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2014/08/13 In this is s u e . . . City news, features and updates August 13, 2014 Th i s W e e k i n H u n t s v i l l e CIP Update - page 2 Utility E-Billing - page 4 Wynne Home summer art classes - page 4 Board/Commission applications - page 3 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 deadline to submit an application for a place on the ballot to the City Secretary is August 18 at 5 p.m. General election information The last day to register to vote for the November 4 general election, as well as to make any address changes or updates, is October 6. Early voting will be conducted at the Walker County Annex, located at 1301 Sam Houston Avenue, Suite 101. Early voting will be conducted October 20-31, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There will be two twelve hour days during early voting including Tuesday, October 21 and Tuesday, October 28, during which early voting will be held from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Additionally, there will also be weekend voting at the Walker County Annex on Saturday, October 25 and Sunday, October 26, when early voting will be conducted from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The “Current Election(s)” tab on Walker County’s home page will continue to be updated as information is announced and available at www.co.walker.tx.us for all elections effecting Walker County’s registered voters. Sample ballots are expected to be available for review both on the Web site and at the Walker County Annex, located at 1301 Sam Houston Avenue Rm 114, around October 1. Photo ID is now required for voting. Please visit www.votetexas.gov, an informational Web site created by the Texas Secretary of State’s office, for details and for additional voting information. 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. To access a full City Council Candidate’s Kit, please visit http://www.huntsvilletx.gov/egov/ documents/1403010751_82977.pdf. Five members of the Huntsville Lakers advanced from the Texas Amateur Athletic Foundation (TAAF) Region 5 competition to participate in the State Championship held July 31-August 3. According to Joseph Wiggs, the City of Huntsville – a member of TAAF – had the opportunity to support these individuals by paying for event registration. “We are so proud of our local athletes who represented our region in the TAAF state-level competition,” Wiggs said. “The Huntsville Lakers organization is a huge part of the continual success of the Huntsville Aquatic Center, and we are very glad to see our patrons move on to succeed with their peers statewide.” The swimmers who advanced to the state level include Kelsey Hill (pictured top left), Emily Smith (bottom left), Donna Fabian (top right), Seth Boggan (bottom right) and Matthew Fabian (not pictured). For more information, contact Wiggs at (936) 291-5721. Huntsville Lakers advance to TAAF state competition November 4 regular election to include races for four at-large Council seats Current CIP Projects as of July 2014 Water Wastewater Street Sidewalk General CIP The City of Huntsville Engineering Department is currently managing 36 Capital Improvement Projects, with many scheduled for completion by the end of the fiscal year. According to City Engineer Yellambalsi Ramachandra and CIP Manager Mike Goebel, current projects are funded at over $12 million, with work being conducted on water, wastewater, street, sidewalk and general CIP efforts. “Currently, we have 36 total CIP projects at various stages of completion from design to construction,” Ramachandra said. “By category, we currently have 13 water projects, 10 wastewater projects, three street projects, four sidewalk projects and six general CIP projects underway. “The costs associated with each of these areas are $2.96 million for water, $5.6 million for wastewater, $973,000 for streets, $2 million for sidewalks and $623,000 for general CIP projects.” In discussing the ongoing CIP efforts, Goebel said there are several recognizable construction efforts currently in process throughout Huntsville. “With respect to water projects, a waterline on Highway 190 from Sycamore to State Highway 19 is currently under construction,” he said. “That’s a $814,641 job, and we expect that work to be complete by the end of August or early September. “We’re also in the design phase of the Smith Hill waterline, which will replace the existing waterline –which is anywhere from two inches to six inches wide - with a 12” waterline from Old Madisonville Road to FM 2821.” Goebel said design is being completed on two phases of a sewer line project on Old Colony Road with construction expected to begin later this year. Additionally, design is about to commence on a 7th Street rehabilitation project in the segment from Old Madisonville Road to Avenue M. “We also have construction underway on the rehabilitation of East Mosley Lane and on the Safe Routes to School sidewalk project, where we expect to be finished later this year,” Goebel said. For more information, contact Ramachandra at (936) 294- 5760 or visit the City’s Web site, www.huntsvilletx.gov. Capital Improvement Projects - Update All citizens are invited to attend a curbside recycling guidelines meeting on Thursday, September 25 at the Huntsville Public Library. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. in the Library’s Community Room. During the meeting, City staff including Public Works Director Carol Reed will provide information on how to participate in curbside recycling according to current policy, and updates will also be presented on the new “Greener Huntsville: Easy Recycling” campaign. “All eight areas of the City have been integrated into our curbside recycling program since January, and we want to continue to work with all residents to make sure its guidelines are well understood and easy to follow,” Reed said. “Simple practices, like rinsing out plastics and cans, flattening cardboard boxes and refraining from bagging recyclables ensure that the items our residents recycle can be processed in an expedient and cost-effective manner. “With the help of our residents, we can continue to offer a successful curbside recycling program, and we hope this and other community meetings will ensure that outcome.” In addition to recycling program information, Reed will offer insight and updates on the “Greener Huntsville: Easy Recycling” initiative, including the use of the City’s Twitter page to help residents stay on top of their garbage and recycling dates. “By providing how-to guides, tips and reminders about curbside recycling on our City’s existing Twitter page, our hope is to make recycling a quick and convenient part of our citizens’ daily lives,” Reed said. “We plan to use Twitter to remind people to put their blue or green carts at the street’s edge both at the right time and on the right day, and also to provide new and fun ways to take part in curbside recycling.” For more information, contact Esther Herklotz, Solid Waste Superintendent, at (936) 294-5724. Recycling guidelines meeting September 25 - 6 p.m. Applications are available for Huntsville residents interested in serving on a City board or commission or to be considered for re- appointment to current positions ending August 31, 2014. Residents may submit applications to the City Secretary at City Hall, or online at https://www.huntsvilletx.gov/egov/apps/ action/center.egov?action= in the “Volunteer for a Board or Commission” section. The City anticipates the Council will handle most nominations in August. The City Charter sets that all nominations are made by the Mayor for consideration by the Council. Individuals interested in appointment or reappointment are required to complete an application so that the Council has an opportunity to review it prior to approval. According to Mayor Mac Woodward, serving on a City board or commission is an exciting chance open to citizens of all ages and experience levels. “I think it’s very important for the City Apply for a City board or commission! The City of Huntsville Department of Neighborhood Resources held a special reception on July 29 for recipients of Neighborhood Stabilization Program grant-funded homes. The NSP program, an effort of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, was established for the purpose of stabilizing communities that have suffered from foreclosures and abandonment. “Our office has been working with TDHCA on the Neighborhood Stabilization Program since 2009, and it is truly wonderful to have reached this point in the process,” said Dr. Sherry McKibben, Neighborhood Resources Director. “At the reception, we had members of City Council, representatives from the NSP program, and individuals from nine of the 12 recipients of the program celebrate with us. “Each family received a special photo album chronicling the construction and completion of their homes, and we heard from Neighborhood Stabilization Program Director Marni Holloway about the significance of the program and the impact it has on communities like Huntsville.” For more information, contact McKibben at (936) 291-5428. City holds reception for NSP home recipients Ph o t o s b y L i n d s e y O w i n g s Council and the City of Huntsville to have citizens serve on advisory boards and commissions,” Woodward said. “It provides an excellent opportunity for citizen input into all areas of the City’s reach.” City boards and commissions are in place to address the major facets of the Huntsville community, including public works, housing, fine arts, recreational activities and athletics, and other areas. The Mayor said volunteers for boards or commissions may be of virtually any age or experience level, so long as they have a willingness to serve. “Volunteers are needed from our community at all levels, from students to senior citizens,” he said. “The most important quality for serving on a board is the sincere hope to improve the City for all our citizens.” For more information, contact City Secretary Lee Woodward at (936) 291-5403. The City U. program has officially begun! Participants took part in their first session on Thursday, August 7, where they were welcomed by Mayor Mac Woodward, took an introductory quiz on the City of Huntsville and heard presentations from Charter offices. In the coming weeks, participants will meet representatives from additional City departments and divisions and learn more about the professionals who interact with the public and perform the City's business every day. City U. runs weekly through September 25, and the rest of the City departments will present as the program continues. Participants will have their own special reception prior to their graduation at the October 7 City Council meeting. City U. introduces participants to Charter officers Utility customers - Try electronic billing! Wynne Home holds successful summer class series The Wynne Home Arts Center recently completed its summer class programs, and the participants, teachers and organizers all had an outstanding experience. According to Ariel Traub, Wynne Home intern and summer class organizer, each of the youth sessions – held between July 7 and 25 – were well-attended and resulted in new and original art from all participants. As well, adult classes in subjects ranging from oil painting, ballroom dancing and graphic design were also a great success and set the tone for future summers. “I think our summer classes went really well – we had really great teachers who did a lot of different things than we’ve offered in the past, and the works of art that came out of the classes were fantastic,” Traub said. “Throughout the sessions, the kids worked with a lot of different mediums and learned a variety of techniques, producing everything from clay fish to Rorschach patterns.” Traub said both local children as well as participants from the greater Houston area participated in the youth classes. “We had a good mix of participants from Huntsville and from areas like Conroe, Spring and Houston,” she said. “To my knowledge, a lot of the kids that came to the classes have taken them once, developed a greater appreciation of art, and wanted to continue to attend to grow in their artistic abilities.” Linda Pease, Cultural Services Coordinator, said she was very happy with the results of the summer programming. “It is exciting to see the creative process at work during the summer, and Ariel has done a great job organizing and overseeing the classes,” Pease said. “I think our adult participants really enjoyed the classes, taking advantage of new ones in cooking, Photoshop and returning favorites like oil painting and ballroom dancing. It has been a very productive summer, and it is a joy to offer these classes to our citizens.” Above, students take part in the “Music, Movies ‘n Crafts” class, led by Morgan Mears. The class allowed students to learn how to read sheet music and notes in a fun and interesting way. At left, youth also participated in a “Sculpture in Clay” class, where they had the opportunity to create 3-D models with instructor Diane McCoy. Participating students were between six and 11 years old. Photos by Ariel Traub City of Huntsville residents are encouraged to switch to electronic billing for their utility bills, which cover collective charges for water, sewer and solid waste services. According to Jerri Weaver, Revenue Manager, the process to sign up for electronic billing is easy and takes only two clicks from the City homepage, www.huntsvilletx.gov. “It’s easy to sign up for utility e-billing, and once the online form is completed, customers will receive their utility bill notification by email each month, allowing them to pay with their credit card from any computer,” she said. “From the homepage, scroll over ‘Departments,’ select ‘Utility Billing,’ and click on the link entitled ‘Pay Bill Online.’ From there, you’ll be brought to a page that has the E-Bill form available and ready to fill out.” Weaver said she has received positive feedback from customers who have made the switch to e-billing. “While it’s not a one-click payment, all of our customers have gotten used to the short log-in and payment process, and they like being able to schedule their delivery date,” she said. “We hope to see more and more of our residents sign up for this convenient, personalized option.” For more information, contact Weaver at (936) 291-5430. Texas Reading Club provides reading rewards and fun experiments Back-to-School Bash - Wednesday, August 20 Huntsville Public Library Family Movie Night Come out to the Huntsville Public Library on Thursday, August 14 for a free movie night, complete with complimentary popcorn! Beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Library Community Room, a popular puppet- themed movie will be featured. For more information, contact Janelle Valera, Children’s Coordinator, at (936) 291-5910. The Huntsville Public Library will host a community-wide Back-to-School Bash on Wednesday, August 20, where local youth will have a chance to pick up free school supplies, get vision and dental check-ups and even receive vaccinations. According to Janelle Valera, Children’s Coordinator, the event was attended by over 300 students in 2013, and this year’s event is expected to draw even more participation. “The Back-to-School Bash is a chance for local non-profit organizations that focus on children to highlight their services for the coming year,” Valera said. “Texas Children’s Health Plan provides the funding for school supplies and backpacks to hand out, and last year we handed out over 300 sets. “With the Huntsville-Family YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club of Walker County, the Huntsville Police and Fire Departments and other local organizations participating, this will be a very valuable event for local families to attend.” For more information, contact Valera at (936) 291-5910. The Huntsville Public Library’s summer programs for children and teens have come to a close, and staff has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants. According to Janelle Valera, Children’s Coordinator, the Texas Summer Reading programming for children and teens, as well as the animation classes offered to older youth, were well-received and resulted in over 3,000 days of reading time. “This year, our summer reading program was themed ‘Fizz, Boom, Read,’ a designation which came from the Texas State Library,” Valera said. “Throughout the summer, we received very positive feedback from the community about the activities we planned which centered on that theme. “We offered science experiments, interactive workshops and lessons for all age groups, and the principles in the lessons grew more advanced for older students.” The free events offered included Story Hour events about experiments gone wrong, followed by a chance for young listeners to make and test their own “goo.” Juvenile participants, between the ages of five and 12, created bottle rockets and learned principles of aerodynamics, and “tweens” built their own electric motors. The reading program also included incentives for hours spent reading, and dozens of participants in four age categories received special prizes for their efforts during an August 2 ceremony. “We awarded kids who read for five days, 25 days, and 50 days, and the prizes they earned ranged from Toys ‘R Us, Amazon and Target gift cards to bicycles,” Valera said. “When we started the program, we just wanted to see kids reading over the summer, and we were very pleasantly surprised to see just how many days our participants devoted to the program. “Our participants logged 3,057 days or 8.38 years of reading in just eight weeks.” Linda Dodson, City Librarian, said she was proud of the exciting and dynamic programs held this summer. “This was a really good year for our programming,” she said. “I was very impressed with all the things Janelle did, and our patrons seemed very pleased.” For more information on library programming, visit www.myhuntsvillelibrary.com. Photos by Claire Randell GoAnimate Film Festival - August 21 Janelle Valera awards special prizes to Texas Reading Club participants. Did you, a family member or a friend take part in the animation classes at the Huntsville Public Library this summer? If so, come take part in the GoAnimate Film Festival on August 21, where the segments and movies created by participating teens will be featured, free of charge! Contact Janelle Valera at (936) 291- 5910 for more information.