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HomeMy WebLinkAboutreport.dec05© City of Georgetown, 2005 VOL.3 • NO.12 A Publication of the City of Georgetown December 2005 In February, the City implemented a Pavement Management System to assess and schedule maintenance on City roadways. Streets have been inventoried and ranked in condition so that maintenance can be scheduled and budgeted in a coordinated fash- ion. “The new system allows us to project and track our maintenance needs over the next few years,” says Mark Miller, transportation services manager. As part of Fire Prevention Month in October, Georgetown firefighters and police officers in the Safety and Fire Education Team (or SAFE Team) performed their safety show at each elementary school in Georgetown. The show features skits about calling 9-1-1, fire escape routes, gun safety, smoke detectors, bicycle-skateboard- rollerblade safety, and other safety topics. The SAFE-Team also performs at city festivals and last year, they traveled to Arizona to perform and teach at a national conference for public safety clown and puppet groups. The trip was funded by the Police Activities League, a local nonprofit that supports programs such as the SAFE-Team, Blue Santa, and youth scholarships. The clowning began in 2000 when Gilliam and Bizzell created clown characters for the fire department education program. In 2002, Stofle started the police clown program and enlisted Waits and Terbush. The SAFE-Team formed last year when Street repair and repaving projects for 2006 include streets in all areas of the City. The total budget for street main- tenance includes $633,000 in general fund revenue and $1.7 million in street maintenance 1/4-cent sales tax revenue. Approved by Georgetown voters in the fall of 2002, the street maintenance tax will again be on the ballot next year as a result of a four- year sunset provision. Street Repaving Projects for 2006 clowns from the two departments joined to form one group. Stofle says the SAFE-Team may be one of the only public safety clown troupes in the nation that combines police and fire performers. The group writes its own scripts, builds the sets and props, and buys their own costumes, all with the goal of what Stofle calls “front-end programming,” which seeks to reach children at an early age. While the goal is serious, the laughter and shouts during a recent performance reveal that learning about safety can be fun, too. Stofle, or Radar, says that the troupe works hard to create and perform the show, but he also guesses that in the final analysis, “We have more fun than the kids.” 2006 Street Repaving Project List: Central: Mesquite Lane, Country Club to Ranch Road Cotton Wood Drive, Riverbend Drive to Ranch Road Parker Drive, Riverbend to Kathi Lane Northwest: Lakeway Drive, Williams Drive to Dawn Drive Park Lane, Clay Street to Central Drive Central Drive, Park Lane to Northwest Boulevard Northeast: Pine Street, 7th Street to 15th Street Southeast: Church Street, University Avenue to 15th Street Myrtle Street, University Avenue to 15th Street Elm Street, University Avenue to 15th Street Walnut Street, University Avenue to 13th Street Main Street, University Avenue to 21st Street Inner Loop, Belmont Drive to SH 29 Southwest: Scenic Drive, Leander Road to University Avenue Clowning Around for Kids’ Safety Holiday Closings December 23 – 26 City offices closed Trash pickup: no changes since Christmas Day and New Year’s Day both fall on Sundays Blue Santa Needs Donations Locations to donate:Georgetown Public Library, Recreation Center, all Georgetown Fire Stations, Celebration, CiCi’s Pizza, and Wal-Mart Supercenter. Items to donate:Cash or check donations are encouraged. No clothes or bicycles, please. Sponsored by the Georgetown Police Department, Project Share, and The Caring Place. To contribute, send checks to:“Blue Santa,” 809 Martin Luther King, Jr. Street, Georgetown, TX, 78626. The SAFE-Team includes (l. to r.) Lieutenant Todd Terbush from the police department, a puppeteer who also performs as “Rookie” the clown; Fire Chief Anthony Lincoln who assists with sound and sets; Firefighter Jonathan Gilliam as “Embers,” Captain Roland Waits from the police department (on the floor) as “Ranger;” Lieutenant Craig Sossner with the fire department who is a puppeteer; Assistant Chief of Police Kevin Stofle as “Radar;” and Lieutenant Tommy Bizzell with the fire department who also performs as “Preconnect” the clown. Not pictured is Tiffany Ake in the police department who handles scheduling for the troupe. Discover the latest news about the city at www.georgetown.org Report a Streetlight Outage To report a streetlight outage by phone, call Georgetown Utility Systems dispatch at (512) 930-3555 between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding holidays). Give the dispatcher the utility pole number, which can be found at the bottom of the pole. Or pro- vide the street address or nearest inter- section. You also may report a streetlight outage through the City web site at www.georgetown.org. There is an online form on the Electric Department page. The Georgetown City Reporter is a publication of the City of Georgetown Public Information Office located in City Hall, 113 E. Eighth Street, Georgetown, Texas, 78626. For questions or comments, contact Keith Hutchinson, Public Information Officer for the City of Georgetown at (512) 930-3690, or by email at pio@georgetowntx.org. David E. Morgan Chief of Police Started with the City in 1988 Education/ Background: Began law enforcement career in Harris County in 1981. Joined the Georgetown Police Department in 1988. Served as a police officer, detective, patrol sergeant, police lieutenant in the Professional Standards Division and later the Patrol Division before being selected as Chief of Police. Chief Morgan was selected as Employee of the Year for the City of Georgetown in 1995, and Manager of the Year in 1998. He is also a recipient of the Police Department’s Distinguished Service Medal and Meritorious Achievement Citation. His certifications from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education include Advanced Peace Officer, Crime Prevention Specialist, and Instructor. Chief Morgan has served as a research consultant for the Police Foundation and the National Institute of Justice. For the last eight years, David has been an instructor for the Texas Institute of Public Problem Solving at the University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs. He teaches a range of courses includ- Employee Profile ing community policing, problem solving, ethics and integrity, and early identification and intervention sys- tems to police departments and com- munity groups throughout the state. Most memorable moment on the job? Receiving the Herman Goldstein Excellence in Problem Solving Team Award from the Police Executive Research Forum in 1995 for public safety efforts related to Blue Hole Park. What do you like best about working for the City? “The people I work with and the people I work for.” Favorite things to do in your free time? “Spending time with my kids, playing video games, reading books and the newspaper.” Holiday events at the Public Library Calling all builders of confectionary creations! It’s time for the library’s sixth annual Gingerbread House Contest. Entries will be accepted at the library from December 5 until closing on December 8. The public will vote for their favorites December 10-18 and the winner will be announced during the visit of Mr. and Mrs. Claus the morning of Wednesday, December 21. The prize for the winner in each category will be a $25 gift card. Details on the Georgetown Public Library web page at www.georgetowntex.org > Schedules of Events > Children’s Events calendar. If baking doesn’t appeal to your kids and they’d rather just sit back, eat popcorn, and be entertained, bring them to Teen Movie Night at the Library. It’s a chance for teens to watch favorite classic movies and hang out with their friends. Movie night is at 6 p.m. the third Thursday evening of each month. The movie on December 15 will be A Christmas Story. Details at www.georgetowntex.org > Young Adult > What’s New. Holiday Hoopla: Crafts for Kids Encourage creativity and hand-eye coordination in a fun new arts and crafts class for 3-6 year-olds. One-hour course offered from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on November 18, December 16, January 20, and February 10. Fee: $12 residents, $15 nonresidents. Art Class for 3rd to 8th Graders Emphasis on compositional qualities and building confidence in his/her work. Small class size will ensure lots of one-on-one attention. Six-week session on clay and sculpture meets Tuesdays from 4:30 – 6 p.m. from January 17 to February 21. Fee: $60 residents, $65 nonresidents. Fencing Class Learn to fence with the U.S. Fencing Coaches Association 2000 Coach of the Year, Gary Murray. Coach Murray has coached five national champions, one world champion, one Olympian and numerous Jr. Olympians. Class will include fencing instruction, games and relays. All equipment is provided. Open to those ages six or older. Meets Fridays, 5-6 p.m. Fee: $50 residents, $55 nonresidents. For more information or to register for classes, call the Georgetown Recreation Center at (512) 930-3596, or visit our web site at www.georgetownparks.org. Recreation Center Classes The City of Georgetown Economic Development Department sponsored a barbecue lunch in San Gabriel Park on October 12 to make contact with local business leaders. City department heads and other staff were on hand to meet local business owners and offer assistance. “We’re here to say thank-you and to let you know we appreciate your investment in Georgetown,” said Mayor Nelon. Heritage Society Holiday Home Tour Dec. 10 – 11 Details at: www.visitgeorgetown.com. Report a Streetlight Outage Thanking Georgetown business leaders.