Groups merge into statewide purchasing organizationCounty, city groups look forward to combining services, goalsDiscussed for more than a decade, the merger of two statewide associations into the Texas Public Purchasing Association became officials on Jan. 1. The Texas County Purchasing Association and the Texas Purchasing Management Association joined forces to become the very first Texas statewide, multi-agency public purchasing organization. Jack Beacham (pictured) of the Tarrant County Purchasing office, the TxPPA's first president, said while work on the merger began officially in March 2006, the two organizations have discussed the idea for more than a decade. "It's been discussed over the years," he said. "The question came up again a couple of years ago. I was the incoming president of the county purchasing agents group, and Cheryl Turney with the City of College Station was with the Texas Purchasing Managers Association, which was the city purchasing people. Somebody asked her the question, she got with me and asked how we could make it happen, and it evolved from there." [more]States instructed to perform additional bridge researchAt the direction of U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters, Texas will join other states in addressing how changes in bridge weight, capacity or evolving bridge conditions might affect gusset plates on bridges. The directive is the result of the National Transportation Safety Board's statement that stress on gusset plates, the metal pieces that hold individual girders together on some bridges, could have been a factor in last summer's bridge collapse in Minneapolis on I-35 West. Peters said that the advisory makes it clear that state highway officials should go beyond the current standard practice and include gusset plates when calculating load capacity on the nation's 13,000 steel truss bridges. After the bridge collapse in Minnesota and at the direction of Peters, the states were instructed to inspect all bridges of similar design. At that time, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) officials declared Texas bridges to be safe. "The type of bridge that collapsed in Minnesota was a main-span deck truss bridge," said Kelly Hoffman, public information officer for the Bridge Division of TxDOT. Hoffman said there are only six bridges of that type in Texas and all of them have either been inspected within the last year or are scheduled for replacement. "If the gusset plate is connected between a fracture-critical member, then it was inspected." Hoffman said there are an additional 309 steel truss type bridges in Texas with gussets plates. Strategic Partnerships salutes Texas' Lone StarsThis week's salute is to Beth Wick, HHSC/2-1-1 Texas Information & Referral Network Program ManagerCareer highlights and education: Both my undergraduate and master's degrees are in social work. I spent most of my professional career in direct clinical practice and in adult education. It was in the late 90s when I learned about the goal of the Health and Human Service Commission's 2-1-1 Texas Information and Referral Network (TIRN) to improve access to information about available resources, and I was sold. I sometimes miss the satisfaction that one derives from direct client contact, but I believe the goal of improving access to social services will have a greater impact on more people. What I like best about my job is: The 211 Texas Information and Referral Network took the first call a short five years ago, October 2002. In that short time, we have grown to a system that handled 1.9 million calls in 2007. I believe the program is still in development and a social utility that hasn't tapped its full potential. In my job I am able to use my social service background, relationship-building skills and creativity, all of which is very satisfying at the end of the day. The best advice I've received for my current job is: A former employee once reminded me to not forget that the strength and success of our program is because the roots are in the public/private partnership we have with our local community 2-1-1 Texas Area Information Centers. There is state coordination and statewide standards; however, the local providers are where the program meets the public. Advice I would give a new hire in my office: The Area Information Centers are legally our contractors, but are also our customers, and we are to treat them as valued customers. If I ever snuck out of work early, I could probably be found: Outside in the fresh air walking. Besides the health benefits, it is a chance to unpack my cluttered and noisy mind and organize my thoughts. It is a time to relax mind and body and look at my life's big picture. People would be surprised to know that: My second son, when he began to speak, was diagnosed to have a speech disorder. However, it became obvious that it was a genetic carryover of my own childhood New England accent. One thing I wish more people knew about my agency: 2-1-1 TIRN is a tool not only for the general public, but also for all professionals. Whether you are a lawyer, engineer, teacher or nurse, at some point in our lives everyone comes across someone who needs help. 2-1-1 can be the front door to finding that help. Each week, the Texas Government Insider profiles a key government executive or decision-maker. If you would like to suggest a "Lone Star," please email us at editor@spartnerships.com. Holt named new division director at DIRR. Douglas (Doug) Holt (pictured) has been named Division Director, eGovernment and Web Services for the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR). The division is responsible for DIR's internal IT operations and TexasOnline, the state's official portal. Holt brings to his new position nearly 20 years of management and information technology experience in the public and private sectors. He has been with DIR since 2005. The new division director holds bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Pittsburgh. Peters, Perry speak out against proposed gas tax hikesCalls for major increases in both the state and federal gas tax are being met with opposition from Washington, D.C., to Austin. The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission recently released a report calling for up to a 40-cents-per-gallon federal gasoline tax increase to nearly 60 cents per gallon over the next five years, increasing to 91 cents in 20 years. U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters, a member of the commission, said she will not endorse the report. "Raising gas taxes won't improve traffic congestion, it will only perpetuate our ineffective reliance on fossil-based fuels to fund infrastructure and send more of Americans' hard-earned money to Washington to be squandered on earmarks and special interest programs." Gov. Rick Perry agrees, saying such action is "the wrong way to solve our transportation infrastructure challenges," and that decisions of this magnitude that affect the states should be left up to the states. The Texas governor said tax increases are not the answer, nor is "sending more of Texans' money to Washington, D.C., only to have it earmarked, redistributed to other states or locked into outmoded bureaucratic programs (that) will do very little if anything to relieve congestion on Texas roads." Secretary Peters and Perry agree that states already are using innovative financing and revenue-generating programs - such as public/private partnerships and creative toll road pricing - to meet the growing infrastructure needs locally. Delco appointed member of Texas Ethics CommissionFormer State Rep. Wilhelmina Delco of Austin has been named by House Speaker Tom Craddick as a member of the Texas Ethics Commission. Her term, which is effective immediately, will end Nov. 19, 2011. Delco was first elected to the Texas House in 1974 and chaired the House Committee on Higher Education for a dozen years. She also was chair of the House Committee on General Investigation and served as Speaker Pro Tempore for two years. She retired from the House in January 1995. Delco served six years on the board of trustees for Austin Independent School District, two years on the founding board of Austin Community College, and was chairman of the board of Huston-Tillotson University in Austin. She was inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame in 1986. Delco earned her bachelor's degree from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. Bass added to Saenz administration at TxDOTJames M. Bass (pictured), chief financial officer at the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), has been named to the agency's administration by Executive Director Amadeo Saenz. As a member of the TxDOT administration, Bass will be in charge of management and control of the agency's Finance Division, and responsible for programming and scheduling of all transportation projects and letting of management activities associated with product delivery. Bass was named CFO at TxDOT in 2005, but began his career with the agency in 1985, working summers in the Fort Worth District. While attending The University of Texas at Austin to earn his bachelor's degree, Bass worked part-time as an engineering aide in the Austin District's South Travis/Hays County Area Office. In 1977, he became manager of the Budget and Forecasting Branch and was responsible for the agency's Legislative Appropriations Request and Operating Budget. He was named division director in 1999 before being named CFO. Fisher leaving Craddick; Smith named replacementNancy Fisher, who has served as House Speaker Tom Craddick's chief of staff since 2005, has announced she will leave her position at the end of February. Former Austin legislator and lobbyist Terral Smith has been announced as her successor. Fisher said she decided to take some time off from the legislature and "pursue outside interests." She joined the Speaker's staff as legislative director when Craddick was elected Speaker in 2003. She was promoted to chief of staff in 2005. Smith previously served as legislative director for then-Gov. George W. Bush. Smith is a graduate of Texas Tech University and The University of Texas School of Law. He will start his job in the Speaker's office March 1. Eligible TRS retirees receive 13th pension checkThe Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) has issued a supplemental 13th check to approximately 245,000 eligible retirees. TRS retirees normally receive up to 12 pension payments in a year. "We are pleased to be able to recognize our retirees' dedication to Texas school children and reward them with this additional payment," said TRS Board Chairman Jarvis Hollingsworth (pictured). Annuitants who retired on or before Dec. 31, 2006, are eligible to receive an extra amount equal to their normal monthly pension payment (up to a maximum of $2,400). The TRS Board of Trustees approved the one-time, additional check in November 2007. This is the first time TRS has issued an extra annuity payment. It was made possible by the 80th Texas Legislature, which required TRS to approve a supplemental annuity based on an increase in the state contribution rate. TDA awards $9 million for home-delivered mealsTexas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples recently announced grants totaling nearly $9.5 million to almost 100 agencies that serve meals to elderly and disabled homebound Texans. The new program, Texans Feeding Texans: Home-Delivered Meal Grant Program resulted from passage of House Bill 407 during the last legislative session. The bill provides extra funding to providers of home-delivered meals for two years, 2008 and 2009. Based partially on the number of eligible applicants served last year, the grants may be used only to supplement and expand existing meal deliveries. More than five million meals annually are served to elderly and disabled Texans, Staples said. The meal delivery program helps keep people in their own homes rather than in institutional care. TEA changes TAKS testing dates because of electionsBecause many Texas public schools also serve as polling places for elections in the state, Commissioner of Education Robert Scott (pictured) has changed the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) testing calendar to ensure that no TAKS exams are given on the March 4 Primary Election date. The change is to ensure that students have a "calm, quiet, secure testing environment" when they take the TAKS tests, said Scott. The new calendar provides that TAKS testing scheduled for March 4-6 will be given one day later than originally scheduled. The exit-level TAKS social studies exam originally scheduled for Friday, March 7, will be moved to Monday, March 3. Some 2.6 million students in grades 3,4,5,7,8,9,10,11 and any senior who has not met testing requirements for graduation will take the TAKS during this week. TxDOT podcast program features transportation issuesThe Texas Department of Transportation has begun producing a weekly podcast program designed to keep Texas appraised of the latest in transportation news. TxDOT, through its www.KeepTexasMoving.com Web site, offers the downloadable podcast covering a wide variety of statewide transportation-related topics. Five episodes of the statewide podcast are currently available, including the most recent episode in which podcast host Larry Krantz spoke with Texas Transportation Commissioner Ted Houghton on the upcoming Town Hall Meeting tour. Krantz started the nation's first state-sponsored transportation podcast in TxDOT's Tyler District in June 2006. Texas Association of Counties elects officersThe Texas Association of Counties elected new officers at its board meeting in Austin last month. Tarrant County Commissioner J.D. Johnson (left) was elected president, and Travis County Constable Bruce Elfant (right) was elected vice president. Johnson has been involved in local government for 29 years and has served as president of the West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association. Elfant has been constable of Travis County Precinct 5 since 1993 and has served as president of the Justices of the Peace and Constables Association of Texas. City, county sales tax revenues reported upComptroller Susan Combs reported a 9.1 percent increase in the state's December sales tax revenue over December 2006, with the state collecting $1.83 billion in sales taxes last month. The first sales tax allocations of 2008 sent in January to cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts totaled $448.3 million, increasing 7.3 percent compared to last January. December state sales tax collections and January allocations to local governments represent sales that occurred in November. Texas cities garnered the largest allocation, receiving $302.2 million, up 7.4 percent from last January. Texas counties received payments of $26.8 million, up 5.7 percent, with $14.8 million going to special-purpose taxing district, a 16.5 percent increase over last January. To view allocations by city, click here. To view allocations by county, click here. TWC awards $2 million for high-tech career initiativesThe Texas Workforce Commission has awarded nine grants totaling nearly $2 million for the Texas Youth in Technology Strategic Workforce Development initiative. The program is supported with Workforce Investment Act Statewide Activities funds. The Texas Youth in Technology initiative and resulting projects will establish programs to increase post-secondary enrollments, retention and graduates in engineering and computer science. Working with the Texas Engineering and Technical Consortium, the grant program also will increase collaboration between Texas employers, institutions of higher education and engineering and science departments. The nine grant recipients include Southern Methodist University, Tarrant County College District, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, The University of Texas at Austin, the University of Houston, University of North Texas and the University of Texas at San Antonio. Former TCEQ commissioner heads TPPF centerKathleen Hartnett White (pictured), former chair of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), is joining the Texas Public Policy Foundation this month as director of its new Center on Natural Resources. White was named to the Texas Water Development Board in 1999, and was appointed TCEQ commissioner in October 2001. She did not seek re-appointment when her term expired last August. White was Director of Private Lands and the Environment for the National Cattlemen's Association in Washington, D.C. She has also served as director of the Ranching Heritage Association, and a special assistant in the White House Office of the First Lady Nancy Reagan. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees from Stanford University. Nominees sought for Texas Women's Hall of FameThis year's inductees into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame will join some notable Texans who have previously been inducted - Lady Bird Johnson, former first lady; Sheryl Swoopes, three-time Olympian and captain of the Houston Comets professional women's basketball team; Diana Natalicio, president of the University of Texas at El Paso; and Gussie Nell Davis, the creator and 40-year director of the nationally famous Kilgore Rangerettes. A call has been issued by Gov. Rick Perry for nominations for inclusions in this year's class of inductees. Categories for nominees include leadership, historic preservation, health, physical fitness, education and performing arts. The winners will be chosen by an independent panel of judges and inducted in an awards ceremony in the fall. For more information and for nomination forms, click here. A&M breaks ground on Health Science Center at BryanThe Texas A&M Health Science Center and City of Bryan have joined forces to build a new HSC Bryan Campus - the first time the Texas A&M University System will have a permanent physical presence in the city. Nancy Dickey, M.D., president of the Texas A&M Health Science Center, was joined by numerous legislators, City of Bryan officials, community leaders, A&M System administrators and guests at the new campus site. "This is a landmark step in establishing the Texas A&M University System and the Texas A&M Health Science Center as a state and national leader in training physicians and other health professionals," said Bill Jones (left), chair of the A&M System Board of Regents. Bryan Mayor D. Mark Conlee said, "The birth of a new university campus does not happen often. Today, the City of Bryan celebrates the opportunity to enter into a partnership with the Texas A&M Health Science Center and all our citizens." HSC officials said there are four phases of construction with this project, with initial work slated to begin this spring or summer. The entire campus is scheduled for completion around 2020, and there are plans for the HSC to house clinical facilities. TSU board chooses John Rudley as new presidentTexas Southern University Regents have named John Rudley (pictured), a previous University of Houston interim president, as the sole finalist for the top job at Texas' largest historically black university. State law requires the governing board to wait 21 days before finalizing the appointment. Board Chair Glenn Lewis said Rudley was chosen as the top candidate because of his extensive background in higher education finance. Rudley's selection comes at the end of a seven-month stint as the UH interim president. Rudley served as TSU's chief financial officer and internal auditor during the 1980s and then worked in administrative posts for the U.S. Department of Education and the Tennessee Board of Regents, the nation's sixth-largest higher education system. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Toledo and master's and doctoral degrees from Tennessee State University. His wife, Docia, is a professor at TSU's Thurgood Marshall School of Law. 2008 AISD Bond Program focuses on critical needsThe Austin Independent School District (AISD) hopes to have a bond issue on the May 10 ballot and gathered input from the community this week on the proposed projects. On Wednesday, the Citizens Bond Advisory Committee (CBAC), a group established by the AISD Board of Trustees to develop recommendations, held a public forum at Covington Middle School to present their preliminary recommendations and take comments from audience members. According to CBAC Tri-Chair Amy Wong Mok (pictured), the 2008 AISD Bond Program will ask voters to approve between $200 and $250 million to address needs that are urgent in nature or legally required until the next formal bond election is held. The CBAC preliminary recommendations total approximately $225 million and include $142 million for new and updated facilities, $71 million for technology items and $12 million for low-emission school buses. Major technology items that AISD would purchase with bond funds include new payroll software, data warehouse, document management system, wireless upgrades at 30 campuses, student information system and server/storage upgrade. The CBAC will make final project recommendations to be submitted to the Board of Trustees on Jan. 28. Blinn College gets new chancellor, presidentBlinn College President Donald Voelter (pictured) has been named to fill the Brenham college's chancellor position and Dan Holt, vice president for business services, has been chosen as the lone finalist to replace Voelter as president. Voelter will begin serving as chancellor in June. Voelter has served as president of Blinn since 1994, but has worked at Blinn for more than 30 years. He replaces former Chancellor Walter Schwartz, who died in 2003. If approved by the college trustees, Holt will assume his new position on June 1. He has served in his current position for one year. Additionally, Blinn announced that John Barkman, executive vice president, will be retiring at the end of the spring semester after more than 40 years with the college. Marc Ott will be City of Austin's next city managerFort Worth Assistant City Manager Marc Ott (pictured) has been named to succeed Toby Futrell as Austin city manager. Ott was one of two finalists named last week by the Austin City Council. Futrell last year announced her planned retirement. Ott will begin work for the City of Austin on Feb. 18. Austin Mayor Will Wynn said Ott is "the right person at the right time to help lead our organization to the next level," and called Ott an "exceptionally well-qualified public administrator." In his current position, Ott oversees infrastructure activities for the City of Fort Worth. He brings 26 years of city government experience to his new role. He previously was city manager in Kalamazoo, Michigan, administrative services manager in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and administrative assistant to the city manager in Jackson, Michigan. Ott holds his bachelor's and master's degrees from Oakland University in Michigan. Tarleton-Central Texas announces new directorDr. Garry Ross (pictured) has been selected as the new executive director at the Tarleton University System Center-Central Texas. The executive director will serve as the chief administrative officer. In this position, Ross will provide vision, primary leadership and on-site coordination of academic programs, financial administration, student services and institutional advancement activities to the Tarleton-Central Texas campus. Ross currently serves as the deputy vice provost at the University of North Texas in Dallas. He has also served as the executive director and dean of Academic and Student Affairs for the Texas A&M University-Kingsville System Center in San Antonio, dean of the University College at Texas A&M University-Kingsville as well as a professor or associate professor at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La., Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Ark. and Baylor University in Waco. Herrera chosen as coordinator for McNair ScholarsTexas A&M University-Corpus Christi has named Priscilla Herrera (pictured) as coordinator for the McNair Scholars Program, a federally funded program that provides first-generation, low-income, minority college students with paid internships and mentoring to prepare for enrollment in graduate programs. The program provides college juniors and seniors with opportunities to conduct research and publish or present their findings. It also offers assistance in applying to graduate school. Herrera received her bachelor's and master's degrees from Incarnate Word University. The program is named for Ronald McNair, one of seven NASA astronauts who died in the Shuttle Challenger explosion. Greenville ISD to study $52 million bond proposalThe Greenville Independent School District is taking a close look at recommendations from the Citizens Facility Committee for a proposed $52.9 million bond election to pay for construction and renovation of district facilities. The committee recommended $11.4 million for an addition to Bowie Elementary to solve overcrowding and security issues, almost $3.6 million to expand and renovate Crockett Elementary, $16.7 million for a new school to replace Travis Elementary, and $10.3 million for Greenville High School to replace the roof, the heating and cooling system, update the fire alarm system and build an agriculture center. The board must meet a March deadline to schedule a May bond election. Abilene ISD will hold public hearing on bond voteOfficials of Abilene Independent School District have scheduled a third public hearing on Jan. 24 to give citizens a chance to comment on items to include in a proposed $83.55 bond election. A bond subcommittee expects to finish a draft of propositions by the first board meeting in February so that attorneys can finalize language before March 9, the last date the board can call a May bond election. AISD Superintendent David Polnick (pictured) said the most recent subcommittee draft included propositions to add security cameras at all campuses, $22 million for equipment and technology for a career high school and to complete construction projects approved in a 2004 election but never finished because of cost increases. AISD trustees also authorized administrators to sign contracts for a network electronics project and a cabling project. Contracts for the two projects to improve the district's network infrastructure are contingent on the passage of a proposed bond election in May and federal funding. Austin ISD officials mulling over performing arts centerFollowing an offer from a local philanthropist of free land at the old Mueller airport, Austin Independent School District officials are exploring the possibility of asking voters to approve more bonds to build a $39 million performing arts center at that site. Dick Rathgeber, a developer and philanthropist, recently offered to give a 5-acre site plus $2.5 million to build a performing arts center at the 711-acre Mueller redevelopment project. The center, which would serve only as a venue and not a school, would be the second phase of a project that will include a Boys and Girls Club facility and elementary school. AISD General Counsel Mel Waxler said he believes Rathgeber's gift meets the requirements of a 2004 bond proposition and might rescue the $8.8 million approved by voters to build a performing arts center, but will need more study before a decision is made. The Citizens Bond Advisory Committee is expected to make a recommendation to the school board Jan. 28 on whether to ask voters to approve an estimated $290 million bond proposal that would fund more classrooms, additional schools, technology upgrades and renovations. Even with the $7.5 million gift and $8.8 million from the previous bond election, it would take $28 million more in new bond funds to build the center, Wexler said. Ballinger ISD leans toward wind power to reduce costsThe Ballinger Independent School District is pondering plans to build two to three energy producing wind turbines with a goal of cutting its electricity bill by about $7,000 monthly. The district received nearly $1 million in Clean Renewable Energy Bonds in December to pay for the project and is expected to vote this week on whether to proceed to the "due diligence" phase. If the board votes to continue with the project, said Superintendent Scot Goen, a thorough study will be conducted to see if the site can produce enough wind to make the project worthwhile. The bonds will not be issued unless the study indicates it would be advantageous for the district to proceed, he added. Goen also said that savings from the utility could be re-allocated to other programs such as maintenance and operations. Sealy city council narrows search for city managerSealy city council members recently narrowed their list of candidates for city manager to six. The new manager will replace the former city manager, John Maresh, who resigned in October 2007. A recruiting firm hired by the city will perform reference checks on the candidates and confer with city officials before releasing the final list of candidates in late January, said Krisha Langton, interim Sealy city manager. Dallas considers regulating cell phones in school zonesThe Dallas City Council will get a full briefing from city staff and police officials on the possibility of banning the use of cell phones in the city's school zones. Councilman Mitchell Rasansky (pictured) submitted a petition signed by five council members requesting the discussion. The cities of Highland Park and University Park both recently banned the use of handheld mobile telephones in school zones during certain hours. Before a vote on the issue, however, Ron Natinsky, one of the council members who signed the petition, said there were several questions that must be answered. These questions revolve around any punishment that would be levied, whether motorists could use a cell phone while parked in a school zone, should motorists be allowed to use hands-free devices in school zones, and should the Dallas Police Department or school district police enforce the ban. In Highland Park and University Park, cell phone ban violators pay a $75 fine if convicted. Highland Park officials issued 101 citations through Dec. 21, 2007, and University Park officials issued 78 the first week the city enforced its ordinance. Dallas city council has not yet scheduled a time for the briefing on the proposed cell phone ban. TxDOT narrows choices for loop around New BraunfelsTexas Department of Transportation officials later this month will reveal a recommended corridor for a loop around the city of New Braunfels. The schedule for development of the route has been pushed up several months due to the rate of development in the area. TxDOT officials will make their recommendation for the loop route Thursday, Jan. 31, at 5:30 p.m. at Canyon High School in New Braunfels. In February, transportation officials will make the presentation to city officials in New Braunfels and Schertz and the commissioner's courts in Guadalupe and Comal counties. Arlington schools adopt programs to reduce energy useThe Arlington school board this week approved two projects, one to retrofit some of its 54 campuses to reduce energy use and the other to apply for a grant to help dispose of solid waste in a more environmentally friendly manner. To save on energy bills, school trustees will replace lamps with more efficient bulbs, upgrade or replace current energy management systems, modify thermal energy piping and replace mechanical equipment components. The program's $5 million cost will be financed through the Texas State Energy Conservation Office with a 3 percent interest loan. To increase recycling, the district will apply for a Substantial Environmental Excellence (SEE) grant for a program that will remove cardboard, aluminum, plastic food and drink containers, steel catering cans, fluorescent lamps, unwanted cell phones, used ink and toner cartridges, 9-volt batteries and audio and video tapes from the district's landfill trash, and possibly earn cash on some of the recycled items. Brownwood panel supports park renovation projectThe board of the Brownwood Economic Development Corporation recently endorsed the city's plan to use $6 million in municipal sales taxes to pay for the first two phases of a proposed parks renovation project. The proposal would include new baseball and softball fields, a new recreational pool as well as integrating existing facilities around Gordon Wood stadium. The Brownwood Industrial Foundation has donated 66 acres along Milam Drive for the project. Brownwood City Council members are expected to approve placing the plan before voters as early as May, said Greg Dodds, parks committee chairman for the BEDC board. Dickinson seeking manager for city hall projectDickinson city officials are looking for a construction manager at-risk to build a new city hall and library. However, they are also still looking for ways to get the cost down to the $6.5 million budgeted for the infrastructure-improvement project. The city recently sold $6.5 million in bonds to move city hall and the library to leased space buildings. That amount is also earmarked for rent, demolition, construction and associated fees. However, the first construction manager hired was fired when bids for the project came back at $9 million. City administrator Julie Johnston (pictured) said a new estimate from another contractor came in at $7 million, using the same design specifications. Officials are working to cut another $500,000 from the project. Port of Galveston may seek state loan for improvementsThe Port of Galveston plans to ask the Texas Industry Development loan program for $28 million to pay for a channel deepening project and restore aging and rotting docks, said Steve Cemak, the port director. The port will work with the Galveston Economic Development Partnership to secure a loan with a variable rate that should not exceed 2.5 percent. The port must agree to use the money only for broad public benefit as terms of the loan prohibit its use to improve port facilities for a particular tenant, Cemak said. About half the borrowed funds would be targeted to pay the port's share of the $42.7 million U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredging project deepening the Galveston Ship Channel to accommodate larger cargo ships, Cemak said. Before seeking the state loan, the port must win approval from the Galveston City Council. Weatherford College goes back to drawing boardDr. Joe Birmingham (pictured), president of Weatherford College, asked board trustees to consider alternative approaches to a construction project voters rejected in a November 2007 bond election. Among alternatives discussed were resubmitting the same proposal, reducing cost of the project, reorganizing construction priorities to reduce its scale or present separate propositions to voters on each of the projects. Board Chair Lin Bearden recommended presenting a streamlined new proposal to the public at a later date. West Campus dispute settlement reported reachedTrustees for the South San Antonio Independent School District voted for a settlement to keep West Campus High School open after parents filed suit, claiming the board had not allowed public discussion of the closure. Board members voted to close the school after heavy flood damage in October. The settlement requires that the district keep the facility open, but does not specify in what capacity. The district also agreed to announce all future closings or consolidations in advance to allow for public input. Royce City ISD asks public input on facility needsThe Royce City Independent School District is seeking more public input in efforts to formulate a plan for placing grade levels in available facilities operated by the district and has appointed a facilities committee to help formulate that plan. The committee will review a previous bond proposal to determine where it is in spending those bond funds. In December, board members approved moving the sixth grade from the middle school to the old middle school building currently being used by a local church. Also discussed was creating an intermediate school to house both fifth and sixth grades and opening an early childhood development center. A series of public meetings to hear from citizens on facilities needs are scheduled for the last week in January at four RCISD elementary schools. Brazosport College to use $4 million in gifts for labsPrivate donations totaling $4 million will be used to provide state-of-the-art science labs to train students in health and technology, said Millicent Valek (pictured), president of Brazosport College. The gifts from BASF, Dow Chemical Co. and Byron and Sandra Sadler, former owners of Industrial Specialists, enable the college to furnish and operate $70 million in new construction approved in November 2007 by voters as part of the college's 10-year facility expansion. The bond-funded master plan includes a science technology corridor, new library and student center expansion and a multipurpose academic center, but contained no funding for furnishing, equipping or operating the new laboratories, classrooms and meeting spaces. The Sadlers' $2 million gift will go to furnish and operate a new 55,000-square-foot Health Professions and Science Technology Complex. Dow's $1 million donation will furnish classrooms, meeting spaces and new labs. BASF's $1 million gift will go for new analytical labs, classrooms, control rooms and curriculum supporting the key components of the Gulf Coast economy. Conroe ISD board to consider May bond electionTrustees for Conroe Independent School District are studying plans for a May bond election to pay for seven new campuses and renovations to existing campuses to meet rising enrollment. The Facilities and Planning Committee recommended that the board build two new junior high schools, four elementary schools and one intermediate school. It endorsed major renovations and additions to Travis Intermediate, San Jacinto Elementary and The Woodlands College Park High School to create more classroom space, as well as convert Peet Junior High into a ninth grade campus for Conroe High School. The planning committee is expected to bring a recommendation to the board in early February, allowing the board time to call a May election. Get your free copy of the Texas Government InsiderThe Texas Government Insider is a free weekly newsletter. If you are not a subscriber, or if you would like to sign up your friends or co-workers to receive a free copy, click here. Permission to reproduce, reprintThis newsletter may be reproduced, and all articles within may be reproduced and/or reprinted without permission when credit is given to the Texas Government Insider, a publication of Strategic Partnerships, Inc. 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New federal funds allocated to Texas should interest government contractorsBy Mary Scott Nabers, CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc. Businesses don't have to contract directly with the federal government to take advantage of the ever-increasing amount of federal money spent each year with government contractors. A large percentage of the federal budget includes funding that is passed along to individual states for programs that enhance safety, improve education and provide critical infrastructure. This year alone, Texas will benefit from billions of dollars in federal grant funds that will come directly from Washington, D.C. In most cases, the funding ends up in the hands of state agencies or Texas cities, counties, school districts and law enforcement agencies. Decision-makers in Texas decide who gets the business. Such funds make the public sector market in Texas even more lucrative. Allocations for education and transportation needs will be extremely large - as always - this year. One program that funds security purchases in public education is the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities grant. Schools in Texas will soon be eligible to apply for $24 million in federal funds that can be used for training security personnel and purchasing equipment such as metal detectors, surveillance cameras and electronic locks. [more]Apodaca appointed
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Texas Public Purchasing Assn. plans spring workshopThe newly formed Texas Public Purchasing Association will meet Tuesday through Thursday, Feb. 26-28, for its Spring Workshop 2008. The event will be at the Thompson Conference Center at The University of Texas at Austin. Legislative objectives and initiatives are on the Tuesday agenda with project management, construction Ts and Cs, alternative procurement methods for construction and contract management the topics for Wednesday. Thursday's agenda includes a session on "Winning Public Trust through Performance Leadership." For more information on the workshop, click here. To download a registration form, click here. To register online, click here. Texas Distance Learning Assn. conference set for MarchThe 11th annual Texas Distance Learning Association Conference will be held March 24-27 at Moody Gardens in Galveston. Keynote speakers for the conference, "Sail Into Distance Learning," include Alan November, who will discuss the importance of how distance learning technology is used, motivational speaker Dave Carey and Gary Stager, who will offer real-life examples of educational technology learning. In addition to these speakers, the conference also will feature exhibits, breakout sessions, hands-on sessions, meetings and focused gatherings for not only distance learning professionals, but also those new to distance learning. To register, click here. For sponsorship information, click here. To view the conference program, click here. |
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