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Princeton Fire Station 4 Closes; HR Dept Wins State Award

The Princeton Fire Department is closing Station 4 starting June 29, while the city's HR department received a state recognition award for employee engagement initiatives.

Gwen Lindgren

July 4, 20262 min read

Fire station closure, HR award - illustration, Jake Team LLC
Fire station closure, HR award - illustration, Jake Team LLC

The Princeton Fire Department has announced that Fire Station 4 will be temporarily closed starting Monday, June 29, 2026. Residents are advised to plan accordingly for this disruption in service at that specific location. Princeton is about 8 miles southeast of Melissa.

In addition to the station closure, the City of Princeton issued a public safety reminder regarding a rise in scam activity across North Texas. Officials warned that residents may encounter fraudulent attempts by individuals impersonating local government agencies, utility providers, libraries, and public safety organizations. The city urged the community to remain vigilant against these deceptive practices.

On a separate note, the City of Princeton Human Resources Department received the Human Resources Impact Award, specifically the Award of Distinction for cities with populations of 25,000 or more. The Texas Municipal Human Resources Association presented the honor on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, during its annual conference in Round Rock, Texas. The award recognizes municipal HR departments that demonstrate outstanding leadership through innovative programs designed to address human resources challenges and improve organizational culture.

The department was recognized for initiatives implemented over the past 18 months, particularly those led by the Director of Employee Experience. In 2024, this director established the Employee Appreciation Committee to center employee voices in recognition efforts. This committee launched several programs that significantly boosted engagement, including the Annual Employee Appreciation Event, which saw 89 percent participation. Year-round activities, such as department appreciation days, achieved a 98 percent participation rate.

The department also introduced specific recognition efforts for teams that previously lacked opportunities, such as Utility Billing Appreciation Day. Additionally, the city held its first Director Team Building Outing to strengthen collaboration among leadership and improve inter-departmental communication. These efforts helped maintain morale and stability during a period of higher-than-normal leadership turnover. Consequently, the city experienced a 3 percent decrease in employee turnover compared to the previous year.

The department also integrated the IMPACT core values framework, developed through collaboration between city leadership and the City Council during a strategic planning retreat. The values include Integrity, Mutualism, Prosperity, Accountability, Community, and Transparency. These principles are now woven into recognition efforts and organizational culture. The department’s work contributed to the city being named a Top Workplace in the Dallas–Fort Worth region and by USA Today, as well as earning Culture Badges for cross-team cooperation and trusted leadership.

Source: princetontx.gov.

Sources

https://princetontx.gov/m/NewsFlash

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Gwen Lindgren

Gwen Lindgren writes about community life, schools, public safety, and local events in Melissa.

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