Reserve Your Daddy/Daughter Date Night Kit

Sachse residents can reserve their free Daddy/Daughter Date Night Kit at https://cityofsachse.maxgalaxy.net/Registration.aspx. (Limited to the first 100.)

Celebrate with your sweetheart! Whether it's a dance at home in your living room or a night out at a restaurant, be the first to reserve your kit. It includes a corsage, special picture frame and a few surprises. Take pictures or videos of your date night and post them to the Sachse Parks & Recreation's Facebook page and you could win a $50 gift card to Build a Bear!

Categories include: Cutest Picture, Best Stay at Home Date, Best Date Invitation Video and Most Creative Date.

It's as easy as posting your photos and videos to Facebook using #sachsedaddydaughterdate2021. Be sure to include which category you're competing in and submit photos by Tuesday, February 23. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, March 2.

Register For AutoPay and Take Control Of Your Utility Payments

Important changes are coming to how we process recurring utility bill payments. As a result, we will no longer manage recurring utility draft payments on your behalf. This change takes effect after your April 2021 scheduled draft payment. Even though we’re no longer managing these payments, we already have a solution in place for you. The best part is you’re in complete control of your payments!

AutoPay is a feature available to you when you enroll for online utility payments. It lets you choose the day you want to schedule your recurring utility bill payments so you don’t have think about it!

Including AutoPay, there are many benefits to enrolling for online utility payments such as:

Managing your credit card information
Scheduling one-time future payments
Email notifications and reminders
Viewing your payment history and past statements
Viewing your usage

There is no immediate action required from you.
If we have your email address on file:

You will begin to receive an email notification before your draft date notifying you of the scheduled automatic draft and the amount to be paid.
You will receive an email receipt as soon as your payment is processed that will serve as your payment confirmation.
You will receive an email before your scheduled draft for May from the new system with a link to the website where you will be able to manage your recurring payment. Your email address will be used to login to the new system and manage your payment.

If we don’t have your email address on file:

Your drafts will continue to work as always, but you will not receive email notifications or confirmations.

What happens if I don’t enroll for online utility payments by the time my credit card on file expires?

If you fail to enroll online before your credit card on file expires then your recurring utility bill payments will stop until you’ve enrolled and have added new credit card information to your profile.

To provide your email address or opt out please contact (469) 429-4763.

Sign Up For The Governor's Small Business Webinar

Governor’s Small Business Webinar:
Updates on the New Round of Paycheck Protection Program Funding

WHEN:
Wednesday, February 17, 2021, 1-2 p.m.

WHERE:
Online Webinar

REGISTER HERE:
https://gov.texas.gov/.../updates-on-the-new-round-of-ppp...

ABOUT:
Join the Office of the Governor for the next Governor's Small Business Webinar for an update on the new round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding and other recovery resources through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Their panel of experts, including senior executives from the SBA and Small Business Development Centers, will provide up-to-date information on the PPP application process, loan forgiveness and other pandemic assistance for Texas small businesses and entrepreneurs.

The virtual event will also feature a live Q&A with our expert panel.

Texas Rent Relief Program Opens Monday

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) has received approximately $1.3 billion in Emergency Rental Assistance funds from the newly passed Coronavirus Relief Bill Rental Assistance Program. TDHCA is using the funds to help Texas renters pay rent and utility bills (including past due rent and utilities).

TDHCA’s Texas Rent Relief program website and phone systems are up and running and ready to answer questions. TDHCA will accept applications from landlords and tenants beginning at 8 a.m. on Monday, February 15.

1. Learn more and apply online at www.TexasRentRelief.com.
2. Learn more and apply by phone at 833-9TX-RENT / 833-989-7368.

The Texas Rent Relief program can help with the following costs starting as far back as Friday, March 13, 2020:
· Past due, current and up to three months of expected rent costs
· Past due, current or up to three months of expected utility and home energy expenses
· After the initial three months of forward assistance, households can apply for three additional months of assistance if funds are still available

Households must have incomes at or below 80 percent of the area median income and meet other qualifications. Full details are available at www.TexasRentRelief.com.

Assistance Available From Dallas Area Agency on Aging

As the COVID-19 crisis continues to affect older adults practicing social distancing, the Benefits Counseling Program remains committed to providing trusted, unbiased, one-on-one assistance.

While face-to-face counseling is suspended, the benefits counselors are easily accessible for information and application assistance by telephone. For assistance call: 214-871-5065 or 1-800-252-9240. Website: www.ccadvance.org/seniors.

Learn About The Emergency Housing Assistance Program

The Emergency Housing Assistance Program provides short-term rental, mortgage and utility assistance to low income Dallas County residents. Funded by the CARES Act, recipients must live outside of the City of Dallas and show they're economically affected (loss/reduction of income) by the spread of COVID-19.

Visit www.dallascounty.org/ehap-2021 for more information about the program and required documents.

Check Out Assistance For Those Facing Eviction

The Texas Eviction Diversion Program (TEDP) helps eligible Texas tenants, who are behind on their rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic and sued for eviction stay in their homes. It also provides landlords with an alternative to eviction. If both the tenant and landlord agree to participate and meet the TEDP requirements, the TEDP may provide up to six months of rental assistance.

Maximum amount of rent the program will pay 120% of the Small Area Fair Market Rent (SAFMR) for Fair Market Rent (FMR).

The maximum amount of contract rent for the unit cannot exceed 150% of the SAFMR or FMR.

Visit https://www.tdhca.state.tx.us/TEDP.htm for more information about the program and required documents.

Applications Open Monday, March 1 For Collin County Assistance

Utilizing Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 funds, Collin County is launching the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). This program provides residential rent and utility assistance for residents of Collin County.

Eligible expenses include:

Rent
Rental arrears, including contracted late fees
Utilities (e.g., electricity, gas, water, sewer, trash removal)
Reasonable landlord attorney fees and court costs

Eligible households may receive up to 12 months of assistance (measured from March 13, 2020), plus an additional three months if the applicant is able to demonstrate that the extra months are needed to ensure housing stability and funds are available.

The online, pre-screening questionnaire opens for submissions starting at noon on Monday, March 1. Those qualified for the program will be notified by a third party administrator to continue their application process. The application window closes at noon on Sunday, October 31.

New Bulk & Brush Set Out Times

Have you heard the news? The City has new times to set out your bulk trash and brush collection. Bulk trash needs to be placed out no earlier than 48 hours prior to your scheduled collection day. What about brush? It goes out on the Saturday prior to your collection day.

Not sure about your collection day? Check the interactive map on our bulk trash webpage: www.cityofsachse.com/bulktrash. You'll find information about what is considered bulk trash and the items included in brush.

Confused? Have questions? We're here to help.

City Hall Closed to Public

City Hall is temporarily closed to the public. This protects residents and staff from further spread of the COVID-19 virus. All City services are still available, but residents and customers should call ahead to make an appointment for in-person services. Please complete transactions online whenever possible.

The Michael J. Felix Community Center and the Sachse Public Library remain open, but are closely monitored for social distancing, wearing masks and limiting the number of people in the facilities. Thank you for your flexibility as we continue to serve Sachse residents.

Sachse's Chart For COVID-19 Info

Sachse maintains a list of active/recovered patients on its COVID-19 webpage. The chart includes the number of active cases, where the cases are located by county, the gender of the patients, status of the patients
(e.g., hospitalized, self-quarantined) and the number of recovered cases.

Join Us For Next Week's Virtual City Council Meeting

Don't miss the Sachse City Council meeting this Monday, February 15. Sachse City Council Meetings are streamed live online and available
on-demand. Just check the City Council page on the City's website for more details.

Sign Up For The Sachse Scene

The Sachse Scene is a weekly newsletter produced by the City of Sachse. If you want to know more about the latest news and events in Sachse, subscribe to the newsletter by email at cityofsachse.com/SachseScene. It's so easy to stay informed.