ACC board continues paring down bond issue recommendations

Paring down recommendations of an advisory committee, the Austin Community College (ACC) District Board of Trustees recently met to discuss the college's most immediate needs. College officials are discussing the needs as they look toward a possible November bond election. "We are committed to a proposal that takes the impact on taxpayers into account while addressing our most urgent needs - long overdue renovations that ensure safety and create flexible facilities that will train an advanced workforce," said Jeffrey Richard (pictured), chair of the ACC Board of Trustees.

A citizens advisory committee was formed last year and presented a wish list valued at $499 million for projects it considered needing urgent attention. The projects include renovating outdated sites, providing services in high-growth communities and creating facilities that will enhance student success and benefit the workforce.

ACC held its only bond election nearly a dozen years ago. Voters approved a $99 million bond referendum to build a South Austin Campus, expand the Eastview Campus health sciences building, construct the Rio Grande Campus parking garage, expand the Cypress Creek Campus and more. "ACC has done a lot without going to the voters," says Richard. "Through tuition increases, tax base growth and judicious budgeting, we've made significant progress. But we must do more in order to continue to support regional economic development."

Hidalgo backs new campus for Texas State Technical College

Hidalgo County commissioners recently voted to support the creation of a Texas State Technical College (TSTC) campus in Edcouch. According to the Valley Morning Star, the vote followed unsuccessful efforts by local officials to convince South Texas College (STC) officials to establish a campus at Mercado Delta, a failed farmers and artisans market built with $2.6 million in federal grants and opened for business in early 2009.

The effort to create a new Delta campus for TSTC includes a partnership with Toyota and the Bill Gates Foundation to establish a trade school to train workers in jobs now in demand, noted a spokesman for the county judge. County officials presented the proclamation in support of a new Delta campus for TSTC to U.S. Rep. Ruben Hinojosa of Mercedes, and state Rep. Terry Canales of Edinburg and requested their assistance.

To become a permanent TSTC campus would require STC officials to invite TSTC to establish that campus in addition to gaining approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the legislature, noted Chancellor Michael L. Reeser of TSTC. The state-operated technical college was established in Waco in 1965 and the system now operates campuses in 11 locations throughout the state, including Harlingen.

Cook tapped as provost for Austin Community College

Dr. Charles Cook (pictured), currently the vice chancellor for academic affairs at Houston Community College (HCC), recently agreed to join Austin Community College (ACC) on Aug. 1 as the new provost/executive vice president for academic affairs.

As the chief academic officer, Cook will administer all programs relating to instruction and student services, including implmentation of the Academic Master Plan adopted by ACC trustees.

Cook has overseen academic affairs at HCC since 1999 and previously worked for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, as a college instructor and a public school teacher.  He has a bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin in addition to a master's degree and a Ph.D. from the University of Houston. 

Bellaire to seek construction manager for new municipal campus

Bellaire City Council members recently agreed to seek a construction manager-at risk to oversee building a new municipal campus to house the city hall, municipal courts, a civic center and a police station.

Voters approved $11 million in bonds to pay for the three buildings planned to replace two buildings. The plan calls for building a city hall and courts facility located on the existing site of city hall and build a separate civic center. A new police station is planned across the street between an existing fire station and the library.

City staff are developing a request for qualifications for architectural firms wanting to oversee the project. Facilities Director Karl Miller also urged city officials to use the construction manager-at-risk approach with a goal to complete the municipal campus project in July 2016. The tentative timetable is for council members to select an architectural design company in mid-September and begin reviewing the concept design in January 2015. The construction manager-at-risk would begin in September, a contract would be awarded in January 2015 with construction to begin in October 2015. Completing the municipal complex in more than one phase could add an additional eight months to the timeline, Miller said.

San Antonio gets first look at $50 million affordable housing plan

San Antonio City Council members recently got their first look at a proposed $50 million housing development with 272 housing units, commercial space and 450 parking spaces designed to provide more affordable housing in the downtown area.

In the presentation to council, a developer, Landbridge Partners, proposed using city-owned property once used as transitional housing and a privately owned property to build the mixed-use development for the downtown area.

City officials requested the developer to ensure that at least 50 percent of the housing units are leased to households with a $47,000 or less annual income. The developer requested the city to transfer the building on Dwyer Street to San Antonio Housing Trust Public Facility Corporation. In return, the Housing Trust would agree to provide about $100,000 annually, or 5 percent of the cash flow from the project, to the Haven for Hope Fund.

Thompson chosen associate vice president at UH-Clear Lake

University of Houston Director of Foundation Relations Rhonda Thompson (pictured) has been selected as the new associate vice president for university advancement at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Thompson's career includes 15 years of management, fundraising and organizational development in higher education and with nonprofits and health organizations.

In addition to having worked for UH, Thompson also is a former assistant dean for strategic planning and senior director of development for UH's College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. She was also vice president for client services at the Center for Nonprofit Management in Dallas, leading a network of professional volunteers to provide strategic planning, fundraising and management support to nonprofits.

Thompson earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from The University of Texas at Arlington. 

Gonzales unveils plans for proposed new exposition center

At a recent town hall meeting, Gonzales city officials and the public received a preliminary report on plans to build a new expo center next to the JB Wells Arena. Council members in February approved construction of a new exposition center and selected a consultant to oversee the project.

A consultant outlined preliminary plans to build up to a 40,000-square-foot facility with an entertainment venue, banquet rooms, a trade show area, meeting rooms and a patio with a concession area. As a final design is not available, however, the actual scope, size and cost of the project is unknown, said the consultant, who requested feedback from audience members to help determine the final size, uses and cost of the new facility.

Once final design plans are available, city council members will review those plans, make changes if desired and then vote on a final plan before construction on the new expo center can begin, city officials said.

Hewitt agrees to issue $6.8M in debt for new city hall, library

Hewitt City Council members recently agreed to issue $6.8 million in certificates of obligation to pay for a new city hall and library building and to upgrade streets and parks.

Current plans are to set aside $4.5 million to pay for a 26,500-square-foot building to house the city hall and library, $2 million to pay for street improvements and $285,000 to pay for a football field, two baseball fields, a pavillion and playground equipment for a park, said City Manager Adam Miles (pictured). The library will use 65 percent of the space in the new city hall building, he said.

City officials plan on spending about $450,000 to rebuild Old Temple Road, $658,000 to upgrade Panther Way and $312,000 to repair First Street, Miles said.

New Braunfels panel supports study on recycled water for park

As recommended by Chief Executive Officer Paula DiFonzo (pictured), the New Braunfels Utility Board recently agreed to join the city in paying half the cost of an $88,000 engineering report on the feasibility of developing a system for recycled water to be used as non-potable water to irrigate parks.

A similar study commissioned in 2011 estimated it would cost about $4.5 million to create a system to treat wastewater and distribute that water to parks. But a rate analyst for the utility estimated a new system to recycle wastewater would now carry a $7.2 million construction price tag and would cost about $841,000 a year to operate.

Friends for the Preservation of Historic Landa Park backed the study of using recycled water as the drought in that area has continued. If city and utility board officials decide to proceed with the recycling project, a funding plan and a final design and construction contract must be developed for a system to treat and distribute the treated wastewater, city officials said. Construction would begin in 2017 or 2018  if city council members and the utility board approve the project.

Hidalgo County wins $3.3 million grant to fight border crime

The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently awarded the sheriff's office of Hidalgo County a $3.3 million grant from the Operation Stonegarden Program to fight crime along the border with Mexico.

Under terms of the grant, the sheriff's office will use $1.6 million of the grant funding and distribute the remaining money among constable precincts and 12 police departments in the area. The grant funding can be used to pay overtime to officers, buy new equipment or to pay fuel costs, county officials said.

The sheriff's office plans to buy two telescopic, infrared camera systems at a cost of $100,000 each to mount on trailers to allow officers to scan an area for human body heat. That would allow them to detect people involved in human smuggling or burglaries, a spokesman for the sheriff said.

NRN selects four Texas cities for networking program

National Resource Network (NRN) officials recently selected four cities in Texas as among 50 communities to include in the first phase of a pilot for 311 for Cities services program. The 311 for Cities program is designed to help cities address issues such as workforce development, infrastructure, housing, transportation and budget decisions.

Brownsville, Harlingen, Baytown and Port Arthur won selection to participate in the $10 million NRN pilot program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as part of its Strong Communities Initiative created by the president.

The NRN pilot program allows city officials in designated cities to directly access the NRN Web site for fast and direct contact with private- and public-sector representatives. Officials of participating cities also will be able to submit questions to experts regarding strategies to improve bond ratings, update public safety standards, reform zoning codes or other issues confronting city leaders. A team of experts from NRN also will travel to select cities to work directly with city officials in addressing their concerns and identifying potential solutions.

Wilson tapped as interim CEO of El Paso workforce agency

The board of the Upper Rio Grande Workforce Solutions recently tapped Joyce Wilson (pictured), the city manager for El Paso, as the new interim chief executive officer.

The board also selected Richard Samaniego as the interim director of human resources after accepting the resignations of Lorenzo Reyes Jr., the chief executive officer, and Teofilo Ugalde, the chief operating officer.

Wilson said she must wait to accept the officer from the state workforce agency until city council members can amend her employment contract, which ends in September. Wilson had agreed to remain working with the city as a consultant to assist in the transition when the new city manager, Tommy Gonzalez, begins his new duties on June 23. If council members agree, Wilson said she would remain available for consultation with the new city manager.

TranStar to expand emergency center for Houston Metro area

Officials of TranStar, a collaborative effort by officials of Harris County, the city of Houston, Metro and the Texas Department of Transportation, recently began construction on a $12.2 million expansion to the facility used to monitor emergency situations.

TranStar was created to provide transportation and emergency management for the Greater Houston Area during hurricanes, floods, wildfires, ice storms or other emergencies affecting transportation in that area. The facility typically houses 125 people, but an emergency can bring as many as 400 to 500 people to the facility throughout each 24-hour period of a disaster.

Current plans are to add 26,000 square feet of floor space and renovate portions of the TranStar Facility near Interstate 10 and Loop 610 in Houston. The expansion includes a 5,200-square-foot conference and disaster support center, enlarges the computer room and adds six new showers. Federal funds are paying about 80 percent of the cost of the expansion of the center, with each of the four agencies contributing 5 percent of the cost of the renovations.

Temple wins grants for natural gas-powered refuse trucks

Temple city officials recently received notice of winning two alternative fuels grants from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to help pay for two waste refuse trucks powered by compressed natural gas

Council agreed to buy the solid waste refuse trucks in December 2013 as part of its Sustainability Management Plan adopted in January 2012. City officials estimated the new alternative fueled trucks will save about $10,000 annually in fuel costs once the trucks become operational this summer.

City officials also opened a fueling station on East Loop 363 for compressed natural gas that also will be open to the public.

Austin company drops plans for offshore wind farm in S. Texas

Baryonyx Corporation of Austin recently notified the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that the company is dropping plans to build a wind farm with 300 wind turbines about 10 miles off of the coast of South Padre Island.

In 2009, company officials said the wind turbines would rise 541 feet above the Gulf of Mexico. Although considered for one of the $47 million U.S. Department of Energy grants, the company was not one of the three companies selected on May 7 for the grant funding.

A spokesman for the Texas General Land Office said the company still has a lease for the offshore site of the planned wind farm.

Tarrant County College adds assistants to administrative staffs

A number of additions to the administrative teams at Tarrant County College were recently announced. The new assistants were named to serve the Chancellor and the president at each TCC campus and will be the primary liaisons and aids and help build relationships with business, government and community leaders.

The additions include:

Kelley Mills (top left), assistant to Chancellor Erma Johnson Hadley. Former trustee relations secretary at Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, R. I. with a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master of Public Administration from UNC at Greensboro and a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University.

Jack Harred (top center), assistant to Northeast Campus President Larry Darlage. Former faculty member at Northwestern University, Louisiana State University, Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge and Texas A&M University-Commerce. Holds a bachelor's and master's degree from Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Kirsten Cooper (top right), assistant to Northwest Campus President Elva LeBlanc, has more than 16 years of higher education experience, including 10 years as a faculty member at MiraCosta College, Palomar College, San Diego Community College District and Texas State Technical College. Earned a bachelor's degree from San Diego State, a master's from Lamar University and is working on her doctorate at Texas Tech University.

Theophane (Raymond) Pfang (bottom right), assistant to South Campus President Peter Jordan.  Joined TCC in 2013 as a coordinator of special projects for the District's Continuing Education Services Division and served as interim vice president of Academic Affairs at South Campus for several months. He holds a doctorate from the University of Surrey, a master's degree from the University of Greenwich and a post-graduate degree from Cardiff University in Wales.

Michael Cinatl (bottom center) will provide support to Southeast Campus President William Coppola. Cinatl  joined TCC in 1981 to launch the Interpreting for the Deaf Program at the Northwest Campus. He has served the SE Campus as coordinator of Career and Employment Services in 1995. Holds bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Wisconsin.

Anne E. Arvin, assistant to Trinity River Campus President Tahita Fulkerson, was dean of the School of Law at the University of West Los Angeles (UWLA) and associate registrar at Pepperdine University in Malibu before joining TCC.  Holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Abilene Christian University and a Juris Doctorate from Pepperdine. 

Wichita Falls to apply for two $50,000 grants to upgrade airports

Wichita Falls City Council members recently authorized the city manager to apply for two $50,000 grants to pay for upgrades to two airports.

The grants from the Aviation Division of the Texas Department of Transportation will be used to pay for installing security cameras and taxiway lights at the Wichita Falls Regional Airport and the Kickapoo Downtown Airport.

City officials also are waiting to learn if the Federal Aviation Administration has approved a $5.3 million grant application from the city to pay for the terminal and apron of the Wichita Falls Regional Airport.

Greenville seeking bids to rebuild, repair three streets

Greenville city officials recently issused a request for bids from contractors to rebuild three streets and another bid request for work on the $1 million 2014 Street Improvement Program. Deadline for accepting the bids is June 17.

Voters in May 2013 approved $12.6 million in bonds to fund reconstruction of nine streets and city officials expect the three current street projects will cost about $5 million. The 2014 street improvement program does not include any new construction, but the $1 million will be spent on smaller, individual projects on about 24 streets divided among the six city council districts. 

Corsicana group urges trustees to set $50 million bond proposal

The Facilities Committee of the Corsicana Independent School District recently urged board members to ask voters to approve $50 million in bonds in November.

The group recommended building a new middle school and renovating other facilities to improve security. Committee members had met for the past eight weeks to review facility needs of the district before recommending the bond election.

Fisher County eyeing bonds to pay for proposed new jail

Fisher County commissioners recently began working with architects to develop a final design for a new, 20,698-square-foot jail with 24 beds. County officials are considering asking voters to approve bonds in November to pay for the new jail once the architect completes the design and provides a cost estimate for the new facility.

The new jail is needed to replace the current jail built in 1928, said a deputy for the sheriff's office. The current jail is so small and outdated that the county now spends $45 a day to house female inmates, which cost the county $12,040 last year, the deputy said. The new jail will house both male and female prisoners, he added.

Commissioners expect the cost estimate for the new jail to be available in two to three weeks and then will decide whether to schedule a bond election in November.

Sherman plans to add more computer skills to classrooms

After state test results indicated that 40 percent of middle school students at Sherman Independent School District lacked computer skills needed to succeed, school board members began considering a proposal to use a $200,000 digital literacy pilot program to better educate student on effective use of technology.

Mignon Plyler, director of technology, told trustees that while most students are adept at playing games and using texts and other social media on their computers and other electronic devices, many lack the skills to type a paper that requires research techniques, knowledge of word processors and spreadsheets, accurate typing skills and knowledge of professional and courteous online communications.

The pilot program would require the district to buy 275 iPads for fourth grade students and 28 iPads for teachers to use along with the existing 350 already owned by the district. If the pilot program is successful, trustees could add more funding to expand the program for fifth through eighth grade students, she said. Trustees took no action on the proposal.

Smiley City Council eyeing expansion of sewer plant

Smiley City Council members recently agreed to begin planning an expansion of the sewer plant to meet the demands of population growth.

Council members voted to renew the city's permit with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality at current parameters, but agreed to begin work on expanding the plant in the future. Council also agreed to begin looking for grant funding to help pay for adding another tank to use as a receptacle for the increased amount of processed sewage. City officials also bought the property the city had previously leased for the treatment plant that now will provide nearly 60 acres for the expansion of the treatment.

Desalination Summit planned for Aug. 5 in Corpus Christi

Designed specifically to discuss local issues and solutions, a Desalination Summit has been slated for Aug. 5 in Corpus Christi at the Corpus Christi Town Club. The half-day event will be from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is organized by the local task force on water in Corpus Christi and State Rep. Todd Hunter. Registration is required. 

H-GAC announces 2014 Clean Fleet Technologies Conference

The 2014 Clean Fleet Technologies Conference (CFTC) is set for Tuesday, June 10, at Sugar Land's Constellation Field, home of the Sugar Land Skeeters, at 1 Stadium Drive, Sugar Land 77498. The event will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on that date. CFTC is a day-long conference highlighting alternative fuels, clean vehicle technologies and vehicle efficiency improvements. Speakers, exhibitors and vehicle displays will highlight the latest technologies and funding for cleaner on- and off-road fleets. This year's keynote address will be provided by John L. Nau III, president and chief executive officer of Silver Eagle Distributors. Registration is now open. More information is available. 

Americans are outdoor enthusiasts. It might surprise some to know just how active people are. The Outdoor Writers Association says that about 150 million people in the United States participate in outdoor activities each year. And, approximately 35 to 40 million people participate once a week in hiking, running and/or bike riding - among the five most popular outdoor activities.

   

A new conservation license plate, the first in more than 10 years, is now available for Texas motorists to purchase. The sale of the license plates will benefit Texas State Parks. Brent Leisure, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department State Parks Division director, said the new plates show a camping scene with a tent under the stars and a campfire.

"Conservation license plates represent a great way for outdoor enthusiasts to support their state park system," said Leisure. "The proceeds generated through the sales of both the camping and bluebonnet plate help to provide funds necessary for the stewardship, maintenance and visitor services that all Texans have come to expect in their state parks."

The design for the plates, which was part of a contest open to the public, drew more than 6,000 votes. The camping scene is indicative of the popularity of camping in Texas.  The first conservation plates were issued in 2000. This year's plates sell for $30, with $22 directly benefiting Texas State Parks. This annual fee is in addition to the regular registration cost. To buy the new camping license plate or one of the other four designs available, visit www.conservationplate.org or a county tax assessor-collector's office. All conservation plates are available for cars, trucks, motorcycles, trailers and RV's around the state.

Brent named lone finalist for Georgetown ISD superintendent

Fred Brent (pictured), superintendent at Alvin Independent School District, recently won selection as the lone finalist for superintendent at Georgetown ISD.

Chosen from 125 applicants, Brent will replace Superintendent Joe Dan Lee, who is retiring a second tme from the Georgetown District where he served as superintendent from 2004 until 2007. Lee them came out of retirement in 2010 to lead the district for a second time. Brent previously was superintendent at Anderson-Shiro Consolidated ISD and a board member of the Texas Association of Suburban and Mid-Urban Schools. He has a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University.

Three statewide desalination hearings precede August summit

Three statewide hearings regarding water desalination are planned in June by the Joint Interim Committee to Study Water Desalination, co-chaired by State Rep. Todd Hunter and Sen. Craig Estes. The three hearings will lead up to an Aug. 5 Desalination Summit in Corpus Christi at the Town Club.

The three hearings are set for June 16, 12 noon, Texas Capitol, Room E1.036; June 12, 10 a.m., Ortiz Center-Nueces Room, Corpus Christi; and June 30, 11 a.m., the Kemp Center for the Arts, Great Hall - Wichita Falls.

The Corpus Christi summit is designed specifically to discuss local issues and solutions. The half-day event will be from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is organized by the local task force on water in Corpus Christi and Rep. Hunter. The event is free, but registration is required. 

Longview narrows search

for development services head

Beginning with a pool of 77 applicants, Longview city officials recently narrowed their search for a new director of development services to 23 candidates, including two current city employees.

Human Resources personnel reviewed all the applications and provided Assistant City Manager Keith Bonds with the names of the 23 candidates for further consideration. The 23 applicants still being considered include Michael Shirley, a city planner now serving as interim director of development services. The new director will replace Kevin Cummings, who resigned on April 21.

Current plans are to appoint a panel to examine the qualifications of the 23 semi-finalists and recommend candidates for interviews with city officials, a spokesperson for the city said. City officials have not adopted a timeline to stop accepting applications for the position.

Galveston to hire new 

deputy city manager

Interim City Manager Brian Maxwell of Galveston recently said he is hiring a new deputy city manager to fill the post he held before being named as interim city manager in May 2011. Maxwell replaced former City Manager Steve LeBlanc, who was terminated by council after 14 years leading the city. Council members have not yet hired a new city manager.

Spring ISD selects Watson 

as lone superintendent finalist

Spring Independent School District board members recently selected Rodney Watson (pictured) as the lone finalist for superintendent.

Currently the chief human resources officer for Houston ISD, Watson also was a school improvement officer and chief school officer for 53 elementary schools in that district. Watson also was a principal for the Hickman Mills School District and the Lee's Summit School District in Missouri.  

Huntsville city manager asks 

for increased budget authority

City Manager Matt Benoit of Huntsville, backed by Finance Director Steve Ritter, recently gained approval from city council members to give the city manager more authority in some budget decisions.

Council members agreed on two changes in budget authority. The first revision allows individual department heads to approve expenditures of up to $50,000 if that item already is included in the city budget. The second change authorizes the city manager to amend the budget for certain expenses without approval from council members.

The changes are needed because the purchasing department and finance departments have lost three full-time employees and one part-time employee in the last two years and to create a more efficient way to handle budget amendments, Ritter said.

Smith resigning as vice

president of Nacogdoches EDC

Michelle Smith (pictured), vice president of the Nacogdoches Economic Development Corporation for two years, recently announced plans to resign from that post.

Smith relocated to Nacogdoches in 2005 to operate a bed and breakfast and previously worked in sales and marketing for a private company and as director of community and guest relations at Nacogdoches Medical Center.  

Cleveland selects McDonald 

as interim city manager

Cleveland City Council members recently selected City Secretary Kelly McDonald as the interim city manager, effective on June 9. McDonald will replace City Manager Dion Miller when she begins her new duties.

Miller joined the city in February 2012 and notified council of his resignation in late April. Council members plan to explore several options to find qualified applicants with suitable education and experience to consider for a new city manager, city officials said.

Henderson retiring as head

of Lubbock-Cooper ISD

Superintendent Pat Henderson (pictured) of Lubbock-Cooper Independent School District recently announced plans to retire from that post after 19 years leading the school district.

Jo Ellen Henderson, the public information officer for the district who is married to the superintendent, also is retiring after 35 years in public education. She spent 12 of those years as a teacher and in public information for the Lubbock-Cooper school district.

Since Henderson joined the school district 23 years ago as a high school principal before becoming superintendent, Lubbock-Cooper ISD has grown from 1,614 students in 1995 to almost 5,000 students now enrolled.  

El Paso ISD reassigns assistant superintendent, selects interim

Superintendent Juan Cabrera of El Paso Independent School District recently reassigned James Steinhauser (top), previously the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, to serve as a policy advisor working for the deputy superintendent of operations and administration.

Cabrera also selected Maria Gutierrez (bottom), who was serving as an interim director in a dual language program, as an interim assistant superintendent until a new assistant superintendent is hired. District officials expect to begin a search soon to find a permanent assistant superintendent for curriculum and development.

Steinhauser was the last member of the previous administration, several of whom were involved in a cheating scandal. The previous superintendent was convicted of a felony for his involvement in efforts to increase student scores on standardized tests, while other administrators were fired for their alleged roles following an investigation by the Texas Education Agency. 

Laredo wins $3 million 

to upgrade airport security

The Federal Aviation Administration recently awarded Laredo $3 million in grants to pay for upgrading security at the Laredo International Airport. The Transportation Security Administration is coordinating with city officials on the upgrade of airport security, noted City Manager Carlos Villarreal of Laredo.

Current plans are to replace more than 8,000 feet of chain link fence with a new fence with three strands of barbed wire and concrete footing, replace 10 gates for vehicles with sliding cantilever gates with access controls and install access controls on two pedestrian gates. Airport officials also plan to upgrade the current system for security badges, install a new dispatch monitoring station and acquire a sweeper.

Wharton airport wins $90,000 

grant to upgrade facilities

The  Aviation Facilities Grant Program of the Texas Department of Transportation recently awarded a $90,000 grant to the Wharton Regional Airport. The grant funding, which will be matched by the city, will be used to pay for engineering and design for hangar improvements. Airport officials expect to select a consultant to oversee the hangar project later this summer.

Reyna announces retirement 

from post at Dallas ISD

A veteran of more than two years with the Dallas Independent School District, Sylvia Reyna (pictured), has announced her retirement. Reyna has been head of the School Leadership Department, charged with managing the district's 223 campuses and principals.

A veteran of 37 years in education, Reyna will retire in mid-July. She was one of the first administrative hires of DISD Superintendent Mile Miles when he was named to lead the school district. She came to DISD from the Fort Worth Independent School District, where she was chief of administration.  She was also Associate Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction for Edgewood ISD in San Antonio and Assistant Superintendent for Accountability, Assessment and Research and Development with San Antonio ISD.

Reyna holds a bachelor's degree from Incarnate Word College, a master's degree from The University of Texas at San Antonio and a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University.  

Abernathy resigns as director 

of finance for city of Kilgore

Shannon Abernathy recently resigned as director of finance for the city of Kilgore to accept a job in the private sector. He began his new charge on April 22, when he replaced Lawanna Williams, who retired on May 2.

City Manager Scott Sellers said he is considering restructuring the finance position to save revenue. Williams began work in finance as an assistant to the city manager who was the primary finance officer for the city and took on more duties during her 16-year tenure. The job description under which Abernathy was hired requires a certified public accountant with several years of experience. That means paying a higher salary than a budget officer, accountant or assistant, Sellers said.

The proposed restructure could mean the job posting could be listed as an assistant finance director, budget officer or accountant, which would allow a broader pool of candidates, Sellers said.

• Harvey Aikman of Mission, Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners;
• Henry Porretto of Galveston. Board of Pilot Commissioners for Galveston County Ports.  

TSTC-Waco Airport nabs $2.5M grant to upgrade pavement

The Texas State Technical College Airport in Waco recently won a $2.5 million grant from the Texas Transportation Commission. The Aviation Facilities Grant Program funded the grant to the airport to pay for pavement improvements. Construction on the pavement project is slated to begin later this year.