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2015/04/09 City news, features, and updates April 9, 2015 Th i s W e e k i n H u n t s v i l l e Music Festival - page 5 In this issu e . . . Farmers Market - page 7 Photo Call - page 2 On February 3, the City Council adopted the City’s updated guidelines for heavy trash pick up charges and yard waste bagging requirements (fee schedule changes for Solid Waste were ap- proved on January 20). These items took effect April 3, 2015. Heavy Trash Pick Up Effective since April 3, 2015, customers who call in for Heavy Trash Pick Up Service will have a $25.00 charge add- ed 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. Natalie Mimms, Assistant Superintendent for Solid Waste and Recycling Services, said the changes were brought to the City Council for consideration to help recover and reduce costs of tonnage hauled, vehicle replacement, and staff time. “Residents inside the City limits will still be able to bring heavy trash and their ID to the Transfer Station and pay just over three cents a pound, with a $5.00 minimum, if that’s a more affordable option for the items they need to dispose of,” Mimms added. “For non-residents, it’s about four cents per pound, with a $6.25 minimum.” Yard Waste Since April 3, plastic yard waste bags at the street’s edge are no longer being collected. Yard waste must be placed at the street’s edge for pick up in one of the following 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 All yard waste must be placed at the street’s edge on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Wednesdays of each month by 6:00 a.m. The total number of bagged, canned, or bundles of yard waste is limited to 12 per household per collection day. The Solid Waste Division asks residents to please consider these alternatives to having yard waste picked up by the City: - Use a mulching blade on lawn mowers and compost leaves and other yard debris - Bring yard waste directly to the Transfer Station facility with a current utility bill and identification with a matching address to dispose of yard waste at no charge - Require personal lawn services to either use compostable bags, or haul away yard debris Solid Waste Superintendent Esther Herklotz said the change in bagging requirements will help keep green waste out of landfills. “Last year, over 500 tons of leaves, grass clippings, and small limbs went in with the City’s garbage due to insufficient manpower to remove materials from non -recyclable bagging. Anyone can dispose of yard waste for a disposal fee. Residential customers with current City Utility bill and matching drivers license can dispose of yard waste at no cost.” For more information and specifics, please go to the City of Huntsville web page under Departments/Public Works/Solid Waste/Recycling. Citizens are also welcome to contact the office at (936) 294 -5724 or eherklotz@huntsvilletx.gov. New Heavy Trash Fee, Yard Waste Changes Now in Effect Photo Call! Connect with the City of Huntsville online! City of Huntsville Web site - www.huntsvilletx.gov Tourism Web site - www.huntsvilletexas.com Huntsville Public Library Web site - www.myhuntsvillelibrary.com Main Street Program - www.huntsvillemainstreet.com Check out all our Facebook pages! Primary page - “City of Huntsville, TX - Government” Huntsville PD/Public Safety - “Huntsville Police Department” Tourism and Cultural Services - “Sam Houston Statue” Huntsville Main Street - “City of Huntsville, TX - Main Street” Parks and Leisure - “City of Huntsville - Recreation Services” Wynne Home - “The Wynne Home Arts Center” Public Library - “Huntsville Public Library” HFD Hosts East Texas Fire Convention Here anything City-related. Maybe you attended the Fourth of July celebration or E-Recycling Day, or took the kids to an Outdoor Explorer class and have a great picture. Or perhaps your group received a proclamation or made a donation or participated in Local Government Day. We’d love to see your photos and consider them for the next calendar. The City of Huntsville is asking all residents, busine ss owners and organizations to submit their best photos for use in the calendar, on our Facebook and Twitter accounts, in our digital news letter, and maybe even for upcoming special projects. Please submit their original photography along with the name of the photographer for photo credit. The City requests participants send the highest resolution copies available, and that only material suitable for viewing by all ages be submitted. Digital photos smaller than 20 MB may be emailed to lwoodward@huntsvilletx.gov. Please contact the City Secretary’s office at 9 36- 291-5403 or lwoodward@huntsvilletx.gov for photos over 20 MB. The City requests any hard copies be brought to City Hall, located at 1212 Avenue M. If necessary, hard copies will be scanned and returned to the provider. For more information, contact Woodwar d at (936) 291-5403. Here at the City, we hope you have one of the 2014-2015 City calendars and are en- joying it! However, it’s now time to think about the 2015-2016 calendar, and we’d love your help with it. Please submit photos taken in City parks, at City events, or of groups working with the City on occasions such as All Paws In or the Spring Clean - The City of Huntsville Fire Department is pleased to host the East Tex- as Firemen’s and Fire Marshals’ Association Convention here on April 18, at Mance Park Junior High School. The first such gathering was held in Huntsville 86 years ago on November 8, 1928, just a few blocks away at what was then the Gibson Hotel. Firefighter/Training Captain Jason January said it will be a day of excit- ing activities. “A representative of the City will present a proclamation at 9 a.m. In the afternoon, three-person teams will compete in pumper races at 1 p.m.,” said January. “There will also be raffles, fire trucks, and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). It will be a lot of fun and we invite the public to join us.” Keeping It Clean Solid Waste/Recycling Division hosts beautification event On Sunday, March 22, the City of Huntsville Solid Waste and Recycling Division sponsored a litter pickup event for the 7 Hills Running Club through most of the trails at the Huntsville State Park. 7 Hills members first completed a 3.5-mile run/walk through the trails. Ken Johnson (middle, lime green t-shirt) stated, "I am very pleased with the response from our volun- teers. The State Park has never been so clean. 7 Hills Running Club encourages all citizens not to litter." To clean up with your group, contact Esther Herklotz at eherklotz@huntsvilletx.gov or 936-294- 5724. New to the City! Title: Administrative Assistant, Sam Houston Statue Visitor Center Time employed with City of Huntsville: 1 month Education: Attended Angelina College Job description: As the Administrative Assistant, Phillips is in charge of greeting guests; informing citizens on current events through social media and newspaper advertising; handling Statue finance submis- sions; answering phones; and ensuring that statue visits are unforget- table. Unique contribution to City of Huntsville: Having lived in Huntsville for ten years, Leara has become passionate about familiarizing herself with the community. “I love that Huntsville is so open and friendly, and constantly growing,” she stated. Each year, Phillips looks forward to spending time with her family at local events such as the Walker Coun- ty Fair and the Main Street Film Festival. On March 2nd, Phillips’ career began by lending a helping hand to the Gene Pipes Amphitheater dedication. “It was a great turnout. I had the opportunity to meet many City employees, local officials, and oth- er Huntsville residents.” Colleague perspectives: “Leara is fantastic! She is hard-working, or- ganized, and thorough, and we’re glad to have her as a part of our team - not just tourism, but for the whole city as well.” -Kimm Thomas, Director of Tourism and Cultural Services "Leara does a wonderful job! She takes charge of her duties, sees what needs to be done, and does it. We’re happy to have her on board with us!" – Jamie Matthews, Visitor Services Coordinator Leara Phillips (936) 291-9726 Offices at the Statue Visitor Center Need a Speaker? Just call CoH! Your professional staff at the City of Huntsville is always on hand to share their knowledge with you or your group. From Re cycling to Fire Safety, there are endless ways the City can help inform, teach, and answer questions. Huntsville Police Department Chief Kevin Lunsford said they are happy to do home security evaluations, help with neighborhood watch programs, conduct safety trainings, or speak on any general police topic. Likewise, the Fire Department has lots of information to share with the public, including fire prevention presentations that can be targeted to any age group, fire extinguisher training, Ready, Set, Go! preparedness programs, wildland fire protection training, severe weather a wareness, property evalu- ations, and more. “It’s so much better for us to teach fire safety in our community than to drag the hoses out for a fire. Even a small fire c an be very devastating. Pre- vention is the key,” said Assistant Fire Chief John Hobbs. “Fire programming can be scheduled through Jason January at 291 -5490 or jjanu- ary@huntsvilletx.gov.” But it doesn’t stop there. Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community and Economic Development has an ever -evolving development update that has won raves around town, and Public Works Director Carol Reed can always make water more entertaining than you expected. Lots of great programming is also available from Solid Waste/Recycling, and other City Departments. It’s All Downtown This Spring! Check out great events around the Square llauher@huntsvilletx.gov. (For the full lineup, see the Music Festi- val page opposite.) First Thursdays Shop until 7 p.m. or later on the first Thursday of each month. Main Street encourages you to come enjoy these special shopping opportunities. Check the Facebook page at face- book.com/COHmainstreet for specific store information, as it changes monthly, and let your favorite merchants know that you’re planning to take advantage of these hours. “This is a unique way to give you more time for shopping, explor- ing, and enjoying the historic downtown square in Huntsville,” said Lindsay Lauher, Main Street Coordinator. Wine Down, Shop Small Huntsville's Downtown Business Alliance will host their 4th annual Wine Down, Shop Small on Thursday, May 7th, from 5-9 p.m., showcasing the Downtown Courthouse Square. Come out and enjoy Texas springtime, wine direct from Texas win- eries, local food samplings, unique shopping, live music, and an awesome atmosphere to spend the evening with your friends, your neighbors, and your fellow Huntsvillians! Tickets are only $20 per person. Get yours now at the Main Street office (936-291-5920) or at various downtown shops. This is an event you don’t want to miss! Spring has sprung, so the downtown Square is the place to be. Until it gets cold again, you can count on finding something to do, see, buy, or eat (see the Farmers Market flyer on the last page of this issue)! Huntsville Music Festival Back for the month of April, the Main Street Program is putting on the Huntsville Music Festival. There will be a free, family-friendly concert EVERY Thursday night (five in all) from 5:30-9 p.m., in Rather Park downtown (1221 University Avenue). The festival showcases themed music nights highlighting local bands (as well as The Young Fellaz Brass Band, all the way from New Orleans), a different food truck each week, door prizes, and a giant raffle prize pack. New this year, the festival will feature block parties and after par- ties hosted by Humphrey’s, with alcohol available for purchase in designated areas. Main Street Coordinator Lindsay Lauher is thrilled about the changes to this annual event. "We’ve really focused on revamping the festival and added sever- al elements this year. We're especially proud to feature a few big- ger names as well as food and drinks. Whether you've lived here forever or are just walking down from campus for the first time, you'll have a great evening!" Everyone is invited to come out and enjoy springtime in Hunts- ville. For more information, visit facebook.com/COHmainstreet, or contact Main Street by phone at 936-291-5920 or email at Upcoming Solid Waste/ Recycling Events - Don’t miss them!