The City of Seabrook’s
e-Update May 2010 Volume 2, Issue 5
From the Mayor’s Desk: April 19, 2010 Federal Ike Recovery Money Coming to Seabrook Soon! The City received great news this month regarding Hurricane Ike recovery efforts! Seabrook has been awarded three grants totaling $7.9 million of Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for infrastructure and public facilities in Seabrook. These are grants authorized by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development as part of $1.3 billion in federal grants for Hurricanes Ike and Dolly recovery. This CDBG funding was allocated to Seabrook on the basis of the severe damage to our facilities and infrastructure. Our staff has persevered through the mountains of paperwork and emails and we are in the final stages of securing these funds. We expect to sign the necessary funding contracts within a few months. One $4 million CDBG grant will be used for improvements and repairs on Waterfront Drive, the road to our fish markets. With these funds the City will be able to enhance this waterfront area with a goal of attracting additional quality markets and restaurants. This grant will be combined with another $2.9 million federal grant the city was awarded earlier this year. The Waterfront Drive project will repair and raise the road several feet, bury utilities, provide walking access, and decorative lighting. ->
From the Mayor’s Desk, continued: As a separate initiative in the area, the Seabrook Economic Development Corporation has secured a $98 thousand grant that we will supplement with additional funds to install a “Seabrook Waterfront District” entry sign in the area. This gateway sign will be visible from Hwy 146, providing a distinguishing Seabrook landmark when completed. Another $1.3 million CDBG will elevate and upgrade our emergency water well pumps. This will ensure that if our normal water supply from Pasadena is disrupted, as it was during Ike, that these normally unused water wells can maintain our water pressure. Seabrook was also awarded a third grant of $2.6 million in CDBG funds for street rebuilding and repair. Ike flooding occurred just after we had resurfaced many of our city streets and before the protective coating had cured. We will use the street repair grant money to proactively repair our streets before they degrade over the next few years. We expect to be very busy for over the next few months finalizing funding contracts and completing the required environmental reviews. This will lead to ground breaking and construction starts on these projects after completion of the engineering. In the meantime, we are working to secure an additional $1.6 million from the second round of CDBG funding. We plan to use these additional funds to help repair Pine Gully and Hester Gully drainage. Also, Staff and City Council continue to explore grants for more aggressive projects that would relocate our sewer plant or police department out of the flood plain. Ike had its downside for Seabrook, but on the positive side, we are working diligently to secure the project funds that are available to us specifically because of damage from Ike.
MAY 8, 2010 SPECIAL CITY ELECTION The City of Seabrook will hold a Special Election on Saturday, May 8, 2010. Election Day voting will be held in the Community House, 1210 Anders which is across the street from City Hall. Early voting will still be held in City Hall in Room 204 on May 1, 3 and 4. Voters will be asked to vote for or against the continuation of the Crime Control and Prevention District for 20 years and the one-half cent sales tax to support the District. In addition, voters will be asked to vote for or against 40 charter amendments presented by the Charter Review Commission. A link to the Notice of Election with the detailed Charter Amendments for the May 8 Special Election is on the city website home page at www.ci.seabrook.tx.us.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary will present Boating Safely Classes at the Seabrook Volunteer Fire Dept. on May 15, July 17 and Sept. 18. Topics include Equipment for Your Boat, Trailering Your Boat, Handling Your Boat, Your "Highway" Signs, and Knots and Lines. Contact Penny Williams at 713-351-8286 or Fred Steves, 713-351-8202 or fsteves@myronsteves.com for more information.
The Human Resources Department is now accepting applications for summer employment at the City Swimming Pool for the following positions: Game Room Attendant, $7.25/hr Lifeguard, $7.25/hour Detailed job descriptions and applications are available at the city website, www.ci.seabrook.tx.us under “Employment� or at City Hall, Human Resources Dept.
Do YOU Recognize These Signs?
These signs are placed in the right-of-way of industrial pipelines and are here for your safety. The markers are placed in the area to advise everyone to stay away from these areas. This means no motorcycles, go-carts, golf carts or any ATV should ride in the area of the markers. If you see individuals riding in these right-of-ways please call: Seabrook Police Department: 281-291-5610 Your Safety is our Concern!
City of Seabrook Hurricane Preparedness Town Hall Meeting Location:
Seabrook City Hall (Council Chambers)
When:
May 11, 2010
Time:
7:00 PM
Phone:
281-291-5700
Representatives from each agency to will answer any of your questions. Seabrook Office of Emergency Management Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Texas Division of Emergency Management National Weather Service Seabrook Floodplain Manager
2010 City Pool Hours The City Pool will open on Tuesday, June 8 and the last day it will be open is Saturday, August 21. New Pool Hours are: Tuesday - Thursday, 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. The City Pool will not be open Memorial Day or July 4th.
It's Great To Volunteer! Are you a resident of the Seabrook or El Lago and interested in volunteering a few hours a month in support of your community? We are looking for volunteers. No experience or prior training is required; we provide all the required training. If you are not interested in firefighting activities, we also need volunteers in many different areas of our department. If you have a desire to help, we can find a place for you. Examples include: apparatus operators, marine operations, office and computer support, building, equipment, and apparatus maintenance, special event planning, and public relations. If you are interested, please stop by Station One located at 1850 East Meyer Road in Seabrook on any Monday night at 7:00 PM during which we host our regular Department activities. We look forward to meeting with you and hope to see you there.
Calling all Swimmers ages 5-18 yrs!! The Seabrook Stingray Swim Team Registration is still going on! Swim practices are afterschool through May and then in the morning after school ends. Swim meets are Saturdays in June through the first weekend of July. No previous experience is required, children must be able to swim one length of the pool unassisted. Prices after April 30: High School $60 One Child $120 2 Children $210 3 Children $270 4 or More $320 Fees include a T-Shirt, Stingrays Handbook, Insurance for your child and End-of-Season Award!
Local sponsorship is greatly needed to keep our community costs low! If you are interested in supporting the swim team and/or scholarships – please contact John Wauls at jwauls@comcast.net
Call: Katie Spicer at 281-794-0537 for more info Or check out our Website: www.seabrookstingrays.com
It’s not too late!
Seabrook residents are reminded to keep their “street trees” trimmed! For those residents that have trees overhanging the street, please note that a clearance of twelve feet (12’) is required for the safe passage of fire trucks, garbage trucks and delivery vehicles. This is important to insure access for during emergencies, but also to protect the safety of our volunteer firemen. Limbs broken after being struck by a truck can also pose a traffic hazard for following vehicles. Recently fire trucks have struck low-hanging tree limbs in the City during orientation runs and the City’s garbage contractor, Waste Management, reports it trucks have struck several tree limbs within Seabrook. Please maintain the required clearance help keep our street accessible for essential services!