New to the island? Hop aboard

City Hall employees are ready to help you get settled in. Stop by 700 W. Ave A for their assistance. Thinking of moving to Port Aransas? The following is a list of utilities and city services you may find helpful to get settled into the island life.

Water:

Port Aransas gets its water through the Nueces County Water Control and Improvement District No. 4 (NCWCID #4). The office is on Ninth Street, which is east of Alister Street between Avenue C and Avenue G. The phone number is 749-5201. Sewer service is also handled on the same bill with your water.

Just go by, or give them a call, to find out the amount of deposit required, and the monthly billing procedures.

When you sign up for water service, you are automatically put on the list for city sanitation service.

Garbage:

The City of Port Aransas contracts with a private garbage collection service, Allied Waste, for residential garbage collection. Allied provides residents with a 95-gallon toter. Call city hall, at 749-4111, to determine the collection days for your neighborhood and if you have toter questions.

The city also participates in a residential recycling program. Plastic, aluminum, tin cans, noncorrugated cardboard boxes and newspapers (no glass) are picked up on Mondays. Stop by city hall, 710 W. Ave. A, to pick up a recycling bin and brochure that explains what is acceptable.

Condominium residents may recycle plastic, aluminum, tin, paper and cardboard by taking them to the city garbage collection station at the end of Ross Avenue from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The city also contracts Allied Waste to pick up brush and bulky items, if limbs are properly cut and stacked at the curb. Brush and bulky items must be separated for pick up, scheduled on Monday and Tuesday. Do not stack items under power lines; this causes a safety issue with the automated trucks.

Port Aransas residents may use the city’s garbage collection station free of charge twice a month, for residential garbage only, by presenting a city garbage bill.

Gas:

Natural gas is provided by the city. Stop by city hall to make arrangements.

Electricity:

For electrical service, you may call the provider of your choice.

Telephone:

Local telephone service is provided by CenturyLink. Installation and repairs are routed through the local office at 219 E. Avenue C, between Alister and Station streets.

To order new service, call 749-9020. Check listings in the phone book for other telephone or Internet services.

Schools:

Port Aransas also offers a full-curriculum school district. Instruction begins at prekindergarten for children who are age 4 by Sept. 1, and continues through grade 12. The district is classified as a 1A school, and rated Recognized by the Texas Education Agency.

The school administration office can be reached at 749- 1200 for information about enrolling.

Port Aransas residents also are eligible for enrollment in Seashore Learning Center and Middle Academy, charter schools on North Padre Island serving grades one through eight. For more information visit www.seashore.esc2.net.

EMS:

Emergency medical care is available through the cityoperated Emergency Medical Service by dialing 911.

Police:

Port Aransas is served by a city police department (749-6241 for non-emergency calls) and a volunteer fire department. Both departments can be reached in an emergency by dialing 911.

Fire:

The city’s fire department is staffed by 22 volunteers and equipped with eight trucks. The fire station is located on Avenue C, between Ninth and 10th streets.

Newspaper:

Port Aransas is also served by a weekly newspaper, the South Jetty. It is locally owned and operated. The South Jetty is a member of regional, state and national press associations. Published each Thursday, the South Jetty covers news of Port Aransas and Mustang Island and is available by mail with a paid subscription, or from newsstands throughout town.

Online subscriptions are available by going to www.portasouthjetty.com.