August 2006 City Connection
City Connection
August 2006
Volume 2, Number 11
www.huntsvilletx.gov
Spotlight on Parks
FOREST HILLS PARK
Forest Hills Park is a 130 Pine Valley Drive.
neighborhood park locat-
Visit the Park and Recre-
ed between Willow Bend
ation Website for a com-
and Pineview Streets in
plete listing of parks
the Forest Hills Subdivi-
www.huntsvilletx.gov
sion. This 0.6 acre park
features picnic tables and
playground equipment.
rkader@huntsvilletx.gov
This park was dedicated
as part of the subdivision
in 1974. The address is
UPDATE
With the Huntsville September 7, The Ward 3 Congress ate@hotmail.com are
Horizon Comprehensive 2006. Councilmember will be conducted at
the principal contacts.
Plan kickoff sessions Jim Willett at (936) 295the Greater Zion Bap-
In addition to City Con-
and small focus group -0434 or tist Church from 6:00
nection, we will also be
sessions behind us, we hlwjww@juno.com and PM until 9:00 PM on
advertising the Ward
turn our attention now Councilmember Dalene Thursday, September
Congress sessions
to the Ward Congress Zender at (936) 661-21, 2006. Coun-
through The Huntsville
sessions to be conduct-3495 or cilmember Clarence
Item, KSAM-KHVL,
ed in each ward during dzender@hotmail.com Griffin at (936) 662-
SHSU Channel 7, the
the month of Septem-are the principal con-0620 or
Chamber Briefing and
ber 2006. tacts. cdgrifkat7@aol.com
the city web site.
and Councilmember
To confirm your ward, The Ward 2 Congress
Mickey Evans at (936)
Your attendance and
please go to the city will be conducted at
295-2068 or
participation in your
web site at: the Walker Education
msevans@cox.net are
respective Ward Con-
www.huntsvilletx.gov Center from 6:00 PM
the principal contacts.
gress is important to
and click the (Wards/until 9:00 PM on Thurs-
city council and the on-
The Ward 4 Congress
Voting) link, under day, September 14,
going comprehensive
will be conducted at
Quick Links, or call the 2006. Councilmember
planning process. So,
Education Service Cen-
City Secretary or her Mac Woodward at
please mark your cal-
ter, Region VI from
assistant at (936) 291-(936) 294-3931 or
endars and plan on at-
6:00 PM until 9:00 PM
5403/5413 for assis-macwood-
tending and sharing
on Thursday, Septem-
ward@sbcglobal.net
tance.
your thoughts and feel-
ber 28, 2006. Coun-
and Councilmember
The Ward 1 Congress ings about Huntsville’s
cilmember Bob Taven-
Melissa Mahaffey at
will take place at the future.
ner at (936) 295-5441
(936) 295-3486 or
Walker Education Cen-
and Councilmember
mtcycle@hotmail.com
shamrick@huntsvilletx.gov
ter from 6:00 PM until
Jack Choate at (936)
are the principal con-
9:00 PM on Thursday,
435-0039 or jackcho-
tacts.
CITY CONNECTION AUGUST 2006
PAGE 2
NEW GRAPHICS
FOR HUNTSVILLE PD VEHICLES
You may have noticed a gears that have to be fitted with the new implement the take
difference in the look of replaced. The new graphics in the near home car policy that
some of the Huntsville graphics and light bars future and as the old was approved by Coun-
Police Department pa-have been placed on light bars wear out, cil in February. Eligible
trol cars. The officers the six new patrol cars they will be replaced officers who reside
researched several within the City or the
different graphics extra territorial jurisdic-
packages and decid-tion of the City of
ed upon a simpler, Huntsville have been
cleaner look for the assigned patrol cars.
cars. In addition, These officers are able
you may have no-to drive the vehicles to
ticed new LED light and from work and
bars on some of our while off duty according
cars. These light to departmental guide-
bars are sleeker and lines. The additional
brighter than the patrol vehicles on the
previous models. road and in the neigh-
These light bars last the City Council granted with the newer LED borhoods can help to
much longer than the the Police Department version. Upon receiv-deter crime and im-
previous ones because for FY 05-06. The rest ing the new cars, the prove response to citi-
they have no bulbs or of the fleet will be out-Department was able to zens’ needs.
jsanders@huntsvilletx.gov
It’s That Time Again !
Police/Fire
HISD School Starts, Thursday, August 10th
Statistics
Several times every year, the Huntsville flashing.
June
Police Department’s School Resource
Drivers approaching a school bus with
Officer section strives to remind the pub-
its red lights activated are required to
lic that school buses are traveling the
STOP and remain stopped until the red
Police:
Police:
Police:
roadways with a priceless cargo. It’s
lights are deactivated. Most school
that time again.
buses are also equipped with a stop
Calls for service:
With the school year beginning Thurs-sign that extends outward from the
3458
th
day, August 10, school buses will once area of the driver’s window. The law
again be delivering children to and from applies to drivers approaching the bus
Arrest made: 109
school in the mornings and afternoons. I from the front or the rear. If the
want to encourage all drivers to exercise school bus is on a multi-laned highway
Accidents investigat-
an extra measure of caution and watch-separated by a physical barrier, such
ed: 59
th
fulness beginning August 10. Watch as a median or concrete dividers, then
for school buses that are stopping to only the drivers approaching from the
Animal Control com-
load or unload children. The buses stop rear on the same roadway must stop.
at the bus stops about the same time The drivers on the opposite roadway
plaints investigated:
each day, so keep that in mind as you are not required to stop in such cir-
91
drive. The buses run their routes in the cumstances. The fine for passing a
mornings between about 6:00am and school bus while it is loading or un-
8:00am, between about 10:30am and loading children can be up to $1000.
12:30pm, and again between 3:00pm
Fire:
Fire:
Fire:
Drive safely, and stop for school buses
and 6:00pm.
loading and unloading children.
Calls for service: 93
As much as I have tried to get it out
dorear@huntsvilletx.gov
there to the community, we have still
Main alarm calls: 21
had quite a few instances of drivers
passing school buses that are stopped to
unload children with their red lights
CITY CONNECTION AUGUST 2006
PAGE 3
Here are some creatures, they don't
need lots of space for
suggestions to
egg laying -- usually,
follow when
even the tiniest pool of
standing water will suf-
using mosquito
fice. A shallow puddle, a
repellents:
tire swing, an infant's
pool, a bird bath, a
Wear long sleeve shirts
crook in a tree, an emp-
and pants outdoors
ty bucket or an old tin
during peek mosquito
can are just a few ex-
activity time periods
Protecting you and your home amples of potential
and spray outer cloth-
mosquito hatcheries.
ing.
As a result, one of the
Take the repellent con-in stagnant water that
Apply repellent spar-
cannot be drained to
best preventive
tainer to the physician.
ingly only to exposed
consume mosquito lar-
measures you can take
skin.
vae.
Steps Home-
is to eliminate as many
5. Eliminate seepage from
Keep repellents away
of their breeding sites
owners Should
sewage leaks by
from eyes, nostrils and
as possible. This will
repairing broken pipes.
Take To Protect
lips. Do not inhale or
make your lawn less at-
6. Check for trapped water
ingest repellents or get
tractive to mating
Their Homes:
in plastic or canvas
them in the eyes.
adults, and thus signifi-
tarps used to cover
cantly reduce both the
boats, pools, etc. Ar-
Avoid applying high-
1. Dispose of plastic con-
range the tarp to drain
adult and pre-adult (or
concentration (>30%
tainers, cans, old tires,
the water.
larval) population. In
DEET) products to the
buckets, unused plastic
7. Check around your own
skin, particularly of
general, the less junk
swimming pools or
construction sites or do
children. 10% DEET is
you have lying around -
other containers that
-it-yourself improve-
recommended for chil-
collect and hold water
- and therefore waiting
ments to ensure that
dren.
outdoors. Do not allow
to collect rainwater- the
there is proper grading
water to accumulate in
less inviting your prop-
to prevent drainage
Avoid applying repel-
bird baths, plant trays
erty will be to the egg-
problems.
lents to portions of
or pet dishes for more
laying females that in-
8. Irrigate lawns and gar-
children's hands that
than 2-3 days.
dens properly to drain
flict bites and possibly
are likely to have con-
2. Clean debris from rain
and prevent water
tact with their eyes or
transmit disease.
gutters and remove
from standing for days.
mouth.
any standing water
9. Use an over-the-counter
This article was brought
under or around struc-
Pregnant and nursing
mosquito/fly/gnat in-
to you by
tures or on flat roofs.
women should mini-
secticide spray on
Check around faucets
mize use of repellents.
porches and around
and air conditioner
door entrances to keep
units and repair leaks
Never use repellents
out flying adult mos-
and eliminate puddles
on wounds or irritated
quitoes.
that remain for a few
skin. Use repellent
10. Repair screens on
days.
sparingly; one applica-
doors and windows to
3. Maintain the water in
tion will last approxi-
prevent mosquito en-
swimming pools and
mately 4-6 hours. Sat-
try. Windows left open
stock ornamental
Health Inspections
uration does not in-
during evening hours
ponds or animal feed-
crease effectiveness.
need screens installed.
ing troughs with top
Division
feeding minnows or
Wash repellent-treated
IN CLOSING:
goldfish.
skin after coming in-
rslovin@huntsvilletx.gov
4. Fill or drain puddles,
doors.
Mosquitoes start life as
ditches, swampy areas
If a suspected reaction
aquatic creatures and
and either remove,
drain or fill tree holes
to insect repellents oc-
prefer to breed in still,
and stumps with ce-
curs, wash treated skin,
almost stagnant, bodies
ment. Use an over-the
and call a physician.
of water. But being tiny
-counter larvacide
CITY CONNECTION AUGUST 2006
PAGE 4
City Calendar
August
15 City Council Meeting @ 6:00 p.m. at City Hall
September
August 17— August 20
5 City Council Meeting @ 6:00 p.m. at City Hall
7 HHCP Ward 1 Congress @ Walker Education
All-Day General Admission:
Center from 6:00 p.m.—9:00 p.m.
$6.00
14 HHCP Ward 2 Congress @ Walker Education
Center from 6:00 p.m.—9:00 p.m.
See as Many as Four Games
with One Ticket at Bearkat
19 City Council Meeting @ 6:00 p.m. at City Hall
Stadium or Kate Barr Ross
Park
21 HHCP Ward 3 Congress @ Greater Zion Baptist
Church from 6:00 p.m.—9:00 p.m.
Day Games - Night Games
28 HHCP Ward 4 Congress @ Education Service
Center, Region VI from 6:00 p.m.—9:00 p.m.
(Check your Ticket
for Game Times and Venue)
Visit www.huntsvilletx.gov for a complete/current
calendar of events
Tickets available at City Hall
“Guns N Hoses”
City Service Center and
Blood Drive
Chamber of Commerce
Thursday, August 17th
FREE DISPOSAL OF YARD WASTE TRIMMINGS
The Huntsville Fire Department and the Huntsville
Police Department will be helping the City of Hunts-
The City of Huntsville is offering free yard waste trimming
ville sponsor a blood drive on August 17, 2006
disposal at the City of Huntsville’s disposal site located at 590
7:00 AM – 2:30 PM There will be two Gulf Coast
IH 45 North, Monday through Saturday, 7:30 am to 5:00 pm.
Blood Mobiles at the Fire Station located on Sam
Houston Ave. between Taco Bell and Jack-n-the-
Any City of Huntsville residential utility customer who pays a
Box and appropriately named Guns N Hoses Blood
garbage bill and brings a copy of their utility bill may dump
Drive. Gulf Coast Blood Center will be giving free
their yard waste trimmings for free. The yard waste trim-
pints of Blue Bell ice cream to everyone and Guns N
mings must be clean of all debris and not bagged when
Hoses t-shirts to all donors. Blood supply always
dumping into the City’s yard waste pile. No limbs larger than
runs critically low during holidays and with the La-
six (6) inches in diameter will be accepted for free disposal.
bor Day Holiday fast approaching blood becomes a
vital tool in saving lives. The City would like to in-
If you have any questions pertaining to the free yard waste
vite all citizens who are able to donate blood please
trimmings disposal, please call the Solid Waste Services Divi-
attend the Guns N Hoses blood drive at the Fire
sion at 936-294-5723.
Station on August 17, 2006.
cblaylock@huntsvilletx.gov
bsmith@huntsvilletx.gov
Water Capital Improvements Update
In an effort to improve crew), which does all quite. These projects eas will see an im-
customer service, the the construction and, where 6” waterlines provement in pressure
Public Services Division once installation is that replaced under-with the installation of
has identified 16 water completed, to a sized 2” lines, these the new lines.
lines that have been maintenance crew new lines will also pro-
The projects are on
frequent maintenance which will reconnect all vide better fire protec-
schedule, and if all
problems and have a the customers to the tion in those areas. To
goes well every project
history of causing ser-new water line. date the CIP crew has
will be completed Sep-
vice interruptions. The completed 10 of the 16
The CIP Crew recently tember 30.
replacement of these projects. The next ma-
completed construction
lines was assigned to jor construction area
tthornton@huntsvilletx.gov
on Cottonwood, Dairy
the Capital Improve-will be Avenue B, C and
Farm Road, and Mes-
ments Crew (CIP 16th Street. These ar-