2013/07/01
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City news,
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Bruce Brothers Huntsville Regional Airport
Multiple projects underway: Lighting, runway rehabilitation
The Bruce Brothers Hunts-
ville Regional Airport is now
one of the few general avi-
ation airports in Texas with
light-emitting diode or LED
runway lighting, thanks to
a collaborative effort be-
tween the City of Hunts-
ville, the Texas Department
of Transportation and the
Federal Aviation Admin-
istration.
According to Aron Kulhavy,
Director of Community and
Economic Development,
the cost of the lighting re-
placement – as well as a
project to rehabilitate the
airport runways, erect a
wildlife and chain link
fence around the property
and make drainage im-
provements – was covered
90 percent by TxDOT and
FAA funding, leaving only
10 percent of the cost for the City’s responsibility.
Kulhavy said the newly-replaced runway lighting will
save $4,600 in energy costs annually, paying for the
City’s contribution to the project in less than five
years.
“There are a lot of projects underway at the airport
this month,” Kulhavy said. “The first project was to
replace the runway lighting, which was over 30 years
old with direct buried cable. Over time, weather condi-
tions, soil deterioration and even insect activity had
damaged those wires, causing short circuits.
“This project allowed us to replace all the lighting and
put the wiring in conduit. As we replaced the existing
fixtures with LED lighting, they will be much more en-
ergy-efficient, covering the City’s portion of the project
cost within five years.”
The lighting replacement, Kulhavy said, is expected to
be complete by mid-July.
“The last thing we’re waiting on is a concrete vault,
which holds all of the lighting’s electrical compo-
nents,” he said. “Once that is installed and functional,
the lighting project will be finished.”
Rehabilitation of the airport runway, as well as sever-
al other ground areas at the facility, will continue
through fall 2013.
“There will be a complete reconstruction of the exist-
ing pavement on the apron, and some of the taxi-
ways to the hangars will receive a sealcoat and over-
all rehabilitation,” Kulhavy said. “The taxiway and
runway itself will also get a sealcoat, and all of the
pavement markings will be redone.”
In addition to the work being done on the runway
and other ground areas, Kulhavy said a new fence is
being built around the airport.
“We will have a new game fence along the perimeter
of the airport to prevent animals from getting onto
the runway,” he said. “There will be chain link fence
on the front portion, adjacent to Kate Barr Ross
Park, as well as along the frontage road.
“We are expecting all of this work to be completed at
some point this fall.”
The full cost of the lighting replacement, the design
and execution of the runway rehabilitation and the
construction of the wildlife fence and drainage por-
tion of the project was $3.2 million, with a 10 per-
cent match by the City.
“The majority of this project was covered by TxDOT
and FAA funding, and TxDOT managed and oversaw
the construction, as well,” he said. “Minimal City
staff time is being spent on this project, yet we will
experience the benefits of this project for years to
come.”
Ongoing construction and rehabilitation at the Bruce Brothers Huntsville Regional Airport.
Curbside Recycling in Area #7 to begin August 4! Check
www.huntsvilletx.gov for details. July 1, 2013
Construction continues at Trinity
River Authority water plant
Project currently ahead of schedule
According to Joyce Hubbard, Water Services
Superintendent for the City of Huntsville, the
Trinity River Authority water plant construc-
tion was approximately seven days ahead of
schedule as of June 20.
At that point, construction of the new 1.4
million gallon clearwell was underway, six
wall sections for the new filter system had
been poured, and the high service pumps
had been tested.
Top left, a 100-foot Boom Crane at work at the
Trinity River Authority water plant. Top right,
new denitrification filters being constructed
with a wall height of 16 feet.
Above and left, the 1.4 million gallon clearwell
- which will be used to store potable water be-
fore it is shipped to the City for use - is in pro-
cess, with forms in place for the roof to be
poured.
Construction is underway on sidewalk improvements and
other enhancements in and around the intersection of
13th Street and University Avenue, thanks to a grant
awarded to the Huntsville Main Street program through
the Texas Department of Agriculture.
According to Kim McAuliffe, Main Street coordinator, im-
provements will expand the width of existing sidewalks,
add new pavers for additional walking space and create
two “peninsulas” in the intersection, all of which will in-
crease pedestrian safety and improve the appearance of
the roadway.
In their regular meeting on May 7, City Council approved
Resolution 2013-09, approving a total of $157,048.80 to
be spent on the construction through Paving Design Plus.
“This project is being completed utilizing funding from the
Texas Department of Agriculture Texas Capital Fund Main
Street Improvement Grant, and we’re very excited about
the benefits it will bring to the downtown area,” she said.
“While the work being done looks like it’s more about
beautification, I think it's going to make the intersection
more pedestrian friendly and safer, with changes that will
make those stop signs more prominent and more visible.”
McAuliffe said the construction project will make several
critical changes to the area. Among them, Rather Park will
be made more accessible, meeting codes outlined in the
Americans with Disabilities Act. As well, sidewalks along
University Avenue and 13th Street will be improved and
Before & After:
A Local Example
Pictured above is one of the corners at the intersection of 13th
Street and University Avenue where a sidewalk “peninsula” - also
known as a “bump-out” - will be constructed.
Pictured right is an example from Huntsville’s downtown square of
what the peninsula will look like.
The feature will expand the sidewalk area into the existing road-
way, making it safer for pedestrians.
expanded through the placement of pavers, widening sev-
eral portions by as much as one foot.
The project will also entail the placement of foundation
and conduit for street lamps, which – contingent on addi-
tional grant funding – would be placed at a later date.
The most visible change will be the completion of two
“peninsulas” on the northeast and northwest corners of
the intersection. Peninsulas, also referred to as “bump-
outs,” are sidewalk expansions that curve out into the
roadway, utilizing landscaping and other amenities to sig-
nificantly reduce the width of the intersection and bring
vehicles to a slower, safer stop.
“Traffic studies have proven that the more narrow the
street, the slower the traffic will go,” McAuliffe said. “When
the peninsulas are installed on the north side of the inter-
section, the drivable width of the street will be reduced
from 50 feet to approximately 24, which we hope will sig-
nificantly slow the traffic coming into downtown.”
According to Steve Dillard, President of Paving Design
Plus, the sidewalk expansion project should be complete
by September, weather permitting.
“The scope of this project is 90 days, and we’re set to
begin construction this week,” Dillard said on June 17. “I
feel the improvements we’re making will add a richer feel
to the downtown area, and the materials we’ve chosen will
be reliable and sustainable.”
Main Street sidewalk improvement project
focuses on safety, beautification of downtown area
Where’s Waldo?
Attention all residents! The City’s Emergency Management
Coordinator, John Waldo, is pictured to the left at a Hunts-
ville facility - can you guess where?
The first citizen to call (936) 291-5413 and tell us where
Waldo is pictured will get the chance to suggest the loca-
tion of the next Where’s Waldo? photo shoot.
We’ll give you a hint:
That’s a real alligator. His nickname around the plant is
“Al.”
Last issue, Waldo was in the Wynne Home Arts Center
kitchen in front of one of the only incinerators in the City.
The Huntsville Public Library has expanded its online catalog
to include more comprehensive, easier-to-use search func-
tions and additional features to make browsing the library’s
resources even simpler.
According to Kimberly Francisco, Assistant City Librarian, the
expanded online catalog may be accessed through the li-
brary’s Web site, www.myhuntsvillelibrary.com, in the menu
on the left side of the page.
“Our expanded catalog is more intuitive and provides more
information than before,” she said. “Right from the front
page, customers will find lists of new items including fiction,
non-fiction, children’s books, young adult books, media and
more. Those lists will be updated monthly, making it really
easy for library customers to keep watch for fresh releases.”
The search function, Francisco said, offers a range of new
features and assistive elements to make finding a particular
book or movie much simpler.
“Our search engine will correct your spelling, sort by relevan-
cy, and even send call numbers to your cell phone via text
message,” she said. “In addition, the searches come up with
a cleaner list, since the call number, location of the book and
Registration opens Tuesday, July 2, for the 2013 Wynne Home Arts Center summer classes,
with options for children between ages six and 13 and several adult classes available.
According to Lexi Gonzales, Wynne Home Arts Center intern, session one of the facility’s sum-
mer classes will be held from July 16 – 19, followed by session two on July 23 – 26. Classes for
children will be organized by age, with children ages six to eight, ages nine and 10 and ages 11
to 13 in separate tracs.
“We’re going to have some really fun classes this summer, and we hope to see a lot of local
children participating,” Gonzales said. “We’ll have a watercolors/collage class, a movement
class, and a pottery class for kids, and each group will participate in each class on a rotating
basis.
“As well, for our adults, we’ll offer photography instruction, advanced and intermediate draw-
ing, watercolor and oil painting. We’re also looking at several special workshops and movie
nights, so come discover a new hobby with us this summer!”
For more information on the summer class schedule, contact the Wynne Home at (936) 291-
5424 or send an e-mail to wintern@huntsvilletx.gov or visit www.thewynnehome.com.
Wynne Home
Summer
Classes:
Registration now
open for ages 6
and over
due date are all available off of the main search page.
“Customers can also limit their search by specifying the type of
material, language, subject, author, publication date, location,
audience, genre and other categories they’re looking for.”
Francisco said some of the best features of the old catalog are
still available for users.
“With our NoveList content, we still have reading recommen-
dations available when you search, and you can also find links
to the rest of the series, similar series and similar authors,”
she said. “The new catalog also includes professional reviews
from places like Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly and more.”
Customers will still have the ability to manage their library ac-
count, check for items on hold or for any outstanding fees and
set default settings from the new catalog.
“If anyone has any trouble with the new catalog, please con-
tact us and we’ll be happy to help,” Francisco said. “We feel
confident that our expanded service will be simple for library
customers to navigate.”
For more information, contact Francisco at (936) 291-5481 or
call the library directly at (936) 291-5472.
Huntsville Public Library expands online catalog