August 2016
CITY
CONNECTION
Volume 12, Issue 11
August 2016
Calendar
August 2016
2 - City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
3 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection
4 - Planning Commission -
City Hall at 12:00 p.m.
10 - Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste
16 - City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
17 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection
18 - Planning Commission -
City Hall at 5:30 p.m.
24 - Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste
31 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection
September 2016
1 - Planning Commission -
City Hall at 12:00 p.m.
5 - Labor Day - City Closed
6 - City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
7 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection
14 - Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste
15 - Planning Commission -
City Hall at 5:30 p.m.
20 - City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
21 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection
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
Election Updates
Election day is right around the corner. Read on for more about the
November 8, 2016 election.
The City Council seats for At-large Positions 1 - 4 will be on the
November 8, 2016 General Election ballot. Filing for the positions will
be from July 23 to August 22, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., in the office of the
City Secretary (City Hall, 1212 Avenue M).
Candidate packets for the 2016 City of
Huntsville General Election are available
through the office of the City Secretary at
City Hall, 1212 Avenue M, or at
http://www.huntsvilletx.gov/Elections.
There is also expected to be a Special
Election on facility bond propositions. The
City Council will decide on or before
August 22 which items will be place on the
ballot.
Stay tuned for upcoming issues of the City
Connection and This Week in Huntsville
for complete information on candidates, propositions, early voting,
polling locations and times, and details for election day.
For more information, email citysecretary@huntsvilletx.gov, call 936-291-
5403, or visit http://www.huntsvilletx.gov/Elections.
City’s ISO Rating Improved
At the July 19, 2016 City Council meeting, Director of Public Safety
Police Chief Kevin Lunsford and Fire Chief Tom Grisham shared
information on the City's updated ISO rating. Huntsville's Public
Protection Classification rating has been improved a 2 from a previous
3.
Established in 1971, the ratings are a system of the for-profit Insurance
Service Office organization, and range from 10 - 1. The City's Fire
Department has worked hard to improve the area's rating through
staffing, training, and equipment purchases and maintenance.
For more information, contact Chief Grisham at 936-291-5941 or visit
http://huntsvilletx.gov/568/ISO-Information to download the
corresponding documents to present to your insurance company to
discuss a possible reduction in rates.
Be sure to thank a Huntsville Fire Fighter for all they do to protect and
improve the City’s quality of life!
CITY CONNECTION Page 2
The conversion of Bobby K. Marks Drive and Bearkat Boulevard to one-way traffic has been completed and the
traffic patterns have changed. Over 200 paid parking spaces have been installed along the two street segments.
Informational signs for paid parking will be installed within the next
two weeks with directions on how to use the MobileNOW! system.
Crews have been preparing the area and equipment for each sign
and the system is scheduled to be up and running by the start of
the fall semester.
The new parking spaces will be controlled through a pay-by-space
on-street parking system. Drivers will be able to pay for parking
quickly and easily using the free MobileNOW! app on smartphones,
tablets, and smart watches. Those who are not smart device users
can pay for parking by calling MobileNOW! at 936-666-2296.
To use the system, download the free MobileNOW! application and
follow the instructions to create an account from the homepage.
Once the account is set up, drivers will be able to select the
numbered parking space they are in and indicate how much time
they would like to purchase. A benefit of MobileNOW! is that the
system will send alerts when the time is almost up and more time can be purchased remotely by phone or app. The
paid parking will be enforced by the Huntsville Police Department using MobileNOW! software.
There is a $1.25 per hour parking fee, plus a $0.25 convenience fee per transaction. There will also be instructions
and a QR code to download the application on the signs spaced at every four parking spaces.
For more information, contact the City of Huntsville Finance Department at 936-291-5419.
MobileNOW! Paid Parking System Being Implemented
Save the Date
State of the City Address
October 11
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Veteran’s Conference Center/ Walker
County Storm Shelter
445 State Highway 75 North
CITY CONNECTION Page 3
The City of Huntsville’s Department for Community and Economic Development has recently
launched a new website to assist potential new businesses and new residents find a home in
Huntsville. The site features detailed information on our city including a community profile,
resources for businesses and quality of life information. The site also features easy to navigate
resources about utilities and City of Huntsville maps.
“The Economic Development website allows us to share information with anyone looking to
develop in the City of Huntsville.” said Aron Kulhavy, Community and Economic Development
Director.
“These type of websites are the number one source of information for people seeking to come into
town. Before this website, we had very little presence on the Internet in the development arena so
it was difficult for people to get information. We have already received inquiries generated from
the site and plan to add more features to it in the future.”
Visit the new page at, http://huntsvilletx.gov/407/Economic-Development.
New Economic Development Page is Helping Huntsville Grow!
Are you subscribed to This Week in Huntsville?
Just go to the City’s web site, www.huntsvilletx.gov, click on the blue Stay Notified button, enter a current email
address, and select “This Week in Huntsville” under the News Flash listings - it’s that easy! You can also
access the page by scanning the QR code to the right.
You’ll receive our free online publication twice a month. The newsletter includes news,
features, photos, event information, and more!
For questions or assistance signing up, contact the City Secretary’s office at (936) 291-
5403.
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 customers 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 staples 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 include 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 plastic.
Other #1 and #2 Plastic Containers - Examples of other recyclable containers: syrup bottles #3, snap on coffee lids #4, cottage
cheese containers #5, yogurt containers #6, and ketchup bottles #7
Huntsville Firefighters Chase Wood and Matt Morris were recently recognized for their commitment and hard work.
On May 27 they saved a young man’s life who hydroplaned off Highway 30 during the flooding in our area.
“The water was very powerful,” Wood explained. “There was a crazy amount of
pressure trying to wash us down the creek. As soon as I got in the water, I
started going the other way. I was headed for some dangerous debris. Another
firefighter, Donnie Smith, had me by a rope. Donnie helped pull me back across
the creek.” “He was a limp noodle. He was exhausted,” Morris added.
Fighting the rapid water and dangerous conditions, it truly became a team effort
to get the young man to safety. “It took everything from both of us, me and
Matt, to get out of there safely. That was teamwork at its best.” Wood
mentioned.
Captain Greg Mathis, who recently
assisted in the Houston-area high water rescues, wrote a letter to Fire Chief
Tom Grisham to express his gratitude towards these two men. The
commendation letter was forwarded to representatives from the Police and
Firemen’s Insurance Association, who then came to Huntsville Fire Station
#1 to present the duo with awards and honor them for the incredible job
they did that day and every other day.
“I can tell you that beyond any shadow of a doubt, without question, these
two young men did their jobs and their training was of benefit to them,”
Mathis boasted. “My expression to Chief Grisham was, ‘We can send anyone to training, but for them to have the
courage to actually do their jobs when it comes down to it, that’s what matters.’
The City of Huntsville is fortunate to have excellent first responders and many outstanding local heroes serving our
community every day.
Huntsville Local Heroes