November News Releases Weather-related city services update Residents who have Thursday and Monday pickup service will receive their next pickup service on Mon., Dec. 4 The Solid Waste Services Division will determine tomorrow morning, Dec. 1, whether road conditions will enable crews to operate their Friday refuse pickup schedule. Drivers will report to work and be prepared to run their routes if it is safe to do so. The City of Abilene Streets Division is operating on a 24-hour schedule and will maintain crews throughout Thursday night and Friday morning to monitor and “sand” icy bridges, overpasses, railroad crossings and major intersections in town with magnesium chloride, a biodegradable product. So far, no streets have been officially closed to traffic, but citizens should drive with caution and stay off the streets unless it is absolutely necessary to drive. All city senior centers and senior services are closed today due to inclement weather. No senior meals will be served and no van transportation will run today. The dance scheduled for Thursday night, Nov. 30, at Rose Park, has also been cancelled. The Friends of the Abilene Public Library Annual meeting, scheduled for tonight at 7 p.m. at the main library, 202 Cedar, has been postponed due to today’s inclement weather. The meeting will instead be held on Monday, December 4 at 7 p.m. in the main library auditorium. If you have questions, or need more information, please don’t hesitate to contact Janis Test at the Abilene Public Library. Abilene Regional Airport report reports that it is maintaining normal operations, but some delays may occur. “Airport crews have been applying sand and deicing materials to airfield pavements since 4 a.m. and conditions are satisfactory for normal airline operations, though some delays may occur, City of Abilene Aviation Director Daniel Weber said. “Conditions at DFW Airport have resulted in some Abilene flight cancellations by American Eagle.” Passengers are encouraged to call their airline for the status of their flights throughout the day. For American Eagle, call 800-433-7300 and for Continental Connection, 800-523-3273, and have your flight number available. CityLink Transit System reports that all of its normal routes are running this morning, but advises passengers that they may experience schedule delays due to icy road conditions. For CityLink schedule information, phone 676-6287. Rescue the Animals and the Taylor-Jones Humane Society are teaming up with the City of Abilene to reduce the cost of adopting an animal from the Abilene Animal Shelter this holiday season, making it easier for Santa to give a pet a new home. Local agencies make it easier to adopt a pet for the holidays Also in December, Rescue the Animals is offering a $20 mail-in rebate for people who adopt an animal from the shelter and have it sterilized by their local veterinarian. A coupon is available at the Abilene Shelter that details the requirement for the rebate. A copy of the city’s adoption agreement and verification of the sterilization from a local veterinarian must be attached in order for the coupon to be valid. From Dec. 11 through Dec. 22, anyone approved for adoption from the Taylor-Jones Humane Society will receive a set of free vaccinations (excluding rabies) for an animal adopted from the Abilene Animal Shelter. The Humane Society application and receipts from the Animal Shelter must verify that the animal was adopted from the City of Abilene in order to receive the free vaccinations. The City of Abilene Animal Shelter is located at 925 South 25 th Street and is open Monday through Saturday. Many of the animals available for adoption at the shelter may be viewed online at www.abilenetx.com/animal. For more information, phone 325-698-0085.
Health District sets third public flu clinic for Dec. 1 Pneumonia vaccinations will also be available. Flu vaccinations will be $10 and pneumonia vaccinations will be $25, or the Health District will file for Medicare reimbursement for individuals with Medicare Part B. The cost for both vaccinations given at the same visit will be $33. Additional information about possible future flu shot clinics will be provided following the Dec. 1 clinic. Rose Park to host family holiday festival The event will include dinner, a dance, a silent auction and games. The dinner menu will include stew, cornbread, cheesecake and tea and will be served from 6-7 p.m. The dance begins at 7 p.m. with music provided by “Muddy Creek.” Games will include bingo and a cake walk, from 6-9 p.m. The silent auction will last most of the day, from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m., and citizens need not attend the dinner or dance to participate in the silent auction. Tickets for the dinner must be purchased by Dec. 6 from Rose Park, 2633 South 7 th Street. Prices are $7.50 for dinner and dance (single), $15 for dinner and dance (couple), or $4 per person for dinner only and $5 per person for dance only. For more information, contact Anita Vigil at the Rose Park Senior Activity Center, 734-5300 or e-mail to anita.vigil@abilenetx.com.
Cobb Park to host Christmas dance The Cobb Park Recreation Center is located at 2302 State Street. Call Betty or Al for more information at 676-6447.
Health District to offer additional flu shot clinic As there are no restrictions on the vaccine, anyone wishing to receive a flu vaccination may obtain one at the clinic. Pneumonia vaccinations will also be available at the clinic. Flu vaccinations will be $10 and pneumonia vaccinations will be $25, or the Health District will file for Medicare reimbursement for individuals with Medicare Part B. The cost for both vaccinations given at the same visit will be $33. Subsequent clinics will be offered for those individuals unable to attend on Nov. 15, and the dates and locations for those clinics will be announced when additional vaccine arrives.
ELECTION RESULTS (FINAL) Smoking ban Seniors/Disabled Tax Freeze Proposition #1 Proposition #2 Proposition #3 Proposition #4 Proposition #5
Official ballot wording for the seven City election issues is as follows: Smoking Ban: Do you support the City Council adopting an ordinance prohibiting smoking in all public places and places of employment? Disabled or Senior Tax Freeze: The City of Abilene establishing a limitation on the amount of ad valorem taxes imposed on the residential homestead of a person who is disabled or is sixty-five (65) years of age or older and receives a residential homestead exemption, as authorized by Article VIII, Section 1-b(h) of the Texas Constitution, formerly known as Proposition 13, now codified in Texas Tax Code Section 11.261, even if the tax freeze raises the tax rate for other tax payers or reduces services in the City of Abilene.
PROPOSITION NO. 1 Amend Section 9, Vacancies of the Charter of the City of Abilene to read as follows: All vacancies of the council must be filled by election, pursuant to Article XI, Section 11, of the Texas Constitution . Candidates elected to fill such unexpired terms shall have the same qualifications as those officers whose unexpired terms they fill. If required to be filled hereunder, each such vacancy shall be filled by an election called and held for such purpose, within 120 days from the inception of such vacancy. Shall Section 9 of the City Charter of the City of Abilene be amended to read that all vacancies on the council shall be filled by election to comply with state law? . PROPOSITION NO. 2 Amend Section 24, Annual Elections of the Charter of the City of Abilene to read as follows: The regular election of council to places on the council occupied by council whose terms are expiring and the regular election of the mayor, if his term is expiring, shall be held on such date as prescribed by the election laws of the State of Texas . In such election each qualified voter shall vote for not more than one candidate for each council place to be filled, and for not more than one candidate for mayor. Said elections shall be ordered by the Council, and in case of its failure to order same, the mayor shall make such order. In case of the inability of the council and mayor to act, the elections may be called by the city secretary, and in case of his inability to act, by the county judge of Taylor County, Texas, and in case of his inability to act, by the governor of the State of Texas. The city secretary shall give notice of such election by causing said notice to be published at least thirty (30) days prior to the day of such election. Shall Section 24 of the City Charter of the City of Abilene be amended to read that all elections shall be held on the date as prescribed by the election laws of the State of Texas to comply with state law? . PROPOSITION NO. 3 Amend Section 27. Canvassing elections and declaring results of the Charter of the City of Abilene to read as follows: Returns of every municipal election shall be delivered forthwith by the election judges to the city secretary. The council shall canvass the returns, investigate the qualifications of the candidates and declare the official results of the election on such date as prescribed by the election laws of the State of Texas . The returns of every municipal election shall be recorded in the minutes of the council by election precinct totals. The qualified person receiving a majority of the votes cast for any office shall thereupon be declared elected by said council. The decision of the council, as to qualifications of candidates, shall be conclusive and final for all purposes. Shall Section 27 of the City Charter of the City of Abilene be amended to read that election returns shall be canvassed on the date as prescribed by the election laws of the State of Texas to comply with state law? PROPOSITION NO. 4 Amend Section 28. Runoff elections of the Charter of the City of Abilene to read as follows: If no candidate receives a majority of all the votes cast for an office, the council shall immediately upon declaring the official results of the election, order a run-off election for each office to which no one was elected. Such run-off election shall be held on such date as prescribed by the election laws of the State of Texas. and in such run-off election the two (2) candidates who received, in the preceding election, the highest number of votes for each office to which no one was elected, shall be voted on again by the qualified voters, and the candidate who receives the majority of the votes cast for each such office in the run-off election shall be elected to such office. Shall Section 28 of the City Charter of the City of Abilene be amended to read that runoff elections shall be held on the date as prescribed by the election laws of the State of Texas to comply with state law? PROPOSITION NO. 5 Amend Section 122 . Public meetings of the Charter of the City of Abilene to read as follows: All meetings of the council and boards or commissions appointed by the council shall be held in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, commonly referred to as the Texas Open Meetings Act. Minutes of all such open meetings shall be kept and such minutes shall constitute public records. Shall Section 122 of the City Charter of the City of Abilene be amended to read that all meetings of the council and boards and commissions appointed by the council shall be held in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, commonly referred to as the Texas Open Meetings Act to comply with state law?
Recycling Center offers new drop-off options for unwanted ammunition The new ammunition service is part of the City of Abilene Solid Waste Services Division’s ongoing household hazardous waste collection program, operated through the Recycling Center. Beginning Nov. 4, any ammunition of 50 caliber or less will be accepted at the Recycling Center daily during normal operating hours, 9:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday – Saturday, and Sunday from 1 to 4:45 p.m. “We have received some inquiries about the proper disposal of unwanted ammunition and we thought this would be a natural for our household hazardous waste program,” said Recycling Coordinator Bill Brock. “Residents can take their unwanted ammunition to the desk officer at the Abilene Police Department in the Law Enforcement Center, 450 Pecan Street, at any time, but this may be more convenient for residents to drop the items at the Recycling Center while they are using our other services.” Recreation Center offers ballroom dance This is the third in a series of three dances to be offered this fall. The Cobb Park Recreation Center is located at 2302 State Street. Call Betty or Al for more information at 676-6447. Tree lighting set for Nov. 28 Musical entertainment will be provided by the Cooper High School Red Rhythm & Blues group and the CHS and Abilene High School Combined Chamber Orchestra. The Beamers Gymnastics group will also perform in the Civic Center Exhibit Hall. Refreshments will be provided by Lollipops and Candies, Southwest Coca-Cola and Civic Abilene Inc. This event is sponsored by the City of Abilene, Civic Abilene Inc. and the Abilene Independent School District. PWP Industries to announce new plans for Abilene plant PWP, a California-headquartered producer of PET polypropylene plastic packaging for the food industry, began operations in late September in a Development Corporation of Abilene-owned facility in the Five Points Business Park in Abilene. PWP has agreed to lease, with an option to buy, the building from the DCOA. The DCOA is providing financial assistance to PWP in exchange for the creation of 65 to 120 new jobs and capital investment of $9 million to $12 million in the first phase of development and up for $15 million in the second phase. PWP Chairman Leon Farahnik of California, along with a number of other PWP corporate executives and board members, will participate in the ribbon cutting and announcement and will join Abilene dignitaries afterwards for a luncheon at the plant after the ceremony. The Abilene Chamber of Commerce Redcoats will conduct the ribbon cutting ceremony. California-based PWP, a division of HPC Industries, also has manufacturing plants in California and West Virginia. PWP’s new Texas facility will help the company solidify its position as one of the largest producers of PET packaging for the bakery and fresh-cut produce industries in the U.S.
|
