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December 16 CITY CONNECTION Volume 13, Issue 3 December 2016 Calendar December 2016 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 23 & 26 - City Closed - Christmas Holidays 28 - Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste January 2017 2 - City Closed - New Year Holiday 3 - City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m. 4 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection 5 - Planning Commission - City Hall at 12:00 p.m. 11 - Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste 16 - City Closed - Martin Luther King Jr. Day 17 - City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m. 18 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection 19 - Planning Commission - City Hall at 5:30 p.m. 25 - 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. SEE PAGE 4 for HOLIDAY SCHEDULES Learn more about City events at www.huntsvilletx.gov City of Huntsville residential customers: It’s time to “winterize” your sewer charge Water meter usage for the months of November through February is used to calculate your new sewer average charge for the next year. The new sewer average charge will be effective with the April billing (due in May). Consciously reducing your water usage during these months could lower your sewer charge. “We advise residents to limit outdoor watering, such as washing cars, in order to keep water consumption down during winter months,” said Jerri Weaver, City of Huntsville Billing and Revenue Manager. “Also, residents should be aware of any water leaks and make sure to have those repaired.” For more information, contact City of Huntsville Utility Billing at (936) 291- 5431. The results are in! At the November 18 canvass, results of the November 8 Election became official. The city of Huntsville elected the following At-Large Councilmembers: Paul Davidhizar, At-Large Position 1 Tyler McCaffety, At-Large Position 2 Clyde D. Loll, At-Large Position 3 Keith D. Olson, At-Large Position 4 At-Large Councilmembers are elected by all city voters. You can view the election totals at www.huntsvilletx.gov/Elections. Please join the Council on December 6 for a reception from at City Hall, to thank outgoing Councilmember Lydia Montgomery and Councilmember Don Johnson for their service to the Council and the City and congratulate the newly-elected Councilmembers. At the November 18 canvass the results of the three City bond propositions also became official. The citizens of Huntsville approved all three bond propositions on the ballot. This Week in Huntsville got a Makeover! If you’re signed up to receive This Week in Huntsville, you may have noticed it has recently received a makeover. The new version is quicker to read so you can stay informed with the events and news that interest YOU! If you’re not signed up and don’t want to wait for next month’s City Connection to find out what’s going on, the City’s twice-monthly digital newsletter can keep you informed! Go to the City’s web site, www.huntsvilletx.gov, and click on the blue Stay Notified button under the main photo. Enter your email address and select This Week in Huntsville and anything else you’d like to subscribe to. Be sure to respond to the confirmation email you’ll receive, and you’ll be signed up to get the free digital newsletter twice each month! Page 2 CITY CONNECTION Huntsville Hero The Huntsville Police Department would like to congratulate Officer Je'rard Collins. Officer Collins was selected for the MADD (Mother's Against Drunk Driving) "Hero of the Highway" Award. The Hero of the Highway is an annual award that recognizes officers for exceptional DWI enforcement. This is the second year in a row that Officer Collins has won the award. We are very proud to call Officer Collins one of our own! Citizens Police Academy The Huntsville Police Department is currently accepting applications for the Citizens Police Academy. Applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 30, 2016 and are available for pick up in the HPD lobby. CPA classes will meet every Monday night from 6 p.m. to 9p.m.. Class begins January 23, 2017 and will run through May 1, 2017. During the 13-week program, participants in the Citizens Police Academy will hear from Huntsville Police Department personnel and tour the jail facility and the Communications Center. They will be able to ride along with a police officer and learn about arrest tactics and criminal investigations. Attendees will also participate in the recreation and investigation of a crime scene. The Huntsville Police Department strives to make this class as hands-on and enjoyable as possible, while educating the participants about the Police Department and the local criminal justice system. If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact Officer Kaaa at 936-291- 5493. Applications can be downloaded at http://huntsvilletx.gov/197/Citizens-Police-Academy. Town Creek Updates We are sure you have noticed the construction around the city from the Town Creek Drainage Project. Below are the streets currently closed and streets anticipated to close at the start of 2017. Currently Closed: This work is being conducted between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.  Avenue N between 10th and 11th Street  7th Street between Old Madisonville Road and Avenue M  10th Street between Avenue O and Avenue N Closing Early 2017: This work will be conducted from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. The contractors will cover the areas under construction during daytime hours to help alleviate traffic congestion.  13th Street between Avenue M and University Avenue  Sam Houston Avenue between 13th and 14th Street  University Avenue between 13th and 14th Street  Avenue J between 13th and 14th Street Visit www.huntsvilletx.gov/TownCreek to see updates on project progression and detour maps. New Year’s Eve safety for partygoers and party throwers Thanks to FEMA for some safety tips to keep your holiday season enjoyable and safe! To view more visit www.ready.gov.  Space heaters cause one-third of home heating fires and 4 out of 5 home heating fire deaths. Protect your family: if you're heating your home with a space heater this winter, take a few moments to review safety tips from the U.S. Fire Administration: http://go.usa.gov/crYcC  Prepare your pooch for cold weather! Tip: Wipe your dog’s paws after each trip outside. Ice-melting chemicals can be fatal; they may also make your pet sick or cause irritation to their skin and mouth.  Keep your Christmas tree at least three feet away from heat sources.  That tree looks great at night, but don’t forget to unplug the lights to prevent a fire.  Be cautious online. During the holidays, scammers may send fake emails that are too good to be true. Don't click on suspicions links.  The holidays are a great time to share preparedness information with family and friends. The Family Emergency Communication Plan from America’s PrepareAthon! is a valuable resource especially during the busy holiday travel season. Download and complete a plan today! Handy wallet cards are also available so you can keep emergency contact information in your pocket. http://1.usa.gov/1LPuV9o Holiday Safety Tips Page 3 CITY CONNECTION If you are attending New Year's Eve parties and celebrations: •If you drink, don't drive. •Plan ahead and always designate a sober driver before the party or celebration begins. •If you are impaired, call a taxi, use mass transit, or get a sober friend or family member to come pick you up. Or, stay where you are until you are sober. •Take the keys from someone if you think he/she is too impaired to drive. If you are hosting a New Year's Eve party: •Plan ahead by naming a "designated driver." Make this your responsibility as the host. •Contact a local cab company to provide rides for your guests. •Serve non-alcoholic beverages as an option to your guests. •Stop serving alcohol to your guests several hours before the party ends. •Provide your guests with a place to stay overnight in your home. Source: USA.gov CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS Friday, December 23, 2016 FACILITY CLOSED RESIDENTIAL CHANGES Residential Curbside Recycling Collection will be picked up on the following Friday, December 30 (Extra recycling on the side of blue cart will be picked up) Monday, December 26, 2016 FACILITY CLOSED Residential garbage normally picked up on Monday will be picked up on Tuesday; residential garbage normally picked up on Tuesday will be picked up on Wednesday Friday, December 23 & Monday, December 26, 2016 FACILITY CLOSED COMMERCIAL CHANGES Commercial Garbage Collection customers with scheduled dumpster/rolloff/compactor pick up will be serviced during the week. Recycling facility and Transfer Station closed December 23-26, 2016 TREE PICK UP & ADDITIONAL HEAVY TRASH PICK UP Watch City website, social media, & December issues of This Week in Huntsville for additional information on tree and heavy trash pick ups HOLIDAY SOLID WASTE/GARBAGE/ RECYCLING SCHEDULES The Streets Division will pick up live Christmas trees (not artificial) at the street’s edge from Tuesday, January 3, 2017 through Friday, January 6, 2017. Trees must be on the curb no later than Monday, January 2, 2017 for these pick ups. City residents may also take their Christmas trees (not artificial) to the Solid Waste Disposal Facility, free of charge, with their current City of Huntsville residential utility bill, during regular business hours. Live Christmas trees (not artificial) must be unloaded at the brush pile only. For questions about garbage collection, the Solid Waste Transfer Facility, or the Recycling Drop-Off Center, please call the Solid Waste Division at 936-294-5712. Recycle Grease & Antifreeze! Do you plan on replacing the antifreeze in your vehicle this winter? Have you thought about how to dispose of these and other kinds of liquids, including motor oil, peanut oil, or cooking oil? Don’t pour those materials down the drain – recycle them! The City of Huntsville Solid Waste Division offers free, year-round recycling for residential customers for these liquids and other items at the Recycling Drop-Off Center (590 I-45 North) from 7:30 a.m.- 4:45 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Other items, including oil filters, are recycled in specifically marked collection barrels. As they are flammable, neither gasoline nor diesel from lawn equipment or vehicles will be accepted for disposal or recycling. Due to disposal restrictions, the Solid Waste Division is not able to pick up liquids on a curbside basis. If you have any questions, please call 936-294-5712.