Voters pass more than $1.9 billion in bond referendums in Texas

Construction, renovations, security, HVAC, technology projects to start soon

More than $1.96 billion in local government bond issues in public school districts, cities, counties and special districts were approved by Texas voters earlier this week. The successful bond issues ranged from a $90 million proposal for transportation-related projects in a large city in Central Texas to million of dollars worth of school projects in both large and small school districts throughout the state.

Strategic Partnerships, Inc., publisher of the Texas Government Insider, has compiled a comprehensive document that includes a statewide listing of Texas bond elections that passed. The research document lists all upcoming projects that will be announced in the near future. Purchasers of that document will also receive an outline of bond packages under discussion in Texas for May 2011 and beyond. For more information, contact Reagan Weil at (512) 531-3917 or rweil@spartnerships.com.

In a city in the Dallas area, three of six individual bond propositions were passed. Among those approved were $12.2 million for street maintenance, $3.655 million for a new fire station and $5.4 million for renovating, remodeling and acquiring city park facilities.

In a small county east of San Angelo, voters gave their approval of a $1 million bond proposal, with the proceeds of the bond sale to go toward street repairs.

A school district in the Houston area will benefit from passage of a $459.8 million bond referendum that includes up to a dozen new schools and upgrades to facilities and equipment.

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TCEQ offering $9 million to retrofit school buses to reduce pollution
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) recently began accepting applications for $9 million in grants to help pay for retrofitting diesel-powered school buses to reduce pollution.

 
All public and charter schools in Texas are eligible for the grant funds, said a spokesperson for the Clean School Bus program.

Austin approves $90 million transportation bond proposal
Austin voters recently approved a $90 million bond package to pay for 40 projects to improve transportation and reduce traffic congestion.

The projects in the bond issue include a $17.4 million expansion of the Boardwalk Trail at Lady Bird Lake, $8 million to reconstruct Third Street and extend the Lance Armstrong Bikeway through downtown, a $3 million Great Roads and Rapid Bus project for the downtown area and $750,000 to build a bike lane.

The $90 million bond proposal is just the first step in easing traffic congestion and city officials already are working on a bond proposal for November 2012, the mayor said. 

Hays and Elgin school districts agree to join ACC district
Voters in the Hays Consolidated Independent School District and Elgin ISD recently agreed to join the Austin Community College District. Voters in San Marcos, Bastrop and McDade, however, voted against annexation by the ACC district.

Residents of Elgin ISD and Hays CISD are immediately eligible for in-district tuition, said Dr. Barbara Mink (pictured), who chairs the ACC board of trustees. ACC officials have contracts for 98 acres of land in Elgin and 96 acres in Kyle for campuses. Construction on the new facilities in Elgin and Kyle should begin early next year and be completed in the fall of 2013.

UT, collaborators to open commercial laboratory facility
The University of Texas at Austin will work with the city of Austin and the Austin Technology Incubator (ATI) to open a campus laboratory where entrepreneurs not affiliated with the university can "rent" space for bioscience testing and product development.

The College of Pharmacy lab, dubbed the UTech Dorm Room, will give start-up companies a place to develop products and, if successful, will create jobs and wealth in Central Texas.

"People all over the city have ideas for novel products," said Janet Walkow (pictured), director of the UT research center that will oversee the lab. "Many of these great ideas are never fully developed due to a lack of lab space facilities, where new ideas can be tested."

Midwestern State radiology program draws accolades
Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls recently earned acclaim for its innovative radiology program, which was named one of the 25 most important events in radiology this year.

Bennett leaving as a dean at A&M College of Engineering
G. Kemble Bennett (pictured), dean of the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University, recently announced he is stepping down from the post he has held since 2002. 

 
Bennett also is leaving his posts as vice chancellor for engineering at the Texas A&M System, director of the Texas Engineering Extension Service and Texas Transportation Institute in August when his term as dean of engineering expires. Bennett is expected to return to teaching in the industrial engineering department before he retires. 

An advisory search committee chaired by Vice Chancellor and Dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences Mark Hussey will conduct an international search to find a new dean of the college of engineering who will assume all of the duties previously performed by Bennett, A&M officials said.

Library, Archives Commission has grant funds available
Public and academic libraries in Texas may apply for Library Services and Technology Act grants for FY 2012 through the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC). Approximately $910,000 in grant funding will be available and will be used to promote reading and literacy, provide access to special or unique holdings and deliver cooperative services.

There are four categories for the grants - Cooperation, Special Project, Texas Reads and TexTreasures. "These grants are meant to encourage libraries to use cutting-edge services and to build collaborations," says Peggy D. Rudd, TSLAC director and librarian. "This gives each library the opportunity to be creative and provide unique programs for the communities they serve."

The Texas Reads grants are funded by specialty "Texas Reads" license plates, which may be ordered at www.Texas.gov or at Texas Department of Motor Vehicles offices. The other grants are federally funded via the Institute of Museum and Library Services. For more information, click here. 

CPRIT awards $40 million for cancer research
Texas researchers were recently awarded more than $40 million in state cancer grants through the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.

El Paso approves $71.2 million for mass transit projects
El Paso City Council members recently approved $71.2 million in mass transit projects to begin during the next seven years.

After City Manager Joyce Wilson (pictured) noted that council may need to raise its limit on how much tax funding can be used to pay debt on certificates of obligation, the council then postponed action on an additional $185 million in proposed capital improvement projects. They include recommendations to spend $13 million for renovating city hall as well as funding for new fire stations, a new firefighter training academy and upgrades to other city buildings. The proposed capital improvement list also includes $102.4 million for street projects through 2017, city officials said.

The mass transit projects include the creation of four rapid-bus corridors, a new operations center for Sun Metro, improved landscaping at bus stops, fare kiosks and sensors to keep traffic lights on green longer to reduce roadway delays for buses. The city will pay about $56 million of the $136 million cost of the four-corridor system and state and federal grants will pay for the remaining costs, city officials said. The first rapid-bus system should be completed on Alameda in late 2013 and the second system on Mesa is expected to be in operation by 2014. 

Dallas school district CFO Larry Throm to leave post

Larry Throm, the man lauded for digging Dallas schools out of financial disaster in 2009, recently announced he plans to leave the district, effective Dec. 17.

Hundreds prepared for fire season at Bastrop wildfire academy
More than 350 federal, state and local firefighters recently descended on Bastrop for training at one of the nation's largest wildfire academies.

At 12,000-acre Camp Swift, first responders could choose from about three dozen classes. Topics included basic firefighting, leadership, chainsaw safety, helicopter training and bulldozer operations.

The Capital Area Interagency Wildfire Academy, which is in its 13th year, attracted firefighters from 14 states. 

Arlington may study outsourcing burglar alarm responses
Arlington Police Chief Theron Bowman (pictured) recently asked city council to approve a study to determine whether private companies that monitor burglar alarms would be interested in responding to the 15,000 residential burglary alarm calls a year that police now answer. Council members also are considering raising the annual $50 burglar alarm permit fee for property owners who have more than three false alarms a year.

The city now spends about $1.8 million a year responding to burglar alarm calls, of which 99.7 percent are false, Bowman said. That funding equals the cost of 21 police officers, he added.

The recommendation for outsourcing responses to residential burglar alarms is among the $4.8 million in cost-cutting proposals council members are considering if sales and property tax revenues to the city do not increase.

Weatherford College building campus in Wise County
Officials of Weatherford College recently agreed to construct two buildings with about 100,000 square feet of space for a campus on SH 380, between Decatur and Bridgeport in Wise County.

New Parkland health care campus to be completed in 2014
Supporters of the Parkland Health & Hospital System in Dallas recently celebrated the groundbreaking of a new 2.5 million-square-foot campus, the largest hospital construction project in the nation.

Federal money available for green energy projects in rural areas
Numerous Texas farmers, ranchers and rural small business owners are eligible for federal monies that pay for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

University of Houston receives alternative energy grant
The University of Houston recently captured a $1.2 million federal grant to fund new alternative energy technology.

The university research team, led by physics professor Seamus "Shay" Curran (pictured), will work on increasing the solar energy storage capacity of thin-film solar cells, making them more competitive with silicon cells.

The Houston researchers will also develop "smart" wind farms, which would allow land-based operators to check up on offshore turbines.

"With energy demand increasing, considerable effort and investment is going into new energy generation and storage," said Curran, lead researcher and director of the university's Institute for NanoEnergy. 

Texas Tech announces interim dean of Graduate School
Peggy Gordon Miller (pictured), former president of South Dakota State University, recently stepped into the role of interim dean of Texas Tech University's Graduate School.

Former Columbia astronaut named Tech engineering dean
Former U.S. astronaut Albert Sacco Jr. (pictured) was recently named the new dean of Texas Tech University's Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering. He will step into the new role Jan. 1 of next year and leave his current position at Northeastern University, where he serves as the George A. Snell Distinguished Professor of Engineering and the director of the Center for Advanced Microgravity Materials Processing.

Texas A&M University's Real Estate Center unveils new Web site
The Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, the nation's largest publicly funded real estate research organization, recently published Web site renovations, which were nearly three years in the making. 

The Web site address, which nearly 917,000 unique visitors have visited in 2010, remains the same: recenter.tamu.edu.

Despite aesthetic and content changes, the Web site continues to deliver high-quality research, content and navigability, said Director Gary Maler (pictured).

Schreiner to offer nursing degree program
Schreiner University in Kerrville recently added a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program to its offerings.

El Paso officials will discuss options for city hall building
After learning the current city hall needs about $12 million to repair leaking pipes, bad sewer lines, a leaky roof and out-of-code fire panels, El Paso city officials recently asked city finance staff and engineers to analyze whether the city should renovate the 11-story facility at 2 Civic Center Plaza or invest in a new building. The current city hall is also not energy efficient and high winds often force city officials to down two entrances, city officials said.

Council members plan to hold a special meeting to discuss the future of city hall and the feasibility of moving to another site within the downtown area, said Steve Ortega (pictured), a member of the council.

Some residents have urged city officials to relocate city hall closer to the El Paso County Courthouse and the federal courthouse to create a government district, Ortega noted. Before a decision can be made on city hall, a cost analysis of available options must be performed, Ortega said. 

Houston voters reject red-light cameras by wide margin
Houston voters recently rejected the city's red light camera system, a move that will cost the city $10 million in revenue, City Controller Ronald Green (pictured) said.

El Paso library chief search qualifies 11 hopefuls
A new El Paso library director, a position 11 candidates are vying for, could be in place by the first of the year, city officials said.

San Angelo moving forward with business resource center
San Angelo City Council members recently reviewed plans to develop a one-stop economic and business development center near the city hall. The city is partnering with the Angelo State University Small Business Development Center and Downtown San Angelo Inc. on the center.

The Business Resource Center will include the city's consolidated economic development operations and permitting offices in a single location as well as housing the Angelo State University Small Business Development Center, noted Bill Cullins (pictured), director of special projects for Angelo State University.

The cost of purchasing an office and warehouse facility and renovations to the facility is expected to be around $2 million. Council members approved $645,000 to buy the office and renovate the 17,800-square-foot facility. Tenants are expected to pay enough rent to fund operations and maintenance costs of the business resource center, city officials said. Funding for the one-stop center is provided by the 4B half-cent sales tax collected by the city. Renovation on the center is expected to begin in May 2011 and be completed in early 2012.  

Port Arthur officials OK downtown building upgrades
In an effort to rejuvenate downtown Port Arthur, city officials approved a $2.2 million project to upgrade the police station and old fire station, which has been replaced by a new building across town.

The city will foot most of the bill with bonds from a 2007 election, and the Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation will pick up $250,000. 

The projects, which are expected to take 18 months, include moving the municipal court from the police department to the bottom floor of the old fire station and expanding the police department into the emptied space. 

Corpus Christi officials looking at privatizing four departments
Corpus Christi city officials recently discussed privatizing four city departments, which could save the city millions of dollars and thus cut fees for residents.

Manor's  CIO Dustin Haisler heading to private sector job
Acclaimed twenty-something Dustin Haisler, credited for putting Manor on the Google Earth map, recently quit the public sector to become director of government innovation at a California-based technology company.

Alonzo Cantu appointed to Hidalgo County RMA board
Three new faces were recently appointed to the Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority's board of directors, a seven-member group tasked with making intelligent, insightful choices about local transportation.

Lower Valley Water District to spend $10 million on sewer system
The Lower Valley Water District (LVWD) recently began the first phase of a $10 million project to provide sewer service to about 300 households in Clint, said David Carrasco (pictured), general manager of the LVWD.

The first phase of the project will begin with construction of a pump station that will provide sewer service to the area south of the railroad tracks and the second phase of the project will provide sewer service to homes north of the railroad tracks, Carrasco said. Federal and state grants and loans are being used to help pay for the project, which should be completed in about a year and a half, he said.

New Caney ISD eyeing bond election for stadium improvements
Officials of the New Caney Independent School District recently began exploring options, including a bond election, on how to proceed with upgrading or replacing its 38-year-old stadium.

Denison approves $25,000

for pool feasibility study
Denison City Council members recently agreed to spend $25,000 for a consultant to perform a study of Waterloo Pool.

The study will examine the pool's operation, its structural integrity, marketing opportunities with other area pools and whether a potential exists for public private partnerships, said City Manager Larry Cruise. 

Montgomery to retire as

Huntsville ISD superintendent
Dr. Richard Montgomery (pictured) recently announced he plans to retire as superintendent of the Huntsville Independent School District. His last day on the job will be Jan. 3, 2011.

Wi-Fi available at VIA

information centers
San Antonio public transit riders can now Web surf at all VIA Metropolitan Transit information centers.

The agency installed high-speed wireless Internet at nine transit centers and on all 30 hybrid buses which went into service in August. The Wi-Fi connections allow up to 23 users to get online at the same time.

Marble Falls continues search

for new superintendent
After asking two applicants for superintendent to return for second interviews, trustees for the Marble Falls Independent School District are continuing their search for a new superintendent.

The new superintendent will replace Ryder Warren who now serves as superintendent for Midland ISD.  Dr. Jim Boyle of Burnet currently serves as interim superintendent. Trustees said they hope to choose a new

superintendent by mid-December.

Houston Airport System tags Miller to manage Hobby Airport
Houston Airport System officials recently selected Perry J. Miller as the new general manager of William P. Hobby Airport.
Miller previously served as acting senior airport manager for George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and as assistant director of maintenance for IAH.

He also was a general manager and held other positions at Ellington Airport. Miller has a bachelor's degree from Texas Southern University and a master's degree in Transportation Planning and Management.

Council authorizes sale

of $1.6 million in bonds
The Beeville Water Supply District plans to sell $1.6 million in bonds this week to pay for water treatment plant projects.

The bonds, recently approved by the Beeville City Council, will be paid off using property taxes levied by the water district. Repayment is expected to take four years.Officials expect the interest rate to be set at 2.9 percent.

North East ISD eyeing $250M

to $350M bond proposal
Trustees for the North East Independent School District recently held public meetings to discuss the possibility of calling a $250 million to $350 million bond proposal in 2011. Proceeds from the bonds are needed to build a new middle school to alleviate overcrowding, said Superintendent Richard Middleton (pictured). District officials also plan to ask voters to approve bonds to pay for improving science labs at Reagan High School, to upgrade technology and buy buses, Middleton said.

District officials plan to appoint a planning advisory committee to conduct more public hearings and in February present recommendations on a possible bond election, a district spokeswoman said.

Two WO-C superintendent finalists named by board
The West Orange-Cove school board recently narrowed the field of contenders for superintendent from 20 applicants to two finalists: James Colbert and David Harris. The school board plans to name a new superintendent by January.

Colbert, an assistant superintendent in Tennessee, has worked as a teacher, coach and assistant principal during his 15 years in education. He has a bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin and a master's from Texas State University.

Harris, who has 20 years of experience in education, currently works for Beaumont schools as assistant superintendent for secondary education. He has also served as a teacher, coach, associate principal and principal. He has a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University, a master's from Prairie View A&M and a doctorate from Lamar University.  

Ribbon cutting to mark special use of solar power in Lometa
Ribbon cutting for a solar array that makes Lometa the first city in the state to use solar power to run a wastewater treatment plant is slated for 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9, at the Lometa Wastewater Treatment Facility in Lometa.

Officials with the Texas Department of Rural Affairs, which awarded a more than $488,000 grant to the city to install the solar panels, and the Lower Colorado River Authority, which will own and operate the plant, will be on hand for the dedication.

 
The facility includes a 442-panel solar array that is expected to provide or offset the electricity needed for the plant.

Boling ISD superintendent submits resignation letter
Long-time Boling school district Superintendent Charles Butcher recently submitted a letter of resignation that cites "personal reasons" for leaving his post of 15 years. The school board accepted the resignation, effective Nov. 19, and appointed Assistant Superintendent Wade Stidevent to fill the top spot.

Stidevent, a 20-year Boling employee, has served as junior high athletic director, teacher, head coach, high school athletic director, assistant principal and principal. He has been assistant superintendent for six years.

The board did not discuss hiring a permanent superintendent, but Stidevent expects the topic will come up by the end of the year. 

Ribbon cutting to mark special use of solar power in Lometa
Ribbon cutting for a solar array that makes Lometa the first city in the state to use solar power to run a wastewater treatment plant is slated for 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9, at the Lometa Wastewater Treatment Facility in Lometa.

Officials with the Texas Department of Rural Affairs, which awarded a more than $488,000 grant to the city to install the solar panels, and the Lower Colorado River Authority, which will own and operate the plant, will be on hand for the dedication.

 
The facility includes a 442-panel solar array that is expected to provide or offset the electricity needed for the plant.

Willacy commissioners create Economic Development Corp.
Willacy County commissioners recently established an economic development corporation, which can be used to finance a dropout prevention program, a center for abused children and public housing, among other projects.

The county EDC, to be governed by a five-member board with two-year terms, can tax up to 5 cents for every $100 valuation with consent from voters. The EDC can also accept grants, gifts and endowments. The county attorney has been authorized to take legal steps toward EDC creation.

Beaumont ISD hotel/event center stopped by restraining order
A Beaumont attorney recently obtained a temporary restraining order to halt officials of the Beaumont Independent School District from proceeding with a proposed hotel-event center. In obtaining the restraining order, the attorney claimed BISD officials did not specifically include the hotel-event center in a 2007 bond election.

San Antonio airport first flights scheduled from Terminal B
San Antonio International Airport's new 251,000-square-foot Terminal B will be open to planes next week.

City of Amarillo set to get grant for emergency management
The city of Amarillo recently secured a grant of nearly $1 million, which will go to emergency management and the fire and police departments.

The Woodlands approves $12.2 million for new township building
Officials of The Woodlands recently approved spending $12.2 million to purchase and remodel a new building that will serve as the town hall. City officials authorized $8.9 million to buy the 68,868-square-foot building and $2.4 million to remodel the facility.

Commerce selects Clayton

as interim city manager
Commerce City Council members recently selected Marc Clayton (pictured) as the interim city manager. Clayton will replace former City Manager Dion Miller, who resigned.

 
Clayton previously served as interim city manager in Commerce in 2008 following the retirement of Bill Shipp. He joined the city in September 2002 as director of administrative services, a job he still holds. He previously worked 28 years for a cable company in Bonham.

San Antonio area school

district to sell $48.5M in bonds
The Northside Independent School District will sell $48.5 million in bonds next week. The bond sale is a result of passage of a bond issue last May that authorized the sale of $545 million in bonds to build new schools and renovate existing schools.

San Marcos selects Jamie Lee Pettijohn as new city clerk
San Marcos City Council members recently chose Jamie Lee Pettijohn as the new city clerk. Pettijohn, who currently serves as city clerk in Gonzales, will replace Sherry Mashburn, who accepted a position with College Station. If Pettijohn accepts the position, she will begin her new duties in early December, city officials said.

Strategic Partnerships seeking additional outside consultants

SPI is seeking additional outside consultants who have experience in county/city government in Texas.

Currently, there is a need for procurement consultants who are retired or former county or municipal elected officials, experts in healthcare, K-12  in the DFW, Houston and El Paso areas. If you are interested in this opportunity, contact Ashley Nauert at anauert@spartnerships.com

• An Audit Report on the Texas Records Exchange System at the Texas Education Agency
• Digital Texas 2010, Texas Geographic Information Council

El Paso PD wins $50,000 federal grant to upgrade technology
The U.S. Department of Justice recently awarded a $50,000 Blue Team Grant to the El Paso Police Department.

Michael Reeser takes over as

chancellor of TSTC System
Michael Reeser (pictured), who three weeks ago was named lone finalist to become chancellor of the Texas State Technical College System (TSTC), this week was appointed to the chancellor post, effective immediately. He becomes the ninth chief executive officer for the system.

Reeser has served as president of TSTC West Texas since 2004. Prior to holding that position, he was vice president and dean of instruction, managing the operational and instructional activities of the college. From 1999 to 2001, Reeser served as chief financial officer for the System and managed and was accountable for all business and operations areas of the four-college system. Before his affiliation with TSTC, he worked in the private sector in executive and management positions in the banking industry.

Reeser holds a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University and a master's from The University of Texas at Arlington. Reeser replaces former TSTC Chancellor Bill Segura, who retired.

Farmers Branch studying outsourcing library functions
Farmers Branch City Council members recently began studying two proposals to reduce the cost of library operations in the city, one from the current library director and another from a Maryland-based private company that operates libraries for small cities and counties.

Library Director Danita Barber proposed maintaining city management of the library and reducing the current budget by about $203,586 and reducing staff from 19.5 employees to 17.3 employees. The consulting firm proposes cutting $230,641 from the budget and reducing staff to 15 full-time employees. Council members took no action on the proposals.

Major summer projects come

in under budget in CISD
The Coppell school district spent an estimated $1.2 million less than anticipated on summer construction projects, an administration official recently told the school board.

Summer projects included: district-wide technology upgrades, carpet replacement at a middle school, a new generator at the service center and renovations to libraries, bleachers, press boxes, gyms and the high school theater.

The extra money will go toward future district projects. 

Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD seeking funds for playgrounds
Coldspring-Oakhurst Consolidated Independent School District officials recently agreed to study options on how to pay for new playground equipment proposed for an elementary school and an intermediate school.

The playground committee, comprised of two principals, a school counselor and a parent, recently reported that estimated cost of playground improvements would range from $12,000 to $50,000, depending on the choice of equipment and installation needs, said Dr. Elizabeth Jarvis, principal at the intermediate school. Committee members also recommended the district address the intermediate school first because the need is greater, Jarvis said.

Committee members also are exploring funding options such as state and federal grants and asking for private donations to pay for the new playground equipment and installation. 

Nolanville approves changing city charter to home-rule city
Nolanville voters recently approved a change to the city's charter to transform the city to a home-rule city.

Under the proposed charter, Nolanville will become a city-manager-council form of government, where a city manager administers the daily operations of the city while council members decide policy, city officials said. 

Wichita Falls approves design plans for airport improvements
Wichita Falls City Council members recently agreed to spend $752,654 for design plans for improvements to the Wichita Falls Municipal Airport.

The design plan will include improvements to the parking lot and entry road, aircraft parking apron and for upgrading the airport terminal building. The design plans are needed as part of the city's effort to receive funding from the Federal Aviation Administration for airport construction projects, city officials said.