Public input sought on regional effort along corridor in Capitol Area

Bumper-to-bumper traffic is normal on I-35 through the Capitol Area corridor in Travis, Hays and Williamson counties.

City of Austin Transportation Director Rob Spillar (pictured) calls Interstate 35 "the transportation backbone" of Austin, the region, the state and the nation. More "endearing" terms for the always-congested roadway are used by motorists bogged down in traffic on the busy Capitol Area corridor at rush hour!

Spillar and other city and state officials are out to change that. This week they held a trio of open house meetings in Travis County to review plans and hear public input on proposed mobility solutions for the busy interstate in Hays, Travis and Williamson counties.  

These three meetings focused on the part of the interstate in Travis County. Five previous open house sessions have resulted in more than 300 ideas aimed at improving I-35. That information has been used by the city of Austin and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to identify preliminary concepts that could be put in place in three to 10 years to address congestion and connectivity in the Capitol Area corridor. The project addresses not only the motoring public, but also pedestrian, bicycle, transit, truck and emergency vehicle traffic.

Among the goals of the project are improving transit and high-occupancy vehicle opportunities, identifying cost-effective projects, reducing air pollution, improving economic development opportunities, providing better travel information and improving the safety, efficiency and access to the corridor and through it for all users.

This is not the first time for a study of I-35. But, the current process differs because projects being considered will not require significant additional right-of-way acquisition or incur substantial costs.

The bad news is that the proposals will be implemented when funds are available. However, there is speculation that some low-cost proposals could possibly be implemented this year, with others reaching out up to 10 years and likely including a combination of federal, state and local funds.

For those who were unable to attend the local meetings, a virtual open house has been set up where plans can be reviewed and comments can be submitted online.

Victoria College awarded $2.5M grant, $1.9M toward center needs

Victoria College's new Emerging Technology Center recently received a multi-million-dollar shot in the arm through a $2.5 million grant from the M.G. and Lille A. Johnson Foundation. The majority of the funds - $1.98 million - will be used to help defray the costs of equipment for programs aimed at helping to train and educate the workforce in South Texas. Another $300,000 will go to the Johnson Foundation scholarship endowment and $200,000 is allocated to fund student scholarships in the allied health programs.

Jennifer Yancey (pictured), Victoria College vice president of College Advancement and External Affairs, praised the support of the Johnson Foundation while acknowledging the grant funds. "Marshall and Lillie Johnson, through their commitment to the community, have helped thousands of VC students achieve their educational dreams," she said. "They have faithfully supported scholarships, facilities, student services, equipment and program development."

The grant will allow the college to create a state-of-the-art facility with new equipment and technology. Its goal is to help meet the training and workforce development needs of the community. The $1.9 million will be used for instructional and presentation technology, communication systems and security - along with equipment to expand and implement training programs through VC's welding, machining and industrial systems mechanic programs, as well as all computer labs and necessary technical equipment.

Groundbreaking on the center is expected this spring with completion set for 16 months later. 

Luce resigns from cancer agency oversight committee

Tom Luce, a Dallas civic leader, recently resigned from the oversight committee of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The Texas Speaker of the House appointed Luce to the committee in May.

Luce said his new duties as chief operating officer of the O'Donnell Foundation would leave him little time for the oversight committee as his reason for resigning from the audit committee of the troubled state agency. CPRIT has been under investigation for its handling of grants to fund research into preventing and treating cancer.

Transportation Commission approves control tower funds

Fourteen federally funded air traffic control towers scheduled for closing as a result of federal sequestration cuts have been given a reprieve by the state of Texas.

The Texas Transportation Commission this week approved funding to keep the towers open at those facilities for 90 days at a cost of approximately $2 million. Texas Department of Transportation officials note that 21 percent of aircraft take off and land at these towered airports in Texas. These towers in Texas were among nearly 150 that the Federal Aviation Administration announced would lose funding as a result of mandatory federal budget cuts.

"Safety is our top priority and I am glad we're able to keep these critical air traffic control services operating," said Texas Transportation Commissioner Fred Underwood (pictured). "As a pilot, I know firsthand how critical these services are to the safety of air traffic."

Pipe production company gets $1.6M in TEF funding

Borusan Mannesmann Pipe has been awarded $1.6 million in Texas Enterprise Fund money to expand its manufacturing operations to the United States with a steel pipe plant in Baytown. The expansion is expected to create 250 jobs and $148 million in capital investment.

Headquartered in Turkey, Borusan Mannesmann produces steel pipe for a variety of industries, including oil and gas drilling and transmission, with current production of around one million tons of pipe products. The Baytown facility will produce casings used to secure oil wells and tubing to extract gas and oil from the ground, adding 300,000 tons of manufacturing capacity.

Tarleton State wins approval for $13.6 million building renovation

Tarleton State University officials recently won the approval of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to move forward with a proposed $13.6 million expansion and renovation of the O.A. Grant Humanities Building (as seen in accompanying artist's rendering).

Plans call for adding two more floors over the one-story section to provide up-to-date facilities for liberal and fine arts programs such as media studies, event management, digital communications technology and public relations, noted President Dominic Dottavio.

To improve space allocation, university officials plan to repurpose 11 classrooms to create more office space for faculty, space for a graduate assistant, four meeting rooms and two informal learning spaces, he said.

Longview OKs $40,000 survey on proposed hotel/conference center

Longview City Council members recently agreed to spend up to $40,000 for an architectural survey on the feasibility of using a public-private partnership to develop a proposed hotel and conference center in South Longview.

Council members previously discussed building a conference center with a banquet hall to seat 1,000 persons, seven conference rooms, a full-service restaurant and a 150-room hotel, but have not decided on details for the proposed hotel and conference center project. The hotel management company also agreed to pay for the portion of the feasibility study covering the private company, city officials said.

More than 250 employees of The University of Texas at Brownsville fell victim to the backlash following the separation of the university from Texas Southmost College. The division of the two higher education institutions left a surplus of employees in now unnecessary positions.

These layoffs are in addition to another 70 that have remained unfilled since the announcement of the separation in December of last year. The 250 employees recently laid off will find only 30 new positions for which they can apply. University officials say the bulk of the layoffs are in security, maintenance, IT and advising - which make up the largest job segments on the campus.

Arlington eyeing downtown revitalization with private investment

Arlington city officials recently approved a series of public meetings to unveil a preliminary plan to revitalize the downtown area along New York Avenue to highlight the area's history and national diversity. The area is bordered by Abram Street on the north, Arkansas Lane on the south, Sherry Dr. to the east and Browning Dr. to the west and is a key link between Interstate 20 and the entertainment district.

Council members paid $131,000 for consultants to identify opportunities to redevelop areas and improve infrastructure to attract new private investment along the New York Avenue corridor. The study identified three areas for redevelopment that could increase property values by about $75 million if successfully completed. The city most likely would need to invest about $1 in public funds for every $5.50 spent by private developers for the revitalization to be successful, consultants advised.

The draft plan includes some mixed-use development that would include residential space such as new housing for seniors, a grocery store, restaurants and medical offices. The plan also calls for replacing some apartment complexes with town homes and duplexes, combining a library and recreation center into one facility, improving sidewalks and landscaping as well as identifying possible residential and commercial projects that are economically feasible. Council is expected to decide on a final corridor plan in September after reviewing results of the public meetings.

Austin Community College moving along with new Hays Campus

Austin Community College officials recently reported construction on the new campus in Hays County (pictured) is almost 30 percent complete. The structural steel building frame is fully erected and interior wall framing is steadily progressing, ACC officials reported. Work crews also are laying brick and masonry veneer on exterior walls and currently are installing roofing.

More than 100 workers representing 13 subcontractors are laboring at the site and the City of Kyle has hired a contractor to trench and lay a main wastewater line to the site, ACC officials said.

The next step is for Pedernales Electric Cooperative to install electric utility poles and place a transformer on the building to provide permanent power to the site in May.

Taylor County exploring renovations to county courthouse

Taylor County commissioners recently began exploring options for renovating the county courthouse and the nearby Plaza Building.

The proposed first three stages of the five-stage renovation project would cost about $5.6 million to upgrade both the courthouse and Plaza building and shift administrative offices now in the courthouse to the Plaza facility, said the architect leading the council workshop. The proposed plan also calls for renovating the courthouse to accommodate the district court and county court-at-law offices on the second, fourth and fifth floors of the courthouse. The five-phase plan calls for the renovations to be completed in 2016, with the last two phases of the courthouse renovations costing about $3.1 million to $8.1 million.

The last phase of the courthouse project calls for renovating the county courthouse and the second and third floors of the Plaza building to house the Community Supervision and Corrections Office. The county has between $750,000 to $1 million in a contingency fund that would only pay for less than a year of the work required, one commissioner noted.

Denton County adopts 10-year capital improvements plan

Denton County commissioners recently adopted a capital improvement plan for the next 10 years calling for upgrading the radio dispatch system in the sheriff's office and building a new county medical examiner's facility and a vehicle maintenance facility. The approved plan, which Council can change as conditions warrant, also calls for upgrades to roads, drainage improvement projects and the purchase of large capital equipment, including technology projects and mechanical equipment.

County officials expect to begin upgrading the radio communications system in the sheriff's office that handles dispatch duties for more than 40 other entities in 2014. The approved plan calls for work on the medical examiner's building to begin in 2016 and the maintenance facility in 2019. County officials review the 10-year capital improvement plan annually and update it to help plan when to begin preparation for bond elections and respond to unexpected conditions or emergencies.

Mid-Valley Airport planning $5 million runway expansion

In an effort to meet insurance standards and attract more private and corporate planes, Weslaco city officials recently began buying property for a $5 million project to widen and lengthen the main runway at the Mid-Valley Airport.

Plans call for lengthening the runway now measuring 4,998 feet to 6,000 feet and widening the runway from 70 to 75 feet, said City Manager Leonardo Olivares (pictured). Once the acquisition of land east and north of the runway is finalized, Olivares said he expects the Texas Department of Transportation to begin seeking bids with a goal of beginning construction on the expansion project by mid-summer.

City officials expect to use funding from the Aviation Division of TxDOT to pay for the majority of the airport expansion, but city officials and the Weslaco Economic Development Corp. agreed to contribute $600,000, or 10 percent of the total cost of runway expansion. The goal is to attract more traffic to the airport located between McAllen and Harlingen and increase revenues from fuel sales and airport services to reduce financial support needed from the city, Olivares said.

Kaufman Co. seeks private company to operate, manage county jail

Kaufman County commissioners recently agreed to advertise for proposals from private companies to operate and manage the county jail.

While one commissioner proposed adding a requirement that the private company must hire the approximately 141 jailers now employed by the county that has a total of about 500 employees, commissioners declined to add that requirement to the bid specifications. In arguing against the proposal, a commissioner noted the purpose of privatizing operation of the county jail is to save money and noted that bidding companies would respect the wishes of county commissioners in the process.

Lumberton to build new domed shelter/community center

Lumberton city officials recently approved a contract to build a new concrete domed emergency shelter and community center facility using funding from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The 25,447-square-foot domed facility will feature an auditorium designed to seat 1,500 persons or to act as a safe room for about 1,133 persons during emergencies. The concrete dome is designed to withstand hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and fires, city officials said.

Plans call for completing construction of the dome in July and to complete the entire project by the summer of 2014, city officials said.

Palestine ISD eyeing partnership to build new soccer complex

Palestine Independent School District trustees recently began discussions with Palestine YMCA officials to form a partnership to build a new soccer complex.

The proposed complex would be located on a tract of land at the intersection of North Loop 256 and US79 donated by a local attorney to the school district four years ago. The gift stipulated the land be used for recreational purposes, noted Superintendent Jason Marshall.

YMCA officials have proposed leading efforts to raise funds for the new soccer complex if the school district agrees to provide the land, he said.

Fort Worth may support proposed Cotton Belt commuter rail line

Fort Worth City Council members recently agreed to consider supporting the proposed Cotton Belt commuter rail line. That support hinges on the 62-mile project not interfering with federal funding the city plans for a rail line ending at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. Last month, council members voted to decline support of the proposed Cotton Belt rail line.

Council members noted that the Cotton Belt project should be developed completely separately from the proposed TEX Rail Project, the 37-mile rail line the city hopes to open in 2016 to provide service between southwest Fort Worth, Grapevine and DFW Airport. Supporters of the Cotton Belt project said support from the city of Fort Worth is critical for their project as backers are seeking legislative approval to create a tax district comprised of 13 cities and three counties to participate in the Cotton Belt line.

Fort Worth officials are applying for a federal grant to pay half of the estimated $1 billion cost of the TEX Rail Project and stipulated that no funds could be transferred from the Tex Rail project to the proposed Cotton Belt project if Fort Worth city officials agreed to support the Cotton Belt project.

Rowlett eyeing upgrade of technology infrastructure

Rowlett City Council members recently began discussions on spending as much as $631,000 to upgrade the city's information technology infrastructure described by a consultant as obsolete.

Interim IT Manager Chip Collins told Council that critical areas such as servers and telephony were more than 10 years old and need to be replaced. Collins recommended the city begin a three-year effort expected to cost between $520,000 and $631,000 to upgrade the city's information technology.

Dozens of public sector jobs area available on our FREE Public Sector Job Board! New jobs added this week: part-time library assistant in Fort Bend County, benefits coordinator for the Texas Senate and more.

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Coppell approves plan to upgrade public library

Coppell City Council members recently approved a Library Strategy Plan calling for expanding and renovating the library as well as creating more partnerships with educational entities, creating a learning laboratory to encourage innovation using local resources and increasing public awareness of resources available at the public library.

Preliminary plans also include improving the parking lot, installing a drive-thru book drop, improving sound management and implementing emerging technologies for library patrons to use as a resource. The strategic plan also calls for establishing a "Friends of the Library" group to provide more support for the public library.

Commerce group backing bond election for new rec center, pool

Parks and Recreation Board members in Commerce recently kicked off a petition drive calling for a special bond election to pay for a new recreation center and swimming pool.

The petition will need at least 619 qualified signatures and be returned to the city secretary within two months to be successful, noted City Manager Marc Clayton (pictured), who said he would ask council members to schedule a bond election if residents support the petition drive.

In a recent evaluation of the city pool, the city's director of parks and recreation and a consultant estimated the city would need to spend between $230,000 to $260,000 to get the pool operable again. The consultant recommended demolishing the existing facility rather than trying to renovate it.

Montgomery to lead economic development efforts in Garland

In a series of staff changes to upgrade economic development efforts in Garland, City Manager Bill Dollar recently appointed Neil Montgomery, the planning director, to oversee staff focusing on economic development. Montgomery also will manage most of the current staff of the Convention and Visitors Bureau who also supports economic development efforts, he said.

The city partners with the Chamber of Commerce to spend about $480,000 annually to attract new businesses. Restructuring city staff should improve those economic development efforts, Dollar said.

Dollar also selected Priscilla Wilson as a senior managing director to improve in-house communications and appointed John Baker, the current water utilities director, to head a new centralized department including water, wastewater, engineering, streets and drainage.

Houston ISD tapped again as finalist for The Broad Prize

For the second consecutive year, Houston Independent School District landed as a finalist for The Broad Prize for Urban Education, a coveted national prize sought by 75 of the largest school districts in this country.

Houston ISD won the prize in 2002 and was included as one of the four finalists for the Broad Prize in 2012. If Houston ISD wins this prize this year, high school seniors in the district are guaranteed at least $150,000 and up to $550,000 in scholarships, noted Superintendent Terry Grier. Other finalists for the national award are Corona-Norco United School District in Riverside County, California; Cumberland County Schools in North Carolina; and the San Diego United School District in California.

Criteria for selecting the finalists included increased overall performance and improvement in student achievement while reducing achievement gaps among poor and minority students. The Broad Prize is scheduled to be awarded during a ceremony in Washington, D.C., in September.

Kilgore City Council members recently requested developers to submit proposals to renovate two historic movie theatres in the downtown area to act as the anchor-structures for the newly created Downtown Entertainment District.

City officials agreed to move forward with plans to upgrade the Crim Theater, built in 1939 and shut down in the 1950s, and the Texan Theater, built in 1930 and rebuilt in 1944 following a fire. The rebuild was done at an estimated cost of about $1 million to renovate the Texan and from between $2 million to $4 million to upgrade the Crim, according to City Manager Scott Sellers (pictured). At least three developers have expressed interest in the remodeling projects, Sellers said.

In the request for proposal, city officials asked developers to submit an outline of proposed improvements and renovation, the estimated cost to upgrade both theatres, and a plan for acquiring the two properties including a statement on the number of employees, days and hours of operations and types of activities that will be offered in each theatre. Developers who intend to lease either facility will be required to reveal the personnel and equipment necessary to operate the venue, agree to provide the city with quarterly financial reports and assume responsibility for all repairs and maintenance of the facilities, Sellers said. The deadline to submit proposals is April 17 at 5 p.m.

Waco approves $216,000 upgrade of Seley Park

Waco City Council members recently approved $216,000 to pay for upgrades to Seley park. The funding for renovating the park in the northern area of the city includes $20,000 from a private donor who designated that the funding be used to pay for exercise equipment such as chin-up bars and rowing machines.

City officials also plan to use $196,000 from Community Development Block Grants to pay for the park renovation. Parks department staff members also are working with the Sanger-Heights Neighborhood Association to upgrade a Victorian-style gazebo built in 1986.

Other projects include upgrades to a quarter-mile trail at the park named for a banker and commander of Camp MacArthur in Waco during World War I. A design plan for the renovation will begin in April and council members set a goal to approve a construction contract for the park renovations early this summer. Plans call for the renovated park to be completed in early 2014.

Texas Education Agency orders closure of North Forest ISD

Texas Education Agency officials recently upheld the decision of Commissioner Michael Williams to shut down the North Forest Independent School District and merge the troubled school district with Houston ISD.

North Forest board members, who argued they are making changes to improve the school district, have not indicated if they will appeal the TEA decision with the State Office of Administrative Hearings. If the TEA order stands, however, North Forest ISD would merge with Houston ISD on July 1.

A former TEA commissioner had ordered the district to close and merge with Houston ISD in July 2012, but then agreed to a one-year reprieve to give the school district an opportunity to improve academic scores. After reviewing district operations, Williams issued a second order for the district to cease operation by July 1.

Alaniz to resign as city manager in Palm City

John Alaniz recently told Palmview City Council members he plans to resign from the job he has held more than 10 years in order to take over management of his family business. Alaniz also serves as a trustee for the La Joya Independent School District.

McLennan Co. seeks proposals

to manage detention center

McLennan County commissioners recently agreed to seek proposals from new vendors to manage and operate the Jack Harwell Detention Center in Waco. A New Jersey-based company, Community Education Centers, Inc. (CEC), has the current contract to operate the 816-bed detention center since it opened in 2010. That contract expires on June 13.

The request for proposal also seeks a company to oversee the currently vacant, 329-bed downtown jail also being managed by CEC. Commissioners closed the downtown jail n 2010 and moved inmates to the $49 million Harwell Center.

Denton moving forward

with $7 million animal shelter

Denton City Council members recently agreed to allocate an additional $1.1 million to the $4.4 million already set aside to build a new $5.3 million animal shelter. The shelter will be built in a partnership with the Denton Animal Shelter Foundation that has raised almost $2 million in cash and in-kind contribution for equipping and furnishing the new shelter.

City officials plan to request bids for a construction contract to build the new animal shelter this month, said Jon Fortune, the assistant city manager. Construction could begin as early as July and be completed in about a year, but a more definite timeline will be available once contractors submit their bids with a construction timeline included, Fortune said.

Round Rock ISD hires search firm to find new superintendent

Round Rock Independent School District trustees recently hired a search firm to help find a new superintendent to replace Jesus Chavez, who is retiring at the end of 2013.

Representatives from the search firm said they previously helped school districts in Fort Bend, Pflugerville, Austin and Tyler find superintendents.

Chavez, a former superintendent for Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District and Corpus Christi ISD, became superintendent in Round Rock in 2006 after serving as an assistant superintendent.

Jimerson named lone finalist

for Burleson ISD superintendent

Burleson Independent School District board members recently tapped Dr. Bret Jimerson (pictured) as the lone finalist for superintendent. He will replace Superintendent Richard Crummel. The contract with Jimerson cannot be finalized until the 21-day required waiting period ends.

A former teacher who was an administrator for White Settlement ISD and a legal counsel and deputy superintendent for Grand Prairie ISD, Jimerson also was a legal clerk and attorney in Fort Worth and Austin. He has served as superintendent at Willis ISD since 2011.

Jimerson holds a bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Arlington, master's degrees from Regent University in Virginia and Texas Christian University, a law degree from Regent University School of Law and a Ph.D. from TCU.

Annetta moves ahead with plans for office, public works manager

Annetta City Council members recently agreed to go forward with plans to build a new city administrative office and to create a position for a public works manager.

Council members authorized City Manager Bruce Pinckard to request proposals for a site plan for a city-owned site and to ask for bids for a modular building to house city administrative offices on the site near the south side of Annetta and an unincorporated area in Parker County.

The council also adopted an ordinance creating a position for public works manager, but took no steps to fill that position. The new ordinance allows the city to begin planning on duties and qualifications for a new public works manager, a council member said.

Two top administrators

to retire from Wharton ISD

Superintendent Kay Shoppa (pictured) and Ronnie Arnold, the auxilliary services coordinator at the Wharton Independent School District, recently announced plans to retire from those administrative positions.

Shoppa, a 34-year employee of the school district where she began her career as a special education teacher, won promotion to superintendent three years ago. Her retirement is effective on July 31. Arnold's retirement is effective on June 30. His position oversees food services, transportation and maintenance for the school district.

District officials have not decided whether to hire a search firm to find a new superintendent, but pledged to conduct an extensive search to find a qualified person to lead the district.

Rollingwood enters talks with Winfield to be city administrator

After operating more than three years without a full-time city administrator, Rollingwood city officials recently agreed to begin contract negotiations with Charles Winfield to become the new city administrator.

A former city manager, city administrator and treasurer in Palacios, Winfield resigned from that city in 2012. Palacios city officials said Winfield requested the resignation.

Atwood chosen to serve as superintendent in Florence ISD

Sam Atwood recently accepted an offer to serve as the new superintendent for Florence Independent School District.

Atwood, who previously worked for Bastrop ISD, has served as interim superintendent since December when he replaced former Superintendent Karla Moyer, who resigned to accept employment with the Region 13 Education Service Center in Austin. Atwood began his career in public education as a teacher for Magnolia ISD and also was superintendent for Goliad ISD.

College Station appoints

Simpson as new city manager

College Station City Council members recently appointed Frank Simpson (pictured) as the new city manager. Simpson, who was the deputy city manager since 2011, was appointed as interim city manager after David Neeley left that post in January.

Previously a city manager in Missouri City and in League City, Simpson has a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Texas A&M University.

Johnson tapped as new head

of Randolph Field ISD

Trustees for Randolph Field Independent School District recently tapped Jeremy "Lance" Johnson as the lone finalist for superintendent. He will replace Billy Walker, who is retiring from that post after returning to the district after a two-year absence.

Johnson currently is superintendent at Warren ISD and previously was superintendent at Evant ISD.

Check the GOVERNMENT NEWS section of the SPI Web site for these and other press releases.

• DCCCD office honored for advertising, news efforts

• Airport project receives LEED Gold certification

• Town of Little Elm presents Water is Life Expo April 20

• HISD forms new committee to guide 21st Century school design under 2012 Bond

Brown resigns post as

Port Arthur ISD superintendent

Superintendent Johnny Brown (pictured) recently notified trustees of the Port Arhur Independent School District that he plans to retire effective Sept. 30, 2014.

Brown previously served as a consulant for the school district in DeKalb County, Georgia, and as a superintendent for the city schools in Birmingham, Alabama. He also worked for the Texas Education Agency where he led the Wilmer-Hutchins school district as part of the state taking control of that school district in 1996. District officials said the early notice of Brown's intention to retire in 2014 gives them ample opportunity to conduct a comprehensive search for a new superintendent.

Greenville to upgrade

emergency siren system

Greenville City Council members recentlly agreed to seek bids to upgrade the city's emergency warning siren system. A series of tornadoes in the area last year revealed that some of the sirens were inoperable and that many residents said they could not hear the sirens. City council members will need to approve the request for proposal once city staff drafts the request, city officials said.

Rockport selects Valdez

as finalist for city secretary

Rockport City Council members recently selected Teresa Valdez (pictured) as the new city secretary.

Valdez will replace Irma Parker, who resigned to accept a position as city secretary in Port Aransas.

Valdez previously worked 14 years as city secretary in Bastrop and also was an administrative assistant to the city manager in Bastrop. She attended Austin Community College and Blinn College and is a certified municipal clerk in Texas.

• Michael "Mike" Novak of San Antonio, Texas Facilities Commission
• Thomas Anderson of Richmond, Commission on Human Rights
• Danny Osterhout of Andrews, Commission on Human Rights
• Barbara Beto of Round Rock, Texas School Safety Center Board
• Daniel F. Gilliam of Victoria, Texas School Safety Center Board
• Carl A. Montoya of Brownsville, Texas School Safety Center Board
• Adelaida Olivares of Austin, Texas School Safety Center Board
• James R. Pendell of Clint, Texas School Safety Center Board
• James Scott of Beaumont, Jefferson and Orange County Board of Pilot Commissioners

Baxter retires as city

secretary for Bul Verde

Tiffany Baxter recently resigned as city secretary for Bul Verde to accept employment with a private company. The city secreatry reports directly to city council members and oversees records management, city elections, public information requests, maintaining ordinance data and managing the Web site for the city.

Bul Verde City Council members appointed the city administrator to take over the duties of the city secretary while council searches fors and hire a new city secretary.

Boerne appoints new deputy city manager, assistant city manager

Boerne city officials recently promoted Jeff Thompson (pictured), the former assistant city manager, to the newly created post of deputy city manager. City officials also appointed Linda Zartier as the new assistant city manager to replace Thompson.

In his new duties as deputy city manager, Thompson will direct economic development efforts for the city as well as supervise staff responsible for finance, public works, utilities, parks and recreation, planning and community development. Thompson joined the city in 2007.

Zartier, who currently is director of administrative services, will now oversee administrative staff, the city secretary, municipal court, animal service and information technology staff members as well as human resources, municipal elections, records management and requests for public information in her new job.

Canutillo ISD selects three finalists for superintendent

Trustees for Canutillio Independent School District recently selected three final candidates for a new superintendent to replace former Superintendent Damon Murphy, who resigned in December.

The three finalists are Pedro Galaviz, director of secondary education at Round Rock ISD; Ricardo Lopez, area superintendent at Ysleta ISD; and James Steinhauser, an assistant superintendent for El Paso ISD. District officials expect to interview the three candidates and select a finalist for superintendent in about one month.

Irving City Manager Tommy Gonzalez to part with city

Irving City Manager Tommy Gonzalez and the city are separating - but not immediately. The City Council Thursday voted to allow Gonzalez to remain on the job until Oct. 1 and then will remain temporarily as a consultant to an interim city manager.

He will leave the city on Dec. 1, after a seven-year term.

McNevin leaving as director of Smith Co. Emergency Services

Brian McNevin, the director of operations for the Smith County Emergency Services District No. 2, recently resigned from that post to accept a job as the fire chief in Cleveland.

McNevin became the director in August 2012 of the Smith County ESD and oversees 10 volunteer fire departments with an annual operation budget of about $4.5 million in that post. He previously served as the fire chief in Commerce.

Randy Melton, president of the EDS board, said a subcommittee of two members and fire chiefs will be appointed to determine a job description for a new director of operations and help search for a new operations director.

Alpine terminates employment

of Garcia as city manager

Alpine City Council members recently voted to terminate the employment of City Manager Chuy Garcia. The action followed a report from the city auditor on his concerns of alleged overtime abuse, overspending and payroll advances occurring in the city. Council members are expected to meet soon to make plans for hiring a new city manager.