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September 2015 City Connection CITY CONNECTION Volume 11, Issue 12 September 2015 Calendar September 2015 1 - City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m. 2 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection 3 - Planning & Zoning Commission - City Hall at 12:00 p.m. 7- Labor Day - City facilities closed - reg- ular garbage collection 9 - Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste 15 - City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m. 16 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection 17 - Planning & Zoning Commission - City Hall at 5:30 p.m. 23 - Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste 30 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection October 2015 6 - City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m. 7 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection 8 - Planning & Zoning Commission - City Hall at 12:00 p.m. 14 - Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste 20 - City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m. 21 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection 22 - Planning & Zoning Commission - City Hall at 5:30 p.m. 28 - Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste Submit requests for Heavy Trash pick-up before noon on Wednesday, the week prior to pick-up, at 294-5796. Learn more about City events at www.huntsvilletx.gov HPD encourages back-to-school driving safety Remember school zone speed limits, cell phone safety The Huntsville Police Department asks all citizens to be especially mindful with the beginning of the school year and the associated traffic concerns. According to HPD Lieutenant Jim Barnes, the increased presence of Sam Hou- ston State University students on main roadways and the renewed enforce- ment of school zones and the laws pertaining to school buses should be on the minds of all drivers. “The Huntsville Independent School District, Sam Houston State University, and other local campuses will be back in session, and there will be a lot more traffic and kids to consider,” Barnes said. “We’re encouraging all citizens to be aware, plan accordingly when driving within the city, and be patient and cognizant of your surroundings.” Barnes said citizens should review the locations of school zones on their daily travel routes as well as the speed limits in effect during drop-off and pick-up hours. “Every campus has protocol on entering and exiting,” he said. “Officers are often available to assist and answer questions, but they can issue citations for those who violate traffic laws. “When you’re driving near school zones, remember to keep an eye out for chil- dren who will be walking or riding their bikes to school.” Within residential areas, drivers are also cautioned to observe the laws relat- ed to school bus stop signs, Barnes said. “There are numerous bus stops throughout residential areas, and citations will be issued for those not stopping for school bus signs,” he said. “When the stop signs on a school bus are out, vehicles are required to stop whether they are behind that bus or across the street from it. “In these situations, please be patient, and consider alternative routes to avoid temporarily congested areas.” Finally, Barnes said drivers on Sam Houston Avenue and 11th Street should be ready for an influx of university student drivers who are unfamiliar with the Huntsville area. “We’re asking that drivers remember many incoming freshman may be driving in Huntsville for the first time,” Barnes said. “Again, please be patient, but if there is a situation which you feel may require law enforcement attention, make us aware of it.” Citizens are reminded that the use of cell phones in school zones when active is against City ordinance and punishable by a fine not to exceed $200. This regulation applies to both calling and texting, and the same fine applies to speeding in school zones. Additionally, drivers should consider road construction projects that may be along their routes from home to schools, and be prepared for increased drive times. For more information or with any questions, contact Barnes at (936) 291- 5496. Citizens: Please be mindful of school zone period speed limits Huntsville High School: FM 2821 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m./3:15 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. - 35 miles per hour Huntsville Intermediate & Scott Johnson Elementary: US 190 - 7:30 a.m. to 8:05 a.m./3:15 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. - 30 mph Huntsville Elementary: 87 Martin Luther King Drive Gibbs Elementary: 19th Street Stewart Elementary: 3400 Boettcher Sam Houston Elementary: 1600 7th St. Mance Park Middle School: 8th Street All five campuses: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m./2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. - 20 mph Speeding or use of cell phone is punishable by a fine not to exceed $200. Call the Huntsville Police Department for more information at (936) 291-5480. CITY CONNECTION Page 2 November 3, 2015 General Election Voting information, key dates EARLY VOTING INFORMATION Early voting will be conducted at the following location: Walker County Annex, 1301 Sam Houston Avenue, Suite 101 October 19th to October 30th, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. EXCEPTIONS: There will be two twelve hour days during early voting: Tuesday, Oct. 20th and Tuesday, Oct. 27th – Early Voting Hours 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. CITY POLLING LOCATIONS FOR NOVEMBER 3 ELECTION Ward 1 – Pct. 102 - Walker County Annex, 1301 Sam Houston Avenue Suite 101 Ward 2 – Pct. 201 - Walker County Storm Shelter, 455 State Highway 75 North Pct. 401 - University Heights Baptist Church, 2400 Sycamore Avenue Ward 3 – Pct. 101 - Walker County Annex, 1301 Sam Houston Avenue Suite 101 Pct. 301 - Huntsville ISD Transportation Building, 95 Martin Luther King Drive Ward 4 – Pct. 205 - Elkins Lake Conference Center, 634 Cherry Hills Drive Pct. 206 - Huntsville Fire Station #1, 1987 Veterans Memorial Parkway Pct. 401 - University Heights Baptist Church, 2400 Sycamore Avenue (All Walker County polling locations are available at www.co.walker.tx.us Map available at http://www.co.walker.tx.us/egov/docs/1377003789_401641.pdf) Photo ID Required for Texas Voters Voters are required to present one of the following forms of photo ID when voting in person: (1) Texas driver license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) (2) Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS (3) Texas personal identification card issued by DPS (4) Texas concealed handgun license issued by DPS (5) United States military identification card containing your photograph (6) United States citizenship certificate containing your photograph (7) United States passport **With the exception of the U.S. citizenship certificate, the identification must be current or have expired no more than 60 days before being presented for voter qualification at the polling place.** The voters name on the identification presented must match or be “substantially similar” to the name on the official list of registered voters (poll list). Additional information, including material on further exemptions, is available through the Texas Secretary of State’s office at www.votetexas.gov. Dates to Remember for the November 3, 2015 election First day to apply for ballot by mail September 4 Last day to register to vote or make name/address changes October 5 Early voting begins October 19 Last day to apply for ballot by mail (application received, not postmarked) October 23 (reg ABBM) October 27 (FPCA) Early voting ends October 30 Election Day November 3 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. CITY CONNECTION Page 3 Filings for November 3 Election BECOME A PART OF THE ELECTION PROCESS The City of Huntsville contracts with Walker County to conduct its elections. You are helping your community become more inf ormed when you particip- pate in the election process. For more information on becoming an election worker, visit http://www.co.walker.tx.us/department/?fDD=25-0. Volunteer Deputy Registrars are entrusted with the responsibility of officially registering voters in the State of Texas. They are appointed by county voter registrars and charged with helping increase voter registration in the state. Deputy Voter Registrar's will be acting as an agent on behalf of Diana McRae, Walker County Voter Registrar, to register voters. Accordingly, the deputy will be expected to understand and abide by the Texas Election Code. Before deputation, all interested persons must complete the state mandated training provided by the Walker County Voter R egistration Office free of charge. Visit http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/pamphlets/deputy.shtml to read more about qualifications and responsibilities of V olunteer Deputy Regis- trars. To register, please complete the Request for Appointment and return the completed form (available in English and Spanish at http://www.co.walker.tx.us/egov/docs/1369232464_645904.pdf) to the Voter Registration Office at the Walker County Annex in Ro om 114, or email it to walkervr@co.walker.tx.us no later than 5:00 p.m. the day before the training class (the last 2015 class will be on September 8, classes will resume in 2016). Due to the limited space available for each class, the County highly recommends that all interested persons pre-register at least one week before the scheduled date of training in order to ensure a reserved seat and to allow staff time to prepare enough VDVR packets. For more information, please call 936-436-4959 or come by the Walker County Annex, Room 114. Downtown Save the Dates for Fall! Downtown Farmers Market - Fall Edition - Saturdays from 8 a.m.-noon, the 2nd Saturday in Octo- ber until Thanksgiving (same place as summer market, on University Avenue between 11th and 12th Streets). Call the Main Street office at 936-291-5920 for more information. Fair on the Square - Saturday, October 3 - contact the Chamber of Commerce at 936-295-8113 for more information Scare on the Square - Saturday, October 31, from 3-5 p.m. downtown. Booth applications are now available through the Main Street office at 936-291-5920. Downtown Christmas Fair and Winter in the Park - events held together this year, on Saturday, December 5, from noon-5 p.m. Booth applications are now available through the Main Street office at 936-291-5920. At 5 p.m. on Monday, August 24, the filing period closed for the November 3, 2015 City of Huntsville General Election. The current Councilmembers for each of the City's four wards filed and are unop- posed - Joe Emmett, Ward 1; Tish Humphrey, Ward 2; Ronald Allen, Ward 3; Joe Rodriquez, Ward 4. Each unopposed candidate must receive at least one vote to be declared elected. Four candidates have filed for the at large mayoral race - current Councilmembers Keith Olson and Andy Brauninger, former Councilmember Wayne Barrett, and resident John Smither (listed in order of filings). The City Charter requires a candidate receive a majority of all votes cast for the office. If this does not occur, the Council shall call a runoff election for the two candidates who received the highest number of votes on November 3. Election information and campaign filing documents are available on the City web site at http://huntsvilletx.gov/Elections. As soon as they are available, the City will post sample ballots on the site and make them available at City Hall. For more information, contact the City Secretary's office at citysecretary@huntsvilletx.gov or 936-291-5403. City of Huntsville Recycling Guidelines Direct questions to (936) 294-5712 Curbside recycling guidelines: 1. Rinse all plastics and cans to remove residue 2. Plastics 1-7 stamped with number and symbol accepted 3. Flatten items to save room inside of cart 4. Keep cart five (5) feet from all other objects including vehi- cles 5. Carts must be placed at the curb or street’s edge no later than 6:00 a.m. on the day of collection. Carts must be re- moved from the street’s edge by the end of the collection day (carts cannot be stored at the street’s edge) Items that cannot be placed in the City cart: Garbage, food waste, yard waste, loose shredded paper, glass/oil/filters, batteries, cell phones, electronics, Styrofoam, aluminum foil, or plastic bags of any kind. No plastic wrap, shrink wrap, or bubble wrap. No Styrofoam, even if it has a recycling number and symbol on item. Recycling Drop-Off Center Information: The Recycling Center accepts self-hauled recyclable items and is located at 590 I-45 North. The Recycling Center Attendant will be onsite to assist cus- tomers from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. Drop-offs can still be made Monday - Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and holiday closings are posted. Recycling Drop-off Center Guidelines: Aluminum - Soda cans, beer cans: Flattened/unflattened. Keep aluminum cans separate from steel cans. NO FOIL, BAKING PANS OR FOOD TRAYS. Steel Cans - Food cans, pet food cans, aerosol cans: Rinse out the can, you can leave the label on. Aerosol cans must be empty. Newspaper - Whatever comes inside the newspaper can be recycled. Stack and put in paper bags or cardboard boxes. Throw away plastic rain sleeves and rubber bands. Magazines - catalogs, phone books: Keep separate from newspaper. Place in brown bags or small cardboard boxes. DO NOT place in plastic bags. Paper - White or colored paper, remove paper clips, rubber bands and sta- ples if possible. Put in small boxes or paper stacks. Glass - Clear, green or brown only: Throw away lids, rinse out. You can leave the label on. Place glass in separate containers. NO window panes, light bulbs or dishware. Cardboard - Toilet/paper towel cores, food boxes, medicine boxes, shoe boxes, shipping/moving boxes, sugar bags, dog/cat food bags which in- clude a recycling logo, paper bags. NO packing materials, plastic liners or foam. Plastics - Numbered 1-7: Recycling symbol and number are required. Milk Jugs and Water Jugs - Throw away cap/lid. Rinse with warm water and try to flatten. Keep these jugs separate from soda bottles or colored plas- tic. Other #1 and #2 Plastic Containers - Examples of other recyclable contain- ers: syrup bottles #3, snap-on coffee lids #4, cottage cheese containers #5, yogurt containers #6, and ketchup bottles #7 Drop-off Center Also Accepts: Used motor oil, oil filters, cooking oil and anti- freeze. Visit www.huntsvilletx.gov for Area curbside recycling schedules, full list of acceptable curbside items and more recycling information. Yard Waste Specifics Collection Service: 1st, 3rd, and 5th Wednes- day of each month - No call-in required! Yard waste is classified as leaves, grass, pine needles, yard clippings and small brush, items referred to as “green waste.” The total number of paper compostable-bagged, canned, or bundled yard waste items is limited to twelve (12) per household per collection day. All yard waste materials must be placed within two (2) feet of street’s edge no later than 6:00 a.m. on the morning of the scheduled pick-up. Yard waste such as leaves, grass, pine needles or small clippings must be: (1) Bagged in paper compostable bags (not to exceed 30 gallons) or placed in personal garbage can; (2) Cannot exceed 50 pounds each; (3) City-issued garbage and recycling carts cannot be filled with yard waste. Tree limbs and brush must be: (1) No longer than four (4) feet in length; (2) Limbs no larger than four (4) inches in diameter; (3) Must be tied securely in bundles which cannot ex- ceed two (2) feet in diameter and can’t exceed 50 pounds each. The following items and locations DO NOT qualify for Yard Waste pick-up: (1) Household garbage of any kind; (2) Anything other than green waste: NO flower pots, fertilizer, mulch, bags, dirt, potting soil, sand, rock, gravel, etc. (3) Commercial businesses or commercially generated yard waste. Bring your City utility bill showing that you pay for gar- bage service and dispose of your yard waste at the City Transfer Station free of charge. This excludes commer- cial customers, yard waste contractors, and any lawn service providers. The customer must be present with their current City garbage bill at the time of disposal. For more information on yard waste trimming collection services, contact the Solid Waste Services Division at (936) 294-5712.