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9-1-16 TWIH September 1 2016 City news, features, and updates Th i s W e e k i n H u n t s v i l l e Huntsville Bond Election 2016 On August 16, the Huntsville City Council voted to call a bond election containing three propositions. Huntsville residents will be asked to go the polls Tuesday, November 8, to consider authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds for the three project groups under consideration. They are to fund improvements to the City Public Safety Facilities, City Services Facilities and City Waterworks and Sewer System Facilities. Each of these has been studied with the purpose of increasing safety, improving service, and accommodating current and future growth. - Proposition 1 - Public Safety Facilities - Not to exceed $34 million - Proposition 2 - City Services Facilities - Not to exceed $24 million - Proposition 3 - City Waterworks and Sewer Facilities - Not to exceed $73 million On August 16, the Huntsville City Council voted unanimously to pass an ordinance calling a bond election containing three propositions. Huntsville residents will be asked to go the polls Tuesday, November 8, to consider authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds for the three proposals. Since March, the City Council has been conducting work sessions and reviewing studies related to the City’s infrastructure, including the Huntsville Police Department, Fire Station #2, the City Service Center, City Hall, quality of life improvements, the Palm Street Water Plant, Water Distribution system pressure plane modifications, and the A. J. Brown and N. B. Davidson wastewater treatment plants. The Council has also carefully reviewed debt capacities to fund these projects. Debt capacity can be defined as expiring debt plus additional available revenue. All of the Council’s work in the last six months has brought the opportunity to call for a bond election in November. The Council and staff have worked together to plan a course of action with the aim that these projects may be accomplished with no increase to taxes or rates related to them. To reach out to your City Council to learn more, email the full Council at council@huntsvilletx.gov or find individual member email addresses at http://huntsvilletx.gov/Council. Learn more about each proposition before voting on November 8. Visit www.huntsvilletx.gov/Bond for an informative video, a link to an interactive map featuring locations and details of each proposition, voting locations, contact information, and more. Mark your calendar to attend the State of the City Address to hear from City Council and City Staff about projects, updates and election information! The event will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Walker County Storm Shelter on October 11. November Election Candidate Filings The City Council seats for At-large Positions 1-4 will be on the November 8, 2016 general election ballot. Filing for the positions ran from July 23, 2016 to August 22. Seven citizens have filed to run on the ballot (in order of filing): - Position One - Paul Davidhizar - Position Two - Tyler McCaffety and Matt Hannes - Position Three - Clyde Loll and Mader Hedspetch - Position Four - Keith D. Olson and Scott Hornung For more information, email citysecretary@huntsvilletx.gov, call 936-291-5403, or visit the City's Elections page at http://www.huntsvilletx.gov/Elections. Register to Vote! The last day to register to vote for the November 8 election is October 11. Make sure you get your registration in on time to cast your vote in the November election! Visit http://www.co.walker.tx.us/department/?fDD=24-0 to learn how to register to vote in Walker County. A voter's application must be submitted or mailed at least 30 days before an election date to vote in that election. Remember to Vote the Back on this November's ballot to have your voice heard in the 2016 City of Huntsville General and Bond Elections! Labor Day Solid Waste & Recycling The City of Huntsville Solid Waste Services Division will run normal residential and commercial garbage pick-up routes on Monday, September 5, 2016, Labor Day. The Solid Waste Transfer Facility will also be open for business on Monday, from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm. The Recycling Drop-Off Center, located at 590 IH-45 North, will be open to the public on Monday, but no attendant will be on site. If you have any questions about the garbage collection, the Solid Waste Transfer Facility, or the Recycling Drop-Off Center, please call the Solid Waste Division at 936-294- 5712. Join the Huntsville Police Department for the Annual National Night Out Celebration on Tuesday, October 4 from 4 - 7 p.m.! This year National Night Out will be held at Kate Barr Ross Park. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer and better places to live. The Huntsville Police Department, SHSU University Police Department, Huntsville Fire Department, and several state agencies will be at Kate Barr Ross Park providing demonstrations, meeting our community and taking part in the fun. Local vendors will share food, games and activities free of charge to the community. If you are interested in being a sponsor or vendor please contact Officer Kaaa at 936-291-5493. Visit the Huntsville Police D e p a r t m e n t ’ s F a c e b o o k p a g e a t https://www.facebook.com/HuntsvilleTXPolice/ for more information. National Night Out Have You Read Between the Pages? Between the Pages is a monthly newsletter published by the Huntsville Public Library. This newsletter features articles from all aspects of the library, from volunteers to genealogy to technology. There is also useful information and current events happening at the library from our adult, teen and children's divisions. The August edition focuses on the benefits of the DASH Diet, 3D Printing, Xbox One updates and much more! View the entire archive and most recent issues of Between the Pages here, http://bit.ly/2bkTS40 Don’t Wait - Communicate! Make Your Emergency Plan Today September is recognized as National Preparedness Month (NPM) which serves as a reminder that we all must take action to prepare, now and throughout the year, for the types of emergencies that could affect us where we live, work, and also where we visit. Read on to find out how you can prepare! No matter what the disaster, always stay prepared by keeping an emergency supply kit handy. Preparing and maintaining an emergency supply kit is a simple and effective way to sustain you and your family during and following a disaster. Officials and relief workers cannot immediately reach everyone in the aftermath of a disaster. It may take hours or even days for help to arrive. An emergency supply kit contains the tools your family needs to survive during that period. Depending on the nature of the disaster, evacuation may be required. Keeping a portable emergency supply kit will assist in a speedy evacuation, ensuring you have everything you need until you return home. Emergency supply kits are great at home, at work, and to have in your vehicle. Like emergency supply kits, creating an emergency plan will help you prepare for any type of disaster. Building an emergency plan tailored to your individual or family needs will ensure everyone knows what to do if a crisis occurs, saving time and lives. When building your emergency plan make sure to consider the following: risks, unique needs, and location. Visit Ready.gov to find more information and resources how to be prepared in an emergency situation. Keep up to date with emergency information from the City of Huntsville by visiting www.huntsvilletx,gov/ReadyHuntsville. To prepare for or in the event of an emergency or disaster, please refer to the appropriate information below and get timely updates on the City's social media channels (look for #ReadyHuntsville). Also review the This Week in Huntsville Disaster Preparedness Special issue at http://huntsvilletx.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/507. Share with us how you are preparing this month on social media using #ReadyHuntsville! Learn more emergency preparedness tips or schedule a planning presentation for your organization or workplace with City of Huntsville Emergency Management Coordinator John Waldo at jwaldo@huntsvilletx.gov or at 936-291- 5945. Confirmed Travel Related Case of Zika in Walker County The Texas Department of State Health Services has confirmed one case of the Zika virus in Walker County. Walker County Emergency Management Coordinator Butch Davis verified the case was travel- related and contracted outside Walker County. Like the Texas Governor's office, the City of Huntsville is sharing guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and www.TexasZika.org (through the Texas Department of State Health Services) to encourage residents to practice mosquito bite prevention from infectious insects possibly carrying the Zika virus. Watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WynsLB_h6q0 to hear Governor Greg Abbott address the issue and see how Texas is handling the situation. Be sure to watch the whole video to see a guest appearance by Pancake, the First Dog of Texas, who helps illustrate mosquito bite prevention and protection tips. Learn more about ways to protect yourself and your family from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at http://www.cdc.gov/zika/prevention/prevent-mosquito-bites.html. For more information, there are additional links available on the City web site at www.huntsvilletx.gov/ReadyHuntsville. Currently, there is no vaccine or treatment for the Zika virus. Your best protection to avoid infection is to prevent mosquito breeding and protect yourself from mosquito bites. Prevent Mosquito Breeding  At least weekly empty or get rid of cans, buckets, old tires, pots, plant saucers and other containers that hold water.  Keep gutters clear of debris and standing water.  Remove standing water around structures and from flat roofs.  Change water in pet dishes daily.  Rinse and scrub vases and other indoor water containers weekly.  Change water in wading pools and bird baths several times a week.  Maintain backyard pools or hot tubs.  Cover trash containers.  Water lawns and gardens carefully so water does not stand for several days.  Screen rain barrels and openings to water tanks or cisterns.  Treat front and back door areas of homes with residual insecticides if mosquitoes are abundant nearby.  If mosquito problems persist, consider pesticide applications for vegetation around the home. Protect Yourself from Mosquito Bites  Wear Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents. When used as directed, these insect repellents – including those that contain DEET – are proven safe and effective even for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Mosquito repellent is now available as a Medicaid benefit.  Cover up with long-sleeved shirts and long pants.  Keep mosquitoes out with air conditioning or intact window screens.  Limit outdoor activities during peak mosquito times. People who are traveling to areas where Zika is being spread should protect themselves from mosquito bites while abroad and for 21 days after returning home to help prevent themselves from becoming infected, and to keep from spreading the virus to mosquitoes in Texas in the event the travelers were exposed to Zika. Information from www.Texaszika.org. The Wynne Home Arts Center It’s time to hit the links at the 13th Annual Huntsville Beautification Golf Tournament! Registration will begin at noon and there will be a shotgun start at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, September 9, at the Raven Nest Golf Club. Teams of four are signing up now. Individual players are also welcome and sponsorships are available. Entry fees are $65 per player; $260 for a 4-person team. The golf package includes green fees, cart, range balls, dinner, and awards! The money raised helps buy wildflower seeds and fund drought recovery initiatives, and new trees. Join us in our efforts to help keep Huntsville beautiful. For more information call Penny Joiner in the City’s Parks and Leisure Department at 936-294- 5708 or download the registration brochure at http://huntsvilletx.gov/182/Recreational-Events. 13th Annual Huntsville Beautification Golf Tournament Public Hearing for Fiscal Year 2016-17 Budget If you have ever had an interest in a behind the scenes look at how a City runs, the budget public hearing is a great start! You will get to watch the Councilmembers you elected, who represent you, look through the budget and put the final touches of what is in store for Huntsville for October 2016 to September 2017. You can also ask questions and have your voice be heard during the public hearing. The Council will be making big decisions about major projects and help guide staff as they finalize the numbers. Come join Council and Staff on September 20 at 6:00 p.m. during the regular scheduled City Council meeting. The proposed budget may be examined weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Huntsville Public Library, at City Hall in the office of the City Secretary, and on the City’s web site at www.huntsvilletx.gov. This budget will raise more total property taxes than last year’s budget by $216,000 (3.9%), and of that amount $109,100 (2.0%) is tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year. Bond Election 2016 Do you want to learn more about the upcoming Bond Election? Be sure to check out the in-depth details at www.huntsvilletx.gov/Bond to find more information and watch the Bond informational video. There is also a link to an interactive map so you can familiarize yourself with where each proposed proposition is in your City! You can also access the site by going to www.huntsvilletx.gov and scrolling over the Government tab and selecting 2016 Bond Election underneath the City Secretary tab. Email bond@huntsvilletx.gov for more information. New School Year, New Traffic PatternsNew School Year, New Traffic PatternsNew School Year, New Traffic Patterns The new school year is in full swing and the City wishes all of our students the best of luck! With the new school year and increased amount of traffic around town we understand you may be experiencing minor delays due to City improvement projects. The City of Huntsville’s 7th Street Rehabilitation Project is fully underway and work crews and construction may cause traffic adjustments along 10th Street and other roads surrounding Samuel Walker Houston Elementary. The project, which is expected to be completed in February 2017, includes the construction of new pavement, curbs and gutters, the replacement of water lines and sewer lines, as well as other related improvements to the street, between Old Madisonville Road and Avenue N. Due to the project, vehicles’ entrance to the campus will only be allowed from Old Madisonville Road. There will also be restrictions on vehicles exiting the campus. Traffic will be directed to turn right onto Seventh Street, then make another right turn onto Avenue P, which intersects with 10th Street. All buses and school employees will enter and exit the campus on Avenue P from the side parking lot. The conversion of Bearkat Boulevard (from University Avenue to Bobby K. Marks Drive) and Bobby K. Marks Drive (from Bearkat Boulevard to Bowers Boulevard) to one-way traffic, along with the creation of 200 new parking spaces is new to many SHSU students. The City urges drivers to use extra caution and plan for new ways to access parking lots and buildings while everyone finds their way through the changes. Right - Representatives from the Huntsville Police Department and MobileNOW! were on SHSU Campus for the Bearkats’ first day of classes to help them with the new traffic patterns and the mobile paid parking system. September Library Events Have children aged two or under? Then Mother Goose Lapsit is a story time designed for you! Held on Mondays at 10:30 a.m., this is a half hour of developmentally appropriate play featuring stories, songs, and rhymes. This program introduces little ones to the story time experience and is perfect for their language development and developing vocabulary. Sign-up is not required. September 12, 19, and 26. Prepare your child for Kindergarten and beyond! The Huntsville Public Library is starting a new reading program called 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten! This program encourages reading with children and children receive a prize for every milestone reached. Sign-up is required and can be completed on the library’s website. Ages 0-5. Come to Story Time – a fun early-literacy program for kids 5 and under. Join us for interactive stories, songs, rhymes, and crafts. The practices featured each week help build the foundation for a lifelong love of reading and learning. For parents and caregivers, story time offers an opportunity to discover great books and resources for home use and socialize with other parents after Story Time. Each session has its own theme. Story Time is sponsored by Amerigroup and sign-up is not required. Story times are held on Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:45 a.m. September 2, 7, 9, 14, 23, 28, and 30. Elementary Craft Time is held monthly for elementary students from 4-5:30 p.m. Thursday, September 1. Sign-up is not required but supplies are limited. Come craft with us! Our friends from Huntsville Pets Helping People need your help - these dogs love books but can’t read! Help them out by coming to the Huntsville Public Library and reading to a trained therapy dog from 4:30-5:30 p.m. on the third Monday of the month. Read with the Dogs is best suited for elementary and junior high ages and is great for new readers. Sign- up is not required. September’s session will take place at 4:30 p.m. Monday, September 19 in the children’s area. You don’t want to miss Family Movie Night at 5:30 p.m. Friday, September 9, as we show The Angry Birds Movie. This event is sponsored by the Texas Children’s Health Plan. Bring your own pillow or blanket. Sign-up is not required and all ages are welcome. STEAM Friday has something for everyone: enjoy Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math! Children 17 and under are invited to enjoy this monthly program from 3:30-5:00 p.m. On Friday, September 30, come to the library to make Flextangles, movable, twistable, paper cubes! If your child likes comic books, then Comic Book Club is the place to be. Bring a comic to trade with and enjoy crafts, games, raffles, and expert speakers from the world of comic books. September’s session of Comic Book Club will be held from 4-5:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 22. Ages 17 and under welcome and sign-up is not required. Is your child interested in the world of technology? Learn to 3-D Print with him or her in a three day class at the Huntsville Public Library. Held from 5:15-6:15 p.m. on a Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evening in the Board Room. Class size is limited to five students aged 7-15 and a parent or guardian for each must also attend. At the end of each session, your child will be able to take home something they 3-D printed. The first session is September 20-22 and the second session is September 13-15. _____________________________________________________ Adult Spanish Classes – 1 to 3 p.m. (Intermediate) and 3 to 4:30 p.m. (Advanced), Tuesday September 6 through December 13. Instructor Beth Williamson will be teaching on Tuesdays in the Community Room. The 14-week program begins Tuesday, September 6 and materials are provided. Register now to reserve your spot – only 35 students maximum per class. The Master Gardeners will give advice on planting a cool weather vegetable garden followed by Q & A at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, September 8. Door prizes will be given out! No registration necessary. Attend The Status of Invasive Species in Texas at September’s Brown Bag Lecture Series on Thursday, September 15 at 11:30 a.m. at the Huntsville Public Library, presented by Dr. Jerry L. Cook. Currently the Executive Director of the Texas Invasive Species Institute, Professor of Biology at Sam Houston State University and Associate Vice President for Research at SHSU, Cook will talk about several invasive species (including information on honeybees and their decline) in our area and give an update on what the SHSU center is doing. Questions welcome. Attendees may bring a brown bag lunch. Lunchtime begins at 11:30 a.m. and the lecture will begin at noon. Beverages will be provided. Admission is free. For more information, contact Children's Coordinator Rachel McPhail at 291-5910 or Adult Services Coordinator Mark Kokot at 291-5471.