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2015/03/09 City news, features, and updates March 9, 2015 Th i s W e e k i n H u n t s v i l l e NBA in town - page 2 In this issu e . . . More photos - page 4 Despite the weather, a multitude of local residents, former and current City officials, and family mem- bers and relatives of former City Manager Gene Pipes turned out for a special event at the Sam Houston Statue on Monday, March 2. Capping off a day of celebration for General Sam Houston’s birthday and Texas Independence Day, visitors packed the Visitors Center in admiration for Pipes. Tourism and Cultural Services Director Kimm Thomas welcomed all and then recognized Walker County Judge Danny Pierce, who read and present- ed a proclamation from the Commissioners Court. Mayor Mac Woodward then identified former mayors Jane Monday, Bill Hodges, and J. Turner, who attended, along with statue artist David Adick- es. Stories were shared as to how the Statue idea had germinated at a dinner party in the early Gene Pipes Amphitheater Dedicated Special Event for Sam Houston’s Birthday Fire Department training - page 3 1990s, and the key role Gene Pipes played in seeing the project through. A dozen or more relatives made the trip to Huntsville to help honor Pipes, along with Sam Houston descendants Claude Rost and Mr. and Mrs. John F. Murray. Everyone moved out to the amphitheater for the official unveiling of the dedication marker, followed in the Visitor Center with Mr. Rost’s Toast to Texas. Tourism and Cultural Services Director Kimm Thomas was pleased so many came to enjoy the occasion. "Gene was not only the City Manager during the time of the construction of the statue, but also served in the unofficial capacity of foreman," she remembered . Pipes thanked all who helped him make the Statue a reality. “I am humbled to have played a small part in the suc- cessful outcome of this project. I want to thank all of the dedicated volunteers and employees of the City who worked tirelessly to “get it done.” May it long stand, and last as an enduring tribute to our hero - Sam Houston. I would also like to thank eve- ryone involved in bringing this dedication idea to Mayor Mac Woodward, and to the Huntsville City Council who voted to accept it. I appreciate all the work that Kimm Thomas, Jamie Matthews, and others put into procuring this beauti- ful plaque, and arranging this wonderful presenta- tion for my family and me. Working with the City of Huntsville to help David Adickes bring his artistic vision to reality has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life and I will remember it always. Thank you all.” The Authors are Coming! City joining SHSU/HISD in welcoming National Book Awards After a successful inaugural program in 2014, the National Book Awards (NBA) on Campus program returns to Sam Houston State University, one of only two universities nationwide to host the program. 2014 NBA fiction winner Phil Klay (Redeployment) and finalists poet Fred Moten (The Feel Trio) and YA author John Corey Whaley (Noggin), will visit the community in late March for a public reading, community book signing, and master craft lessons for students. The multi-day program will open with a community reception and book signing held at the City’s Wynne Home Arts and Visitors Center on Sunday, March 22, from 4:30-6:00 p.m. The main event will offer readings by Klay, Moten, and Whaley, as well as on- stage interviews moderated by Jeff Shotts, executive editor of Graywolf Press, on Monday, March 23, 6:30-8:00 p.m., at the Gaertner Performing Arts Center. Both events are free and open to the public. On Tuesday, March 24, visiting authors will conduct master lessons for university students in the creative writing program. W haley will visit with sophomore English students at Huntsville High School. For 65 years, the National Book Foundation and the National Book Awards have worked “to celebrate the best of American literature, to expand its audience, and to enhance the cul- tural value of great writing in America.” Now in its ninth year, the National Book Awards on Campus brings award finalists to college cam- puses for readings in large, public venues, master classes with aspiring student-writers, and intimate receptions with faculty and the community. Visit the event web site for more information at www.shsu.edu/nationalbookawards . Houston-Galveston Area Council Honors City Official City of Huntsville Solid Waste Superintendent Esther Herklotz was recognized at the annual Houston- Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) General Assembly Meeting on February 27, for her work as a Commit- tee Chair Huntsville is a member of H-GAC, a state council of government serving thirteen counties in the area. Appointed by the City Council as the city representa- tive on the Solid Waste Management Committee, Herklotz is serving her third year on the board. "The recognition of Committee Chairs before an as- sembly of elected officials of the thirteen-county H- GAC region is a great honor." Heavy Trash Fee/Yard Waste Change In Effect April 3, 2015 On February 3, the City Council conducted a second reading and adopted the City’s updated guidelines for heavy trash pick up charges and yard waste bagging require- ments (fee schedule changes for Solid Waste were approved on January 20). Heavy Trash Pick Up Effective April 3, 2015, customers who call in for Heavy Trash Pick Up Service will have a $25.00 charge added to their City of Huntsville utility account bill each time the service is used. This service is for residential customers only with an active utility account and a call- in is required. Requestors call 936-294-5796 to leave information on the voice mail in order to be added to the pick up list. They must leave a name, service address, account number, contact number, and a description of the item or items to be picked up. Heavy Trash Pick Up Service is for furniture, appliances, piles of brush not to exceed 4 feet high, 10 feet in length, and 5 feet in depth, or limbs no larger than 12 inches in diameter and cut to 5 feet in length. Yard Waste Beginning April 3, plastic yard waste bags at the street’s edge will no longer be col- lected. Yard waste must be placed at the street’s edge for pick up in one of the fol- lowing acceptable manners: - In paper compostable yard bags which can be purchased from local retailers - In personal trash cans not to exceed 30 gallons - Limbs no larger than 4 inches in diameter, cut to four feet in length, must be tied securely in bundles no larger than 2 feet in diameter, and not weigh more than 50 pounds For more information and specifics, please go to the City of Huntsville web page un- der Departments/Public Works/Solid Waste /Recycling. Citizens are also welcome to contact the office at (936) 294-5724 or eherklotz@huntsvilletx.gov. Right - Esther Herklotz, City of Huntsville Solid Waste Superintendent Huntsville Plan Harnesses a Second Award! HFD Trains With Propane Firefighters from the Huntsville Fire Department and volunteer firefighters from surrounding areas took part in a Liquefied Petroleum Gas Simulation on Saturday, February 21, during the annual Livingston Fire School, located at the Polk County Fire Training Facility. Men and women came to continue their education in extinguishing multiple fire situations, vehicle extrication, and basic equipment safety. City of Huntsville Fire Chief Tom Grisham said the class included handling of an ignited propane tank, a “Christmas tree”-shaped flaming situation, and flame impingement, which can occur when a pipe has broken off in a wall and the issuing vapor is being reflected back off an adjacent surface. “Every hour, for eight hours, we repeat each exercise, so everyone has an opportunity to improve their familiarity and proficiency,” said Grisham. “Propane is not something you ever put out, it's something you control. A gallon of liquid is about 270 gallons of propane va- por, which is heavier than air, so it hugs the ground and can go to an ignition point and flash back to the original source. The firefighters attempt to push the propane away to reach and control the valves." Chief Grisham and Assistant Chief John Hobbs instructed the class, as they have done for over thirty years. These professionals dedicate their time annually to provide learning experiences in safety, teamwork, communication, coordination, and many other field skills fire- fighters use in their home communities to protect and serve in times of need. Additional instructors within HFD have been training for the last three years, to take over for Grisham and Hobbs in the future. "I like the program,” Grisham added. “It's a multi-use facility in Living- ston. It’s a controlled, safe opportunity to get up close to propane and see how it acts when it turns from a liquid to a vapor. Not something you see everyday.“ Both photos - Area firefight- ers work on propane fire-related skills at the annual Livingston Fire School. The City of Huntsville has been honored with a second award for its Harnessing Huntsville’s Potential Report. The result of the H-GAC Housing and Economic Development Case Study and conducted as part of the Our Great Region 2040 project, the plan is the recipi- ent of a 2015 National Merit Award for Outstanding Small Town or Rural Plan from the American Planning Association's Small Town and Rural Planning (STaR) Division. The City of Huntsville’s project partners were the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC), De- sign Workshop, and Franklin Associates. Harnessing Huntsville's Potential outlines a strategy for the city to capitalize on development opportunities where land is available. The study also provides a clear framework for addressing other priority issues, such as creating affordable housing options; increas- ing and diversifying the labor pool; and promoting business development, retention, and expansion. APA’s STaR Division Awards Committee informed the City that the case study plan was chosen for a Merit Award because of its unique case study approach and that the committee had been impressed with the breadth of strategies outlined in the plan, the extensive business involvement, the way the plan was laid-out, and how the images helped make the plan user-friendly. H-GAC included the following in their information on the plan, “Our Great Region 2040 is a high-level plan that presents big ideas and proposes strategies to move the H-GAC region toward achieving the vision of being one of the world's greatest places to live, work, and succeed by the year 2040. During the development of the plan, six case studies were selected from a variety of entities to exam- ine overarching issues of regional importance. Together, they provide a tool box of actions and practices that can be used by other communities across the region as they respond to similar challenges and opportunities. Case studies were conducted in Bay City, Bra- zoria County, along Cypress Creek Greenway, Galveston, Houston, and Huntsville. City Neighborhood Resources Director Dr. Sherry McKibben worked with a dedicated group of citizens and staff and the project part- ners who produced the award winner by reaching out into all parts of Huntsville. “I am very proud of what our community accomplished with this plan and am thrilled that all our hard work is being recognized with this national award.” The plan was previously awarded the Waves of Change 2013 Long Range Planning Award by the Texas Chapter of the American Plan- ning Association in September 2013. Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community and Economic Development, echoed at that time McKib- ben’s praise of the consulting firm that helped garner the project the nomination and win. “The consultants did a great job guiding us through the process and putting together a great plan from discussions with the communi- ty,” he said. “In the end, we have a priority list that includes some great ideas and projects and a plan in place to implement them.” Gene Pipes Amphitheater Dedication March 2, 2015 Upcoming Solid Waste/ Recycling Events - Don’t miss them! Good Friday Solid Waste Schedule The City of Huntsville Solid Waste and Recycling Division will not be collecting curbside residen- tial recycling on Friday, April 3, 2015, in ob- servance of Good Friday. Only commercial customers with dumpsters will have garbage collected on Friday, April 3, 2015. The Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling Facility will be closed to the public on Friday, April 3, 2015. For questions about collection, please call the Solid Waste and Recycling Facility at 936-294- 5743.