COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED:  AMY BEARD APPOINTED CHAIR
On October 31, 2008, the Board approved the establishment of the Community Development Committee, and the appointment of Amy Beard as the Chair.  Heather Sendera was also appointed as a committee member.  The Committee’s mission is to “serve as an advocate on behalf of the Covered Bridge Property Owners Association in close coordination with the Board, promoting communication, cooperation and commerce among Covered Bridge residents and area developers with the aim of enhancing the economy and quality of life of the community it serves.”

Ms. Beard will accomplish the committee’s mission by attending hearings and meetings, monitoring governmental websites, publications, and mailing lists for information on land use and development cases, residential and commercial building plan reviews, applications for zoning variances, and planned road construction and improvements.  Information obtained will be summarized and reported to the Board and membership through this website and at Association meetings.  Should the Committee identify issues that impact the property values or quality of life for Covered Bridge residents, the committee will then assist by coordinating a community response.

Ms. Beard is currently employed as a Governmental Consultant with Cammack & Strong, P.C.  She has worked with various representatives in the House and Senate on health care related issues, financial, insurance, tax and budget matters, and has helped pass significant pieces of workers’ compensation legislation which enabled her client to continue to operate in the state of Texas.  Amy served as a Senate Sergeant during the 79th Legislative Session and learned the legislative process by attending committee meetings and developing relationships with Legislators and their staff.  In her previous position, Amy served as an Assistant Analyst for Baselice & Associates, Inc. where she assisted other analysts on major political and corporate opinion research and helped assess trends in the survey study.

Amy received a B.A. degree from the University of Texas at Austin with a major in Sociology and minor in History.  She is a former Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas.

COMMUNITY INVITED TO DISCUSS SOUTHWEST MIDDLE SCHOOL BOUNDARY PROPOSAL
The Austin School District invites community members to discuss proposed boundaries and attendance zones for the new Southwest Middle School under construction at 7412 Slaughter Lane. The meetings will be held on:

Tuesday, December 2, 6:30 p.m. • Bailey Middle School Cafeteria • 4020 Lost Oasis Hollow • 414-4990
Thursday, December 4, 6:30 p.m. • Small Middle School Cafeteria • 801 Monterey Oaks Blvd. • 841-6700

Opening in August 2009, the new school will relieve overcrowding at Bailey and Small middle schools; and proposed changes would affect Bailey, Small, Covington, and Paredes middle schools. Maps will be available for viewing at the meetings and on the AISD website, www.austinisd.org.  For ALS and Spanish interpretation, please call 414-2667 in advance or email Lydia.venegas@austinisd.org .

SINGLE STREAM RECYCLING COMING TO AUSTIN AND COVERED BRIDGE
The City of Austin is switching to a new system of recycling known as Single Stream recycling. This allows the City of Austin Pay As You Throw (PAYT) customers to mix recyclable paper, plastic and glass in one bin. This method of curbside recycling is more convenient for residents because it requires no sorting of items. Other advantages include reduced collection costs because collection can be automated, collection routes can be serviced more efficiently and more paper grades can be collected, including food packaging (boxboard), junk mail, and mixed residential paper.

Single Stream service will begin October 6, 2008. New 90-gallon recycling carts will be delivered to all Pay-as-You-Throw (PAYT) customers over a three to four month period. Until we receive our new recycling cart, we may use the bin for recycling following the Single Stream guidelines. Our recycling day has now switched to Tuesdays. Here is the link for the recycling schedule: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/sws/schedulesrecycling.htm

Service change to the Single Stream Recycling is automatic and no sign-up is required. A written notice from Solid Waste Services (SWS) providing details and dates of the service change will be mailed. About a week before Single Stream starts, crews will begin delivering 90-gallon recycling carts to residences. Guidelines for what items go in the cart will be printed on the cart lid for the customer’s convenience. Other information, including a collection day calendar, will also be attached to the cart when it is delivered. We should place our recycling cart at the curb every other week with the garbage carts on the usual pickup day. Until we receive our new recycling cart, we can participate in Single Stream recycling using our blue bin.