Construction projects approved by University of Texas regents

Among the items approved this week by The University of Texas System Board of Regents were several construction projects for UT-Austin.
 

Regents approved spending for an $11.5 million expansion of the campus' Geography Building, $2 million for renovations for the Recreational Sports Center, $6 million for a scaled-back elementary charter school originally expected to cost $19 million and $8 million for an indoor tennis facility at Steiner Ranch.

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Sales tax revenues in state continue steady increase

Local governments across the state will soon receive allocations from April sales tax revenues, which totaled $1.87 billion - up 11.4 percent compared to a year ago.
 

Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said growth in oil and gas and retail spending have led to sales tax revenue increases for 13 months in a row.
 

Local tax districts will receive a combined $600.1 million in allocations, a 5.8 percent increase from a year ago. Texas cities will receive $403.4 million, up 4.7 percent compared to a year ago; Texas counties will get $37.4 million, up 11  percent; local transit systems will collect $133.5 million, up 6.4 percent; and special purpose taxing districts will take $25.6 million, up 13.9 percent compared to last May.

To view the allocations by city, click here. To view the allocations by county, click here.

A&M Chancellor McKinney resigns post, leaving this summer

Texas A&M University Chancellor Michael D. McKinney (pictured), who has overseen the flagship campus and 11 regional campuses for five years, recently announced plans to retire in July.
 
McKinney, a former state legislator and physician, will continue to work through a tumultuous legislative session, when lawmakers are looking to make big cuts in higher education funding.
 
"Those of you who know me well understand that I do not intend to sit idle over the next month and a half," he said. "These are challenging economic times for our state, and I firmly believe that an investment in higher education is an investment in Texas' future."
 
During McKinney's tenure, enrollment has increased from 103,000 to nearly 120,000 and research expenditures have increased 33.7 percent to more than $772 million.

Committee to study higher ed governance, excellence, transparency

Texas lawmakers recently created a new oversight panel - the Joint Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence and Transparency - to spotlight crucial issues, such as containing rising costs and improving graduation rates at the state's public colleges and universities.

The committee will be chaired by Sen. Judith Zaffirini of Laredo and Rep. Dan Branch, of Dallas.
Senate members appointed to the committee are John Carona of Dallas, Robert Duncan of Lubbock, Rodney Ellis of Houston, Kel Seliger of Amarillo and Kirk Watson of Austin. House committee members are Dennis Bonnen of Angleton, Joaquin Castro of San Antonio, Eric Johnson of Dallas, Lois Kolkhorst of Brenham and Jim Pitts of Waxahachie.  
 

The committee will make a biennial report of its findings and recommendations before each regular session of the legislature, with the initial report due by Jan. 7, 2013.

Godbey previously served on the Committee and Section Review Task force, the Client Security Fund Committee and the Annual Meeting Committee of the State Bar and on the Texas Access to Justice Commission. She holds a bachelor's degree from Southern Methodist University and a J.D. from Tulane University Law School.

Texas Enterprise Fund's $4.2 million goes to GE Transportation

The state will invest $4.2 million in Texas Enterprise Funds in GE Transportation for creating a locomotive manufacturing facility in Fort Worth. The investment is expected to create 775 new, high-tech manufacturing jobs and up to $96 million in capital investment.
 

The facility will manufacture, assemble and remanufacture GE's rail and transportation-related products, including a locomotive that reduces fuel use by 5 percent and reduces emissions by 40 percent.
 

David Berzina, executive vice president of economic development for the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, said the new plant will have a significant effect on commerce in North Texas and beyond.

DePinho sole finalist for president of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

University of Texas System officials recently selected Dr. Ronald DePinho (pictured) as the sole finalist for president of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. DePinho will replace Dr. John Mendelsohn as president of the cancer treatment and research facility.

DePinho is now director of the Belfer Institute for Applied Cancer Science at the Dana-Farber Cancer Center in Boston. He also is a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School. He earned his M.D. degree from Albert Einstein Medical College and completed research training at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.

Texas Woman's University approves $1 million for student grants

In a move to prepare for expected cuts in state funding to higher education, regents for the Texas Woman's University recently approved $1 million in Brighter Future grants to be available immediately to new freshmen to try and make up some of the anticipated loss in financial aid.

TWU officials began notifying first-time freshmen who had previously applied for fall 2011 financial aid grants to help those students attend college despite possible reductions in state financial aid, said Dr. Richard Nicholas (pictured), vice president for student life. Nicholas estimated almost 500 new freshman students will be affected if Texas legislators approve the currently proposed reductions in higher education funding.

Students will be selected for the Brighter Future grants based on financial need and a merit-based system using high school grade point average, class rank and SAT/ACT scores. The maximum grant will be $5,700, college officials said.

Texas Tech plans clubhouse, team facility at The Rawls Course

Texas Tech University plans to begin building a $3.7 million golf clubhouse and team facility in July.

The Tech golf team will have private facilities that include a conference room, team locker room and coaches' offices. Other golfers will have access to a bar and grill, a pro shop and locker rooms.

The Rawls Course, which opened in 2003, has been named the No. 4 university course in the nation and the fifth-best in Texas. Tech golf coaches said they look forward to having a clubhouse that matches the distinguished course.

Funding for The Rawls Course project (pictured) has been provided through private donations.

UNT's Jacobs will lead N. Georgia College & State University

A University of North Texas executive, Bonita Jacobs (pictured), plans to step down as executive director for the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students.
 

She is leaving UNT after being named president of North Georgia College & State University. She was selected from two finalists to replace the retiring president.
 

Jacobs earned a bachelor's degree and master's degree from Stephen F. Austin State University and a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University.

Texas Tech administrators will present regents with a facility plan for the next five years. The new facility plan calls for new buildings, property acquisition and a major remodeling project to accommodate departments that lost space for a new residence hall.

Texas A&M Vice Provost Martyn Gunn to leave position

Texas A&M University's Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, J. Martyn Gunn (pictured), will soon step down so that he can return to the classroom.

Gunn, who has worked at Texas A&M for nearly 35 years, will serve as a biochemistry professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

The university is currently taking applications to fill the vacant position, which works toward academic effectiveness and accountability. Candidates must have tenure and at least five years of academic administrative experience.

Travis County delays vote on $49.5 million in courthouse bonds

After taking another look a time constraints, Travis County commissioners recently agreed to delay asking voters to approve until later a proposed $49.5 million bond issue to pay for a new public-private courthouse project.

Commissioners in April voted to solicit proposals from developers for a possible public-private partnership for the new courthouse project with the deadline for submittal on June 30. They also approved the $49.5 million bond proposal and agreed to seek outside counsel and a financial consultant to explore public-private partnerships and provide advice on the proposed project. After learning the deadline for calling a November bond election is Aug. 1, commissioners discussed and informally agreed to wait for a later date to ask voters to approve the $49.5 million in bonds.

County officials recently paid $21.75 million for downtown property in Austin for the proposed new courthouse. Opened in 1931, the current civil courthouse is too small and outdated to handle the growing civil court system, county officials said.

Tarleton picks Murray as  Provost, VP for Academic Affairs

Tarleton State University leaders recently selected the interim provost, Karen Murray (pictured), to become the new provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. If approved by regents, Murray will succeed Gary Peer, who retired in January.
 
Since coming to Tarleton in 1987, Murray has served in a variety of leadership roles that include director of the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, assistant vice president for Academic Affairs for Curriculum and Assessment, and associate vice president for Academic Affairs for Assessment, Curriculum and Outreach.
 

Murray earned a bachelor's degree jointly conferred by The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and The University of Texas at Arlington, a master's from UT-Arlington and a Ph.D. from the University of North Texas Health Science Center.

Houston considers privatization of convention center

City of Houston leaders have plans to privatize the Convention and Entertainment Facilities department, a change that could funnel $10 million to the city. City Council could vote on the plan soon.

Plans call for the department, which runs downtown venues including the George R. Brown Convention Center, to become a separate entity. If approved, the 120 department workers would no longer be city employees and would lose their union protections.

The new corporation - a merger of the city department with the Houston Convention Center Hotel Corporation - would have its own board of directors and lease the downtown venues from the city for $2 million a year. It would pay rent for the first five years, $10 million, by July 1. City officials indicate they might also look at privatization of other services as well.

Because the state constitution does not allow a political subdivision to give any property or service of value to any entity, City Manager Chris Coffman said the emergency services district must buy the land at fair market value or lease it from the city to proceed with construction of the new fire station. Council members also could issue more certificates of obligation to pay for building a new fire station and lease that facility to the emergency services district, Coffman said.

Construction on the new fire station must be delayed until the city and the Emergency Services District can settle the question of the land, he added.

Orange moves forward with $7.2 million in downtown projects

Orange City Council members recently gave the go-ahead for the Orange Economic Development Corporation (OEDC) to approve design development and spend up to $7.2 million for three major projects to upgrade downtown.

The three priority areas for the downtown projects are to:  

• Stabilize the riverfront bank, add a boardwalk and more green space;
• Build a Riverfront Pavilion and add more green space; and
• Develop an entry plaza with an interactive fountain to greet visitors to the area.

Final construction documents for the three downtown beautification projects must be submitted by June 1. OEDC officials expect to take bids in mid-June, award a contract by mid July, with construction beginning in September. The three projects should be completed by October 2012.

Park Board of Trustees, City of Galveston drop merger plans

The chairman of the Galveston Park Board of Trustees recently said that Galveston city officials have ended negotiations with the Park Board of Trustees regarding the merger of some park board and city functions.

City and Park Board representatives met earlier this year to explore the possibility of sharing space at the Park Board building and the city possibly turning over special events and some park maintenance to the Park Board. Park Board Chairman Craig Brown said city officials told him shortly after the termination of former City Manager Steve LeBlanc that there would be no more discussions about any merger. Park board members still hope to work with the city on special events, he said.

The Park Board Trustees also selected five finalists for a new executive director of the group. Park Board officials are expected to name the new executive director at the next meeting of the board. The finalists for executive director are Christa Buggey, Allen Flores, Jerald Tollett, Stanley Motley and Mario Rabago.

The Federal Transit Administration ordered city officials to bid out management services after determining the city was not meeting federal requirements for full and open competition for the transit contract. The city currently pays about $10,600 a month to the Fort Worth-based company to operate and manage transit services.

The bids will be evaluated on several criteria, with cost making up 20 percent of the grade. City officials also will consider qualifications and experience of the company, the general manager and corporate office support staff and the company's record of performance with other clients or the city of Abilene when selecting the winning bid, city officials said. The deadline for submitting a bid for the contract is June 10. The new contract also includes an option for the city to renew for two additional five-year terms.

Port of Corpus Christi puts Harbor Island up for sale

Port of Corpus Christi commissioners recently moved forward with plans to sell Harbor Island, which is located along the ship channel near Port Aransas.
 

The officials signed a contract with an international real estate service firm, which enables the firm to sell or lease the property and receive a commission  up to 4 percent.
Already, a Houston-based oil services company, Canyon Supply and Logistics, has shown interest in purchasing the island, which is being marketed as an industrial site, said Port Executive Director John LaRue (pictured).
 

Canyon Supply and Logistics recently agreed to buy the former Naval Station Ingleside for about $100 million.

The current jail is approaching capacity and is out of compliance in several areas, said a commissioner who supported hiring an architect to study the jail, make recommendations and provide a cost estimate on building a new jail or upgrading the current facility.

A selection committee comprised of county officials and employees will assess the requests for qualifications submitted by architects and make a recommendation to commissioners. The sheriff also told commissioners that if the county is forced to pay other counties to house inmates because of jail overcrowding, that could cause the budget for jail operations to double.

Former USAA executive Kelley will join CPS board

Trustees of CPS Energy in San Antonio selected former USAA executive Ed Kelley (pictured) to join the utility's governing board, pending City Council approval. He replaces Charles E. Foster, who stepped down for health reasons.

Kelley, a real estate consultant, was preferred over two other finalists because he has much board and business experience and is also a San Antonio native.

 As a trustee, Kelley will set policy for CPS, which owns and operates coal, natural gas and nuclear power plants outside of Texas' deregulated market. CPS is owned by the city, but largely operates independently.

Fort Worth mulling closing, outsourcing of park, library facilities

A committee appointed by the city manager of Fort Worth is expected to report to city council on May 19 the results of its study of the feasibility of turning over the operation of some park, recreation and library facilities to nonprofit foundations and to close or repurpose other parks and recreation facilities.

Among the recommendations to be discussed at a public hearing are to close the golf course and Z Boaz and redevelop it into a public park with walking trails, picnic areas, pavilions, playgrounds, athletic fields and an off-leash dog park, said Assistant City Manager Susan Alanis (pictured). The group also is expected to urge the city to turn over total operation of The Botanic Garden to nonprofit foundations, Alanis said. Two nonprofit groups, the Fort Worth Botanical Society and the Fort Worth Garden Club currently help support The Botanic Garden.

Committee members comprised of city staff and elected officials also are expected to recommend that the city outsource the operation of the Log Cabin Village to reduce operating costs, but also to help pay for planned improvements and maximizing private investment in public facilities, Alanis said.

The grant, which is overseen by the Texas Department of Agriculture's Rural Economic Development program, will be used to extend water and sewer utilities to the new assisted living facility, the Colonial Court project. Plans call for the assisted living facility to offer several single-family dwellings, duplexes and commercials sites for elderly residents.

The private company developing the assisted living center rather than the city will be required to match the grant if it is approved. City officials also scheduled a public hearing on May 23 to discuss the grant application and assisted living project, said Stacy Brack, assistant city manager.

The courthouse project, which came in at $695,535, involves constructing two new courtrooms, and offices for four justices of the peace, four constables and support staff. Commissioners still must OK the project.

The grant to replace fluorescent lighting comes through the energy company Oncor's Take a Load Off Texas program that helps customers jump-start energy efficiency efforts.

The upgrade will provide a minimum of one wireless access point for every four classrooms in the district, said Superintendent Robert Muller (pictured). The wireless option is the least expensive and most conservative option presented, he said. The wireless upgrade also will provide adequate coverage for common areas, portable buildings, labs, offices and other district facilities, Muller said.

Funding approved to replace dangerous Georgetown bridge on I-35

A Central Texas transportation group recently approved $4.5 million to build a bridge that will replace Georgetown's notoriously dangerous Lakeway Drive bridge, which has been the site of at least 28 collisions in the last two years.
 
The 1960s bridge, which crosses Interstate 35 at a 45-degree angle, has two lanes and no sidewalks.
 
The $7 million replacement - funded with a combination of local, state and federal monies - will have four lanes, sidewalks, bike lanes and be built perpendicular to the freeway.
 
Bids for the project could be requested within the next 90 days.

City Manager Larry Morgan (pictured) of Bullard fielded and answered questions about a four-phase street improvement project to upgrade roads around several school campuses. The first phase of the project carries a price tag of about $150,000 and will upgrade a road connecting the intermediate and middle schools. It is scheduled to begin this summer.
 

City officials also updated school officials on the progress of the city's master plan for development to attract new businesses to use some of the undeveloped property in the city. Civic groups such as the chamber of commerce will be asked to future joint meetings of the city council and school board, Morgan said.

$10 million clinic planned for Southeast Travis County

Leaders at Central Health, formerly the Travis County Healthcare District, recently got the OK from county leaders to put $10 million toward the opening of a new clinic.
 
The clinic will be located in Southeast Travis County and will be funded with certificates of obligation, which do not require voter approval. Officials expect to spend $8 million on buying a building and another $2 million on renovations.
 
The site location will not be disclosed until the sale is final, which could be as early as June.

Bastrop superintendent gives $10,000 toward librarian post

Superintendent Steve Murray of Bastrop Independent School District recently donated $10,000 of his salary to help reinstate an elementary school librarian. District officials also found an additional $200,000 in funding from non-instructional areas, including a new policy to use district administrators as substitute teachers at least three times a year, to save about $24,000 a year.

District officials also reduced the amount of extended or catastrophic leave given to teachers from 15 days to 10 for an estimated $24,000 in savings, took away $25,000 of the non-athletic co-curricular budget and eliminated a secretarial and a teaching assistant position to save nearly $50,000.

The superintendent said he decided to personally provide $10,000 because reinstating the librarian position will have a more tangible effect on students than returning a part of his salary to the general fund would have had. District officials also are exploring whether to sell advertisements in the football stadium and on district school buses to generate additional revenue for the district, Murray said.

The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SAHCC) will host its 2nd Annual Small Business Symposium on Friday, May 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, 200 E. Market Street, San Antonio, in the ParkView area on the second floor. This day-long event will include learning sessions for small business owners from all industries to enhance their competiveness and long-term sustainability. A panel on the most recent census and demographic data is also planned. Registration includes breakfast and lunch and access to all speakers, sessions and the floor displays. Corporate sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, click here. To register for the Small Business Symposium and to inquire about sponsorship and display opportunities, please click here or contact Regina Peña at (210) 208-8219 or email: reginap@sahcc.org.

TxDOT Ft. Worth Small Business Briefing conference

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Business Outreach and Program (BOP) Services reaches across Texas to provide small and minority-owned business communities an opportunity to learn more about contracting opportunities with state entities. The final Small Business Briefing conference for FY2011 is set for July 20 in San Antonio. Information will be available to help small business owners better understand how to do business with the agency and the State of Texas. The sessions not only allow small businesses to be introduced to TxDOT and other state agencies, but also allow them to learn more about the economic development opportunities in their regions.  It also gives agencies a chance to show the myriad of prospects available for small and minority businesses in the state. For more information and to register, click here or call 1.866.480.2519, Option 2. Planning for the 2012 fiscal year events is under way.  Please visit www.txdot.gov for updated information.

Texas State HUB Outreach Program hosting afternoon event in May

Texas State University's HUB Outreach Program will host an informative session to allow attendees to network and meet with decision-makers, Texas State general contractors, job order contractors and other state agency, university and minority organizations. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, May 24, from 1 to 4:30 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Hotel in San Marcos, 1001 E. McCarty Lane. Attendees may also participate in HUB-focused educational seminars. The event is hosted by the Texas State HUB Outreach Program. Office of Facilities Planning Design and Construction, Small Business Development Center and U.S. Hispanic Contractors Association. Light refreshments will be served. For questions or additional information, contact Yolanda Strey, HUB specialist, at 512-245-2523 or email at ys12@txstate.edu. 

County, district clerks group planning annual conference June 12-16

The 116th Annual County and District Clerk State Conference will be held June 12-16 at the Hilton Garden Inn Conference Center in Lewisville. A Sunday, June 12, welcome reception with live music and barbecue will be held at the Texas Motor Speedway. The district and county clerks of the year will be presented at the Wednesday, June 13, night Gala, and 2011-12 officers will be installed. On the agenda for the five-day event are technical, professional development, legislative, public relations, social media and other issues. Attorney Richard Hayes will discuss Robert's Rules and Denton County Auditor James Wells will address auditing issues. The keynote speaker for the Tuesday events will be Brent Strehlow, owner of TMI, Inc. Exhibitor space is available. For a registration form, hotel information, exhibitor information, agenda and contact information, click here.

Classroom teacher group selects Sissney as president-elect

The Texas Classroom Teachers Association (TCTA) recently selected Nanette Sissney (pictured) as the president-elect of that organization. Sissney is a counselor at Whitesboro Intermediate School and has served in several leadership posts for the organization, including as director of District 10 and as chair of the TCTA political action committee.

TxDOT awards $310,000 grant to Plano for beautification

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) recently awarded a $310,000 grant from the Keep Texas Beautiful program to Plano to pay for adding landscape to a local roadway.

Plano city officials currently plan to use the grant to upgrade landscaping on SH75 (Preston Road) by adding additional trees, shrubs, ornamental grasses and flowers, said Heather Merchant, manager of environmental education and community outreach. TxDOT officials will assign a landscape architect to create a design plan, which TxDOT must then approve. That process could take a year to complete before the new landscaping can be installed, Merchant said.

South Padre group asking approval of $39M  in water bonds

Officials of the Laguna Madre Water District recently agreed to ask voters to approve the issue of $39.3 million in bonds to replace a pipeline and build a desalinization plant.
 

Voters in Port Isabel, South Padre Island, Laguna Vista, Laguna Heights and Long Island Village will vote on two bond propositions. Proposition one is asking for approval of the sale of $23 million in bonds to pay for replacing 200 miles of pipeline. Proposition two asked voters to approve $16.3 million in bonds to pay for construction of a water desalination plant on South Padre Island. Plans call for the work to be completed in phases by first upgrading and replacing the pipeline and then building the desalination plant if voters approve the bond issue.

Corpus Christi officials eyeing purchase of Ward Building

Corpus Christi city officials recently began eyeing the purchase of the historic Ward Building with a goal of finding a developer to renovate the three-story building at the intersection of Peoples and Chaparral streets in the downtown area of the city.

City officials recently spent about $2,500 a month from community development block grants to lease the building now used for storage. The appraised value of the property is $144,000. City officials also said they are working with a developer who built a loft project in a building across the street to renovate and restore the Ward Building into usable space.

Corpus Christi uses $778,000 grant for housing project

After accepting a $778,000 federal housing grant, Corpus Christi City Council members recently agreed to loan that money to a San Antonio-based developer to build a 96-unit affordable housing complex.

The developer agreed to repay the loan to the city at 4.19 percent interest over the next 40 years, said the director of city neighborhood services. The 96 affordable housing units is the second phase of a 250-unit complex near Interstate 37.

Cleburne tags Esquivel

as new assistant city manager

Cleburne City Council members recently chose David Esquivel as the new assistant manager. Esquivel has served as the public works director for the city for the last two years and will retain that position along with his new duties as assistant city manager, said City Manager Rick Holden.

Council members also selected Kim Galvin as the finance director. Galvin served as interim finance director following the retirement of former Finance Director Greg Wilmore.

If Springston gets the job, he would move to a district that is less than half Brownsville's size. While BISD has 56 schools and nearly 50,000 students, the Huntsville district has 46 schools and 23,000 students.
 

Springston, who has led Brownsville schools since 2009, earned his bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Tyler, his master's and mid-management certification from Sul Ross State University and his superintendent's certification from Prairie View A&M University.

Gonzales wins $150,000 grant to upgrade infrastructure

Texas Department of Agriculture officials recently awarded a $150,000 federal grant to the city of Gonzalez to pay for improvements to sidewalks, curbs and gutters, The grant from the Texas Capital Fund also will be used to pay for installing ramps to comply with the American with Disabilities Act, city officials said.

The upgrades to sidewalks along St. George Street are part of an effort to improve some of the downtown area and encourage more property owners in the area to improve their facilities, the mayor said. The city also has received three previous grants from the Texas Capital Fund that were used to pay for drainage projects in several areas of the city.

Anahuac selects Nauman

as city administrator

Anahuac City Council members recently selected Lance Nauman as the new city administrator. Chosen from five finalists, Nauman will replace former City Administrator Mary Chambers, who held that position from April 2009 until February 2011.

Cactus terminates Schmidt-Witcher as city manager

Cactus City Council members recently agreed to terminate the contract of City Manager Steve Schmidt-Witcher, a former security company employee who became city manager in April 2008.

Dyes, who became superintendent at Bandera ISD in July 2006, also served as superintendent of Cranfills Gap ISD. Although his contract is not yet finalized, Dyes said his last day at Bandera ISD should be on June 30.

SA state judge under consideration for federal bench

President Barack Obama is vetting State District Judge Karen Pozza of San Antonio for the federal bench in the Western District in Texas. If selected, she would be the first woman to serve on the federal bench in San Antonio.

Judge Pozza is one of three candidates that Democrats recommended two years ago, when the position became vacant. Officials said a background check must be completed before sending the nomination to the Senate for confirmation.

Firefighters to hone skills at wildfire academy in Lufkin

The City of Lufkin and Angelina College have teamed with the Texas Forest Service to put on a 10-day academy for firefighters across the nation. The 14th Annual East Texas Interagency Wildfire and Incident Management Academy begins May 17.
 

Courses offered at the academy - beginning and advanced firefighter training, dozer operations and GPS orientation among others - are part of a standardized, national training curriculum.

Mineola wins $546,130

grant for roads, sewers

Mineola recently won a $545,130 federal grant to pay for improvements to streets and water and sewer infrastructure to prepare for a new 42-unit assisted living facility. The project is expected to add about $3.5 million to city tax rolls and create 24 full-time jobs with an annual payroll of $425,000 for the city, the mayor said.

Without the federal funds administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture to pay for the necessary improvements to infrastructure, the new assisted living center could not be built because no local funding was available to pay for the necessary upgrades, the mayor said. 

Plans call for the city to begin construction in June to build about 2,000 linear feet of street improvements and 2,000 linear feet of water improvements to serve the new facility on Shady Lane, city officials said.

Parks and Recreation Director Amy Adkins (pictured) outlined priority upgrades that included closing gaps in current trails, completing the Green Red Barn, sand volleyball courts at Lake Pflugerville and a senior activity center. The recommendations also include upgrading current parks and recreation facilities and replacing broken equipment, Adkins said.

Texas Water Development Board loans $15 million to La Feria

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) recently approved $15 million in forgivable loans to La Feria to pay for water and sewer improvements in that border city.

The loans are from the Disadvantaged Communities Program of TSDB and are forgivable, said Mayor Steve Brewer.
The loans include a $7,167,700 loan from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to pay for improvements to the water treatment plant to bring the city into compliance with rules covering disinfection byproducts, the mayor said.
 

An $8,381,340 loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund will pay for 32,550 feet of pipe and three pumping stations to extend sewage treatment service to 250 new homes, some of which are located in two colonias, he said. City officials also plan to add four new generators to help keep sewer treatment plants operating during power outages caused by natural or other disasters.

Energy-efficient light bulbs

will be given away in Abilene

Abilene residents can pick up free four-packs of energy-efficient light bulbs at City Hall, while supplies last.
 

The compact florescent bulbs, which use about 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs, are made available  through the Energy Efficiency and Block Grant Program. About two years ago, the city applied for the grant that included the bulb giveaway, rebates on energy-efficient appliances and money for energy efficiency upgrades to city facilities.

Alamo College considering cutting back on enrollment

Facing a $16 million loss in state funding and another $1 million in lower property tax revenues, Alamo College trustees recently began making plans to cut back enrollment by about 3,800 students.
 

Gary Beitzel (pictured), chairman of the board of trustees, recommended that the five colleges offer only enough course selections to serve 60,000 students, 6 percent fewer than now enrolled.
 

Trustees plan to approve the new budget in July, but warned college administrators to prepare as board members prefer to limit enrollment rather than increase property taxes or tuition.

• William Hale of Austin, Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners;
• DeLana Honaker of Amarillo, Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners;
• Stephanie Johnston of Magnolia, Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners;
• Pamela Nelon of Fort Worth, Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners;
• Ofer Molad of Bellaire, Texas Emerging Technology Fund Advisory Committee;
• Louis Gonzales III of Round Rock, Council on Sex Offender Treatment;
• Zebulun Nash of Houston, Coastal Water Authority Board of Directors;
• Douglas Walker of Beach City, Coastal Water Authority Board of Directors;
• Remelle Farrar of Crowell, Texas Department of Rural Affairs;
• Bryan Tucker of Childress, Texas Department of Rural Affairs;
• Patrick Wallace of Athens, Texas Department of Rural Affairs
• Fred Buckwold of Houston,Texas Health Services Authority Corporation
• Matthew Hamlin of Argyle, Texas Health Services Authority Corporation;
• James 'Jim' Martin of Austin, Texas Health Services Authority Corporation;
• William 'Bill' Phillips Jr. of San Antonio, Texas Health Services Authority Corporation;
• Jennifer Rangel of Austin, Texas Health Services Authority Corporation
• David Kercheval of Grandview, Board of Orthotics and Prosthetics;
• Rebecca Brou of Rockport, Board of Orthotics and Prosthetics
• Gregory Davidson of Austin to the State Employee Charitable Campaign Policy Committe;
• Cecile Erwin Young of Austin, to the State Employee Charitable Campaign Policy Committe
• Harold L. Barnard of Waxahachie, Trinity River Authority Board of Directors;
• Christina Melton Crain of Dallas, Trinity River Authority Board of Directors;
• Michael Cronin of Terrell, Trinity River Authority Board of Directors;
• Steve Cronin of Shepherd, Trinity River Authority Board of Directors;
• Amanda Davis of Buffalo, Trinity River Authority Board of Directors;
• Martha Hernandez of Burleson, Trinity River Authority Board of Directors;
• Dennis 'Joe' McCleskey of Apple Springs; Trinity River Authority Board of Directors;
• Carol Spillars of Madisonville, Trinity River Authority Board of Directors
• Dorothy Holguin of Kermit, District Attorney of the 109th Judicial District in Crane and Winkler counties
• Dallas Barrington of Silsbee, Crime Victim's Institute Advisory Council;
• Stefani Carter of Dallas, Crime Victim's Institute Advisory Council;
• Ann Matthews of Charlotte, Crime Victim's Institute Advisory Council;
• Ruben Reyes of Lubbock, Crime Victim's Institute Advisory Council;
• Stephanie Schulte of El Paso, Crime Victim's Institute Advisory Council;
• Kel Seliger of Amarillo, Crime Victim's Institute Advisory Council;
• Jane Shafer of San Antonio, Crime Victim's Institute Advisory Council;
• Mark Wilson of Brandon, Crime Victim's Institute Advisory Council

Although Thompson also served as director of career and technology education for the district, trustees said they plan to leave that position and the position of assistant dean of the technology complex unfilled for an undetermined length of time.

Founder of charter school network heading to Tennessee

The founder and president of a highly praised and successful Houston charter school network is stepping down and moving to Tennessee, where he will lead a state-run education district.

Chris Barbic of YES Prep Public Schools will become the founding superintendent of a district of under-performing schools that have been taken over by the state.

The chief operating officer of Houston's YES Prep, Jason Bernal, will take over as president of the 13-year-old network that will open its 10th campus this summer.

Thomas has served as the chief instructional officer at North East ISD since 2001 and previously was a teacher and principal. She also is a professor at Trinity University and at The University of Texas at Austin.

Water district in Cameron Co. receives environmental award

Harlingen Irrigation District Cameron County No. 1 recently won a state award for working with local farmers to test new technologies that use less water while producing the same crop yields. The district won the 2011 Texas Environmental Excellence Award, given to organizations that protect the state's resources, in the agriculture category.

District leaders began the water conservation program - dubbed the Agricultural Water Conservation Demonstration Initiative (ADI) - after securing a 10-year state grant in 2004. The program promotes water conservation while maintaining or increasing farm profitability.