Transportation funding bill headed to House floor debate

Legislation calling for a constitutional amendment that would affect transportation funding in the state has passed out of a House committee and is headed to the House floor for debate - but there are speed bumps ahead that might slow down its passage, not the least of which is the fast-approaching end to the current special session.

A House committee Thursday moved Senate Joint Resolution 2 out of committee, but there are rumblings that some who voted it out of committee may not support the SJR in floor debate. The legislation would put a constitutional amendment vote before Texas voters to decide if half of the state's oil and gas severance tax that currently is deposited into the state's rainy day fund instead should be deposited to the State Highway Fund.

The debate comes as Texas Department of Transportation officials have warned the State Legislature that the agency needs $4 billion in additional funding to maintain Texas' transportation needs. Although the SJR passed out of committee, there is still some concern among some lawmakers about raiding the rainy day fund and possibly setting a precedent for future legislatures.

TDCJ announces new CID directors in three regions of state

Three new regional directors have been named for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Correctional Institutions Division (CID).

Richard K. Alford (right) has been selected as director of CID for Region I. Alford is a 27-year veteran with TDCJ, having begun his corrections career in 1986 as a correctional officer at the Goree Unit. He has been promoted through the ranks of the agency, most recently serving as senior warden at the Polunsky Unit. He holds an Associate in Applied Science-Criminal Justice degree from Angelina College.

Cody W. Ginsel (center) has been promoted from senior warden at the Estelle Unit to CID Region IV director. Ginsel's career with TDCJ began in 1998 as a textbook coordinator for the Windham School District. In 1990, he was hired as a correctional officer at the Huntsville Unit and has since held several senior warden positions throughout the state. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Lamar University.

Eric J. Guerrero (left) is the new director of CID Region VI. Guerrero's first position with TDCJ was in 1994, when he was hired as a correctional officer at the McConnell Unit. He has since served as lieutenant, captain, major and assistant warden. His senior warden posts have been at the Glossbrenner Unit, the Lopez State Jail/Segovia Unit and, most recently, the Wallace and Ware units.

Two more administrators leave DISD Cabinet posts

Two more of Dallas ISD Superintendent Mike Miles' Cabinet are calling it quits - and one of them who followed Miles to Dallas from their previous jobs at a school district in Colorado. Operations Chief Kevin Smelker (left), who Miles brought in from the Harrison School District 2 in Colorado Springs, has announced his retirement and is set to move back to Colorado. Personnel Chief Charles Glover (right) is leaving DISD to work for Bellweather Education Partners, an education nonprofit.

Smelker had been at DISD less than a year. Glover, former director of the Dallas-Fort Worth office of Teach for America, joined DISD in June of last year.

The two join four other DISD chiefs to leave Miles' Cabinet. As a result of these two departures, Miles has announced a reorganization of some staff. Miles is eliminating the position of chief of staff. Interim Chief Financial Officer James Terry will become the new CFO, HR Executive Director Carmen Darville will become chief of human capital management, Assistant Superintendent of Technology Services Gray Salada will be the new chief technology officer and Executive Director of Operations Wanda Paul will be chief of operations.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently began seeking applicants for grants to finance broadband infrastructure in rural and remote areas.

USDA could award as much as $21 million in grants through the Community Connect Grant program to help expand educational, medical and health services as well as encourage economic growth in remote and rural areas, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Since the program began, USDA has invested $122 million in 229 broadband projects, including a remote village in Alaska that has resulted in creation of new jobs in that community.

Leander moving forward with $80 million sports facility project

Leander City Council members recently authorized city staff to begin negotiations on an agreement and finance plan in a public-private partnership to build a new $80 million extreme sports facility.

City Manager Kent Cagle (pictured) estimated the negotiations with XPark USA most likely would take about 60 days before staff presents a preliminary contract to city council members for final approval. The developers of the park estimate the new sports facility will cost about $40 million, but requested $80 million in financing to cover debt repayment if the park does not generate as much revenue as anticipated, Cagle said.

Preliminary plans call for building a 120-acre sports and entertainment complex with ramps for skate and BMX, a motocross track, paintball fields and an amphitheater to accommodate 10,000 spectators.

Greenville seeking bids for $1.87 million sidewalk project

Greenville city officials recently began seeking bids for a $1.87 million project to build more than 15 miles of sidewalks in that city and perform other upgrades to encourage walking or biking in Greenville. The deadline for submitting bids for the project is July 11.

The Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Program at the Texas Department of Transportation provided a $1.87 million grant for the project. It will also add curb cuts for ramps, improve drainage, install traffic control devices and build curbs and gutters to encourage more children to walk or ride bicycles to and from four elementary schools.

McGough to serve Dallas as managing director of GrowSouth

Adam McGough (pictured), currently an executive assistant city attorney and the chief of Community Prosecution and Community Courts for the City of Dallas, has been tabbed by Mayor Mike Rawlings to become the mayor's deputy chief of staff. As such, McGough will focus on "GrowSouth," a comprehensive strategy to build a foundation for sustainable growth in Southern Dallas. McGough succeeds former Deputy Chief of Staff Shawn Williams, who has left that post to become manager of the Dallas Police Department's Community Affairs and Information.

"Adam brings a unique skillset of community involvement and legal expertise to take GrowSouth to the next level," said Rawlings. "His experience in Community Courts, as well as management skills for developing a high-quality product will benefit this program."

McGough has 10 years' legal experience in both the public and private sectors. He has supervised a team of attorneys to improve the quality of life in some of the highest crime areas in the City of Dallas through creative problem solving, voluntary compliance and litigation.  

A $3 trillion opportunity your company

Kohl's to benefit from funding from TEF investment

The state will make a Texas Enterprise Fund investment of $864,000 in Kohl's Department Stores. The chain is opening a customer service operations center in Dallas.

Copperas Cove survey urges $39 million to improve infrastructure

An updated engineering survey of the water system in Copperas Cove recently recommended spending $39 million in the next 10 years to meet the city's future water needs.

The engineering study listed two phases with the first phase including four projects to install new 16-inch water lines and build a new storage tank at a cost of about $11.2 million. The second phase of the project calls for building additional 16- to 23-inch water lines, two 1.2-million-gallon ground storage tanks and a 600,000-gallon ground storage tank costing about $27.6 million.

The city manager, however, noted that the estimate for population growth used in the study might be too high as the city's actual growth rate is about 2 percent per year rather than the 5 percent used in the engineering study. If the lower population growth rate occurs, the projects included in the survey may last closer to 20 years, the city manager said.

Lamar State College-Port Arthur to get new dorm

Lamar State College-Port Arthur could soon see a new $5 million dorm on its campus. Thanks to legislation from the recently completed 83rd Regular Session of the Texas Legislature, the Port Arthur Economic Development Corp. can now assist with funding of the new facility.

Athletes who participate in campus sporting events generally have been housed in commercial housing near the campus, creating a logistics problem for events, ferrying the athletes back and forth. The new dorm will have 100 beds and will house athletes and commuters.

The dorm must be built by 2017 in order to receive EDC funding, according to the legislation.

Proposal would create exhibit space out of Astrodome

Once billed as the "Eighth Wonder of the World," the nearly 50-year-old Houston Astrodome may soon be relegated to being converted into a convention and exhibit space. As the world's first multi-purpose domed sports stadium, the Astrodome eventually became the home of the Houston Astros MLB baseball team and the NFL's Houston Oilers football team.

But with the opening of new sports facilities in the city, the domed stadium has sat idle, prompting the Harris County Sports and Convention Corp. to seek proposals regarding what to do to the aging but iconic facility.

One of the proposals calls for the facility to have its roof lowered and its seats removed, creating a 355,000-square-foot exhibit area.

The exterior of the facility would be transformed with green space, retail space and restaurants. The proposal, which will be presented to the Harris County Commissioners Court later this month, carries a price tag of approximately $194 million.

Corpus Christi ISD begins planning for six high schools

Board members of Corpus Christi Independent School District recently agreed to plan for six high schools rather than converting the current Mary Carroll High School into a middle school or administrative building as earlier planned.

The plan includes keeping Carroll High School open after a new high school is completed in fall 2015 in order to meet projected population growth, district officials said.

To operate six high schools, district officials will need to redraw boundary lines that most likely will affect students at King and Carroll high schools. Some exemptions to allow students to remain at their current schools will be available, the board president said.

Austin Community College eyeing $500 million bond election

An Austin Community College (ACC) bond committee recently recommended seeking voter approval of almost $500 million in bonds to pay for 11 capital improvement projects to expand and improve campuses.

Projects recommended by committee members include completing the second phase of construction at the Highland Mall campus by adding a health science/STEM laboratory, a workforce center and incubator space; developing a new campus in Leander; expanding Round Rock, Elgin and Hays campuses; and improving the campuses at Rio Grande and Riverside. Committee members also urged adding funding to the bond proposal to buy more land for further expansion.

ACC trustees are expected to decide in late August whether to schedule a bond election in November and the projects to include in the bond proposal.

Dallas County's Ames new president-elect of TACA

Dallas County Tax Assessor-Collector John R. Ames (pictured) has been chosen as president-elect of the Tax Assessor-Collector Association of Texas (TACA). He becomes the first from Dallas County to be chosen for that post.

Ames will assume his new role at the next annual conference in June 2014.

TACA is statewide association that seeks to secure the benefits of organized ideas and discussion of mutual problems that will advance and maintain proper efficiency and dignity of the County Tax Office.  Ames represents the largest county on the board and will bring a large county perspective when discussions are held that will influence operations, efficiencies and improvements in the Tax Office operations statewide.

Palestine ISD approves $825,000 to upgrade security, technology

Palestine Independent School District trustees recently approved $825,000 to upgrade technology and security.

The technology upgrades are needed to accommodate growth in the district's Career and Technology Education program, said David Atkeisson, the chief financial officer for the school district.

Plans call for upgrading technology infrastructure and purchasing upgraded equipment to prepare for its computer program at high school and junior high campuses using tablet computers purchased with grant funds, Atkeisson said. The district also must strengthen its Wi-Fi network to accommodate the new tablet computers, he said. The additional funding also includes $250,000 to pay for security upgrades and summer maintenance projects.

Sanger City Council members recently approved the issue of $4.5 million in certificates of obligation to pay for upgrading roads, improving water facilities and building a new splash park over the next 10 years.

City officials plan to spend about $3.3 million on road repairs and $2.7 million for a new water well, in addition to adding about 27,000 feet of water lines and repairing or adding more than 27,000 feet of sewer lines. The cost to finish all the projects is about $9 million, which includes the recently approved $4.5 million in certificates of obligation.

Three members of Austin's Electric Utility Commission resign

Three members of the Austin Electric Utility Commission recently resigned from the commission that operates the city-owned electric utility. The commissioners who resigned are Michael Webber, Steven Smaha and Phillip Schmandt, who had urged city officials to create an independent governing board to manage the electric utility.

Council members expect to discuss methods to improve the current commission or whether to create a new board at the next council meeting.

Canutillo ISD names three new administrators

Canutillo Independent School District trustees recently selected three new administrators to replace three administrators who left the school district following a cheating scandal.

Board members selected Roberto Basurto as the executive director of curriculum and instruction, Dr. Maritza Garcia as the director of academic language services and Dino Coronado as the new principal of Canutillo High School.

Ector County ISD approves $3.5 million for teacher housing

Ector County Independent School District trustees recently agreed to spend $3.5 million on a proposed $27 million apartment project being built to provide more affordable housing to teachers and health care workers.

The school district joined with the Texas Tech Health and Science Center, Medical Center Hospital and the Odessa Housing Corporation in providing funding to build a 234-unit apartment complex. The school district agreed to pay $3.25 million for 100 of the apartment units for use by teachers from out of town to help with recruitment, a spokesperson for the school district said.

About 80 percent of the tenants must qualify for the apartments that rent for less than most apartments in Odessa by making less than about $45,000 annually, the median income for the area. The new apartments should be ready for tenants by summer 2015, the developer said.

2013 NASW/Texas State Conference set in Austin over Labor Day

Registration is now open for the 37th Annual State Conference of the National Association of Social Workers - Texas Chapter. Up to 19 hours of CE are available for social workers in Texas and bordering states, as well as for Texas LMFTs and LPCs. The NASW/Texas State Conference is the largest social work conference in the Southwest and is attended by over 1000 social workers each year. Exhibit and sponsorship opportunities available - Social Workers are Decision Makers! Visit www.naswtx.org or call 512-474-1454 for more information.

NASCO 2013 conferences series to be held in San Antonio

Make plans to join us in the historic Alamo City! The 2013 NASCO Conference series enters its ninth year while highlighting a North American Strategy for Competitiveness. The event will be devoted to "Energy, Automotive & Aerospace" and will bring together international leaders from the public and private sectors across North America. The conference will focus on the future of critical North American trading relationships, while commemorating the last 20 years of NAFTA. The event will feature cutting-edge discussions related to freight transport, manufacturing and logistics workforce and include negotiators of NAFTA, leading trade experts, Ambassadors, Ministers and leading business executives in trade and transportation. More general and registration information is now available. Discount fees for early registration are available prior to Aug. 1.

TASSCC 2013 Annual Conference dates set for Aug. 11-14

"TASSCC Lucky 13 - Betting on It" is the theme for the Texas Association of State Systems for Computing and Communications (TASSCC) annual conference. Registration is now open, with reduced rates for early bird registration ending July 17. The event is slated for Aug. 11-14 at the Westin La Cantera Resort in San Antonio. A variety of speakers will provide those attending with innovative tools and insight to help them address pressing technology challenges. Keynote speakers include Mark Milliron, chancellor, WGU Texas, professional triathlete and speaker Patricia Walsh and Ken Weitzel, director, Executive Education, the Corporate Executive Board. Among the topics to be discussed are data management and analytics, application and modernization, leadership and human capital and managing enterprise services. CPE credits are also available for those attending. More information, including the agenda, is available for those seeking to attend.

TSABAA 44th Annual Summer Conference slated in July

The annual Administrator of the Year award will be presented at the Texas State Agency Business Administrators' Association (TSABAA) 44th Annual Summer Conference, scheduled for Thursday and Friday, July 25 and 26, at the Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol.  The award presentation is one of a number of highlights of the annual gathering. Among the topics for the event are "Cybersecurity," "Controlling IT Costs" and "Fostering the Privacy Perimeter." An employee benefits panel including officials with the Employees Retirement System of Texas and the Texas Public Employees Association is also scheduled. There will also be a session involving a legislative update. Approximately 12 hours of CPE credit can be earned during the conference. Registration forms and the agenda are now available.  

Summer Institutes on Evidence-Based Quality Improvement slated

San Angelo to seek bids

for new water treatment plant

San Angelo city officials plan to seek bids from contractors to build a new water treatment plant to treat water from a new 62-mile pipeline delivering water from the Hickory Aquifer in Melvin to the city.

The new water treatment plant should be completed by fall 2014, when city officials are predicting local lakes could be too dry from the prolonged drought to supply sufficient water for San Angelo residents and businesses.

To conserve more water, city officials also are considering entering into stage three of the drought plan earlier than originally planned. Stage three prohibits any outside watering such as washing vehicles or filling swimming pools.

Tanner announced retirement from post with city of Portland

Mike Tanner (pictured), city manager for the city of Portland, Texas, for more than 17 years, has announced his retirement, effective July 23. Tanner has managed four other Texas cities in his public service career - West University Place, Flower Mound, Universal City and Ingleside.

Tanner began his public service career 35 years ago as assistant to then-Portland City Manager Pete Gildon. "I think it is fitting that my career will end where it began," said Tanner. He had high praise for city council members, staff officers and city employees for contributing to his successes.

Palestine appoints Ellis

as interim city manager

Palestine City Council members recently selected Wendy Ellis, the director of the Palestine Economic Development Corporation, as the interim city manager.

Ellis will replace City Manager Mike Ohrt when he leaves that post in July to serve as city manager in Willis Point.

James Wilcox now serving as superintendent at Longview ISD

Longview Independent School District trustees recently removed "interim" from the title of Superintendent James Wilcox, who retired as superintendent in Dec. 2011 and returned to the district as the interim superintendent in Feb. 2012.

District officials also confirmed that no active search is being conducted to find a new superintendent, although Wilcox is continuing to observe and review any possible candidates for superintendent, the school board president said. Wilcox first joined Longview ISD in 2007.

El Paso city manager withdraws as candidate for Florida job

City Manager Joyce Wilson of El Paso recently withdrew her name from consideration to serve as the county manager in Lee County, Florida.

In a letter to Lee County officials, Wilson said city officials and business leaders in El Paso had urged her to remain on the job to complete several major projects now under way and she has decided to remain in El Paso rather than relocating.

Shenandoah to hire new

customer service representative

Shenandoah City Council members recently authorized City Administrator Greg Smith to hire a new, full-time customer service representative to begin replacing customer service representative positions cut during the economic downturn.

The city currently has a manager and one customer service representative staffing the lobby that acts as a reception area, accepts payments for utilities, municipal court finds, building project fees and also serves as a data processing center, Smith said. The addition of a second customer representative should help improve the quality of service provided to residents and contractors who conduct business with the city, Smith said.

Burn selected as new

city manager in Ferris

Dennis Burn, currently the interim city manager in Ferris, recently agreed to serve as the new city manager.

Council members selected Burn from a field of five candidates who interviewed for the job. Burn replaced former City Manager Eric Strong.

A 17-year veteran in public education, Hill currently is the assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction at Center ISD. Hill holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Texas A&M University-Texarkana and a Ph.D. from Stephen F. Austin State University.

Dallas City Manager Mary Suhm recently submitted her resignation from that post, effective on July 1. However, Suhm plans to remain as a city employee until Jan. 6, 2014, to help with preparation of the 2014 city budget and other projects.

City council members selected A.C. Gonzalez, the first assistant city manager, as the interim city manager. Suhm will report to the interim city manager during the transition.

James resigns his post

as city manager in Burkburnett

City Manager Tim James recently resigned as city manager in Burkburnett. James, who joined the city about two years ago, has accepted a post as the public works director in Mesquite.

Mendoza tapped as new superintendent in New Mexico

Cobre Consolidated School District officials in New Mexico recently tapped Robert Mendoza of the Clint Independent School District near El Paso to serve as the new superintendent.

Mendoza has served as a principal and assistant superintendent at Clint ISD.

Mendoza will replace interim Superintendent George Peru when his contract with the Cobre district expires on July 1.

North Forest ISD files federal

suit in attempt to remain open

After losing a recent suit in an Austin state district court, officials of the North Forest Independent School district are seeking a temporary restraining order in federal court to stop the planned annexation of the district on July 1. The suit alleges that the Texas Education Agency is violating the Voting Rights Act by ordering the annexation of North Forest ISD by Houston ISD because of continuing academic and financial problems.

The federal lawsuit alleges that the annexation will deny voters in the North Forest school district the opportunity to participate equally with Anglo citizens when Houston ISD elects board members. Currently, all seven board members of North Forest ISD are black while Houston ISD has four Anglo, three black and two Latino board members.

TEA has filed documents requesting the U.S. Justice Department certify that the proposed merger of North Forest ISD with Houston ISD will not violate the rights or minority voters, but justice department officials have not issued a ruling on that request, a spokeswoman for TEA said.

Llano County selects Wooten

as road, bridge commissioner

Llano County commissioners recently selected Richard Wooten, a county employee for 30 years, as the commissioner of roads and bridges.

Chosen from a field of eight candidates, Wooten will replace former Road and Bridge Commissioner Gary Howell who retired in September 2012.

• Bush Airport wins international award for green efforts
• Allen Parks and Recreation named national finalist for gold medal
• HUD awards $40 million in housing counseling grants
• FEMA awards nearly $1.5M to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Bastrop County

Darden tapped as new city manager in Big Spring

Big Spring City Council members recently selected Todd Darden (pictured) as the new city manager.

Darden, who served as interim city manager since February, was one of three finalists for the post. He replaced former City Manager Gary Fuqua, who retired after 18 years in Big Spring.

Young resigns as superintendent of Greenwood school district

At the request of trustees of the Greenwood Independent School District, Doug Young resigned as superintendent. His wife, Delaine Young, who was the curriculum director and an assistant middle school principal at the district, also accepted a settlement offer from trustees and resigned.

Board members appointed Ariel Elliot as the interim superintendent to replace Doug Young until trustees select a new superintendent.

Paris selects Anderson as

its new interim city manager

Paris City Council members recently selected Gene Anderson, the city's director of finance, as the interim city manager. Anderson replaces City Manager John Godwin, who was recently hospitalized.

Anderson previously served as interim city manager for more than a year before Godwin became city manager in 2012. Council members plan to reassess the situation with the city manager in six weeks, the mayor said.

Powell selected as new city administrator in Ovilla

Cindy Powell recently agreed to begin her new duties as city administrator in Ovilla on June 24. Council members selected Powell following a search that began in December 2012. She will replace Interim City Administrator Jacqueline Lee, who will remain on duty for two weeks to help with the transition, the mayor said.

Powell previously worked as an assistant economic development director in Plano and as the assistant to the city manager in Rosenberg.

San Antonio ISD names Perez

as new superintendent

San Antonio Independent School District trustees recently removed the interim title and selected Dr. Sylvester Perez as the new superintendent.

Perez returned from retirement in January 2012 to become the interim superintendent for San Antonio ISD following the resignation of former Superintendent Robert Duron.

Trustees approved a two-year contract for Perez beginning on July 1 and expiring on June 20, 2015. The contract also permits trustees to replace Perez during the second year of his contract. Perez agreed to resign voluntarily if trustees request his resignation.

Barrientos wins selection

as city manager in Eagle Pass

Eagle Pass city officials recently selected Gloria Barrientos as the new city manager. Barrientos won selection over the other finalist, Jesus Sanchez, a former superintendent of Eagle Pass Independent School District.

Michael Zolkoski retiring as superintendent for Ysleta ISD

Superintendent Michael Zolkoski of Ysleta Independent School District recently said he plans to retire after four years in that job. Zolkoski cited family health concerns as the reason for his departure.

Trustees plan to discuss the process for searching for a new superintendent to replace Zolkoski at their next scheduled meeting.

Rockdale ISD appoints Bridges

as lone finalist for superintendent

Rockdale Independent School District trustees recently appointed Vicki Bridges (pictured) as the lone finalist for superintendent.

Bridges currently is the chief secondary education officer at Grand Prairie ISD.

Mike Ohrt resigns position

as city manager in Palestine

Mike Ohrt recently resigned as city manager in Palestine, effective on July 12. He has accepted a post as city manager in Wills Point.

Joining the city of Palestine in 2003, Ohrt began serving as interim city manager in 2010 and as city manager in March 2011.

Brownsboro selects Arnold

as new utility superintendent

Brownsboro City Council members recently selected Gary Arnold as the new superintendent of utilities. Arnold has worked in Athens, Murchison, Grand Prairie and Trinidad as a resident project representative for an engineering firm in Athens.

Arnold replaces former Utilities Superintendent J.D. Jones, who resigned after 17 years with the city.

Gibson named as finalist for Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD

Trustees for Coldspring-Oakhurst Consolidated Independent School District recently named Jerry Gibson as the lone finalist for superintendent. Gibson currently is executive director of secondary education at Waco ISD.

Tucson school district selects Sanchez as superintendent

Board members of the Tucson Unified School District recently selected Dr. H.T. Sanchez of the Ector County Independent School District to serve as the new superintendent for the Arizona school district.

Tucson officials selected Sanchez from a field of 65 applicants. Sanchez has served as interim superintendent, deputy superintendent and assistant superintendent at Ector County ISD since 2010.

New London taps Bogus as

water and sewer superintendent

New London City Council members recently tapped James Bogus as the new water and sewer superintendent. Bogus had served as the assistant superintendent for 15 years before being named the interim superintendent in April. He replaces former Superintendent Ralph Lardy, who retired earlier this year.