Loading...
City Connection May 2019C I T Y C O N N E C T I O N MAY 2019 V OL. 15, I SSU E 8 Learn more about City events at HuntsvilleTX.govLearn more about City events at HuntsvilleTX.gov by Brenda Poe, City Secretary SPRING DRUG TAKE BACK NETS 250 POUNDS OF SURRENDERED MEDS PAGE 2 FRANK D. “PONCHO” ROBERTS AQUATIC CENTER OPENS JUNE 1 PAGE 3 GREENER HUNTSVILLE SET FOR JUNE 3-8 PAGE 3 CALENDAR OF EVENTS PAGE 3 IN TH IS I SSUE Building our future The City of Huntsville is taking steps to complete Bond Proposition 3, with the construction of a new ground storage tank that will improve the lower pressure planes throughout town. Voters approved three bond propositions in 2016, totaling up to $128,000,000, to replace facilities within the City. Officials chose to begin with Proposition 3 addressing the City Water Works and Sewer facilities. The A. J. Brown Wastewater Treatment Plant is one of the City's oldest buildings, built in 1971, with expansion done in the early 80’s. The plant continues to serve the bulk of Huntsville, including Sam Houston State University, several Texas Department of Criminal Justice facilities and most of the residential areas today. Growth of the community is outpacing the capacity of the older plants. “All of the projects are on schedule at this time and progression is nice,” City Engineer Y.S. Ram Ramachandra said. Continued on Page 4 AP RIL 20 1 9 V OL. 15, I SSU E 7 by Brenda Poe, City Secretary The Huntsville Police Department partnered with the D.E.A. to host another Drug Take Back event on Saturday, April 27th. The Huntsville Police Department has hosted this event in years past and plans to continue growing their success at each future event. HPD reported collecting 250.5 pounds of unused or expired over-the counter and prescribed medication in a four-hour period. “At these events, we love to show partnership with Huntsville/Walker County EMS,” said HPD Detective Ryann Kaaa-Bauer. “They are on-scene to collect new or used sharps, or needles, providing another extension of the Drug Take Back effort to our community members, as well as, for members in surrounding areas.” Drug Take Back nets 250lbs of drugs Detective Kaaa-Bauer reported around 20 containers of sharps were collected at Saturday’s event.  “We received an overwhelming amount of support for this event and look forward to working with other agencies and community members in future events! "Working together we have been able to get so many drugs off the streets; it’s just an amazing feeling of teamwork,” Detective Kaaa-Bauer said. The next Drug Take Back event will take place in October, and more details will be shared when they are available. For more information about Drug Take Back, call 936-291-5480 or email RKaaa@HuntsvilleTX.gov AP RIL 20 1 9 V OL. 15, I SSU E 7 C A L E N DA R O F E V E N T S 4 - City Council Meeting at 6 p.m. 5 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection 6 - Planning Commission - City Hall at 5:30 p.m. 12 - Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste 18 - City Council Meeting at 6 p.m. 19 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection 20 - Planning Commission - City Hall at 5:30 p.m. 26 - Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste June 2019 Submit requests for Heavy Trash pick-up before noon on Wednesday, the week prior to pick-up, at 294-5796. 1 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection 2 - Planning Commission - City Hall at 5:30 p.m. 7 - City Council Meeting at 6 p.m. 8 - Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste 15 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection 16 - Planning Commission - City Hall at 5:30 p.m. 21 - City Council Meeting at 6 p.m. 22 - Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste 27 - City offices closed for Memorial Day 29 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection May 2019 Are you signed up to receive notifications from the City of Huntsville? Head over to HuntsvilleTX.gov and click on Stay Notified! Time to get out those swim suits and trunks, and stock up on sunscreen, because the Frank D. “Poncho” Roberts Aquatic Center will open for summer hours on June 1. Aquatic Center Manager Jay Miller invites the public to come dip their toes in the cool water of the pool, located at 912 Avenue N. The Splash Pad opened on Monday, April 29, and is available from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. There is no fee to enjoy the play area that features fountains and nozzles. “I encourage everyone to come visit us,” Miller said. “My staff and I look forward to a summer full of fun in the sun.” Pool hours after the opening will be Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. “The pool will be open for July 4th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,” Miller said. The pool rules state that only swimwear material is allowed in the pool. Full rules and regulations are posted at the pool entrance. Daily access fees are as follows, Summer swim lessons offered 2 and under are free; 3 to 11 years old is $2.50; and 12 and up is $4. Season passes will be available as follows, 3 to 11 years old is $40; and 12 years and up is $50. Family packs are also available at $100 for a family of four, with each additional child added only $20. “Some programs offered at the pool include water aerobics from 8 to 9 a.m. during the week. Classes are $4 per class or $25 quarterly,” Miller said. “Swimming lessons are being booked at this time in four different sessions.” Sessions are $45, beginning June 10. There are classes for 3 to 5 years old, 6 to 7 years old, and 8 years and older. All fees must be paid in cash. For more information about classes or pool hours, contact Miller at JMiller@HuntsvilleTX.gov or call 936- 291-5433. AP RIL 20 1 9 V OL. 15, I SSU E 7 Continued from page 1 City of Huntsville Project Manager Greg Blake added that new water mains are being installed in different locations, as part of Prop. 3. “We have minor delays with weather, but contractors are making every effort to stay on schedule,” Blake said. “They have been great.” In addition to new water mains, contractors are also constructing a new ground storage tank, a new elevated storage tanks, a new pump station and a replacement pump station as part of water Proposition 3 projects for improving pressure and volume in the City's water distribution system, Blake added. “Every project is making good progress,” Ramachandra said. “Many of the major projects have an early 2020 expected completion date. The A.J. Brown Wastewater Treatment Plant is currently under contract with a completion date in late 2020.” Ramachandra said the Elkins Lake Dam Lift Station rehabilitation work is expected to be done in late 2019. The goal of Prop. 3 is to improve circulation, pressure and fire flow in the water distribution system; improved efficiency and decrease repair and maintenance needs at the; rehabilitate aged and deteriorating A.J. Brown WWTP to improve treatment efficiency and continue meeting regulatory requirements.  Overall, these improvements to water and wastewater infrastructure are needed to keep up with the increased demand from the growth in recent years and meet the needs of anticipated growth in the coming years. For more information about Prop. 3, contact Ramachandra at YRamachandra@HuntsvilleTX.gov or by calling 936-294-5760.