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9-16-16 TWIH September 19, 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 Preserving Huntsville History In early June the Huntsville Fire Department began raising funds to help restore Fire Engine No. 3. This antique truck was in service from 1948 through 1978 and was the engine that responded to the Old Main fire and the First Baptist Church fire. This truck is rich in history and is currently used for fire prevention presentations, parades and other events. This truck had not received a new coat of paint since 1979, so although it looked well loved it was time for a few touch-ups. Between donations and selling raffle tickets HFD was able to raise funds to have all new paint, new red oak benches installed on the back of the truck, new running boards, and polishing of the brass details. “It is a tradition for fire departments to take care of the fire trucks that took care of them while in service, that is why we wanted to have this engine restored” explained Assistant Chief John Hobbs. Crews taking part in the bus repair program at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Ellis Unit are the ones making the repairs to Fire Engine No. 3. Utilizing the program was crucial for saving money and getting the engine repaired locally. The crews working on it benefit from the program as well. They gain on- the-job training certifications in painting, body repair, reupholstering and other mechanical-related fields. A representative from the program said they plan to have the truck good as new in time for the SHSU and Huntsville High School Homecoming Parade on October 13. The Huntsville Fire Department is looking forward to sharing the fully restored engine with the community in the next few months. Keep a look out for the shiny red truck at the upcoming parades! 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. - Proposition 1 - Public Safety Facilities - Not to exceed $34 million - Proposition 2 - City Services Facilities - Not to exceed $24 million - Proposition 3 - City Waterworks & Sewer Facilities - Not to exceed $73 million For more information please contact us by emailing bond@huntsvilletx.gov or calling 936-291-5403. You can also find a facility tour schedule on page 4! Do you have a library card? No? Then make your way to the Huntsville Public Library (HPL), where we are about more than books. HPL provides creative educational spaces for learners from birth to high school and beyond. As part of celebrating September as Library Card Sign-up Month, HPL is initiating a special campaign to get “Everybody In” the library. “Everybody In is a special effort we at Huntsville Public Library feel is essential in spreading the word about our library,” said Assistant City Librarian Anne Sparks. “HPL provides a wide variety of services and we want the citizens of Huntsville to come and see what they are missing.” HPL joins the American Library Association and public libraries nationwide to make sure that every reader has the most important tool of all – a free library card. A library card provides access to important resources families need. There are programs for the earliest stages of development, teaching parents and caregivers the components of early literacy which help children develop basic tools for school readiness. Patrons can access high-speed Internet and digital tools and the opportunity to work with trained professionals on how to use them. Libraries are also a training ground for students of all ages to expand their knowledge and explore creative pursuits. The development of makerspaces and 3D printing is just one way HPL is seeking to meet this demand, ranging from low-tech, hands-on engineering opportunities for children and teens using toys and kits to the incorporation of high-tech tools like 3D printers. Resources at HPL are available to anyone who has a library card. To receive a new library card, patrons must have a photo ID and proof of address, which can include any piece of mail received in the last 30 days. Children over the age of three can receive a library card with the approval of their parent or legal guardian. “Our library provides access and programs for students of all ages,” said Sparks. “For preschool age children we offer early literacy and story times to encourage school readiness, for older children and teens we supplement education with hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) programs, and for nontraditional students we offer GED resources. There’s really something for everyone, and it’s all free with a library card.” For more information, call 936-291-5472 or go online at http://www.myhuntsvillelibrary.com/ Everybody In The City of Huntsville is filled with great employees, many of whom the public may not know. So meet Stacy Lawler, your Wastewater Services Superintendent. Stacy started at the City November 1, 2004 (he’s approaching 12 years with the City!) as an Equipment Operator on the Drainage Maintenance Crew for the Street Division. This past July he was promoted to Wastewater Service Superintendent. Stacy is responsible for 20 Wastewater staff members, the City’s three wastewater plants, 26 lift stations, 238.4 miles of collection lines, 20.1 miles of force mains, 8,211 sewer connections, 4,868 manholes and nearly 300 miles of right of way easements. The City keeps him busy, to say the least! When we asked Stacy what his favorite memory has been while working for the City he told us, “It was all the support I received from my co-workers when returning to work after having my leg amputated.” Stacy also shared he loves to BBQ! “Stacy is a catalyst for change,” commented Daryl Uptmore, Assistant Public Works Director. “He is willing to tap into the strengths of others. It is easy to see that he is a hands on Superintendent. He is focused on results and is willing to challenge the status quo, requiring at times a shift in culture. He is willing to put out the extra effort and ask tough questions. He reads journals related to his career field and regularly attends TWUA Green Forest meetings.” Expert in Every Office - Stacy Lawler 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! 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. For more information, visit the Huntsville Police Department’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/HuntsvilleTXPolice/. See you at Kate Barr Ross Park on October 4! National Night Out The Huntsville Public Library is partnering up with Xpress Vibe Studios to host six weeks of free dance classes. Xpress Vibe Dance will be held from 5:45-6:45 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday evenings from September 19- October 25th in the Community Room of the Huntsville Public Library. The Monday classes are designed for ages 7 -12 while the Tuesday classes are best suited for ages 13-18. The owners of the dance studio, Jarell and Madeline Rochelle, will be leading the classes and have a combined 20 years of professional dance experience. “It definitely is a calling to come back and offer this community what I wished I had growing up,” said Jarell Rochelle. “We wanted to make it free because what other time would kids be able to take classes from professional dancers who have traveled the world with experience? We are here to serve the community and help produce youth with confidence, integrity and good-will who will hopefully serve the community with their gifts once they blossom as individuals”. Registration is required for this dance course (available online at www.myhuntsvillelibrary.com) and a consent form must be filled out. Dance, Dance, Dance! 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 to August 22, 2016. 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 Email citysecretary@huntsvilletx.gov, call 936-291-5403, or visit the City's Elections page at http://www.huntsvilletx.gov/Elections for more information. The City of Huntsville’s Parks and Leisure Department is making plans for the Haunted Hayride! The event will be held October 22, at Kate Barr Ross Park. Tickets for the hayride will go on sale at 6:30 p.m. Volunteers are encouraged to participate in the acting or makeup portions of the event. If you are interested in being a volunteer, please call Penny Joiner at 936-294-5708. Stay tuned for more information on our website and social media channels. Get excited for a spooktacular time! Haunted Hayride Have you subscribed to the City of Huntsville YouTube Channel? If not, what are you waiting for? Be among the first to know when a new video is uploaded. We will feature videos with election information, City events and everything in between. We hope you join us on YouTube by subscribing here https://www.youtube.com/huntsvilletxGOV. The City of Huntsville Main Street Program invites you to join us every Saturday from 8 am to 12 pm October 8 through November 19 on University Avenue between 11th and 12th street. Vendors will be selling fresh homegrown produce and a number of handmade items such as natural bath and beauty products, leather goods and woodworking tools. This is a great opportunity to support your local community! Call (936)291-5920, email Mainstreet01@huntsvilletx.gov, or visit http://www.huntsvillemainstreet.com/, for more information. Join the City on October 11 for the annual State of the City address! Meet with City staff, hear updates on City projects from your City Manager and learn more about the upcoming Bond election. This is a great event to meet your neighbors and enjoy an evening getting to know your elected City Councilmembers. The Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the event and serving refreshments for all the guests. Admission is free and there will be a door prize given away during the event. We hope to see you there! State of the City Fall Farmer’s Market FY 2016-17 Budget Public Hearing 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 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 regularly 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. Plans for the 14th Annual Scare on the Square are underway! If you are interested in volunteering, registering for a booth, or being a sponsor for this fun-filled event, please contact the Main Street office at mainstreet01@huntsvilletx.gov or (936)291-5920. Scare on the Square Serving Home Sweet Huntsville Did you know you can report concerns, issues or violations, and volunteer for boards and commissions, all on our website? Our citizens are able to submit concerns about pot holes, overgrown vegetation, health code violations, damaged street signs or lights, park maintenance issues and much more. There are also online forms to apply to be on a City board or commission or submit a public information request. The forms go directly to the City staff member and department that will handle your specific request. This allows us to work around your busy schedule since you are able to submit them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Visit,http://huntsvilletx.gov/RequestTrac ker.aspx and browse the list of options so you know where to go if you ever have an issue that needs to be resolved. The City of Huntsville is happy to serve our great citizens!