City Info Weekly - 2009/07/01 (Archive)

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City Hall goes 24/7 with “ASK Longview”

The City of Longview is about to make it even easier for you to contact us with your requests, questions, and concerns.  On July 1, ASK Longview was launched, a new tracking system that will allow you to contact us 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The system features simple pull-down menus and is a breeze to use.  To make a request or leave a comment or question, just click the blue “ASK Longview” button on our home page (www.mylongview.com).  ASK Longview will greatly improve the way the City handles your requests by:

• Creating a unique case number for each request so that you can easily track its status at any time
• Automatically informing you about the status of your request and notifying you when the request has been completed

More information:  Any questions about ASK Longview can be directed to 442-5004.

City Hall will be closed July 2 and 3

City employees will be taking an unpaid “furlough day” on Thursday, July 2 this month.  City offices will also be closed on July 3 in observance of the July 4 holiday.   The Longview Public Library will be open on July 2, but will be closed instead on Monday, July 6.  For the remainder of 2009, most office closures will occur on a Friday, but a few will be on alternate days.  Even though most City offices will be closed on these days, many City services will still be available 24/7, especially with the launching of ASK Longview.  Services still available include emergency and public safety services, the Library’s book/video drop box, the City Hall drop box for utility payments, and online utility bill payments and recreation class registrations at www.mylongview.com. The CUBS transit center will be open on its regular schedule.

More information:  Please see our City offices closure schedule.  Any questions or comments about these closures can be directed to 442.5004.

National Night Out street closure permits are due July 1

Although the City of Longview will have a limited role due to budget cuts, Police Chief Alex Perez is still encouraging neighborhood groups to hold National Night Out parties on Tuesday, Aug. 4.  National Night Out, promoted by the National Association of Town Watch, is an annual celebration for communities to say good bye to crime. Neighborhood groups wanting to hold block parties are asked to apply for street use permits by the end of July 1 if they plan to close their streets for National Night Out activities.  There is no fee for a street use permit, but paperwork must be turned in at least one month before an event for the City to approve a closure.  Street use permit applications are available at Longview City Hall at 1525 Broadway, and at the Longview Police Department’s Highlands Satellite Office at 216 30th Ave. Suite C behind the St. Helens Shopping Center.  Completed street use permits should be turned in at the engineering department at City Hall, 1525 Broadway.

More information:  Neighborhood groups who are planning National Night Out activities and would like representatives of Longview Police Department, other City departments and members of the Longview City Council to drop by are asked to contact community service officer Cindy Lopez Werth by July 17 at 442-5857.

Fireworks reminders

Longview Fire Marshal Jim Kambeitz would like to remind residents that state law allows fireworks to be used only from June 28 through July 5, until 11 p.m. each night, and until midnight on the 4th.  Use legal fireworks purchased from a licensed retailer, and remember to be prepared before lighting fireworks, be safe during, and be safe after.  Your family and neighbors will thank you.  (View television commercial)

More information:  Fireworks safety information is available on the National Council of Fireworks Safety web site at http://www.fireworksafety.com/.

Longview recovers over $10,000 in “Fuel Tax Recovery” monies

The federal government and the state of Washington charge tax on the motor fuel the City purchases for its vehicles and equipment.  The taxes collected help provide funds for the construction and upkeep of public highways.  The City of Longview was able to recover $10,445 in motor fuel taxes this year by filing a return with the state of Washington for the months of March 1, 2008 thru December 31, 2008.  A private firm that specializes in helping a variety of industries, including city and county organizations, helped the City file appropriate documents to obtain the refund. 

More information:  Contact the City’s Finance Department at 442-5030.

Project READ Training for Literacy Tutors

Do you love to read?  Do you enjoy helping others reach their goals?  If so, Longview Public Library’s Project READ invites you to become a literacy tutor!  This volunteer adult literacy program is seeking patient, dependable, and caring adult volunteer tutors to commit to work one-on-one with adult learners at Project READ twice a week for an hour each time.   A minimum six-month commitment is required.  The next formal tutor training session is July 13, 14, 20, and 21 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the library.  After the 10-hour tutor training, volunteers are then matched with an adult learner who is striving to improve his or her life by acquiring basic skills in reading, writing, citizenship or GED preparation, verbal communication in English, or other areas.  Those wishing to attend the training will need to pre-register, pick up a tutor application and job description, and bring the completed forms with them to the training. 

More information:  Contact Elizabeth Partridge in the Project READ Corner of the Longview Public Library, or call her at 442.5321.

Summer Concerts at the Lake begin on July 9

Free live music for the entire family will be held on Thursday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. at Martin’s Dock in Lake Sacajawea Park beginning on July 9.  Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and picnic dinner for this fun family event.  Food service is also available. This year’s concert lineup includes:

• July 9 – Abbey Road Live (Beatles Tribute)
• July 16 – The Buckaroosters (Buck Owens Tribute)
• July 23 – The Beatniks (Definitive 60’s & 70’s Rock ‘n Roll)
• July 30 Midnight Serenaders (20’s & 30’s Old Time Jazz & Swing)
• August 6 – The Stellar Fellars (Folk Music from the 60’s)
• August 13 – Hit Machine (Hits from all eras)
• August 20 – Deadwood Revival (Progressive Old Time Bluegrass)

More information:  Contact the Longview Parks and Recreation Department at 442-5400.  This year’s concert series is sponsored by Kirkpatrick Family Care, Red Canoe Credit Union, and Cascade Networks Internet Solutions.