I Heart CS - October 2024

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CITY OF COLLEGE STATION

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BIRDING 101

TEXAS HUNTER SAFETY CERTIFICATION COURSE GAMES FOR ALL VOLUNTEER DAY: INVASIVE PLANT PULLS HEARTFULNESS

Your Guide to Fun!

Fall head over heels with our Parks and Recreation Fall Guide.

College Station Parks and Recreation

JOHN CROMPTON PARK

Embrace the great outdoors at John Crompton Park at 201 Holleman Drive West. The scenic park boasts a range of enjoyable amenities:

FISHING POND

COVERED BASKETBALL COURT

RENTABLE PAVILION WITH RESTROOMS

PLAYGROUND

WALKING TRAILS

Pack your fishing pole and bask in the beauty of the outdoors!

TALKING TRASH

Move In, Move Out

As our student population gets settled into their new homes here in Aggieland, now is a perfect opportunity to offer some friendly advice on what to do with all that trash that has accumulated upon moving in.

Take a look at these useful tips for our residents living in an apartment complex or condominium.

Complex management guidelines to avoid missed collections and fines

• Advertise scheduled bulk/brush disposal with tenants.

• Identify drop-off locations with tenants; location must be away from any obstructions and cannot cause accessibility issues.

• Remove excess bulk or household trash from the base of all containers and enclosures.

• Coordinate and schedule designated bulk collection days with the City of College Station or with a Franchised Hauler

Options for bulk collection

• Franchised Haulers provide a variety of box options.

• City roll-off boxes – limited availability, first come first serve basis.

• Public Works – Solid Waste Division one-time collection services has limited availability, first come first serve basis.

How to dispose of tires, used oil, or automobile products

• Take these items to the Twin Oaks Landfill. For more information contact Twin Oaks Landfill at 979.764.3879.

• Take these items to any local automotive shop for a disposal fee.

There is a Twin Oaks hazardous waste collection fall event set for Oct. 19.

Don’t forget to download the College Station Curbside app to stay up to date on any changes to your collection schedule. You can also set push notifications to remind you when its time to set your items by the curb.

Together we can help keep our city looking clean and beautiful!

Every year, minor water leaks waste one trillion gallons of water.

That’s enough to supply the annual needs of 11 million households. College Station Utilities encourages families to check the interior and exterior of their homes for water leaks and drips.

Visit our website to learn how to find and fix common household leaks. Together, we can stop wasting precious water!

The City of College Station offers customers free landscape irrigation checkups. They take about 30-45 minutes, and you’ll receive a written report on recommendations to reduce your water bill.

CSTX.GOV/WATER

College Station

Utilities

offers rebates to electric customers who conserve energy.

Some thermostats allow you to connect remotely from your smartphone, saving energy and money! Customers with an eligible thermostat can receive a $30 rebate.

Customers who purchase and install a new central air conditioning unit (with a SEER rating of 16 or higher), air-toair heat pumps, or geothermal heat pumps are eligible for up to an $800 rebate.

For more details, a list of eligible products, and a rebate application, visit our website or call us today!

NOW HIRING

Positions for Firefighter, EMT-Basic, and non-certified candidates open in December

STARTING ANNUAL SALARY: $63,423

CSFD shift schedule: 48/96

Stay Safe this Fall

The CSPD is laser-focused on keeping our residents, neighborhoods, and businesses safe and secure. Here are some helpful tips to remember throughout the year:

Î Consider investing in security cameras for extra peace of mind at home.

Î Don’t forget to lock your doors and windows, even when you’re home. And yes, that includes your vehicles, too!

Î Keep your valuables out of sight in your car, or better yet, take them with you.

Î If you own firearms, be sure not to leave them in your vehicle. Store them securely at home in a gun safe.

Î Whenever possible, travel with a buddy—it’s always safer (and more fun!).

Î Add the CSPD Non-Emergency number to your phone contacts for quick access when you need it.

Î And of course, if there’s an emergency, call 911 right away.

A special

holiday movie lineup comes to government “ax-cess” television.

Classic films such as “Nosferatu” and “The Phantom of the Opera” will highlight four days of special Halloween programming on the City of College Station’s Channel 19 and 119HD (Optimum) and streamed live at cstx.gov/cstv19.

Introduced by “Grace Halloween” (Grace Hallowell), a variety of vintage horror films will be shown Oct. 28-31. Regular city programming will air between the movies to allow viewers unfamiliar with Channel 19 to get an idea of the useful information routinely found there.

View this year’s eerie lineup

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5

Early Voting is Oct. 21-Nov. 1

• Sample Ballot

• Early Voting Schedule and Sites

• Election Day Voting Locations

• Absentee Voting By Mail

• You must be registered to vote by Oct. 7

• PHOTO ID REQUIRED FOR TEXAS VOTERS

College Station City Council Races

Place 3

• David White

• Valen Cepak

Place 4

• Melissa McIlhaney

• Aron Collins

Place 5

• Bob Yancy

Place 6

• Tre Watson

• Scott Shafer

WE ARE HIRING

ONE CITY ONE TEAM

The City of College Station is not only a great place to live, but a great place to work!

We offer full-time, part-time, seasonal jobs, and internships. Check out cstx.gov/careers for a list of available positions.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Look at us GROW!

POPSTROKE SWINGS INTO AGGIELAND

Ready for a unique spin on classic game for your next night out? PopStroke ads a new twist to mini golf! Nestled between Hensel Park and Century Square parking garage, it’s an irresistible blend of fun, food and friendly rivalry. Experience holein-one kind of excitement!

WHAT TO EXPECT

PopStroke features two uniquely designed 18-hole putting courses that go beyond your typical mini-golf experience. These courses challenge both beginners and avid golfers alike, with one focused on more family-friendly fun and the other offering a higher level of difficulty. But the entertainment doesn’t stop on the greens. Enjoy a tasty bite from the quick-service restaurant serving up creative takes on classic bar food, and a spacious outdoor patio where you can enjoy games like ping pong and foosball.

HOURS OF OPERATION

Sun.-Tue. | 10 a.m. to 12 midnight Wed.-Sat. | 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.

AGGIE PRIDE MEETS MODERN

DESIGN

The venue pays homage to our local community by swapping out PopStroke’s usual blue color scheme for maroon and white, seamlessly blending into the Heart of Aggieland. In true Texas fashion, the lush outdoor setting features large TVs and jumbotrons perfect for game day gatherings.

EXTRAS THAT SWEETEN THE DEAL

No visit is complete without stopping by the full-service ice cream parlor, which serves up 22 flavors of ice cream and specialty milkshakes. Plus, you can track your scores with your mobile device and even order drinks directly to the course without missing a beat.

Whether you’re looking for a new spot to hang out with friends, a family-friendly outing, or a date night destination, PopStroke College Station is the perfect place to putt, sip, and play.

Way Back When

Lincoln High School opened in 1941 and became a social hub for College Station’s Black community. The school’s motto was, “Forward forever, backward never.”

Today, the historical facility still serves College Station residents as the Lincoln Recreation Center, offering youth programs, senior services, special events, and community outreach.

Good News

City’s Parade PSA Nation’s Best

The city’s Public Communications department received first place in the nationally recognized City-County Communications & Marketing Association’s (3CMA) 2024 Savvy Awards for its work on the 2023 College Station Christmas Parade video PSA.

With the assistance of the entire Public Communications team, Broadcast Media Specialist Mark Beal, captured the spirit of Christmas and got residents excited to attend the inaugural event in under 60 seconds. The video helped generate anticipation for the inaugural parade while providing pertinent information. The video received widespread online engagement and helped attract more than 4,000 attendees to the parade.

The award showcases the ever-evolving skills of communication and marketing professionals as more local governments and agencies embrace creativity in their marketing and communication efforts with their residents.

Watch the Winning Video

The 2024 Christmas Parade will be December 7 at 4 p.m.

Community Kudos

CITIZENS PRAISE COCS EMPLOYEES

PUBLIC WORKS

I just wanted to pass on a job well done to the SeeClickFix crew. I am a resident of Pebble Creek and reported a very slimy, slippery, green scum sidewalk yesterday while walking around 11 am. By 2 pm, there was a city of CS truck at the site pressure washing and cleaning and removing the green slime and water damage. It looks so much better and is now safe to walk on.

Thank you so much and please pass the word on to them for me of how much I appreciate their speedy response!

ELECTRIC UTILITY

Freddie is an absolutely delightful young man! He turned my power off before 8:00 am (to have a tree removed), and I was back up and running by 10:30 am. Just wanted to send a “high five” his way...he’s a great employee!

PARKS

We were astonished at the improvement of the pond at Gabbard Park. Gabbard is truly the crown jewel of College Station Parks once again. Thank you and your staff for the wonderful response to my original concern. Also, we sighted a green heron today!

of the Month

Photography
Photo

The 2024 aquatics season has ended, but no need to worry; our splash pads are open through Oct. 31.

WHATDOTHEYDO?

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

The City of College Station takes immense pride in our community’s infrastructure, whether it’s streets, water and sewer systems, parks, or public buildings. These essential resources shape our city’s character, guide growth, and contribute to the quality of life we all enjoy. As our city grows, we work hard to update, expand, and improve our infrastructure to meet the evolving needs of residents, all while staying true to our Comprehensive Plan and City Council’s Strategic Initiatives. Each year, the Capital Projects team works with other departments and the City Council to identify and prioritize essential projects as part of the city’s five-year Capital Plan.

FOLLOW A PROJECT IN REAL TIME

Our informative interactive online map is designed to make it simple for you to track projects by location, phase, estimated completion date, and more!

The user-friendly tool allows you to filter by project type (parks, facilities, streets, etc.) or by phase, and you can easily zoom in on areas that interest you. The map is regularly updated with new information and improvements will be based on your feedback.

Information Technology, Public Works, and Capital Projects collaborated on the project with the shared goal of delivering a smooth user experience with concise, up-to-date information.

INDEPENDENCE PARK UPDATE

ICYMI: At its Aug. 8 meeting, the College Station City Council unanimously approved the master plan for the Texas Independence Park project on Rock Prairie Road.

Find Out More

Special Events

College Station City Council

CAN’T MAKE IT IN PERSON? The meetings are streamed live on Optimum Channel 19 and cstx.gov/cstv19 You can also follow our live blog at blog.cstx.gov RE CA P OUR PREVIOUS MEETING

SEPTEMBER MEETINGS

SEP. 12: Blog | Video

SEP. 26: Blog | Video

The College Station City Council typically meets on the second Thursday of each month at City Hall.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

MONDAY, OCT. 7 • 6 P.M.

THURSDAY, OCT. 24 • 6 P.M.

“What’s Up, College Station?” Video and Podcast

Learn the latest about the City of College Station’s services, events, programs, and more as we chat with leaders and experts from across the organization.

FY 2025 BUDGET

Did You Know?

The City of College Station’s property tax rate is among the lowest among comparable Texas cities at 51.3096 cents per $100 of value. The FY 25 budget focuses on enhancing public safety, core services, and our community’s quality of life while reducing operations and maintenance spending compared to inflation. For more details, visit cstx.gov/fy25budget

Got an Issue?

Fix It Fast with SeeClickFix!

Report non-emergency issues such as potholes, streetlights, or code violations directly to the City of College Station! Download the free SeeClickFix app today to:

• Submit requests anytime, anywhere

• Attach photos for better clarity

• Track the progress of your request

Let’s work together to keep our city safe, clean, and thriving! Download the SeeClickFix App

CITY OF COLLEGE STATION CONTACTS

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

CITIZEN BOARDS, COMMISSIONS

CODE ENFORCEMENT / SEECLICKFIX

COMMUNITY SERVICES

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

FIRE DEPARTMENT

HUMAN RESOURCES

LIBRARY

MUNICIPAL COURT

NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES

PARKS & RECREATION

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

POLICE DEPARTMENT

PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS

PUBLIC WORKS (SOLID WASTE & RECYCLING)

UTILITY CUSTOMER SERVICE

UTILITY OUTAGE HOTLINE

ATHLETICS

AQUATICS

979.764.3690  cstx.gov/cip

979.764.3541  cstx.gov/committees

979.764.6363  cstx.gov/codeenforcement

979.764.3778  cstx.gov/commserv

979.764.3625  grow.cstx.gov

979.764.3705  cstx.gov/fire

979.764.3517  cstx.gov/hr

979.209.6347  bcslibrary.org

979.764.3683  cstx.gov/court

979.764.6262  cstx.gov/neighbor

979.764.3486  cstx.gov/parks

979.764.3570  cstx.gov/pds

979.764.3600  cstx.gov/police

979.764.3445  cstx.gov/publiccommunications

979.764.3690  cstx.gov/publicworks

979.764.3535  cstx.gov/ucs

855.528.4278  cstx.gov/utilities

PARKS AND RECREATION CONTACTS

979.764.3486  cstx.gov/sports

979.764.3540  cstx.gov/pools CALENDAR

CEMETERIES

FIELD STATUS

GARY HALTER NATURE CENTER

979.764.3486  cstx.gov/calendar

979.764.5049  cstx.gov/cemeteries

979.764.3732  cstx.gov/fieldrentals

979.764.6216  cstx.gov/lickcreek GENERAL INFORMATION

LINCOLN RECREATION CENTER

979.764.3486  cstx.gov/parks

979.764.3779  cstx.gov/lincolncenter

MEYER SENIOR & COMMUNITY CENTER  979.764.2670  cstx.gov/meyercenter

SOUTHWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER  979.764.6351  cstx.gov/fieldstatus

WOLF PEN CREEK PARK

979.764.3649  cstx.gov/wolfpen

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