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Study recommends 'fundamental makeover' of DPS

'Significant problems' lead to suggested restructure of department

A "fundamental makeover of the department" was the recommendation of Deloitte Consulting following the firm's management and organizational structure study of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), released today by DPS officials.

In the report, the consulting firm noted the study revealed "a number of significant problems in the organization, business processes, and information systems" at DPS and recommended restructuring much of the organization, increasing focus on intelligence and counter-terrorism efforts, creating a new human resources strategy, revamping the financial management process, creating a Chief Information Office function and establishing a customer-friendly approach for the Driver License and other regulatory functions. Deloitte also recommended reorganizing the law enforcement functions of DPS to report to a single Deputy Director and supports a regional command system.

"These are broad and sweeping recommendations which will serve DPS well over the coming years," said Allan Polunsky (pictured), chair of the Public Safety Commission which has oversight of DPS. "This study provides a strong blueprint that will secure the Department's status as one of the elite law enforcement agencies in the country."

Community colleges: 'Still best bargain in education'

But increase of students, inadequate state funding threaten mission

Community colleges in Texas - they're "still the best bargain in education," says Dr. Rey Garcia, president and CEO of the Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC). And with today's economy and increasing tuitions and fees at four-year institutions of higher education, a growing number of students and their families are looking for a bargain in educational costs.

The result is, according to Garcia, increasing community college student populations. In fact, the student population of the state's community college surpassed that of four-year institutions more than a dozen years ago. Those trend lines are again spiking, said the TACC official, because of the national economic downturn.

There are three segments of students who are causing the spike in enrollment, according to Garcia. First, there are displaced workers who are "looking to retool their skill set." Some enter certification programs in such areas as welding or construction trades programs, while others enter more advanced programs such as information or engineering technology. Under-employed workers are part of this group as well - those who realize the need to go back to college if they want to compete for better-paying jobs.

Officials studying 'company town' state complex

Multi-agency development would meet growing space needs

Picture a state agency complex - a multi-agency development in Austin away from downtown traffic - with ample parking, childcare facilities, commercial services, parks and trails.

That's what some state agency officials are hoping for in the not-too-distant future. Texas has outgrown its available office space and has an over-reliance on leased space in Travis County, according to Edward Johnson, executive director of the Texas Facilities Commission, who this week discussed the state's options in developing a master-planned campus to serve the needs of state government.

In testimony this week before the Senate Committee on Government Organization, Johnson said the state is "out of space" for executive branch state agencies. "Not only are we out of office space, we have been out of office space for probably at least 15 years." Johnson said it has been almost 20 years since the state built a new office building in Austin to satisfy the needs of the executive branch of state government, adding that it has been 17 years since the state acquired any new buildings for that purpose.

Cigarroa to resign as UTHSC-San Antonio president

Dr. Francisco Cigarroa (pictured) today, Friday, announced he will step down as president of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in September of next year, after his successor is named. Cigarroa has served the center for the last eight years after being appointed by the UT System Board of Regents.

Cigarroa said he feels he can better serve the needs of the community through his practice of pediatric and transplant surgery. He will rejoin the faculty of the Health Science Center. He also has committed to work with the legislature in the upcoming session on behalf of the Health Science Center.

The Board of Regents will begin a national search for Dr. Cigarroa's successor.

$1.8 billion in TxDOT projects approved

New construction projects in Texas through 2011 totaling $1.8 billion were approved Thursday by the Texas Transportation Commission. The funding will be made available from 2003 voter-approved bonds. The sale of the bonds came after the state's leadership encouraged the commission in August to issue the bonds. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has already issued $3.1 billion in those Proposition 14 bonds. This bond program authorizes TxDOT to borrow money short-term to improve cash flow and cash management and to issue general obligation bonds secured by the State Highway Fund to fund transportation projects. The bonds are then repaid from State Highway Fund receipts, including motor fuels taxes and vehicle registration fees.

"TxDOT can now get needed transportation projects back on track," said Transportation Commission Chair Deirdre Delisi.

TDHCA manufactured housing board member named

Donnie Wisenbaker (pictured) has been appointed to the Governing Board of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs' (TDHCA) Manufactured Housing Division. Wisenbaker replaces Carlos Amaral, whose term has expired. His appointment is subject to the Texas Senate's confirmation.

The TDHCA division sets policy and addresses issues related to the state's manufactured housing industry in addition to licensing those who build, sell and install the homes throughout the state.

Wisenbaker said he hopes his experience as an insurance adjuster will bring "a useful perspective" to serving the consumer and manufactured housing industry. He currently presides over Wisenbaker Inc., a claims adjuster network servicing northeastern Texas and southeastern Oklahoma.

More than $14.2M in federal funds headed to Texas

More than $14.2 million in federal funds is headed to Texas programs that combat crimes against women, to residential substance abuse treatment programs and to local law enforcement agencies, and are being distributed by the Governor's Criminal Justice Division.

More than $6.5 million of that amount will be in the form of grants to 90 programs throughout the state that not only combat violent crimes against women, but also offer services to victims of these crimes. The grants support education and assistance programs and programs that develop and strengthen effective law enforcement, prosecution, victim assistance and strategies to combat violent crimes against women.

Another $860,000 in grants has been earmarked for three programs that provide substance abuse treatment to adult offenders in correctional facilities. These federal funds come from the Residential Substance Abuses Treatment Program. The programs develop the cognitive, behavioral, social and vocational skills among offenders to promote stability in their lives and to reduce relapses.

Law enforcement agencies in Texas will benefit from more than $6 million in grants from the federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program. The funds are used by local law enforcement agencies to prevent violent crime, for drug enforcement activities and to provide equipment to law enforcement agencies. Another $880,000 in federal grants from the Paul Coverdell Forensic Sciences Grant Improvement Program went to eight forensic crime labs throughout the state. The Coverdell program provides funds to crime laboratories for technology upgrades and overtime for criminalists to reduce the backlog of non-DNA evidence.

CTRMA contest to award $100 in free TxTag tolls

Central Texas motorists will have the opportunity to win up to $100 in prepaid TxTag tolls as part of the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority's (CTRMA) upcoming scratch and win promotion. Beginning in November, scratch and win tickets will be given to all drivers who use cash lanes at the 183A Park Street Main Toll Plaza. The promotion is aimed at making drivers aware of the transition to all-electronic toll collection on 183A, which begins Dec. 1.

The contest begins Nov. 1 and ends Dec. 1 or when all tickets have been distributed. Tickets will also be available without purchase at the TxTag Customer Service Center and by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to CTRMA, located at 301 Congress Avenue, Suite 650, Austin, TX 78701.

When the cash booths on the 183A toll way close Dec. 1, motorists will have to either pay tolls electronically by using a pre-paid TxTag or they will become part of the Pay-by-Mail program and will be billed through the mail for their use of the toll road. "Eighty-five percent of our customers are paying with TxTag," said Mike Heiligenstein, executive director of CTRMA. "With such widespread adoption of electronic tolling, it no longer made sense to keep the cash booths open. By going cashless, we can improve mobility and safety while eliminating needless idling that wastes fuel and increases vehicle emissions." Approximately $1 million in operating costs is expected to be saved through the transition to cashless tolling.

Roberts leaves governor's office for UTHSC-Houston

Wayne R. Roberts, senior advisor for higher education to Gov. Rick Perry, will leave that position on Nov. 3 to become Associate Vice President for Public Policy at The University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. He will be involved in liaison activities with business and economic development groups in Houston and throughout the state, working closely with the offices of governmental relations, strategic planning and academic affairs on education, health care and economic development issues.

Prior to his higher education advisory role with the governor's office, Roberts served as senior fiscal advisor to the governor, state budget director and assistant director of budget and planning. He also served then-Gov. George W. Bush as deputy and acting state budget director and was Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock's special assistant for budget and human services. Roberts also served 18 years with the Legislative Budget Board, primarily as senior budget examiner for higher education.

While serving in Perry's office, Roberts led implementation of the governor's higher education incentive and accountability initiatives and authored the white paper and draft legislation creating the Texas Emerging Technology Fund.

Early voting ends today; record broken

Today, Friday, is the final day for Texans to vote early, and officials are gearing up for an unprecedented turnout. A record 13.5 million voters are registered this year with election officials predicting an 80 percent turnout in some states. That could mean long lines at precincts this last day of early voting.

The secretary of state's office has reported that more voters in the state's 15 largest counties have cast ballots than in 2004. In those counties, some 2.7 million voters cast ballots by mid-week, surpassing the statewide total of 2.4 million who voted early in the 2004 presidential election. Each day turnout numbers have topped those set in that General Election.

In Tarrant County alone, 52 percent more voters have turned out than four years ago. More than 198,000 votes had been tallied there by early this week, up from 130,131 at this time in 2004, Election Administrator Steve Raborn said.

TWDB awards $261 million for loans, grants

More than $261.8 million in financial assistance was awarded this week by the Texas Water Development Board. The loans and grants were awarded to the following entities:

• City of Houston - $58,245,000 loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program to finance wastewater system improvements;
• San Antonio Water System on behalf of the City of San Antonio (Bexar County) - $72,395,000 loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to finance wastewater system improvements;
• Trinity River Authority - Denton Creek Regional Wastewater System - $27,225,000 loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to finance wastewater system improvements;
• Trinity River Authority - Mountain Creek Regional Wastewater System - $4,845,000 loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to finance wastewater system improvements;
• City of Jarrell (Williamson County) - $1,520,000 loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Disadvantaged Communities Program to finance wastewater system improvements;
• City of Bedias (Grimes County) - $845,000 grant from the Economically Distressed Areas Program for planning, acquisition and design to provide first time wastewater service;
• City of La Grulla (Starr County) - $1,842,300 grant from the Economically Distressed Areas Program for acquisition and design for first time wastewater service;
• Kerr County - $178,500 grant from the Economically Distressed Areas Program Research and Planning Fund for the preparation of a facility plan to provide first time wastewater service;
• Upper Guadalupe River Authority (Kerr County) - $51,750 grant from the Economically Distressed Areas Program Research and Planning Fund for the preparation of a facility plan for water system improvements; and
• City of Dallas - $94,723,000 loan from the Water Infrastructure Fund to finance construction of a water supply project.

TWC approves $1M in funds to train veterans

The Texas Workforce Commission has approved a $1 million fund to train veterans exiting the military with skills demanded by today's employers. The Texas Veterans Leadership Program (TVLP) will provide veterans with skill upgrades and allow employers to partner with established training providers, such as community colleges, apprenticeship training programs and community-based training programs around the state.

The TVLP is modeled on the successful Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program, established during the 1980s, which was geared to assist returning Vietnam vets' transition to the civilian workforce. TWC Chairman Tom Pauken, himself a Vietnam veteran, said the funds will particularly help those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan receive "important skills training to meet the demands of Texas employers."

For more information about the TVLP, click here.

Governor's Commission for Women touts job-placement

The Texas Governor's Commission for Women has paired with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) to spearhead WorkSearch, an electronic interactive tool designed to match candidates with job leads most suited to their interests and capabilities. The program is geared to reach out to African-American, Latin-American and Native-American women ages 50 and over.

Women can also earn job skills certificates through the program, equipping them to find job openings based on their skills, personal characteristics and experience. Based near McAllen, the project headed by Cristela Rodriguez is being funded through a grant from the AARP Foundation.

The AARP Foundation is committed to providing security, protection and empowerment for older persons in need of job training or placement. For more information, click here.

AG's Child Support Division sets record for collections

The Child Support Division of the Texas Attorney General's Office recently set a record by collecting more than $2.6 billion in child support for the fiscal year that ended on Aug. 31.

The $2.6 billion in child support collections surpassed the previous year's record by $300 million, Attorney General Greg Abbott (pictured) recently announced. This is the sixth year in a row that child support collections have beaten previous records under Abbott's administration. The Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division ranks first in the nation in the amount of child support collected.

Abbott praised employees of the Child Support Division for their dedication and hard work as children and parents all over the state benefit from the child support payments that children need to remain healthy and strong. The $2.6 billion collected last year assisted more than 274,000 parents who had received Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to become self-sufficient without public assistance, Abbott said.

TEA to host dropout-prevention summit in Austin

The Texas Education Agency is set to host the Statewide Dropout Prevention Summit at the Austin Hyatt at Town Lake from noon until 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 10. The research-based summit - part of the Texas High School Project's 4th annual Education Conference - will aim to reduce the nation's increasing high school dropout rate and prepare youths for college and the workforce.

The program is scheduled to include presentations from national experts on dropout prevention and highlight Texas schools that employ evidence-based research strategies for curbing dropout rates. Some of the education leaders slated to present include: Dr. Mark Dynarski and Dr. Roberto Agodini of the Institute for Education Services; Mell Riddle with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, who will be presenting on his experience heading the once low-performing J.E.B. Stuart High School, now a marker of academic success; and Dr. Sharon Vaughn, director of the Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk at The University of Texas at Austin, who will discuss academic strategies for students with underdeveloped reading skills.

The event is sponsored by a $25,000 grant from American's Promise Alliance and State Farm Insurance.

UH College of Architecture dean stepping down

Joseph L. Mashburn (pictured), dean of the University of Houston Gerald D. Hones College of Architecture, is set to step down in September after an 11-year tenure. A search committee will be formed to find a replacement for the architect once described as a "poet with drawn line and composition" by a search committee member interviewing candidates for the position in 1998.

Mashburn, an alumnus of the UH College of Architecture, also attended Texas A&M University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Australia.

During Mashburn's tenure, the college's enrollment numbers doubled those of the university, and the school made headway in its efforts to diversify the student body. In 2007, the Hispanic Outlook on Higher Education ranked the college number one among the nation's architecture programs in granting degrees to Hispanic students. Mashburn also spearheaded the college's Industrial Design program, which utilizes cutting-edge, 3-D modeling technology and is the only program of its kind in a four-state region.

UTMB-Galveston employees get reassurance

University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston employees got some reassurance from state officials this week that layoffs at the state medical school are not imminent. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, Senate Finance Chair Steve Ogden and House Appropriations Chair Warren Chisum toured the facility and are discussing with medical branch administrators whether to move some of the facility's services to other areas or to restore the medical branch to pre-Hurricane Ike capacity.

UTMB employees, whether working at the facility or not since the hurricane, were told they will be paid until Nov. 14, but administrators say that deadline could be moved back, depending on what kind of plan the state's legislative leadership fashions.

SAWS board to name president/CEO after interviews

San Antonio Water System (SAWS) interim President and CEO Robert Puente (pictured) is one of five candidates remaining in consideration for the position's permanent post. The other remaining contenders for the position, whittled from 19 applicants, include: Rick Galceran, Dallas Public Works and Transportation director; George Kolb, former Wichita, Kan., city manager; Perwez Moheet, deputy director of Austin Water Utility; and Gregorio Ramon, assistant director of Phoenix Water Services Department.

Puente resigned from the Texas State Legislature in February after 17 years and was hired as interim president and CEO in May, replacing David Chardavoyne.

A 12-member panel of leaders representing a cross-section of interests, including the environmental, manufacturing and engineering sectors, assisted in selecting the finalists. After the citizens' panel makes its final recommendation, the SAWS board will determine the occupancy's permanent fill.

UTEP awarded $1 million for TxDOT initiatives

The Center for Transportation Infrastructure Systems (CTIS), part of the College of Engineering at The University of Texas at El Paso, has been awarded more than $1 million for four Texas Department of Transportation initiatives. Among other ventures, CTIS has been asked to develop an economical method to prevent pavement damage at bus stops and intersections where trucks and buses frequently make stops. Civil engineering professor and CTIS Director Dr. Soheil Nazarian called these deeply rutted sections of pavement a safety hazard and said the department is "looking at how to rebuild these intersections differently than the rest of the pavement so that they last a long time."

Other items on CTIS' agenda for TxDOT include identifying ways to improve predicting corrosion inside metallic wall reinforcements along highways and two projects designed to promote the use of marginal and recycled materials in road construction.

CTIS coordinates research related to the state's transportation infrastructure. The center employs more than 50 of UTEP's engineering students.

Internal Medicine chair cited at Houston UT med school

Dr. David McPherson (pictured) has been appointed chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

McPherson - a leading researcher in cardiology specializing in molecular imaging and drug and gene delivery - has targeted four areas he would like to see expand in the department: oncology, pulmonary critical care, translational research and education programs. His aim is to rank as a top-tier department by the Association of American Medical Colleges, but more immediate objectives include expanding the school's clinical practices, obtaining further funding from the National Institutes of Health and strengthening partnerships with the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System and Harris County Hospital.

McPherson holds a medical degree from the University of Alberta and completed his internship, residency and fellowship at Dalhousie University in Canada. He served as director of cardiology at Northwestern University for almost 20 years before joining the UT Medical School at Houston.

UTSA estate gift to fund music programs for children

To establish the Charlotte Louise Dashiell and Lota M. Spell Fund, The University of Texas at San Antonio has been awarded a $1.2 million estate gift to create music education programs for children ages three to 12. Houston resident Lota Rae Wilkinson donated the estate funds in memory of her great aunt, Charlotte Louise Dashiell, and mother, Lota Mae Spell, who taught piano in Austria and Germany.

Daniel Gelo, dean of the UTSA College of Liberal and Fine Arts, said Wilkinson understood the school's "critical position in South Texas with respect to the advancement of the arts." He said her gift will allow several current programs to continue serving young music students as well as prepare teachers and fund innovative programs.

The UTSA Department of Music serves more than 300 undergraduate and graduate-level music majors and has established a leading reputation among Texas universities. The department offers nearly 200 recitals, concerts, master classes and workshops every year.

Rice University, Baylor College of Medicine talk merger

Rice University, the state's top private university, is in talks to merge with Baylor College of Medicine. The move would boost Rice's stature as basic science funding shifts from physics to biology and secure Baylor with a university affiliation, often required to keep medical schools afloat financially. The schools announced preliminary talks are under way but offered no further details.

Whereas Rice has backed down from merger talks with Baylor before, Rice President David Leebron (pictured) is reportedly receptive to the idea, according to professors there. Leebron has begun meeting with and will make presentations to key faculty members to gauge their interest.

As of June 30, Rice's endowment stood at $4.6 billion and Baylor's at $954 million. One Rice professor said the key issue will be keeping a firewall between the two endowments if the merger occurs.

San Antonio Fleet Department earns national honor

San Antonio's Fleet Department was named one of the top 10 operations of its kind in the nation for its working environment and productivity. Government Fleet Magazine named the department the seventh most efficient fleet in the country at the CCG/FASTER annual National Conference in Norfolk, Va.

San Antonio's Director of Fleet Services Florencio Pena said the award recognizes "all of the great work our department has done this year," which includes implementing paperless work order entries, developing strategic planning and establishing a second shift. "I'm very proud of what we have accomplished," he said.

More than 750 fleets were considered for the honors. This year marks the fleet's second time in five years it has ranked among the magazines's top 100 operations.

Boerne trustees approve $20K for financial assessment

Boerne Independent School District trustees have voted to pay nearly $20,000 to the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) for an assessment of employee functions and its future hiring practices as Boerne High School reopens next fall after major renovations. TASB will compare the district's staff classifications and personnel levels and compare them to Texas Education Association benchmarks and other industry standards. Board President Susan Hulett (pictured) said the study will hopefully show "where we need to move teachers and staff around" next fall.

Facing a $1 million shortfall in cost overruns - which include renovations to the high school, higher utility rates and the purchase of 10 new school buses - the district may face cost-cutting measures, such as increasing the student-teacher ratio. Additionally, the district saw its mandated "Robin Hood" payment to the state escalate to $8.3 million this year, up $3 million from last year.

Superintendent John Kelly said he doubts the district is overstaffed, however, adding, "This is a problem statewide."

Dallas ISD to rehire 57 teachers after mass layoff

Dallas Independent School District will rehire 57 of its educators laid off two weeks ago when hundreds of teachers were let go. District officials did not anticipate the slate of retirees and volunteers who opted to take severance pay and resigned following the move.

The teachers will not be rehired for their previous posts, district spokesman Jon Dahlander said. The positions are reserved "for where we are understaffed," he said, adding the district is trying its best to notify the teachers who were laid off.

To reduce a budget deficit expected to soar to $84 million this fiscal year, DISD has laid off about 415 teachers and principals since September in addition to 215 staff employees.

Houston could delay $100 million in capital projects

The Houston City Council is looking at a new infrastructure plan that would delay $100 million in spending for capital improvements ranging from replacing corroded water and sewer lines to a new prisoner processing center.

City staff drew up the plans at the request of the mayor, who said while the Houston economy is still stable, city officials may consider postponing several projects for six months to a year to avoid borrowing at high interest rates that have occurred in recent weeks. Michael Marcotte (pictured), director of the Department of Public Works and Engineering, said the plan contained no easy deferrals as all projects on the list are well documented as needed.

Among the projects under consideration for delay are $42 million in water main repairs, $31 million in wastewater and sewage facility improvements, $11 million for a prisoner processing center, $91.9 million for a safe sidewalk program, $3.9 million for four libraries and $2.5 million for nearly a dozen city parks.

Marshall to release bids for new fire, police stations

Marshall City Manager Frank Johnson told city council members that bids on construction of a new fire station and police complex are set to be issued by mid-December. Bids for a Parks and Recreation Department project, which will include concession stand and restroom construction, will also go out at the same time. Johnson said he hoped to get the bids out before Christmas.

The projects are funded by a tax proposition passed in November 2006 with $3.5 million allotted for the new police station and $2 million for the fire station. The remainder of the funds - $730,000 - will be dedicated to the parks project.

The new fire station will be housed on more than 3.5 acres of city-owned property on South Grove Street, and the police complex will be situated on 7.34 acres of donated property at U.S. 59 and Jefferson Street.

Texas 149 infrastructure funds to be reallocated

Money originally designated for infrastructure projects related to the widening of Texas 149 through Longview will be redistributed for other projects, according to Director of Public Works Keith Bonds. The city had allocated $2.6 million for relocating water lines during the highway's expansion to seven lanes, but a start date has not been set. Bonds said that since a start date is unknown, the city will divert funds to other water projects.

County Judge Bill Stoudt (left) said Gregg County has designated about $2 million for the project, a joint venture between the county and the Texas Department of Transportation. The county's money will remain in that fund and not be redistributed. About $1.75 million will otherwise be used to implement a water line extension along Loop 281 between Alpine Road and Marshall Avenue.

The city remains committed to relocating the water and sewer lines when the Texas 149 project begins - in 2011 at the earliest - which may call for more bond issuances. Mayor Jay Dean (right) said the city remains supportive of the venture and will do whatever it can to see it completed.

A&M School of Rural Public Health to partner on center

Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health officials have signed an affiliation agreement with the Institute for Public Health and Water Research (IPRW) to relocate the institute to College Station as part of an ongoing effort to improve drinking water quality. The IPWR is currently housed at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health. The school also announced the creation of the Center for Excellence in Public Health and Water Research (CPRW), which will expand the school's water research programs.

Dr. Nancy Dickey, president of TAMHSC and Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs for the Texas A&M University System, said the purpose of the collaboration is the "unique opportunity to build on the activities that IPWR already has helped energize." The joint venture will also expand on the strong base of "research, community outreach and teaching" IPWR has established, Dickey said.

Incorporated in 2005 as a nonprofit independent science and education organization, the IRPW's mission is to improve public health through the consumption of quality drinking water. The organization distributes information and arranges discussions with public education and outreach groups to identify and promote its research goals.

Corpus Christi selects two finalists for city manager

The Corpus Christi City Council recently announced two finalists in its search to replace former City Manager Skip Noe, who resigned earlier this year.

The finalists are Angel Escobar (left), who is currently the interim city manager in Corpus Christi, and Scott Moore (right), who now serves as interim city manager in Wichita, Kansas.

The announcement of the two finalists followed interviews by council members with six finalists. Escobar, a city engineer in Corpus Christi before accepting the position of interim city manager, requested that he be considered for the position after the search firm announced five finalists from a nationwide search. Moore previously was employed as a city administrator in Ellsworth, Kansas, before becoming an assistant city manager for operations in Wichita in 2005, where he served until recently being named interim city manager. The mayor said he expects the council to make a decision on who will be the new city manager within two weeks.

Texas State System researchers testing wastewater

Researchers from Sul Ross University, Sam Houston State University and Lamar University are gearing up to conduct on-site testing on a portable wastewater treatment system as part of a Texas State University System (TSUS) project. The treatment system, known as the Deployable Aerobic Aqueous Bioreactor, has both military and commercial applications and is capable of producing upwards of 7,000 gallons of greywater (non-drinking water) per day.

A DAAB system is set to be delivered to SRU by the end of the month and installed in the City of Alpine wastewater treatment plant for testing purposes. Dr. Keith Sterns, professor of biology at SRU, and biology laboratory manager Karen Little will supervise the project. Alpine's arid, dry climate makes it a suitable terrain for testing the technology, which will eventually be deployed to the United States military in Iraq.

Researchers from the TSUS are completing the project's first phase with a second phase set to begin in February 2009. Goals for the second phase include improving the sterilization system to eliminate all chemical processes and conducting a feasibility study to develop plans for an additional module capable of producing potable (drinkable) water, among others. Little said she is excited about the venture and looks forward to achieving "some far-reaching commercial goals" with it.

Harrison County studying possible jail options

Harrison County commissioners are weighing their options on the need to expand the county jail. No matter whether the commissioners choose to renovate the old facility or build a new jail, the $6.2 million in bonds already sold for the project will not cover its cost, said Richard Anderson (pictured), county judge.

While the county has problems with overcrowding at the jail, county officials agreed to put jail construction on hold when construction bids came in at $350 per square foot rather than the $200 to $210 per square foot cost recommended by the Jail Standards Commission. Another reason for the delay is that the plan only provided for construction of 96 additional beds, which would have been filled before the project was finished. County officials are currently studying adopting a building on Alamo Boulevard for the jail facility.

UTPA wins emergency-preparedness grant

The University of Texas-Pan American has won a $50,000 scholarship for its emergency-related programs from The University of Texas System. The school was one of four UT System institutions awarded from a pool of $250,000 as part of the system's 2009 Risk Management Resource Allocation Program.

Dr. Richard Costello, UTPA director of Environmental Health and Safety, helped pen the winning grant proposal submission, which focused on the development, implementation and/or enhancement of an all-hazards emergency plan.

The funds will be used to bolster UTPA's current emergency response system with the purchase of a portable backup 70-kilowatt emergency generator, several portable HVAC coolers, a weather station and a camera that snakes through storm drains to determine flood-causing obstructions.

Fort Bend ISD pays $1.59M for land for new school

Trustees for the Fort Bend Independent School District recently authorized the purchase of nearly 40 acres of land for $1.59 million from the Texas General Land Office.

The land, located near Pecan Grove, will be used as a site for a new middle school expected to be completed by 2010 or 2011, said Sonal Bhuchar (pictured), president of the board.

The 40-acre tract will need infrastructure improvements such as utility lines to the nearest water and sewer system and an on-site storm water detention area, Bhuchar said. Because of the economic downturn, district officials are reconsidering their plan to open the new middle school in fall 2010.

Copperas Cove proposes police, recreational facilities

Two Copperas Cove city officials recently updated the city council on a new police facility and a multi-purpose recreation center.

Police Chief Tim Molnes said the new two-level, 33,000-square-foot police facility is planned to accommodate a full-size jail, an emergency operations center, a dispatch center and room for future growth. While the projected estimate for the project was $8.97 million, the cost has been updated to $9.98 million, including furniture, Molnes said. The facility is scheduled for completion by the end of 2009. The city already has secured $6.3 million and approval of Proposition 1 will make up the additional $3.7 million.

The proposed $9.99 million multi-purpose recreation center is planned for Ogletree Gap Park and will have a natatorium, a leisure pool, a weight and fitness room, a gymnasium, a game room, an arts and crafts center and a kid's activity center, said Ken Wilson, the director of community service. Texas Parks and Wildlife awarded a $400,000 grant toward the center with the stipulation that it have a natatorium, Wilson said. The city has secured $1.34 million for the facility and voter approval of Proposition 2 on the city's bond proposal will fund the remaining costs. The funding request will be $2 million in 2009, $4 million in 2010 and $2.65 million in 2011.

Lockhart approves $60,000 to build skate park

Lockhart city officials recently voted to re-budget $60,000 toward the construction of a skate park that has been on hold for more than a year. The council last month voted to de-obligate funding for the proposed 15,000-square-foot, $400,000 skate park after the Lower Colorado River Authority rescinded a $25,000 grant because of lack of significant progress on the project.

A citizens group supporting the skate park asked the city to renew the funding. Karron DeGraffenreid, president of On-A-Roll, said the group has raised more than $13,000 toward the project and is awaiting IRS approval of its application for non-profit status that will permit members to approach larger organizations for contributions. She noted that skaters have no legal areas within Lockhart city limits to skateboard and display their athleticism and skill.

Mayor Jimmy Bertram (pictured), who has supported the skate park in the past, asked skaters to show their support for a new park by showing respect for private and public property and to stop using public space for their activities. The council required that On-A-Roll show significant progress toward completion of plans and construction of the park within a year and 10 weeks or risk having funding for the skate park again being de-obligated.

Hallsville ISD eyes $28M construction cost hike

Greg Wright, superintendent at Hallsville Independent School District, recently announced that the preliminary cost for renovating two elementary schools and building a new elementary and high school is now $124 million, nearly $28 million more than the $96 million bond proposal approved in 2007.

The cost of construction rose 18 percent from the time the original estimates were made, Wright said. Current estimates for the projects are $18.6 million for additions to Central Elementary School, $6 million for additions to East Elementary School, $19.7 million for a new elementary campus and $80 million for the new high school that will have a new fine arts center, auditorium, coliseum and career and technology facility.

The school board will meet with members of the facilities task force to consider options for the district to proceed with the four projects, Wright said.

Deer Park approves study for baseball complex

The Deer Park City Council recently approved an agreement with the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region to conduct a feasibility study to develop a baseball complex on 35 acres of city property.

The study will cost $25,000 and be completed in about eight weeks, said Gary Jackson (pictured), an assistant city manager. Possible designs for the sports complex could range from a community park to a tournament complex, Jackson said, depending on whether the community would be willing to spend more on the amenities a tournament-level complex would require.

A complex with more amenities could attract visitors from outside Deer Park who will spend money on hotels, restaurants, supplies and gas. The study should include some market analysis and an economic feasibility study for the number of fields and an estimate for demand for a new complex, Jackson said. The study will be furnished to the design firm to provide better information on the needs the baseball complex must fulfill.

Uvalde health care agency receives $1M grant

A Uvalde-based health care agency, Community Health Development Inc., recently received a $1 million grant from the Kresge Foundation of Troy, Michigan. The grant will be used to support the agency's $5.4 million Capital Improvement Project 2, phases 2 and 3, said Randy Scheide, the CHDI board chairman.

The award is divided into a $300,000 Growth Capital Grant and a $700,000 Facilities Capital Grant, which requires CHDI to secure the balance of the costs from private sources by October 2009. The project includes creation of a Wellness Center to expand access to the agency's dental program, establishing a mental health department, expanding the agency's comprehensive health education program to include a teaching kitchen and an exercise and fitness area, and building a new administration office building to support expansion of information technology infrastructure. The federally qualified health center offers primary health care services to residents of Uvalde, Real, Edwards and Zavala counties.

Baytown City Council backs energy-saving efforts

Baytown City Council members have given City Manager Garry Brumback the green light to finish negotiating an agreement with a global multi-industrial leader to improve traffic signal systems and upgrade city infrastructure. The move will guarantee energy and operational cost savings totaling more than $389,000 per year for the city. The effort will also improve traffic safety.

Mayor Stephen DonCarlos (pictured) said the effort "will result in cost and energy savings for the city, something that is becoming increasingly important to all of Baytown." While Texas Senate Bill 12 does not mandate local governments make these energy- and cost-efficient upgrades, DonCarlos said the move will allow Baytown to serve as a responsible role model.

According to DonCarlos, the initiative will curb annual pollution rates equivalent to planting 1,052 acres of trees and removing 152 cars from the city's streets, saving 107,279 gallons of gasoline.

Walker Co. Hospital District discusses geriatric center

The board of managers for the Walker County Hospital District recently discussed a preliminary plan to build a new facility for the Ella Smither Geriatric Center. The action came after approving a 2009 lease agreement for Towncreek, a retirement facility owned by the hospital district and operated by Methodist Retirement Communities Affiliated Organization, a non-profit organization.

The Ella Smither Center, located since 1984 in a former hospital built in 1948 and owned by the hospital district, has numerous safety code concerns noted by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services. Ron Janette, chief operating officer of Methodist Retirement Communities, thus proposed that the hospital district and non-profit split the cost of a new $7.5 million facility to be located on four acres near Veterans Memorial Parkway. The new facility would have 120-125 beds compared to the 114 beds currently in the old facility, Janette said.

The non-profit already has $4 million available for construction, said Janette, who suggested the county ask voters to approve a bond proposal to pay the county's share of the facility. Robert Hardy, chairman of the board of managers, said the proposal is preliminary and that more study must be done before making a decision on a new facility.

Underwood to head division at West Texas A&M

Ann Underwood (pictured) has been named director of the Office of Communication and Marketing Services at West Texas A&M University, replacing Dana Olmstead, who retired in June.

Underwood has been a member of the communication and marketing staff since 2005, employed as Web coordinator/graphic design specialist, and served as the office's interim Web communication manager from April through July, 2008.

Underwood has an extensive background in graphic design and experience in marketing, advertising, publications, public relations, branding and brand management as well as Web development and management. She earned her bachelor's degree cum laude from WTAMU in 1999 and is currently working on her master's degree.

Face-to-face meetings
now going high-tech

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

Government is continually seeking ways to minimize costs and maximize time and resources. One highly successful way that governmental entities are doing this is through video conferencing. Face-to-face meetings that once required people from different areas to travel to a central location for a meeting are now handled through video linkups.

Video conferencing has become increasingly popular in the area of education - both in K-12 and at institutions of higher education. And in many cases, video conferencing allows for collaboration between the two.

Texas A&M University in Kingsville uses video conferencing to connect its campus to individuals who are unable to attend college credit classes on campus and to businesses that have employees needing non-credit or enrichment courses.

The University of Texas School of Law has the capability to provide video conference interviews. UT Law students can interview with law firms, legal nonprofits or judges who are part of a nationwide membership network.

UTEP's Pierce wins
Best of Texas award

Kenneth Pierce (pictured), chief information officer for The University of Texas at El Paso, was recently named winner of the 2008 Best of Texas Leadership in Management of Technology award from the Center for Digital Government.

The award goes to chief information officers who have significantly assisted their organizations in meeting specific goals. Pierce's creation of the UTEP Project Management Office and his collaboration with other University of Texas institutions led to his receiving the award.

Lockhart approves $2.5 million for water projects

The Lockhart City Council recently authorized the issuance of $2.5 million in certificates of obligation to fund a water and wastewater project to provide services to properties expected to be on the route of SH130.

Galveston to open new airport shelter for residents

Galveston City Manager Steve LeBlanc (pictured) recently announced that state officials will open a new shelter on the island in time for residents staying at the Red Cross Shelter to have a place to live. The Red Cross is closing its shelter at Alamo Elementary that currently houses about 350 people because the Federal Emergency Management Agency will no longer pay for the shelter, he said.

The new shelter will be set up at Scholes International Airport, where large tents were set up by the state to house emergency workers. Those state workers will move out to make room for displaced residents of the city and of Galveston County, LeBlanc said. About 18 of those at the shelter have been found to not be eligible and will not be allowed to move to the new shelter, he said. The city is allowing about 150 more residents from shelters and hotels in Central Texas to reside in the new shelter.

Each resident will be assigned a case manager to help the victims of Hurricane Ike find what assistance is available to them. City, state and federal officials also are working to finalize a site for mobile home communities. Property owners who qualify for a mobile home and have sufficient room on their lot also can have a mobile home or trailer placed next to their houses while repairs are being made, city officials said. The trailers must be removed by April 2010 and FEMA is responsible for ensuring that the trailers are removed by that deadline, the city attorney said.

Shepherd ISD authorizes
$6.9 million bond sale

Trustees for the Shepherd Independent School District recently approved an order to release $6.9 million in bonds to finance construction throughout the district. Projects include repairs to the high school gym and construction at Shepherd Middle School, including a new gym floor.

Navasota approves funds
for airport expansion

The Navasota City Council recently authorized $100,000 toward expansion of the municipal airport runway. The project is expected to cost between $7 million and $8 million, said Joe King Fultz, chairman of the Airport Advisory Committee. The group hopes that a grant from the Texas Department of Transportation will fund 90 percent of the cost, with the city contributing 10 percent of the funding.

Work toward the airport improvements is progressing well, said Fultz, as the committee has secured donations of land, topsoil and easements for expanding the runways. Current plans are for the runway to be extended from 4,000 feet to 5,000 feet and to resurface the entire runway to withstand the weight of larger aircraft with heavier fuel loads. Plans also call for a terminal structure and a taxiway paralleling the runway to be built.

SPI announces job opportunities
for K-12, healthcare, local government consultants

SPI is adding more individuals with well-established credentials who are interested in assisting its consulting teams throughout Texas. SPI has immediate openings for part-time consultants with expertise and strong connections and relationships in the K-12 education arena, in the healthcare arena and in local government in Texas, particularly the San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and Rio Grande Valley areas.

To apply for these part-time consulting positions at SPI, please send a brief cover letter and a copy of your resume to J. Lyn Carl at jcarl@spartnerships.com and put "Application for (either) K-12 Consultant, Healthcare Consultant or Local Government Consultant" in the subject line, or for more information, send an e-mail to the same address.

Coldspring wins two
tourism grants from TDA

The Texas Department of Agriculture recently awarded two grants to promote tourism in Coldspring and San Jacinto County. The Coldspring Merchants Association was selected for a $2,500 Bootstrap Bucks program grant and the Coldspring Chamber of Commerce could receive a maximum of $20,000 under the Hometown STARS grant project, said Betty Russo of the Conservation Fund.

The grants are from TDA's GO TEXAN Rural Community Program, which was created to educate the public about attractions in rural Texas communities. Funding from the grants will be used to promote upcoming holiday events in Coldspring, Russo said.

Null takes over as Oak
Point's new city manager

Tamara Null (pictured), who has served as acting city manager for the city of Oak Point since September, has been named to the city manager post full-time. She succeeds former City Manager Richard Martin, who resigned in April. Null previously served the city as city secretary before being named acting city manager.

City Council members also named Terry Shepard, finance officer, to the dual rule of finance officer and city secretary.

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.

Max Sherman was elected to the Texas Senate in 1970 and served until 1977. He left the Senate to become president of West Texas State University. In 1982, he ran an unsuccessful campaign for Texas Attorney General and after the campaign accepted a position as special counsel with then-Gov. Mark White. In 1983, he became dean of The University of Texas at Austin's Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. He retired from that position in 1997. He currently holds the Max Sherman Chair Emeritus in State and Local Government at the LBJ School.

Carl Parker was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1962, and served until he was elected to the Texas Senate in 1977. He served in the Senate until 1995. Today, Parker is owner and senior partner in the Parker Law Firm, with offices in Port Arthur and Austin.

DuPree named interim Whitehouse superintendent

Trustees for Whitehouse Independent School District recently selected Assistant Superintendent Daniel DuPree to serve as interim superintendent beginning January 1. DuPree, a 13-year employee at Whitehouse ISD, will replace Superintendent Dennis Miller, who is retiring on Dec. 31.

Board members also heard presentations from several consulting firms seeking to be hired to lead the district's search for a new superintendent. While trustees made no decision on whether to hire a search firm, Vince Primo, the board president, said he expected the district to hire a new superintendent by February 2009.

Gladewater ISD selects Richardson superintendent

Trustees for the Gladewater Independent School District recently selected J. P. Richardson (pictured) as the district's new superintendent. Richardson, who is currently human resources director for Tatum ISD, will replace current Superintendent Mike Morrison, who has announced his retirement.

Richardson has been a professional educator for 13 years, including three years as a principal in Tatum. He will assume his duties as superintendent at Gladewater ISD on Dec. 1.

Taylor County to buy video cameras for patrol cars

Taylor County commissioners recently approved the purchase of 21 video cameras for use in patrol cars.

The cameras are needed for patrol and investigative activities, said Major Earl Donnell of the Taylor County Sheriff's Office. The units will have a global positioning system to allow tracking of the locations of patrol cars, a shoulder-mounted microphone system that will voice-activate the cameras and the ability to swivel to allow recording of activities in the rear seat of the patrol car, Donnell said. The cameras should be installed by the end of this year.

Lubbock moves forward on visitor center, overpass

The Lubbock City Council recently approved a resolution to allow the city to move ahead with two projects, a $4.6 million visitor center and a $12.5 million overpass on North Loop 289. The city has not yet approved or sold bonds for the two projects.

Marble Falls looking at land swap for police station

A Marble Falls businessman recently proposed that the city consider swapping its current police facility and parking lot for a building he owns on Broadway Street, a proposal which could provide the city with an alternative for a proposed $11 million police headquarters.

City staff in Marble Falls have just recently begun selecting an architect to design the proposed 38,000-square-foot building to house the police department, court facilities, communications equipment and an emergency operations center, said Mayor Raymond Whitman (pictured). The mayor said he spoke to the city manager about alternate proposals for a three- to five-year interim solution for the police station. City council members made no decision on the proposal for the property swap.

College Station approves $10M for land for center

College Station city officials recently approved the $10 million purchase of land for a new hotel and convention center. The cost of the seven-acre Chimney Hill Shopping Center on University Drive will be paid for with $7 million in funds from the hotel-motel tax and by issuing debt to be repaid from existing lease revenues. A venue tax also will likely be created to help finance construction and development of the hotel and convention center, city officials said.

New doctoral program approved at UTSA

An interdisciplinary learning and teaching doctoral program has received approval at The University of Texas at San Antonio. The program marks the university's 21st doctoral degree plan.

Beginning next fall, the program aimed at K-12 teachers and community college instructors will prepare students to evaluate different criteria and perspectives of learning and teaching that includes developing curriculum for diverse populations. Admission to the program will be limited and competitive.

Kerrville hires search firm
to find new city manager

The Kerrville City Council has hired a firm specializing in executive searches to assist in its search for a new city manager. The city will pay up to $25,000 for the search, which could take from 90 to 120 days to complete.

The city has supplied the firm with its top 10 attributes candidates must possess, including working knowledge of municipal finance and budget preparation and strong communication and relationship-building skills. The new city manager will replace Paul Hofmann, who stepped down in September. Retired city manager Don Davis will serve in Hofmann's stead until then.

Conroe to help fund local shuttle service to Huntsville

The Conroe City Council recently agreed to help fund a new shuttle service between The Woodlands and Sam Houston State University in Huntsville. The Woodlands Township, Shenandoah, Lone Star College and Sam Houston State University each committed up to $33,000 to operate the shuttle service for a year.

The district, formerly known as Brazos Transit District, began operating the shuttle on Aug. 18, but suspended operation for a few weeks due to Hurricane Ike. The shuttle operates between 6:30 a.m. and 10:15 p.m. and carries passengers to college or work at a cost of $4 for a one-way trip, with stops at all participating entities, said Conroe Mayor Webb Melder. The service now averages about 112 passengers a day, but expects that number to grow to almost 200 daily passengers, said a representative for the transit district.

Paris Fire Department proposes closing station

The Paris Fire Department proposes to close down a fire station in the eastern area of the city to allow the city to place four firefighters on an engine rather than two. Assistant Fire Chief Vance Woodard said safety concerns prompted the move to place four firefighters on a fire truck and that the decision was an internal department decision - not one forced on the department by City Manager Kevin Carruth (pictured).

The city cut nine positions from the fire department in 2004 and the department was forced to cut the number of firefighters per truck from four to two. The proposal is a temporary fix, said Fire Chief Ronnie Grooms. The city currently operates four fire stations, he said. The city has had a difficult time retaining firefighters once they are trained, as larger cities offer them more pay, he said.

Want to join our Special Services Division?

SPI is seeking additional skilled and experienced keynote speakers, mediators, executive coaches, meeting facilitators, proposal writers, etc. to become part of the Special Services Division. This new division includes some of the country's premier and most experienced providers of specialized services. SPI, working in conjunction with specialists throughout the United States, offers a myriad of special services to government agencies, nonprofits, school districts, chambers of commerce and more - and the division is expanding. If you would like to be considered as a member of SPI's Special Services Division, please send your resume and credentials to Cory von Leonrod at SPI at cleonrod@spartnerships.com. Read more about this division and our specialists on our Web site.

Midland Memorial Hospital studies new patient tower

Officials of Midland Memorial Hospital recently announced plans to seek funding for a new $140 million patient tower to help the hospital meet state standards.

Russell Meyers, president and CEO of the hospital, said the hospital, originally built in 1950, no longer meets state fire code and licensing standards. The plumbing is inadequate and the rooms are too small to maintain hygiene, he added.

Meyers also recommended that the hospital's board call a bond election for May 2009 to supplement private fundraising. While one individual donor has contributed $25 million, hospital employees have raised $300,000 of their $1 million goal and physicians have raised $450,000 of their $3 million goal, the hospital will need more funding that can be raised privately. Hospital officials hope to break ground on the new tower in the summer of 2009. No estimates are available yet on the cost of the new tower, as architects are currently working on that estimate.

Balido to lead FEMA's
private sector office

Nelson H. Balido (pictured) of San Antonio has been named to lead the Private Sector Office for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA's Private Sector Office is an integrated component of FEMA External Affairs and supports the agency's mission to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards through its role of communicating with private and nonprofit organizations and partnerships with key private sector stakeholders.

Balido served on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Homeland Security Advisory Council and was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry as a commissioner of the Texas Commission on the Arts in 2003. He attended The Citadel and then transferred to Texas Tech University, where he earned two bachelor's degrees. He is also a graduate of the certificate program in Advanced International Affairs at the Bush School of Government at Texas A&M University.

Recent Reports

• A Follow-up Audit Report on Flight Services Provided by the Department of Transportation's Aviation Division Flight Services Section
• SPI's May 2008 Municipal Bond Elections Report
• SPI's November 2007 Bond Election Results Report

Event Links

• Center for Politics and Governance's forum
• Executive Women in Texas Government 22nd Annual Professional Development Conference
• Texs Public Purchasing Association Fall Workshop
• Texas Lyceum 23rd Public Conference
• TxDOT Texas Small Business Briefings
• Texas State University Small Business Development Center training schedule
• TWC Texas Business Conferences
• LBJ School Professional Development Calendar
• Upcoming Executive Women in Texas Government events

Texas Government Insider Archives

Volume 1 - 6 Archives · 11/7/03 - 10/24/08

Mansfield ISD may delay new high school until 2012

Citing slow enrollment growth, Superintendent Vernon Newsom of the Mansfield Independent School District said trustees should consider delaying the opening of a fifth high school from 2011 to 2012. He also said district officials may consider delaying an elementary school planned to open in 2010.

Enrollment at Mansfield ISD, which is just over 30,000 students, is expected to grow by 4 percent this year, down from the double-digit growth predicted a few years ago and below the 6 percent growth the district experienced last year, said Pat Guseman, who presented a demographic report to the district. The slowdown may be traced to the slowing economy, which has hurt home sales and prompted the conversion of some land intended for housing to exploration of natural gas.

The district already plans to complete a new elementary, a middle and an intermediate school by next fall, Newsom said. While the board made no decision on the recommendation, Board President Gale Moericke said the district had been under such pressure to handle growth during the past few years, that it is "kind of nice to have a breather."

Army studies moving Sergeants Major Academy

The Army is studying the possibility of moving the Sergeants Major Academy at Fort Bliss to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. A study, to be completed in February, will gauge if a move will improve the training without prohibitive costs. The academy has a staff of nearly 300, both military and civilian.

Pampa Commission approves $10M in funding

The Pampa City Commission has voted to pass a resolution for up to $10 million in infrastructure projects, including landfill expansion and new water wells, among others. City Manager Trevlyn Pitner (pictured) estimated the projects could be completed for less than $7 million, but said the board set the resolution for the maximum amount the city is willing to raise through debt, an amount that can be reduced but not exceeded.

The landfill will be the city's greatest expense, according to Pitner. The city originally budgeted about $1.4 million for the landfill's expansion, but costs have since skyrocketed to somewhere near $3.4 million. Other projects to be covered by bonds include water wells for the city and prison, and possibly money for expanding the new junior high school when it is built.

Governor's appointments

Gov. Rick Perry has made the following appointments:

• Rolando B. Pablos of San Antonio, presiding officer, Texas Racing Commission
• George Willeford III of Austin, Texas Medical Board
• Tammy Camp of Lubbock, State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
• Kimberly Carlisle of Plano, State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
• Leila Salmons of Houston, State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
• Phillip Lee Wilson of Dallas, State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

Fredericksburg officials put brakes on rapid-bus plan

City of Fredericksburg board members have voted to halt a $100 million rapid-transit bus system project that was set to roll through town. A task force is reweighing the decision in light of a venture that would transform an old freight line east of the city into a passenger train. Some board members fear the rapid-bus plan, promised to voters in a 2004 sales-tax election, could possibly be shelved and its funds geared toward the rail initiative, but board member James Lifshutz said the issue is not a matter of one agenda versus another. "It's a matter of...figuring out what maximizes value," he said.

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff proposed the passenger rail plan last month. The project would utilize an 18-mile track of railroad to be vacated in a few years. Wolff believes shuttle buses or track extensions could viably link to centers in Fredericksburg, a few miles away from the rail.

Kyle may postpone some spending on hiring, projects

Kyle city officials recently advised council members that the city should consider a delay in spending on some capital projects and personnel costs in response to the recent economic downturn.

City Manager Tom Mattis (pictured) told council members that the city's finance director recommends that the city delay about $700,000 in expenditures until January 2009. The city's sale tax rebate from the state in October was down about 14 percent, or about $25,000 less than what was budgeted for the month, he said. As the city's commercial sector continues to expand, Mattis said citizens soon will begin to reap the benefits of the investments made in infrastructure to support the area's rapid growth.

TSLAC Reading Club art
on display through Sunday

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) will continue the display of its "Reading Club Poster Art Retrospective" at The Texas Capitol - Ground Floor Rotunda, through Sunday, Nov. 2, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The display is being held in conjunction with the Texas Book Festival - to be held this weekend on the Capitol Grounds - and features the popular and vividly colored posters from the Texas Reading Club series.

The Texas Reading Club, a TSLAC sponsored program, is designed to encourage youth to read for pleasure and to promote library usage. A statewide theme is selected each year that emphasizes how reading expands young minds and encourages children to use their imaginations. The 2008 theme is "Texas Reading Club Jubilee: 1958-2008!" by artist and children's book illustrator Janet Stevens, a native of Dallas. The poster celebrates 50 years of the Texas Reading Club.

Federal funds to help agencies fight gang activity

Some $4 million in federal funds will be shared by law enforcement agencies in Texas to help target transnational gang activity. The funds are grants from the federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program and are distributed by the Governor's Criminal Justice Division.

This week, the Dallas Police Department was allocated $500,000 from the funds and the San Antonio Police Department was awarded $557,000. Police departments in Arlington, Fort Worth, Garland and Irving were each granted $25,000.

Transnational gangs such as the Mexican Mafia, Texas Syndicate, Barrio Azteca and MS-13 operate in every region of the state and are involved in extortion, retail drug distribution, vehicle theft, child prostitution, money laundering and drive-by shootings.

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LBJ's Center for Politics, Governance planning forum

U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Houston Mayor Bill White will be keynote speakers for the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs' Center for Politics and Governance's Who's Right? Who's Left? Texas Politics and Policy Beyond 2008 forum on Nov. 6 at the AT&T Conference and Executive Education Center Ballroom in Austin. The forum, which runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., will address the future of Texas politics and government after the 2008 elections. In addition to the keynote speakers, panel discussions including legislators, representatives of the media and others will address "The '08 Consequences for the '09 Session," and "Forecast for the 2010 Elections." Lunch will be provided and seating is limited. For more information and to RSVP, click here.

TxDOT hosting small, minority business briefing in Austin

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will host a series of briefings throughout Texas to provide small and minority-owned businesses with information on how to do business with TxDOT. The briefings will offer information regarding how TxDOT procures services and purchases products. General Industry Sessions will include an overview of TxDOT toll projects and contracting opportunities on toll way projects, professional services consulting contracts and state contracting for information technology products and services. Several breakout sessions will be conducted on Small and Minority Business Certifications, Resources for Small Business Development and Marketing Your Business to the State. Each briefing will conclude with an industry networking session and reception. The first briefing will be held in Austin on Nov. 18 and 19 at the Omni Southpark Hotel. For more information, click here or call the Business Opportunities Programs Office toll free at 1-866-480-2518, option #2.

TxPPA plans Odessa fall workshop Nov. 5-7

The Texas Public Purchasing Association (TxPPA) will host its fall workshop Wednesday through Friday, Nov. 5-7, at the MCM Elegante Hotel in Odessa. Among the features of the workshop are roundtable discussions on excellence in public purchasing, innovation, best practices and leadership. There will also be sessions on the federal surplus program and escalation clauses. Basic purchasing track sessions will include basic terms and conditions, RFP negotiations, contract administration and more. The advanced purchasing track will feature sessions on real performance measures, leadership versus management, paperless purchasing, social responsibility and more. For more information, click here.

Texas Lyceum hosts annual public conference

The Texas Lyceum will host its 23rd Public Conference, "Transportation Infrastructure: Establishing Public Policy Priorities" from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at the Reliant Center in Houston. Elected officials, transportation policy experts and stakeholders from throughout the state will attend to discuss and prioritize transportation policy issues prior to the 81st Legislature convening in January 2009. Those attending will hear from four panels and participate in interactive sessions after each panel. The event provides an opportunity for the Lyceum Directors, its alumni and the public to interact with policy makers, policy advocates and each other and actively engage in the discussion. For more information and to register, click here.

Executive Women in Texas Government set conference

The Executive Women in Texas Government 22nd annual Professional Development Conference will be Monday, Nov. 24, at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort in Lost Pines, Texas. Hailed as a meeting of "ideas, solutions and connections," this year's event will feature keynote speakers Dr. Tina Dupree (AKA as the Chicken Lady) and Major General K.C. McClain, Commander Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, and workshops relating to development of executive level management skills, expanding leadership capabilities and networking and mentoring. The event will begin with a 7 a.m. registration. The first keynote speaker will be heard during the opening general session at 8:30 a.m. followed by two morning workshops and breaks for exhibits and networking. The EWTG Woman of the Year presentation will be made during lunch, with another afternoon workshop on tap and the closing general session and second keynote speech at 3:15 p.m. Sponsorships are available and exhibitors are also being accepted. For more information on the conference and registration, click here.