tax Fund, the Facilities Maintenance
Division and responds to citizen comments and requests. 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 city issued PPFCO for a new Fire Engine.

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 year 1995-1996, the
Department began administering the Anti-Crime Half Cent Sales Tax Fund, utilized for crime
control and prevention purposes. The Anti-Crime Half Cent Sales Tax Fund was approved by
voters for an additional twenty-years in May 2010. In May 2012, voters approved a general bond
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