News

The Georgia Street Reconstruction Project continues with a change in traffic patterns effective Thursday. The project, which began earlier this month, will include closure of the northbound lane of Georgia Street at South Loop 335 with a detour via Western Street and Farmers Avenue. The anticipated duration of the closure and detour will be approximately two weeks, depending on weather conditions. This is part of the first phase of the project that addresses utility relocation ahead of street reconstruction. Final completion of the project is scheduled for November 2028. The project will divert traffic around the construction area and to minimize impact to the public as much as possible. Motorists are advised to please heed all traffic signs in the area. Attachments are included with maps indicating the change in traffic flow beginning Thursday.

The City of Amarillo (COA) Parks and Recreation Department (PARD), in collaboration with Outdoor Amarillo, is announcing the return of the Independence Day +1 Fireworks and Drone Show. Independence Day +1 is free. Outdoor Amarillo is a non-profit organization partnering with PARD to promote outdoor recreation and community engagement. The event begins at 3:30 p.m. July 5 at John Stiff Memorial Park and will continue throughout the evening, ending with the firework and summer-themed drone show.  Free festivities include: Parking will be available on-site or shuttles will be available from the Amarillo High School parking lot and the Randall High School parking lot. PARD would like to thank the following sponsors: Austin Hose, Budweiser, Amarillo National Bank, Alpha Media, Pak-A-Sak, Xcel Energy and Parkhill. For more information, contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager David Henry at (806) 378-5219 or by email at David.Henry@amarillo.gov. ###

In recognition of Juneteenth, the City of Amarillo (COA) offices will be closed on Thursday (June 19). The COA service schedule for the week of Juneteenth: The schedule for Solid Waste services: Ross Rogers and Comanche Trail Golf Complexes will have normal hours of operation. For more information contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager Dave Henry at 806-378-5219 or by email at david.henry@amarillo.gov. ###

For the 34th straight year, the City of Amarillo (COA) has earned the Government Finance Officers Association’s (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the fiscal year 2024-2025 COA budget. The award represents a significant achievement. It reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. In order to receive the budget award, COA had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity’s budget serves as: Budget documents must be rated “proficient” in all four categories, and in the 14 mandatory criteria within those categories, to receive the award. There are over 1,700 participants in the Budget Awards Program. The most recent Budget Award recipients, along with their corresponding budget documents, are posted quarterly on GFOA’s website. Award recipients have pioneered efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America. For more information on the GFOA, go to: www.gfoa.org

Madison Harrison has reached an elite level in her profession with the City of Amarillo (COA). Think of it as similar to a black belt in the world of karate. Or (not to be too nerdy) think of it as being a Jedi Master in the world of “Star Wars.” “I guess that might be similar,” Harrison said with a laugh. Harrison, an Environmental Health Specialist III with the COA Environmental Health Department, has earned the title of Certified Master Pool Builder. For perspective, Harrison is one of 53 people in the world who have earned such certification. She is one of 50 in the United States, one of nine in Texas and the only COA employee. “The certification that Madison has earned is a rare and unique accomplishment,” said COA Director of Environmental Health Anthony Spanel. “We are extremely proud of Madison. “This sets Amarillo apart from all others as Madison has advanced knowledge of pool design and operation allowing her to aid the community in complex problem-solving related to recreational bodies of water. The goal is to have a direct impact on public health by reducing waterborne illnesses and unintentional drownings through educational and regulatory intervention.” Harrison spent more than two years earning the certification from the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance. She completed 150 hours of education across four levels and traveled to Dallas, Atlantic City and Florida. As part of her job, Harrison inspects all public and semi-public pools in Potter and Randall counties. This includes city pools, apartments, gyms, clubs, etc. “I have not only gained a lot of experience and knowledge but also perspective,” said Harrison, who has been with the city for four years. “As an inspector, we learn what the codes say and why. We don’t really learn the technical or applicable