June 2014 City Connection
CITY
CONNECTION
Volume 10, Issue 9
June 2014
Calendar
June 2014
3 - City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
4 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection
5 - Planning & Zoning Commission -
City Hall at 12 p.m.
11 - Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste
17 - City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
18 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection
19 - Planning & Zoning Commission -
City Hall at 5:30 p.m.
25- Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste
July 2014
1 - City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
2 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection
3 - Planning & Zoning Commission -
City Hall at 12 p.m.
9 - Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste
15 - City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
16 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection
18 - Planning & Zoning Commission -
City Hall at 5:30 p.m.
23 - Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste
30 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection
Submit requests for Heavy Trash pick-up
before noon on Monday, the week of the pick-up
at 294-5796.
Visit us online at
www.huntsvilletx.gov
Welcome, summer interns!
The City of Huntsville is proud to welcome four student
interns from Sam Houston State University for the
summer months.
Ariel Traub will complete an internship with the Wynne
Home Arts Center, Makeeba Deterville will work with the
City Secretary’s office, Alexis Gonzalez will assist the Main
Street Program, and Dustin Gathright will complete a
project with the GIS division.
Check future issues of the City Connection and the City’s
digital newsletter, “This Week in Huntsville,” for more
information about the interns’ progress!
Ready, Set, Huntsville!
Fire department to host wildfire preparedness event
Monday, July 8 - Fire Station #2
The Huntsville Fire Department would like to invite all residents and
homeowners to a special event entitled “Ready, Set, Huntsville!”
Beginning at 6 p.m. on Monday, July 8, HFD personnel will serve free hot
dogs and beverages, as well as share information on the “Ready, Set,
Go!” wildfire prevention program.
As well, citizens will have the chance to see the newest addition to the
HFD fleet – a 2014 Pierce Impel 75’ Custom Cab Ladder Truck.
“We want to invite all residents out to Fire Station #2 for an opportunity to
learn about tips and strategies to protect your home against the threat of
wildfires,” Assistant Fire Chief John Hobbs said. “The ‘Ready, Set, Go!’
initiative is a program to equip residents living in areas prone to wild land
fire with the knowledge and skills to adapt to living with wildfire, to
evacuate safely when ordered, and if trapped, to practice learned skills to
survive wildfire.
“Especially in light of recent wildfire events in and around Texas, it is very
important that our residents learn and review this information to be as
prepared as possible.”
Hobbs said representatives from the Texas Forest Service and the U.S.
Forest Service would also be in attendance and available to answer
specific questions.
“We hope residents will take the time to look around their homes and
develop their own questions about what the best methods are to protect
their property,” Hobbs said. “We’ll have a range of experts available to
address any wildfire concern, from fuel reduction to evacuation
measures.
“We hope everyone will come spend the evening with us, gain valuable
information and see our new fire truck!”
For more information, contact Hobbs at (936) 291-5943. Additional
information on the “Ready, Set, Go!” initiative is available on the City’s
Web site, www.huntsvilletx.gov.
Sign up for our new
newsletter,
“This Week in
Huntsville!”
The City’s new bi-monthly, digital
newsletter is really taking off, with new
residents signing up and new features to
keep everyone informed. Never miss an
event again - sign up for your free This
Week in Huntsville newsletter!
Now is a great time to sign up and review
previous issues. At the beginning of June,
the City released a special issue devoted
to the Huntsville Public Library’s summer
programming, technological resources
and facility features. Check it out!
To subscribe, log onto the City’s Web
site, www.huntsvilletx.gov, click “e-news
Subscriptions” on the left-hand side of
the page, enter your email address and
select “This Week in Huntsville.” You’ll
automatically receive a free, digital
newsletter twice each month!
Hurricane season is in effect as of June 1, and the City of Huntsville is
working to make sure residents have all the information they need to
prepare their families, homes and pets for the potential severe
weather ahead.
According to John Waldo, Emergency Management Coordinator, a
critical source for weather preparedness is the Texas Division of
Emergency Management (TDEM) page, part of the Texas Department
of Public Safety Web site.
“The Texas Division of Emergency Management provides extremely
valuable information for families who are in the process of preparing
for severe weather,” Waldo said. “From their Web page, http://
www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/, all visitors have to do is click on the
‘Public Information & Education’ link, and they’ll be taken to all the
preparedness tips, supply kit checklists and safety information they’ll
need to get through Hurricane Season.”
The TDEM Web site includes awareness information on wildfires,
severe weather, flood safety, hurricane and post -storm preparedness,
lighting safety and more.
On the Hurricane Preparedness page, readers will find information for
evacuation planning, storm watch and warning articles, and post-
storm information concerning power outages, debris removal and
applications for financial assistance.
Check future issues of the City Connection for specific preparation
tips.
Bottled water tips
It’s official - Hurricane season has begun! Are you prepared?
According to the International Bottled Water
Association, consumers should store bottled water
at room temperature or cooler, out of direct sunlight
and away from solvents and chemicals such as
gasoline, paint thinners, household cleaners, and dry
cleaning chemicals. Additionally - although bottled
water does typically come marked with an expiration
date, it does not actually expire. According to
About.com, the reason the bottles carry the date is
due to requirements in New Jersey which require all
foods and beverages - including water - to designate
an expiration date.
Want to learn more? Visit the IBWA Web site at
http://www.bottledwater.org/education/myths.
The site features information on several aspects
related to the bottled water industry including
safety and chemical content.
Sources:
http://chemistry.about.com/od/foodchemistryfaqs/f
/bottled-water-shelf-life.htm
The Huntsville Aquatic Center will officially open to the public Saturday, June
7, and all local families are encouraged to take advantage of the facility
during the summer months.
The 2014 season will continue through August 23.
“We are all looking forward to another summer of swimming, water sports
and family fun,” Aquatic Center Manager Jay Miller said. “Whether you
choose to lap swim, relax in the sun or take your kids to the Splash Pad, we
know summer will be a great time for all of our guests.”
From June 7 through August 23, the Aquatic Center will be open from 12
p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday through Sunday, with the exception of Saturday,
when hours of operation commence at 10 a.m.
The Splash Pad is open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Admission will be free for children two and under, $2.50 for ages three to
11, and $4 for those 12 and up.
“We’ll also have summer passes available for $40 for age three to 11 and
$50 for those 12 and up,” Miller said. “As well, a family of four may
purchase a set for $100, with passes for $20 each after the first four.”
Swim lessons will also be offered at the Aquatic Center throughout the
summer for $35 per session.
The four sessions will be held June 16-27, June 30 - July 11, July 14-25 and
July 28 - August 8.
All attire information, hours and rules are available on the City’s Web site,
www.huntsvilletx.gov. For more information, contact Miller at (936) 291-
5433.
Huntsville Aquatic Center to open
for 2014 season - June 7
City of Huntsville Recycling Guidelines
Direct questions to (936) 294-5743
Curbside recycling guidelines:
1. Rinse all plastics and cans to remove residue
2. Only plastics 1-7 stamped with number and symbol
3. Flatten items to save room inside of cart
4. Keep cart five (5) feet from all other objects including vehicles
5. Carts must be placed at the curb or street’s edge no later than 6:00
a.m. on the day of collection. Carts must be removed from the street’s
edge by the end of the collection day (carts cannot be stored at the
street’s edge)
Items that cannot be placed in the City cart:
Garbage, food waste, yard waste, shredded paper, glass/oil/filters,
batteries, cell phones, electronics, Styrofoam or aluminum foil.
Recycling Drop-Off Center Information:
The Recycling Center accepts self-hauled recyclable items and is located at
590 I-45 North. The Recycling Center Attendant will be onsite to assist
customers from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. Drop-offs can still
be made Monday - Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and holiday closings
are posted.
Recycling Drop-off Center Guidelines:
Aluminum - Soda cans, beer cans: Flattened/unflattened, place in plastic
trash bags. Keep aluminum cans separate from steel cans. NO FOIL,
BAKING PANS OR FOOD TRAYS.
Steel Cans - Food cans, pet food cans, aerosol cans: Rinse out the can, you
can leave the label on. Put the cans in plastic trash bags. Aerosol cans
must be empty.
Newspaper - Whatever comes inside the newspaper can be recycled. Stack
and put in paper bags or cardboard boxes. Throw away plastic rain sleeves
and rubber bands.
Magazines - catalogs, phone books: Keep separate from newspaper. Place
in brown bags or small cardboard boxes. DO NOT place in plastic bags.
Paper - White or colored paper, remove paper clips, rubber bands and
staples if possible. Put in small boxes or paper stacks.
Glass - Clear or brown only: Throw away lids, rinse out. You can leave the
label on. Place clear glass and brown glass in separate containers. NO
window panes, light bulbs or dishware.
Cardboard - Toilet/paper towel cores, food boxes, medicine boxes, shoe
boxes, shipping/moving boxes, sugar bags, dog/cat food bags, paper bags.
NO packing materials, plastic liners or foam.
Plastics - Numbered 1-7: Recycling symbol and number are required.
Milk Jugs and Water Jugs - Throw away cap/lid. Rinse with warm water and
try to flatten. Place these items in plastic trash bags by themselves. Keep
these jugs separate from soda bottles or colored plastic.
Other #1 and #2 Plastic Containers - Examples of other recyclable
containers: syrup bottles #3, snap-on coffee lids #4, cottage cheese
containers #5, yogurt containers #6, and ketchup bottles #7
Plastic bags - Must have recycling symbol visible on the bag. These can be
some grocery bags, shopping bags, dry cleaning bags, etc. Place all plastic
bags into one and tie shut.
No plastic wrap, shrink wrap or bubble wrap. No Styrofoam, even if it has a
recycling number and symbol on item.
Drop-off Center Also Accepts: Used motor oil, oil filters, cooking oil and
antifreeze.
Visit www.huntsvilletx.gov for Area curbside recycling schedules and more
recycling information.
Yard Waste Specifics
Collection Service: 1st, 3rd and 5th
Wednesday of each month - No call-in
required!
Yard waste is classified as leaves, grass, pine needles,
yard clippings and small brush, items referred to as
“green waste.”
The total number of bagged, canned or bundled yard
waste is limited to twelve (12) per household per
collection day. All yard waste materials must be placed
within two (2) feet of street’s edge no later than 6:00
a.m. on the morning of the scheduled pick-up.
Yard waste such as leaves, grass, pine needles or small
clippings must be:
(1) Bagged (bags not to exceed 30 gallons) or placed in
personal garbage;
(2) Cannot exceed 50 pounds each;
(3) City-issued garbage and recycling carts cannot be
filled with yard waste.
Tree limbs and brush must be:
(1) No longer than four (4) feet in length;
(2) Limbs no larger than four (4) inches in diameter;
(3) Must be tied securely in bundles which cannot
exceed two (2) feet in diameter and can’t exceed 50
pounds each.
The following items and locations DO NOT qualify for
Yard Waste pick-up:
(1) Household garbage of any kind;
(2) Anything other than green waste: NO flower pots,
fertilizer, mulch, bags, dirt, potting soil, sand, rock,
gravel, etc.
(3) Commercial businesses or commercially generated
yard waste.
Bring your City utility bill showing that you pay for
garbage service and dispose of your yard waste at the
City Transfer Station free of charge.
This excludes commercial customers, yard waste
contractors and any lawn service providers.
The customer must be present with their current City
garbage bill at the time of disposal.
The yard trimmings must not be bagged.
For more information on yard waste trimming collection
services, contact the Solid Waste Services Division at
(936) 294-5743.
Have you
submitted your
Big Tree
application?
The City of Huntsville Natural Preservation Ad Hoc
Committee is now accepting nominations for the
25th Anniversary edition of the “Big TreeRegistry,” a
collection of examples of the many tree species present in
Walker County.
Nomination forms along with additional information about
the Big Tree Program are available on the City’s Web
site, www.huntsvilletx.gov, on the Natural Preservation Ad
Hoc Committee page. To navigate to the page, scroll over
“City Government,” click “Boards and Commissions” and
select the committee’s page.
“The Big Tree Program was initiated on Arbor Day, 1989 in
order to document and recognize outstanding examples of
the native tree species present in Huntsville and Walker
County,” said Natural Preservation Ad Hoc Committee
Chair Dan Jones. “Nominations for big trees were solicited
from the public and organizations and compiled as a list,
and subsequent updates were made in 1993 and
1998. This year, the Walker County Historical Commission,
City of Huntsville, Texas Forest Service, and Texas A&M
AgriLife Extension Service, Walker County will be
sponsoring an update and revision to the Big Tree Registry
on the 25th anniversary of the program’s founding. This is
a county-wide effort, so if you own or know of a large
tree you would like to nominate, please contact us.”
Jones said nominations by individuals, community
organizations and businesses for large examples of any of
the 93 known tree species within the county will be
accepted through the end of 2014.
An electronic copy of the 1998 edition is also available on
the City’s Web site. As well, a hard copy is available for
viewing at City Hall, located at 1212 Avenue M.
“Many of the previous champions and other
large trees have likely died or declined since the last
registry was published, especially due to the droughts we
have experienced in recent years, so many new trees are
expected to be included during this revision,” Jones said.
“When we complete it, the updated Big Tree Registry will
be a unique and highly valuable piece of the county’s
history.”
For more information or to submit an application, contact Jordan Herrin, Natural Preservation
Ad Hoc Committee member, at (936) 295-5688 or jherrin@tfs.tamu.edu.
Photo submitted by Sam Houston Memorial Museum staff