February 2011
about the world.”
According to Lane, another valuable
element to the program is the contri-
bution of legal professionals to the
classroom portion.
“In prior sessions, we’ve had guest
speakers come to the courses who
could provide insight into some of the
law-related questions people have
about the
citizenship
process,”
he said.
“That’s
been a
key part of
the pro-
gram for a lot of people, because they
really don’t have anywhere else to go
to have those kinds of questions an-
swered.”
In the past three years, more than 60
immigrants from approximately 20
different countries have participated,
a list that includes Pakistan, England,
Canada, Mexico, El Salvador, the
Netherlands, Germany, and Columbia.
According to Junior Fellow Janette
Uribe, several of the participants in
the program have gone on to obtain
their citizenship. One such partici-
pant was Mazhar Mahmood, who
earned his citizenship on September
22, 2010. It was, he said, “one of the
greatest days of [his] life.”
The program is designed for immi-
grants with at least an intermediate
command of the English language.
The deadline to sign up is Saturday,
February 5.
For more information, contact Yawn
at (936) 294-1456 or by email at
mike.yawn@shsu.edu or Richard Lane
at (936) 291-5912 or by email at
rlane@huntsvilletx.gov.
Page 2
Winter Recycling
CITY
CONNECTION
www.huntsvilletx.gov
Volume 7, Issue 5Volume 7, Issue 5Volume 7, Issue 5
Recycling Expansion to
Area #2
February 2010
“Winterize” Your Sewer
Charge
City Calendar
Trash Bash - March 2011
Page 3
Page 4
Teaming up for our citizens
City, SHSU offer citizenship education program
For the fourth consecutive year, the
Sam Houston State University Political
Science Junior Fellows are teaming up
with the Huntsville Public Library to
offer a preparation course for the
American Naturalization Exam. The
free, five-week course will begin on
February 7 and will be held on Monday
nights through March 7.
According
to Richard
Lane with
the Hunts-
ville Public
Library, the
program
will help
guide immigrants through the citizen-
ship process, including eligibility, pa-
perwork, interviews and, particularly,
the Naturalization Exam.
“For immigrants, citizenship is part of
the American dream,” Junior Fellows
President Dana Angello said. “This
program is a way to help immigrants
achieve that dream legally and effi-
ciently.”
The program begins with an overview
of the process, followed by classes
that focus on the United States’ gov-
ernmental structure and history, and
ending with a recap and a special
“Thanksgiving Dinner,” with immi-
grants and volunteers bringing meals
indigenous to their country of origin.
The sessions alternate between a
class-room style setting, with lectures
by SHSU Professor Mike Yawn, and
small group tutoring conducted by the
Political Science Junior Fellows and
staff from the Huntsville Public Library.
“This is a very unique program,” Yawn
said. “It provides immigrants with a
better understanding of the United
States, while also giving the student
volunteers a chance to learn more
“For immigrants, citizenship is part of the
American dream, and this program is a way
to help [them] achieve that dream...”
Junior Fellows President Dana Angello
Seeking citizenship?
Citizens who are looking for more information on becoming a
United States citizen or a green card holder, finding visa
availability information or information for refugees or
asylees should visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Secu-
rity’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Web site,
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis.
Page 2 CITY CONNECTIONCONNECTIONCONNECTION
Water meter usage for the months of Novem-
ber through February is used to calculate your
new sewer average charge for the next year.
Consciously reducing your water usage during
these months could lower your sewer charge.
You can reduce your usage by limiting or com-
pletely eliminating outside watering. The new
sewer average charge will be effective with the
April billing (due in May).
“Basically, the City of Huntsville would just like
to advise residents to curtail any kind of out-
door watering, such as washing cars, in order to
keep water consumption down during winter
months,” said Jerri Weaver, City of Huntsville
Billing and Revenue Manager. “Also, residents
should be aware of any water leaks and make
sure to have those repaired.”
For more information, contact City of Huntsville
Utility Billing at (936) 291-5431.
City of Huntsville residential
customers: It’s time to
“winterize” your sewer charge
Like many other residential customers, do you
plan on replacing the antifreeze in your vehicle
this winter? Do you plan on disposing of other
kinds of liquids, including motor oil, peanut oil
or cooking oil?
Don’t run those materials down the drain - re-
cycle them!
The City of Huntsville Solid Waste Services De-
partment offers free, year-round recycling for
these liquids as well as other items for residen-
tial customers at the Recycling Drop-Off Center,
located at 590 I-45 North from 7:30 a.m.
through 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Other items, including oil filters, are recycled in
specifically marked collection barrels. As they
are flammable, neither gasoline or diesel from
lawn equipment nor vehicles will be accepted
for disposal or recycling.
If you have any questions, please call 936-294-
5743.
It’s Winter Time…
Let’s Recycle Antifreeze!
Council takes action
Recent meetings bring changes for City residents
During the last several
meetings of the City
Council, several action
items were presented
and approved which
will make tangible
changes in the lives of
Huntsville citizens.
Some of the items
approved have been in
the works for several
fiscal years, and their
approval will set the
stage for several
phases of continued
improvements.
During the
December 14
Council
meeting,
Council
authorized City
Manager Bill
Baine to
approve and award the
Bobbitt Addition/I-45
Sewer Line Phase I
contract – in the
amount of $241,861 -
to Doughtie
Construction.
Bobbitt Addition is a
new subdivision
located in the north
State Highway 75 area
of Huntsville. The
Phase I contract was
budgeted during the
2007-08 budget year,
and the required Texas
Department of
Transportation permits
and utility easements
have already been
obtained. The project
as a whole will be
completed in two
phases, Phase I being
the larger of the two
anticipated phases.
Phase I will cover
underground bores
and the initial Highway
75 sewer line, while
Phase II – which is
planned to be
advertised for bid in
the second quarter of
the 2010-11 budget
year – will complete
the subdivision and
areas further north.
Also during the
December meeting,
Council approved the
installation of energy-
efficient lighting and
structures for Kate
Barr Ross Park
multiplex field six.
The lighting
replacements, which
have already been
completed in fields
seven and eight, are
budgeted at
$117,500. The
projected savings once
the suggested lighting
and structures are
installed total to
approximately $2,700
annually. The savings
result from a 25-year
product assurance and
warranty program
which is expected to
eliminate significant
maintenance, labor
and material costs.
The January 4 meeting
of Council brought
several changes to the
City’s official traffic
schedule, all of which
were presented for the
first time on December
14. Three ordinances
were approved which
ratified No Parking
signs and stop signs,
all of which had been
installed previously to
allow for a 90-day
evaluation period.
Ordinance 2011-12
amended the traffic
schedule to ratify No
Parking signs on the
north side of 11th
Street between Avenue
J and University
Avenue, approximately
175 feet west of the
intersection of Avenue
J and 11th Street.
During the installation
period, City staff
determined the No
Parking signs
alleviated minor sight
distance issues that
existed in the area.
Ordinance 2011-13,
which also amended to
traffic schedule to
ratify No Parking signs,
affected the area of
15th Street and Avenue
I. The change was
implemented
following
complaints
of cars
parking on
15th Street,
partially
blocking
driveways for
businesses in the area.
According to staff
research, the number
of cars parking on the
street would have
made it difficult if not
impossible for
emergency vehicles to
travel the street or for
two-way traffic to move
smoothly.
Finally, Ordinance
2011-14 amended the
traffic schedule to
ratify stop signs at the
intersection of
Sycamore Avenue and
16th Street. Due to the
construction of a new
apartment complex,
the City performed
traffic counts at the
intersection and,
taking into account
sight distance issues
caused by the area’s
topography, placed the
stop signs and found
they had a positive
impact.
For all City Council
agendas, agenda
packets, department
reports and more, visit
the City of Huntsville
Web site at
www.huntsvilletx.gov.
The City approved three
Ordinances in January to amend
the official traffic schedule.
Read more here...
Page 3 February 201020102010
During the January 18 City Council meeting, Council passed
Ordinance 2011-15, approving changes to the speed limits on State
Highway 75 throughout the City limits.
The changes will be effective once signs are installed by the Texas
Department of Transportation.
City of Hunts-
ville automated
curbside
recycling
expanded to a
new area in
January 2011!
Area 2
includes:
West of Hwy 19
South of Hwy
30
and Hwy 19 and
FM 2821
North of 11th
Street
East of
Avenue M
Additional information is available on the City of Huntsville Web site,
http://www.huntsvilletx.gov or through the Solid Waste Services
Department at (936) 294-5743
Recycling - Area #2
Curbside Collection Calendar 2011
Garbage collection: Tuesdays Recycling Collection: Fridays
Big News
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28
February 2010
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30
March 2010
31
Main Street Coordinator Kim McAuliffe attended a special Texas Main Street training seminar in January which was held in Georgetown, Texas. Along
with 50 other Main Street Representatives from 25 Main Street communities, McAuliffe participated in training which included in-depth information
about the Main Street concept and the role of historic preservation in enhancing a community’s quality of life. (photo submit ted by TX Main Street)
Texas Main Street training in Georgetown
Page 4 CITY CONNECTIONCONNECTIONCONNECTION
CITY Calendar
Police/Fire Statistics
Fire:
Police: Calls for service: 3761
Accidents investigated: 82
Animal Control complaints investigated:70
Calls for service:158
Main alarm calls:19
December 2010
February 2011
1 City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m. at
City Hall, 1212 Avenue M
2 Yard Waste Trimming Collection -
no call in required
3 Recycling Pick-up in Elkins Lake
9 Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste
Collection — call in required
10 Recycling Pick-up in Elkins Lake
15 City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
16 Yard Waste Trimming Collection -
no call in required
17 Recycling Pick-up in Elkins Lake
23 Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste
Collection— call in required
24 Recycling Pick-up in Elkins Lake
March 2011
1 City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
2 Yard Waste Trimming Collection -
no call in required
3 Recycling Pick-up in Elkins Lake
9 Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste
Collection — call in required
10 Recycling Pick-up in Elkins Lake
15 City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
16 Yard Waste Trimming Collection -
no call in required
17 Recycling Pick-up in Elkins Lake
23 Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste
Collection— call in required
24 Recycling Pick-up in Elkins Lake
30 Yard Waste Trimming Collection -
no call in required
Submit requests for Heavy Trash pick-up before noon
on Monday, the week of the pick-up at 294-5796.
Walker County Proud Communities
is proud to sponsor the
16th Annual
TRASH BASH
Saturday, March 5, 2011
7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Volunteer to Clean Up YOUR Roadsides and Neighborhoods
FUNDED BY TRINITY RIVER AUTHORITY,
WALKER COUNTY AND CITY OF HUNTSVILLE
For FREE trash bags provided by County Commissioners at
Precincts 1, 2 & 3, call (936) 436-4912,
And at Precinct 4 in New Waverly, call (936) 344-8055
*NO COMMERCIAL HAULERS*
WHERE TO GO and WHAT IS ACCEPTED
*City of Huntsville Disposal and Recycling Facility
590 Interstate 45 North
Huntsville: Bagged garbage, appliances, furniture, tires (no
farm implement tires), SORTED glass, paper, cardboard at
Recycling Center
*Try 2 Recycle - 916 15th Street
Aluminum/steel cans, metal appliances, cast iron, newspa-
per, office paper
*Precinct 4 Barn - 9368 HWY 75 South
Bagged garbage, appliances, furniture, tires (no farm im-
plement tires)