Volunteers Informed and Prepared (VIP) is seeking individuals interested in serving the residents of Rockwall County by supporting programs created to inform and prepare residents in the event of a natural or manmade disaster.
These programs include the Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI), which was developed to distribute medications to all County residents in the event of a biological or pandemic flu threat. A full-scale exercise has been scheduled on Saturday, March 21 from 8 to 11:30 a.m. in the Rockwall High School parking lot. The exercise will simulate a drive-thru dispensing site with the goal of evaluating the processing and dispensing times of the plan. Medical and non-medical
volunteers are needed to assist in every phase of the exercise.
If you are interested in serving your community as a VIP volunteer, please visit www.rockwallcri.com or call the Rockwall Emergency Management Office at 972-772-6625.
February 19th, 2009
The City of Heath will join the City of Rockwall to host the 9th Annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection/Environmental Action Day on April 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Rockwall’s Service Center at 1600 Airport Road in Rockwall. The event is open to City of Heath residents, who must obtain a free voucher from Heath City Hall to deliver items to the collection site.
If you would like to volunteer as your neighborhood coordinator or need a participation voucher, please visit City Hall or contact Les Horvath at 972-961-4883.
February 19th, 2009
The City Council has approved removing the temporary fuel surcharge for the collection of garbage and recyclables that was added to utility bills last May. The surcharge was added upon the request of IESI Solid Waste Services to help offset the financial impact of rapidly rising fuel costs in 2008.
Effective immediately, residential garbage collection fees will decrease by .50 cent s per home per month. Commercial customers fees will decrease by .28 cents per monthly dumpster yard, and fees paid by roll off customers s will be reduced by $7.75 per haul.
January 16th, 2009
Many waste items can be harmful to our health, such as automotive oil/products, batteries, cooking oil, electronic devices, fluorescent tubes and bulbs, household cleansers, lawn and garden chemicals, pharmaceuticals, paint products and pesticides. When you need information about proper disposal of these materials, please call the Household Hazardous Waste Helpline at 972-961-4883.
Also be sure to mark your calendar for April 18, 2008, when the City of Heath will join with the City of Rockwall to conduct the annual Spring Household Hazardous Waste Collection / Environmental Action Day. More details to follow.
January 16th, 2009
New alarm permit requirement applies to both monitored
and non-monitored systems.
On September 16, 2008, the Heath City Council ordained that effective January , 2009, anyone responsible for the operation of or in possession of an alarm system in the City of Heath will be required to obtain a permit for operation of such system. The permit requirement applies to monitored and non-monitored systems.
Permits will need to be renewed each year. A penalty of $200.00 may be assessed if the alarm system has not been registered for a permit. For purposes of this ordinance, vehicle alarms and alarms designed to alert only the inhabitants of a premise, i.e. smoke alarms, are not considered an alarm system and do not require a permit.
Applying for an Alarm Permit
For your convenience, a permit application has been included with this month’s utility billing. Applications may also be obtained online at www.heathtx.com, in person at City Hall, 200 Laurence Drive, Heath, or by mail by calling the Heath Department of Public Safety at 972-961-4900.
Please complete the application and return it with a check for the appropriate amount. If you mail in your registration, a receipt will be returned to you by mail if requested. Please make your check payable to City of Heath.
Annual Fee for an Alarm Permit
The residential permit fee is $35.00/year. The commercial permit fee is $50.00/year. The permit is good for a calendar year and must be renewed annually by January 1. A separate alarm permit is required for each street address and each system.
Alarm permits are not transferable to other individuals or businesses. Should you change your home or business location, your permit automatically expires and the new owners will be responsible for a permit upon occupation of the property.
Failing to Apply For a Permit
The City of Heath is allowing a grace period of 60 days from the effective date of January 1, 2009. After March 2, 2009, citizens or businesses that do not apply for a permit are subject to a non-registration penalty of $200.00.
False Alarm Tracking
Alarm calls will be tracked to identify when systems have not been properly registered or when an alarm system results in excess of three false alarms per calendar year.
Penalties for alarm calls in excess of three false alarm calls per calendar year range from $50.00 to $750.00 per occurrence; depending upon the type of alarm system and number of false alarms. There are no penalties for the first three false alarm calls.
Additional Questions?
To review the ordinance, please go to www.heathtx.com. For additional questions, please contact the Heath Department of Public Safety at 972-961-4900.
January 16th, 2009