2014/10/30
In this is
s
u
e
.
.
.
City news,
features
and
updates
October 30,
2014
Th
i
s
W
e
e
k
i
n
H
u
n
t
s
v
i
l
l
e
11/4 Election information, polling places - page 2
Third Greener Huntsville meeting
- 11/20 at 6 p.m. - page 4 HPD Detective recognized by
Texas Crime Stoppers - page 3
Development Code informational meetings
The City of Huntsville Community and Economic
Development department will hold three
informational meetings in November regarding
updates to the Development Code.
According to Aron Kulhavy, CED Director, participant
input will be welcomed on the entire document, but
especially on a handful of specific points identified
during previous outreach efforts.
“We are nearing completion on a final draft of the
Development Code, and we would like to get public
feedback on a few key issues before moving forward,”
he said. “Once the meetings are completed, the
information we gather will be presented to the
Planning and Zoning Commission and eventually City
Council to help them in their decision-making process
before approving the final draft.”
The first of the three meetings will be held on
Thursday, November 6 at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall
Council Chambers as part of a regular Planning and
Zoning Commission meeting. The second meeting will
be held on Monday, November 10 at 6:00 p.m. in the
Huntsville Public Library Community Room, and the
third meeting will be held in the same location on
Wednesday, November 19 at 6 p.m.
During the month of November, Kulhavy said a draft
of the development code will be available on the
City’s Web site – www.huntsvilletx.gov – for review.
“From our home page, scroll over Departments, then
Development Services, and click on Planning, and
the draft Development Code will be available for
review,” he said. “A link is also available on the front
page of the City’s Web site in the News and Notices
section.”
As an additional courtesy, the department also plans
to offer an online survey which will mirror the live
survey to be conducted during the informational
meetings.
“The online survey, which will be around 25
questions in length, will allow those interested in the
Development Code revisions who cannot attend any
of the meetings to submit their comments and
input,” Kulhavy said. “Our plan is to have the online
survey available throughout the month of November
and to reconcile both the live data and the online
data we receive in December. The survey will be
available at www.huntsvilletx.gov/survey.”
For more information, contact Kulhavy at (936) 294-
5793.
Citizen input sought during three sessions - November 6, 10, 19
2014 State
of the City
hugely
successful
A full representation of City
departments took part in the 2014
State of the City event,
spearheaded by an address by City
Manager Matt Benoit. Twenty-four
tables of City representatives - as
well as a over 120 citizens - took
part in the event.
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
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.us in the
“Current
Elections” tab.
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
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 available for review both on the Web site
and at the Walker County Annex, located at 1301 Sam Houston
Avenue Rm 114.
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.
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.
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:
November 4, 2014 General Election information
Photo ID Required for Texas Voters
Voters are now required to present one of the following forms of photo ID when
voting in person:
With the exception of the U.S. citizenship
certificate, the identification must be current
or have expired no more than 60 days
before being presented for voter
qualification at the polling place. The voters
name on the identification presented must
match or be “substantially similar” to the
name on the official list of registered voters
(poll list). Additional information, including
material on further exemptions, is available
through the Texas Secretary of State’s office
at www.votetexas.gov.
(1) Texas driver license issued by the Texas Department of Public
Safety (DPS);
(2) Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS;
(3) Texas personal identification card issued by DPS;
(4) Texas concealed handgun license issued by DPS;
(5) United States military identification card containing your
photograph;
(6) United States citizenship certificate containing your photograph; or
(7) United States passport.
City Council recognized Huntsville Police Department Detective Marvin Hyvl in October
for achieving statewide recognition as the Coordinator of the Walker County/Huntsville
Crime Stoppers.
Hyvl was recognized as “Coordinator of the Year” for 2013 by the 26th Annual Texas
Crime Stoppers Council under the Office of the Governor on October 9.
According to Hyvl, the recognition marks the first time a member of the Walker County/
Huntsville Crime Stoppers has received a state-level award.
“I was surprised and happy when I received the letter,” Hyvl said. “The coordinator for
a Crime Stoppers organization is responsible for taking care of the tips we receive from
the public, relaying pertinent information to the appropriate law enforcement or
education agency and reporting statistics to the State of Texas. I’m truly honored to
receive this recognition.”
Rachel Kulhavy, Treasurer for the Walker County/Huntsville Crime Stoppers, said
Hyvl’s hard work and dedication is very appreciated by his chapter.
“Marvin does an outstanding job solving crimes for the City and the county as a
whole,” Kulhavy said. “He is very generous with his time in giving back to the
community – he spends a lot of hours working for the Crime Stoppers organization and
is very enthusiastic about its mission.”
The Walker County/Huntsville Crime Stoppers Program began in 1987 from the efforts
of local community citizens and public officials in cooperation with the Huntsville
Police Department and the Walker County Sheriff Department.
For more information, visit http://walkercounty.crimestoppersweb.com.
Huntsville Police Department Detective
Marvin Hyvl (third from left) was
recognized during the October 14 City
Council meeting for being named
“Coordinator of the Year” by the Texas
Crime Stoppers Council.
City celebrates 20th anniversary
of Sam Houston Statue
HPD Detective honored by Texas Crime Stoppers Council
Photo by Lee Woodward
More than 150 guests gathered at the Sam
Houston Statue Visitors Center and Gift Shop on
October 25 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the
statue.
According to Kimm Thomas, Director of Tourism
and Cultural Services, nearly 300 individuals in total
visited the facility throughout the day, taking part in
the festivities and meeting individuals who have
been actively involved throughout the statue’s
history.
“We had a wonderful time celebrating the
20th anniversary of the Sam Houston statue, and
we would like to thank everyone who supported this
event with donations and assistance in pulling off
such a great occasion,” she said.
In attendance was Mayor Mac Woodward, who
delivered a proclamation in honor of the statue’s
anniversary, as well as former City Manager Gene
Pipes, who was instrumental in the completion of
the monument and was the featured guest
speaker.
The Statue Visitors Center will be hosting their
annual open house December 4 from 4:30 p.m. to 7
p.m. The gift shop will offer 25% off of purchasing
excluding consignment and clearance items.
For more information on the Sam Houston Statue
or the many activities and events sponsored by the
Tourism and Cultural Services Department, visit the
City’s Web site, www.huntsvilletx.gov, the Tourism
Web site, www.huntsvilletexas.com, or the Tourism
Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/SamHouston
StatueTX.
Photos courtesy of Tourism
Facebook page,
https://www.facebook.com
/SamHoustonStatueTX.
All citizens are invited to attend a curbside recycling guidelines
meeting on Thursday, November 20 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 Esther Herklotz, Solid
Waste Superintendent, 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,” Herklotz 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, Herklotz 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,”
she 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 Herklotz at (936) 294-5724.
Check out this list of tips compiled by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for
a fun and safe Halloween!
Halloween safety
Swords, knives, and similar costume
accessories should be short, soft, and flexible.
Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or
with a trusted adult.
Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to
help drivers see you.
Examine all treats for choking hazards and
tampering before eating them. Limit the
amount of treats you eat.
Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help
you see others and others see you. Always
WALK and don’t run from house to house.
Always test make-up in a small area first.
Remove it before bedtime to prevent possible
skin/eye irritation.
Look both ways before crossing the street. Use
established crosswalks wherever possible.
Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not
wearing decorative contact lenses.
Only walk on sidewalks when possible, or on the
far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.
Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes
to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls.
Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Do not eat
homemade treats made by strangers.
Enter homes only if you’re with a trusted adult.
Only visit well-lit homes. Do no stop at dark
houses or accept rides from strangers.
Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be
sure to wear flame-resistant costumes.
Recycling guidelines meeting:
November 20 at 6 p.m.
Did you notice the Disaster Kit Special Issue?
During August, the City of Huntsville released an updated
edition of “This Week in Huntsville,” which outlined the
preparation of a family disaster kit and go-bag, applicable to
any type of emergency situation.
Visit the City’s Web site, www.huntsvilletx.gov, to access the
issue.
Comments? Suggestions?
Do you have any comments or suggestions regarding “This
Week in Huntsville” or any of the City’s publications and
outreach efforts? Let us know!
Contact Deputy City Secretary Kristin Edwards at
kedwards@huntsvilletx.gov or (936) 291-5413.
The City of Huntsville held two successful and well-
attended Halloween events on October 25 with the help
of countless community volunteers.
The Scare on the Square, orchestrated by the Main Street
Program, as well as Recreation Services’ Haunted Hayride
event, brought hundreds of citizens to both the downtown
area and Kate Barr Ross Park.
“We had an incredible turnout at our second annual
Haunted Hayride event,” said Joseph Wiggs, Director of
Parks and Leisure Services. “Over 600 residents came
out to the park, and we had some incredible special
effects, makeup and costumes prepared to make the
event especially scary and fun.
“We could not have pulled off this event without the
assistance of volunteers from Sam Houston State
University, Huntsville Independent School District, Texas
Department of Criminal Justice and Gulf Coast Trade
Center.”
Natalie Reid, Recreation Services Coordinator, also
wished to acknowledge the dozens of community groups
that assisted with the Haunted Hayride.
“From local businesses who donated to the Cake Wheel,
law enforcement that helped us keep our event organized
and a wide range of volunteers and employees who all
contributed significantly, we had an incredible show of
support for this event,” Reid said. “I am sincerely grateful
that so many were willing to devote their time to make the
Haunted Hayride a success.”
The Scare on the Square – which brought over 1,500
attendees to the downtown area – also benefitted from
significant volunteer involvement.
“This year’s Scare on the Square event was a great
success!” said Lindsay Lauher, Main Street Coordinator.
“With 58 booths sponsored by 46 community
organizations, staffed by an estimated 232 volunteers,
we were able to offer a truly diverse and exciting event,
especially for our young participants.
“We also had 45 general volunteers from SHSU and other
entities who helped us answer questions, complete set-
up and orchestrate our costume contest. We could not
have had such a great event without their help!”
To stay informed about future Main Street and Recreation
Services events, follow the departments’ respective
Facebook pages:
https://www.facebook.com/COHmainstreet
https://www.facebook.com/COHrecservices
Top: Actors from Recreation Services’ second annual Haunted Hayride pose in Kate Barr Ross Park. Center and bottom: Families take part in
the 2014 Scare on the Square event in downtown Huntsville.
Scary good time had by all
at Haunted Hayride, Scare
on the Square events