TFC moving forward on study regarding capitol complex

The Texas Facilities Commission, the agency charged with managing all state-owned facilities, has endorsed the study of the feasibility of relocating Austin-area state employees from leased office space to the Capitol complex. This study will be the latest in a movement to consolidate all state government near the Capitol.
 

Despite a funding shortage, this change might be possible because the state already owns the land and developers will provide financing, as they will be encouraged to build on ground leases from the state. The savings from leases of property by the state also can be used toward construction costs.
 

The Austin City Council, anticipating growth and development around the Capitol, recently endorsed the project and agreed to give $200,000 for planning costs. Council member Sheryl Cole (pictured) said Capitol-area development would increase property and sales taxes, and also impact city plans for Waller Creek and downtown rail. With a combination of both government and private enterprise, the concept could help grow the downtown area.

Harker Heights may seek $9 million loan for improvements

City council members in Harker Heights recently began discussions on whether to seek up to $9 million in loans to help pay for capital improvement projects.
 

The city has a list of 21 future projects that include a sewer project, building a new fire station, widening FM 2410, reconstruction of Indian Trail, building a new recreation and municipal building and a new police firing range, noted City Manager Steve Carpenter (pictured). Carpenter requested that council members discuss which projects are priority projects and how much money the city could borrow.
 

Council members made no decision following the discussion about seeking to issue certificates of obligation.

Hicks named to advisory committee for ETF funding

The president of an Austin private investment firm, Robet Hicks, has been named by Gov. Rick Perry to the advisory committee of the Emerging Technology Fund. He will replace William E. Morrow. Morrow was subject to an investigation last year into a stock deal involving the fund's former director, but no wrongdoing was found.
 

In his role, Hicks will join other member of the committee in recommending which start-up technology projects should be funded with taxpayer dollars. The House budget proposal filed earlier this week seeks to cut ETF funding from $109 million to $21 million for the upcoming biennium.

More than 40 lose jobs at TEEX when training center budget cut

Dozens of state employees who prepare emergency responders for catastrophic events were recently laid off due to the state's budget shortfall.
 

The Texas Engineering Extension Service's National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center, which has a $13 million annual budget, dropped from a staff of 57 to just 15. The 42 people who lost their jobs, which represent administrative, support and management staff, will receive 60 days of severance pay.
 

Since its inception in 1998, the center has trained more than 278,000 emergency responders and community officials for natural disasters, man-made accidents and terrorist attacks.

ERCOT board elects Doll chair; Gent selected as vice chair

Government affairs professional Laura Doll (rightt) was recently elected chair of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which manages most of the state's electric grid. Michehl Gent (left), who has served as interim chairman since May 2010, was named vice chairman.
 

Doll, who joined the ERCOT board in June 2010, previously served a three-year term on the board of governors for the California Independent System Operator. Before moving to California, Doll spent 14 years at Austin Energy, where she started her career. 
 

Doll holds a bachelor's degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and a master's from The University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs. New vice chairman Gent, who joined the ERCOT board in 2006, has more than 40 years experience in electric reliability.

Llano economic development group unveils plans for center

Llano Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) officials recently unveiled their $6 million plan to develop 88 acres on Highway 152 into a community and recreational complex over the next five to 10 years.
 

The LEDC plan calls for building a covered roping arena during the first phase of the proposal and then building a new community center on the site of the aging roping arena that needs to be replaced, a spokesman for the LEDC said. The third phase of the plan is to build an amphitheater to replace the covered pavilion in Robinson Park. Parking would be available only in the back hall of the 88-acre site, he said.
Council members took no action on the proposed plan.

Railroad Commissioner to resign for likely U.S. Senate run in 2012

A week after U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison announced she will not seek re-election in 2012, Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams is tweeting like he will run for the empty seat. This week, Williams resigned his Railroad Commission seat, effective April 2.

On his Twitter page, Williams said he "shouldn't directly address" questions about his run for Senate. But added, "People get ready!" He has since unveiled a Web page, clearly outlining his intent to seek the U.S. Senate seat.

Blinn College officials in talks regarding joining Texas A&M System

As public higher education institutions face large budget cuts, Blinn College officials are discussing joining the Texas A&M System to reduce costs and increase efficiencies, according to officials of the Brenham-based community college. 

Chancellor Mike McKinney (pictured) of the Texas A&M System noted that the challenging budget situation has created an environment in which discussions of such ideas are part of his ongoing efforts to cut costs and improve efficiency in higher education institutions. State budget cuts already have taken $2 million for the current fiscal year at Blinn College and more than $19 million at Texas A&M, according to a Blinn College official.

The talks have included the possibility of moving between 2,000 to 3,000 freshman students to Blinn so that Texas A&M could cap enrollment at 50,000 and focus more on graduate students, which attract more formula funding from the state and national funding for research. In Texas, only one other two-year college, Lone Star College, has become part of a larger system - the Texas State University System. Blinn and Texas A&M already collaborate in a program, Transfer Enrollment at Texas A&M (TEAM), that permits students to take a class each semester at the university while taking remaining classes at the Bryan campus of Blinn until that student completes 15 credit hours at A&M and 45 credit hours at Blinn. The student then completes the degree program at Texas A&M. No decision has been reached in the latest discussions on Blinn joining the Texas A&M System.

TxDOT reveals plans for new $1 million northern entry to Canyon

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) recently finalized plans for a new $1,020,710 highway gateway to welcome motorists to the city of Canyon.

The entryway plans were developed over more than a year of city and TxDOT officials meeting to develop an entryway that the city will be able to maintain, said Canyon City Manager Randy Criswell. The new gateway plan calls for adding retaining walls, native vegetation, irrigation, grading, lighting and new sidewalks from Russell Long Boulevard north to the railroad pass, Criswell said. The entry will have some grass and low maintenance vegetation in flat areas with concrete or brick pavers decorated with Palo Duro Canyon motifs to be installed on steeper areas where erosion occurs, he said.

TxDOT, which awarded the city a $714,497 grant for the north entrance project, now plans to bid the project in August rather than late this year or early next year as originally planned, the city manager said. The grant is from the federal Transportation Enhancement Program administered by TxDOT that calls for non-traditional transportation-related projects that contribute to the livelihood of communities, promotes the environment and enhances the aesthetics of highways. The city is contributing 30 percent of the cost of the project even though the grant required only a 20 percent match.

Khalifa Foundation grants M.D. Anderson $150M for cancer research

The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston recently received a $150 million donation - the largest in hospital history - from the charity foundation of Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the United Arab Emirates.
 

The money will finance a new 600,000-square-foot facility that will house the Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy and a pancreatic cancer research center. Both will be named for members of the Al Nahyan family. The grant will also fund three endowed chairs and a group of fellowships.

Outgoing hospital President John Mendelsohn (pictured) said the grant will enable M.D. Anderson to give more than 30,000 patients each year a better level of treatment.

Texas Forest Service to share resources with TAMU-Central Texas

Officials with the Texas Forest Service and Texas A&M University-Central Texas, the former Tarleton State University-Central Texas in Killeen, recently signed documents that show a commitment to sharing resources, which is expected to save money and increase efficiency.
 

The shared services contract, which sets a foundation for future collaborations, states that Texas A&M will provide office space to the Forest Service and, in exchange, the Forest Service will manage the university's 672 acres of land.
 

"This is the way it should be," said State Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock. "We should be sharing resources and looking for ways to work together."

Denison school group urges $79 million bond election

The Facilities Committee of the Denison Independent School District recently urged trustees to ask voters to approve $69 million in bonds to build a new high school and merge seven elementary schools into five schools. 

Closing two elementary schools will save the district about $1.5 million a year in personnel and facilities costs as well as solve an on-going security issue, said Superintendent Henry Scott (pictured). Many students at both schools recommended for closure are in portable buildings, which makes security difficult, Scott said.

Committee members also asked trustees to consider changing the grading system so that the district's five elementary schools will serve Pre-K to fourth grade, while fifth and sixth graders would be in intermediate school and seventh and eighth graders would use the building that now houses the high school. Ninth through twelfth graders would attend the new high school, if trustees decide to accept the recommendations from the Facilities Committee.

DIR to host free forum for state employees regarding social media

State employees with an interest in social media, particularly best practices for government, are invited to attend a free forum Feb. 17 in Austin, where attendees will discuss the issues and challenges of launching social media initiatives.
 

"Going Social: Implementing Best Practices for Texas Government," sponsored by the Texas Department of Information Resources, is an interactive event with presentations, audience polling and facilitated discussion. The outcome of the forum will be used to develop social media best practices for the state. 
 

For more information and to register, click here.

Burleson making plans for proposed transit station in town

Although a 30-mile-long rail track from Fort Worth to southern suburb Cleburne won't be available to commuters for decades, leaders in this burgeoning area have begun planning for its eventual development.
 

Officials in Burleson, which is located between Fort Worth and Cleburne, are working with the North Central Texas Council of Governments and the Fort Worth Transportation Authority to plan a transit station in town. At a recent meeting, members of the public were encouraged to describe what they want the station and surrounding city-owned land to look like, and how they plan to use transportation over the next few decades.
 

Burleson Mayor Ken Shetter (pictured) said that counties in this area are adding three times as many people as jobs. The growth can't continue without commuter rail to shuttle people to jobs in Fort Worth and Dallas, he said.
 

In the meantime, Shetter and other regional and transportation officials are working to develop a transit station and bus service that commuters can use before the rail station is complete - some 20 to 30 years from now.

Corpus Christi spending $330,000 to repair event center

Corpus Christi City Council members recently approved $330,000 for repairs to the American Bank Center as city officials await the results of a $70,000 feasibility study to determine if the city should build a convention hotel at the complex or expand the complex to attract more convention business.
 

The Corpus Christi Convention and Visitor's Bureau paid for half of the cost of the feasibility study while the Business and Job Development Corp. Board and the city paid the other half of the cost. The feasibility study should be completed in about 45-60 days, said Keith Arnold (pictured), chief executive officer of the convention and visitor's bureau. Because of the current economy and decrease nationwide in convention business, Corpus Christi is competing with more cities and areas for convention business than in the past as some larger cities have lowered their prices to lure more convention customers, Arnold said.
 

Connecting the center with a hotel would provide visitors easier access to the center, which should help attract more convention goers, who must walk or find transportation from hotels several blocks south of the complex. The American Bank Center includes the 10,000-seat arena built at a cost of about $53 million in 2004, the Selena Auditorium with seating for 3,000, a parking garage and several meeting rooms. The last major upgrades to the center also were done in 2004. Council members last May approved $3 million in renovations for the complex, including updates to the fire alarm system, the lighting system, replacing lobby doors, adding aisle lighting and making concrete repairs. Selena Auditorium lost $1.3 million last year while the newer arena earned an $84,000 profit.

Socorro ISD to ask voters to approve $297 million in bonds

Socorro Independent School District trustees recently agreed to ask voters to approve $297 million in bonds on May 14. If approved, the bond funding will be used to build new schools, upgrade technology throughout the district and improve cooling systems at all elementary schools in the district, said Superintendent Xavier De La Torre (pictured).
 

Because the district is growing by about 1,300 new students a year and facilities already are at capacity, district officials hope to build two new elementary schools and build a combination facility with an elementary and a middle school to be located side by side. District officials also want to complete Eastlake High School and convert a ninth grade academy into a four-year high school if voters approve the $297 bond proposal.
 

Plans also call for upgrading science labs at all existing campuses, improving technology throughout the district and replacing evaporative cooling units now used at 13 elementary schools with refrigerated air conditioning units.

McKinney reviewing plans for stalled hotel/convention center

After winning a lawsuit to win control of a 90-acre property and the steel frame of a 221-room hotel at the intersection of US 75 and the San Rayburn Tollway, McKinney city officials are looking at a new development plan for the proposed hotel and 43,000-square-foot convention center. The city and a private developer previously had planned development around a 4-acre lake when work halted in fall 2008. City officials have hired a consultant to help create a new development plan before proceeding with the project.
 

Because of changing economic conditions, city officials are considering adding office space, shops and restaurants to the project or even placing the project on hold, said Ray Ricchi (pictured), council member. The mayor said he is happy the city now controls the development and still supports a hotel and convention center acting as a southern gateway to the city as originally planned.
 

City officials also are in the process of deciding whether to develop the project alone, contract with a developer or find another partner for the project.

San Antonio ISD to partner in new high school tech program

San Antonio Independent School District trustees recently agreed to partner with the New Technology Network to open a new tech program at Sam Houston High School. The two-year contract is part of the district's effort to improve the academic status of the chronically underperforming campus.

The tech network includes 62 schools, but Sam Houston will be the first school in South Texas to offer the program when it begins operating in August, district officials said. The new tech school will be open to about 250 students from schools throughout the district and will operate as a school-within-a-school, district officials said. A $4.66 million grant is funding the new program.

Ferris receives grant from the Baseball Tomorrow Fund

Ferris, a Dallas suburb, recently received a $100,000 grant to renovate two run-down baseball fields that can be unusable for up to three days after a rain. The grant from the Baseball Tomorrow Fund will help pay for upgrades that include new lighting, dugouts, fences, an irrigation system and reconstruction of the fields. The improvements, which begin this spring and finish in the fall, will give children and teens more time to play.
 

"This is a wonderful opportunity, not only for our program, but for the children who play the game," said Ferris Mayor Rick Barrett (pictured). "The Baseball Tomorrow Fund grant will enable Ferris to provide a quality experience for families who traditionally embrace baseball in our community, as well as for new entrants to the sport."

When the fields open next spring, the Ferris baseball community wants to get more students interested in the sport, particularly teen-age girls and special-needs children. Since its inception in 1999, the Baseball Tomorrow Fund has awarded about 500 grants totaling more than $19 million to nonprofit groups in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. 

Frisco officials not offering to help with college parking garage

Officials at Collin College, located north of Dallas, are looking for places to build a parking lot on the fast-growing Preston Ridge campus - but aren't getting any help from city of Frisco officials or residents. Residents of a neighborhood near campus oppose building a four-story garage directly behind their homes because they fear crime will increase, while their privacy and property values decrease.
 

So, college officials came up with three alternatives, which would all cost the city money. At a recent meeting, Frisco council members said they wouldn't support any of the options and suggested the college officials and neighborhood residents work it out among themselves.
 

The three suggestions were to: demolish a $4 million premiere bicycle racing track to make space; add about $160,000 in screening material between the garage and homes; or move the garage 250 feet away from the homes at an additional cost of $4.1 million.

Guadalupe County eyeing proposed transportation planning pact

After being approached by New Braunfels officials to create a regional transportation planning body, Guadalupe County officials are considering the request. Federal regulations mandate a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) be organized in communities of more than 50,000 residents.  

An MPO is responsible for developing a Long Range Transportation Plan, a Transportation Improvement Program and a Unified Planning Work Program for the planning area within the boundaries of the MPO, noted City Manager Michael Morrison (pictured) of New Braunfels. Without an MPO in place and the required programs and plan, no federal highway funding will be available to the city, he noted. As the population of New Braunfels is expected to be about 60,000 when new census figures are announced, Morrison approached Seguin, Guadalupe County and Comal County officials to seek their participation in creating a new MPO. The city already has begun a planning process by hiring an engineering firm to review the city's plan and a similar plan developed by Comal County. Morrison said he is requesting that Comal and Guadalupe county officials each contribute $18,000 toward the $161,000 study.
 

Another option for New Braunfels is to join the existing San Antonio MPO. City officials, however, are concerned that smaller communities such as New Braunfels and Seguin will have fewer votes and less power to shape decisions on transportation with the San Antonio option, he said. Guadalupe County Judge Mike Wiggins said he supports more localized control, but still has concerns about joining New Braunfels in a MPO. 

Irving may rethink size, cost of $250 million Las Colinas project

At least two members of the Irving City Council said they plan to review the scope and financing of the proposed $250 million Las Colinas entertainment project.  

Council member Allan Meagher (pictured) said he and some of his council colleagues and city staff have begun to question whether a smaller project with a lower price tag would be more feasible. Changing the number of restaurants and the configuration and size of the concert hall should be considered, said another council member. The city has spent more than $21 million on pre-development work, including $9.8 million for architectural work, on the project.

The mayor and two other council members, however, said they have not discussed scaling down the project. Making large changes in the plan will be difficult because the financing structure relies on taxes and fees generated by the center to help pay for itself, the mayor said. 

College Station ISD to seek advertising on school buses

As a method to raise funding, board members of the College Station Independent School District recently agreed to pursue a contract with a Houston-based media company specializing in placement of mobile advertisements that can be placed on buses.
 

The district currently operates about 70 school buses that could carry advertisements, district officials said. State regulations allow school districts to place two small ads near the rear of the bus above the windows on each side and a large ad placed above the rear wheels on the driver's side. In the Houston area, the small ads sell for approximately $175 a month while the larger ads sell for about $350 a month.
 

District officials also are considering using that same company to sell advertisements on the district's Web site. The ads could generate revenue ranging from $6,300 to $15,000 annually to the district.

San Angelo to spend $4.2 million to upgrade airport terminal

San Angelo officials recently moved forward with plans to spend about $4.2 million to upgrade the terminal at Mathis Field during the coming year.
 

Plans call for opening up the floor plan of the terminal, reducing the cross-flow of arriving and departing passengers and expanding to 30 feet an existing 4-foot-wide passageway connecting the main lobby with the baggage claim area. Airport officials also plan to expand the baggage area and the Transportation Security Administration area to accommodate new x-ray machines.
 

The renovations are expected to be completed in about 18 months and bring the capacity of the airport boarding up to 125,000 passengers per year. Grants totaling about $4 million from the Federal Aviation Administration are paying for most of the terminal upgrades, although the airport has set aside an additional $400,000 for the project. Airport officials plan to seek bids for the renovation project and award the bids this summer. Construction should begin in early fall and the project completed in about 18 months.

Structural assessment of Medina courthouse ordered

Medina County commissioners will pay a San Antonio firm  $24,000 to assess the stability of the 1893 courthouse in Hondo. Foundation cracks are a major - but just the first - concern in a repair project that is expected to cost the county up to $5 million.
 

Initially, the county had planned to fund the restoration with state grants that require the building be returned to its original configuration. But the public didn't want two wings, which were added between 1938 and 1940, to be removed. So Commissioners scrapped the plan and will move ahead without those grants.
 

"The people of the community have told us, 'Do not let this courthouse deteriorate. Make the repairs necessary to preserve it.' " said Medina County Judge Jim Barden (pictured).

IDEA charter schools expanding in, out of Rio Grande Valley

With the assistance of a $41.4 million construction bond, IDEA Public Schools is planning to expand in and beyond the Rio Grande Valley in the next two years, said Tom Torkelson, founder and chief executive officer of the charter school organization.
 

The new bond will allow IDEA to build two new campuses in Edinburg and Weslaco that should be open by 2012. IDEA officials also plan to add classrooms at campuses in Alamo and Pharr and to establish a new College Preparatory location in San Juan. These projects help IDEA achieve its "2012 Plan" goal of launching 22 schools in the Valley and operating up to 38 schools by 2014, Torkelson said. The organization hopes to establish some of those 38 schools in other areas of Texas, but Torkelson declined to identify in which region of the state the charter schools plan to build new schools.
 

The CEO also said he plans to ask the legislature to allow charter schools access to the state's Permanent School Fund to obtain lower interest rates on bonds to provide more opportunities for students to attend charter schools.

Gregg County now eyeing smaller price tag for event center

Gregg County officials are still planning to build a multi-purpose event center, but County Judge Bill Stoudt (pictured) said he's aiming for a lower price than the current $25 million to $30 million cost estimate. Stoudt declined to say how much the proposed event center will be scaled back before the county will proceed with the facility.

Public safety will be the primary focus when new plans for the event or multi-purpose center are unveiled later in the year and some of the "bells and whistles" may be removed to lower costs, Stoudt said. But, the facility will be designed to host events such as concerts, rodeos, dog shows and equestrian events.

The existing Maude Cobb Activity Complex receives requests for concerts and events, but the convention and activity center accommodates a maximum of 4,000 attendees, which is smaller than some event planners need, the manager of the Cobb complex said. Many event planners are concerned about weather and do not want to depend on the open-air rodeo arena if a larger facility is needed, she added. The proposed event center most likely will move forward in stages, Stoudt said.

Mercedes seeking new 20,000-square-foot emergency shelter

Mercedes City Commissioners recently agreed to apply to the Texas Department of Public Safety to build a dome structure to serve as a mass emergency shelter.

City officials plan to design and build the dome structure as a large open facility to withstand winds up to 200 miles per hour. The city also will provide three to four acres of land and a parking lot for the proposed emergency shelter. The shelter also could be used for recreational activities during the time when it is not needed as an emergency shelter.

Llano picks plan from two options for city hall renovations

Llano City Council members recently selected a plan to renovate the city hall from two options presented by Llano City Manager Finley deGriffenried (pictured).

Council members instructed deGriffenried to move forward with the second option that calls for raising the ceiling of the offices of the city manager and secretary, relocating the hallway south to create more office space, removing walls in the Main Street and municipal court offices, relocating the heating, ventilation units and building a wall to divide city manager and city secretary offices. 

Henderson ISD begin talks on contracting custodial services

Henderson Independent School District trustees recently began discussions on the feasibility of outsourcing custodial services at campuses throughout the district.
 

Representatives from a private custodial company said their cleaning employees would work mostly at night with daytime workers acting more in the maintenance mode. Responding to board members questions about whether current custodial employees would remain with the district, the representative noted that ideally the current district employees would work for the private company at their existing wage and comparable benefits.
 

While some school principals and the maintenance and transportation director voiced some concerns over contracting for custodial services, Superintendent Keith Boles said he had used a private custodial firm while superintendent at Connally ISD. The contract custodial service worked very well, Boles said. Board members made no decision following the discussion.

Fate rejects all bids for new

pump station, storage tank

Following the advice of the city attorney, Fate City Council members recently voted to reject all nine bids the city received to build Pump Station No. 2. City officials expect new bids for the project calling for construction of a 13-million-gallon-per-day pumping station and a 2-million-gallon storage tank will be requested and be opened in mid-February.
 

The city attorney advised council members that a protest had been filed against the bids, which ranged from about $3.7 million to $5.2 million.

Lubbock ISD looking at firms

to design bond projects

Lubbock Independent School District trustees recently agreed to enter into contracts with architectural firms to design projects approved by voters in a $198 million bond election last year.
 

The bond projects include building two new elementary schools, merging four existing elementary schools into two elementary campuses as well as expanding and renovating other district buildings, including athletic facilities, said James Arnold (pictured), the board president.

Southlake narrows city secretary search to two candidates

Southlake City Council members recently interviewed two candidates from 57 applicants for city secretary to replace City Secretary Lori Payne. In October, Payne requested a transfer to another city position with more regular hours as the city secretary position often requires her to work on nights and weekends. Payne joined the city in 1996 and became city secretary in 2002. Council members could make a decision on the new city secretary as early as this week, a spokeswoman for the city said.

North East ISD assesses community support for bond

At a recent meeting, staff at the North East school district in San Antonio asked community members to rank a project wish list by importance. Results from this meeting and others on Jan. 20 and Feb. 3 could help determine the content of a potential bond proposal. Items on the list include: a $43 million natatorium facility, a $65 million middle school, a technology package worth $64 million and $48 million in additions and renovations to the high school.

Superintendent Richard Middleton plans to take the community feedback to the school board on Feb. 14. If the board decides to hold an election, the proposal will probably be less than $400 million. To see a full list of projects, click here.

Mission school district on schedule to save on energy bills

Mission school district officials are on schedule to make up the $435,000 spent in 2006 to replace old light fixtures on several campuses with energy efficient ones.
 

The new fixtures use just a third of previous energy consumption and lengthen bulb life by about 50 percent. The district estimates the changes save taxpayers nearly $150,000 each year. Additionally, the district has collected $68,000 in rebates for the projects and expects about $44,000 more.

Keller to spend $70,000 to begin designs for jail, court, shelter

Keller City Council members recently agreed to spend $70,000 to pay a Dallas-based architectural firm to begin preliminary work on expanding the jail, municipal courts and an animal shelter.
 

The architects also will review future space needs the city may have and joining with Southlake and Colleyville on an animal shelter, said Police Chief Mark Hafner (pictured). The study also will include an assessment of available land, a projected budget and a schedule.
 

The chief told council members that the current 17-year-old jail requires extensive work on plumbing and the air conditioning system. Arrests also have more than doubled between 2001 and 2009, which could lead to overcrowding incidents, he said.

UH president Renu Khator

joins Dallas Fed board

University of Houston president and chancellor Renu Khator (pictured) has been named to the board of directors for the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, which is one of 12 regional reserve banks in the Federal Reserve System.
 

Khator will complete the final year of James Hackett's three-year term, which ends Dec. 31. At that time, she will be eligible for a full-term appointment.
 

Hackett, chairman and CEO of a Houston-based energy company, resigned from the board.

Lufkin tags Akridge as

director of parks, recreation

Lufkin city officials recently selected Mike Akridge as the new director of the city's parks and recreation department. Akridge, a 34-year city employee, previously was recreation superintendent in that department.
 

His goal as director is to follow through on current plans to update existing park pavilions and to expand the baseball field at the Morris Frank baseball complex along with parking lot upgrades at that facility, Akridge said. He was selected from a field of 44 applicants from states including Arizona, California, Illinois and Nevada as well as several local candidates, said Steve Floyd, Public Works director.
 

Floyd, who also served as interim director of Parks and Recreation following the retirement of Don Hannabas in late 2009, said he expects to change the position of recreation superintendent into an assistant director position and to fill that position by the end of February.

Bowie County seeking

engineer bids for water project

Bowie County commissioners recently agreed to seek engineering bids for a project to supply public water to 10 residents of the Oak Grove Community.
 

The county is paying for the project with a Community Development Block Grant distributed by the Texas Department of Rural Affairs.

Salado kicks off search

for new superintendent

Salado Independent School District trustees recently began their search to find a new superintendent to replace William (Billy) Wiggins, who resigned to serve as superintendent at Calhoun County ISD.

Trustees also named Robert W. Denton as the interim superintendent until a new superintendent is in place.
 

Board members hired a search firm that will handle the application process and help council develop a desired profile of the new superintendent. The deadline for applications is Feb. 4 and officials hope to begin interviewing candidates in mid-February, Denton said. The district has received more than 40 requests from candidates who asked for application forms.

Bullard wastewater plant

project will double capacity

Officials in Bullard, which is located 12 miles south of Tyler, hope that plans to double the size of a wastewater treatment plant will lead to future development while also adding capacity and efficiency. The current permitted capacity of 213,000 gallons is sometimes exceeded, especially after rains when groundwater and rainwater get into the sewer system. Construction on the project, which is estimated to cost $1.6 million, could begin in June.
 

Officials, who do not expect a tax hike, are currently receiving quotes for municipal bonds to help fund the project. Last year, area residents filed a couple of petitions with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to delay the project. They worried the larger plant could harm nearby creeks, streams and rivers. The commission denied the requests for hearings and gave the East Texas city the proper permits. Construction can begin after a design is complete, sent to the commission and the commission OKs the plans.

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Sharon Schweitzer (pictured), an International Protocol and Corporate Etiquette consultant, is the newest addition to Strategic Partnerships, Inc.'s Special Services Division. Schweitzer is certified by the Protocol School of Washington, and prepares clients to work professionally with companies around the globe as well as brush up on everyday skills in business etiquette.   

Schweitzer provides executive coaching sessions and corporate instruction in International Protocol, Business Etiquette, Professional Dining Savvy, Electronic Communications and Social Media.  She can answer all regarding "do's" and "don'ts" in today's increasingly connected business world.
 

For a complete portfolio of SPI experts and services, to inquire about specific services or to inquire about becoming a part of SPI's new Special Services division, contact Brooke Hollimon at 512-531-3948 or bhollimon@spartnerships.com. For information on other individuals in SPI's Special Services division and their areas of expertise, click here.

Round Rock approves $3.35 million for event center land

Round Rock City Council members recently agreed to spend $3.35 million to purchase 22.6 acres of land for a special events center. The land, a former lumber company site, is located on Chisholm Trail, near the intersection of IH35 and FM 3406.
 

City officials plan to use funding collected from the hotel occupancy tax to pay for building the proposed 60,000-square-foot events center that can host events such as karate contests, wrestling matches, cheerleading competitions as well as basketball and soccer tournaments. The city also is considering building the proposed Westside Recreation Center on the newly purchased Chisholm Trail property. Voters in 2001 approved $7.7 million in bonds to pay for a 50,000-square-foot recreation center on the city's west side.

New Braunfels ISD to sell $40.98M in bonds for facilities

Trustees for the New Braunfels Independent School District recently agreed to sell $40.98 million in bonds to pay for a new middle school and a transportation facility. A portion of the bond proceeds also will refund a portion of the district's outstanding obligations, district officials said.

Spring Hill ISD selects

Shurbet as business manager

Spring Hill Independent School District trustees recently selected Barbara Shurbet (pictured) as the new business manager. Shurbet, who previously served as business manager for Pittsburg ISD, is expected to begin her new duties in April. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a graduate of Texas A&M University.

Val Verde County begins talks

on whether to hire grant writer

Val Verde County Commissioners recently began discussions on whether to hire a grant writer to help the county attract state and federal dollars as budgets and grant opportunities are shrinking. At least one commissioner, Ramiro Ramon of Precinct 1, requested a discussion on asking for requests for qualifications for a grant writer at the January meeting of commissioners. No decision on his request was made.

Walcott ISD wins $177,532

grant to build wind turbine

Walcott Independent School District officials recently won a $177,532 grant to help pay most of the cost for the $300,000 wind turbine project that will supply electricity to a school.
 

The wind turbine is expected to generate enough electricity to power the school as long as the wind is blowing, said Superintendent Bill Sam McLaughlin.

San Marcos moving forward

on proposed solar farm

San Marcos city officials are moving forward with plans for a solar farm expected to begin producing up to 20 megawatts daily when completed in 2013. The solar farm, which will be located west of the city, is a major initiative in the city's goal to keep the city up to date with technology and possibly reduce energy costs, the mayor said.

Burkburnett to go forward with plan for master drainage system

Burkburnett City Council members recently agreed to move forward with plans for a city-wide master drainage system. Plans call for the drainage system to cover 10,000 acres. The city is using aircraft to create a map of the city and work on the drainage system is expected to begin once the map is completed, or in about three months, city officials said.

Doug Frazior named head of

Clear Creek Ed Foundation

Officials at the Clear Creek Education Foundation in League City recently appointed Doug Frazior (pictured) the nonprofit's first executive director. 

Previously, Frazior has served as the economic development coordinator in League City.

Foundation leaders hope that Frazior's experience and leadership will help guide the organization through upcoming challenges, particularly funding cuts.

Williams resigns as city administrator in Jefferson

City Administrator Tony Williams recently resigned as city administrator in Jefferson. Williams, who had previously expressed a desire to work part-time, said he was retiring to work on his farm. Jefferson city officials have not yet named an interim city administrator.

Edinburg ISD names Morrison

as assistant superintendent

Edinburg Independent School District officials recently selected Rebecca Ramirez-Morrison as the assistant superintendent for finance and operations.
 

A former human resources director for Mission ISD, Ramirez-Morrison replaced Rigoberto V. Abrego, who resigned last year.

Nederland ISD to hire architectural/engineering firm

Nederland Independent School District trustees recently selected an architecture firm and an engineering company to provide board members with a project study and cost analysis of the projects to be included in a possible May bond election.

Superintendent Robert Madding (pictured) reviewed the references submitted by the companies and ranked each based on district criteria before selecting the winning firms. The companies are scheduled to present the study and cost analysis by March 1 and board members are expected to make a decision on calling a bond election before the March 14 deadline. District officials received a list of 24 recommended projects from the Capital Improvement Committee to review in the project study and cost analysis.

Big Spring ISD sells $6.7 million in bonds for construction

Big Spring Independent School District officials recently sold the remaining $6.7 million in bonds from a $60 million bond proposal that voters approved last year.
Construction on several of the multi-year projects is scheduled to begin this spring, the chief financial secretary for the district said.

Richland Hills to begin testing sewer system to plug leaks

In an effort to find and plug leaks in the sewer system, Richland Hills City Council members recently hired a company to test the sewer system. The company will inspect manholes as part of the city's efforts to repair the leaks allowing storm runoff to infiltrate the system. Council members also instructed the city manager to apply for a $6 million loan from the Texas Water Development Board to repair any leaks found in the testing.
 

The city recently had to pay $500,000 for the extra charges generated from runoff water infiltrating the 50-

to 60-year-old sewer system before entering the water treatment plant in Fort Worth, Mayor David Ragan (pictured) noted. In 2007, those charges rose to more than $800,000, making it critical that the city locate and stop the leaks, he said.

Texas Association of Business selects Graham as chairman

The Texas Association of Business (TAB) board of directors recently selected Brett Graham (pictured) of Sherman as the chairman of the board.  

Graham is a business executive and community leader who has served on the board of directors of the organization for 10 years while remaining active in Sherman organizations such as the Sherman Chamber of Commerce, The Boy Scouts Regional Advisory Board and the Salvation Army. TAB represents 3,000 business members and 200 chambers of commerce.