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3-10-16 TWIH City news, features, and updates March 10, 2016 Th i s W e e k i n H u n t s v i l l e City Honorees at Item Awards The City of Huntsville celebrated with the community at the recent Huntsville Item Citizen of the Year awards. Chief Tom Grisham, Assistant Chief John Hobbs, and Firefighters Matt Morris, Jason Sanders, and Darren Parker joined Walker County Emergency Management Coordinator Butch Davis in accepting the award for First Responders of the Year, given to all those who assisted in last fall’s fire on FM 980. Former Mayor Mac Woodward received the award for Public Servant of the Year, but something even more special was in store for him as the night went on. The final award of the evening was also given to Woodward as he was named the 19th Citizen of the Year. Woodward was genuinely surprised and de- lighted, but it was no shock to any who know him that he immediately shared the special event with oth- ers, in his modest and humble way. “No one does this alone,” Woodward said. “I want to thank everyone I’ve worked with, they all contribut- ed to this moment and share the credit for any successes.” Woodward’s family and several Councilmembers and City staff were on hand to thank him personally for his many years of service and dedication. Beautiful Day for 35th Annual Sam Houston Birthday Mayor Brauninger pre- sents Sam Houston de- scendent John Murray with stepping stone to be placed at Statue, above. Center, local offi- cials and guests gather after the morning’s tradi- tional graveside service. Right, Alabama-Coushatta Second Chief Mikko Skalaaba Herbert and Mayor Andy Brauninger. Mayor Andy Brauninger congratulates HFD (above) and Mac Woodward accepts award from Item Editor Tom Waddill (right). 20th Annual HUB Show Entities come together to help businesses The City of Huntsville, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State University, the SHSU Small Business Development Center, and Walker County will together sponsor the 20th Annual Historically Underutilized Business (HUB)/Vendor Show. The HUB/Vendor Show will be held in the Walker County Storm Shelter located on Highway 75 North, on March 17, 2016. From 10 - 11 a.m. there will be a training session which will provide detailed information on how to do business with govern- ment entities; presenters include the State of Texas and the City of Huntsville. Lunch for participating vendors will be served immediately following the training to allow more opportunity to network. Intro- ductions and opening remarks will begin at 11:30, with the HUB/Vendor Show concluding at 2:30 p.m. “The main objective of the show is to assist vendors in the Huntsville area increase their customer base to include govern- ment entities,” Smith said. “Each level of government has slightly different bidding requirements and this can be daunting to the vendors. The sponsors will be available to discuss various details pertaining to their purchasing processes and proce- dures.” Sponsors include Sharon Schultz, HUB Director with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; Robert Barragan, Director of the SHSU Small Business Development Center; SHSU Assistant Director of Contract Management Bob Chapa; Walker Coun- ty Purchasing Agent Mike Williford; and Billie Smith, City of Huntsville Purchasing Manager; they will be available to address any questions related to their entity's purchasing procedures. “While there will be no charge for booth space or to attend any part of the event, booth space will be provided on a first- come, first-serve basis,” Smith said. “Vendors from all across the state attend each year, and, during the last several years, we have reached capacity prior to opening day.” For more information, contact Billie Smith at (936) 291-5495. To register a company for booth space, call Ruby Cowan, TDCJ HUB Coordinator, at (936) 437-3128. EXTENDED THROUGH MARCH! Freedom of Information Day Freedom of Information (FOI) Day is an annual event on or near March 16, the birthday of James Madi- son, who is widely regarded as the Father of the Constitution and as the foremost advocate for openness in government. Celebrated by many colleges of law, the American Library Association, and other organi- zations. This unofficial national holiday is a re- minder of American freedoms. Although the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), adopted on July 4, 1966, applies to federal agencies and information, many states have developed similar legislation for their residents, such as the Texas Public Information Act (PIA). The City of Huntsville follows both the spirit and the letter of the PIA, in addition to the require- ments of the Texas Open Meetings Act, to as- sure citizens have the access they deserve. The City website (www.huntsvilletx.gov) features a blue Transparency button on its homepage, connecting the public to meeting agendas and minutes, information on placing a Public Infor- mation Request, bid opportunities and the City’s Vendor Guide, and a variety of financial document links. Transparency in governmental information in Texas is recognized in the financial realm by the Texas Comptroller’s Office’s Transparency Stars program, initiated in 2009, awarded to municipalities who make financial information available to the public. The City of Huntsville’s Finance Department has won the Gold Circle award four times. As seen in the screenshot above, the Department’s web pages offer lots of information in an organized and ac- cessible format. Another way many residents obtain City infor- mation is through the Huntsville Public Li- brary (HPL). As in many cities, the library is a special and trusted part of our public institu- tion and consistently at the core of the com- munity. In the digital age more than ever be- fore, libraries in general are engines of socie- tal and personal change and progress. By fostering education, literacy, research, civic involvement and much more, libraries trans- form learning every day. HPL is no exception, helping residents find and use City infor- mation both current and historical. Supported by City leaders and an integral part of the City’s beliefs and procedures, transparency and freedom of information are key to providing good governance and anoth- er reason why Huntsville is a great place to live and work. Facts About Lead Levels and Huntsville’s Water System There has been a lot of public discussion about drinking water quality and safety in other parts of the United States this year, particularly about lead in water. The City of Huntsville has long maintained a water system rated as Superior by the state, and consistently endeavors to provide excellent service to our residents. This is the water that we and our families safely drink as well. We are committed to the health, safety, and welfare of our community and would like to share a few facts about lead and drinking water. For more information, contact lab superintendent Kim Kembro at kkem- bro@huntsvilletx.gov. What is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standard for lead in drinking water? When lead testing is performed as required by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 90 percent of the samples must contain fewer than 15 parts per billion (ppb) of lead. The EPA has established an action level for lead in water of 15 ppb, meaning that a water system with more than 15 ppb of lead in 10 percent of its samples may require changes to the water treatment process, replacement of lead service lines and public outreach. The City of Huntsville has participated in testing for lead in accordance with the Lead and Copper Rule since 1992 and has consistently tested below the action level established by the rule. In 1995, the City qualified for reduced monitoring of once every three years, based on the 90th percentile in our initial sampling period. The City has performed a total of ten sampling events to date, with the last event held in June 2013. Thirty residential samples were collected from ap- proved locations within the City of Huntsville’s distribution system and no sample exceeded the EPA action level. The next Lead and Copper Rule sampling event is scheduled to be performed between June 1 and September 30, 2016. What is the relationship between the EPA action level for drinking water and lead levels in the blood? The EPA action level of 15 ppb of lead in drinking water was established based on reasonable risk assessments. It is the level that requires additional corrective and educational actions, but does not necessarily directly correlate to increased blood-lead levels. Blood-lead levels are reflective of a variety of factors, such as age; exposure to dusts, paint chips, or soil containing lead, and the amount of water consumed daily. For women, pregnancy can also affect blood-lead levels. Nationally, the biggest source of increased blood-lead levels in children is the ingestion of lead-based paint chips. What are the health effects of too much lead? If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. For infants and children, exposure to high levels of lead in drinking water can result in delays in physical or mental development. Infants who consume mostly mixed formula can receive a greater percentage because of the large volume of water they consume relative to their body size. For adults, exposure to high levels of lead can result in kidney problems or high blood pressure. Although the main sources of exposure to lead are ingesting paint chips and inhaling dust, the EPA estimates that 10 to 20 percent of human exposure to lead may come from drinking water. How does lead get into drinking water? Although some utilities use source waters that contain lead, Huntsville’s water sources (the Trinity River and the City wells) contain only traces of lead. Lead in drinking water can also come from pipes and valves within the distribution system. Huntsville’s distribution system does not contain lead pipe or services. Another source of lead in drinking water is household plumbing. In 1986, lead was banned from being used in pipe and solder for drinking water systems. In older homes, where lead is present in pipe and solder connections, it may dissolve into the water after the water sits for long periods of time. Some household plumbing components may contain a small amount of lead and can contribute to lead concentrations at the tap. What can I do in my home to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water? - Any time the water has been sitting unused for six hours or longer, flush your cold water pipes by running the water 15- 30 seconds or until it becomes a constant temperature. Saving the water for other purposes, such as plant watering, is a good conservation measure. - Use only water from the cold-water tap for drinking, cooking, and especially for making baby formula. Hot water may contain higher levels of lead. - Some people choose to install a water filter in their home. If you choose to do so, follow these three important sugges- tions: 1. Choose one designed for the specific filtration desired, such as lead. 2. Make sure the filter is approved by the National Sanitation Foundation (www.nsf.org). 3. Maintain the filter as directed by the manufacturer. Facts in this article came from Your Drinking Water– Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water published by the EPA. More information can be found at http://www.epa.gov/your-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking- water. National Book Awards Festival Comes to Town For a third year, the National Book Foundation returns to Huntsville in the springtime with the National Book Awards Festival. This budding lit- erary occasion brings recent National Book Award Finalists to town for three days of events. It's an outreach program that exists to promote reading and American literature on the SHSU campus, in the community, and in the public schools, with the goal of bringing books (and the worlds contained within them) to people who might not otherwise have access to them. The 2016 guests will be Fiction Finalist Angela Flournoy, Finalist in Young People's Literature Noelle Stevenson, and Poetry Finalist Ada Limòn. Join them all at the Huntsville Public Library’s Community Room from 5-6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 16, to share the warm welcome for which we’re known. Then make plans for the main event on Friday, March 18, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Concert Hall of the Gaertner Center for Performing Arts. Steph Optiz, former literary director of the Texas Book Festival and fiction co-chair of the Brooklyn Book Festival in New York, will serve as the moderator for the onstage interviews. There will be other opportunities to meet and interact with the authors and learn more about their books and the National Book Foundation during this free festival, including activities at the Huntsville Public Library and the Wynne Home. For more info., visit www.shsu.edu/nba or follow at www.facebook.com/shsubookawards or @shsubookawards. Start Decorating Your Easter Baskets! The Huntsville Public Library’s Easter Egg Hunt (for children six and under) will be held Wednes- day, March 23, at 10:45 a.m., on the lawn next to City Hall (Jane Monday Amphitheater area). Please bring your own bag or basket to hold whatever goodies you find. Please note, the Easter Egg Hunt is being held in lieu of Story Time on this date. For more information, contact Chil- dren’s Coordinator Rachel McPhail at 936-291-5910. TABC Announces Statewide 2016 Spring Break Undercover Operations Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission agents from across the state are set to conduct hundreds of undercover operations in an effort to prevent the sale of alcohol to minors during Spring Break. The undercover operations - dubbed "minor stings" - will take place March 1-15 at retailers located along popular travel corridors be- tween major Texas cities and the Gulf Coast. During the operation, undercover TABC agents will accompany a minor-aged volunteer, who will attempt to purchase alcohol. Retailers who sell alcohol to the underage person could face possible administrative action by the TABC. Members of TABC's Audit & Investigation Division will visit each of the targeted retailers prior to the undercover operations in order to provide training on ways to recognize suspected underage customers. During the 2015 Spring Break undercover operations, TABC agents visited more than 900 retailers and found more than 90 percent to be in full compliance with the law. Agency officials say they hope for an even better compliance rate this year. "These undercover operations have proven to be a useful tool in ensuring our retailers are in voluntary compliance with the law," said Chief Robert Saenz, TABC Chief of Field Operations. "While we were very pleased with the relatively low number of violations last year, when you're talking about an underage person getting behind the wheel while intoxicated, even one violation can result in loss of life. We're counting on Texas retailers to do the right thing and remain vigilant during this very busy time." For more information on TABC's efforts to curb underage drinking, visit the Agency's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TXABC. Bookie ... the Book Worm joins HPL Introducing ... Bookie! Bookie is our newest HPL friend and is a complete book worm! Bookie will be roaming the library - read- ing books, presenting some words for consumption and causing friendly mischief. Stay tuned because you never know where Bookie the book worm will turn up next! Monday, February 8, was basics day, on getting a library card (photo at below right). If you don't know how to get one, just ask Bookie. Monday, February 15, Bookie celebrated President's Day as he posed with some Presi- dential Dolls that were hand-crafted and donated to HPL (photo below). His word of the Day was democracy! democracy: noun de·moc·ra·cy \di-ˈmä-krə-sē\ - simple definition of democracy: - a form of government in which people choose leaders by voting - a country ruled by democracy - an organization or situation in which everyone is treated equally and has equal rights Stop by the library soon to see what Bookie’s getting up to next! United Way Honors City Director Dr. Sherry McKibben named 2015 Volunteer of the Year A very special award was presented to one of the City’s Directors on February 24, 2016. Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources, was recognized by the United Way of the Piney Woods as its 2015 Volunteer of the Year. Piney Woods Coordinator, Sheila Cannon, was complimentary of McKibben’s contributions. “She was chosen because of her ongoing commitment with United Way of the Piney Woods, and the extreme amount of passion she has shown towards our commu- nity. She has evolved so much on this committee and shown how much she is willing to lead United Way of the Piney Woods to greater expectations. Her efforts in the Socks and Undies drive have grown over the past 3 years, with her most current drive with the City of Hunts- ville raising over $1000.” Good Friday Solid Waste Schedule Changes The City of Huntsville Solid Waste and Recycling Division will not be collecting curbside residential recycling on Friday, March 25, 2016, in observance of Good Fri- day. Only commercial customers with dumpsters and roll offs/compactors will have garbage collected on Friday, March 25, 2016. The Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling Facility will be closed to the public on Friday, March 25, 2016 and open on Saturday, March 26 from 7;30-noon only. For any ques- tions about collection, contact the Solid Waste and Recycling Facility at 936-294- 5712. Huntsville Public Library, in partnership with the SHSU Student Money Management Center, hosts "BE WISE" in the Community Room during April -- Financial Literacy Month.