DARS announces appointment of three new executives

Durden selects new assistant commissioner, two C-level officials

A new assistant commissioner and two C-level executives were recently named at the Texas Department of Assisted and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). DARS Commissioner Veronda L. Durden has selected Cheryl Fuller (top left) as the new assistant commissioner for the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) while choosing Daniel Bravo (bottom right) as the chief operating officer and William D. "Bill" Briggs (bottom left) as the agency's chief financial officer.

Fuller has served as DARS interim assistant commissioner since mid-July, replacing previous DRS Assistant Commissioner Jim Hanophy. The new assistant commissioner is a former director of the DARS Center for Learning Management, which provides training to DARS staff, including vocational rehabilitation professionals in DRS and the Division for Blind Services, which maximizes employee competencies and ensures professional growth in a variety of areas.

Before joining DARS, Fuller spent more than 11 years as director of the Texas Workforce Investment Council in the Office of the Governor. She also spent nearly nine years working in local workforce programs. Fuller holds a bachelor's degree from Angelo State University.

Bravo joins DARS as COO after having served as the Health and Human Services Commission Director of Regional Administrative Services, managing its facilities, the cost pool budget for leases and associated operating expenses and providing inventory and asset management support. His first 13 years of state employment were devoted to the delivery of client services. For the last eight years, Bravo lent his support to client services, including those provided by DARS. He has also worked at the Texas Department of Human Services, Department of Aging and Disability Services, the Office of the Inspector General and the Office of the Attorney General. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin.

Briggs, a Certified Public Accountant, has more than three decades of service to the state. His public service includes accounting, budgeting and systems experience in both the public and private sectors, both as a state administrator and independent consultant. Briggs also has more than 14 years of experience as a CFO and strategic member of several Texas state agencies, including the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas Water Commission, Texas Department of Community Affairs and the engineering agencies within the Texas A&M University System. He also served as Director of Operational and Management Audits for the Texas General Land Commission.

Briggs holds a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University and earned Project Management Professional certification. While in the private sector as a consultant, he assisted more than 40 Texas state agencies in the planning, selection and project management of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.

Becky Motal ending nearly three decades with LCRA

General manager announces her retirement from agency at end of year

A nearly three-decade career with the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) will come to an end for Becky Motal (pictured), who this week announced her retirement from the agency, effective Dec. 31. Motal, a 27-year employee of the LCRA, has been serving as general manager since July 2011.

Although leaving the agency, Motal said she will continue to look for new work opportunities and new challenges.

Motal's career with LCRA began in 1987. Since then, she has served in a variety of rolls, from manager of External Affairs to manager of LCRA's Economic and Financial Planning Department before taking over as general manager two years ago.

"Becky took the reins during what may be the most challenging time ever at LCRA," said LCRA Board Chair Tim Timmerman. "She managed LCRA through a series of crises from devastating wildfires to electric customer disputes to what may be the worst drought on record."

Motal is credited with reorganizing the agency after becoming general manger, eliminating separate divisions of the agency and consolidating power, water and transmission business units into one company.

The retiring general manager holds a bachelor's degree and an MBA from The University of Texas at Austin and earned her law degree from The University of Texas School of Law.

Castle new Texas Department of Insurance deputy commissioner

Allison Castle (pictured) will take on a new job on Oct. 1 as deputy commissioner for public affairs with the Texas Department of Insurance. Castle currently serves as communications director in Gov. Rick Perry's office. She is also a former press secretary and special adviser in Perry's office.

Prior to joining the Governor's Office staff, Castle was a senior associate with Ross Communications, a private-sector public affairs firm, where she managed public affairs campaigns for private-sector companies and state trade associations.

Castle also previously was press secretary to former State Comptroller Carol Keeton Strayhorn and was on Strayhorn's campaign staff.

Castle earned her bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin.

Texas Water Development Board picks Patteson as administrator

The newly reorganized Texas Water Development Board, which only recently saw its first new full-time, paid, three-member board installed, now has a new executive administrator. Kevin Patteson, who currently serves as executive director of the Office of State-Federal Relations, will take over as executive administrator on Oct. 1. He will replace Robert Mace, who has been serving as interim executive administrator. TWDB Chair Carlos Rubinstein said Patteson will assist regional water planning groups prioritize water management strategies and projects and help move the State Water Plan forward.

Before his position with the Office of State-Federal Relations, Patteson was special advisor on federal initiatives for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and served as a liaison between the agency and members of Congress regarding federal legislation and regulatory matters. He also is a former deputy general counsel for the Texas Workforce Commission and was assistant general counsel/ethics advisor for the Governor's Office from 2002-2008.

Patteson earned his bachelor's degree and law degree from Baylor University.

TxDOT hires Steavens as new director for agency's rail division

Erik Steavens of Georgia has been hired by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) as its new rail director. Steavens comes to TxDOT after having been president of a transportation planning firm and after having worked for the Georgia Department of Transportation, where he had oversight of non-highway programs that included rail as well as aviation and waterways. He was named division director of Intermodal Programs for the Georgia DOT in November 2008. He also worked for the Federal Highway Administration for eight years and followed up his work in the federal agency by working on the transportation authorization bill advising senior leadership of the U.S. House and Senate on policy and financial provisions that became part of the bill.

The new TxDOT employee helped develop Georgia's first coordinated rail plan and examined possible high-speed rail projects in the state. He takes over a position previously held by Bill Glavin, who retired in July from his post as director of TxDOT's rail division.

Steavens holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Florida and a master's degree in civil engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
 

TWDB approves $24M in financial assistance for state projects

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) recently approved financial assistance totaling $24,903,916 as follows:

• City of Roscoe - $1.04 million from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to replace severely dilapidated clay tile sewer lines that were constructed in the 1940s and that have had failures, leaks, collapses and blockages.
• East Rio Hondo Water Supply Corporation - $1.97 million loan and $591,000 in loan forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to address its emergency water supply issues by constructing a new 7,443-linear-foot raw water transmission line and a pump station
• City of Edinburg - $10.425 million loan from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to expand its existing West Water Treatment Plant from 8 million gallons per day to 16 million gallons per day within the existing facility site.
• City of Raymondville - $3.8 million including a $2.145 million loan and $1.655 million in loan forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to construct one public water supply well and a 2-million-gallon per day reverse osmosis treatment facility to address the need for additional water supplies for its customers.
• Mount Enterprise Water Supply Corporation - $775,000 loan from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to replace and/or rehabilitate its 1950s and 60s water distribution system to address increasing water losses.
• City of Rio Hondo - $3,793,916 including a $1.278 million loan and $2,515,916 in loan forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to purchase pushwater, install a 22,000-linear-foot emergency interconnect, and rehabilitate one existing elevated and one existing round storage tank.
• Fort Bend County Water Control and Improvement District No. 8 - $490,000 loan to construct a new water well to be used as a backup to its existing water well, and to install an emergency generator at the water plant. The district will also use funds to purchase credits in the City of Richmond's surface water project to meet obligations to the Fort Bend Subsidence District to reduce its use of groundwater.
• City of Groveton - $2.61 million including a $620,000 loan from the Texas Water Development Fund and a $1.99 million grant from the Economically Distressed Areas Program to construct a project to correct deficiencies in its water distribution system and provide additional water supply. The project includes replacement of water distribution lines, addition of isolation valves, and construction of a new public water supply well. 

Hahn tapped to chair Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Harold Hahn (pictured) of El Paso was recently appointed by Gov. Rick Perry as the new chair of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). Hahn was reappointed to a term that expires in August 2019 to the board that sets policies for higher education in this state.

Chairman of a mortgage company and a director of the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce, Hahn also served as president of the Texas Mortgage Bankers Association and is a member of the Paso Del Norte Group. He has a bachelor's degree from Eastern New Mexico University.

The governor also reappointed Christopher Huckabee of Fort Worth to the THECB and selected Robert "Bobby" Jenkins Jr. of Austin as vice chair of the coordinating board. Huckabee is a registered architect and CEO of Huckabee Inc. He earned a bachelor's degree from Texas Tech University. Jenkins, who owns a home and commercial services business, has a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University.

DPS part of Austin Museum Day Sept. 22

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Crime Lab Crime Scene Vehicle, which is regularly deployed to crime scenes to assist in the investigation of crimes in Texas, and Harley Davidson Road King Police Motorcycle and the Bike Patrol, assigned to patrol the Capitol Complex in Austin, are among the equipment and resources that will be displayed as part of Austin Museum Day on Sunday, Sept. 22. Also featured will be the DPS Mounted Patrol, a member of which is shown in the accompanying photo.

DPS will showcase its history as well as its current law enforcement capabilities as part of the Museum Day event, which features free exhibits and activities at participating Austin-area museums and cultural sites. The DPS Historical Museum and Research Center is sponsoring the event at DPS Headquarters, 5805 N. Lamar Blvd., Building A, in Austin from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

The DPS event is free and open to the public. The DPS Historical Museum and Research Center event will highlight the department's history, displaying a vintage patrol car and motorcycle, along with troopers in vintage uniforms. There will also be a patrol vehicle display.

National Night Out:

Texans to gather Oct. 1 in support

of efforts aimed at crime prevention

National Night Out Celebrates its 30th year anniversary and continues to be a well-recognized crime prevention program both in the United States and abroad.

Military installations, universities, police and sheriff departments, utility companies, fire departments, emergency management departments, code compliance, neighborhood associations, businesses and nonprofit groups all have united in solidarity against crime and drugs.

National Night Out is designed to increase awareness of crime and drug prevention, generate support and participation in efforts to reduce crime, bring communities together with law enforcement to work toward a crime-free community goal and to let criminals know neighborhoods are organizing and fighting back against crime.

"Every year, Texas comes together the first Tuesday in October to celebrate National Night Out and to let the criminal element know that we are united against crime and drugs in our communities and together we will improve the quality of life for generations to come," said Rosie Salinas (pictured), State of Texas National Night Out Chair and community liaison with the Austin Police Department.

"Law enforcement agencies across Texas have taken the oath to serve and protect and we intend to keep that promise by coordinating community events that bring awareness and provide information from several resources that assist with that effort."

Salinas urges Texans to contact their local law enforcement agencies and get involved in National Night Out to "help make your community safer for your children to enjoy."

Lamar University selects Das director of undergraduate research

Lamar University officials recently appointed Kumer Das (pictured), an associate professor of mathematics, as the director of the new Office of Undergraduate Research. The new office was created to encourage students and faculty in all disciplines to participate in undergraduate research.

Das, who plans to continue teaching mathematics in addition to his new duties as director of undergraduate research, joined the university in 2005. Since then, Das has conducted research with 30 undergraduate students that has produced 36 research talks, eight poster presentations at national and regional conferences and become the subject of four publications.

Most recently, Das has conducted research funded by the National Science Foundation by analyzing data-driven decisions on health care.

UT to expand committee to find president of new Valley university

Regents for The University of Texas System recently agreed to establish a larger search committee to help find a president for the new university the System is establishing in the Rio Grande Valley. The new university will merge UT Brownsville, UT Pan American University in Edinburg and a new medical school planned in the future.

Regents also hired Julio Leon, a former president of Missouri Southern State University, as a special advisor to help develop plans for the new school to ensure all constituencies are appropriately represented, said Paul Foster (pictured), chair of the board of regents.

The search committee now will have 10 more members than typical search committees, he noted. Search committee members will include two regents, two presidents from campuses in the UT System, the executive vice chancellor for academic affairs, five faculty members, three deans, two students, the presidents of the alumni associations from UT-Brownsville and UT-Pan American, two non-faculty employees of those schools and four representatives from external constituencies. President Robert Nelson of UT-Pan American has said he may apply for the presidency, but wants to see the job description before making a final decision, while President Juliet Garcia of UT-Brownsville has not yet made a decision on whether to seek the job, a spokeswoman said.

Dallas seeks public-private partnership to build branch library

Dallas Public Library and Office of Economic Development officials recently requested qualified developers to submit proposals for a mixed-use project that would include a new branch library on city-owned property. City officials originally had planned to use funds of a 2012 bond election to pay for the new branch library, but lack of funding prompted city officials to look for a private developer. The branch library project will be located at Vickery Meadows, an area with high crime that city officials hope to upgrade with projects such as the library.

Under terms of the request for proposal, the winning developer will be able to build what they like at the site, including retail or medical space. However, the project must include a library and a multifamily dwelling with affordable housing available. The request also informs developers that the city currently has no funds set aside to build the library branch or for finishing out the interior, but that a $750,000 federal grant with a local match from the Vickery Meadow Tax Increment Financing District that can be used for pre-construction costs.

Conroe approves $1.2 million for design of new police, court facility

Conroe City Council members recently approved a $1.2 million agreement with a Houston-based company to produce the design and engineering plan for a new $23 million police and municipal court facility.

The design phase represents 6 percent of the cost of the 76,000-square-foot building approved in the 2013-2014 capital improvement program budget, said Police Chief Philip Dupuis (pictured).

The new facility, which will house 178 employees of the police department and 15 employees of the municipal court, replaces a 40,000-square-foot facility that was too small to efficiently operate, Dupuis said.

Texas technology fund awards $3M grant to create biotech center

The state's Texas Emerging Technology Fund recently awarded a $3 million grant to establish the Center for Cell and Organ Biotechnology at Texas A&M University.

A collaboration between the Texas Heart Institute (THI) and the College of Veterinary Medical and Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University, the new center for biotechnology research plans to take a multi-pronged approach to chronic disease in health care in both humans and veterinary care. The Michael E. DeBakey Institute for Cardiovascular Sciences, which has won national recognition as a leader in biomedical research of vascular and cardiovascular diseases, is part of College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M.

Dr. Doris Taylor, currently director of regenerative medicine research at THI, who conducts research on adult stem cells, will lead the new center. Taylor plans to include engineers, scientists, physicians, veterinarians and business managers from both THI and Texas A&M at the new center.

Some driver license offices open Saturdays to issue election ID

Officials of the Texas Department of Public Safety recently announced that nearly 50 driver license offices throughout the state will open on Saturday to assist in acquiring proper identification required to vote in November.

On Saturdays through Nov. 2, selected offices will open on Saturdays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. so that residents can apply for an Election Identification Certificate (EIC). A list of the driver license offices to be open on Saturdays can be found here.

The only service available on Saturdays will be the issue of the election identification certificates. A Texas driver license, a Texas personal identification card, a Texas concealed handgun license, U.S. Military identification with photo and a U.S. Citizenship Certificate or Certificate of Naturalization with photo are the only accepted forms of identification recognized for elections. All forms of the required identification must be unexpired or expired less than 60 days at the time of voting.

Residents applying for an EIC must visit a driver license office and complete an Application for Texas Election Certificate (DL-14C) in addition to bringing documentation to verify U.S. citizenship, identity, Texas residency and being eligible to vote in Texas. For more information on obtaining an EIC, click here.

Port of San Antonio taps Santiago as VP of human resources

Port San Antonio officials recently selected Ruthie Santiago (pictured) as the new vice president of human resources.

Santiago previously worked in human resources for the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

In her new post, Santiago will manage personnel functions of the real estate, facilities, business development, economic development, finance, logistics and marketing departments of Port San Antonio.

Hays County CISD buys land for school, eyes bond election

Trustees for Hays County Consolidated Independent School District recently authorized $800,000 to buy 80 acres of land for a new school. And a citizens committee is holding its first meeting to determine whether to ask voters to approve bonds in May 2014 to pay for new schools to meet enrollment growth.

The district badly needs a new middle school, but if the committee recommends a bond election, district officials are hoping the bond proposal will fund two new elementary schools, upgrade existing campuses and build a new middle school, district officials said.

If the bond proposal wins approval, district officials would begin construction in summer 2014 and open the school by August 2015, according to Deputy Superintendent Carter Scherff. Bond committee members plan to make a recommendation on the proposed bond election in early December and begin public meetings in January 2014.

Texas A&M system targeting human resources jobs for review

As part of efforts by the Texas A&M University System to overhaul its $3.8 billion system, Chancellor John Sharp recently hired a consulting company at a cost of $80,000 to review employee performance and best business practices throughout the system.

Sharp previously ordered reviews to assess the job of every non-faculty member employed by the system, the operation of information technology and communications and operation of Easterwood Airport in an effort to locate wasteful spending for administration that could be reinvested into education.

The review of human resources employees and administrative operations are being done concurrently, Sharp said. The institutions being reviewed include Texas A&M University, the Texas A&M System offices, the Health Science Center, AgriLife, the Engineering Extension Service and the Engineering Experiment Station. A 2012 management review requested by Sharp urged the elimination of 22 of the 95 HR positions in the A&M system in the Brazos Valley to save about $1.6 million annually.

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McKinney to pay $25 million for Collin County Regional Airport

McKinney City Council members recently agreed to purchase the assets of Collin County Regional Airport, including several hangar complexes and the terminal building. The city expects to take over operation of the airport with its 78-foot control tower and 7,000-foot runway on Nov. 1.

While the city already owned the 745 acres of land on which the airport sits, city officials decided to buy the other assets from a privately owned business in an effort to generate more revenue from fuel sales and hangar leases. The airport generates approximately $345,000 annually in property tax revenue while the city provides $645,000 in subsidies to the airport.

Current plans are to use about $8 million in state and federal funding for previous work on the airport and to issue debt to be repaid with airport revenue to pay the remaining $17.25 million cost of the assets. City officials projected the city could reduce its losses by about $45,000 annually by operating the airport. If efforts to lease more corporate hangars are successful, the regional airport could raise about $450,000 in annual profit, city officials said.

Leon Valley gets first look at plans for $7 million municipal complex

Leon Valley city officials recently got their first look at a preliminary design for a 34,788-square-foot, $7-million municipal facility (as pictured in the accompanying artist's rendering) to replace its 50-year-old, 19,700-square-foot city complex .

Plans call for completing the municipal complex project in three phases, with the first phase a 15,000-square-foot fire station with six bays to be built next to city hall. Work on the project should begin in early 2014.

City officials also plan to renovate city hall and install energy efficiency improvements throughout the new complex.

Eanes ISD eyes public-private partnership for sports complex

Trustees for Eanes Independent School District recently began considering a recommendation from a citizen's group to enter into a public-private partnership to build a 30,000-square-foot sports complex near Westlake High School to be shared by students and residents. Voters in 2010 rejected a proposed $150 million bond proposal that contained funding for a new student activity center that could be used as an indoor practice field and another facility to provide rehearsal space for dance, cheer and wrestling programs at the high school.

The company, D1Sports Training, proposed building the sports complex on property on which a demolished Shrine Temple Hall was located. The company, which would pay for building the facility, also proposed managing operation of the sports complex and reserving parts of the complex for students from Westlake High School. Other areas of the sports complex would then be open to the general public on a pay-as-you-go basis.

The proposal also calls for the school district to maintain ownership of the property and would require district officials to give the company a one-year notice before ending the agreement. Board members are also considering a recommendation by one board member to issue a request for proposals for the proposed sports complex to ensure the district moves forward with the best option.

Arlington allots $10.4M for $160M apartment redevelopment

In a public-private partnership effort to improve an area of aging apartments, Arlington City Council members recently agreed to fund $10.4 million on a $160 million redevelopment project to replace four 40-year-old apartment complexes with more upscale apartments.

City officials also offered the developer a 90 percent property tax refund over 30 years for a 2,300-acre, mixed-use housing development just north of the apartment renovation project along with funding demolition and land acquisition costs, upgrades to parks and improving the entrance to the golf course. The area between Cooper and Collins streets is prime for renewal because of its easy access to Interstate 30 and to the AT&T Stadium and Rangers ballpark, city officials said.

P3 project in Houston draws seven RFQ responses

A request for qualifications (RFQ) for a public-private partnership for a justice complex in Houston has drawn seven responses. The city of Houston is seeking a design-build-finance-operate-maintain partnership with a private-sector partner for a facility that will house some of the operations of the city's Municipal Courts 

Department and the Houston Police Department. The city received seven statements of qualifications from the following firms or alliances: Hines; PEJP (Plenary Edgemoor Justice Partners); Skanska/AECOM/Honeywell; Griffin Partners; KBR; CGL; and Midway (Page Southerland Page and Manhattan).

The RFQ was issued in June. Houston officials are looking at an 18-acre site held by the city that includes the city's Municipal Courts Building and other structures. The new facility will consolidate operations that are currently conducted at the Municipal Courts Building, the Houston Police Department's Riesner facility and the HPD headquarters on Travis Street.

Bell Co. water district begin design phase for wastewater plant

Officials of the Bell County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 recently began the design phase for a new wastewater treatment plant to be located south of Killeen.

Killeen city officials also hired engineers to assist the city and water district employees identify any issues that could arise at the site, noted City Manager Glenn Morrison (pictured) of Killeen. One major problem, Morrison said, is the large amounts of grease that continues to clog the sewer system. The city paid a $900,000 fine in 2008 as a penalty for damage caused by grease to the south sewage treatment plant, Morrison noted.

While no final cost estimate is available, Morrison estimated the cost of the new treatment plant would range from $10 million to $13 million. Engineers plan to complete the design phase by the end of 2014 and provide a more accurate cost estimate before Council decides to proceed or not with the project. Once work begins, however, the new treatment plant could be completed in about two years to 30 months, he said.

Archer City to use $8M in federal funds for water treatment plant

Officials of Archer City recently agreed to use $8 million in federal loans and grants to build a new water treatment plant to replace the old plant built in 1959.

Currently, the city would have problems finding and replacing major components of the aging equipment if one of the components failed, said City Manager George Huffman. A new plant is needed to ensure the city will not be required to haul in water if a major malfunction at the treatment plant occurs, he said.

City officials have not yet set a firm construction date for the new water treatment plant, but expect work on the new plant will kick off in 2014 or 2015, Huffman said.

Dallas approves plan for new $270 million cancer treatment facility

Dallas City Council members recently approved plans for an 115,000-square-foot, $270-million cancer treatment center on the site of a former apparel mart. Plans call for construction on the Dallas Proton Treatment Center to begin in June 2014 and be finished in late 2015.

The agreement includes $7 million in tax-district financing to offset costs of demolition, environmental remediation and improvements to streets and utilities on the site located along Stemmons Freeway, south of Medical District Drive. A San Diego-based company that owns three similar facilities is designing and funding the facility, which it will also own.

Hotel, office and residential space also are included in the plans for the cancer treatment center, which will be operated by The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Longview gets first look $5.5 million conference center/hotel

Longview City Council members recently got their first look at a proposed $5.5 million conference center and full-service hotel with up to 150 rooms, expected to be located south of the city.

Mayor Jay Dean (pictured) directed city staff to explore financing options for the city to pay the expected $5.5 million or more cost of the conference center and hotel. Options for financing include using the city's hotel occupancy tax, issuing debt through a certificate of obligation, seeking bond approval from voters or using a tax increment reinvestment zone, Dean said.

Preliminary plans call for the 25,500-square-foot conference facility to have 10 breakout spaces and the ability to serve meals to 1,000 attendees. City officials are working with a Longview-based corporation on the project and expect the corporation will oversee the convention center once it is completed.

HCC to create minority-owned business center

Using $900,000 from a grant from the Minority Business Development Agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Houston Community College officials plan to create a minority-owned business center to improve opportunities for businesses owned by minorities.

The goal of the new business center is to expand the number of business experts who can provide assistance to minority-owned businesses to help boost the economy and create more jobs.

The Houston Minority Business Enterprise Center, which was partially funded by a grant from the Minority Business Development Agency, recently shut down operations earlier this year.

Legislative news

Dewhurst names Transportation Funding committee members

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst recently announced his appointees to the Senate's Select Committee on Transportation. He named Sen. Tommy Williams as chair and Sen. Robert Nichols as vice chair.

Other appointees are Sens. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, Donna Campbell, Kevin Eltife, Kel Seliger, Kelly Hancock, Carlos Uresti and Judith Zaffirini.

The select committee will oversee highway infrastructure improvements including the roads targeted for conversion from paved to unpaved by the Texas Department of Transportation.

Three appointed to Sunset Advisory Commission

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst this week announced his appointments to the Sunset Advisory Commission. His appointments include Sens. Jane Nelson, Charles Schwertner and Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa.