WBNA | Wells Branch Neighborhood Association

Wells Branch MUD Holiday Info

Wells Branch MUD Holiday Hours

December/January Holiday Closures:  The Recreation Center and District Office will be closed December 24-27 and December 31-January 3.  Willow Bend Pool will be closed December 24, 25, 31, and January 1.  Contact WB MUD Customer Service with questions at 512-251-9814 or info@wellsbranchmud.com

 Solid Waste and Recycling Pickup

December/January Holiday Schedule Changes:  There will be no changes to service.

Curbside Community Compost
and Christmas Tree Collection

December/January:  There will be no Curbside Community Compost pickup December 27– January 3.  Reminder: Natural Christmas trees may be placed curbside for pickup during the regular weekly collection.  Please REMOVE ALL LIGHTS and DECORATIONS.

Winter Wastewater Averaging

You can lower your water bill all year by conserving water between December 9, 2021 and March 8, 2022.  For more information and details on how to find your water meter visit: wellsbranchmud.com/wwa

Bulk Trash Collection

December 11 & January 8 • 8:00am-2:00pm
Parks & Facilities Yard • 13905 Thermal Drive

Open from 8am-2pm or until dumpsters are full. This FREE service is for residents of the Wells Branch MUD ONLY. There will be large dumpsters for bulk trash, a dumpster for metal recycling and a dumpster for other oversized recyclable materials. There will be no collection of any other items or donations at this event. Anyone unable to make it out on this bulk day may still place their bulk items curbside, alongside your trash or recycling cart, on your regularly scheduled collection day. For more details on accepted bulk items at this event, please visit wellsbranchmud.com.

Transportation Assistance for Bulk Trash
Scouts BSA Crew 1409 is offering transportation of Bulk Trash, Metal Recycling, Styrofoam Recycling, and Large Cardboard Recycling for the December Bulk Trash Day for a minimum donation of $20.  They are hoping to earn money to offset the cost of a Wilderness First Aid course.  Please tip accordingly.  Transportation is limited to WB MUD In-District residents only.  Please schedule your pickup with Daniel White by Friday, December 10.  Text him your name, address, and phone number at 512-413-0097.

Venturing is a youth development program of Scouts BSA for young men and women who are 14 – 20 years of age. Contact Jill Douglass (512-293-9022 / jdouglass@crew1409.com) for questions about the Crew. Visit http://www.crew1409.com/ to learn more!

Holiday Safety Tips

With the bustle of the holidays just around the corner, make sure you’re taking every precaution possible to keep your home and family safe and secure. While focusing on safety, it’s also essential to address any potential vulnerabilities in your home, such as the condition of your roof. Quality roofing companies can help ensure that your home is well-protected during the festive season and throughout the year. We usually see an increase in opportunistic crime this time of year; please remain vigilant.

• Keep your blinds and drapes closed when away, even if only for a short period of time.
• Keep your house well lit at night (backyard included).  A motion sensor activated light is an inexpensive deterrent.
• If your Christmas tree is displayed in front of a window, don’t pile the presents around it.  Store the gifts in another area away from view when the blinds or drapes are open.
• Do NOT put the empty boxes for the new computer, TV, stereo system, etc. on the curb for the trash.  Take the time to break down every box and put it inside your trashcan/recycling bin so that it is concealed, even if you have to hold it over to the next week.  People start cruising our neighborhood on Sunday afternoons to see what has been put out.  The less they know about what you have inside, the better.
• Door-to-door solicitations increase tremendously this time of year.  Always look out the window or peephole before opening the door or answering a knock.  Never open the door all the way, especially if you have a Christmas tree and/or presents in plain view.
• Always lock your car.   Never leave your car running unattended or leave your keys in the car or ignition.
• If you usually keep a garage door remote control in your car and don’t park it in the garage each and every time you return home, hide the remote or take it inside.  Thieves check visors and this gives them instant protected access to your home.
• Keep your garage door closed at all times and keep the inside door from your home to the garage LOCKED.
• Don’t leave valuables in plain view, even if your car is locked.  Take them in the house or put them in the trunk out of sight BEFORE arriving at your destination.
• While shopping this holiday season, remain aware of your surroundings at all times.  If unsure of your safety, ask a store attendant to have security walk you to your car.  You can’t be too safe.  This goes for trips to the grocery store as well.
• When unloading your car at home after a day of shopping, lock it between trips to and from the car.

If you plan to be away: 

• Let a neighbor and/or block captain know you’ll be out of town and when you’ll return.  They should have the following: your emergency contact information; contact information for anyone with access to your house (pet sitter, etc.); when they should be expected; what they look like and a description of their vehicle(s). 
• Let only those who NEED to know, know when you are going out of town.
• Don’t share vacation plans on social media.
• Arrange to have your lawn cared for if you are going to be away.
• Don’t hide keys under doormats or flowerpots or in similar places.
• Put your lights, stereo or TV on timers.
• Keep your house well lit at night (backyard included)Leave a car in the driveway or ask a neighbor to park in it.
• Don’t cancel your paper or mail deliveries; ask that your neighbor pick them up every day.
• Leave a key with a friend or neighbor; ask that the house be checked at regular intervals.
• Store all your valuables.
• Consider asking friends or relatives to live in your home while you are away.
• Ask your neighbor to put trash in your trashcan and to put it out for collection and away when they put theirs away.
• File a Close Patrol Request.  The filing of this form alerts patrolling officers so that they may pay close attention to one’s residence.  To do so: Contact the Travis County  Sheriff’s Office at 512-854-9721.  Ask to make a Close  Patrol Request.  You will be asked for information on those caring for your home while you’re away – make and model of their vehicles, name, description and times they should be at your home.

A comprehensive list of Safety Tips as well as numerous articles by the Travis County Sheriff Deputies are posted under the Safety tab.  There’s also a wealth of information available at tcsheriff.org.

If you are not already, become a Wells Branch Neighborhood Association member.  “Like” us on Facebook for community updates.  Join the Wells Branch Melting Pot on Facebook and sign up for your area on Nextdoor.com.  The more community involvement and connectedness there is, the safer we all will be.

Join the community listserv aka ‘The Google Group’ by sending your name, physical address and email to wbneighbors@gmail.com.

Most of all, be aware of your surroundings and look out for your neighbors.  If you see or hear something suspicious, call 911.  The Sheriff’s Department would much rather answer a false alarm than deal with a tragedy later.

We live in a GREAT community AND a SECURE neighborhood.  Let’s all do our part to keep it that way.  Here’s to a safe and happy holiday season!           

Carbon Monoxide Safety

Travis County ESD No. 2 | info@pflugervillefire.org
Source: nfpa.org/education

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas.  It has no odor.  CO gas is poisonous.  It can make a person feel sick and can be deadly.  In the home, heating and cooking devices that burn fuel can be sources of carbon monoxide.

CO ALARMS

• CO alarms should be installed outside each sleeping area. Install alarms on every level of the home.  It is best to use interconnected alarms.  When one sounds, all CO alarms in the home sound.
• Follow the instruction on the package to properly install the CO alarm.
• Test CO alarms at least once a month.
• Replace CO alarms according to the instructions on the package.
• Know the sounds the CO alarm makes. It will sound if CO is detected.  It will make a different sound if the battery is low or if it is time to get a new CO alarm.
• If the battery is low, replace it.
• If the CO alarm sounds, you must get fresh air. Move outdoors, by an open window or near an open door.  Make sure everyone in the home gets to fresh air.  Call the fire department from a fresh air location.  Stay there until help arrives.

PREVENT CO POISONING

• When warming a vehicle, move it out of the garage. Do not run a fueled engine indoors, even if garage doors are open.  Make sure the exhaust pipe of a running vehicle is not blocked.  Clear snow away.
• During and after a snowstorm, make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove and fireplace are clear of snow build-up.
• Clear all debris from dryer, furnace, stove, and fireplace vents.
• A generator should be used outdoors. Use in a well-ventilated location away from windows, doors, and vent opening.
• Gas or charcoal grills can produce CO. Only use them outside.
• Have heating equipment and chimneys inspected by a professional every year before cold weather sets in.
• Open the damper when using a fireplace for adequate ventilation.
• Never use your oven or stove to heat your home.

Give the Gift
of Holiday Fire Safety

As you prepare to celebrate the upcoming holidays, Travis County Emergency Services District #2 (the Pflugerville Fire Department) encourages everyone in Wells Branch to put safety at the top of the gift list!  Thanksgiving is the #1 day of the year for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve.  Here’s what you can do to help keep your home a place of joy this holiday season:

Use a Timer—It’s easy to forget you have the stove or oven on, especially once you sit down to enjoy your feast.  Always use a timer to remind you to turn things off.

Stay with the Stove—Never leave your house unattended when you have food cooking in the oven – not even a ham or turkey! And always stay in the kitchen whenever you are cooking on the stovetop.  Keep the handles of your pots and pans turned back away from the edge of the stove so they aren’t knocked or pulled down.  Even when the stove is off but especially when it’s on, keep the area around the stove clear of flammable items such as hot pads, paper towels, cookbooks, decorations, and notes/cards.

Keep Kids Back—Always keep children at least 3 feet away from a hot stovetop.  Move regular and electric knives well out of their reach.  Don’t let them too close to hot dishes or liquids such as gravy and coffee.

Caution with Cords—Be sure cords from electric knives, coffee makers, plate warmers, and mixers are not dangling off of the counter.  Adults may accidentally snag these dangerous items, and children may be tempted to pull them down.

Avoid Turkey Fryers—The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) warns that turkey fryers using cooking oil are not safe even for well-informed and careful home cooks.  Turkey fryers use a lot of cooking oil at high temperatures, and there’s a significant danger that hot oil will be released during cooking.  Additionally, the burners that heat the oil can ignite spilled oil.

Light it Right—Some holiday lights are only safe for indoor or outdoor use, but NOT both.  When hanging holiday lights, use clips – not nails – to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged.  If you need to use a ladder, work with a partner on the ground.  Replace any string of lights that has worn or broken cords or any loose bulb connections.  Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the maximum number of light strands to connect.

Take Care with Candles—Keep lit candles away from centerpieces, decorations, curtains, and other things that can burn.  Locate them away from windows and doors so your emergency exits are not blocked if objects catch fire.  Always blow out candles when you leave the room or go to bed.  Try using battery-operated candles instead!