October 2014 City Connection
CITY
CONNECTION
Volume 11, Issue 1
October 2014
Calendar
October 2014
1 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection
2 - Planning & Zoning Commission -
City Hall at 12 p.m.
7 - City Council Meeting at 4:00 p.m.
8 - Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste
15 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection
16 - Planning & Zoning Commission -
City Hall at 5:30 p.m.
21 - State of the City address
22 - Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste
29 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection
November 2014
4 - General Election - See pages 2-3
5 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection
6 - Planning & Zoning Commission -
City Hall at 12 p.m.
12 - Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste
18 - City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
19 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection
20 - Planning & Zoning Commission -
City Hall at 5:30 p.m.
26 - Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste
Submit requests for Heavy Trash pick-up
before noon on Monday, the week of the pick-up
at 294-5796.
Learn more about
City events at
www.huntsvilletx.gov
The second annual State of the City address will be held October 21 from 5:30
p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and all residents are encouraged to attend.
According to City Manager Matt Benoit, the event will be held at the Walker County
Storm Shelter in partnership with the Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of
Commerce.
“The State of the City address will focus on the goals of the City Council set out in
their recent Strategic Plan and the steps staff has taken to achieve them,” Benoit
said. “As the event will be held at the beginning of the 2014 -15 fiscal year, we feel
it is an opportune time to share our recent and current efforts with the public and
to discuss future possibilities.”
According to Dr. Sherry McKibben, Neighborhood Resources Director, each of the
departments will be putting out tables to showcase the year’s projects and current
initiatives.
“All of our City departments will be represented at the State of the City event,”
McKibben said. “Representatives will provide program information and be
available throughout the evening to answer citizens’ questions. This is a great
opportunity to learn more about your local government.”
For more information, contact the City of Huntsville at (936) 291-5400.
2014 State of the City address
October 21 - 5:30 p.m. - WC Storm Shelter
City to hold two Halloween events
Scare on the Square
Haunted Hayride
Saturday, October 25
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
$1 admission
Event will include face painting,
games, arts and crafts, candy, a
costume contest and free food
while supplies last.
Costume contest details: Four age groups - 0-3 yrs, 4-6 yrs, 7-9 yrs and 10 yrs
and up - will be invited to participate. Registration will be located at event
check-in, and the contest will begin at 3 p.m. A maximum of 15 children per
age group will be allowed to register, and one male and one female from each
age group as well as an overall best costume will be awarded prizes.
For more information, contact the Main Street Program at (936) 291 -5920.
Saturday, October 25
6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
$5 per ride
Event will include concessions sold at
various prices.
An alternative Fire truck ride will also
be available for $3.
For more information, contact Recreation Services coordinator Natalie Reid at
(936) 294-5725.
CITY POLLING LOCATIONS FOR NOVEMBER 4 ELECTION
November 4, 2014 General Election - Information, key dates
The Huntsville City Council passed Ordinance 2014-37 on August
5 calling a regular election for November 4, 2014.
The joint election, being facilitated by Walker County, will include
races for four at-large City Council positions. The Council members
to be elected will hold office for a period of two years. As stated in
the Ordinance, “Each of the four Councilmembers shall be citizens
of the United States, qualified and registered voters of the State of
Texas; residents within the present corporate limits of Huntsville
for at least twelve months immediately preceding the election; and
current in payment of taxes and assessments due to the City.”
The “Current Election(s)” tab on Walker County’s home page will
continue to be updated as information is announced and available
Ward 1 –
Pct. 102 - Walker County Annex, 1301 Sam Houston
Avenue Suite 101
Ward 2 –
Pct. 201 - Walker County Storm Shelter/Veterans
Complex, 455 State Highway 75 North
Pct. 401 - University Heights Baptist Church, 2400
Sycamore Avenue
Ward 3 –
Pct.101 - Walker County Justice Center, 717 FM 2821
All Walker County
polling locations
are available at
www.co.walker.tx.u
s in the “Current
Elections” tab, and
will be included in
future issues of the
City Connection.
Ward 3 (continued) -
Pct. 301 - Huntsville ISD Transportation Building,
95 Martin Luther King Dr.
Ward 4 –
Pct. 205 - Elkins Lake Conference Center, 634
Cherry Hills Drive
Pct. 206 - Huntsville Fire Station #1, 1987
Veterans Memorial Parkway
Pct. 401 - University Heights Baptist Church,
2400 Sycamore Avenue
at www.co.walker.tx.us for all elections effecting Walker
County’s registered voters.
Sample ballots are available for review both on the Web site
and at the Walker County Annex, located at 1301 Sam Houston
Avenue Rm 114.
The last day to apply for a ballot by mail (received, not
postmarked) is October 24.
The City of Huntsville Election information will also be available
at the City’s Web site, www.huntsvilletx.gov. The City will also
make copies of sample ballots available at City Hall as well as
on the Web site. Voter registration forms are available at the
Walker County Annex, City Hall and other locations citywide.
When is Election Day? (Cuando es el Dia de Eleccion?)
Walker County will hold a Joint Election including the City of Huntsville on Tuesday, November 4, 2014 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m..
(La Ciudad de Huntsville y el districto independiente escolar de Huntsville sostendran una eleccion unida el Martes 4 de Novi embre del
2014 de 7 a.m. to 7 p.m..)
Am I registered to vote? (Estoy registrado para votar?)
In order to vote in this election, you must be a registered voter of the particular political subdivision.
If you are not sure if your voter registration is current you may call (936)436 -4959 or visit:
https://team1.sos.state.tx.us/voterws/viw/faces/Introduction.jsp.
(Para poder votar en esta eleccion tiene que ser un votante registrado de la division politica particular. Si no esta seguro si su
registracion para votar esta vigente puede llamar (936)436 -4959 o visite nuestra pagina de web arriba.)
Where do I go for early voting? (A donde voy para votar temprano?)
There will be one Early Voting Polling Place for all entities:
Walker County Annex, 1301 Sam Houston Avenue, Suite 101, Huntsville, Texas.
(Habra solamente un lugar para votacion temprana para todas entetidades que sera localizada en el Walker County Annex.)
Early Voting By Personal Appearance
October 20 - October 31
8am—5pm
October 21 and October 28
7am-7pm
October 25 and October 26
1pm - 5 pm
Votacion Temprana por Aspecto Personal
Octubre 20 - Octubre 31
8am—5pm
Octubre 21 y Octubre 28
7am—7pm
Octubre 25 y Octubre 26
1pm - 5 pm
Where Do I Vote on Election Day? (Donde votare el dia de la eleccion?)
On Election Day, voters will report to their precinct polling places as set out below:
(En el Dia De Eleccion, votantes se reportaran a su lugar de votacion del recinto escrito abajo:)
November 4, 2014 General Election information
Identificación con Foto se Requiere para Votantes Tejanos
Ahora tiene que proporcionar una de las siguientes formas de identificación
con foto cuando vota en persona:
(1) Licencia de Conducir de Texas expedida por el Departamento de Seguridad Publica (DPS, según sus siglas en inglés)
(2) Cédula de Identificación Electoral de Texas expedida por DPS
(3) Tarjeta de Identificación Personal de Texas expedida por DPS
(4) Licencia de Texas para Portar un Arma de Fuego Oculta expedida por DPS
(5) Cédula de Identidad Militar de los Estados Unidos con fotografía de la persona
(6) Certificado de Ciudadanía Estadounidense con fotografía de la persona o
(7) Pasaporte de los Estados Unidos
**Con la excepción del certificado de ciudadanía estadounidense, la identificación deberá estar vigente; si no la está,
debe haberse vencido hace 60 días o menosen el momento de presentarla para calificar como votante en el sitio
electoral.**
El nombre del votante en la identificación presentada debe hacer juego o ser “considerablemente similar” al nombre en
la lista oficial del certificado de votantes (lista de encuesta).
Los votantes son animados a actualizar su registro de votante para reflejar los nombres en sus tarjetas de identidad
antes de la fecha límite del 7 de Octubre.
The November 4 General Election is fast approaching, and the
deadline to register to vote or make any changes to name or
address information is October 6
Walker County Election Officer, Diana McRae, reminds voters
that photo identification will now be required for voting in person.
In 2011, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 14 (SB 14)
creating a new requirement for voters to show photo
identification when voting in person. While pending review within
the judicial system, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinion in
Shelby County v. Holder, which effectively ended all pending
litigation. As a result, voters are now required to present an
approved form of photo identification in order to vote in all Texas
elections.
“In Walker County we are working to make sure our voters
understand the ID requirements and have all the information
they need to cast their ballots," said McRae.
A voter will be required to show one of the following forms of
photo identification at the polling location before the voter will be
permitted to cast a vote:
Texas driver license issued by the Texas Department of
Public Safety (DPS)
Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
Texas personal identification card issued by DPS
Texas concealed handgun license issued by DPS
United States military identification card containing the
person’s photograph
United States citizenship certificate containing the person’s
photograph
United States passport
With the exception of the U.S. citizenship certificate, the
identification must be current or have expired no more than 60
Photo identification requirements, deadlines
days before being presented at the polling place.
This photo ID requirement is for voters casting a ballot in person,
not by mail. Voters age 65 and older may vote by mail. However,
you still may be required to show identification, even voting by
mail, if the Secretary of State’s Office was unable to verify your
driver’s license, personal identification, or last four digits of your
Social Security at the time of registration.
“All registered voters in Walker County must have one of the
seven forms of identification listed,” McRae said. “Alternative
forms of photo identification, such as student IDs, out-of-state
IDs or employee IDs, will not be accepted.”
Matching requirements
Election officials are encouraging voters to update their voter
registrations to reflect the names on their IDs. Voters may use
IDs that do not exactly match the name on their IDs if the names
are substantially similar but will have to sign an affidavit stating
they are the same person.
Voters may look up their registration at votetexas.gov and if their
name is not an exact match they can update their voter
registration online at votetexas.gov or come by the Voter
Registration Office in Room 114 at the County Annex Building
located at 1301 Sam Houston Avenue.
October 7 is the deadline to change or correct their name and/or
address on their voter registration for the November 5 election.
"By preparing now, voters can help make sure voting goes
smoothly when it comes time for the election," said McRae.
To check and update their registrations, voters can visit
VoteTexas.gov or call the Voter Registration Office at (936) 436 -
4959 for more information.
For more information about photo ID requirements including
exemptions, visit www.votetexas.gov.
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; and (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, green or brown only: Throw away lids, rinse out. You can leave the label on.
Place 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.
New drop box available at Huntsville Public Library
The staff of the Huntsville Public Library is happy to announce the completion of a new drop box located at the back of the
facility, facing 14th Street.
According to City Librarian Linda Dodson, the box will be open 24 hours a day for library patrons to utilize when returning
materials. The drop box is accessible both from vehicles and by pedestrians.
“We hope our customers will find it even easier to return their library items now that we have a drop box on each side of
the library,” Dodson said. “The only materials which patrons are asked to return at the front desk are interlibrary loans.”
The library is located at 1219 13th Street. For more information, call (936) 291-5472.
Have you noticed the option
to donate to the Community
Outreach for Missionary
Endeavor, Inc., a.k.a. the
COME Center, on your
monthly utility bill?
Every dollar donated to the
COME center is used to
assist others with their utility
bills.
Every dollar will help!
Donations are also needed at
the thrift center for the free
clothing program, special
service assistance program,
and the new building. Tax
donation receipts are
available.
The COME Center is located
at 350 State Highway 75
North.
Donations may be sent by
mail to:
P.O. Box 1965
Huntsville, TX 77342
For more information, call
(936) 295-0671.