Residents with outstanding warrants or citations with the City of Amarillo (COA) Municipal Court have the opportunity to voluntarily resolve their cases as the COA Municipal Court Compliance Campaign begins Monday (February 3). “There are many ways citizens can settle cases filed with the City of Amarillo Municipal Court,” said Director of Court Services/Court Administrator Donna Knight. “The compliance campaign allows residents to take advantage of these opportunities. We encourage citizens with outstanding citations to take the necessary steps to resolve their cases with the court.” COA will begin mailing warrant postcards on Monday. Residents will have the entire month to voluntarily appear and address active warrants. Beginning March 3, the COA Marshal’s Office will begin serving warrants. There are options once a warrant is issued. Depending on the individual case, solutions include a trial before a judge or jury, payment plans or community service. Individuals may hire an attorney to handle their cases or represent themselves. Residents with active warrants may appear in person at the COA Municipal Court, 201 S.E. 4th Ave. The court may be contacted by phone at (806) 378-3082. The email address is citycourt@amarillo.gov For information on the COA Municipal Court, including the online citation payment portal, go to: www.amarillo.gov/municipal-court/ Also for more information contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager Dave Henry at (806) 378-5219 or by email at David.Henry@amarillo.gov

Amarillo residents can help ensure designated parking spaces for their disabled/elderly neighbors are used for their intended purpose by becoming a City of Amarillo (COA) Accessible Parking Enforcement Volunteer. Volunteers serve elderly and disabled motorists in Amarillo by maintaining accessible parking for those who need special parking designations. Volunteers play a crucial role in enforcing parking regulations and protecting designated handicap spaces throughout the city. The deadline to apply for the COA Accessible Parking Enforcement Program is February 6 at 5 p.m. Training will be held February 8 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Room 275 of the Simms Municipal Building, 808 S Buchanan Street. All training and equipment will be provided. Additional information and online signups are available at:  www.amarillo.gov/city-marshal/accessible-parking-enforcement-volunteer/ For more information contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager Dave Henry at 806-378-5219 or by email at david.henry@amarillo.gov. ###

Frank Shaw has seen it all when it comes to Amarillo weather – from blizzards to floods to hurricane-force winds. “I was born and raised in Amarillo, so I have pretty much seen it all,” Shaw said. Shaw is a perfect example of the employees in the City of Amarillo (COA) Street Department, who are just as skilled at monitoring the weather like a meteorologist as they are driving and maintaining massive sand trucks. “We are always watching the weather. Always,” said COA Street Superintendent Len Hill. Hill has been in Amarillo since 1973 and has almost 20 years of service with the city. Shaw, a street supervisor, is approaching 26 years of service with the city. That is almost 50 years of combined experience responding to Amarillo weather and how it impacts city streets and roads. The snow event earlier this month, which resulted in at least three inches of snow in the Amarillo area, had the COA Street Department ready days before a snowflake actually fell. The COA Street Department began weather preparation on Tuesday (the week of January 6). The COA Street Department worked 12-hour shifts for four days – spreading a mixture of salt and sand on vital and important roads for public safety. COA does not conduct snow removal on residential streets. “We get out there as fast as possible for roads that connect to hospitals, roads that need to be open for emergency services, like the Amarillo Police Department and the Amarillo Fire Department so they can get in and out,” Shaw said. “When we deploy, we want to get those roads done as quickly as possible.” Amarillo weather can be extreme, such as in February of 2013 when Amarillo was socked with just more than 19 inches of snow in a one-day period.

A water main break Monday (January 27) has resulted in the temporary closure of S.E. Third Ave. between Grand Street and Eastern Street. It is estimated the repair project will be completed next week, depending on weather conditions.  Motorists are asked to use alternate routes while the repair project is ongoing. The City of Amarillo (COA) appreciates the patience of the community.  For more information contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager Dave Henry at (806) 378-5219 or by email at David.Henry@amarillo.gov