City of Harker Heights Shifts to Four-Day Work Week to Enhance Citizen Access and Employee Well-Being

The City of Harker Heights is announcing a new schedule for its administrative staff, transitioning from a five-day, 40-hour work week to a four-day, 40-hour schedule. Effective October 6, 2025, City Hall and administrative offices will operate Monday through Thursday, with extended hours from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

This change is designed to better serve the community while improving the quality of life for city employees.

"We've listened to feedback and recognized a need to make city services more accessible to our working residents." said City Manager David Mitchell

The new schedule directly addresses a long-standing challenge for citizens who struggle to conduct city business during a standard 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. workday. Residents frequently wait at the doors before opening and rush to arrive just before closing. The new 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. schedule will provide an additional hour each morning and afternoon, offering a total of eight extra hours per week for citizens to access administrative services without having to take time off work outside of 8am to 5pm.

For city administrative employees, this new schedule offers the significant benefit of a three-day weekend every week, providing more time for rest, family, and personal pursuits. This improved work-life balance is expected to boost morale, increase productivity, and help the city attract and retain top talent.

"We are committed to modernizing our operations to meet the needs of our community," Mitchell added. "This move not only provides greater convenience for our citizens but also demonstrates our dedication to creating a supportive and sustainable work environment for our valued employees."

This change applies only to City Hall and administrative staff within other city departments. It will not impact police, fire, public works, animal control, parks & recreation or library operations.

Astound (Formerly Grande Communications) has remobilized and is restarting their Fiber Installation projects in Harker Heights. Below is a map for the currently released areas of construction, with the impacted area shown in gold. The phases and areas are determined by each individual utility company. The projects are not necessarily constructed in numerical or geographical order. As a reminder, the City is not contracted to install fiber in our community. Each fiber company is an independent utility, similar to Oncor and Atmos. There are currently six fiber companies permitted to work within the City’s public utility easements and street right of way. The City does not control the timeline nor contractors for these fiber installations. Please know that Astound will have construction projects in different parts of the City through the end of 2025.

Residents in the impacted area will see flags in their yard starting to appear. It is important to leave those public utility flags in place because they show the location and type of existing utilities that are located underground. This is done for the safety of the workers and to minimize disruption of your utility services. Astound will place door hangers in the neighborhoods where they will be working. Specific questions regarding repair of yards and private infrastructure (water service, sewer service, irrigation lines) after construction can be directed to Astound at 254. 228.0130.

All of Astound’s work will be done in the Public Right-of-Way, within public utility easements, or within private easements with the landowner’s consent. Please note that the existing public utility easements may be in your back yard, side yard or front yard. Some of their work will be above ground and some will be beneath ground. Astound’s contractors should have a copy of their contractor registration, construction plans signed by the City, and a paid invoice as proof that they are permitted to work in the previously referenced easements. Residents may ask to see a copy of those documents if the contractor enters their property. If they cannot produce them then please report them to the City’s Development department at 254-953-5647.

The City of Harker Heights would like to inform residents about ongoing and upcoming fiber optic installation projects conducted by various contractors within the community.

Understanding the Regulatory Framework - Please be aware that recent changes in State of Texas regulations have altered the relationship between municipalities and fiber optic contractors. The City of Harker Heights' authority over these companies is primarily limited to permit issuance and ensuring compliance with established construction standards. Beyond these parameters, the City does not direct or control the contractors' operational activities.

Protecting Your Property - Fiber optic contractors are required to restore properties to their pre-installation condition upon project completion. To assist residents in documenting potential property damage or improper restoration, we strongly recommend the following:

• Before Installation: Once you observe survey flags or paint markings on your property, take clear photographs of the affected areas. This documentation will serve as a baseline of your property's condition prior to the work.
• After Installation: Following the completion of work on your property, if you identify any damage, or observe that repairs or replacements have not been adequately performed, please notify the City promptly.

Reporting Issues - Your timely reporting is crucial for addressing any concerns. If you encounter issues after the contractors have completed their work, please contact the City with the following information:

• Before and after photographs of the affected areas.
• Relevant details regarding the issue.

You may submit this information via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling our Public Works Office at 254-953-5649. Our team is prepared to assist you in resolving these matters with the responsible contractors.

For any further questions or to report an issue, please do not hesitate to contact us using the information provided above.

Beginning July 7, 2025, Pima Trail will be closed to all traffic from the intersection with Aztec and continue east to a point approximately 350 feet to 1607 Pima Trail.  The Pima Trail roadway construction project is currently scheduled for completion by September 30, 2025. The developer, JKG 3 Builders, LLC, will be constructing the entire roadway section. These improvements include curb and gutter and a roadway section that is brought up to city standards.

Harker Heights Mayor Michael D. Blomquist is pleased to share significant progress in the City’s efforts to address the financial impact on City services of the State’s property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans. On May 19, 2025, the Texas Senate passed HB 2894 with a committee substitute that includes reimbursement relief for Harker Heights. The bill now returns to the House, where members must accept and approve the Senate's substitute version — a vital step toward reconciliation and final passage. Once approved, the bill will move to the Governor’s desk for signature into law.

This milestone follows years of advocacy by the City, which has long been disproportionately affected by the exemption program. Since 2010, Harker Heights has lost more than $25.6 million in ad valorem tax revenue, with a $4.39 million loss this fiscal year alone. These exemptions are growing at nearly 17% per year, and in 2024, they removed $827 million in taxable value from the City’s tax roll, accounting for 79.3% of all exemption-related losses.

Despite being the second most impacted city in Texas, Harker Heights has not previously qualified for state reimbursement due to a technicality in the 2015 legislation, which restricts relief to cities located adjacent to military installations. Harker Heights and other communities located just beyond that threshold from Fort Cavazos, have been excluded, despite serving a large population of disabled veterans drawn to its proximity to the base and VA services.

The City emphasizes that veteran exemptions disproportionately impact communities near military installations, where veterans choose to live for access to services and quality of life. City leaders want to be clear: Harker Heights fully supports and honors its veterans and does not oppose the exemptions. However, they urge the State to fully fund any mandates it places on local governments. Without adequate reimbursement, cities like Harker Heights are forced to make difficult budgetary decisions, potentially reducing service levels that impact all residents, including the veterans, these exemptions are meant to support.

The City extends its deepest gratitude to those who have championed this issue over the years. Special thanks go to former City Councilmember Tony Canterino, whose early advocacy helped bring attention to the issue; State Representative Hillary Hickland, whose leadership has been vital in advancing the bill in the House; and Texas Senator Pete Flores, who successfully carried the bill through the Senate. The City also recognizes and appreciates the efforts of many dedicated individuals working behind the scenes to make this long-awaited progress possible.

Inclusion in the reimbursement program represents a critical and overdue step in recognizing the unique financial pressures placed on military-adjacent communities. Harker Heights looks forward to the successful reconciliation and Governor Abbott’s signing of HB 2894 into law and remains committed to delivering high-quality services for all its residents.