2015/08/14
City news,
features,
and
updates
August 14,
2015
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Pool closing for the year - Page 3 In this issu
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Electronic HR applications - Page 8
City Council filing - Page 2
“Feel the Sting” Day
Are you reading this in green?
You’ve likely noticed that sound in the air, a persistent and steadily increasing buzz - it’s the
swarm! Over the last year, groups all around the area have been working with HISD to show
their support, which will converge on downtown Huntsville on August 28 with the first “Feel the
Sting” Day!
Economic developers believe that strong schools can be an attraction to business and poten-
tial residents. The school district serves the majority of local families and is a major employer,
making it in the best interest of the community for it to be effective and integrated with the
community.
To encourage this, a group of churches, civic groups, local entities, and individuals have band-
ed together to adopt campuses and classrooms. Known as Promoting Our Positives (POP), the
network has provided countless hours of service and spread the word on the good news at
HISD. Activities have included tutoring, teacher support, positive notes and treats for teachers
and students at testing time, classroom resources and materials, and more.
The response has been overwhelming, from the public and the District, with both sides saying
how much they gain from the relationships and greater involvement with the community’s chil-
dren and their educators.
To publicly symbolize this, POP developed the Hornet flag project. Members of the public do-
nating $35 for a Hornet flag for the downtown area, or $25 for a flag for their home or busi-
ness, can share in this visual expression of spirit and appreciation. (This is an ongoing project;
contact the Chamber of Commerce at 295-8113 at any time to participate.)
As year two of the project begins, a very special event, the first to involve the flags, is on the
horizon - “Feel the Sting” Day! On August 28, the date of the first Hornet varsity football home
game this year, the flags will be out in full force around the
square. All who have purchased a home/business flag are
encouraged to display them, also, to really show a “Luv ya
green!” attitude.
At the City Council meeting on August 18, Mayor Woodward
will issue a proclamation in honor of “Feel the Sting” Day, so
join him that evening at 6:00 p.m. Then, be sure to display
your flag on August 28, and make time to visit the square that
day. Last, but definitely not least, remember to thank an edu-
cator or education support staff team member, and let a child
know their educational success is important to you!
Meet John Agey of the Parks & Leisure Department
John Agey, Parks & Leisure Manager, and USAF, Retired, has worked with the City for fourteen years.
We stopped him for a three-question interview!
What’s the best thing about your job? Prepping ball fields,
because you can see the progress in your work and people
appreciate it being done right. (You also get to mow patterns
in the grass!)
What do you wish people knew about Huntsville parks? There
are several pocket parks more of our residents would enjoy,
and other larger ones that need more use, too. Our Depart-
ment offers excellent Recreation Services programs like Out-
door Explorer and Zumba, and the splash pad just reopened!
Which is your favorite City of Huntsville park and why? It used
to be Gibbs Park when it was more forested, but now it’s the
trails in the Eastham-Thomason Park. It’s like being out of the
city without leaving town. You can’t hear city noises, but you
see wildlife like rabbits, hawks, and foxes.
Outdoor Explorer - Come Hike/Bike/Kayak with us!
Join the City’s Recreation Services Division at the Huntsville State Park as they partner with the Texas Parks and Wildlife D epartment to
learn basic safety for biking, hiking and kayaking. Then enjoy the rest of the day exploring the State Park with backpacks, bikes and kay-
aks provided for use. Class size is limited to twenty participants and pre -registration is required. Classes are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Youth
ages 12 - 17 can register with an attending parent or guardian.
Upcoming program dates are August 15th and September 19th. There is no charge for the program, but there is a $5 admission fee into
the park for each participating adult (no cost for those 12 and under). For more information call 936 -294-5725 or visit the website at
http://www.huntsvilletx.gov/category/subcategory.php?categoryid=12 or on Facebook at COHrecservices.
2015 City Council Candidate Filing Continues
Candidate Packets for the 2015 City of Huntsville General Election are available through the office of the City
Secretary at City Hall, 1212 Avenue M, or on the City web site at http://www.huntsvilletx.gov/Elections.
The City Council seats for the Mayor (an at-large position) and the four Ward Councilmembers will be on the No-
vember 3, 2015 ballot. Filing for the positions opened July 25 and will continue through August 24, 2015 at 5
p.m. in the office of the City Secretary.
The City of Huntsville application fee is one dollar, per City Charter mandate. City Secretary Lee Woodward
acknowledged members of the public may have questions about the responsibilities of Councilmembers.
“The City Secretary’s office provides the candidate packets, which include general information, an abbreviated
version of the state election calendar, and references for guidelines and statutes,” Woodward said. “Anyone is
welcome to learn more about the duties of Councilmembers and how the election process is conducted, even if
they have no desire to run for office. The steps to becoming and the obligations of an elected Councilmember are
many and varied.”
For more information, email citysecretary@huntsvilletx.gov, call 936 -291-5403, or visit the City's Elections page
at http://www.huntsvilletx.gov/Elections.
New Tool Available to Bidders
City of Huntsville Procurement Manager Billie Smith is spreading the word on an exciting new tool that’s part of
the updated city web site.
“Businesses and service providers have an easy way to find out when new City bids and solicitations are posted,”
Smith said. “Subscribers to the Bid Postings-City Solicitations item will get notifications directly in their email in-
box, so they can quickly decide if they want to participate.”
Interested companies simply pull up www.huntsvilletx.gov and click on the blue Stay Notified button on the home
page. It will bring up a page titled Notify Me, with a box at the top of the page for an email address. Once that is
entered, they look for the Bid Postings heading and select City Solicitations, also noting whether they want to be
emailed, texted, or both (see screenshots accompanying this text).
When a subscriber receives an email about a posting, they can click on an included “Read on…” link to view the
associated documents. There is no fee for the service.
The Purchasing Division welcomes all businesses to learn more about the City’s procurement procedures, and
has a Purchasing page on the site at http://www.huntsvilletx.gov/292/Purchasing.
“We seek to maintain an open and transparent process,” noted Smith. “When the City can get the word out
about a solicitation, creating a high level of competition while enhancing the transparency process, it’s always a
good day. The new web site feature does
exactly that, I am delighted that the busi-
nesses have this opportunity. It becomes
a win-win for everyone.”
For more information, contact Smith at
bsmith@huntsvilletx.gov or 936-291-5495.
This year’s closing date for the pool at
the Frank D. “Poncho” Roberts Aquat-
ic Center is
August 23.
Get to
splashing
before the
summer’s
gone!
To sign up, visit www.huntsvilletx.gov (left) and click on
blue Stay Notified button (see arrow). It links to page of
options for subscribing. Enter your email at the top of
the page, then look for the listing (shown below) for Bid
postings. Select email or test notification option, or
both.
No Change to Solid Waste
Pick-up Routes on Labor Day, Sept. 7
The City of Huntsville Solid Waste Services Divi-
sion will run regular residential and commercial
garbage pick-up routes on Monday, September 7,
2015, Labor Day. The Solid Waste Transfer Facil-
ity will also be open for business on Monday, Sep-
tember 7.
The Recycling Drop-Off Center, located at 590 IH-
45 North, will be closed to the public on Monday,
but will open as usual on Tuesday, September 8.
If you have any questions about garbage collec-
tion, the Solid Waste Transfer Facility, or the Re-
cycling Drop-Off Center, please call the Solid
Waste Division at 936-294-5712.
Proper Cart Care!
The City of Huntsville Solid Waste and Recycling Division is pleased to offer curbside
residential garbage and recycling collection for our residents. Our carts are rugged
and durable, and designed to serve a long useful life, but they need your help to do
that.
On the day of collection, the City -issued cart must be placed within two feet of the
curb or the street’s edge no later than 6:00 am. No items outside of the cart or on
the ground will be collected, nor will garbage or recycling be collected from personal
garbage cans or on top of the cart lid. The cart needs to be five feet from all vehi-
cles, trailers, boats, mail boxes, fire hydrants, utility poles, fences, other carts, etc.
(see proper placement photos on opposite page or at
www.huntsvilletx.gov/SolidWaste).
Carts left in the street can become safety issues for drivers and cyclists, and can
block sighting of children and pets, placing them in danger from motorists. Please
remember not to set carts out before 8 p.m. the night before collection, and that
your cart should be removed from the street edge or curbside area as soon as pos-
sible after collection, or by 10 p.m. on collection days. Carts should definitely not re-
main on or at the street edge on a regular basis.
Please visit www.huntsvilletx.gov/SolidWasteRecycling for information, schedules,
and guidelines.
Alonzo Hightower, Solid Waste Residential Driver
Correct Cart Placement
Incorrect Cart Placement
Review the photos and guidelines to ensure your blue and
green carts are properly placed each collection day. Re-
member to keep the side of the carts five feet from all ve-
hicles, trailers, boats, mail boxes, fire hydrants, utility
poles, fences, other carts, etc.
Notice of Public Hearing on City Tax Increase
The City of Huntsville will hold two public hearings on a proposal to increase total tax revenues from properties
on the tax roll in the preceding tax year by 6.98 percent (percentage by which maximum proposed tax rate ex-
ceeds lower of rollback tax rate or effective tax calculated under Tax Code, Chapter 26). Your individual taxes
may increase at a greater or lesser rate, or even decrease, depending on the change in the taxable value of your
property in relation to the change in taxable value of all other property and the tax rate that is adopted.
The public hearings will be held on August 18 and September 1, 2015, at 6:00PM at City Hall, 1212 Avenue M.
The average taxable value of a residence homestead in 2014 last year was $110,844. Based on last year’s tax
rate of $ 0.4106 per $100 of taxable value, the amount of taxes imposed last year on the average home was
$455.13
The average taxable value of a residence homestead in 2015 this year is $118,765. If the governing body
adopts the effective tax rate for this year of $0.3838 per $100 of taxable value, the amount of taxes imposed
this year on the average home would be $455.82. If the governing body adopts the maximum proposed tax rate
of $0.4106 per $100 of taxable value, the amount of taxes imposed this year on the average home would be
$487.65
Members of the public are encouraged to attend the hearings and express their views.
Beginner’s Guide
to Online Privacy
Privacy in cyberspace is becoming an increasingly
hot topic in the news as we learn of banks and de-
partment stores having credit records hacked. Con-
cerns about tracking devices in cell phones and re-
mote access of computers and other technologies
from hundreds of miles away call for increased
knowledge and alertness.
Learn the basics of how to protect your online privacy
on Thursday, August 27, from 4 to 5 p.m. at the
Huntsville Public Library. Students from the SHSU
Student Net Alliance will be on hand to educate the
public, demonstrate how to encrypt emails, and the
installation and use of apps to protect privacy. Bring
your laptop and flash drive to participate.
Register now for this free event, as there is limited
seating. Visit www.myhuntsvillelibrary.com, call Mary
Kokot at (936)291-5471, or see the graphic below.
Electronic HR Applications Available
Effective August 26, 2015, job seekers will find a modernized application pro-
cess in the Human Resources (HR) Department. Online applications will then
be available through www.huntsvilletx.gov, and the City will no longer accept
paper applications.
Julie O’Connell, HR Director, is excited about the new opportunity for appli-
cants.
“This is something that has been in the "works" for a very long time, and we
have now been able to complete it as part of the new website” she said. “HR
will also have two computers available to complete online applications in the
HR office.”
The new process will provide benefits to applicants, as they will be able to
apply for more than one position without having to complete additional forms,
and they can track the jobs they’re interested in easily and at any time. It will
also be easier to attach additional documentation such as resumes and certi-
fications.
Because the City’s website is designed to adapt to use on tablets,
smartphones, and other electronic devices, applicants can access the system
with greater convenience. Current City employees, volunteers, and interns will
have specialized applications through the online process.
The process will also enable HR to better and more quickly communicate with
candidates on their application status, scheduled interviews, and follow up
notifications.
For more information, contact Sandra Cuevas, HR Coordinator, at 936 -291-
5914.
Heard about City employees lately?
Citizens share good news!
I'm a strong believer in giving kudos where kudos are very important, and as a Huntsville resident of 46
years and a school nurse for 30 of those years, that reinforced my belief in praising people who have
earned it. Stressed with having to move out of my 43 -year-old home, with closing dates changing three
times, I'm with a truckload of trash that cannot be removed until mid-August, so I called Mrs. Herklotz for
a solution, to which she said she would send a crew at 7:30 the next morning. Much to my shocking sur-
prise, Mrs. Herklotz and Mrs. Mimms themselves came and lifted all of my stuff and drove it off as a cour-
tesy. Short of a small thank you gift and card of thanks, this letter was meant to thank you and your crew
for their kindness. I thank you for your generous staff!
Yesterday afternoon we went to the city pool. As soon as we got there Ryder got away from me, ran and
jumped into the Olympic pool. I ran up to the pool and asked a couple of kids to grab him. Before they
could even turn around the lifeguard on duty had already jumped in the water and scooped him up. Ryder
was safe before I even had time to panic. I wanted to take a second to express my gratitude for her quick
thinking and being aware of the pool surroundings. I didn’t get her name nor in the chaos of the moment
did I thank her enough. I don’t know if you are also responsible for the lifeguards, if you are, please pass
along my new found appreciation for the job they do. If not, please share this with their supervisor.
Just had a call from a Mrs. Stevens, who wanted to let the Mayor know about the great assistance provid-
ed her by Esther Herklotz. She and her husband are elderly and needed help disposing of an old refriger-
ator. Esther put them in contact with Noah Speer of the Lions Club, who took care of it with his usual
grace and kindness. Mrs. Stevens was very appreciative of both Noah and Esther, and wanted to make
sure you knew how much!
BECOME A VOLUNTEER DEPUTY REGISTRAR
OR ELECTION WORKER
Volunteer Deputy Registrars are entrusted with the responsibility of officially registering voters in the State of Texas. The y 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 u nderstand
and abide by the Texas Election Code. Before deputation, all interested persons must complete the state mandated training provi ded by
the Walker County Voter Registration Office free of charge.
Visit http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/pamphlets/deputy.shtml to read more about qualifications and responsibilities of V olun-
teer Deputy Registrars.
The next training class is scheduled at the Walker County Annex Room 101 on September 8, 2015, at 2:00 p.m.
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.
Due to the limited space available, 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.
The City of Huntsville contracts with Walker County to conduct its elections. You are helping your community become more inf ormed
when you participate in the election process. For more information on becoming an election worker, visit
http://www.co.walker.tx.us/department/?fDD=25-0.
For more information, please call 936-436-4959 or come by the Walker County Annex, Room 114.
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