Texas Government Insider
Volume 11, Issue 28 - Friday, July 19, 2013

Will third legislative session be the charm?

 

House passes transportation bill; sends HJR 2 to Senate

Road Signs After no resolution of proposed transportation legislation during the first regular and first called sessions of the 83rd Texas Legislature, a bill has once again risen from the ashes of the failure in the two previous legislative sessions.

 

This time, it is the House version of the bill that is returning to the Texas Senate. And, there will likely be no welcoming party at the door.

 

Both the House and Senate seek to bridge at least part of the gap between available state funding for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the $4 billion annually that TxDOT officials say they need in addition to their regular allocation. That is the amount transportation officials say is necessary to keep up with new construction and maintenance as a result of growth throughout the state and its effects on transportation infrastructure and traffic congestion.

 

The House version - HJR 2, which passed out of the House Thursday - would end a state provision that dedicates part of the gas and diesel tax in the state to public education. Instead, all of the gas tax receipts would go to TxDOT. The education funding would be made up from other state allocations. The Senate bill does not address any changes to education funding, but instead gives half of the oil and gas severance tax that goes to the state's rainy day fund to TxDOT and the other half to the fund. But, the Senate version also does not allow those allocations to TxDOT to decrease the rainy day fund below a nearly $5 billion threshold.

 

Because the Senate bill has not made it to the House yet, most expect the House joint resolution will end up in a conference committee, where the House and Senate differences can be hammered out. Both versions of a transportation bill result in an allocation of close to $900 million per year to TxDOT, but voters in Texas would ultimately make the final decision because both call for a constitutional amendment vote in November. 

 

Marsh resigns post at Department of Information Resources

 

Chief Operating Officer leaving state agency for private-sector opportunity

C. Marsh Carl Marsh (pictured) who has served the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) since 2010, the last two years as chief operating officer, has announced his resignation. A spokesman for DIR said Marsh is leaving "to pursue an opportunity in the private sector." Marsh's resignation is effective Aug. 2.

 

Marsh began working at DIR in April 2010 as division director in Communications Technology Services. In August 2011, he was promoted to chief operating officer.

 

Before joining DIR, Marsh held senior executive positions designing, implementing and operating nationwide wired/wireless networks, hosted and managed services, as well as shared technical infrastructure for a variety of major communications companies. 

 

Marsh holds a bachelor's degree in business and management from Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

 

Strategic Partnerships salutes Texas' Lone Stars 
 

Mark Moore Mark Moore, Director of Standards & Enforcement Services Division, Texas Real Estate Commission

 

Career highlights and education: I received my education from The University of Texas  for both business and law school. After law school, I worked in Los Angeles for an insurance law firm (doing mostly real estate law) and then a real estate firm (doing insurance and real estate law). In Texas, my public service career started with state agencies in two branches of state government, the Texas Legislative Council (mostly drafting laws) and the Comptroller (representing the state in tax disputes).

What I like best about my job is: Managing people and cases. Being a public servant is rewarding and I think most public servants would tell you that they take their government mission seriously. The Texas Real Estate Commission is a great place to work and meet those goals.

The best advice I've received for my current job is: These are kind of obvious, but they bear repeating because they are so easy to forget on a day-to-day basis:  (1) Listen and (2) Lead.

Advice you would give a new hire in your office: Don't forget why you're here - to serve the public. At the Texas Real Estate Commission, that means efficiently analyzing and resolving a large number of complaints with the best quality possible.

If I ever snuck out of work early, I could probably be found: chasing my three year-old twin boys going in different directions down the street. Or, if they are still in day care, playing a computer game. (When I was younger, it would have been playing basketball; now I just watch it.)

People would be surprised to know that I've: traveled around the world twice.

One thing I wish more people knew about my agency: We work hard to protect the public interest regarding those real estate services that we regulate. And we don't favor one side over the other.

 

Texas A&M President Loftin to step down in January

R. Bowen Loftin R. Bowen Loftin (pictured), who has served as president of Texas A&M University since 2010, has announced he will retire from the presidency, effective in January 2014. Saying he wants to spend more time with students, Loftin said he will serve as a tenured professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering in A&M's Dwight Look College of Engineering.

 

"I look forward to teaching and mentoring 'my' students and to leading multidisciplinary research teams in creating new knowledge and transforming that knowledge into useful applications," said Loftin.

 

Loftin, a 1970 graduate of Texas A&M, served as vice president and chief executive officer of Texas A&M University at Galveston before taking over as president of the TAMU System's flagship university at College Station. A national search will be launched to find Loftin's replacement.

Williams to serve as president of UNT Health Science Center
Michael Williams
Dr. Michael Williams (pictured), who has served as interim president of the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth since last December, has been named president of the institution. He replaces Dr. Scott Ransom, who was fired from the post.

 

A former chief executive of Hill Country Memorial Hospital in Fredericksburg, Williams is a native of Fort Worth and graduated from high school there. He holds a bachelor's degree from Texas Wesleyan University. He earned a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1981. He was awarded his M.D. from Ross University.

 

Williams also has other connections to the UT System, having served as a UNT regent until the day before he was named interim president of the Health Science Center.

Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX)

Tarleton using P3 to build 500-student residence hall

Residence Hall Construction has begun on a new 500-bed student housing project at Tarleton State University that is the product of a public-private partnership. The new four-story building (as seen in accompanying artist's rendering) will serve first-year students at the university in an innovative "Living and Learning Community." Students will be assigned to the 16 communities in the facility.

 

The $25 million project features a modified suite configuration that also includes community spaces, kitchens and study areas on each floor. Balfour Beatty was selected from the five national firms that responded to a Request for Qualifications and was charged with planning, designing and building the new student housing project.

 

This public-private partnership is financed with proceeds of tax-exempt bonds issued by an affiliate of Collegiate Housing Foundation, a national nonprofit organization, under a 32-year ground lease with the university.

 

Central College awarded federal contract from DOD

Central Texas College will provide vocational and technical courses to military personnel in England, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Greece and other locations throughout Europe after being awarded a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense. The contract with DOD is for the provision of post-secondary education services for voluntary education programs for various military installations throughout Europe for members of the Army, Air Force, Marines and Navy.

 

The college has been serving members of the U.S. Armed Forces since 1973 and the current contract is for one year with an option for another nine 12-month periods. The college also has contracts with the U.S. Pacific Command to provide education services to military and family members through 2014. Those contracts include all Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps institutions in Korea, mainland Japan, Okinawa, Guam and Diego Garcia.

TTUHSC School of Medicine wins award for innovation

Steven Berk The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine has been named recipient of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Southern Group on Educational Affairs (SGEA) Innovations in Medical Education Award. The School of Medicine will receive the award for the Family Medicine Accelerated Track (FMAT) program, a three-year medical degree.

 

The FMAT program was designed to address physician shortages and graduated its first class in May. The goal of the program is to prepare primary care physicians more efficiently and with less cost. Medical school students save a full year of tuition and fees and the school provides scholarship support for tuition and fees during the students' second year.

 

Steven L. Berk, M.D. (pictured), TTUHSC executive vice president, provost and dean of the School of Medicine, said the program is of national importance because it aims to "ensure that all Americans will have access to a primary care physician." SGEA recognizes members who have developed an innovative approach to medical education and support participation of SGEA members in activities that promote educational scholarship.

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Houston Community College ends deputy chancellor contract

Art Tyler Houston Community College (HCC) officials recently agreed to pay $600,000 to Deputy Chancellor Art Tyler (pictured) to terminate his contract and end his duties, effective June 19. HCC officials in March also approved a $650,541 payment to Chancellor Mary Spangler to buy out her contract, ending her seven years leading one of the largest community colleges in the United States.

 

Renee Byas, the general counsel for HCC since 2008, has served as acting chancellor since Spangler left that post. Byas previously served as general counsel for the Lone Star College System, Texas Southern University and Illinois State University.

 

HCC officials requested proposals from search firms to help find a new chancellor, but have taken no action in selecting a search firm. At least one trustee urged board members to hire Byas as the new chancellor.

House selected VP for enrollment management at HSU

Vicki House Vicki House (pictured), who has served in various capacities at the Hardin-Simmons University Admissions Office in recent years, has been chosen as vice president for enrollment management at the university. She initially served as the Title IV compliance coordinator in financial aid. She later was named director of admissions and recruiting. Four years later and after completing a Master of Business Administration degree at HSU, she was named executive assistant to the president in spring 2011.

 

In January, House was chosen as interim vice president for enrollment management, while continuing to perform all duties in her role as executive assistant to the president.

 

Before joining HSU, House was an accountant in an Abilene accounting firm. She also was a property manager for a management company and was a realtor. She earned a B.B.A. in accounting from HSU in 2001 and an M.B.A. from HSU in 2010.

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Sam Houston University rejects land donation for ROTC program

Al Hooten Sam Houston State University (SHSU) officials recently rejected an offer from Tarek Maalouf of Maalouf Properties for a free share of his 57 acres of land on FM 2821 to use for the university's ROTC program.

 

The proposed property donation is not within the future growth areas for the university's campus master plan and university officials ruled out using the more remote property for the expanded ROTC

 

Both SHSU and Maalouf had bid on city-owned property on Sam Houston Ave. to use for the ROTC program. City officials, however, agreed to award the bid on that property to Maalouf despite a request by SHSU officials for the city to reject all bids on the property. They wanted the bids rejected because Sam Houston Ave. property was included in the university's master plan to upgrade the ROTC program because of its proximity to the college. As an alternative, Maalouf offered the donation of land on FM 2821 that he considered to be less suitable for commercial development.

Texas A&M announces Health Science Center transition complete

Texas A&M University has announced that control of its Health Science Center has been transitioned from the TAMU System to the university. TAMU President R. Bowen Loftin said the transition ends nearly a year of work and coordination of the merge, which he said will allow the university more academic and scientific opportunities as the two institutions merge.

 

"Together as one, we are now poised to offer a new model for education and research in the health sciences for the State of Texas," said Loftin. The complete transition will take place over the next year. Loftin said the university has no plans to move or close any campuses or programs.

UNT-Dallas picks Becker as provost, vice president

Lois Becker Dr. Lois Becker (pictured), former Jacksonville University vice president for Academic Affairs, is the new provost and vice president of Academic Excellence and Student Success at the University of North Texas at Dallas. Baker boasts more than 10 year of higher education experience as a chief academic officer at universities in Florida and Nevada.

 

Before signing on with Jacksonville University, Becker was the founding chief academic officer for Nevada State College.   She also was associate professor of history and international relations and history department chair at Portland State University and has lectured at Stanford.  

 

Becker has been active in accreditation for the campuses where she has worked and with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Western Association for Schools and Colleges.  She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her master's degree and doctorate from Stanford University. 

Collaboration Nation

West Texas A&M chooses Eddleman as VP for Student Affairs

Donna Eddleman Former Southern Utah University Vice President for Student Services, Dr. Donna Eddleman (pictured), is the new vice president for Student Affairs at West Texas A&M University. Eddleman will begin her new duties in August, replacing Dr. Don Albrecht, who resigned to take a post as vice president for Student Engagement and Success at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

 

Eddleman was one of three finalists for the post that will make her responsible for duties that include overseeing programs, organizations and services in Student Affairs, the Jack B. Kelley Student Center, recreational sports, Student Government, residential living, student services, educational services and student judicial affairs. Before joining the administration at Southern Utah University, Eddleman served as director of student life, associate dean of students and dean of students at Christopher Newport University. She also has served a director of orientation and FYE at Michigan Technological University, conference coordinator and scholarship coordinator at Utah State University, director of student life at Colorado Northwestern Community College and director of residence life at Mount Saint Mary College.

 

Eddleman holds a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York at Albany, a master's degree from Utah State University and a doctorate from The College of William and Mary. She has 25 years of higher education experience.

Kaufman County to hire firm to assess courthouse needs

Kaufman County commissioners recently agreed to begin negotiations with an architecture firm to perform an assessment of county courthouse needs.

 

Commissioners began discussions about a comprehensive courts building upgrade following the murder of an assistant district attorney in January and the district attorney in March of this year. The county won a grant of more than $122,000 to improve security, including video surveillance at the courthouse.

 

Commissioners also agreed to designate the county judge as the signatory in the contract to perform the assessment of the need to upgrade the county courthouse.

Four cities eyeing pact for combined dispatch center

Mac Tristan Coppell City Council members recently authorized the city manager to negotiate an agreement with officials of Carrollton, Farmers Branch and Addison to partner in building and operating a consolidated public safety dispatch center.

 

Officials in the three cities previously agreed to begin negotiations on the agreement.

 

Police Chief Mac Tristan (pictured) of Coppell and Police Chief Rex D. Redden of Carrollton both expressed support for merging the emergency dispatch center explaining that combining efforts could reduce costs and improve services by eliminating duplication.

Gonzales ISD agrees to bond election in November

Gonzales Independent School District trustees recently began making final preparations for a November bond election to pay for improving and expanding district facilities.

 

Board members already trimmed nearly $1 million from a recommended $21.62 million bond proposal that contains three separate propositions: $3.44 million to buy a former grocery store to renovate into early childhood, pre-kindergarten and kindergarten programs; $10 million to upgrade an intermediate and junior high school; and $7.88 million to build a new office area, a student activity center and other renovations to the high school campus. Each campus also will get new classrooms under the bond proposal under discussion.

 

Trustees plan to decide on the final language for a November bond election at their regular meeting in August.

Katy ISD gets first look at designs for new stadium, STEM center

Katy Stadium Trustees for Katy Independent School District recently got their first look at the preliminary designs for a second football stadium (as seen in accompanying artist's rendering), a new center for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) studies and expansion of an existing agricultural sciences center.

 

The new stadium, designed to seat from 12,000 to 14,000, will be located on land the district owns near Rhodes Stadium. An activity center, multi-purpose rooms, a two-story field house, a two-level press box, film decks, warming kitchen, administrative offices and four locker rooms that can be reconfigured into two large locker rooms are included. Plans for the second stadium carry a cost of between $59 million to $68.1 million. The new STEM center will be located on a two-acre site near the Miller Career and Technology Center, district officials said.

 

District officials are planning to approve or reject the stadium design this week and then decide whether to ask voters to approved bonds in November to pay for the new facilities. If voters approve the bonds, construction could begin as early as April 2014 and be completed in the summer of 2015, district officials said.

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Judge allows Austin ISD to proceed with $490M in bond projects

A district court judge recently ruled that Austin Independent School District officials are able to move forward with $490 million in capital projects using bond funding approved by voters in May.

 

A taxpayer's group had sued the school district and asked the court to stop the school district from issuing the $490 million in bonds, claiming the ballot language did not specify how the propositions would affect the tax rate as required by law.

 

District Judge Tim Sulak ruled the district had essentially said any tax rate increase could be unlimited because the ballot language did not specify the effect of the bond issue on the tax rate. The judge also set a security amount of $15 million the taxpayer's group would need to appeal the case. The ruling makes it difficult for the taxpayer group, whose leadership said it does not have the $15 million security required to file the appeal. Attorney for the school district argued the delay would have cost more than $33 million in construction fees and interest if the case was appealed and delayed planning and construction.

Sanger ISD eyeing an expansion of athletic facilities

Ken Crutsinger Superintendent Kent Crutsinger (pictured) of Sanger Independent School District recently requested trustees to respond to questions on how to proceed with planning for a proposed new sports facility.

 

The informal survey asked board members to respond with how each trustee believes district officials should proceed with the discussion about upgrading sports facilities, the proposed size of a field house and other sports facilities, how much trustees are willing to spend and how they intend to raise funding to pay to upgrade sports facilities at the district.

 

Board members in May received preliminary plans for a multi-sports facility from an architect that included plans for a 12,000-square-foot field house and parking lot at a cost of about $2.8 million and another option calling for a sports facility with more than 20,000 square feet of space at a cost of more than $4.5 million. The more expensive plan includes additional parking areas, expansions to bleachers and two additional athletic fields near existing tennis courts. Trustees plan to discuss the proposed athletic facility and how to pay for it with a financial adviser at the next board meeting on Aug. 12.

Bexar County taps Starr, Montford for regional mobility authority

Bexar County commissioners recently nominated David Starr, a housing developer, and John Montford, a former state senator and chancellor at Texas Tech University, to the board of the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority (RTA). The appointments nearly finish a complete replacement of staff and management of the toll authority after commissioners took control of the Alamo RTA last year.

 

Montford and Starr will replace Robert Rodriguez and Bob Thompson, whose terms on the regional mobility authority board had expired. Montford also was an executive at AT&T and a lobbyist for General Motors Corp. and Rackspace Hosting Inc.

 

Alamo RTA officials are expecting to gain up to $12 million annually from a newly approved law that allows the county to collect an additional $10 motor vehicle registration fee to pay for road and bridge projects in Bexar County.

470th Military Intelligence Brigade commander changes

Walk-Around
US Army photo by Gregory Ripps

The 470th Military Intelligence Brigade recently held traditional ceremonies at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston for its change of command, with Col. Timothy A. Chafos succeeding Col. Pierre Gervais as commander of the brigade. The reviewing officer was Maj. Gen. Stephen Fogarty, commanding general of the Intelligence and Security Command, whose headquarters are at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

 

After recognizing the brigade's "tremendous accomplishments" under Gervais's command, Fogarty said, "The 470th is going to remain in great hands." Chafos, a career intelligence officer, most recently served as deputy chief of staff for intelligence with the Combined Joint Inter-Agency Task Force-Afghanistan.

 

The change of command ceremonies included the passing of the colors, a walk-around inspection, a pass in review and music provided by the 323rd Army Band. Formations of Soldiers on the MacArthur Parade Field represented five battalions and two companies of the 470th MI Brigade.

 

In the accompanying photo, conducting a walk-around inspection of the 470th Military Intelligence Brigade are Maj. Gen. Stephen Fogarty (right), commanding general of Intelligence and Security Command; Col. Thomas Pentecost (front left), brigade deputy commander; followed by Col. Timothy A. Chafos (left), the brigade's incoming commander; and Col. Pierre Gervais, the brigade's outgoing commander.

 

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Travis County to loan $1.8 million to affordable housing developer

Travis County commissioners recently agreed to loan $1.8 million to a developer of a 120-unit affordable housing project near Lake Travis. The loan also will assist Realtex Development Corp. to qualify for federal tax credits of about $10.8 million.

 

Backed by cash from the developer, the loan from the county is intended to display local government support and possibly increase the ranking with the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), which distributes the tax credits that may be exchanged for cash to help develop the project.

 

TDHCA officials expect to decide in late July which affordable housing projects will gain a share of $33.6 million in tax credits available for affordable housing projects.

Weslaco to seek up to $8.5 million to upgrade infrastructure

Leo Olivares Weslaco City Council members recently agreed to issue up to $8.5 million in certificates of obligation to pay for unspecified upgrades to city infrastructure.

 

The infrastructure upgrades could cost as little as $6.7 million depending on the market, but the city can borrow as much as $8.5 million without a tax increase, said City Manager Leo Olivares (pictured).

 

The funding from the certificates of obligation will be used to upgrade infrastructure, improve parks and drainage depending on which projects residents support in public meetings planned in the future, Olivares said.

Fort Worth decreases amount of bond package to $292 million

The city of Fort Worth's bond election amount next May has decreased from $296 million to $292 million. The remaining $4 million difference will be part of a debt sale later this summer. New projects the city has added are $1.8 million for an East Lancaster Avenue/Oakland Boulevard library. Officials are hoping the library can be built through a public-private partnership that will fully fund a new library costing between $4 million and $4.5 million.

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Pinehurst looking at $350,000 to repair sewer lines

Joe Parkhurst Pinehurst city officials recently began discussions on repairing a section of 50-year-old sewer lines that are causing infiltration during rain and seepage, according to Joe Parkhurst (pictured), city administrator.

 

Options for improving the sewer lines include completing the project in phases over a two- to three-year period or obtaining a low-interest loan to complete the project in one effort, Parkhurst said.

 

Council members took no action on the recommendations regarding the sewer line.

Tyler officials OK location for hotel, conference center

The Tyler City Council has approved a reimbursement development agreement with a developer for public land and improvements, part of which is the obtaining of land that will be used as the site for a hotel conference center. Mayor Barbara Bass said the center could bring more than $80 million in private investment into the city. That is in addition to plans to build a privately funded hotel next to the center.

 

The Council approved hiring a consulting firm in 2011 to study the feasibility of a hotel conference center. The study showed that the city could attract private investors to build and manage the facility. Funding was to come from private investment and hotel tax revenue from the city.

 

Bass explained that the reimbursement will only be made for the public improvements initiated by the developer if the development results in tax revenue to the city. The facility is expected to generate both sales taxes and property taxes that will benefit the city and the region.

Texas Network of Youth Services plans Aug. 13-16 conference

Want to learn about innovative strategies for serving vulnerable youth, their families and their communities? Register today for the Texas Network of Youth Services (TNOYS) conference taking place Aug. 13-16 in San Antonio! Our theme this year celebrates our history and our future: "Celebrating Our Roots and Blossoms: Planting the Seeds for the Next 30 Years." The conference offers training, information and skill building for youth workers; young people; clinicians/therapists; managers, leaders and administrators; board members and other volunteers; public agency and social services personnel; youth leaders; and community advocates. Click here for more information or to register.

 

Public-private partnerships water conference set in Austin Sept. 11

"Public-Private Partnerships: A Solution for Texas Water Management," an interactive workshop on water issues, is set for Sept. 11 at the Hilton Austin Hotel. Information sessions featuring panels of experts will be held throughout the day. Among the moderators for panels are public-private partnership expert Mary Scott Nabers, president and CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc. and co-founder of the Gemini Global Group, and Mark Ellison, special advisor on economic development at the Texas Water Development Board. Nabers, author of Collaboration Nation: How Public-Private Ventures Are Revolutionizing the Business of Government, will both address conference attendees regarding public-private partnerships and then moderate a panel on "When to Use a P3 in Texas." Registration is now open and the agenda is available. The event is organized by the National Council for Public-Private Partnerships.

 

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.

 

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Creative program for state funding

 

Mary Scott NabersBy Mary Scott Nabers, CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc.

 

Government funding for social programs has been curtailed significantly in the last few years.  State officials who have for decades depended on federal grant funds and assistance programs now find themselves scrambling to support established and critical-needs programs in ways they never anticipated.  

 

Government, however, is proving that it can get creative. New funding for social service programs is now being offered with newly designed guidelines. Public officials throughout the country are finding the new programs extremely attractive.

 

The new funding programs offer incentives for private-sector investors to partner with public officials to meet social service objectives. And, the new programs remove all risk from governmental entities by making the paybacks to investors contingent on successful program outcomes. The Obama administration's proposed budget this year allocated $500 million in funding for Social Impact Bonds (SIBs). A fund was also proposed with $300 million to use as incentives for state and local governments to develop SIBs.

 

SIBs drew the attention of Texas lawmakers during the recently completed regular session. A bill was filed that would have developed and implemented SIB programs in Texas. The bill died in committee, but many legislators found the concept appealing. An accompanying proposed constitutional amendment would have given Texas voters an opportunity to authorize issuance of SIB bonds to fund performance-based contracts for health programs and health care services.

 

Social Impact Bonds were first tested in the United Kingdom in 2010 when the government inked a $13 million contract focused at reducing recidivism rates among inmates released from prison. Later, the government launched more than a dozen other such contracts addressing everything from foster care to workforce training.

  
  
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Paris approves $35 million in bonds for infrastructure projects

Paris City Council members recently agreed to issue $35 million in bonds to pay for infrastructure upgrades over the next three years. Plans call for issuing the remaining $10 million in bonds from a $45 million bond package approved by voters in May by 2015 or later, according to a financial advisor to the city.

 

Council members are holding workshops with contractors who are interested in bidding on some of the planned infrastructure projects and also plan to meet with members of the Citizens Advisory Committee and representatives from an engineering firm to begin prioritizing projects for upgrades.

Lubbock terminates contract

of Dumbauld as city manager

Lee Ann Dumbauld Lubbock City Council members recently agreed to immediately terminate the contract of City Manager Lee Ann Dumbauld (pictured).

 

Council members also voted to dismiss a complaint with the city's human resources department that the city manager filed in March against a city council member claiming he created a hostile work environment.

The council is scheduled to hold a special session today, Friday, to discuss the appointment of an interim city manager.

Hewitt to seek new bids for construction manager for project

After receiving a complaint about the city's selection process, Hewitt City Council members recently agreed to seek new bids for a construction manager to oversee the building of a new $3.85 million public safety facility.

 

A group of companies which submitted losing proposals asked the central Texas chapter of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) to raise the objection when council members selected K4 Construction in May. AGC officials claimed the city failed to issue a written evaluation and ranking of the proposals as required by legislation approved in 2011 to increase transparency and to serve as a learning tool for contractors searching for construction opportunities, according to City Manager Adam Miles.

 

The new request for proposals will now include a document asking for a breakdown of pricing at various steps of the project, including pre-construction planning and during work on the site as well as the expected profit margins expected by the contractor, Miles said. The deadline for submitting bids for the new public safety facility is Aug. 14 and council expects to select the winning proposal in late August or September, he said.

Halff

Prosper seeking A&E firm

for fire station project

The Town of Prosper is accepting Statements of Qualifications from qualified firms to provide professional architectural and engineering (A/E) design services for the conceptual design and planning of Prosper Fire Department Station No. 2.

 

The new fire station will be built in Denton County, north of US Highway 380 on Teel Parkway. The architect/engineer will be tasked with providing basic architectural and engineering design services including civil, structural, mechanical, plumbing, fire protection and electrical engineering services, and with bringing the project through the town's final plat and site plan approval process. Other specialized services sought will include issues such as interior design and landscape design. The selected firm will be involved from project inception through completion of construction. The construction manager-at-risk construction method will be used on the project.

Mission ISD selects Lopez

as  finalist for superintendent

Ricardo Lopez Mission Independent School District trustees recently selected Ricardo Lopez (pictured) as the lone finalist for superintendent.

 

Currently an associate superintendent for Ysleta ISD, Lopez will replace former Superintendent Cornelio Gonzalez, who resigned to lead the Region One Education Service Center in Edinburg.

 

Lopez earned a bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), a master's degree from New Mexico State University and has credit hours for a Ph.D. at UTEP and The University of Texas at Austin. He began his career in public education as a teacher in 1995.

Eastland selects Duncan

as its new city manager

Eastland city commissioners recently selected Ron Duncan as the new city manager. He will replace City Manager Ron Holliday, who is retiring in October.

 

Duncan spent 14 years in Crockett as the city treasurer, deputy city administrator and as city administrator for the last 10 years. A veteran of the U.S. Army, Duncan has a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University and a master's degree from Oklahoma City University.

Research Analysts - States

Killeen taps Simpson

as new director of finance

Killeen City Council members recently tapped Martie Simpson as the executive director of finance.

 

Simpson has served as interim finance director since December, when she replaced Barbara Gonzales, after council members terminated her contract.

 

Previously the assistant director of finance, Simpson oversees budget development, account payments, investments and utility collections in her new post. She has a bachelor's degree from Baylor University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

South San Superintendent Robinson calls it quits after year

Rebecca Robinson After only one year, South San Antonio ISD Superintendent Rebecca Robinson (pictured) has called it quits. Robinson was the district's third superintendent in the last three years.

 

Robinson came to South San from Eagle Pass, where she was superintendent. Her resignation comes after five top-level administrators at South San resigned in June.

 

Robinson's resignation was effective immediately. She appointed Ramiro Nava, executive director of curriculum at South San, to take over her duties.

Midway ISD approves $375,000

to buy new security cameras

Midway Independent School District trustees recently approved $375,000 to purchase 161 new security cameras to install on four campuses. Voters approved $34.5 million in bonds in May to pay for security upgrades.

 

The new digital cameras will replace outdated analog cameras at the high school and three elementary schools to provide clearer images that can be accessed via iPad or any mobile device, said Adam Feind, director of technology for the district. The new cameras will be installed before the school year begins in August, district officials said.

Corpus Christi panel urges $45 million bond for new park on bay

Corpus Christi Planning Commissioners recently recommended City Council members approve placing a $45 million bond proposal on the ballot in November to pay for developing the first phase of the $53 million Destination Bayfront park project.

 

City council members are expected next week to decide on whether to ask voters to approve the $45 million in bonds to pay for the park project. If voters approve the bond proposal, construction on phase 1 of Destination Bayfront park project could begin in 2015, supporters said.

McAfee: Connected Security

Ysleta ISD seeking applicants

for interim superintendent

Trustees for Ysleta Independent School District recently began accepting applications for an interim superintendent to replace Superintendent Michael Zolkoski, who plans to retire in September.

 

Interested candidates for interim superintendent have a deadline of August 5 to submit an application, district officials said. Trustees plan to discuss the search for a new interim superintendent at their next board meeting on July 24.

 

Board members also discussed the need to conduct a thorough search to find a qualified permanent superintendent and agreed that the process could take several months to complete. Trustees did not adopt a timeline to begin the search for a new superintendent.

Saldivar to resign as head

of Big Spring school district

Steven Saldivar After 22 years in public education, Superintendent Steven Saldivar (pictured) of Big Spring Independent School District recently announced he plans to retire in June 2014.

 

Saldivar joined the Big Spring school district as an assistant superintendent in June 2008 and became superintendent in 2009. He previously was an assistant superintendent at Lamesa ISD and also worked as a teacher, coach and principal.

Government News

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

  • Texas A&M-Corpus Christi signs agreements to fill worldwide demand for surveyors

  • Special issue of Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine focuses on 50th anniversary

Wichita Falls selects Norr

as its new city clerk

Wichita Falls City Council members recently selected Tracy Norr as the new city clerk. Norr replaces former City Clerk Lydia Ozuna, who retired on June 28.

 

Most recently a city recorder in Draper, Utah, Norr also worked as a city recorder in Fillmore, Utah, and as a city secretary in Pantego, Texas. When she begins her new duties on Aug. 12, Norr will be charged with overseeing records management, providing administrative support to City Council members, administering elections and coordinating with boards and commissions for the city.

 

Norr has a bachelor's degree from Utah State University and a master's degree from the University of Phoenix in addition to holding a designation as a Master Municipal Clerk from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks.

Tyler sales tax receipts likely

to fund runway reconstruction

A dozen projects in FY 2013-14 are expected to be funded by Tyler's half-cent sales tax receipts. The Half Cent Sales Tax Corp. recently approved its budget and projects that could be paid for through the tax receipts include runway reconstruction at the city's Tyler Pounds Regional Airport along with sidewalk and road improvements.

 

Officials expect revenues for the FY 2013-14 from the tax to total about $26.1 million. Seven of the 12 projects under consideration already are in the design stage and some are already under construction. Among them are a parking garage and some street improvements. Voters, in approving the half-cent tax in 1995, said the revenue should be dedicated for public improvement of public safety, streets, traffic control, airport, water utilities, parks and drainage for the promotion and development of new and expanded business enterprise.

Dow ISD selects Jantzen as

lone finalist for superintendent

Lynn JantzenTrustees for Dow Independent School District recently selected Lynn Jantzen (pictured) as the lone finalist for superintendent.

 

Jantzen previously was director of curriculum and instruction at Kaufman ISD. She also has been a principal at Wortham ISD and an assistant principal at Hillsboro ISD.

Galveston to build $3 million municipal pool near high school

Galveston City Council members recently agreed to build a new public swimming pool at Lasker Park at a cost ranging from $2.5 million to $3 million.

 

Council members also agreed to accept a $250,000 contribution from the Industrial Development Corporation to help pay for the new municipal pool and to hire a design firm to develop plans for the new pool.

 

Plans call for representatives from the city and design firm to hold public meetings to gather input from residents on their ideas for the new pool. The pool design should be completed as early as November.

Bexar County pilot program

to address military voting

Casting ballots by e-mail is part of a pilot voting project in which Bexar County will participate. The program allows members of the U.S. military serving in combat zones to vote via e-mail. Election officials in the county say that when the program starts, about 300 Bexar County troops are expected to participate.

 

The pilot program is the result of legislation that passed during the 83rd Regular Session of the Texas Legislature. The bill directs the Secretary of State to choose a county in which to institute a pilot program. Secretary of State John Steen picked Bexar County. County and state officials are expected to meet soon to iron out details of the program.

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Volume 1-11 Archives - 11/7/03 - 7/12/13
  

Stuebe wins appointment

as new city secretary in Humble

Jason Stuebe Humble City Council members recently appointed Jason Stuebe (pictured) as the new city secretary. He replaces former City Secretary Sue Daniel, who retired in June.

 

Stuebe previously served as an assistant to the city manager in College Station. He attended the University of Illinois at Springfield and began his employment in College Station in 2007 as an economic development analyst.

 

Jefferson ISD taps six finalists

for superintendent post

Trustees for Jefferson Independent School District recently selected six applicants as finalists for superintendent. Board members now plan to conduct interviews and select a superintendent by Aug. 12, said Interim Superintendent Sandra Spencer.

 

The new superintendent will replace former Superintendent Sharon Ross, who resigned to accept a job as superintendent for Mexia ISD.

Irving ISD selects Hafley

as interim superintendent

James Weldon Hafley, retired superintendent of the Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD, has been chosen as the interim superintendent for the Irving ISD. Hafley replaces former Irving Superintendent Dana Bedden, who recently resigned. Bedden resigned July 1, with four years left on his contract. He struck a deal with the school board regarding a severance package and left the school district.

 

Hafley spent 30 years in the Eagle Mountain-Saginaw schools, his last five as superintendent. He has since held three interim superintendent posts after retiring from Eagle Mountain-Saginaw in 2006.

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San Juan taps Gomez

as new finance director

San Juan city officials recently tapped Isaac Gomez as the new finance director to replace Ramiro Lopez, who retired in February. A Certified Public Accountant, Gomez also previously worked as an investigator for the Office of the Attorney General.

Texoma utility authority tags Barnett as new general manager

Clay Barnett Greater Texoma Utility Authority officials recently selected Clay Barnett (pictured) as the new general manager. Three board members plan to negotiate employment terms with Barnett and then report back to the entire board, which will then accept or reject the negotiated contract.

 

Currently the city engineer in Sherman, Barnett will replace General Manager Jerry Chapman, who recently announced plans to retire. Chapman has agreed to be available for three months to assist with the transition.

 

Barnett has a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University and a master's degree from the University of Dallas. In addition to his public-sector experience, Barnett also worked as an engineer in the private sector.

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