Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout10The Con-nectib'v City of Chubbuck Newsletter Vol. 6 Issue 10 City Hall 5160 Yell—tone / PO Bax 5604237-2400 October 2011 Message from the Mayor: Autumn is in full swing and we are enjoying a gorgeous Indian Summer. I hope the warm days, cool nights, changing leaves, and final harvest of the garden get a little extension this year. We again hope for a good water year this winter, but we will enjoy this pleasant fall weather while it lasts. As yard projects are completed and we get our property ready for winter, it is important to remember that if you antici- pate doing any burning that you check with the fire department to get any regulations and permits that are needed. They can provide you with the information that is necessary. As you know, the 116th (our local National Guard unit) has just completed their tour of duty in Iraq. I hope each of us will take every and any opportunity to thank these brave men and women and their families for their service and sacri- fice. There is a special event being planned for the soldiers and their families in conjunction with the ISU football game at the Holt Arena on October 8th. I would hope we will all not only support this event, but do all we can to help these soldiers transition back into civilian life. For all those who have served: WELCOME HOME!! I am continually reminded of how grateful I am to live in this place in the world. The best part of living here is the people. I really appreciate you. Let's all continue to make Chubbuck a wonderful place to live and do business! Mayor England Come Trunk or Treat with Chubbuck Police Officers in the Pine Ridge Mall The Chubbuck Police Department will be hosting our annual Trunk or Treat event this year on Monday, October 31st at the Pine Ridge Mall. This event relies heavily upon generous donations of candy and or money to help provide a safe, comfortable and handicapped accessible environment to trick or treat in. Dona- tions may be made by con- tacting the Chubbuck Po- lice Department at 237- 7172 and asking for Aaron Harker. ELECTION ON TUESDAY - NOVEMBER 8th Please watch for the map to be published in the newspaper that will help you determine in which precinct your residence falls. Precinct locations: 50 Ramada Inn 133 W. Burnside 51 Chubbuck Elem. School 5045 Hawthorne 52 Chubbuck Elem. School 5045 Hawthorne 53 Portneuf Library 5210 Stuart 54 Ramada Inn 133 W. Burnside 55 Chubbuck City Office 5160 Yellowstone 56 Chubbuck City Office 5160 Yellowstone 57 Ellis Elem. School 11888 N. Whitaker 58 Portneuf Library 5210 Stuart Absentee ballots will be available at the Bannock County Courthouse Annex at 130 N. 6th Avenue. Ground Water a Precious Resource Bannock County Landfill FREE DAY this fall is Saturday, October 15th. If you have any questions, call 236-0607. Memorial Unveiled for Kathy Christensen On September 3rd a marker was unveiled in front of the City Office Building in memory of Kathy Christensen. It was placed next to a pink flowering - crab tree because pink was her favorite color. Family and friends attended the unveiling which included brief remarks by Mayor England. Kathy passed away on November 15, 2010. At that time she worked in the City's front office. Many citizens came to the City Office specifically to see Kathy. She would always brighten up your day. The quote on the marker reads "In the end. It's not the years in your life that count, It's the life in your years," Abraham Lincoln. For those who knew and loved Kathy this quote describes her enthusiasm for life and the great impact her life had on ours. the passage of the Yellowstone problems have arisen which suggest PxMctraL AtruixExs volcanic `hot spot' beneath the that prudent management of this natu- t l Q AquarA plain millions of years ago. ral resource is imperative. Preventing ® Groundwater is one of Idaho's groundwater contamination is much most important and fragile natural resources. Idaho is the fourth more cost effective than cleaning it up. largest user of groundwater in the Protecting our ground water supply is I !I( United States. Groundwater sup- everyone's responsibility. The City of plies over 90 percent of the state's Chubbuck places a high priority on drinking water. The southern protecting our groundwater. The recent Idaho Climate is semi -arid with expansion of our sewer service pro - areas receiving as little as eight tects our groundwater by not allowing inches of precipitation per year. `, � � I�hoFt�{ Despite this semi -arid climate, a high concentration of septic systems „e there is a relative abundance of Which could leak nitrates into our i water in our region owing to the groundwater. As individuals we should Snake River and the Snake Plain also be aware of what goes into the groundwater system. The beauti- ground. Carefully following label di- ful, productive, farms and other rections for use and disposal of house - The Snake Plain groundwater sys- industries in our area rely on these hold chemicals is one great way to pro- tem is considered one of the most pro- sources of water. lific in the world. The size and amount Until recently, groundwater was tect our ground water. Working to - of water underground is comparable to thought to be immune from pollution. gether we can protect this precious Lake Michigan. The map of Idaho on Traditionally waste products were dis- natural resource and enjoy the benefits the top shows the principle aquifers in posed of with little thought for the PO- of living in an area with safe water. Idaho and how large they are estimated tential impact on groundwater quality. to be. The largest one is the Snake Some of these past practices are now Plain Aquifer. The upper boundary is known to cause serious groundwater near Yellowstone National Park and pollution problems. the lower boundary is near Thousand Groundwater quality in Idaho is Springs. The basin owes its origin to generally very good. However, some Bannock County Landfill FREE DAY this fall is Saturday, October 15th. If you have any questions, call 236-0607. Memorial Unveiled for Kathy Christensen On September 3rd a marker was unveiled in front of the City Office Building in memory of Kathy Christensen. It was placed next to a pink flowering - crab tree because pink was her favorite color. Family and friends attended the unveiling which included brief remarks by Mayor England. Kathy passed away on November 15, 2010. At that time she worked in the City's front office. Many citizens came to the City Office specifically to see Kathy. She would always brighten up your day. The quote on the marker reads "In the end. It's not the years in your life that count, It's the life in your years," Abraham Lincoln. For those who knew and loved Kathy this quote describes her enthusiasm for life and the great impact her life had on ours. October 2011 Volume 14, Issue 10Mayor's Newsletter Are You Committed? atetto.us A friend and I were talking last month, and he asked me if I was committed. I said, "Of course I'm committed!" Then I started to wonder what does it mean to be truly committed? I thought about how committed the City Council members are to their responsibility. I also believe the County Commissioners and all our county, state and federal elected officials are committed to their duties. You can agree or disagree with the decisions elected officials make, but I don't think you can argue with the sense of duty these officials have to their constituents, communities and our state. Next I started thinking about the citizens of this great city Halloween Safety The Pocatello Fire Department has a few tips to help make Halloween and trick -or -treating fun and safe for everyone. If you like to decorate, keep your decorations well away from heat sources, such as open flames, heaters or light bulbs. Use a flashlight or battery powered candle in your jack -o -lantern instead of a candle. If you do use a real candle in your jack -o -lantern, light it with a fireplace match or a utility lighter to keep from burning yourself. Also if using a real candle, place the pumpkin well away from anything that can burn and keep it out-of-the-way of trick - or -treaters. Please also and about the commitment all of you have. I think of Johnny Fisher's family and their idea for Brooklyn's Playground. He and his wife saw a need, and they committed to doing something about it. They started talking to other people, and those people made a commitment. Now we have a wonderful fully -inclusive playground for our children to enjoy. People ask me all the time how they can get involved in the community. I think it's fairly easy to make that commitment. Get your neighbors together to clean up your neighborhood and then have a cookout with your new friends. The more you get involved, the more you will find there are many, many ways to commit. Volunteer time at a remember to keep all exits clear of decorations so that escape routes are not blocked When making or buying a costume, stay away from billowing or long trailing fabric that can get caught on things. Make sure eye holes in masks are large enough to see out. Costumes should also be made of flame resistant material. Remind your children how to stop, drop and roll in case fire does get on their clothes. Provide trick -or -treaters with flashlights in order to see and be seen. Consider using glow sticks as part of their costumes. Remind children to walk, not run and to cross streets only at corners or at crosswalks. nursing home, your child's school, The Idaho Foodbank, Aid -for -Friends, or any of the charitable organizations in Pocatello. You can even just stop and check on your neighbors for a few minutes once a week or so. I assure you that as you look for ways to be involved, you will find them. If we all have a strong commitment to the community, we will make Pocatello an even better place to live. I am thankful for the opportunity to live here and to know so many of you! I am committed to being your Mayor, and I am proud to serve you! Here are a few last tips. Make sure children do not trick -or - treat alone. Younger children should always go with an adult, and the adult should know the route you've planned. Be cautious of strangers, and never go inside the house of people you do not know. Remember to check candy before allowing children to begin eating, and finally, only trick -or -treat at houses with a light on — especially the front porch light. Following a few, simple safety tips can be the key to a great holiday! For more information, call the Fire Department at 234-6201. rational Citizen SurrveyTM P aEAl Fx ,I 11e#VvkeahAvz,u l Mayofs Newsletter The National Citizen Suruelfrm Sometime this month, 1,200 randomly selected households in Pocatello will receive a survey regarding the City of Pocatello's services. The results will help guide budget and service decisions over the next year. The accuracy of the survey depends upon the survey response rate. I urge citizens who receive the survey to complete and return it in the postage paid envelope that will be provided The survey is a Pocatello customized version of The National Citizen SurveyTM developed by the National Research Center under a RENEWAL Program During our extreme Idaho winter temperatures, some people in our community may find they need to repair their home heating system or make other emergency repairs that are beyond their means. We want to remind everyone that our Neighborhood & Community Services Division has emergency repair programs for qualified property owners. This Division of the Planning & Development Services Department administers a RENEWAL program that helps qualified property contract from the International City Manager's Association. The survey has a standard set of questions that are used in hundreds of other communities, as well as some customized questions regarding specific issues in Pocatello. For example, citizens will be asked to rate the quality of City services, such as library services on a scale from excellent to poor (or don't know). We will be able to compare Pocatello responses to responses from other cities. The results from the survey should be available owners with emergency housing repairs. (RENEWAL stands for Revitalizing Existing Neighborhoods through Enhancement Work and Livability.) We receive special assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and use this funding to help many low income homeowners with their housing improvement needs at a very low monthly cost. We coordinate finding contractors and oversee the repairs to ensure they are sometime in November. We'll report the results shortly after that. We'll also have departments include relevant portions in their service reports when those are constructed next spring. The opinion of our residents is critical in understanding the quality of service delivery we provide and that you expect. Surveys have become a widely -used performance measurement tool. If you are selected as a survey participant, thanks in advance for completing it. Your opinion matters! completed in a timely and quality manner. If you need assistance or are aware of anyone who may qualify for this program, please visit our website at http://www.Pocatello.us/pds/ pds neighborhood applicati ons.htm for information and an application. You can also call Hailey Lacey at 234-6185, Cass Fonnesbeck at 234-6188 or Melanie Gygli at 234-6186. We look forward to helping homeowners who may need our help. If there is a topic you'd like me to address in future newsletters or if you want to comment or ask a question, write it down, tear off this part and send your comment to me. If you wish to call or e-mail, my number and address are listed on the front page. While I cannot respond to all comments individually, I do pass them on to the appropriate departments. 04,00 My question/comment is Name Addr Telephon