Official: Higher ed accounts for highest percentage of GR cuts

McBee calls reductions made on college campuses 'disproportionate share' 

Attorney General Abbott announces senior staff appointments

Jonathan Mitchell selected to replace James Ho as new solicitor general

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott recently made several appointments to executive positions that include: solicitor general, director of defense litigation and deputy attorney general for criminal justice.

George Mason University law professor Jonathan Mitchell (pictured) will serve as the new solicitor general. As the state's chief appellate lawyer, Mitchell will oversee criminal and civil litigation before state and federal appeals courts and will represent the state before the U.S. Supreme Court. Mitchell, who has already stepped into his new role, will also serve as a top legal adviser to Abbott. 

Mitchell, a graduate of the University of Chicago Law School, completed a one-year clerkship at the U.S. Supreme Court and spent three years in the Office of Legal Counsel at the U.S. Department of Justice. He succeeds James Ho, who served as Solicitor General for nearly three years.

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Justice Lehrmann's swearing-in ceremony set January 14
Debra H. Lehrmann (pictured) will be sworn in as a member of the Texas Supreme Court next month in Austin. Lehrmann was appointed to the position in June to replace retiring Justice Harriet O'Neill and elected to the seat in November.

 
Prior to serving on the state's top court, Lehrmann was district judge of the 360th District Court in Fort Worth and served as a family law judge for 22 years. She has also practiced family law at a Fort Worth law firm.

Lehrmann earned a bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin and her law degree from UT School of Law.  

New communications appointees announced in Governor's Office
Mark Miner has been selected by Gov. Rick Perry to serve as Perry's new communications director. In a related move, Alison Castle was named special assistant for communications and Katherine Cesinger is the new press secretary. Deputy press secretaries are Catherine Frazier and Lucy Nashed.

Miner is the former communications director for the Perry campaign and was also communications director in the Governor's Office. He is a former communications director for Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst as well as for Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore, the Republican National Committee and for a gubernatorial campaign in California. Miner is a graduate of Michigan State University.

Castle, who has served as press secretary to the governor since September 2008, is a former deputy press secretary in the governor's office. She is also a former senior associate with a private sector public affairs firm. She holds a bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin.

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Sunset Commission approves recommendations to restructure DIR
Members of the Sunset Advisory Committee Thursday approved recommendations that would restructure the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) and hand over to the State Comptroller's Office its cooperative purchasing program for technology equipment.

In addition to state agencies, the program allows local government entities - cities, counties, school districts and state-supported institutions of higher education - to purchase technology items at discount rates. Such entities account for nearly three-fourths of the program's $1.6 billion in purchases each year.

DIR was also taken to task during the Sunset hearing over its handling of a contract to consolidate the state's data centers and improve data security. While DIR has criticized the vendor for muffing the more than $860 million contract - which is currently being rebid - DIR points the finger of blame back at the vendor.

BexarMet fires indicted general manager Victor Mercado
The board of the Bexar Metropolitan Water District last night (Thursday) fired General Manager Victor Mercado (pictured), who earlier this week was indicted in Detroit on charges of racketeering, extortion and obstruction of justice.

Mercado, who was head of Detroit's water and sewer utility from July 2002 to July 2008, is accused of working with the former Detroit mayor and others to extort money from contractors and funnel contracts worth tens of millions to a friend of the ex-mayor.

When the BexarMet board hired Mercado in December 2009, he reportedly never mentioned the investigation in Detroit. This year, when he was required to travel to Detroit several times to appear before a grand jury, he reportedly told the board repeatedly that he was not being investigated and did not expect to be charged.

The indictment further damages the reputation of the BexarMet district, which was already being investigated by a legislative oversight committee because the former general manager was accused of wiretapping two employees' phones. Due to that incident, ratepayers will vote on whether they want to dissolve the utility.

The BexarMet board appointed three staff members to run the utility: Melissa Killen, legal counsel; Roger Placencia, director of operations; and Jesse Morin, director of finance.

Wheeler new CFO for Department of State Health Services
Veteran financial manager Bill Wheeler was recently named chief financial officer for the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Previously, Wheeler served as chief financial officer for both the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services and its precursor, the Texas Rehabilitation Commission. Before joining the state 16 years ago, Wheeler worked at banks in Houston, Dallas and Austin. 

Wheeler holds a bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin and a master's from Southwest Texas State University.

Texas Forest Service's Tom Spencer wins Regents Award
Tom Spencer (pictured) of the Texas Forest Service was recently honored for decades of work protecting people from deadly wildfires.

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents awarded Spencer, who heads the Predictive Services Department, with the Regents Fellow Service Award, which is given to researchers who have created large and lasting benefits to Texas and beyond.
 
Spencer, a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University, has spent 11 years developing tools that help predict when and where wildfire will occur.  

TDCJ power, communication unit ready for deployment
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice recently purchased a state-of-the-art communications unit that can be deployed in the face of a major emergency.

The unit, funded with a grant from the federal Department of Commerce, can be used for communications emergencies, inmate escapes, unit outages and more. It is equipped with a 42-foot mast for radio communications, a 12-kilowatt diesel generator and a 30-gallon fuel tank. The unit can run for up to five days without refueling.

The trailer also has satellite access and Internet voice communications that allow for incoming and outgoing phone calls regardless of the local network conditions.

TFS helps Galveston on plan for 25,000 trees in next five years
Galveston city leaders recently OK'd a five-year plan that calls for planting 25,000 trees, which would replace nearly half of those lost to Hurricane Ike and its salty storm surge in September 2008.

The island lost nearly 11,000 trees on city rights-of-way and an estimated 30,000 on private property, according to the 44-page Galveston ReLeaf: A Strategic Plan for Replanting. The Galveston Island Tree Conservancy, City of Galveston Tree Committee and Texas Forest Service worked together to write the plan.

Forest service foresters have been in Galveston since the storm hit - assessing the salt-poisoned trees, educating the community about the lost trees and making reforestation plans. "I'm just convinced the citizens of Galveston deserve a new urban forest - that's the goal," said Texas Forest Service Urban Forestry Partnership Coordinator Pete Smith (pictured). 

TEF Investments of $2.8M, $425K expected to create 700 jobs

The state is investing $2.8 million in Texas Enterprise Fund business incentive funds to entice a national hand tool company to bring business operations to Mansfield.

The Texas location, which is expected to create 585 jobs and $18 million in capital investment, isn't a done deal until Mansfield city leaders finalize a local incentive agreement.

The Mansfield facility would focus on research and development of state-of-the-art manufacturing processes. 

Prince to resign as advancement vice president
Next month, Becky Prince (pictured) will step down as vice president for University Advancement at Texas State University-San Marcos, a position she has held since June 2006. She is leaving to become the director of development for the Dallas Museum of Art.

Parkland wins award for new hospital master plan
The Parkland Health & Hospital System recently won an urban design award for its plans to build a new $1.27 billion health care campus that totals 2.5 million square feet.

The Greater Dallas Planning Council gives the Dream Study Award to well-designed projects that will be an asset to the Dallas community.

Rogelio Saenz selected dean of UTSA College of Public Policy
Sociologist and social demographer Rogelio Saenz (pictured) was recently named dean of The University of Texas-San Antonio College of Public Policy, which enrolls more than 1,300 students in two undergraduate and four graduate programs.

Saenz, currently a faculty member at Texas A&M University, will begin at UTSA next June. As part of his plan for the college, Saenz - author of numerous publications about ethnicity and race relations - wants to set up interdisciplinary teams that will go after external funding for research that could benefit South Texans.

Saenz holds a bachelor's degree from Pan American University (now UT Pan American) and a master's and doctoral degree from Iowa State University.

New faculty athletic representative chosen for University of N. Texas
The dean of the College of Education at University of North Texas, Jerry R. Thomas (pictured), was recently named the college's new faculty athletic representative - a position mandated as part of membership in the NCAA. He replaces William McKee, who served in the role for 13 years.

As representative, Thomas will serve as the college president's liaison as he partners with the athletics department to ensure athletes' academic success. He will also represent UNT, which participates in 16 sports, in NCAA affairs.

Thomas earned a bachelor's degree from Furman University and master's and doctoral degree from the University of Alabama. 

"It is important that our athletic program really describes the words 'student-athlete' - note student comes first in this statement," Thomas said.

Houston Baptist University awarded technology grant
Houston Baptist University recently received a $1.5 million grant from Houston Endowment Inc., a private philanthropic foundation, to upgrade and expand its technological infrastructure.

The new computer network will allow faculty and students to communicate and share information online - taking teaching and learning beyond the classroom.

"This grant will make a great difference in our ability to serve our students and improve the quality of their learning experience," said HBU President Robert B. Sloan Jr. (pictured).

Additional funds added to Texas Appliance Mail-In Rebate Program
The Texas Comptroller's office has added $8.5 million to a mail-in rebate program that returns up to $1,000 to Texans who purchase energy-efficient Energy Star appliances.

Rebates now totaling about $18.5 million are available in eight categories, which range from $40 on room air conditioners to $1,000 on air-source heat pumps. The program, which begins Dec. 20 and will stay open until all funds are distributed, is funded through federal stimulus funds.

After installation of the appliance, consumers can mail in completed application forms and a copy of the receipt to receive a rebate. Rebate forms are available online and more information about the program can be found at www.TexasPowerfulSmart.org.

Alamo Colleges leaders begin talk about expansion
Leaders at Alamo Colleges are planning for an expansion of the district's tax base that would shift some of the cost burden from out-of-district students, who pay twice as much as Bexar County residents, to taxpayers in those areas.

Alamo Colleges is looking to annex school districts including Boerne, Comal, New Braunfels, Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City, Kerrville and Floresville. To annex, 5 percent of voters in the proposed area must petition a county or school district to hold an election, where a majority of voters choose to pay more taxes to become part of the district.

While Alamo Colleges can provide information about annexation, officials cannot campaign for it, said Chancellor Bruce Leslie (pictured). Alamo Colleges operates five colleges in Bexar County and three satellite campuses outside the county.

Ector County ISD to decide soon on New Tech High School
Ector County Independent School District trustees are expected to decide in early January on whether to spend about $1.8 million to establish a New Tech High School. Most of that, $630,945, would pay for technology. District officials budgeted $167,000 to pay for remodeling an existing facility to house the new high school.

The new tech high school, which would occupy about half of the district's Advanced Technical Center, would focus on project-based learning for 120 freshmen and 120 sophomore students selected to participate in small groups using laptop computers to complete projects, said H. T. Sanchez, assistant superintendent for accountability and special populations. The second year of the new tech school would cost about $1.6 million, he said. Some costs are expected to increase a little once the tech school begins serving junior and senior students.

Once the tech school is in full operation with 480 freshmen through senior students, most of the cost will be for payroll, which will be paid for with resource realignment and from the capital projects fund.

Soden resigns as dean of University College at UTEP
Dennis Soden recently announced his resignation as dean of University College at the University of Texas-El Paso.

Soden's resignation will be effective Dec. 31.

Soden plans to return as director of the Institute for Policy and Economic Development, a position he held previous to becoming dean in June 2008.  

Galveston approves $3.5 million renovation of Fort Crockett Park
Galveston City Council members recently agreed to award the first of two contracts for renovating Fort Crockett Park, which was heavily damaged by Hurricane Ike. Frito Lay contributed $1 million toward the $3.5 million park renovation project.

The two contracts total about $900,000 and will pay for a fabric shade structure, improving bus shelters and sidewalks in the Fort Crockett area. City officials are working with a consultant to raise $4 million to create an urban park in the Fort Crockett district.

A $15 million beautification project for Seawall Boulevard is expected to follow the Fort Crocket Park program when funds become available, the consultant said.

Maxwell selected as legal counsel for Texas Railroad Commissioner
Texas Railroad Commissioner-elect David Porter recently appointed Amy Maxwell to serve as his chief of staff and legal counsel while serving as commissioner.

Maxwell currently is an attorney with an Austin-based law firm. She previously served on the staff of the lieutenant governor and the Comptroller of Public Accounts.

She has a bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from The University of Texas School of Law. 

Galveston County to replace eight upper-tier managers
The newly elected county judge in Galveston recently notified eight county employees that they no longer will have their current jobs after he assumes office in January.

County employees who received the letters from the new county judge include the community services director, the human resources director, a bridge director and the head of the county's disaster housing program. The manager of the Bolivar Blueprint Committee and an employee who had accepted a position as the county's public information officer also received notice they will no longer hold those positions after the new county judge assumes office.

The county judge also notified the budget director that there would also be a change in his office, but suggested a two- to three-month transition for that to occur.

Fredericksburg ISD mulling $10 million bond election in May
Trustees for the Fredericksburg Independent School District recently began prioritizing projects that could be included in a May bond election, asking voters to approve as much as $10 million for capital projects.

Paying for remodeling and repairing facilities with bond funds benefits the district because 100 percent of those funds stay in the school district, Superintendent Marc Williamson (pictured) told board members. The district also can issue as much as $10 million in bonds without increasing taxes, he said.

Board members made no decision on which items may be part of the proposed bond proposal, but plan to prepare a list of projects for each district campus arranged in priority order.

Kilgore ISD group recommends $55 million bond proposal
Following a one-year study, Kilgore Independent School District facility committee members recently urged trustees to ask voters to approve $55 million in bonds. The bond proceeds would build two new schools and renovate two existing campuses.

The proposal includes building a new campus for pre-kindergarten through first grade and building a new middle school for grades six through eight. It also calls for remodeling and building more classrooms at Kilgore Intermediate School and renovating Chandler Elementary School for grades two and three. Committee members surveyed community members, teachers and staff, conducted campus tours with citizens and reviewed possible options before adopting the $55 million recommendation over a previously favored $72 million option, noted Terry George (pictured), president of the school board.

Committee members worked with district staff to lower a previous $72 million estimate by prioritizing projects and cutting some features, he said. Board members are expected to make a decision on whether to adopt the committee's proposal, revise the proposal or decide against a bond election by Feb. 28, 2011.

College district transportation plans unveiled in Tyler
An engineering firm representative recently unveiled to officials of the Half Center Sales Tax Corp. plans to create two new college districts and improve pedestrian and commuter access. Tyler city council members approved the study of the two areas to address the lack of pedestrian-friendly roads and how to better identify the college districts for Texas College and The University of Texas at Tyler.

The plans call for creating a Texas College District to include 2,875 acres with a 4.5-mile corridor connecting with the newly created University Woods District for UT-Tyler that encompasses several neighborhoods. The plan also includes designating Palace Avenue into an entry corridor to Texas College, a pedestrian mall on Grand Avenue, transforming 26th Street into the main entrance of Texas College as well as adding sidewalks, streetscapes, trees, bike lanes, street banners and medians to make corridors between the two college districts more pedestrian-friendly and identifiable.

Consultants currently are working on a project list to be presented to the Half Cent Sales Tax Corporation to be ranked and then included in the group's Capital Improvement Program list for funding.

Clear Creek ISD to ask citizens to help make budget decisions
Clear Creek Independent School District trustees recently agreed to create a Citizens Finance Capacity Committee to help district officials make budget decisions in view of an expected drop in state funding.

District officials are sending letters to those selected for the finance committee that will have 50 members, including parents, district employees, senior citizens and business leaders, said Superintendent Greg Smith (pictured). Clear Creek ISD already has cut $11.9 million in personnel costs in the last two years and district officials are beginning to review programs to eliminate in order to balance the district's budget, Smith noted.

Citizens Finance Capacity Committee members will be asked to provide guidance on issues impacting district finances, including whether the committee believes citizens would support a tax ratification election and deciding if the district should continue requiring reserving at least $4 million in capital reserve to meet emergency needs. Other goals of the committee including focusing on methods to project a balanced budget for the next five years, the ability to recruit and retain highly qualified teachers and staff, committing to the importance of curricula and extracurricular programs in a student's cognitive, social and emotional growth and a way to achieve long-term sustainability in technology. 

Group may launch effort to raise $4.2 million for Irving ISD
The Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce officials recently began mulling whether to launch a campaign to raise about $4.2 million to help the Irving Independent School District.

Superintendent Dana Bedden (pictured) presented a list of priority programs for chamber officials to consider including in the proposed "One Irving" campaign. Areas under consideration for additional funding include strengthening college readiness programs, expanding after-school options for students and marketing a positive image of the district. The school district also would like help in expanding college preparation programs at two high schools, creating an early college program to allow students to complete two years of college while in high school and expanding teacher training in science, technology, engineering and math, Bedden said.

Helping improve the school district could help make the Irving and Las Colinas area more attractive to companies and families considering relocating to the area, chamber officials said. Chamber officials are expected to vote in January on whether to help with the fundraising campaign for the school district. 

Denison ISD pushes back decision on bond proposal
After receiving a last minute alternative proposal, Denton Independent School District Facilities Committee members recently agreed to delay a scheduled recommendation to board members on the need for a bond election to upgrade district facilities.

Trustees appointed the committee earlier this year to evaluate the needs of each district campus and help create a plan to meet current needs and potential growth. After 13 meetings, committee members stalled at two options, both calling for closing two elementary schools, building a new high school, converting the high school into a seventh and eighth grade school and transforming the B. McDaniel Middle School into fifth and sixth grades only. The difference in the two options is the future of Houston Elementary School.

The first option, with a $79.75 million cost estimate, calls for spending $644,186 on the Houston campus to make minor upgrades, including traffic flow and parking. The second option, urged by the committee's vice chairman, has an estimated $89 million price tag and calls for demolishing the Houston campus and building a replacement school on a larger site. While it would cost almost $10 million more, the vice chairman said that in view of current lower interest rates and construction costs, the district should replace the school. Committee members will present a recommendation to the board on Jan. 4 of next year. 

CC, AISD partner to develop Early College High Schools
The Austin Community College District and Austin Independent School District are partnering to create a new program that combines high school and college so that students can simultaneously earn a diploma and an associate degree, or up to two years of college credit tuition-free.

The Early College High School programs are being developed at LBJ and Reagan high schools for full implementation next fall. The initiative is funded by the Gates Foundation, AISD and a Texas Title 1 Priorities Schools Grant.

"ACC is a leader in providing opportunities for high school students to earn college credit," said Mary Hensley (pictured), executive vice president of college operations at the community college.

Soliman to head Texas Tech petroleum engineering department
Texas Tech University officials recently selected Mohamed Y. Soliman (pictured) as the new chair of the Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering and the George P. Livermore Chair of Petroleum Engineering, effective Jan. 10, 2011.

A former employee of a petroleum services company, Soliman has a bachelor's degree from Cairo University and a master's and a Ph.D. from Stanford University. During his career, Soliman has focused on reservoir completion and production engineering and holds 17 patents on fracturing operations and analysis, testing and conformance applications.

Longview learns a $60.6 million bond proposal would hike taxes
In studying whether the city of Longview should proceed with street repairs, the Streets Task Force recently learned that a $60.6 million bond proposal to upgrade streets and roads would increase taxes on a $100,000 home by about $30 a year.

Longview has more than $6 million in existing bond debt scheduled to be paid off by 2015 and approving an additional $60.6 million in new debt would require a tax increase of up to three pennies per $100 property valuation, a financial consultant told task force members at a public meeting. Mayor Jay Dean (pictured) noted that since the city has paid off most of its bond debt, any tax hike would be modest.

Task force members are scheduled to present their recommendation on which street improvements are needed and whether to call a bond election to council members on Feb. 10, 2011. To call a bond election in May, council members must make a decision on the recommendation by March 14.

Abilene school district to sell six tracts of school property

 Abilene Independent School District trustees recently agreed to sell six tracts of school property, some immediately and some after construction on replacement schools is completed in 2012.

Two school sites, a 7.8-acre lot and building at Lincoln Middle School valued at $500,000 and 4.3-acre lot and building at Valley View Elementary valued at $160,000, are available immediately while the Houston Student Achievement Center and Travis Opportunity and Reassignment Center will not go on the market until fall 2011, district officials said. The 1.03-acre lot and building housing the achievement center are valued at $50,000.

Trustees plan to sell the 9.4-acre site and building at Fannin Elementary School and the 3.5-acre lot and building at College Heights Elementary School in the fall of 2012. The Fannin site is valued at $215,000 and the College Heights site is valued at $730,000, district officials said.

Irving wins round in fight for $250 million entertainment center
The city of Irving recently won a round in a court battle over a planned $250 million entertainment center backed by the city and a development partner. An appeals court dismissed a lawsuit filed by a former Irving mayor and a rival entertainment group. Opponents claimed the finance plan using bond revenue approved in 2007 in addition to rebated city and state mixed beverage taxes from beverages sold at the center was invalid.

Irving Mayor Herbert Gears (pictured) called the dismissal of the suit questioning the legality of the finance plan a victory for supporters of the entertainment center.

Project opponents, however, said they may ask for a rehearing on the claim. The appeals court ruling did not rule on the legality of the financial plan, but dismissed the case because opponents failed to obtain a $10 million bond to continue the challenge. Irving city officials are still waiting for a ruling by a lower court on the suit that will decide whether the financing plan for the proposed entertainment center is legal.  

Planners seek input on developing transportation recommendations North Texas transportation planners hosted public meetings in Fort Worth, Arlington and Farmers Branch to solicit opinions and ideas about the area's transportation needs.

Residents were asked for feedback on four specific topics:

• A new toll road, State Highway 161, is expected to provide an alternative route from Grand Prairie to Irving, as well as bring in money for other road projects. A county task force has put together recommendations that are being presented at the meetings. 
• A transportation plan for the next 25 years, dubbed Mobility 2035, is being created based on available funding and the needs of the region's growing population. The plan's policies and goals are being reviewed at meetings. 
• Transportation experts are putting together a plan that analyzes current freight operations and facilities, as well as makes road, rail and air recommendations for the future. The beginnings of the plan were discussed at meetings.  
• A list of funded projects is included in the Transportation Improvement Program. Proposed changes were reviewed.

THEHRA announces dates for annual winter conference in Austin
The Texas Higher Education Human Resources Association will host its 2011 Winter Conference "Managing Through Tough Times" on Jan. 23-25, 2011, at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center at 1900 University Avenue in Austin. The conference is a "hands on" gathering that will focus on institutional survival. Experts and colleagues will offer information on "Tools You Need to Successfully Handle Reductions, Retention, Layoffs, New Laws, New Strategies, New Directions." For more information and to register, click here.

Leadership Fusion Summit taking reservations for February event

"Leading with Vision - Igniting to Action" is the title for this year's Leadership Fusion Summit, scheduled for Feb 16-17, 2011, in Houston and sponsored by the Region 4 Leadership Solutions. Extraordinary leaders from both business and education will share a variety of best practices aimed at helping accelerate learning and success in school leadership. Among the speakers is Dr. Marshall Goldsmith, recognized by Forbes magazine as one of the 15 most influential business thinkers in the world. The first 300 to register will receive a free copy of Goldsmith's "MOJO - How to Get It, How to Keep It, How to Get It Back If You Lose It." Registration is open now and there is a reduced Early Bird fee through Dec. 17. For more information, click here. For the agenda, click here.

Committee for Dublin ISD urges bond vote to improve facilities

A campus facilities committee for Dublin Independent School District recently urged board members to ask voters to approve between $5.5 million to $8 million in bonds to upgrade district facilities. The committee urged district officials to upgrade a middle school campus and an intermediate school campus as well as renovating a middle school to house district offices, a board room and a training classroom for faculty and staff.

The district has been approved for $5.4 million in low-interest qualified school construction bonds to fund the potential improvements, noted Superintendent Shaun Barnett. Board members have a late February deadline for making a decision on the bond proposal, he said.

Mansfield, Arlington libraries

to share collections
The Arlington Public Library recently received a $73,000 grant that will pay for technology that links the city's collection to computers at the Mansfield Public Library. The new system will give residents of both cities access to a larger combined collection of books, audiobooks and DVDs.

The grant, given through the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, pays for an Arlington-based terminal server, self-check machines in Mansfield and a courier service.

Mansfield has a collection of about 75,000 items while Arlington owns about 500,000, said Cary Siegfried (pictured), director of the Arlington library system.

Tuloso-Midway ISD delays

search for new superintendent
Trustees for the Tuloso-Midway Independent School District recently agreed to postpone a search for a new superintendent to replace Cornelio Gonzalez, who resigned earlier this year to accept a position at Mission Consolidated Independent School District.

The search for a new superintendent is being delayed because of several ongoing issues and projects, the president of the board said. 

More members of Houston's Metro staff depart jobs
The chief financial officer at Houston's Metropolitan Transit Authority will soon leave the company, continuing a seven-month exodus of top leaders from the previous regime. The transition began with the resignation of CEO Frank Wilson, who left in May after drawing criticism for a lack of transparency and slow progress on light rail lines. He was replaced by George Greanias, who has saved the agency $500,000 by cutting five top positions and not offering those executives other jobs at the "new Metro."

Greanias, a former business consultant, hopes the restructuring and openness allows the company to better serve Houston residents. 

Texas Government Insider
announces holiday schedule

In observance of the Christmas holidays, the Texas Government Insider will not publish next week. Because the following Friday, Dec. 31, is the New Year's holiday, we will publish a day early that week, on Thursday, Dec. 30. We will resume our regular Friday publication dates on Friday, Jan. 7. Happy holidays!  

Fitzmaurice will head Film Commission on interim basis
Evan E. Fitzmaurice, an attorney in the governor's General Counsel Office, has been named interim director of the Texas Film Commission. He replaces Bob Hudgins, who resigned in November.

In addition to serving in the Governor's Office, Fitzmaurice previously practiced law in Los Angeles with an entertainment law firm. He holds a law degree from The University of Texas School of Law.

Boerne pedestrian trail

system moves closer to reality
Boerne city leaders are seeking bids on a $1.9 million pedestrian trail system that includes fishing piers, a 12-foot waterfall and public restrooms. Construction on the trails, which were OK'd by voters in a 2007 bond election, is expected to begin after bids come back in January.

The three new trail segments - the Heart of Boerne trail and the River Road trail in two segments - will add to the Old No. 9 walking trail through the city. A fourth trail, the Currey Creek Trail, is also out for bid in case the funds become available.

Taylor ISD names Vaughn as lone finalist for superintendent
Veteran school administrator Jerry Vaughn (pictured) has been named lone finalist for superintendent/CEO of the Taylor Independent School District in Williamson County.

Vaughn is currently the superintendent of Floydada schools, where he has served since 2002. Previously, Vaughn worked in Idalou schools in Lubbock County as assistant high school principal and middle school principal. Vaughn has worked 30 years in schools and 20 years as an administrator.

The Taylor school board is scheduled to vote on hiring Vaughn next month. 

Aransas County approves $100,000 for visitor's center
Aransas County commissioners recently approved $100,000 to help the Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce finance an expansion of a new visitor's center. The funding is from the county's hotel occupancy tax, county officials said.

Plans call for expanding and remodeling a 2,759-square-foot structure that previously housed an insurance office into a new visitor's center. The expanded portion includes an area with a 14-foot ceiling that will be the main area for the visitor's center. The new facility also will have space for administrative offices, storage, workrooms and a large conference room. The price tag for the renovation and expansion is about $250,000, a representative from the chamber said. 

Addison approves $1.3 million

for visitor center, artisan center
Addison City Council members recently approved $1.3 million for a visitor's center to house city staff and an artisan center.

Scheduled to open in early 2011, Visit Addison will offer a walk-in information center and an interactive Craft Guild center where artists and city visitors can gather to view or show art and craft exhibits. City officials also plan to build retail space and studios for demonstrations and classes at the visitor's center.

Potosi VFD wins $144,875 federal grant for equipment, training
The Federal Emergency Management Agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently awarded a $144,875 grant to the Potosi Volunteer Fire Department. The grant funds will be used to purchase firefighter safety and rescue equipment and for training. 

Dallas to unveil plan to upgrade safety on hike and bike trails
Dallas city officials are unveiling a new comprehensive plan to ensure safety on popular hike and bike trails in the city. The plan includes adding signage, launching a public education campaign, increasing police presence on the Katy Trail and establishing a Trail Safety Advisory Committee, said Angela Hunt (pictured), a council member.

Copperas Cove moves forward on design for new fire station
Copperas Cove City Council members recently agreed to amend the city's capital improvement plan to move forward with the design of Fire Station No. 2 to be built on 6.7-acre tract. Council members also approved $48,000 for repairs to Fire Station No. 1 and $10,100 to update software used by the fire department.

The $250,000 cost of the design phase for the new fire station will be paid from tax bond proceeds council approved last month, said Deputy Fire Chief Gary Young. Council members approved the issuance and sale of limited tax notes of $1.91 million and the issue and sale of general obligation refunding bonds of $6 million to pay for projects, including the fire station design. Construction on the new fire station is possible before 2013, Young 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

Kenneth Moore to resign

as Fannin County Sheriff
Fannin County Sheriff Kenneth Moore (pictured) recently announced he is resigning from that position effective Jan. 2, 2011. He was first elected sheriff in November 2004.

 Moore, who had already announced he would not seek re-election in 2012, said has agreed to return to his former position as felony investigator for the Collin County District Attorney's Office. Fannin County Commissioners are expected to appoint an interim sheriff as soon as the new county judge and county commissioners are sworn into office, Moore said.

Eanes ISD mulling another

bond election for next May
Trustees for the Eanes Independent School District recently began discussing a timeline to ask voters to approve a bond proposal to address "essential needs." Voters in November defeated three bond propositions totaling about $150 million, including a $72 million proposition to respond to critical needs.

While some board members voiced concern over the short time period board members would have to prepare for another bond election, other trustees argued that every item that would be included in the proposal is very compelling. Some board members also suggested that residents might show more support for a bond proposal once an audit of the 2006 bond funding is available. Trustees agreed to set a target for a vote in May if essential information can be determined by the March 14, 2011, deadline for calling a May bond election. 

Alvin ISD hires Fred Brent

as superintendent/CEO
Fred Brent (pictured) has been named the superintendent of the Alvin Independent School District. He begins his new job Dec. 30.

Brent, who has worked in public education for 19 years, currently serves as superintendent of the Anderson-Shiro district in Grimes County.

Brent began his career in Oklahoma schools as a physical education and geography teacher. He returned home to Texas in 1995 to work in the Little Cypress-Mauriceville district, where he was promoted from physical education teacher to assistant principal to principal. He has also served as principal in the Orangefield and Navasota districts.

• An Annual Report on Classified Employee Turnover for Fiscal Year 2010
• Committee on Licensing Standards, Annual Report to the Texas Legislature and DFPS 

TEDC Executive Director

Betty Reinbeck to retire
After seven years as executive director, Betty Reinbeck (pictured) is retiring from the Tomball Economic Development Corporation. Her last day will be Feb. 28.

While head of the EDC, Reinbeck sparked many new initiatives including the Business Improvement Grant program.

Before moving to Tomball, Reinbeck served as mayor of Sealy for 18 years.

• David Cabrales, Dallas, chair, Texas Economic Development Corporation;
• Marc Farmer, Lubbock, Texas Economic Development Corporation;
• Joe Grubbs, Waxahachie, judge, 378th District Court in Ellis County;
• Mario "Omar" Garcia, La Vernia, Texas Economic Development Corporation;
• Randy Watson, Burleson, Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education;
• Edward Vaughan, Bulverde, chair, Texas Water Development Board

ACC trustees name new campuses after elections
Leaders at Austin Community College have named two new campuses - ACC Elgin Campus and ACC Hays Campus - which are set to open in the fall of 2013.

Building of the campuses, which is set to begin next year, comes after voters in the Elgin and Hays school districts OK'd annexation in November elections. The vote means that residents of both school districts are eligible for in-district tuition of $42 per credit hour instead of out-of-district tuition of $150 per credit hour.

Tyler ISD eyeing $3.4 million

in unused bond funds
After three recent construction projects came in almost $3.4 million under budget, Tyler Independent School District trustees recently began exploring other capital projects that can be paid for using those remaining bond funds.

Superintendent Randy Reid (pictured) told board members that the district can use the remaining $3.4 million in leftover bond funds only for other capital projects, including possible bond work. Leftover bond funds cannot be used to pay down debt, but can be applied to other building or renovation projects, to purchase buildings or buses and to purchase or refinance property, Reid said. Board members plan to discuss on which projects the remaining bonds will be used in coming months, he added.

Robinson resigns inspection position with city of Marshall
Winston Robinson, who has worked nearly 10 years as a Marshall city employee, recently resigned as director of inspection services. City staff did not give a reason for Robinson's abrupt departure.

His position was one of 12 planned layoffs, which were to be cut to help bridge a $1 million budget shortfall. The 24,000-resident city, located about 20 miles east of Longview, faces the deficit due to a decline in sales tax revenues.

Travis County plans to pay $21.75 million for lot for new courthouse Travis County officials have plans to pay $21.75 million for a downtown Austin block, which would be the site of a new 500,000-square-foot civil and family courthouse.

The block, now a vacant lot that belongs to the Austin Museum of Art, would alleviate overcrowding in the county's current civil courthouse, the 80-year-old Sweatt building, County Judge Sam Biscoe (pictured) said. The county, which will likely issue bonds to pay for the property, may hold a November bond election to fund construction costs.

The new courthouse would accommodate future expansion and serve the county for the next 70-80 years, Biscoe said.

San Antonio ISD sells $151.4 million in bonds for technology
San Antonio Independent School District officials recently sold $151.4 in bonds, the first issue from a $515 bond proposal voters approved in November. The majority of the bond funds will be used to buy computers, playground equipment and other items that can be acquired quickly, district officials said.

District officials are proceeding with planning and design of larger construction projects and will issue bonds for most construction and renovation projects later. The bonds were issued through the Build America Bond program at an interest rate of about 3.89 percent lower than the rate for traditional, tax-exempt bonds, district officials said.

Heath to seek bids this week

for new elevated water tower
City leaders in Heath, located about 20 miles east of Dallas, recently decided to seek separate bids on two water projects - a new storage tower and replacement lines along Hillview Drive.

The city will start the bidding process on the water tower, but held off on the water line project. At least one Hillview Drive resident, who walked out of the meeting, was angry that the new lines would not go forward with the tower project. The city can probably save money if the projects go up for bid separately, advisors have said. 

Richardson ISD begins whittling down projects for bond proposal
With a goal of reducing a proposed bond package from $188.7 million to about $170 million, trustees for the Richardson Independent School District began whittling away projects from the bond proposal planned in May 2011.

District staff recommended $17 million in proposed cuts, including eliminating $1 million each for two video-equipped scoreboards at the district's two stadiums, $200,000 from the library budget, $500,000 for more district servers and data storage and $777,000 by delaying the replacement of vehicles until the next bond cycle. The staff also suggested cutting $5 million from the estimate cost of wiring schools for improved technology and $5 million for technology services as district officials expect to receive federal grants to help pay for that service.

Trustees also asked staff to bring back more information on funding for the district's planetarium and water sports facility as each need expensive maintenance and upgrades to remain in use. Board members made no decisions on which projects to eliminate or scale down and are scheduled to meet again in January to discuss the proposed bond package.

Llano County signs pact for operation of Llano Hospital
Llano County commissioners recently approved a contract with Scott & White, the Llano County Hospital Authority and the county that will allow Scott & White take over operation of Llano Memorial Hospital on Jan. 1, 2011.

The agreement revamps the lease, indigent care agreements and emergency medical service agreements at the hospital, noted the president of the Llano Hospital Authority.

Cedar Park to seek grant for propane vehicles, fueling station
Cedar Park City Council members recently agreed to apply to the Texas Railroad Commission for a Low Emission Propane Equipment Grant from the US Department of Energy. If the grant is approved, the city plans to buy 10 propane compatible vehicles and a 2,000-gallon fueling station. The grant program will reimburse the city about $169,000, some $7,000 to $10,000 per vehicle, said Assistant City Manager Sam Roberts (pictured).

Prior to the decision to pursue propane vehicles, city officials analyzed six alternative options, including propane, natural gas, all electric, plug-in hybrids, ethanol and bio-diesel vehicles to determine the best choice for the city. After looking at the use of propane-powered trucks in Austin, Williamson County and the Leander Independent School District, district officials selected propane because of expected savings on fuel and because propane is friendly to the environment.

City officials expect to save from $150 to $619 per vehicle per year depending on the cost of propane, Roberts said. The vehicles could be available for city use as soon as the summer of 2011 if the grant is approved.

Caddo Mills ISD moves forward on sewer connection for school
Officials of the Caddo Mills Independent School District and the city of Caddo Mills recently approved an agreement allowing construction to begin in early 2011 on a sewer connection to Griffs Elementary School.

School district officials are seeking bids for the sewer connection project and set a deadline of 4 p.m. on Jan. 5, 2011, for the bids to be submitted, said Superintendent Vicki Payne.