News

Now is the time for residents with outstanding warrants or citations with the City of Amarillo (COA) Municipal Court to voluntarily resolve their cases as the COA Municipal Court Compliance Campaign begins Monday (February 9). “Individuals with active warrants are encouraged to voluntarily resolve their cases before enforcement actions begin, and the Court Compliance Campaign is a convenient method,” said COA Director of Court Services/Court Administrator Donna Knight. Key information for the COA Municipal Court Compliance Campaign: February 9: Warrant postcards are mailed to individuals with active warrants. February 9 – March 6: Voluntary compliance period to resolve warrants. Week of March 9: City Marshal’s Office begins serving outstanding warrants. Residents will have from February 9 to March 6 to voluntarily appear and address active warrants. There are options once a warrant is issued. Depending on the individual case, solutions include trial before a judge or jury, payment plans and community service. Options vary by case and are determined by the court. Residents can check for active warrants here: amarillo.gov/municipal-court/warrants Contact information for the COA Municipal Court is: Phone: 806-378-3082Email: citycourt@amarillo.gov In person: 201 S.E. Fourth Ave. Amarillo, TX 79101By mail: Amarillo Municipal Court, P.O. Box 1366, Amarillo, TX 79105-1366 Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. When the court is closed, a night drop box is available for cashier checks and money order payments in the Amarillo Police Department lobby at 200 SE Third Ave. For information on the COA Municipal Court, including the online citation payment portal, go to: amarillo.gov/municipal-court.

Traffic patterns on Fulton Drive are temporarily adjusted as part of the new addition to the Ridgecrest neighborhood development. Fulton Drive just east of Bell Street is temporarily closed between Holiday Drive and Harmony Street. Eastbound traffic will be detoured at Holiday Drive and westbound traffic will be detoured southbound at Harmony Street. The temporary closure is to allow for installation of a water main serving the new development and is expected through Friday (February 6). The temporary traffic adjustment is intended to safely route vehicles around the construction zone while minimizing public disruption. Motorists are encouraged to follow all posted signage and exercise caution traveling through the area.

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