TWDB picks Callahan as agency's new executive administrator

Officials at the Texas Water Development Board recently named Melanie Callahan (pictured) executive administrator.

Callahan, a certified public accountant, has nearly 30 years experience in public sector financial management.

She joined the water development board in 2001 as chief accounting officer and director of the financial services division. Callahan was named chief financial officer in 2007 and has served as interim executive administrator since March 2011.

TxDOT plan for pavement management earns international award

The Texas Department of Transportation has been recognized for its four-year management plan that aims to improve pavement conditions across the state.

The International Road Federation honored nine projects in eight counties with the Global Road Achievement Award, including TxDOT in the category of maintenance management.

State engineers prioritized road maintenance needs using prediction models that can analyze damage rates for different pavements in four climate regions in the state. Deterioration rates differ based on weather and soil type.

Three years into the program, highways rated good or better have increased from 85.99 percent to nearly 87 percent - a difference that could help economic growth, said TxDOT executive director Phil Wilson (pictured).

Following a review of communications at the Texas A&M System and Texas A&M University, Chancellor John Sharp recently reorganized the communications staff at both institutions. Sharp appointed Steve Moore (left) to a newly created position as vice chancellor for marketing and communications for the Texas A&M System. Jason Cook (right), who currently oversees communications for the A&M System and at Texas A&M University, will now oversee communications only at the university. Moore and Cook begin their new duties on Jan. 2, 2012.

The changes were made because overseeing marketing and communications for both the system and the university resulted in too much work for one person to effectively perform, Sharp said. In November, Sharp also split the duties that had been performed by one person by appointing a new chief financial officer to oversee the system and a separate chief financial officer for the flagship university. The board of regents in 2010 approved a shared services initiative which resulted in one person sometimes being employed by both the System and the university in one position, but Sharp said too much work existed in some case, such as communications and finance, for one person to perform adequately for both entities.

Moore joined Texas A&M University in 2005 as vice president of communications and chief marketing officer. He became chief marketing officer in 2008 when a new president appointed Cook as vice president for communications.

The Texas Supreme Court recently reported a new record: The lowest number of argued pending cases on record from one term.

The Court had four cases pending on its docket from the 2010-2011 term, which ended Aug. 31. The previous year, the Court had 38 carryovers and before that, 57 pending cases.

Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson (pictured) reported that during the 2010-2011 term, the Court issued 162 opinions but missed 17 internal benchmarks, which are guidelines for opinions regardless of their complexity.

TAMU associate provost Young resigns after four months

Texas A&M University Associate Provost Lesia Young (pictured) recently resigned after less than four months on the job.

Her brief tenure reportedly was marked by disagreements with other administrators about the future of the general studies major, a non-degree major that more than 5,000 students claim as they try to get into other programs or decide on a major. As associate provost for undergraduate studies, Young had plans to dramatically restructure the major but met pushback from administrators worried about unintended consequences.

Young, who earned a bachelor's, master's and Ph.D. from Texas A&M, was the first African-American woman to receive a doctorate in engineering at Texas A&M University. In her place, Jim Kracht will serve as interim associate provost. University officials said they would work on filling the spot permanently after the winter break.

Amid reportedly contentious pushback from administrators within the colleges who worried about unintended consequences and the speed at which decisions were being made, A&M deferred some elements of the changes a year and backed off on others.

Amarillo College board approves firm for Hereford campus

Officials of Amarillo College recently OK'd an Amarillo-based architectural firm to design a new $5 million campus in Hereford.

The Everett and Mabel McDougal Hinkson Memorial Campus, made possible through a $3 million private donation, is expected to open to students in spring 2014.

The new 30,000- to 36,000-square-foot building will be located on 10 acres donated by the Hereford Economic Development Corporation.

Texas A&M Registrar Donald Carter leaving after 45-year career

Texas A&M University Registrar Donald Carter (pictured) plans to retire after 45 years of service. His last day is Dec. 31.

Carter, who began working in the registrar's office in 1966, has participated in more than 300 graduation ceremonies of about 340,000 Aggies.

Carter, who worked under the administration of nine A&M presidents, earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Texas A&M.

Alamo Colleges partnering with Port San Antonio

Alamo Colleges and Port San Antonio recently formed a new partnership that will encourage the aerospace industry in San Antonio.

As part of the deal, Alamo Colleges expects to receive a donation of 30 acres of land and a 40,000-square-foot building, which will be used for business outreach programs.

Port San Antonio is donating the land in exchange for Alamo Colleges providing several years of training to current and future aerospace industry workers. The specialized training is valued at $5.1 million.

Houston City Council members recently approved $55 million for a public-private partnership to restore and upgrade a 2.3-mile section of Buffalo Bayou Park by adding safety features, more recreation areas and easier access from nearby neighborhoods.

The Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP) along with the city of Houston, the Harris County Flood Control District and the Kinder Foundation are joining to restore Buffalo Bayou Park, west of the downtown area, to a more natural and self-sustaining state. Plans call for reintroducing native landscaping and adding safety features that include creating areas for pedestrians to walk and hike away from speeding bicyclists and upgrading passages over the bayou away from dangerous bridges. Officials also will open areas for canoes and kayaks to land and add more benches, shade and picnic areas, improved lighting and drinking fountains.

Harris County Flood Control District staff also will make improvements to the channel by stabilizing banks, preventing erosion and removing non-native vegetation to improve the ability of the bayou to move flooding water.

Denton Independent School District trustees recently agreed to sell $40 million in bonds to fund a new middle school and to use $8.3 million in contingency funds from previous bond issues to pay for renovations, new classrooms and science lab additions at three elementary schools.

Trustees also agreed to spend $1 million in reserve funds to upgrade technology and $1.89 million in interest earnings to pay the remaining costs for the proposed $41.89 million middle school project. District officials have about $4 million in contingency funds remaining from previous bond projects approved by voters in 2007 and earlier elections that allow the district to move forward in upgrading facilities, said Superintendent Ray Braswell (pictured).

Projects remaining from the 2007 bond proposal are a new elementary school, a new support service facility, planning and design for a fourth high school and buying land for future facilities for the district. These remaining projects carry an estimated price tag of more than $58.7 million, Braswell said. The board is expected to give final approval to break ground on the new middle school in May 2012, he said.

Committee formed to discuss joint city-county health department

The Lubbock Board of Health recently formed a five-member committee to investigate starting up a joint city-county health department.

The committee, which will meet for the first time in January, has no set deadlines as the city and county budgets have been set for the year.

The committee now includes: County Judge Tom Head, board of health members Steve Presley and Brian Carr, and Greg Bruce, University Medical Center vice president. One vacant spot remains, which may be filled by Richard Parks, president and CEO of Covenant Health System.

Big Spring mayor urges use of 4B sales tax funds for upgrades

Big Spring Mayor Tommy Duncan recently said he plans to ask council members to seek voter approval for the use of 4B sales tax funds to pay for an $11 million upgrade of water and wastewater facilities.

The projects include $7.138 million in repairs and upgrades at the water treatment facility and $3.738 million in upgrades to the wastewater treatment facility. However, using a part of the sales tax revenue to improve water and wastewater facilities will take away funding from economic development efforts and almost cut in half the budget of the Big Spring Economic Development Corporation (EDC), Duncan noted. His proposal would leave about $800,000 to $850,000 annually to operate the EDC and about $800,000 to $850,000 annually to pay debt service for the water project. City staff members are finalizing cost estimates before he presents the proposal to council members in January, Duncan said.

Hidalgo County officials recently began reviewing a draft plan for a $53 million, eight-story county courthouse (see accompanying artist's rendering) with plans to add other buildings as needed. To finance the new courthouse, county officials are looking at creating a public-private partnership in which a private entity pays construction costs and maintenance of the courthouse under a long-term lease with the county.

The draft master plan, which is flexible and allows additional floors to be added to the 254,000-square-foot structure, also calls for an off-site parking garage, a clerk building and a district attorney's office to be added to the courthouse square at a later time, the architect said. The existing courthouse, a historical structure, also can be renovated to meet space needs, the architect said

County officials also discussed adopting a tax increment financing zone around the courthouse square, charging a fee for any cases filed in county court and looking for savings from judicial expenses such as defense for indigents to pay for adding space.

Harris County's financial budget officer Raycraft retiring

Longtime Harris County budget officer Dick Raycraft recently announced that he plans to retire at the end of the year.

His position, as well as the Management Services Department, will be eliminated and replaced with the Department of Financial Services & Planning. Existing city employees will be promoted and take on additional duties.

Raycraft has served Harris County for more than 43 years, as the county budget officer for the last 30 years. He has worked with 20 members of the Commissioners Court and, for his influence, has earned the nickname "the shadow commissioner."

Kilgore city officials recently selected six finalists for the newly created position of director of public works. While remaining unnamed, the six finalists are from around the country and have backgrounds ranging from public works management to transportation, City Manager Scott Sellers said. Council members created the new public works director position to provide more oversight on several major projects now beginning construction.

City officials plan to interview the six final candidates in early January, 2012, and have set a goal of hiring the new director by early February, Sellers said. Once on board, the public works director will oversee transportation, streets, water treatment and distribution, the city's fleet of vehicles and maintenance of parks and cemeteries. The new director also will work with a livability study of the city to be conducted by Stephen F. Austin State University and serve on a newly created growth committee and the plan review committee.

Copperas Cove moving forward on $1.66 million water project

Copperas Cove city officials recently requested bids for a proposed $1.66 million water project to allow more housing to be developed in a subdivision that is located partially outside of the city limits. Plans call for building a 16-inch water line extending a quarter of a mile, a 300,000-gallon, elevated storage tank and a pump station, the city engineer said. Council members are expected to review the bids and announce the winning bid in January, 2012.

The upgrades to the water system will allow water service to 61 residential lots planned for phases two and three of the subdivision as well as improve pressure and flow throughout the water system, the engineer said.

An agreement with the city calls for the developer to donate land for the infrastructure upgrades that include a 1.2 million gallon elevated storage tank planned in about three years. The agreement provides for the city to accept a voluntary annexation when the infrastructure improvements are finished, to limit the subdivision to no more than 120 lots and gives the city control over development standards for the subdivision, the engineer said.

Leander ISD board considers satellite transportation facility site

The Leander school board recently moved forward with research of a second transportation facility, which could reduce bus travel by 225,000 miles per year.

Existing warehouses on the site, which is in the City of Austin's jurisdiction, would be renovated to house maintenance and technician staff. The proposed hub would include 50 bus parking spaces and could accommodate 31 bus routes.

Costs for renovations are estimated at $3 million - more than five times initial figures of $580,000.

District transportation staff will continue to research the feasibility of the location while looking at alternative sites as well.

TxDOT issues RFQ for Dallas Horseshoe Project

The Texas Department of Transportation is seeking proposals from teams interested in a design-build contract for the $818 million Horseshoe Project in downtown Dallas.

The project includes upgrading the Interstate 30 bridge, the north and southbound Interstate 35E bridges, and the intersection of Interstates 30 and 35, known as the "Mixmaster." The contract could include capital maintenance as well.

Qualification submittals are due Jan. 31, 2012. Requests for proposals will likely be released in the spring with a contract to be executed next winter.

After receiving no bids for the school district's former administration building, Beeville ISD trustees recently agreed to again seek bids for the building and property that has been empty for about a year.

District officials also decided to accept separate bids for the building and the property on St. Mary's Street, Superintendent Sue Thomas (pictured) said. Some citizens have expressed interest in buying the property, but some did not understand that the district is required by law to seek bids for the district property, she said.

Lampasas County commissioners recently approved an interlocal agreement allotting $450,000 to the city of Lampasas to build a new fire station in Lampasas that is expected to cost between $1.2 million and $1.4 million.

The agreement prevents the $450,000 from unspent county bonds from automatically being placed in the debt service fund on Jan. 1, 2012, County Auditor Jack Clark said. The funds are from $3.9 million in bonds that county voters approved to build annex offices in downtown Lampasas and fit into the original purpose as both the county and city will use the new station, Clark said. The agreement also permits county officials to participate with city officials in planning the new fire facility on East Fourth Street, he said. One commissioner urged the county to contribute only $50,000 to the new station as current plans are to store vehicles and use only one office at the new station.

Wylie Independent School District officials recently began planning for about $7.5 million in new facilities and renovations to existing campuses.

Superintendent Joey Light (pictured) said the district should be able to complete the construction projects within 18 months without incurring new debt. Current plans are to build a new $7 million, 65,000-square-foot facility and 30 classrooms west of the junior high school by June of 2013, Light said. This plan will allow the district to move fifth graders from the intermediate campus and sixth graders from the junior high school campus to ease crowding.

District officials also plan to move kindergarten classes from the elementary campus by the 2012-2013 school year to join with pre-kindergarten classes that meet at the Early Childhood Center, he said. The estimated cost is $325,000 for new driveways, paving and parking and $100,000 for renovations. The new one-story building is expected to include seven science classrooms with laboratory space, an art classroom, a music room and classrooms for academic subjects along with a cafeteria, library, gym and administrative offices. The district also plans to install new plumbing fixtures appropriate for the age of students, additional electrical outlets, computer stations and interactive whiteboards.

Abilene to offer $1.43 million to Postal Service to keep mail facility

In an effort to retain jobs, Abilene economic development officials plan to offer the U.S. Postal Service $1.43 million to keep open a mail processing center.

The financially-strapped Postal Service recently announced plans to close the facility, which officials estimate would save about $4 million a year.

The $1.43 million, which would be paid out over 10 years, would cover the Postal Service's annual lease costs in Abilene. The Postal Service pays about $11,000 a month in rent as well as about $11,000 in annual taxes.

Midland Independent School District trustees recently asked architecture firms to submit bids to help the district prepare for and win approval of a bond proposal. District officials would like to call a general bond election to pay for new schools and renovations within the next year, said Superintendent Ryder Warren (pictured).

Trustees set a Jan. 18, 2012, deadline for consultants to submit their qualification for seven specific requests, including reviewing demographic and enrollment data to project student growth and recommend future facility projects for the next 10 years. District officials also requested the architecture firm update the 10-year facilities plan, recommend projects to be included in a bond election, develop cost estimates of the recommended projects and provide planning materials and multimedia presentations about the proposed bond issue to be used to educate community members.

Once the proposals are submitted, trustees will evaluate the bids on six criteria, with the architecture firm having key personnel in place and experience with other school districts being the most critical.

Trustees for Humble Independent School District recently approved the development of the design for a new elementary school, the 27th elementary school in the school district.

The new school will be located in the area near Beltway 8, the fastest growing area of the district where new homes and apartment buildings currently are under construction, Superintendent Guy Sconzo said. District officials expect to seek bids for the new elementary school in 2012 once the design is finalized, he said.

N. Texas Accountable Healthcare Partnership secures $4.9M grant

The North Texas Accountable Healthcare Partnership recently secured a $4.9 million state grant, which will help establish a health information network between hospitals, physicians, pharmacies and labs.

The grant comes through the Health and Human Services Commission, which doled out a total of $28 million in federal funds for the creation of health information networks.

The North Texas partnership, which has a coverage area of about 12,000 physicians, 140 hospitals and more than 6.5 million patients, will use the money to set up "real time" information exchange that will improve timeliness, accuracy and safety while reducing the cost of patient care.

Dallas City officials recently agreed to ask the public for their opinions on a plan being developed to open a fifth major park in the downtown area to link Deep Ellum to downtown.

TSABAA Mid-Winter Conference scheduled for Jan. 11-13, 2012

The 32nd Annual Texas State Agency Business Administrators' Association (TSABAA) Mid-Winter Conference is scheduled for Jan. 11-13, 2012, at the Inn of the Hills Resort and Conference Center in Kerrville. It's a great opportunity to participate in an exciting conference program agenda and to take advantage of more personal networking opportunities during the day and after hours. Among the topics to be discussed are how to boost morale through communication, inspiring trust in unpredictable times, recognizing signs of fraud, recruiting and selection and using data analytics tools and techniques to increase program efficiencies and outcomes. For more information and to download a registration form, click here.

Fort Worth City Council members recently approved $1.85 million to upgrade the Marine Park Family Aquatic Center. Funding from community development block grants will pay for upgrading the center, which should be completed in the summer of 2013. City officials also are rehabilitating the pool at Marine Park, with the pool set to be open by the summer of 2012.

Howard College, Howard County discussing possible joint library

Officials with Howard College and Howard County are discussing a joint library facility, which would be located on the college campus.

Project costs could be partially funded by a $250,000 grant that Howard College recently captured for library renovations, said college president Cheryl Sparks (pictured). Other funding sources would also be necessary, she said.

When complete, the joint effort would likely reduce redundancies in services and save money.

Superintendent Ryder Warren of the Midland Independent School District recently told board members that district officials should be able to build new schools and renovate current facilities with the help of a bond issue. Trustees took no action as the construction projects are still in the planning stages.

Argyle board accepts resignation of chief financial officer Lyles

The Argyle school board recently accepted the resignation of chief financial officer Paul Lyles, effective Dec. 31.

Lyles has worked for the district since 2005.

The district will begin looking soon for Lyles' replacement after the winter break.

With the cost of renovations quickly approaching the price tag for new construction, trustees for the Big Spring Independent School District recently began exploring the possibility of building a fourth new elementary school rather than renovating Moss Elementary. Voters in May 2010 approved $60 million in bonds to build three new schools and renovate Moss Elementary.

Recent estimates are that renovations to the school built in 1966 will cost from $9.7 million to $10 million while a new elementary school would cost between $11.5 million and $11.7 million, said Superintendent Steven Saldivar (pictured). Trustees took no action on the proposal to build a fourth new school rather than renovating the elementary school.

Board members of the Tatum Independent School District recently began discussion on scheduling a $31 million bond proposal next year. If voters approve, the bond funding will pay for a new $18 million elementary campus. Board members also expect to spend $6 million to upgrade technology and to buy school buses and $7 million for other projects, Superintendent Dee Hartt said.

The new school will be designed to house grades 3 through 5 and the middle school would then house grades 6 through 8 instead of the current grades 7 through 8, Hartt said.

Austin officials making wish

list for likely bond issue 

Austin city officials will likely put together a bond advisory committee to trim and prioritize a $1.29 billion wish list, which was created by city departments.

The final bond package, which will likely be presented to Council in the spring, is expected to total between $385 million and $725 million. The initial wish list includes a new police headquarters, new fire department headquarters and affordable housing.

North Alamo city officials recently accepted more than $4.6 million in financial assistance for upgrades to the city's wastewater system that will provide sewer services to 315 new homes in two colonias and three subdivisions.

The Economically Distressed Areas Program of the Texas Water Development Board is providing a $4.4 million grant and a $279,000 loan to the city that will require the issue of bonds to repay the loan before construction of the wastewater project can begin, City Manager Luciano Ozuna said. City officials have set a goal of beginning construction as early as March or April on the sewer upgrade, which should be completed in about a year after construction begins, Ozuna said.

Morris County commissioners recently approved two grants, a $93,814 award for 2010 and a $35,595 grant for 2011. The two grants will be used to buy more radios to meet standards for the new radio frequencies required for emergency management and a laptop computer, the county auditor said.

Ramirez earns contract as

EDC's new executive director

The Edinburg Economic Development Corporation's board of directors recently named Nelda Ramirez (pictured) the EDC's new executive director and negotiated a three-year contract.

Ramirez, previously the assistant executive director, replaces Pedro Salazar, who resigned to return to the private sector. Ramirez has served as interim executive director since Salazar's resignation.

Ramirez was selected for her record of bringing new industry and job creation efforts to Edinburg. In her new role, Ramirez will work to expand and create economic development in the city.

Rice rejects federal loan

to finance its new city hall

After applying for a $1.5 million federal grant to build a new city hall, Rice City Council members recently rejected a $2.9 million federal loan along with a $50,000 federal grant after paying for an environmental study and for a design plan.

While the requested $1.5 million award would require the city to repay about $8,000 a month, the $2.9 million loan would have required the city to repay about $15,000 a month, or about $150,000 a year, more than the city can pay, the mayor said. City officials plan to look for other options for a new city hall, he said.

Federal Emergency Management Agency officials recently awarded nearly $392,000 to rebuild the administrative offices of the Bolivar Peninsula Special Utility District Administration. The office was heavily damaged during Hurricane Ike.

Plans call for using the walls of the existing structure to elevate the office space above the base floor elevation. This action will make the facility eligible for upgrades such as an elevator and a generator for backup power, said Tony Russell, FEMA administrator for Region 6. 

Teran picked as lone finalist for Childress ISD superintendent

The Childress school board recently named Rick Teran (pictured) as lone finalist for superintendent and will vote to hire on Jan. 5, 2012.

Teran currently serves as the superintendent at the Hale Center district and has also served as superintendent of the Loraine district.

Teran began his education career as a teacher and coach in 1978.

Mineral Wells begins search

for new superintendent 

The Mineral Wells school board recently began a superintendent search - the second in three years.

Superintendent Ronny Collins, who was hired in 2008, plans to retire in the spring.

The process of finding his replacement will take up to four months, culminating with a hire in late April.

Schneider named Dublin

interim superintendent

The Dublin school board recently named assistant superintendent Rodney Schneider interim superintendent, effective Jan. 1, 2012.

He will hold the position during a search to replace Shaun Barnett, who will serve his last day Dec. 31.

Schneider received a bachelor's degree from North Dakota State University, a master's from Sul Ross State University, and a Ph.D. from Texas Tech University.  He was a coach and teacher in Raymondville and Ozona, a principal in the Ira district, and has served as the superintendent at Whitharral, Plemmons-Stinnett-Phillips and O'Donnell districts.

Seals chosen to head Cotulla

ISD schools as superintendent

The Cotulla school board recently voted to hire Jack Seals (pictured) as the district's new superintendent.

Seals previously served as the interim superintendent in Cotulla ISD since April 2011 and prior to that, he was the superintendent in Dilley ISD.

He began his career as a teacher in Rice Consolidated Independent School District in 1976.

Agua utility district awarded $2.4M grant for sewer project

The Agua Special Utility District, which serves western Hidalgo County, recently received a $2.4 million state grant that will be used to expand a $26 million sewer service project.

The grant comes from the Texas Water Development Board's Economically Distressed Areas Program.

Agua officials will put the money toward the Palmview wastewater treatment project, which has been several years in the making.

Aaron Spence (pictured), the chief high school officer for the Houston Independent School District, recently resigned to become superintendent of the Moore County School District in North Carolina.

Spence, who joined the Houston district in July 2010, previously served as a teacher at the Stafford County Public School System and as a principal for the Henrico Public School System, both in Virginia. He has a bachelor's degree, a master's degree and a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia.

Hernandez will become La Pryor ISD's new superintendent

The La Pryor school board recently hired Benny Hernandez (pictured) as the district's new superintendent, effective in January, 2012.

Hernandez previously served as the high school principal in the Iraan-Sheffield district and as the elementary principal in the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah district.

He began his career in education as a special education teacher in Pecos.

• Robert "Bob" Long of Bastrop, Texas Ethics Commission;
• Ray Wilkerson of Austin, Texas Emissions Reduction Plan Advisory Board;
• Kenneth Pelt of Kountze, Texas Emissions Reduction Plan Advisory Board;
• Thomas Braniff of Houston, Joint Interim Committee to Study Seacoast Territory Insurance;
• Wilson "Bill" Cooney of Fair Oaks Ranch, Joint Interim Committee to Study Seacoast Territory Insurance.

Fort Davis ISD selects Whitis

as lone superintendent finalist

The Fort Davis school board recently named Judi Whitis (pictured) the lone finalist for superintendent.

Whitis, who currently serves as assistant superintendent in the Burnet district, has worked as a teacher in Copperas Cove and as the director of instructional accountability and assistant superintendent in Lampasas. The Fort Davis board is scheduled to hire Whitis Jan. 9, 2012.

Marshall Independent School District officials recently requested Brian Nichols, a former superintendent for the district, to serve as interim superintendent while trustees conduct a search for a new superintendent.

Nichols asked to meet with the board before determining whether to accept the interim position, the board president said. Some board members also suggested considering other applicants for interim superintendent rather than focusing on only one candidate for the temporary post.

Trustees also discussed whether to conduct the search themselves for a new superintendent or hire a consultant, but reached no decision. Trustees agreed to meet on Jan. 6, 2012, to discuss hiring an interim superintendent and vote on that decision on Jan. 9.

Galveston picks former Port Aransas leader city manager

The Galveston City Council recently named Michael Kovacs (pictured) as the island's new top administrator.

Kovacs is the assistant city manager of Park City, Utah, a ski resort town of about 7,550 residents. Previously, he has served as city manager of Port Aransas, the town administrator for Surfside Beach, S.C., and the city administrator for Presidio. He replaces an interim city manager, who had served since April when Council fired longtime administrator Steve LeBlanc.

To improve response to disasters and emergencies, Sherman City Council members recently approved a mutual aid agreement with officials of Bryan County in Oklahoma.

Sherman city officials also in the next few months are pursuing mutual aid agreements with the city of Durant, Oklahoma, and with Grayson, Fannin, Cooke and Marshall counties in Texas, said Fire Chief Jeff Jones of Sherman. These agreements will help personnel from Sherman and from neighboring cities and counties help each other during emergencies, Jones said.