Water Contamination - BOIL YOUR WATER!!!

Did you notice the flyer that was attached to your front door? I hope you didn't just toss it out thinking it was yet another offer to mow your yard. No, this was an official NOTICE from our Water District #89 announcing that all water service would be temporarily shut off on Tuesday, May 5, 2009 from 9AM to 6PM.

Ok, big deal you might be thinking. I'm at work during those hours anyway. But hold on there! Read the rest of the notice. Due to conditions which have occurred recently in the water system, the Texas Commision on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has required the system to notify all customers to boil their water prior to consumption.

To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and for making ice should be boiled and cooled prior to consumption. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes. In lieu of boiling you may purchase bottled water. When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the water system officials will notify you. If you have questions, please call 713-405-1750 or 877-405-1750.

I will call them tomorrow and see what the official word is and post it, but I called my niece who is a Chemical Engineer and used to work for Harris County as a wet lab Chemist (that's the folks who test the water for compliance with EPA regulations) and she said that if the TCEQ was requiring this kind of notice then the water was not safe at all. I asked her if the carbon-activated filters we had installed on our kitchen faucet and showerheads would be enough to protect us and she replied, "No. Definitely not. You all need to hound your water district officials to get the water cleaned up over there. Don't bathe - and if you shower, be careful about getting water in your mouth. Take a hot shower and make it quick. Boil all water for all uses - even for the dogs & cats."

I don't know about the rest of you, neighbors, but I've HAD IT with the WCID#89's incompetence and apparent indifference to the quality of our water!!!!!!!

Street Lights on Furman

The street lights on Furman are actually being charged to the City of Houston (COH) not CenterPoint. In CenterPoint's database, the first block of Furman between Almeda-Genoa and Fuqua (where the new gas station will be) is within the COH city limits; however, Harris County said that the northside of Furman @ Almeda-Genoa (the KB Homes side) belongs to the COH, and the southside of it is Harris County.

But... Harris County does not put up, nor pay for, street lights. They only do so within Parks (like Tom Bass Park, for example). Now, CenterPoint can erect the lights, but the problem is who will pay?

We can call the COH and ask them to put lights on THE REST of Furman Rd. Or, since we're paying (dearly) for Harris County WCID#89, we should have our water district pay for them. Please contact the Board of WCID#89 (click here for contact information) and request the lights be paid for...assuming that they haven't spent ALL the money on the new administration building!

We are in WCID#89

Brunswick Meadows' Municipal District is WCID #89. Here is the website for future reference http://wcid89.org/
I noted that they have started the construction on the new administration building. A pity the Board finds that more important than cleaning our water supply. I plan to run for one of the Board positions in 2010 (the next opportunity) and hope another activist here in Brunswick Meadows, who cares more for the community than the current Board does, will join me.
Dr. Root

Recap of Neighborhood Watch Meeting

Captain M. Talton, Harris County Sheriff, Precinct III presented the following statistics:
· The largest three areas of Precinct III are Channelview, Baytown, and South Houston ( 288/Beltway) .
· During 2008, Precinct III received 133,156 Priority Calls for service.
· Arrests: 1,027 Felony Related, 2,168 Misdemeanor Related, 15,027 Traffic Related, and issued 210,000 traffic citations.
· Brunswick Meadows resides in MUD Distrust 89.

There are 3-contract deputies patrolling on three different shifts. Deputy Barriere (Day), Deputy Lozano (Afternoon), and Deputy Crosby (Night). There are also two other deputies in the area. In addition, Deputy Billingsly represents the Burglary Apprehension Response Squad, known as the BARS unit.

Brunswick Meadows Statistics:

• Average response time in our area is 12 minutes
• Between October 2008 and March 2009, there have been 21 arrests, and 162 reports.
  Residential Burglaries
  September 2007
  12
  October 2007
  8
  November-December 2007
  0
  January 2008
  3
  February 2008
  3
  March 2008
  3
  April 2008
  1
  May 2008
  1
  June 2008
  1
  July 2008 –October 2008
  0
  November 2008
  10
  December 2008
  14
  January 2009
  3
  February 2009
  1
  March 2009
  1
  
  If you see an unrecognizable vehicle, call 713-221-6000 and report it.
  Tell the dispatch any description that you have of the vehicle (color, make, model, license plate number)
  Tell the dispatch the description of any the occupants of the vehicle.
  

If you arrive home and find your home burglarized:

1. GET OUT, and call the Sheriff’s Office
   
2. Don’t touch anything, until the Deputy’s have been able to obtain possible fingerprints.
   
3. If you find something after the Sheriffs have taken the report, please call back, and let them know what you have found.
   

Homes that have been burglarized:
o Peak times: 7am – 12 noon
o Some residents were home at the time.
o Some residents had alarms.
· Call 713-625-9911 to check on who responds to our 911 calls.

Safeguarding your home includes the following precautions:

• Install 2 ½ - 3 inch long screws that secure the strike plate to the wall framing, not just to the doorframe jamb
• Double key dead bolt lock on all entry doors.
• Install secondary locks on all windows.
• Install Automatic Garage Door device, or place a lock on garage.
• Don’t open the door to strangers.
• To obtain a 5-10% off discount on your Homeowners Insurance call 713-759-9454.
• Look at your home like a robber:
  o Is your homes address visible day and night?
  o Is your landscape and shrubbery trimmed to prevent a possible hiding spot?
  o Is there adequate lighting at all points of entry?
  o Are your motion lights installed at a good height, and covered?
  

Brunswick Meadows on TV!

KPRC 2 news reporter Daniella Guzman attended the Crime Watch meeting and interviewed several residents. Please check out both the story and video at http://www.click2houston.com/news/19135766/detail.html#story. Special Thanks to Carrie Williams for contacting the media, and to Bridget Nickerson for sharing her story.

Crime Prevention Deputy Brown, was so shocked at our tremendous turnout that he didn't have enough packets to pass out. As soon as we get more packets, we will scan and send out. Deputy Brown also provided a lot of safety tips of how to protect our homes. You can find some of those tips here: http://www.harriscountycitizencorps.com/newsletters/Feb2009Newsletter.pdf, as well as in the meeting notices.

We need everyone to volunteer to be Block Captains, and Watchers, to make our Neighborhood safer, and strong..We can only do this by "Transforming a Community, Block by Block."

Also if you see any suspicious activity please contact 713-221-6000.

Thank you so much again.....and hope to see each of you at our next meeting…

Official Neighborhood Watch Meeting Invitation

You are cordially invited to

The Official Neighborhood Watch Meeting

Wednesday, April 8th

6 – 8 pm

Jones Memorial Church
2504 Almeda Genoa Road