Loftin chosen lone finalist for A&M presidency

Regents pick Ferrier for San Antonio post; Kirby in interim role

A Texas A&M graduate known for his bow ties who has stood at the helm of that university on an interim basis for the last seven months Thursday was named the sole finalist for the presidency of his alma mater. The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents named Interim President R. Bowen Loftin (left) its choice to become the leader of the country's seventh largest university. He will now have to wait the obligatory state-mandated 21 days before the regents take final action to make his appointment official.

Loftin's selection as sole finalist was one of several actions by the regents to fill positions across the system at their Thursday meeting. Dr. Maria Hernandez Ferrier (right) was named sole finalist for the presidency at Texas A&M University-San Antonio and Dr. Robert Kirby was appointed interim president of Texas A&M University-Central Texas.

Loftin was named interim president of TAMU on June 15, after former President Dr. Elsa Murano resigned under pressure only 17 months into the job. At the time, Loftin was serving as chief executive officer of Texas A&M University at Galveston, the university's marine branch campus. In announcing the board's selection, Morris Foster, chairman of the Board of Regents, said Loftin has a "proven record as an exceptional and visionary leader of character with sound financial management skills and good instincts." He described the soon-to-be president as a "consensus builder" who also "knows how to make tough decisions."

Ed Serna selected executive director of new TxDMV

TxDOT official will be first to lead 600-employee state agency

The state's newest agency has its first executive director. Ed Serna (pictured), the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) assistant executive director for support operations, will head up the new Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV). The new agency began operations in November of last year, after being created by the 81st Texas Legislature. Serna headed up the transition team that moved motor vehicle services from TxDOT to TxDMV.

Serna brings to his new post more than 28 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. While at TxDOT, he oversaw the motor vehicle sections including the Vehicle Titles and Registration, Motor Vehicle and Motor Carrier divisions and the Automobile Burglary and Theft Prevention Authority office that moved from TxDOT as well.

A veteran of the information technology and government fields since the 1980s, Serna also is experienced in legislative processes, management and implementation of statewide policies, contracts and computer systems. He will begin his oversight of the day-to-day operations of the 600-employee TxDMV on Feb. 1. Prior to joining TxDOT, Serna was director of service delivery at the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) and went on to become DIR's chief operating officer and interim executive director. He also held positions with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts where he was project manager for the Uniform Statewide Accounting System that created a single financial reporting system for all state agencies and was deputy director of the Office of Administrative Services of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Serna holds a bachelor's degree from the University of North Texas.

Man in custody after reportedly firing gun at Capitol

A 24-year-old Houston man remains in custody following a shooting incident at the Texas State Capitol on Thursday. Charged with deadly conduct, a third degree felony, is Fausto Cardenas, who remains in custody in the Travis County Jail.

The incident occurred at approximately 12:15 p.m. Thursday near the South Steps of the Capitol building, according to Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) spokesperson Tela Mange. Mange said Fausto reportedly fired several shots with a small caliber weapon and "DPS troopers immediately took him into custody." Mange said no one was injured and that troopers and Texas Rangers were investigating the incident. A lockdown of the Capitol followed the incident as officers performed a crime scene investigation. Mange said they were involved in processing the building "to be sure there was nothing else inside we needed to be concerned about."

Immediately after the shots were fired, state employees in the Capitol were notified to stay in their offices, lock the doors and stay away from windows. That lockdown was later lifted. The investigation into the incident is continuing. Gov. Rick Perry, who was not at the Capitol at the time of the shooting, praised the DPS officers who quickly apprehended the suspect. "Thanks to their efforts, no one was injured and the shooter was apprehended immediately and taken in to custody," he said. Some members of the Texas Legislature already are calling for looking to increased security for the historic building. The man reportedly had been in the office of a state senator prior to the shooting incident.

School Board Recognition Month...

HISD's Greg Meyers on mission as new board president

'We've all got to be committed to what's best for the kids'

Greg Meyers' enthusiasm is contagious when he talks about educating children.

It's his passion. It's what drives him...practically consumes him.

He's not an educator. He's a businessman. But the newly elected president of the Houston Independent School District Board of Education sees nothing but "tremendous potential" for his lofty goals for moving forward the 200,000 students in the 300 schools in the state's largest public school district.

Politics caused Meyers to first seek election to the board five years ago. "I love politics," he admits. He and his wife have two sons in the Houston public schools. "Initially, it was, 'Where can I truly make a difference?'" After encouragement from the sitting district representative who chose not to seek re-election and after he, his wife and sons "talked as a family" about it, Meyers ran for and was elected to his first four-year term in 2004. He was re-elected to a second term in 2009. Last week, he was unanimously elected by his fellow board members to his first term as president.

$60M in cancer research, prevention grants awarded

Cancer research project grants totaling more than $60 million were announced this week by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The funds, awarded both to private companies and academic institutions, are the first to be awarded from the $3 billion approved by Texas voters to be invested in cancer research in the state over the next 10 years.

Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment creating the institute in 2007. They authorized the state to issue $3 billion in bonds to fund cancer research and prevention programs and services. The 66 projects funded in this round of funding were chosen from nearly 900 grant proposals submitted. The proposals were reviewed by a team of more than 100 scientific experts and will investigate the causes and possible treatments for a variety of types of cancers. All of the research funded by CPRIT grant money will be conducted in Texas by Texas-based scientists.

In addition to the grant funds, CPRIT also approved the second CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research award, this time for the recruitment of an outstanding candidate to join the staff at University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. "The eyes of Texas and the nation are truly upon CPRIT and we will make the most of this opportunity to change the face of cancer," said Jimmy Mansour (pictured), Chairman of the CPRIT Oversight Committee.

Tom Boggus picked to head Texas Forest Service

After serving a number of administrative posts with the Texas Forest Service, including having been the agency's interim director since June 2008, Tom G. Boggus (pictured) Thursday was named sole finalist for director of the agency and state forester. The announcement was made by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents following the recommendation of Dr. Mark Hussey, Vice Chancellor and Dean for Agriculture and Life Sciences.

By law, Boggus must wait 21 days before he can formally be offered the position. At that time, if approved by the regents, he will become the eighth director of the Texas Forest Service and will manage an agency with an annual budget of more than $65 million and more than 365 employees statewide. His role is a dual one, including responsibilities as state forester ensuring natural resources are protected and sustained. As director, he enforces laws relating to protection of the land and resources and preventing and extinguishing wildland fires, monitoring forests and planning for the future of forestry.

Boggus is no stranger to the agency that is responsible for protecting and sustaining the state's trees, forests and related natural resources. He has worked with the agency for nearly 30 years in roles that range from forester to associate director for Administration to associate director for Forest Resource Development and Sustainable Forestry.

TWDB approves $190M in financial assistance

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has announced the approval of financial assistance totaling $190.975 million as follows:

• City of Kilgore (Gregg and Rusk Counties) - $5.07 million - from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to finance wastewater system improvements;
• Richland Special Utility District (McCulloch County) - $8.15 million grant and $210,000 loan from the Economically Distressed Areas Program to finance the construction phase of its water system improvements;
• Galveston County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 (Galveston County) - $6.5 million - from the Texas Water Development Fund to finance wastewater system improvements;
• Jasper County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 (Jasper County) - $2.2 million - from the Texas Water Development Fund to finance wastewater system improvements;
• City of Grand Prairie (Tarrant, Johnson and Ellis Counties) - $4.995 million - from the Water Infrastructure Fund to finance construction of a water supply project;
• Greater Texoma Utility Authority (Grayson County) - $21.23 million - from the Water Infrastructure Fund to finance construction of a water supply project;
• City of Lubbock (Lubbock County) - $41 million - from the Water Infrastructure Fund to finance construction of a water supply project; and
• Tarrant Regional Water District (Tarrant, Dallas, Johnson, Ellis, Henderson and Navarro Counties) - $101.62 million - from the Water Infrastructure Fund to finance development costs for a water supply project.

TPWD awards first Lifetime Super Combo license

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) recently awarded Hunt resident William Vlasek a Lifetime Super Combo hunting and fishing license as part of a new promotional program. The license will permanently exempt Vlasek from having to purchase state hunting and fishing licenses for the rest of his life - an $1,800 value for the price of a $5 entry ticket.

TPWD is again offering a chance to win lifetime fishing and hunting licenses. Check the TPWD Web site for more details. Entries for the June 30 drawing must be purchased by June 27.

TPWD received more than 10,000 entries - generating $48,943 for conservation efforts - for the initial drawing.

Cities, counties earn grant funds for traffic signals

The Texas State Comptroller has awarded $6 million in stimulus grants to various cities and counties throughout the state for synchronization of traffic signals by installing, updating or maintenance of traffic synchronization technologies or replacing traffic signal lights with LED lights. The projects can include signal retiming, replacement of LEDs in old units, buying new signals, replacing traffic signal control hardware and monitoring new signal timings to make sure the synchronization is working.

Awards were distributed to:

• City of Bedford ($2.32 million for the development and implementation of synchronized traffic signal timing plans and other upgrades);
• City of Fort Worth ($937,500 for hardware and software improvements, and equipment upgrades);
• City of Grand Prairie ($524,860 for the synchronization, upgrade and retiming of 164 intersections);
• City of Allen ($471,000 for traffic signal synchronization and upgrades);
• City of Bryan ($467,332 for traffic signal synchronization and infrastructure improvements);
• City of North Richland Hills ($532,500 for traffic signal synchronization and infrastructure improvements);
• City of Cedar Hill ($385,860 for traffic signal synchronization and infrastructure improvements);
• City of Grapevine ($385,000 for the installation of a Traffic Adaptive System on 11 existing traffic signals, and more);
• City of Killeen ($337,600 for 34 traffic-signal-controller upgrades);
• Montgomery County ($238,994.51 to conduct a traffic-light synchronization project for 17 intersections, and more);
• City of Missouri City ($208,600 to retime all City traffic signals, among other initiatives);
• City of Frisco ($168,000 to re-time and monitor 24 traffic signals);
• City of Brownsville ($120,000 to replace 20 traffic signal intersections);
• City of Cedar Park ($159,785.40 to conduct signal timing for 27 intersections); and
• the City of Waco ($40,000 to improve efficiency through traffic-signal synchronization and improve infrastructure).

U.S. Department of Defense awards SMU engineering

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has awarded $2 million to Southern Methodist University's Lyle School of Engineering for ultra-slim camera technology research. SMU electrical engineering professor Marc Christensen (pictured) will explore security and battlefield applications with the funds. The DOD previously funded SMU $3.5 million for the development and field-testing of a high-performance, small-camera system with military applications.

Christensen and his team of graduate and undergraduate students are developing camera systems that produce sharp, concise images without the bulk and weight of traditional systems.

The new funds "will allow us to explore its use for non-cooperative iris recognition systems for homeland security and other defense applications," Christensen said. He said the new technology will allow users to take photographs in dark places, such as caves.

Lone Star College campuses receive THECB funds

Lone Star College-Kingwood and LSC-Montgomery have received $112,213 and $14,026, respectively, from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) Professional Nursing Shortage Reduction Program. The funds - part of $7.35 million in appropriations to THECB from the 81st Legislature - have been allocated to institutions that demonstrated an increased number of nursing graduates at the associate, baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degree levels for the 2008 - 2009 academic year.

Funds are based on the percentage of increased nursing students. LSC-Kingwood showed an increase in nursing enrollments of 21 percent, while LSC-Montgomery boasted a 3 percent increase.

Gayle LoPiccolo, director of health occupations at the LSC System, said the grants "will have a strong, positive impact on both the number of students admitted into the programs and the retention of students already enrolled."

UT-Tyler names executive director of institute

John J. Vasselli (pictured) has been named executive director of The University of Texas at Tyler Texas Allergy, Indoor Environment and Energy Institute. A recipient of the Mary John and Ralph Spence Professorship, he will also serve as a research professor at UT-Tyler. The move is the result of a $3.75 million Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TEF) award to UT-Tyler to establish TxAIRE, the first collaborative research institute of its kind in the United States.

Vasselli previously served as director of the air management, acoustics and vibration group and the indoor air-quality technology and components group of a major corporation. He has more than 35 years of associated experience.

Vasselli holds a bachelor's degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and master's degrees from the Air Force Institute of Technology and the University of Southern California.

Alamo Colleges vice chancellor picked for committee

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has appointed Federico Zaragoza (pictured), vice chancellor of Economic and Workforce Development at Alamo Colleges, to the Department of Education's (DOE) National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity. In his new role, Zaragoza will play a pivotal part in ensuring the highest standards of accountability for accrediting agencies.

The committee advises Duncan on accreditation issues and the eligibility and certification process for colleges and universities across the nation. Zaragoza will help recommend which Texas agencies should be recognized as reliable authorities for judging postsecondary institutions and programs.

TWC cites 'Back to Work' program for unemployed

The 81st Legislature has authorized a two-year, $15 million program known as "Texas Back to Work," designed to offer employers subsidized-wage reimbursement, retention bonuses and other incentives for hiring qualified, unemployed residents. Incentives for employers include receiving a portion of new employees' wages for a set period of time (provided the employee was receiving unemployment benefits) and up to $1,500 in wage-retention bonuses.

TWC served more than 1.8 million customers in more than 240 workforce centers last year. For more information about "Texas Back to Work," click here.

TWU introduces single-stream recycling program

Texas Woman's University has introduced a single-stream recycling program. Aluminum, tin cans, plastic, glass and cardboard have been added to the institution's paper-recycling effort.

The move will allow the university to "take advantage of community recycling efforts as part of our commitment to creating a greener university," according to Harold Johnson, TWU associate vice president of facilities management and construction.

The new venture ranks among a number of green efforts implemented by TWU that are designed to curb pollution and improve the environment. For example, the university's own "Cash for Clunkers" program replaced seven outmoded vehicles with nine electric-powered vehicles and three minivans that average 24 mpg, eliminating nine tons of carbon dioxide per year.

Texas Southmost College eyes new pact with UT System

Trustees for Texas Southmost College recently began discussions on a new partnership agreement with The University of Texas System to replace an agreement signed in 1991 that allows the college and the University of Texas at Brownsville to pool resources, share administrative costs and campus buildings. The current agreement no longer reflects the relationship between the two institutions, said David Oliveira, a trustee for TSC.

The need for a new agreement became apparent last year when a dispute intensified over $10.8 million in unpaid rent to TSC. In the past, Texas legislators had appropriate funding to pay TSC for the use of the buildings by UT-Brownsville, but halted that appropriation, leaving TSC with unpaid rent. When TSC officials asked UT System officials to pay the rent, TSC and System officials formed a joint task force to resolve the issue. Task force members soon began taking a closer look at the overall agreement as well as the rent dispute, Oliveira said. One of the top priorities is improving TSC's revenue stream, he added.

Oliveira also told TSC trustees that he anticipated the task force to continue for several more months before a new agreement is finalized.

Lemon to leave UTMB for UNC research role

Dr. Stanley M. Lemon (pictured), director of the Institute for Human Infections and Immunity at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, has announced he will leave his post to return to the University of North Carolina as a professor in the Department of Medicine. There he will also serve as a member of the Inflammatory Disease Institute, Center for Translational Immunology and the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

One of the world's foremost experts on hepatitis C, Lemon plans to return to a career in research, where he hopes to advance treatments of the disease.

Lemon came to UTMB in 1997 as chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. He later served as interim dean of medicine from 1999 to 2000 and as dean from 2000 to 2004.

Baylor Med, Baylor University talk possible merger

Word recently surfaced regarding merger talks between Baylor University and Baylor Medical School. In a bid to reassure Baylor College of Medicine students, faculty staff, and alumni critical of negotiations with once-parent institution, Baylor University, interim President Dr. William Butler (pictured) said, "Any new affiliation agreement between Baylor College of Medicine and Baylor University will assure that BCM maintains its independence and, importantly, its scientific and academic freedom." Critics of the possible merger are concerned Baylor's religious affiliations will influence scientific and medical-based research and harm BCM's reputation in the process.

A petition signed by more than 400 BCM students, staff, faculty and alumni states, "We cannot overlook the restrictive influence that this potential merger would have on BCM. ...The religious ideologies that permeate throughout BU's academic policies may adversely affect both scientific progress and the culture at BCM."

BCM split from BU in 1969, after 66 years, amid concerns that Texas Baptists might block the Houston school from receiving federal grants. The medical school hopes to remedy its shaky financial situation with the merger.

Maldonado new vice chancellor at TAMU System

Theresa Maldonado (pictured), director of the Energy Engineering Institute in the Texas Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), has been selected to serve as associate vice chancellor for research at The Texas A&M University System.

Maldonado previously served as program director in the Engineering Directorate at the National Science Foundation. There she received Director's Awards for Program Management Excellence and Collaborative Integration. At the A&M System, she has served as interim vice president for research and as executive associate vice president for research for the university and as deputy director of TEES.

A registered professional engineer, Maldonado holds three degrees from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

San Antonio schools identify $1.24B in improvements

San Antonio Independent School District staff has recommended $1.24 billion in capital improvements as part of a long-range effort to overhaul the district's aging facilities. A minimum of three bond issues would be needed to pay for the changes, which would take at least a decade to complete as the district closes underutilized campuses. A bond election could be slated as early as November.

Superintendent Robert Duron (pictured) said the proposal would help close the gaps "between where we are and where we want to be in the areas of program offerings, compensation, facilities and technology."

The current proposed restructuring plan calls for the closure of up to 14 schools, saving the district as much as $40 million a year.

Klein ISD revises 2008 bond plan after delaying projects

After agreeing in January 2009 to delay six major bond projects because of the faltering economy, trustees for the Klein Independent School District recently agreed to a revised bond plan calling for renovations to begin in 2010 or 2011 on Klein High school and delaying construction of a fifth high school.

Renovating Klein High School will eliminate repair costs that would not be recovered by further delays, district officials said. The high school renovation will be complex because of the limited acreage involved and the presence of the district's football field, but the district officials said they plan to complete the project with as little disruption to the academic process as possible. The revised plan will permit the district to build the fifth high school when the need actually arises, district officials said.

Neves elected chair of Houston-Galveston Area Council

Kerry Neves (pictured), a Dickinson City Council member, recently began his duties as chairman of the Houston-Galveston Area Council.

The 13-member county regional council has a $344 million budget to pay for transportation, housing and business development, work force development and a clean air program in the region and is also distributing $2 billion in Hurricane Ike federal disaster funding.

Neves, an attorney who has served on the Dickinson City Council since 1998, said he intended to use his position to ease the burden on Galveston County and other coastal counties so severely impacted by Hurricane Ike.

Cypress-Fairbanks ISD to begin after-school care

Trustees for the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District recently approved plans to begin a before- and after-school care program at elementary campuses when the 2010-2011 school year begins.

The childcare program was created to raise revenue for the district and will be staffed by district employees. The new program will replace after-school care programs currently operated by the YMCA. The new program will operate until 6:30 p.m. each school day.

While the after-school care program will support student academic performance, the program will not be an extension of the instructional school day, district officials said. The district has not yet established the fee for the new program but it should be in line with other childcare programs. Reduced rates will be offered to those with more than one child in the after-school care program and to district employees.

Scroggs takes on new administrative role at Texas A&M

Longtime Texas A&M University administrator John Scroggs (pictured) has been named chief of staff at the university's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Scroggs previously served as associate provost and as director and chief of staff for the Office of the Dean of Faculties. He began his tenure at A&M as a technical writer.

Rosenberg approves $2.8 million pact for road projects

Rosenberg City Council members recently approved an agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and another agreement with the City of Richmond to move forward on widening US 59 and FM 1640. Rosenberg will act as the local government in the TxDOT agreement under a proposed interlocal agreement with Richmond and the Fort Bend County mobility fund.

The advanced funding agreement with TxDOT calls for the city to pay $2.8 million for the project featuring a four-lane divided curb and gutter roadway with center turn lanes, raised median and sidewalks on both sides from US 59 to FM 1640. The agreement was required for the local match at least 30 days before the FM 1650 project is to be placed for bids in March. The improvements for FM 1640 include a six-lane divided curb and gutter roadway with center turn lane, raised median and sidewalks from FM 2218 to FM 762.

Richmond council members are expected to consider the interlocal agreement with Rosenberg at a meeting on Jan. 25. The agreement covers a required payment to TxDOT for $534,377, for 10 percent of the necessary right-of-way costs. Richmond will pay $198,083 and Rosenberg will pay $335,575. The local participants also will pay for a storm sewer drainage system, with Rosenberg paying $263,937. The Fort Bend County Appraisal District's share of the cost is $161,633 and the irrigation channel replacement cost of $151,200.

Bastrop group pushes for new campus for ACC

A countywide group, the Bastrop County Friends of Higher Education, recently began plans to petition Bastrop County officials to stage an election to authorize a funding mechanism to establish a new campus for Austin Community College in Bastrop County.

The group's goal is to build a new ACC campus to accommodate 2,500 students in a 70,000-square-foot facility on 80 acres of donated land in Elgin to begin operation as soon as 2013. The proposed campus would have an annual budget of about $8 million, create about 50 new jobs and significantly lower tuition costs for students in Bastrop County who attend ACC, said David Glass, who co-chairs the group in Elgin along with Dr. Bill Satterfield. The group has held extended discussions with ACC officials for almost a year and will ask officials of the Austin-based college to soon commit to the new campus, Glass said.

Supporters of the new campus are considering staging a petition drive to collect signatures of registered voters in favor of placing the taxing district issue to voters in November, Glass said. Separate elections will be held in each of the county's school districts if the petition drive is successful, he said.

Corpus Christi eyes plan to save part of coliseum

After agreeing to proceed with demolition of Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi city officials began considering a plan to save the arched green roof of the coliseum as an open-air pavilion with a festival park and memorial located nearby.

A local architect proposed the compromise plan, but did not provide a cost estimate for the project. City officials agreed to accept bids for partial demolition to provide the architect with more time to develop cost estimates and funding sources for the pavilion project. Plans now call for the city to select a contractor for the demolition by March 29.

Several council members expressed concern that the pavilion will be expensive and noted that the metal framing on the underside of the roof will need to be sprayed with anti-corrosive coating to prevent birds from roosting on it and that the roof will need major repairs. The coliseum was closed in 2004, but supporters argue that the building be saved because it is considered architecturally significant because a local architect, the late Richard Colley, won national acclaim for its design.

Group looking at Ingleside for renewable energy center

A group of private companies and universities with a goal of establishing a renewable energy research center recently announced plans to visit Naval Station Ingleside in February to explore the base as a site for the Houston-based Wind Alliance. The alliance is comprised of 14 universities, six wind companies and eight organizations, including the Texas Workforce Commission. More than 100 Alliance members are expected to attend the group's biannual meeting in Ingleside on Feb. 24, said Dennis Beal, director of industry alliance with the A&M System.

The naval base is scheduled to close on April 30 and 576 acres of property, including 93 acres of submerged land, will be returned to the Port of Corpus Christi on May 1. Port officials contracted with the Texas A&M System to help plan redevelopment of the 576 acres as well as another 433 acres of adjacent property owned by the port. The goal of the redevelopment is to create good-paying jobs in clean industries, especially in research and education necessary to incubate new industries. The Department of Energy in June 2007 agreed to use 23 acres of the Ingleside base for a new $20 million wind turbine and blade-testing facility, Beal said.

Officials of the Wind Alliance plan to build a Coastal Renewable Energy Institute on some of that property, said the managing director of the Wind Alliance. The Alliance has not yet presented a proposal to the A&M System, but their plan seems consistent with the goals of the redevelopment project, Beal said.

Taylor approves May election for $3M rec center

Taylor city officials recently agreed to place a bond proposal for a new indoor recreation center on the ballot in May. Proceeds from the bond would be used to pay for construction of a $3 million, 15,000-square-foot facility on five acres of land donated by Williamson County.

The city's 2004 Parks, Recreation & Open Space Master Plan included an indoor recreation center, but budget concerns caused the city to delay the project, said Mayor Rod Hortenstine (pictured). Plans call for the city to own the building near the Taylor Regional Park and Sports Complex and underwrite major maintenance costs. If approved as a partner, the YMCA will operate the recreation program and pay back about $4.8 million over a 30-year period, guarantee operating costs to the city and provide almost $1 million in equipment and furnishings.

The YMCA has operated in Taylor for nine years in about 8,500 square feet of space. The new recreation facility would provide almost twice the space currently available, locker rooms, group exercise areas and a 3,500-square-foot swimming pool, Hortenstine said.

I-35 groups to discuss agenda, deliver plans to TxDOT

A total of four Interstate 35 Corridor Segment Committees along the I-35 corridor will meet monthly to discuss improvements. The community-driven project, known as "MY 35" will result in a comprehensive, long-range mobility plan for the entire corridor, which will then be presented to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). The plan will reflect the interest and concerns of Texas motorists.

For more information about "MY 35" meetings, including meet-up times, visit the Keep Texas Moving Web site. All meetings are open to the public.

Angelina, Lufkin seek grant for energy efficiency plans

Officials of Angelina County and the city of Lufkin recently filed applications with the State Energy Conservation Office for additional funding to pay for energy efficiency projects. Originally the state comptroller had allocated about $100,000 to the county and $75,000 to Lufkin, but increased that allocation to $115,000 for the county and $86,000 for the city after several other jurisdictions declined the grant funding.

Angelina County plans to spend about $15,000 to install digital thermostats, an HVAC system, motion-sensitive light switches and new light fixtures and the remaining $100,000 on solar energy panels for the county jail if the supplemental grant request is approved, said County Judge Wes Suiter (pictured). County officials expect to receive bids in March and complete the energy efficiency projects in May 2010.

Lufkin plans to spend most of the grant funding to remodel a fire station by adding an emissions system and retrofitting light fixtures. The city also plans to install a variable speed drive on a water well to save energy.

Wharton Co. approves funding for DPS equipment

Wharton County commissioners have approved $7,644 of a requested $8,687 for the purchase of window-tint meters and laptop computers for local Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers.

The Department is facing a budgetary shortfall due to legislative changes, according to Assistant District Attorney Ross Kurtz. Wharton County DPS's seizure fund (comprised of cash and other valuables seized by DPS troopers) has been capped at $2 million with additional dollars allocated to the state's General Fund.

County Auditor Sharon Howard Boedeker said the funds, which were placed in the investigation line item of the budget, came from crime victim grants and were not made up of tax dollars.

Denton approves helping fund $56.7M street project

Denton city officials recently approved an agreement to pay for a $56.7 million project to widen Mayhill Road to four lanes.

The project will use a mix of funding sources, but most of the funding will come from the State Highway 121 toll agreement, said Mayor Mark Burroughs (pictured). The toll agreement is expected to provide about $45.3 million of the cost of the project, with the city and county paying the remaining $11.3 million cost, Burroughs said. City officials plan to pay for their share by reallocating funding remaining from completed capital improvement projects.

Construction on the project isn't expected to begin for several years, but the project would have been forced to wait from 10 to 20 years for funding without the toll money, Burroughs said. Denton County receives a percentage of the proceeds from a $3.3 billion agreement with the North Texas Tollway Authority to build and operate SH 121 as a toll road in Denton, Collin and Dallas counties. Denton city officials are considering a similar agreement to pay for the estimated the $57.7million cost of widening of Bonnie Brae Street, the mayor said.

Conroe ISD approves $27M for school improvements

Trustees for the Conroe Independent School District recently approved the sale of $17 million in bonds to pay for an addition to an intermediate school and improvements to several other district campuses.

Plans call for an $8 million addition to the intermediate school to enclose the multi-building campus into a single facility by adding classrooms, a fine arts room and a new gym. The project should be completed in about 14 months, a district spokesman said. The district also will improve security by building new front entrances at four elementary schools at a cost of about $2.3 million, upgrade and add an entrance and renovate a junior high school at a cost of about $2 million and add a new air conditioning system at an intermediate school for about $3.3 million.

District officials also plan to spend $91,000 to pay for a field house roof, $181,000 to partially replace a roof at Hauke Alternative School and $3.1 million to upgrade mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems throughout the district, said the director of facilities and maintenance operations. Voters approved a $527 million bond package in 2008 to improve and construct school facilities.

Royse City council delays hiring assistant city manager

Royse City council members have decided to hold off hiring an assistant city manager to serve as the city's chief financial officer based on City Manager Bill Shipp's recommendation. Council members pointed to lower-than-expected revenues as a basis for their decision.

"We have some concerns with the most recent two months of sales tax," Shipp said, citing a 27 percent decrease in December revenues and a 16 percent decline for January.

Shipp has imposed a hiring freeze on all city employees with the exception of a new police chief and police officer position.

Orange County to seek $250,000 grant for levee project

Orange County commissioners recently agreed to apply for a $250,000 grant from the Texas Water Development Board to pay for a feasibility study on building a levee or another kind of protection from storm surges caused by hurricanes and tropical storms. The county will be required to match the grant, said Bobby Fillyaw (pictured), director of the Orange County Economic Development Corporation.

A $500,000 study is planned to identify where a system in Orange County should be located, Fillyaw said. However, the project is so large that just the engineering and study phase could cost as much as $16 million and the price tag for the entire project could be as much as $1 billion, he added.

Interest in a levee project in Orange County grew after Hurricane Ike storm surge flooded part of the county shutting down five petrochemical plants for months as well as damaging and destroying homes in Bridge City, Orange and Rose City, Fillyaw said.

McAllen group wins $2.9 million grant to improve housing

Affordable Homes of South Texas, a McAllen-based nonprofit organization, recently received a $2.9 million federal grant to purchase foreclosed and abandoned properties in Hidalgo County. The group will rehabilitate the homes for low-income residents.

With the $1.9 million in federal funding received last year, the nonprofit organization will have about $7 million to spend on the affordable home project, said Robert "Bobby" Calvillo, executive director of the group. Affordable Homes will help families at 120 percent of the median income for the area, or about $42,000 for a family of four in Hidalgo County, he said. The organization also provides homebuyer education to all of its clients.

Rockport to build $1.1M waterfront education center

Rockport city officials recently received $68,000 from the Texas General Land Office (GLO) to help pay for the Bay Education Center, a new $1.1 million waterfront center to teach visitors about estuaries. Officials plan to break ground on the center in May.

Plans call for the education center to feature a 100-seat auditorium, exhibits about the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve and offices for park staff from the City of Rockport. The research reserve, about 200,000 acres of wetlands, uplands and marine environments, is part of a network of 27 research reserves operated by the National Oceanic Administration, 21 coastal states and Puerto Rico. The research reserve provides a living laboratory to scientists and critical habitat for wildlife such as endangered whooping cranes.

The Aransas County Navigation District donated land for the center and the city contributed $350,000 in matching funds for a $700,000 grant for the center. But when costs for the education center ran over budget, Rockport officials requested and received additional funding from the Coastal Management Program and the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act at the GLO. Construction is already under way for a new $20 million headquarters, which includes space for The University of Texas Marine Science Center and for the Mission-Aransas reserve in Port Aransas. That project should be completed in 2011.

Former Brownsville superintendent seeks housing job

Hector Gonzales (pictured), former superintendent of the Brownsville Independent School District, recently applied for the job as executive director of the Brownsville Housing Authority. The new executive director will replace Esiquio "Zeke" Luna, Jr. who left that position last year.

Antonio Juarez, the former financial officer for the Brownsville school district, also applied for the executive director position along with Marc A. Sterling, Alfonso L. Verduzco, Vincent D. Morris Sr., Art Menendez, Carlos Arturo Gomez, Charles Houston, Mark Cary, Don Currie, Alfredo Huerta, John William Hurt, Steven Salinas, Joe Cerda and Arturo M. Flores, said Edward Moore, chairman of the housing authority board.

Moore declined to identify how many of the 15 applicants will be interviewed for the position, but said the number was less than 10 and more than five. Some of the finalists to be interviewed are not from Texas, Moore said.

Richardson eyeing new master plan for expanded parks

Richardson city officials are considering a proposed 10-year master plan for parks that calls for acquiring land and developing two neighborhood parks, two community parks, building two new aquatics facilities and hike and bike trails and renovating a recreation center and swimming pool.

Council members are expected to vote on the proposed new master plan in February and consider which projects to include in a possible May bond election, said Paul Gooch, community services director for the city.

The proposed parks master plan calls for the city to develop 75 acres of new parks. The proposed master plan also calls for one of the two proposed large community parks to include a lighted sports field and a dog park.

Calallen, Mathis ISDs win $500K grant for online courses

Two South Texas school districts, Calallen Independent School District and Mathis Independent School District, recently won a $500,000 grant from the Texas Education Agency to improve online education opportunities. The Vision 20/20 grant will allow high school students in both districts to access more than 15 online classes through the Texas Virtual School and Texas Tech University.

The grant allows students from Mathis to be bused to Calallen to take the online courses, said Calallen Superintendent Arturo Almendarez (pictured). The grant also pays for training teachers in both districts to incorporate technology into the classroom and show them how to set up pod casts and videoconferences to better engage students, Almendarez said.

The online courses in the program include accounting, advanced placement statistics, business and consumer law, business computer information systems, business education, business image management and multimedia, communication applications, environmental systems, advanced Spanish and Web mastering. This year, 34 students are enrolled in the program and district officials expect 58 next year.

Boerne ready to take out loan for library construction

Officials in Boerne are looking at borrowing up to $2 million to help fund a new library. Construction bids for the library are due at the end of this month and officials expect the costs to be approximately $6 million. The additional funding needed for the project is expected to be between $2.1 million and $2.5 million.

Construction bids across the state generally have been coming in lower than expected as construction firms face more competition because of the declining economy, thus pushing prices down. Additional add-ons being considered for the project are an amphitheater with restrooms and a pedestrian bridge near the library - with costs of more than $325,000 for both. Cost estimates for the library project increased when officials upped the size of the facility. Part of the shortfall is the result of donations not meeting expectations.

Another source of funding being studied is the sale of the historic Dienger building, which is the home of the current library. But that proposal is being met with some opposition from the community.

Contracting opportunities abundant for small,
minority firms in Texas!

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

According to the Small Business Administration, small firms employ half of the United States workforce, produce 52 percent of private sector output and provide considerable ownership opportunities for women, minorities and immigrants. Thousands of those small businesses derive large portions of their revenues from contracting with public entities. Government officials in all jurisdictions work hard to ensure that small and minority firms get a fair portion of the procurement dollars that are spent each year.

Elected officials throughout the country have repeatedly upheld guidelines that provide preferences for small and minority-owned firms. Many cities and counties also give additional preferences to local companies. Large prime contractors, at least the successful ones, are careful to include small and local firms as subcontractor partners on large opportunities.

At the state level in Texas, small and minority firms are usually designated as Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs). To receive this designation (which comes with perks), a firm must be at least 51 percent owned by an Asian Pacific-American, African-American, Hispanic-American, Native American and/or American woman residing in Texas. And, the minority owner must participate in the operations and management of the business.

Superintendent Villegas to retire from Southwest ISD

Southwest ISD Superintendent Velma Villegas (pictured) has announced she will retire, effective June 30. Villegas made her announcement this week at a board meeting and said she plans to spend more time with her family, do consulting work and help Texas A&M University-San Antonio as it develops its teacher preparation program.

Villegas has been at the helm of the San Antonio district since 2005 and is also a former assistant superintendent with the Spring Branch ISD. She has been a member of the education community for more than 40 years. She was an administrator in the Harlandale ISD and was associate superintendent in the Sacramento City Unified School District in California.

Jail construction savings could retire note early

Looking for a way to give back to taxpayers $3.5 million in savings from a $22 million bond issue to expand the county's detention center, Midland County commissioners are looking at using the leftover funds to retire the 20-year note early. The final tab for the jail and other affiliated projects will be approximately $18.5 million.

The bond was to increase the number of beds in the jail to 500 and add separation and medical cells. The expansion is expected to be completed in mid-2011. Officials also are hoping the sheriff's supervision plan will mean fewer staff are needed and will also reduce the costs of maintenance, cleaning and utilities in the minimum security 72-bed tent area and three 72-inmate pods in a metal building. Officials will decide once the project is completed what to do with the surplus funds.

Lindale ISD purchases
land for new junior high

A 53-acre tract of land sold at below market value is expected to become the site of the Lindale ISD's new junior high school. Design and construction bids for the new facility are expected to be about $26 million. The building will be paid for by part of a $42 million bond issue approved in November of last year.

The new building will have at least 28 classrooms, four science labs and a computer lab. Art, theater, journalism and band will have specialized areas and there will be practice athletic fields, tennis courts, a gym and cafetorium. Construction is likely to begin by May, with a completion date prior to the opening of the 2011-2012 school year.

Amarillo schools to expand available online offerings

A $500,000 grant to the Amarillo ISD will allow the district to significantly expand its online course offerings. The Vision 2020 grant awarded by the Texas Education Agency will allow AISD staff to develop nine courses for the Texas Virtual School Network and will also provide money for training and equipment.

The online courses allow students to obtain credit for required courses while allowing them time for elective courses. The courses cost $100. Officials say with the increased requirements for math and science courses starting with next year's graduating class, interest in online classes is growing.

Texas Task Force 1 not going to Haiti after all

Members of Texas Task Force 1 have been on standby in Houston, and other state search-and-rescue teams have been told they are not needed to help with Haiti earthquake victims. The United Nations mission has declared the teams already in place will sufficiently provide for disaster victims.

The Texas unit - comprised of 80 members, including doctors and engineers and four search dogs - has been on standby at Houston's Ellington Field.

El Paso Community College considers Ft. Bliss campus

El Paso Community College plans to create a new, 150-acre campus at Fort Bliss to serve military families and a growing east-side population. Ernst E. Roberts, executive assistant to EPCC's president, said the college "needs to be in a position to offer classes to those soldiers and their dependents, and to do so in a convenient way."

Fort Bliss residents account for a majority of EPCC's dramatic 14 percent enrollment increase, which stood at a record 27,230 students last fall.

Where are they now?

Where do folks go when they leave state government? Some go to work in the private sector or for nonprofits. Some transition to executive-level positions in higher education while others may seek elected local government positions. And some just retire and spend a lot of time with their grandkids at the fishin' hole. This column focuses on where former state government officials and employees are now.

Robert Earley is a former legislative assistant to a member of the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C. He was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1983 and served five terms, from 1984 to 1995. From 1995 to 1997 he was Director of Special Programs and a member of the Adjunct Faculty at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine. He was named senior vice president of an insurance-related company in 1997 and held that position until 2003. He opened his own communications consulting firm in 2003 and in 2005 was named senior vice president, public affairs and advocacy for the JPS Health Network in Fort Worth. He was named president and CEO in 2008, a position he still holds.

Henry Cuellar opened his own law firm in 1981 and became a licensed customs broker in 1983 before being elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1986. He served as a member of the House from 1987 until his appointment in 2001 as Texas Secretary of State. He ran an unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002, but ran successfully in 2005. Today he continues to serve the 28th District of Texas in Congress.

Belton ISD approves design plan for new middle school

Trustees for the Belton Independent School District recently approved the design plan for a new, two-story, 145,000-square-foot middle school. Voters last November approved a $29 million bond issue to pay for the new energy-efficient school, which district officials hope to complete in time for the 2011-2012 school year.

District officials plan to ask for construction bids for the new middle school in February and expect to establish a guaranteed maximum price by March 22.

Little Elm City Council discusses $11M bond

The Little Elm City Council negotiated an $11 million general obligation bond for town improvements at a recent meeting, where residential and commercial refuse rates were also discussed. Town Planning Director John Taylor presented on the city's property maintenance code and single-family rental inspection program.

The $11 million bond and the location for a new animal shelter will be discussed this week during a regularly scheduled city council meeting.

Gregg County wins $1M grant for new generators

Gregg County commissioners recently accepted a $1,001,500 Texas Community Development Block Grant to pay for five new diesel-powered generators.

The emergency generators will supply backup electric power to the two water facilities, the exhibit building at the fairground, the terminal building and the fire department at the East Texas Regional Airport, said County Judge Bill Stoudt (pictured).

Lufkin ISD studying new track for high school

The Finance Committee of the Lufkin Independent School District recently discussed installing a new track at Lufkin High School. Board members are expected to vote soon on the project.

The current track, which was redesigned in 1996, has cracks in the asphalt that can cause injuries to athletes, said John Outlaw, athletic director for the district. The situation is bad enough that the district is using the middle school track for track meets although students are still practicing on the old high school track, Outlaw said. Construction on the project should begin in late May or June, he added.

Nueces agrees to seek $500,000 grant for parks

Nueces County commissioners recently authorized staff to apply for a $500,000 grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to help pay for a nature preserve at Packery Channel Park. Plans for the nature preserve include butterfly gardens, birding stations, hiking trails, restroom facilities, removal of invasive and non-native plant species and re-establishing oak trees, said County Judge Loyd Neal (pictured). The grant will require the county to match 50 percent of the funding.

The grant, if approved, will fund the first of two phases of the nature preserve project. The Texas General Land Office recently pledged $525,000 from a 2008 coastal impact assistance program to help pay for the project. The second phase of the project includes a marine wildlife rescue center and a visitor center.

Kerrville wins $243,936 in law enforcement grants

The Kerrville Police Department recently won two grants totaling $243,936 that will be used to buy new vehicles, a portable decontamination shower, portable defibrillators and large lights for the Hill Country Combined Special Operations Unit.

The $237,763 federal grant will be used to buy four new patrol cars and for a sports utility vehicle for the community service officer. A second $6,200 federal grant awarded by the Criminal Justice Division of the governor's office will be used to pay for the decontamination shower and portable spotlights, police officials said. Of the 18 mission incidents performed by the special operations unit, 15 of those missions occurred at night and often involved methamphetamine labs which require officers to decontaminate their clothing and themselves from dangerous chemicals.

Weatherford to merge parks and street departments

In an effort to reduce costs because of falling sales tax revenues to the city, Weatherford city officials recently announced plans to merge the parks department and street department into a new public works department. City officials also delayed two street projects totaling $300,000, indefinitely postponed a $307 million in improvements to Marshall Park and canceled a city mowing contract.

Council members also approved $1.74 million in budget cuts because of the anticipated reduction in sales tax revenue from $9 million to $6.7 million for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30. Merging the street and parks department will reduce waste and inefficiency, said Assistant City Manager Robert Hanna (pictured).

Gun Barrel City wins $40,303 grant for project

Gun Barrel City recently received a $40,303 Energy Efficiency and Construction Block Grant to pay for new solar panels on the roof of the city hall.

The grant also will help pay for a consultant to perform an energy audit to help locate other areas to improve energy efficiency, said City Manager Gerry Boren.

Irving selects Jennings
as new city secretary

Irving City Council members recently selected Shanae Jennings as city secretary. Currently a city secretary in Bedford, Jennings will replace Irving City Secretary Janice Carroll, who is retiring.

Lake Dallas explores $1 million library expansion

With a goal of retaining other cities as members of the Lake Cities Library, Lake Dallas city officials recently began exploring the possibility of a $1 million expansion of the current Lake Cities Library. Hickory Creek discussed building its own library and Corinth has explored the option of contracting with Denton for library services because of size limitations.

The library project includes expanding the current city-owned building it leases to the library, improving the parking lot and upgrading the exterior and landscaping, said City Manager Earl Berner. If Hickory Creek and Corinth do leave the library for other options, the city can scale back the expansion plans, he said. Several council members also urged the city to include space for a new community center when planning on the library expansion.

University Health System could retain old moniker

The University Health System is set to start a $121 million restoration of its historic downtown campus - UHS Downtown - which houses outpatient and specialty clinics. In doing so, the System might also restore its historic name: the Robert B. Green Memorial Hospital, or "The Green," San Antonio's first public hospital built around 1917. University System President George B. Hernandez, Jr. (pictured) said despite 20 years with the UHS Downtown name, "It hasn't stuck."

Plans call for a new five- or six-story clinical building, demolition of an older addition and restoration of the original hospital, which may include some version of its original name. The expansion would permit up to a 365 percent increase in patient volumes. Construction is set to begin later this year and be finished in 2014.

Calhoun County to seek $1.5M improvements grant

Calhoun County commissioners recently agreed to apply for a $1.5 million state grant from the Texas Department of Rural Affairs to provide a new source of water for Port O'Connor.

The grant funds, if approved, will be used to pay for building a $1.3 million plant to remove salt from brackish ground water, install wind turbines to power the plant and for a new well on property owned by the Port O-Connor Municipal District. The county will pass the grant funding to the Port O'Connor MUD, which will contribute $225,000 to the project and operate and maintain the water treatment system. The grant application calls for the MUD to work with experts from Texas Tech University on research for the project.

Gainesville approves $95,000 to renovate theater

Gainesville City Council members recently approved $95,000 to pay for renovating the historic Butterfield Stage theater building. The city will use money collected from hotel/motel taxes to pay for the project, said City Manager Barry Sullivan. The renovations are necessary for public health and safety reasons, Sullivan said.

Recent Reports

• A Report on the Audit of the Employees Retirement System's Fiscal Year 2009 Financial Statements

Texas Government Insider Archives

Volume 1 - 7 Archives · 11/7/03 - 1/15/10

Northside ISD considers $535 million bond vote

Northside Independent School District, San Antonio's largest, is considering a $535 million bond referendum for May. The proposal includes money for two new middle schools and four new elementary schools as well as classroom add-ons and additional upgrades and improvements. Roughly half the money is slated for new schools and the rest for upgrades to existing facilities, including 11 schools built from a 2004 bond issue. Some 12 new schools are being built with 2007 bond revenue.

Superintendent John Folks (pictured) said the district is still growing, "but those new schools have helped so that we're not far behind." The district has grown by approximately 26,000 students in the last seven years.

Boykin to serve as interim city manager in Jasper

Jasper City Council members recently selected Tommy Boykin as interim city manager to replace former City Manager Alan Grindstaff, who resigned on Jan. 11. Boykin formerly served as city secretary for Jasper.

New Boston selects Lightfoot as city secretary

New Boston city council members recently selected Karen Lightfoot, who had served as deputy city secretary, as the new city secretary.

Lightfoot, who has worked for the city for 16 years, will replace former City Secretary Carol Ensey, who retired in January. Council members also appointed Darla Faulkner as the deputy city secretary.

Nueces County moving on expanding Bob Hall Pier

Nueces County commissioners recently authorized an engineering firm to prepare designs for a proposed 50-by-50-foot covered viewing deck expansion at Bob Hall Pier and for repairs to the parking lot and access roads.

Plans call for construction on the pier project to begin as early as fall of this year and to be completed as early as Spring 2011, county officials said. The county has set aside $900,000 for the expansion, but does not yet have a final cost estimate for the project.

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Hidalgo district eyeing
plan to sell storm water

With many cities in the Rio Grande Valley facing severe water shortages by 2050, Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1 officials recently began developing plans for a water treatment plant to treat and sell storm water it now sends through drainage canals to the Laguna Madre. Estimated cost of the plant is between $20 million and $50 million, depending on how much water is treated, said Deren Li, an engineer developing the plan.

Currently the canal that collects floodwaters from the rest of the county is a man-made river that is untapped even though it captures enough water to meet the daily demands of some cities, Li said. Because the district already owns rights to the unallocated storm runoff water, the district will not be required to pay for water rights so the cost will be only for treating and delivering the water to customers. Revenue from selling the water can be used to improve the district's flood control systems.

Midland ISD approves $22,000 for search firm

Trustees for the Midland Independent School District recently authorized a contract for $22,000 plus expenses with a Dallas-based search firm to help in the search for a new superintendent. The new superintendent will replace Dr. Sylvester Perez, who will retire in June. No internal candidates have applied for the superintendent's job, a spokesman said.

Gonzalez resigns at
Tuloso-Midway ISD

After being selected as superintendent for the Mission Independent School District, Cornelio Gonzalez (pictured) recently resigned as superintendent of the Tuloso-Midway ISD. Gonzalez is scheduled to begin his new job in Mission on Feb. 15.

Trustees for the Tuloso-Midway district also selected Sue Nelson to serve as the district's interim superintendent to replace Gonzalez. Nelson, who is retired, previously served as a superintendent and as an interim superintendent for the district.

Kerrville ISD selects Mock for administrative post

Trustees for the Kerrville Independent School District recently selected Sharon Mock for a new administrative position, director of Student and Family Services. Mock previously served as middle school principal for the district.

The new position, which was requested by many campus administrators, will head all counseling programs at the district, said Superintendent Dan Troxell. Mock will assume her position this summer, he said.

Williams resigns as business manager for Llano ISD

Jo Ann Williams recently resigned as business manager for the Llano Independent School District. Trustees plan to create a committee comprised of community members, faculty and district officials to help search for a new business manager, said Superintendent Dennis Hill.

El Paso to buy $900,000 mobile command center

El Paso City Council members recently approved using $900,000 in federal grant funds to buy a new mobile command center for the fire department. The 35-foot vehicle should improve communication among different fire and law enforcement agencies and will be used to respond to large-scale emergencies and disasters, said Assistant Fire Chief Mike Calderazzo. The mobile command center will be made available for all emergency crews in El Paso County, he said.

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Denton declines to renew contract with city auditor

Denton City Council members recently declined to renew the employment contract of City Auditor Steve Shepherd when it expires on March 1. Shepherd's contract would have automatically renewed if council members had not acted, city officials said.

Shepherd, who previously served as city auditor in Garland, was Denton's first internal auditor following a city charter change that placed the responsibility on council to hire and fire the city auditor rather than leaving that responsibility with the city manager.

The Texas Government Insider is a free weekly e-newsletter detailing important happenings throughout the state and summarizing current political issues relevant to individuals interested in government.

Publisher: Mary Scott Nabers

The Insider is published by Strategic Partnerships, Inc. (SPI), a research and consulting firm. Founded in Texas in 1994 by former government executives and public sector experts, SPI has developed a national reputation as the premier marketing partner dedicated to helping companies secure contracts in the $1.5 trillion state and local government marketplace.

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Region 4 ESC plans Leadership Fusion Summit 2010

The Region 4 Education Service Center will present its Leadership Fusion Summit 2010 on Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 17 and 18. Leadership Fusion brings together recognized experts from business and education areas with educational leaders to explore the universal principles of leadership to accelerate learning and success in 21st-century schools. This innovative program has six national speakers: Dr. Todd Whitaker, Dr. Shannon Flumerfelt, Jim Winter and WAVELENGTH, Pegine Echevarria, Garrison Wynn, and Ako Kambon. The times for the two-day workshop (Session #365881) are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day. Cost is $400 and includes lunch both days. Participants should visit the e-catalog here to register or FAX a registration form found on the Web site to Registration Services at 713-744-2723.

TxPPA planning annual spring workshop for February

The Texas Public Purchasing Association Spring Workshop 2010 is slated for Wednesday through Friday, Feb. 24-26, at the Crowne Plaza in Austin. The three-day event features concurrent sessions on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Basic and Intermediate Contract Management, Wisdom from the Attorney General's Office, AP and Purchasing P-Card Partnership and Public and Private Partnerships. There will also be a legislative roundtable and a discussion of the state economy. For more information, click here. To register online, click here.

Statewide 2010 Conference on Aging set in March

The statewide 2010 Conference on Aging will be held Sunday through Wednesday, March 21-24, at the Inn of the Hills in Kerrville. The conference, whose 2010 theme is "Deep in the Heart of Aging," is designed for professionals who deal with aging with both administrative and direct service responsibilities and who work in a broad range of community-based settings. The conference features technical assistance, best practices and management tools sharing to help promote service delivery excellence. The conference is hosted by the Texas Association of Area Agencies on Aging, the Texas Association of Aging Programs and the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, click here. To register online, click here.

TxDOT targets small, minority, women-owned firms

A new series of webinars targeting small, minority and women-owned businesses in construction and professional services in Texas will begin Feb. 3, 2010, through the Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) Business Outreach and Program (BOP) Services branch. These webinars are an extension of the external online 2009 TxDOT seminars that cover topics ranging from how to become a pre-qualified bidder on TxDOT contracts to online access of bid lettings and contract plans and more. Each session provides information to contractors, suppliers and small businesses relating to how TxDOT operates with external parties, how to better understand these processes and procedures and how to improve opportunities and obtain contracts at TxDOT. The webinars are open to potential contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, DBEs and other small businesses. Each webinar is limited and registration slots are on a first-come, first-served basis. More information will be available after Jan. 15, 2010, at www.txdot.gov. Questions may be forwarded to TxDOT-BOP-Webinars@dot.state.tx.us or by calling 1-866-480-2518, Option 2. Applying for the webinars does not guarantee a spot to participate.

Last two BOP sessions with TxDOT are announced

The last two sessions of the Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) Business Outreach and Program (BOP) Services Small Business Briefing conferences have been announced for April 1, 2010, in Dallas and June 15, 2010, in Texarkana. The conference goal is to provide small and minority-owned business communities an opportunity to learn more about contracting opportunities with TxDOT. Information will be available to help them do business with the agency and the State of Texas. The sessions not only allow small businesses to be introduced to TxDOT and other state agencies, but also allows them to learn more about the economic development opportunities in their regions. It also allows the agencies to show the myriad of opportunities available for small and minority businesses in the state. For more information, click HERE or call 1.866.480.2518, Option 2.