September News Releases
September 30, 2009Punt, Pass & Kick local competitionABILENE, Texas – The City of Abilene’s Recreation Division will host the NFL Punt, Pass & Kick local competition on Saturday, October 10 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. in Rose Park. This event is open to youngsters, ages 8-15 (age as of December 31, 2009) and is FREE of charge. BIRTH CERTIFICATES are required to verify age at registration. Registration will be held at the site on the day of the event. Participants may come at any time during the competition time to compete. Awards ceremony will be held immediately following the competition. Participants may compete in only one local competition in the Abilene area.
Separate age divisions for boys and girls will be offered. Gym shoes ONLY will be allowed for competition. Cleated, turf or football shoes are not allowed. Scoring will be based on distance and accuracy.
Winners of each age division will qualify for the PP&K sectional competition to be held here in Abilene on October 31.
For more information, call 676-6431.
September 28, 2009
City of Abilene unveils new website ABILENE, Texas – Visit www.abilenetx.com to experience the all new City of Abilene website. The visually appealing, user-friendly website makes it easier for citizens and online visitors to access City information online.
The new site features include:
The website makeover was completed entirely in-house by City staff. The project began with a public survey in January 2008. The input received from nearly 150 citizens resulted in many of the changes found in the new City website. Suggestions included less scrolling on the website’s homepage and more photographs.
The homepage of the new City website continues to feature a welcome from Mayor Norm Archibald. ABILENE411, the online citizen service center, is prominently showcased on the homepage. This is where citizens can find the answers to more than 500 frequently asked questions, pose a question to City staff from their computer if an answer is not already available as well as make online service requests ranging from reporting a missing refuse container to requesting mowing at a park. The homepage also displays the latest City news, a “City Spotlight” on current issues along with hot items of public interest. A general information page is available on the dropdown menu under City Government.
The website redesign is another way the City is continually working to enhance communication efforts with our citizens. September 23, 2009Fall Clean community clean-up '09 is October 8 - 10 ABILENE, Texas – It’s time to get cleaning as part of the annual Fall Clean and Tire Amnesty Days. The three-day event provides citizens an opportunity to spruce up their homes and properties, and then bring their cast-off items to the City of Abilene’s Environmental Recycling Center (ERC), 2209 Oak St. The event is happening Thursday, Friday and Saturday, October 8 - 10. Hours of operation are from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. For safety reasons, special traffic conditions will be set up on Saturday, October 10 when Oak Street will become a one way street entering from South 25th.
Normally, the ERC is a drop-off point for citizens to bring recyclable materials, from plastic and glass bottles to cardboard and tree limbs. During Fall Clean, the ERC will accept almost anything people want to get rid of. Acceptable items include everything from clothes and computers to old furniture and appliances.
Materials that will not be accepted are items from major remodeling projects, roofing materials, concrete, stones and dirt. Fencing will be taken but the participants will have to off load their own materials. At this year’s Fall Clean, Abilene residents may bring in up to eight (8) passenger tires without rims, free of charge with proof of residency (current water bill). Passenger tires with rims have an additional $3.00 service fee per tire. Truck tires without rims are $6.00, with rims $8.00. Ag tires will be accepted without rims only with a $35.00 per tire service fee. No commercial or business tires will be accepted. For more information on recycling or the Fall Clean event, call (325) 672-2209.
Public invited to attend South Downtown Master Plan presentation on Tuesday, October 6 ABILENE, Texas – Citizens are welcome to attend an open house and presentation of the South Downtown Master Plan on Tuesday, October 6, 2009 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. in the Historic Elks Building ballroom, 1174 N. 1st Street. The City of Abilene’s consultant, Halff Associates, is conducting the presentation. The schedule is as follows:
The master plan is for the South Downtown Abilene area which is bounded by North 6th Street on the north, South 7th Street on the south, Treadaway Boulevard on the east and Pine and Butternut Streets on the west. For more information about the event, contact Mo Parker at (325) 676-6230 or e-mail mo.parker@abilenetx.com. September 18, 2009
Animal Services to hold more volunteer orientations ABILENE, Texas – Over the next few weeks, Animal Services will offer two more volunteer orientation classes for citizens interested in volunteering at the Abilene Animal Shelter. The classes are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 26, 2009 and 6:00 p.m. Monday, October 19, 2009. Both orientations will be held at Abilene Public Library’s main location, 202 Cedar Street, in the auditorium. There is no need to pre-register. However, volunteers are required to attend an orientation class.
Last month, Animal Services launched the volunteer program for individuals (age 15 and up) and groups. So far, several volunteers are helping the shelter with data entry, photography and animal interaction. Volunteer opportunities are offered in the areas of field services, animal shelter and adoption center. They include dog walking, cat enrichment, pet grooming, community education, being a humane investigation assistant, assisting with lost and found animals, photography and more.
For more information, contact Animal Services at 698-0085. September 18, 2009
West Texas Book & Music Festival Brown Bag series to air on TV Channel 7 ABILENE, Texas – Later this month, TV Channel 7, the City’s education/government channel, will air highlights from the West Texas Book & Music Festival’s Brown Bag series of free talks by Texas authors.
The Brown Bag series, featuring a different author each day, will air for an hour on the following days and times during festival week:
The programming will re-air on the following days and times:
TV Channel 7 will also air highlights from the Saturday, September 26 Boots & Books luncheon for approximately two hours on the following days and times:
The West Texas Books & Music Festival runs September 21 – September 26 in downtown Abilene. Most festival events are free of charge. For more festival information, go online to the library’s website at www.abilenetx.com/apl.
TV Channel 7 is available on Suddenlink Cable Channel 7 and broadcast Channel 7 KXN-TV.
September 16, 2009
Road work on South 27th Street scheduled to begin tomorrow ABILENE, Texas – Weather permitting, street rehabilitation work on South 27th Street, between Barrow Street and Treadaway Boulevard, is scheduled to begin Thursday, September 17, 2009. The contractor will be installing a valley gutter on the north side of the intersection at Barrow Street. This section of South 27th Street is expected to remain closed to traffic through noon-time Monday, September 21, 2009.
Motorists are asked to exercise patience and caution when driving by the road work zone and watch for construction personnel and equipment. September 10, 2009
City Council approves Fiscal Year 2010 budget ABILENE, Texas – During this morning’s meeting, the City Council unanimously approved the revised Fiscal Year 2008-2009 (FY 09) budget of $69,912,640 and the proposed Fiscal Year 2009-2010 (FY 10) budget of $70,543,980. The FY10 budget will be funded at a tax rate of 69.32 cents. This tax rate reflects a .0078 cent increase per $100 assessed valuation to pay for voter-approved bonds. For the average home value of $83,783, this amounts to an annual increase of $6.53.
The City Council also adopted a water and sewer rate adjustment that’s projected to raise $1.183 million in net additional revenues. The average residential water customer in Abilene will see an increase of $1.68 per month or less for water and sewer service. The rate adjustment takes effect October 1, 2009 so customers will see the new rate reflected in their November 2009 bill. The City’s contract customers have a 60-day notice clause so their bills will reflect these rates in January 2010.
The approved FY10 budget will keep in tact the original allocations of the motel/hotel sales tax. That’s after the City Council approved and accepted Mayor Norm Archibald’s proposal to return to the current allocation of the motel/hotel sales tax. Funding from the motel/hotel sales tax is allocated as follows: the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau (50%), the Abilene Civic Center (35%) and Abilene Cultural Affairs (15%). During the July 22, 2009 budget workshop, Mayor Archibald proposed giving 1% of the motel-hotel sales tax to Frontier Texas! which also serves as Abilene’s Visitor Center. The proposal would have resulted in the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB) receiving 49% instead of 50% of this particular tax on room stays at Abilene hotels and motels. During today’s meeting, Mayor Archibald proposed that ACVB continue to receive 50% of the motel-hotel sales tax since it also does marketing for Frontier Texas!.
The revised FY 09 and FY 10 budgets reflect a challenging economic environment. FY 10 projections originally showed the potential for a $1.6 million dollar budget shortfall. City Manager Larry Gilley points to several factors that resulted in the balanced budgets: the Abilene Professional Fire Fighters Association and the Abilene Police Officers Association delaying scheduled pay raises in FY 10, 20 City employees voluntarily retiring in July 2009, and City departments cutting $2.3 million from their revised and proposed budgets.
The FY 10 budget takes effect October 1, 2009 and runs through September 30, 2010.
September 9, 2009
Community invited to get moving on "Abilene on the Move" day ABILENE, Texas – The Mayor’s Council on Physical Fitness is inviting citizens to take small steps towards a healthier lifestyle by participating in “Abilene on the Move” day. Thursday, September 10, 2009 is a day for families, individuals, businesses and schools to step out and join their fellow Abilenians in an activity that gets people moving. Make September STEPtember by:
Schools and businesses are encouraged to organize an activity. Some fun examples:
These are just a few ways residents can participate in “Abilene on the Move” day. Businesses and schools can tailor this Abilene-wide event to suit their organization. Planned activities include: City of Abilene employees participating in a 10-minute walk from City Hall, McMurry University hosting “laps at the quad” led by the fifth graders in the Math & Science Academy between 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. and the Abilene Independent School District holding walking events at participating schools. September 8, 2009
Get active during ArtWalk for Fitness on Thursday, September 10 ABILENE, Texas – The Mayor’s Council on Physical Fitness and the Center for Contemporary Arts have partnered for ArtWalk for Fitness, happening Thursday evening, September 10, in downtown Abilene. The family friendly event features short exercise classes, an obstacle course, a Fire Fitness Challenge plus live music, dance and street vendors.
The fitness-related activities include:
Be sure to look for the Mayor’s Council on Physical Fitness booth where you can refresh with some bottled water while supplies last as well as enter into a drawing for fitness-related prizes.
The artistic and cultural organizations and downtown business will be open during ArtWalk for Fitness.
September 4, 2009
Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District to provide Seasonal Influenza vaccations ABILENE, Texas – The Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District will provide SEASONAL Influenza vaccinations at clinics to be held at the Main Health Facility, 850 North 6th Street, in Abilene. The clinics will be held on the following dates and times:
Additional clinic days may be scheduled. The vaccinations are available to everyone, and all citizens are encouraged to have a vaccination. The charge for the SEASONAL Influenza vaccination will be $15, and Medicare will be accepted from covered individuals. Medicaid will not be accepted. Pneumonia vaccine will also be available for $35. Individuals receiving both the SEASONAL Influenza and Pneumonia vaccinations at the same time will pay $45 for the two shots. Medicare will also be accepted for Pneumonia vaccinations.
The SEASONAL Influenza vaccine available at these clinics is effective for the 3 SEASONAL Influenza strains most likely to be circulating this flu season. The SEASONAL vaccine will NOT protect anyone from the Novel 2009 H1N1 or Swine flu virus which circulated last spring, and which is expected to cause additional flu cases this fall and winter. A separate vaccine for the H1N1 flu virus may be available later this fall. If the decision is made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide the H1N1 vaccine to the public, clinics for this vaccine will be announced. The H1N1 vaccine will NOT protect individuals from the SEASONAL flu virus strains likely to occur this flu season. Everyone is encouraged to have a SEASONAL flu vaccination as soon as it is available.
Access the City of Abilene website, www.abilenetx.com, for additional information and links to the CDC. |