Council Briefed on Fall NEW Program

TYLER — The Tyler City Council received a presentation Wednesday on the outcomes of the Fall 2010 Neighborhood Empowerment Works (NEW) Program. Officials say during the 10th NEW Program, City of Tyler Departments came together and made many improvements to a neighborhood in City Council District Three. The boundaries of the neighborhood selected as the 10th NEW were West Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard between Border and Palace Avenues to West Vance Avenue between Moore and Palace Avenues to Franklin Street.

Officials say the NEW program enhances the quality of life for Tyler residents – one neighborhood at a time – by intensely concentrating City services in a specific area for four weeks. Working in partnership with the neighborhoods, the City’s goal is to raise awareness of code and zoning ordinances, provide information on accessing City services and promote clean and safe neighborhoods. Various City departments use information gathered from a neighborhood meeting as well as an examination of the area to identify services that could make an immediate impact on the neighborhood.

Outcomes from the 10th NEW program include:
· 33 junk vehicles were tagged for removal;
· 109 lots with high vegetation were mowed;
· 24 trashed lots were cleaned;
· 2.6 miles of curb and gutter were edged and 8 miles of curb and gutter were repaired;
· 1.238 square feet of street base repairs were performed;
· 2.6 miles of right-of-way were mowed;
· 15 stop signs were replaced;
· 12 street lights were repaired;
· The Tyler Police Department issued 23 police citations and made two arrests. They supplied a total of 80 man hours;
· The Solid Waste Department removed 425 yards of solid waste;
· Trees were trimmed and 40 cubic yards of waste removed; and,
· Keep Tyler Beautiful planted daffodil bulbs on the T.J. Austin Elementary School campus.

“The NEW program is an important tool that the City uses to stop neighborhood decline in its tracks,” said Mayor Pro Tem Ralph Caraway. “The program has made great progress throughout the City since its inception and the 10th program has certainly continue the success of NEW.” The next NEW program will begin this spring and will be held in City Council District Two.