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November Connection CITY CONNECTION www.huntsvilletx.govwww.huntsvilletx.govwww.huntsvilletx.govwww.huntsvilletx.gov Volume 8, Issue 2 November 2011November 2011November 2011November 2011 Calendar November 2011November 2011November 2011November 2011 1 City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m. 1212 Avenue M (Council Coffee at 4:30 p.m.) 2 Yard Waste Trimming Collection 3 Planning & Zoning Commission - City Hall at 12 p.m. 4 Last Day of Early Voting for 11-8-11 Election 8 Regular General and Special Election 9 Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste 16 Yard Waste Trimming Collection 17 City Council Special Session Election Canvass - 6 p.m. 17 Planning & Zoning Commission - City Hall at 5:15 p.m. 23 Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste 24-25 City Closed for Thanksgiving 31 Yard Waste Trimming Collection December 2011December 2011December 2011December 2011 1 Planning & Zoning Commission - City Hall at 12 p.m. 6 City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m. 1212 Avenue M 7 & 21 Yard Waste Trimming Collection 14 & 28 Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste 15 Planning & Zoning Commission - City Hall at 5:30 p.m. 20 City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m. 1212 Avenue M Submit requests for Heavy Trash pick-up before noon on Monday, the week of the pick-up at 294-5796. The City of Huntsville has opened the application intake process for two hous- ing aid programs - the HOME Program for owner-occupied housing and the Neighborhood Stabilization Grant for first-time home buyers. Residents are encouraged to contact Community Development Specialist Dr. Sherry McKibben to learn more about the programs. “At a recent Town Hall meeting, we began the application intake process for the HOME Program, our owner-occupied housing program, and for the Neigh- borhood Stabilization Program, which is the first-time home buyer program,” said Dr. Sherry McKibben, Community Development Specialist with the City of Huntsville. “We also offered information from Lone Star Legal Aid about the Fair Housing Act, and we have all that information available for interested citizens to review. “We want to encourage any local resident who would like to learn more about the programs to contact us. “Lone Star Legal Aid and the programs they provide are open to all Walker County and surrounding area residents, and we hope they will come take ad- vantage of these opportunities.” The HOME Program will provide more than $500,000 in funding to eligible homeowners to rehabilitate or reconstruct their existing homes. "Applicants' annual gross income must also be below 50 percent of the area median income determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and we can help residents determine if they are in that range or not." Applications for HOME Program assistance will be accepted on an on-going basis. "Various support documentation is required to apply for HOME Program assis- tance, and we can provide any help necessary in clarifying what those docu- ments are and preparing them properly," McKibben said. "Unfortunately, if you are unable to provide required documentation, you will not be considered eligible for assistance." Support documentation required with the HOME Program application in- cludes: - Proof of residence, which may include a driver's license, utility bill or other document which includes the applicant's name and physical address; - Proof of age, which may include a birth certificate or proof of Social Security benefits such as a current award letter; - Proof of disability, which would include a signed physician's statement if the applicant is not receiving SSI due to disability; La Ciudad de Huntsville presento una junta de la ciudad para hablar de cues- tiones relacionadas con el Acto de Alojamiento Justo y comenzo a tomar aplicaciónes para el Programa CASA y Programa de Estabilización de Vecin- dad. La Ciudad anima a ciudadanos aplicar quiénes están interesados en el aprendizaje más sobre el alojamiento justo y estos dos programas de aloja- miento. Ya se estan tomando las pre-aplicaciones. Para mas informacion porfavor de llamar a la Ciudad de la Oficina de Huntsville del Desarrollo de Comunidad para citarse con Lisa Deckard (936) 291-5459, Chandra Stein- back (936) 291-5442 o Sherry McKibben (936) 291-5428. Asistencia de hogar disponible See HOMES, page 4See HOMES, page 4See HOMES, page 4See HOMES, page 4 City now accepting home aid program applicationsCity now accepting home aid program applicationsCity now accepting home aid program applicationsCity now accepting home aid program applications Citizens may qualify for TDHCA HOME Program or Neighborhood Stabilization Program assistance The City of Huntsville Solid Waste and Recycling Division will observe Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, November 24, 2011. Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no no no no garbage or recycling collected residentially or commercial- ly on that date. There will be residential garbage collec- tion for the regularly scheduled Friday customers. Only on the following Monday or Tuesday collection days after Thanksgiving will excess garbage outside of the residential garbage cart be collected. Businesses with a Thursday, November 24, 2011 collec- tion day and with commercial dumpsters, roll-offs or com- pactors will be collected on either Wednesday, November 23rd or Friday, November 25th. The Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling Facility will be closed to the public on Thursday, November 24, 2011, but will be open as usual on Friday, November 25, 2011. The Recycling Drop-Off Center, located at 590 IH-45 North, will be closed to the public on both Thursday, No- vember 24, 2011 and Friday, November 25, 2011. If you have any questions about the garbage collection, the Solid Waste Transfer Facility, or the Recycling Drop-Off Center, please call the Solid Waste Division at 936-294- 5723. Hurricane Season 2011: Are You Prepared? Huntsville residents are encouraged to begin preparing for the upcoming hurricane season, anticipated to last through November. According to John Waldo, City of Huntsville EMC, family and household preparation are important parts of getting through the hurricane season safely, and it is never too early to collect needed items. “Hurricane season takes place from June through November, and you need to be pre- pared,” Waldo said. “Knowing the steps to take during a disaster – whether that disaster is flooding, tornadoes or hurricanes – can greatly reduce the danger and distress your family may face. “Above all, having a plan is one of the most im- portant steps you can take in disaster prepared- ness. Knowing what to do and how to do it can help your family manage disasters with less wor- ry, fear and uncertainty. Citizens should begin making their own preparations for the 2011 hur- ricane season as soon as possible.” Waldo said individual preparedness can include developing or updating a personal disaster plan as well as assembling an emergency supply kit. Typically, emergency supply kits will allow indi- viduals to sustain themselves for three to seven days. Families are also advised to store enough water to provide each family member with one gallon of water per day. “Having an emergency plan and a disaster kit will help you manage in almost every kind of cri- sis, and there are numerous web sites which will assist individuals in the development of a per- sonal disaster plan and emergency kit,” Waldo said. “The American Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency both have ex- cellent information to offer online. “Waiting until a storm enters the Gulf of Mexico may be too late to make adequate preparations. The time is now to start making preparations to ensure you, and your family, are ready if a disas- ter should occur.” For more information, contact Waldo at (936) 291-5945. Additional information on emergency supply kits is also available at www.redcross.org or www.fema.gov. Page 2 CITY CONNECTION City of Huntsville residential City of Huntsville residential City of Huntsville residential City of Huntsville residential customers: It’s time to “winterize” your customers: It’s time to “winterize” your customers: It’s time to “winterize” your customers: It’s time to “winterize” your sewer chargesewer chargesewer chargesewer charge Water meter usage for the months of November 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. Methods to reduce usage include limiting or completely 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 outdoor 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 re- paired.” For more information, contact City of Huntsville Utility Bill- ing at (936) 291-5431. No Garbage Collection on Thanksgiving - Alternate dates Page 3 November November November November 2011 CITY CONNECTION CEMETERY BOARD SEEKS DONATIONS The Cemetery Advisory Board invites you to consider providing your tax-deductible contribution to assist in the mainte- nance and improvements of historical Oakwood Cemetery and to keep the cemetery beautiful. We welcome gifts of any amount - checks should be made payable to the City of Huntsville/Oakwood CemeteryCity of Huntsville/Oakwood CemeteryCity of Huntsville/Oakwood CemeteryCity of Huntsville/Oakwood Cemetery ProjectProjectProjectProject. Your donations will help make much-needed improvements to maintain Oakwood Cemetery’s inherent beauty and ensure its continued functionality. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration and to those who have already donated. We hope to hear from you soon. Please send any donations to Penny Joiner at 448 State Highway 75 North, Huntsville, TX 77320. Every year around the holidays, organizations throughout Huntsville collect food, toys, monetary donations and clothing essentials for families in need. The City encourages residents to work with local churches, service organizations, school groups or private organizations to do whatever possible to help out. Below, we have included information about organizations who will be accepting various donations this holiday season. If you would like your organization featured in the December City Connection, please contact the City Secretary’s Office at (936) 291-5403 or (936) 291-5413. Holiday Donation Ideas Holiday Donation Ideas Holiday Donation Ideas Holiday Donation Ideas The Good Shepherd MissionThe Good Shepherd MissionThe Good Shepherd MissionThe Good Shepherd Mission 1005 Avenue F (MLK Blvd) - (936) 291-8156 According to Dave Smith, Executive Director of the Good Shepherd Mission, several food items are needed in preparation for Thanksgiving including: ~ Frozen turkeys ~Frozen hams ~Dry beans and rice ~Canned goods ~Other holiday meal items Volunteers are also needed, especially in the food bank, to help sort donations and prepare meal bags for local families. The Good Shepherd Mission also works with Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church each year to collect toys for the Santa’s Helpers Santa’s Helpers Santa’s Helpers Santa’s Helpers program, which benefits 350 local families including between 485 and 515 children. Santa’s Helpers is held every year on the second Saturday in December - this year it will be held on December 10th. Coat and blanket drives will also be conducted throughout the holiday season. Boys & Girls Club of Walker CountyBoys & Girls Club of Walker CountyBoys & Girls Club of Walker CountyBoys & Girls Club of Walker County 119 FM 980 – (936) 291-6054 info@bgcwc.org Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Michelle McKenzie Spencer works with her staff to give Thanksgiving meal baskets to the families of the club and also to collect items for Christmas Wish lists. The Wish Lists include clothing items and “wish items” – a list of five toys or other entertainment items – for young children to early teens. Interested parties, be they individuals or businesses, may adopt one child or a family of children, at which point they receive a Wish List with items desired and/or needed by the child. Wish lists will be available this month – call the Boys and Girls Club for more information. Huntsville Head StartHuntsville Head StartHuntsville Head StartHuntsville Head Start Maria H. Dooley - Social Services Coordinator 125 FM 980 - P.O. Box 719 - Phone: 936-291-9190 Huntsville Head Start is currently looking for businesses or individuals to “adopt” local families for the Thanksgiving holiday. Adoption would entail providing a Thanksgiving meal to families of various sizes. Contact Dooley for more information. Page 4 CITY CONNECTION AMFI %AMFI %AMFI %AMFI % Number of Household MembersNumber of Household MembersNumber of Household MembersNumber of Household Members 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 30 $ 10,750 $ 12,300 $ 13,850 $ 15,350 $ 16,600 $ 17,850 $ 19,050 $ 20,300 40 $ 14,320 $ 16,360 $ 18,400 $ 20,440 $ 22,080 $ 23,720 $ 25,360 $ 27,000 50 $ 17,900 $ 20,450 $ 23,000 $ 25,550 $ 27,600 $ 29,650 $ 31,700 $ 33,750 60 $ 21,480 $ 24,540 $ 27,600 $ 30,660 $ 33,120 $ 35,580 $ 38,040 $ 40,500 80 $ 28,650 $ 32,750 $ 36,850 $ 40,900 $ 44,200 $ 47,450 $ 50,750 $ 54,000 120 $ 42,900 $ 49,050 $ 55,200 $ 61,300 $ 66,250 $ 71,150 $ 76,050 $ 80,950 Average Median Family Income figures - At a Glance Check the chart below to see if your family would qualify for HOME Program/Neighborhood Stabilization Program assistance - Proof of assets, including a copy of the most current bank statements for the applicant's checking and savings accounts, CDs, stocks, bonds, and life insurance policies; - Tax certificate, which shows the applicants' taxes have been paid; and - Proof of ownership, which would most commonly come in the form of a fee simple title, while forms including a Contract for Deed, Contract for Sale or Quit Claim Deed would not be acceptable. Proof of income is also required for all household mem- bers (contact office staff for full list of proof options.) “Once our office determines that an applicant is qualified, I and my assistant will visit the home sites to interview each homeowner, document their needs and take pho- tos,” McKibben said. “Based on our assessments, the Huntsville Housing Advisory Committee will create a priori- ty list of applicants. “The list will be prepared at the discretion of the commit- tee, and their decisions will be final. However, a waiting list of additional applicants will be maintained in the event of future funding.” Please note that the HOME Program is voluntary, and no relocation funding will be provided. Applicants who re- ceive funding will be required to remove items from their homes that they do not want demolished. The Neighborhood Stabilization Program provides down payment assistance and interest rates as low as zero per- cent to first-time home buyers. Because of limited fund- ing, those applicants determined to have the highest need will be assisted first. Need will be determined by a com- mittee of Huntsville citizens. Applicant needs considered will include (1) disabled, (2) HOMES, continued from page 1HOMES, continued from page 1HOMES, continued from page 1HOMES, continued from page 1 elderly, (3) households with young children and (4) those living in sub-standard housing situation. Supporting documentation will include: Proof of Residence, Age, Disability, and/or Assets (listed previously); Verification of Rental - applicant proof of paid rent in a timely manner for two consecutive years; Verification of Employment - required for all household members, showing employment for last two years; and Proof of Income - required for all household members (contact office for full list of proof options.) To qualify for NSP assistance, applicant must have had a job for the previous two years, must have a credit score of 560 or higher and must be able to make a $500 down payment. Applicants' annual gross income must also be below 120 percent of the area median income determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development McKibben said both the HOME Program and the Neigh- borhood Stabilization Program are funded by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. “To qualify for HOME Program or NSP assistance, the ap- plicant family must earn a certain percentage of the area median family income or AMFI,” she said. “We are happy to discuss those figures in our office, and we will also publish detailed income level charts on our Web site, www.huntsvilletx.gov. “For more information, please contact us.” McKibben may be reached for additional information at (936) 291-5428. Citizens may also contact Lisa Deckard at (936) 291-5459 or Chandra Steinback at (936) 291- 5442.