News

Travelers at Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport (RHAIA) now have another convenient option for parking their vehicles. A new prepaid parking program is available in the long-term parking area at RHAIA. Travelers can secure a parking spot online – including dates and times for the duration of their trip. The link to the parking lot reservations web page is available at: www.fly-ama.com Additional information (including parking rates and FAQs) is provided at the above link. RHAIA has many parking options available, including Outdoor/Long-Term Parking (489 spaces), Preferred Parking (245 parking spaces with close proximity parking to the lower level of the terminal building) and a Parking Garage (650 covered spaces closest to the terminal entrance.) Public parking at RHAIA is operated by Laz Parking. For more information contact Laz Parking at (806) 335-1921.

COA Crews Address Water Main Breaks, Streets, Unhoused Population and Animal Safety The first significant cold spell and snowfall of the winter season had several City of Amarillo (COA) departments working around the clock to make sure the Amarillo community stayed safe and warm. “This first weather event of the winter season mobilized city departments to respond to and address any issues that occurred due to the extreme cold and snow,” said COA Assistant City Manager Donny Hooper. “The city is constantly monitoring weather conditions and preparing in advance to protect the Amarillo community and keep city infrastructure operating as efficiently as possible no matter the weather conditions.” Here is a breakdown of how several city departments responded to the recent weather event from January 23-January 26: For more information, contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager Dave Henry at (806) 378-5219 or by email at David.Henry@amarillo.gov.

When cattle prices dropped significantly in the 1980s and 1990s, Floyd Hartman, then a rancher, only had to look across the street for a solution. “The cattle business is a high-risk business. Cattle prices dropped, so it was time for a change,” said Hartman, who grew up on a ranch in Umbarger. “I had everything settled and had just walked out of the bank when I looked across the street and saw an opportunity at city hall. I went right over and applied for a job. It was just like that.” And just like that (over the next three decades), Hartman turned his career in local government into becoming one of the leading municipal water experts in the Texas Panhandle, if not the state and nation. Hartman, who turns 65 in March, will retire Friday after almost 30 years in local government, and more than 20 years with the City of Amarillo (COA). Hartman started in municipal government in 1994 with the City of Canyon and joined COA in April of 2004. He has held as many as eight titles with COA, and retires as Special Advisor to the Water and Sewer Utilities team – departments where he spent the majority of his career overseeing the city’s water supply for more than 200,000 residents. During his career with COA, Hartman has led or helped with water-related projects totaling between $600 million to $1 billion. “As much as I want to say it is all about the pipes and the pumps, the best part of the job is the people. I can guarantee you that,” Hartman said. “I would not trade my experience with the people of Amarillo and my coworkers for anything. When you work in a town of 200,000-plus people, it takes a team. That has been rewarding.” “Floyd

Due to ongoing extreme cold weather and to help protect critical infrastructure during extremely low temperatures, City of Amarillo facilities will be closed on Monday, January 26, with the exception of essential services. Essential services such as fire, police, utilities, and street/road crews will remain in operation. Sanding operations will continue on city-maintained overpasses, arterial intersections, and other priority areas identified in the Snow and Ice Control Plan. Residents needing to pay their utility bill may do so:• Online: https://www.amarillo.gov/utility-billing/pay/• By phone: 806-378-3030 Solid Waste services will operate on a modified schedule.• Monday residential and commercial routes will be serviced Tuesday, January 27• Tuesday residential routes will be serviced Wednesday, January 28• Curbside service will not be available Monday• Brush sites and the City landfill will be closed Monday and will reopen Tuesday, January 27 Fixed-route transit service will operate on a delayed start, with service beginning at 9:00 a.m. Monday. ACT Connect will operate on a regular schedule. Residents are encouraged to continue monitoring official City of Amarillo channels for updates and to make travel and service decisions based on current conditions.

City of Amarillo (COA) Assistant City Secretary Jonni Glick has earned a prestigious designation from the Texas Municipal Clerks Certification Program (TMCCP). Glick recently graduated from the Texas Municipal Clerks Certification Program from the University of North Texas in Denton. As of last year, only 1,101 individuals throughout the state of Texas earned the Texas Registered Municipal Clerk designation. “The requirements to receive this prestigious certification are extensive, rigorous and thorough,” said COA Secretary Stephanie Coggins, who has also earned the TMCCP designation. “By choosing to obtain this advanced education, Jonni has further improved her skills to serve the public in her important role with the city.” Glick completed approximately 200 hours of individual study over a four-course curriculum and completed eight seminars. The curriculum included an array of topics including public administration, election law, budgeting and finance, municipal law and personnel management. The program is a university-level professional education program for city clerks and city secretaries in Texas. The program is the third oldest of 47 programs around the world. For more information on the Texas Municipal Clerks Association, go to: municlerks.unt.edu/about-tmca.html