$8.2 billion in school bonds at stake in Saturday elections
Some city, community college referendums also go before voters
Low voter turnout is predicted throughout Texas for Saturday's statewide elections, in spite of some $8.2 billion in local school bond issues being part of the ballot issues. Early voting ended Tuesday, and election officials report small turnout numbers except in areas where there are contested local elected official races or controversial bond referendums. There are also a number of municipal bond issues and community college issues on some ballots.
The largest school bond election will be in the Dallas ISD, where voters are being asked to pass a $1.35 billion bond referendum. DISD passed a similar bond amount in 2002 with widespread support. Politics, a slow-to-materialize district-wide audit and the sluggish economy may play a more prominent role in this election.
The bond amount not only includes $19 million for new and replacement schools and additions, but also $12 million for science labs and $96 million for technology enhancements.
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State looking at possible $10.7 billion surplus
But government officials told not to increase biennial budgets
News of a possible $10.7 billion surplus going into the January 2009 legislative session must have been music to the ears of state agency officials getting ready to prepare their legislative appropriations requests (LARs) for the 2010-2011 biennium. Then the music stopped.
A letter signed by John O'Brien (left), director of the Legislative Budget Board, and Mike Morrissey (right), senior advisor to Gov. Rick Perry, told state government executive staff that their budgets should not only be no higher than their budgets for the previous biennium, but they also should include a plan for a budget with a 10 percent reduction in spending. That could be because more than $5 billion of the "surplus" is dedicated to the Rainy Day Fund, which lawmakers for the most part have been reluctant to raid in recent years. Another $3 billion is dedicated to pay for the property tax cuts the legislature approved during a recent session.
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This week's salute is to Julie Parsley, commissioner, Public Utility Commission of Texas
Career highlights and education: Nov. 2002 to present, commissioner, Public Utility Commission of Texas; 2001 to 2002, Solicitor General, Texas Attorney General's Office; 1999 to 2001, Deputy Solicitor General; 1995 to 1998, of Counsel with Thompson and Knight, Appellate Division; 1991 to 1994, associate, Hughes and Luce; 1990, briefing attorney, Supreme Court of Texas. Texas Tech Law School, 1990; Texas A&M University, 1984. I'm also Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law, and I was an adjunct professor at The University of Texas Law School in 1998.
What I like best about my job is: dealing with very interesting, amazing complex issues, presented by very professional, amazingly smart people.
The best advice I've received for my current job is: "You are what you vote."
Advice I would give a new hire in my office: Trust but verify. There are always (at least) two sides to every issue, and be sure to learn them both before taking a position.
If I ever snuck out of work early, I could probably be found: working in my butterfly garden.
People would be surprised to know that I: knit. It's a fairly disturbing concept for many people.
Book, magazine or newspaper article I've read recently that really influenced my thinking: The Economist, regarding China's growing demand for energy, natural resources and commodities.
Each week, the Texas Government Insider profiles a key government executive or decision-maker. If you would like to suggest a "Lone Star," please email us at editor@spartnerships.com.
Larry McKinney leaving Texas Parks and Wildlife
Dr. Larry McKinney (pictured), director of Coastal Fisheries and senior director of Aquatic Resources for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, has been named executive director of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, effective in July. The Harte Institute is a research institute that supports and advances the long-term sustainable use and conservation of the Gulf of Mexico through a tri-national approach between the United States, Mexico and Cuba.
McKinney has spent more than 20 years with TPWD, championing endangered and threatened species and promoting conservation, particularly in water resources. He has supported research to provide freshwater inflows to estuaries and in-stream flows for rivers and reservoirs, wetland conservation and restoration and other issues relating to ecology and the health of Texas aquatic ecosystems.
As director of the Coastal Fisheries Division of TPWD, McKinney oversaw the development of the State Wetlands Plan and the Seagrass Conservation Plan among other projects. He earned his doctorate from Texas A&M University and was a Smithsonian Fellow and a research associate and instructor at TAMU-Galveston. Before signing on with TPWD, he was director of the Texas Environmental Engineering Field Laboratory in Galveston.
6th Biennial Legislative Communications Conference
Register now for event to help prepare for upcoming legislature
Registration is now open for the 6th Biennial Legislative Communications Conference, set for Tuesday, Oct. 7, and hosted by Strategic Partnerships, Inc. and The University of Texas at Austin Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. The day-long event will be held at The Commons, J.J. Pickle Research Center, 10100 Burnet Road in Austin. Cost of the event is $295 per person.
Guest speakers and panelists for the biennial conference are being firmed up, as is the agenda. This is a must-attend event for those preparing for the 2009 Legislative Session that convenes in January 2009. A continental breakfast, hot lunch and afternoon snack will be served. Each participant will receive a notebook to take home that includes valuable information to assist in preparation for the upcoming legislative session. To register, click here.
Watch TGI weekly for updates on speakers, topics and more!
Dieters to lead Comptroller's College Savings Programs
Kevin Dieters (pictured) has been named by Texas Comptroller Susan Combs to head up the new Educational Opportunities and Investment Division at the Comptroller's Office. Dieters comes to the Comptroller's Office from the Office of the Fire Fighters' Pension Commissioner, where he had been director of policy since 2001.
The new division Dieters will lead manages the state's 529 College Savings Programs, the Texas Guaranteed Tuition Program and Texas Tomorrow Fund II, a new prepaid tuition program that will be launched later this year. The savings plans were previously part of the Comptroller's Local Government Assistance and Economic Development Division, which Combs said will soon expand and broaden its scope. This division works with local government entities regarding economic development planning.
"By placing our college savings programs in a unique division, the agency will be able to focus more energy on expanding the education savings options available to Texas families," said Combs. Dieters holds a bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin and is an Accredited Investment Fiduciary trained at the Center for Fiduciary Studies.
Gonzalez to serve as medical director of Medicaid/CHIP
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has appointed Dr. Jose Gonzalez (pictured) as the new medical director for its Medicaid/CHIP division. He is expected to officially begin his duties on June 1.
Dr. Gonzalez, a pediatric endocrinologist, is a professor of pediatrics and vice chair for Pediatric Medical Education at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He has a bachelor's degree from the University of Miami and his M.D. from the University of Miami School of Medicine. He also has a law degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law.
UT Health Science Center-Houston garners $5 million
TETF grant to recruit trauma,
technology scientists, surgeons
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHSC-H) is the recipient of a $5 million investment through the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF). Announced Tuesday by Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick, the funds will be used to recruit leading scientists and surgeons in trauma care and next-generation medical technologies to the Health Science Center's new Center for Transitional Research (CeTIR). The Center for Transitional Injury Research will be headed by Dr. John Holcomb (pictured), a U.S. Army trauma surgeon who has headed the Army's Institute of Surgical Research at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio since 2001.
Additionally, UTHSC-H, Memorial Hermann Hospital System and The University of Texas System Medical Foundation have pledged nearly $13 million to establish the CeTIR and attract a world-class team of experts in medical research and trauma care. The legislative leadership notes that the investment will help enhance the state's reputation as a national leader in clinical research of emergency medicine, attract more industry and capital investment in the field, expand the state's research and development capabilities, create more jobs and generate capital investment while providing the best treatment available for those needing trauma care.
According to the National Trauma Center, some 85,000 Texans are hospitalized annually because of traumatic injuries, and more than 13,000 die. Trauma is described as the leading cause of death among individuals 1 to 44 years of age and costs the nation more than $400 billion - $80 billion in direct medical expenses and $360 billion in lost productivity.
Once new trauma care and emergency medical technologies are developed, UTHSC-H can develop public-private partnerships to allow for commercial development in the private sector.
OAG named special prosecutor in polygamist sect case
Although no criminal charges have been filed yet, allegations of sexual and physical abuse of children at the Yearning for Zion Ranch near Eldorado have officials gearing up for the likelihood of charges being sought against the husbands of underage girls in the sect.
State officials removed more than 400 children from the ranch in early April following a phone call from a woman alleging to be within the compound who said she suffered physical abuse. In what has turned out to be one of the nation's largest child custody cases, the minor children have been placed in foster care in a number of cities throughout the state.
Early this week, State District Judge Barbara Walter approved a request to bring in Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott's (pictured) office as special prosecutor to handle any future criminal charges.
Since the children were removed from the compound, one reportedly minor female gave birth to a baby boy and several other underage females were reportedly found to be pregnant. Volunteer attorneys from throughout the state were brought in for the initial court proceedings, representing the children and some of their parents. The more than 400 child custody hearings are expected to begin later this month.
Water Development Board approves $800K in grants
Up to $800,000 in grant funds have been approved by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to help fund two brackish groundwater desalination projects - to the Affordable Desalination Collaboration and to the city of Seminole. The collaboration group was approved for up to $500,000 and the city of Seminole was approved for up to $300,000.
Because the state's population is growing at a rapid rate, the demand for water is increasing and water supplies are a critical issue for many parts of the state. The 2007 State Water Plan has projected that by 2060, the population of the state will more than double and demand for water will increase by approximately 27 percent, or 4.6 million acre-feet of water per year. Projections also are that during that same period, existing water supplies will decrease by 18 percent or 3.3 million acre-feet. The result is that the state will need some 8.8 million more acre-feet of water if new water supplies are not developed.
Desalination is one way to increase the state's water supply. The state has approximately 2.7 billion acre-feet of brackish groundwater - water having between 1,000 and 10,000 milligrams per liter of total dissolved liquids. The TWDB requested proposals to demonstrate desalination technology or strategies to increase the efficiency of water desalination. The collaboration project will demonstrate optimized designs of brackish groundwater desalination processes and is estimated to cost $1.453 million. The Seminole project has a price tag of $1.65 million and will include the planning, designing, installing and operating of a pilot groundwater desalination facility.
Energy Star sales tax holiday set May 24-26
Texas shoppers get a break during the Memorial Day weekend, May 24-26, from state and local sales taxes when they purchase certain energy efficient appliances and other household equipment bearing an Energy Star label. Shoppers are expected to save about $2.6 million in state and local sales taxes.
The Energy Star Sales Tax Holiday applies to the following appliances and household equipment: air conditioners priced less than $6,000, ceiling fans, dehumidifiers, dishwashers, incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs, programmable thermostats, refrigerators priced less than $2,000 and clothes washers, but not clothes dryers.
To qualify for the sales tax exemption, the Energy Star logo must appear on the appliance, the packaging or the Energy Guide label. The tax break also applies to catalog or Internet sales of eligible products during Memorial Day weekend and to items placed on layaway or removed from layaway during that weekend. Details on the Energy Star Sales Tax Holiday are available at www.window.state.tx.us.
Comptroller releases report on energy resources
The Energy Report, a comprehensive evaluation of the various energy resources available in Texas, was released this week by State Comptroller Susan Combs (pictured). As the leader in the nation in renewable energy potential, Texans realize there is no single solution to meeting the increasing energy needs of a growing Texas population.
The report points out that an energy portfolio must include renewable energy sources, nuclear power and fossil fuels. The Energy Report offers an overview of the energy industry in the state and reviews of more than a dozen fuel sources. Combs called the report "factual and objective information" to assist the state in developing new energy sources. "Reliable and affordable energy is critical to our state's ability to maintain strong economic growth," she said.
The report addresses costs; economic impact and viability; availability and current infrastructure; environment, health and safety concerns; fuel characteristics; and other energy source issues. It covers both renewable and non-renewable sources of energy in Texas.
While Texas leads the country in energy consumption, it also leads in energy production. To view the report, click here.
State offers grants to start or expand vineyards
The Texas Department of Agriculture has begun a new $250,000 wine grant program for farmers who wish to expand existing vineyard operations or start new ones. The Texas wine industry produces more than 2 million gallons of wine and has more than 155 wineries, 220 commercial vineyards and 3,700 acres of grapes.
The Wine Grape Investment Pilot Grant Program, housed under the Rural Economic Development Division, is the first of its kind at TDA. Applications will be accepted through June 6. For program details and eligibility requirements, producers are encouraged to visit www.tda.state.tx.us.
Justice Jefferson spearheads preparedness task force
A task force tackling the need for disaster-response planning for Texas courts assessed potential threats Thursday to judicial operations along the Texas-Mexico border in the first of a series of planned meetings across the state.
The "roundtable discussion" featured an overview by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Office of Infrastructure Protection and the Mexican general consul in El Paso. The panel is focusing on operational needs for the El Paso County Courthouse.
Texas Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson (pictured), who initiated planning for the Task Force to Ensure Judicial Readiness in Times of Emergency, opened the meeting, saying lessons learned from the Katrina devastation in New Orleans will guide state officials along the border and across Texas toward keeping courts open in times of disaster.
TxDOT marketing, ad campaign sweeps awards
The Texas Department of Transportation's Vehicle Titles and Registration Division recently won nine of 15 awards given for excellence in advertising and marketing by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.
AAMVA is an international organization that annually recognizes the best in public education and information campaigns from state and national governments. Austin advertising agency, ThinkStreet, helped lead the sweep with six of the nine TxDOT awards. The remaining three TxDOT awards were for in-house developed projects.
Winning entries were for the "Put Texas in your corner" vehicle registration compliance campaign and awards for the campaign's e-newsletter, the "Apply to be Texan" newcomer information brochure, the outdoor campaign to promote online vehicle registration, and the Web site www.registeredtexan.com .
Carreathers UNT's new director of diversity planning
The University of North Texas has selected Kevin Carreathers (pictured) to be the university's new director of diversity planning. Carreathers will join UNT's Division of Institutional Equity and Diversity in June.
Carreathers is currently the assistant to the provost and director of diversity at Salisbury University in Maryland. Previously, he served as the associate dean of students at the University of Memphis and was director of multicultural services at Texas A&M University.
He holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from UNT and a master's degree in guidance and counseling from Prairie View A&M University. He has taken courses toward his doctorate at the University of North Texas, Texas A&M University and the University of Memphis.
Fire destroys Our Lady of the Lake main building
Fire officials say the massice blaze that damaged most of the historic Main Building at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio was likely caused by an electrical short in the attic. No injuries or deaths were reported from the four-alarm blaze, which drew more than 30 fire trucks and 120 firefighters.
Chief Charles Hood of the San Antonio Fire Department said it looked like the fire was started in the attic of the roof's structure. Built in 1895, the Main Building and its gothic spires were designed by the renowned architect James Wahrenberger. University President Tessa Martinez Pollack (pictured) spoke to a crowd of students on the steps of the library on what she described as a "sad and surreal night" for the campus.
On Monday, university officials evacuated students, staff and faculty from campus buildings around 2:30 p.m. after receiving a report of a bomb threat. Faculty and students returned to campus after campus and city police determined the threat was not serious. It is not known if the bomb threat and Tuesday's fire are related.
Del Mar College names 5 finalists for president
Officials of Del Mar College recently announced the selection of five finalists for the position of president of the college. The new president will succeed Carlos Garcia, who announced last year that he would not seek an extension of his three-year contract. Travis Kirkland served as interim president until February of this year when Joe Alaniz, former vice president of business and finance, became interim president.
Finalists selected from the field of 28 applicants include:
- Lee Sloan (pictured), dean of the division of business, professional and technology education at Del Mar's West Campus;
- Luba Chliwniak, vice president for instruction at Hartford Community College in Bel Aire, Md.;
- James E. Martin; vice president of student affairs at Pensacola Junior College in Pensacola, Fla.;
- Anne S. McNutt, president of the Technical College of the Low County in Beaufort, S.C.; and
- Katherine B. Persson, president of Portland Community College's Rock Creek Campus in Oregon.
The five finalists are expected to begin visits to Del Mar in May or early June at which time each will meet with regents, faculty, staff and students. A sole finalist selection is expected by late June, said Trey Campbell, regent and chairman of the search committee.
UNT Dallas won't yet separate from Denton campus
University of North Texas officials are recommending that the Dallas campus not become a freestanding institution independent of the main Denton campus until fall 2010. UNT's board of regents is expected to approve the delay this week, the second delay in three years. The first time around, UNT officials pushed the opening date back from 2007 to 2009 because fewer students than expected enrolled. Now, officials say they want an extra year just to get everything in order, including the hiring of more professors and addition of more degree programs.
The Dallas campus opened its first permanent building last year in southeast Oak Cliff. Current enrollment stands at 766 full-time students. The campus needs to hit the 1,000 mark to become independent and offer its own degrees. School leaders say they expect to hit that enrollment target this fall.
UNT Chancellor Lee Jackson (pictured) said the Dallas campus is in a good situation, with enrollment rising each year. Still, some higher education experts question the push for new colleges that are smaller than many secondary schools. Administrative costs alone run nearly twice as high at smaller campuses, according to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board: $2,600 per student at small campuses vs. $1,400 for larger ones.
A&M weighs development of hotel-conference center
Texas A&M University is working with private developers to create a multimillion-dollar development along University Drive that could include a hotel and conference center, retail shops, restaurants and residential living. The high-density, urban, mixed-use development would sit on a nearly 90-acre swath of land across the street from the campus.
According to Bobby Bisor (pictured), associate vice president and chief of staff at Texas A&M, the development would ideally include local businesses and national chains. Residential housing could be included as lofts above retail shops and condominiums atop the proposed hotel.
Construction on the $400 million project could begin by the end of the year if all goes as planned, Bisor said. The earliest phases of the development could be complete within another two years, he said.
Regents approve SHSU Performing Arts Center
The Texas State University System Board of Regents has unanimously approved a new $38.5 million Performing Arts Center at Sam Houston State University. President Jim Gaertner (pictured) describes the center as "transformational for our university."
Construction could begin as early as September, pending approval of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Bond Review Board. The Coordinating Board meets in late July. Completion of the center is estimated for fall 2010.
Features of the 91,976-square-foot facility include a recital hall of approximately 150 seats, a concert hall of approximately 800 seats, a centerpiece outdoor performance area, practice rooms for dance and music, rehearsal rooms for theater, costume storage and offices.
UT-Arlington names new dean of Honors College
Dr. Victoria Farrar-Myers (pictured) has been named dean of the Honors College at The University of Texas at Arlington, effective Sept. 1. She replaces retiring Dean Robert McMahon.
Farrar-Myers is currently professor of political science at UTA and came to the university in 1997. She specializes in the American presidency, presidential-congressional relations, separation of powers and campaign finance reform. Farrar-Myers earned her bachelor's degree Magna Cum Laude from Russell Sage College, her master's from the University of Illinois and her Ph.D. from the University of Albany, SUNY.
UTA President James Spaniolo hailed Farrar-Myers as "dedicated to the mission of the Honors College." She has authored or co-authored three books, served as an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow and was UTA's 2001 Chancellor's Council Award for Excellence in Teaching winner and the 2007 UTA Honors College Distinguished Faculty Award winner.
Texas A&M will host international research center
Texas A&M University is one of four international institutions selected by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia to host an inaugural quartet of interdisciplinary scientific research centers dedicated to collaborative excellence on a global scale.
Texas A&M President Dr. Elsa A. Murano (pictured) attributes Texas A&M's selection to its renowned reputation in international research and evident flair for collaboration and teamwork, both in the initial proposal and in the eventual research center it hoped to create. "We truly live in a global society, and finding solutions to some of the world's greatest challenges will require collaborations not only from across academia, but across international boundaries," Murano said.
Texas A&M, along with Cornell University, the University of Oxford and Stanford University, may receive as much as $25 million during the next five years under KAUST's Global Research Partnership to help support a new research center for applied mathematics and computational science. KAUST is a new graduate-level university under development in Saudi Arabia set to open in September 2009.
SHSU's Harman to direct Professional, Academic Center
Sam Houston State University has appointed Marsha J. Harman (pictured) to lead its new Professional and Academic Center for Excellence. Harman, professor of psychology and philosophy, will assume her duties at the beginning of the fall 2008 semester. Program offices will be in the Humanities and Social Sciences Building.
David Payne, SHSU provost and vice president for academic affairs, made the appointment after a task force study that began in December 2005. He said the program will also be open to working with established faculty who want to be more innovative, and will use those faculty members who have already been identified as excellent teachers as examples.
Harman has taught at Sam Houston State since 1994 and worked in Counseling Services at SHSU for two years prior to that. She has also worked at Lamar University, Montana State University and the University of Houston, where she earned bachelor's and doctoral degrees, and in public schools.
UTEP announces reorganization of programs, depts.
Several programs and departments at The University of Texas at El Paso will fall under a reorganization plan that will begin June 1. Maggy Smith (top left), dean of University College for the last seven years and Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies, is resigning that position to become Special Assistant to the Provost and Professor of English. Taking her place as dean will be Dennis Soden (top right), who has been at UTEP since 1996 and holds the endowed Professorship for Western Hemispheric Trade Policy Studies. He holds a doctorate from Washington State University.
The University College will be reorganized to include the Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies Program, the Institute for Policy and Economic Development (IPED) and Professional and Continuing Education (PACE). The College will also develop Military Services, a new unit that will coordinate outreach and program delivery to military service members and their families at Fort Bliss and elsewhere. IPED houses master's programs in Public Administration and Leadership Studies, the Intelligence Community Center of Academic Excellence and the Law School Preparation Institute.
UTEP's Undergraduate Studies programs and services will now report to the Office of the Provost through new Associate Provost Donna Ekal (bottom left). She has been with UTEP since 2006 and holds a doctorate from Cornell University.
UTEP's Enrollment Services will also move from University College to the Office of the Provost and will be directed by Craig Westman (bottom right), who has been named Associate Provost. Westman earned his doctorate from Florida State University and came to UTEP last year.
UT wins grant to improve construction methods
The Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin was recently selected for a $1 million grant to improve construction efficiency and safety. The National Science Foundation awarded the grant as part of its efforts to equip construction workers with new technologies to increase productivity, safety and efficiency.
Christine Julien (pictured), an assistant professor and researcher at the school of engineering, said the grant will expand a recent 18-month study by the team of UT researchers on the use of innovative technologies such as tablet computers and sensory devices that could facilitate better communication. That study included only UT students who were studying construction.
The goal of the federal grant is to expand the process to on-site workers, Julien said. Generally, the construction industry has lagged behind in adopting new technologies because so many construction firms are small and do not have adequate resources to buy advanced technological devices or for training workers in their use.
Texas A&M International wins $130,000 nursing grant
Texas A&M International University recently won a $130,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The grant will provide nursing scholarships for students enrolled in TAMIU's Canseco School of Nursing to encourage more nursing graduates to alleviate a statewide and nationwide shortage of nurses.
Natalie Burkhalter (pictured), interim dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, said scholarships are critical for many nursing students because the course work is so demanding that students find it difficult to hold a job while enrolled in nursing school. The scholarships will cover both academic costs and the cost of living so nursing students can concentrate on their studies, she said.
Lone Star College gets help with audio-visual program
Lone Star College-Montgomery recently received a $431,000 federal grant to help it launch a program to train students to operate lighting, sound and video equipment used at sporting events, corporate meetings, concerts and expanding religious venues.
The three-year grant from the National Science Foundation will be used for high quality equipment, salaries for faculty and staff and money to hold workshops and training seminars. The college is the first in the state to offer a two-year associate degree and a two-tiered level certification program to become audio-visual specialists. Lone Star College-Montgomery has partnered with the Conroe Independent School District to allow high school students to participate in the new audio-visual courses through the dual credit program.
The two-year degree will teach students how to operate lighting, sound and video equipment, such as sound and mixing boards, networking and projectors. Besides basic training in equipment and maintenance, students will learn to design systems and work in environments ranging from music concerts to sports events and corporate rallies.
UTMB professors awarded nearly $1 million in grants
Two nursing professors with The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston recently won grants from the National Institute for Nursing Research at the National Institute of Health.
Jean Ruiz (left) received a $549,886 grant for one year to study "psychoneuroimmunology: Preterm Birth in Hispanics" and Elizabeth Reifsnider (middle) received a two-year grant of $415,250 for "Reducing Overweight among Galveston WIC Participants."
Additionally, another nursing professor, Patricia Richard (right), was recently awarded a $222,318 Nursing Innovations Grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for a study on statewide collaborations in clinical placements.
Brazoria County eyes expo center, fairground changes
A Brazoria County search committee has proposed a $35 million county expo center and fairgrounds less than three years after voters defeated a $38 million bond proposal for a similar facility. The new proposal is on land already owned by the county and is put forth with an eye on public opinion.
In November 2005, two-thirds of voters rejected a proposal to fund $38.5 million in bonds to build an exposition and convention center to replace the fairgrounds. County commissioners last year appointed a committee to come up with options for the aging and often-repaired buildings at the current fairgrounds.
The county and the Brazoria County Fair Association own about 140 acres at the current fairgrounds location in Angleton. No indoor facility within the county will hold more than 850 people. Preliminary plans for the expo center call for a building with a capacity of up to 2,500 people, with the space capable of being divided into smaller rooms with portable walls. No public officials would commit to a date for a vote, but the earliest a measure could appear on a ballot is November. The fairgrounds committee will seek direction from commissioners within the next month.
Panel says Dallas should own convention center hotel
A Dallas City Council committee has unanimously recommended that the city should not simply subsidize a planned Dallas Convention Center hotel with public funds, but should own it outright. The recommendation is a new direction for the Council, which has previously leaned toward subsidizing an attached convention center hotel with public funds, leaving the hotel's ownership to a private entity to keep the city out of the hospitality industry.
The mayor said the cost of the project could approach $500 million, to be financed with revenue bonds. A majority of council members appears to back public hotel ownership. Four developers' proposals for the project range from $343 million to about $850 million, Assistant City Manager A.C. Gonzalez (pictured) said. Debt approaching $500 million would primarily be repaid through the hotel's operating revenue.
Bellaire mulling development near University rail line
Bellaire city officials are considering a multi-use development near the University rail line that would include a Metro train station with residential, retail and commercial developments.
City Manager Bernie Satterwhite recommended the city enter into a partnership with Metro to hire an architect to prepare a conceptual design for a rail-related development at a train stop on South Rice Avenue near the Westpark Tollway. He also cited the success of the Trinity Railway Express, which connects downtown Dallas and Fort Worth, and the Dallas Area Rapid Transit authority, which runs commuter trains to several suburbs north of Dallas.
A partnership with Metro will provide the city with an opportunity to look at development possibilities in the entire area between South Rice and Loop 610, Satterwhite said. The University rail line is scheduled to connect with Metro's Uptown line, he added. Council members several months ago had authorized the city manager and mayor to begin discussions with Metro about plans for the University Line.
Arlington to broadcast council meetings live on Web
Residents of the city of Arlington no longer have to go to city hall to "attend" meetings of the city council. Starting this week, city council meetings will be made available live via the Internet.
Louis Carr (pictured), chief information officer for the city, said this will help make city government more transparent. Carr said he used a similar system at his last municipal government job in Las Vegas.
The system will also include archives of council meetings that date back to Jan. 1.
Locals finding something good about border wall
Hidalgo County's 22 miles of concrete flood wall, part of more than 600 miles of wall approved by Congress in 2006, is going to be a shot in the arm for the area's economy. The wall, which should be under construction within the next two months, is designed not only to halt illegal immigration, but also to reinforce the levees along that 22-mile stretch. An agreement was reached Monday between Hidalgo County and the federal government that calls for the feds to pay some $65.7 million of the $113.9 million project that spans 22 miles.
While that construction is under way, local officials also plan to do repair work to the existing portion of the flood control system, and will be seeking federal reimbursement for local dollars used on the repairs and upgrades. The project will result in millions of dollars worth of contracts for such services and products as vehicles, fuel, concrete, gravel and sand. Each segment of the wall is expected to cost $10 to $15 million. Local companies are expected to be among those who bid on the project.
However, some local contractors say the scope of the project and the timeline are not conducive to local contracting firms. Many are hoping they will be chosen as subcontractors for some of the jobs. Officials say as much as $1 billion could be pumped into the local economy, with a $7 return on every $1 invested.
Baytown red-light cameras nab 241 in first week
In the first week of operation in Baytown, red-light cameras at one intersection captured the images of 241 violators and city officials are eager for state permission to install the enforcement cameras at 10 other locations, said Bob Leiper (pictured), assistant city manager.
Workers will begin installing the cameras as soon as the permit from the Texas Department of Transportation arrives, Leiper said. Once the installation is completed, the city will begin the 20-day warning period. More than 500 warnings were mailed after the cameras were installed, he said.
Since the warning period at the first intersection ended on April 24, police officers spent about 14 hours reviewing tapes of drivers who go forward through the intersection after the light has turned red. Officers reviewed a total of 259 violations and approved 241 violators to receive $75 citations. A contractor for the camera system confirmed mailing 133 of the citations. The cameras were installed at no cost to the city, and the company collects 55 percent of the $75 fine for each citation. The city is reimbursed for program expenses by the remaining 45 percent and any revenue after the fee and city expenses are paid is divided between the State of Texas Trauma Fund and the city.
Texas Forest Service helps city hire urban forester
A $30,000 grant from the Bayou Region of the Texas Forest Service helped Missouri City hire Paul Wierzbicki as an urban forester. His duties include managing urban trees not already tended by homeowner associations. His first priority is to conduct a more detailed tree survey, and identify available planting spaces throughout the city. With 68 percent of the city's urban forest planted in live oak or crape myrtle, improving tree diversity is also a priority, Wierzbiki said.
Parks Director Kelly Snook said creating the position for the county's first municipal forester was bolstered by a recent city branding survey that indicates the city's mature trees are popular with residents. A 2007 sample survey put a $44 million value on Missouri City's 20,000 "street trees," she added. City officials also have filed eminent domain proceedings to acquire Quail Valley County Club, a heavily wooded area, to become a city park.
Trees should be considered as valuable assets, said Michael Merritt, a coordinator for the Bayou Region of the Texas Forest Service. They help improve air quality, decrease storm water runoff, fight global warming and improve the mental health of residents. Urban trees face special challenges like compacted soil, increased temperatures caused by surrounding asphalt and pavement and use of herbicides and pesticides. The purpose of the grant is to encourage cities to maintain and enlarge their urban forests.
New Summerfield ISD receives tech grant for iPODs
The New Summerfield Independent School District recently received a grant from the Rural Technology to purchase iPODs to give students better access to the Internet.
Superintendent Gregg Weiss (pictured) said the program is needed because most of the students do not have Internet access at home and if so, have only dial-up connections, which are too slow for students to do the work necessary for classes. Teachers will be able to use educational content from the Internet and design their own lesson content and then download that material to an iPOD. Students can review lessons on their iPODs to help with homework and other projects, Weiss said.
The grant will provide $200 per student and the district will make a $100 match for two years for 85 sixth, seventh and eight graders. The program is scheduled to go online for the 2008-2009 school year. The district also has applied for a grant to help pay for laptop computers for all high school students.
LeTourneau awarded grant to boost science enrollment
Officials of LeTourneau University plan to use a $529,000 grant to attract more women and minority students to its electrical engineering and computer science programs. The grant, from the National Science Foundation, will fund $460,000 for 12 four-year scholarships beginning in fall 2009. The S-STEM, or Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, are aimed at academically talented students with financial needs. Up to $21,000 of the grant will be designated to support tutoring services, while the remainder will pay for administrative costs, university officials said.
Arlington council supports ban on plastic grocery bags
Lightweight plastic grocery bags will likely be banned in Arlington by the end of the year. The City Council unanimously supported a staff proposal Tuesday that would prohibit the flimsy plastic bags used by many grocery and convenience stores and takeout restaurants. The bags are a major source of litter, endanger wildlife and clog the city's storm drain system, city officials said.
Deputy City Manager Fiona Allen (pictured) said the city would begin drafting an ordinance for a council vote. If approved, the ban could be in place within six months. Consumers would be encouraged to use paper bags, fabric totes, biodegradable plastic bags or heavier plastic bags like those used by fashion retailers. They are more likely to be reused instead of tossed in the trash, officials said.
Harker Heights considers using red-light cameras
Harker Heights may join neighboring cities such as Killeen in turning to red-light cameras to discourage motorists from running red lights. At its most recent meeting, the City Council discussed installing red-light cameras at intersections but made no final decision.
Killeen began its red-light camera system at several locations last week, but will not hand out citations until May 30, following a 30-day warning period.
SAWS announces Puente as its interim CEO
The San Antonio Water System Board of Trustees has appointed former State Rep. Robert R. Puente (pictured) as interim president/chief executive officer after accepting the resignation of President/CEO David Chardavoyne. Alexander E. Briseno, SAWS chairman, said Puente is well versed in SAWS issues, and that SAWS is "thrilled" to have him in the organization.
Puente was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1991 where he was chair of the House Natural Resources Committee and served on the House Local Ways and Means Committee. He was instrumental in the passage of the Edwards Aquifer Authority legislation and the establishment of the Edwards Aquifer Authority's elected board, as well as Senate Bills 1, 2 and 3, developing and implementing a comprehensive water policy for Texas.
San Angelo proceeding with water supply study
The San Angelo City Council recently approved of studies to determine the most cost-effective method to ship and treat water from the city's well field about 50 miles southeast of the city.
Wil Wilde, the water utilities director, said the options include the city building a pipeline from the well field over the Hickory Sand aquifer to San Angelo or laying pipe from the well field to the O.H. Ivie Reservoir and pushing the water through existing pipes between the reservoir and the city. He estimated the price for the project to supplement the city's long-term drinking water supply could range from $70 million to more than $80 million.
Ector County ISD names Mendez as superintendent
Hector Mendez has been promoted from interim to permanent superintendent of the Ector County Independent School District. The district's board of trustees approved Mendez as the full-time superintendent last week. Mendez, who has served as interim superintendent since July, is on a three-year contract.
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When it comes to toll roads in Texas, it's all about choice
By Mary Scott Nabers, CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc.
A trucker can choose to pay to use a toll road - or sit idling away $4-per-gallon diesel gasoline in rush-hour traffic on a major interstate highway.
Parents driving their children to another region of the state for a summer outing at one of Texas' amusement parks can pay to use a much faster toll route with less traffic - or sit in bumper-to-bumper traffic listening to choruses of "Are we there yet?" from children in the back seat.
Apparently, many Texas motorists are choosing the toll road route. Toll roads, although not without controversy, are high tech and designed to reduce traffic congestion, improve safety on Texas highways and even reduce air pollution.
The number of Texans choosing to use toll roads is evidenced by the number of TxTAG users. TxTAGs are those familiar red, white and blue stickers that are seen on the inside of windshields behind the rearview mirror of vehicles driving Texas' tollways.
[more]
Katy still debating new community center
Although a $3 million bond issue for a civic center in Katy passed in a 2000 referendum, city officials have yet to decide how big a center is needed to serve the needs of the community. Many are looking for a facility with ample parking and big enough for banquets and conferences, said Mayor Don Elder Jr. (pictured). Elder said he would like for the facility to be big enough to host regional and national conferences that would increase tourism dollars coming into the city.
Officials expect that not only will the facility be used for community events, youth activities, recreational classes, etc., but it will also house social services and recreation staff. Elder said no timeline has been set for the community center project.
Austin to conduct national asst. city manager search
New Austin City Manager Marc Ott has indicated that the city will conduct a national search for a new assistant city manager to replace Laura Huffman, who left that position for The Nature Conservancy of Texas. Ott expects to have an interim assistant city manager named by the middle of this month.
On Thursday, Ott named Anthony Snipes, an assistant department director from Fort Worth, as his chief of staff, effective in June. The two worked together when Ott was assistant city manager there. Snipes, who replaces Kristen Vassallo, will direct the city manager's office staff and oversee Neighborhood Housing and Community Development, Human Resources, the Communications and Public Information Office, the Agenda Office and Government Relations.
Wichita Falls studies designs for new city buildings
Wichita Falls city leaders are planning several municipals projects, including a new auditorium, police department headquarters and municipal court building. Construction could start in as little as two years, but officials must approve a plan and decide how to fund it.
City officials have developed 30 pages of ideas for plans for a new city hall, police station and municipal court. Wichita Falls Assistant City Manager Matt Benoit (pictured) said the plans are the foundation of whatever the city does next. Architects drafted three possible locations for the city complex and they estimate that the projects will cost between $88 and $100 million dollars.
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Space is limited, so register now. For more information and registration forms, click here.
Cleburne Municipal Airport receives $833,000 grant
The Texas Department of Transportation recently awarded the Cleburne Municipal Airport an $833,000 grant through its Aviation Facilities Grant Program.
The grant will help pay for installation of a medium-intensity taxiway lighting system with guidance signage, an airport beacon and radio controller equipment, said Mike Claunch, Cleburne public services director. The city already has budgeted $83,000, the 10 percent in matching funds required by the grant, he said. City officials expect to award a contract for the project this summer.
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Oak Point City secretary named acting city manager
City Secretary Tamara Null (pictured) was appointed the acting city manager by the Oak Point City Council last week. Her appointment comes following the resignation of former City Manager Richard Martin on April 21.
Null was hired as city secretary in July 2007. Prior to that, she was the senior paralegal in the Denton County District Attorney's office for eight years. Before that, she worked as an investigator and legal liaison for Child Protective Services. She holds a bachelor's degree from Texas Woman's University.
Dallas Area Rapid Transit wins $84 million grant
The Federal Transit Administration recently announced an $84 million grant to the Dallas Rapid Transit (DART) for construction of the DART Northwest/Southwest rail extension. The grant is part of an existing $700 million Full Funding Grant Agreement to expand the Green line that was approved in 2006. DART officials said they expect the Green line expansion will be completed on time.
SPI announces two
new senior consultants
McDonald brings wealth of local government expertise
With nearly 20 years of municipal government experience and more than 10 years at the helm of a local economic development corporation, Judy McDonald (pictured) brings a wealth of experience in local government to the SPI consulting team. McDonald spent 10 years as a member of the Nacogdoches City Commission and another eight as the city's mayor. Following her city government experience, she served as president and CEO of the Nacogdoches Economic Development Corp.
McDonald also spent eight years as community relations director for a Nacogdoches hospital and 10 years as vice president of marketing for a Nacogdoches financial institution.
The new SPI senior consultant has also been active in state government, having been appointed to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs Board, the Governor's Commission for Women, the Criminal Justice Advisory Committee and the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission Advisory Committee.
Randy Shiflet is municipal, law enforcement expert
Randy Shiflet (pictured), former deputy city manager for the City of North Richland Hills, has joined the SPI consulting team. Shiflet, whose expertise is in city government and law enforcement, spent nearly 30 years in government work for North Richland Hills.
He began a nearly three-decade career there in 1973 as a police cadet. He moved up the ranks to patrol officer, sergeant, captain, commander and was named assistant police chief in 1992. In 1993, Shiflet was hired by the city as assistant city manager. In 1997, he was named deputy city manager, a position he held until 2002. After leaving city government, Shiflet spent two years as municipal marketing manager for a Fort Worth waste services company, working with numerous city governments and Councils of Government.
University of Texas-El Paso wins $415,000 federal grant
The University of Texas at El Paso recently won a $415,000 research grant to promote interdisciplinary research, using mathematics and computer science to better understand the composition of certain viruses. The grant was awarded through the National Science Foundation.
Smith County approves contract for jail design firm
Smith County Commissioners recently approved a contract with a design firm to begin developing conceptual plans and a cost estimate for a scaled down jail facility. The cost of the design contract cannot exceed $20,000, said Commissioner JoAnn Fleming (top), who opposed a 2007, $125-million bond proposal for a new county jail.
Following that defeat, County Judge Joel Baker (bottom) began meeting with opponents to formulate a plan for a new county jail that voters will approve. No size, cost or location have yet been determined for a new jail, he said. But for voters to consider a bond package in November, details will have to be finalized this summer. The contract also states that money paid to the design firm during the conceptual phase could be applied to the cost of schematic designs.
Poolville ISD selects Dobbs as new superintendent
Trustees for the Poolville Independent School District recently selected Jimmie Dobbs to fill the position left by the retirement of current Superintendent Terry Hamilton.
Dobbs, a native of Poolville who has served as the district's high school principal for three years, will assume his new duties on July 1, the day after Hamilton is scheduled to retire. Dobbs taught math and technology in Poolville before moving to Peaster ISD, where he taught for five years before returning to Poolville as the principal of the junior high.
Hamilton spent 40 years in education, positions in the Lewisville, Princeton, Andrews, Millsap, Mineral Wells, Springtown and Brock districts as a coach and later as superintendent, before joining Poolville ISD as superintendent in 2001.
Damon ISD faces budget crunch, consolidation
Damon Independent School District officials say they are facing a budget shortfall that could lead to consolidation with other area school districts if budget cuts do not work and funding does not increase. The district, which serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, has had a drop in its average daily attendance from 140 students to 118 over the last several years. Coupled with a state-mandated tax decrease, the district has found itself in a financial bind.
A rollback election could be called in the near future, but the school board has not yet made that decision. If they do not, consolidation with either the Needville or Columbia-Brazoria school districts could be the only option.
Navasota ISD wins $200,000 grant to improve technology
The Navasota Independent School District recently won a $200,000 grant to provide technology-based supplemental instruction to district students. The Texas Rural Technology Grant Pilot Program awarded the grant.
Superintendent Jennings Teel (pictured) said the grant will provide online courses for students who are not meeting standards in English, language arts, social studies, math, science or foreign language studies. With 66 percent of the district's student population considered disadvantaged, the grant should provide more opportunities for students to learn the skills they need to succeed, Teel said.
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Denison purchases land
for future high school site
The Denison ISD School Board has purchased 130 acres of land to serve as the future site of Denison High School. The property lies at the southeast corner of US 75 and SH 91. DISD Board President Jay Watkins made the announcement after months of collaboration between school officials and the Denison Development Alliance.
The new site replaces the property the district previously purchased on the northwest corner of FM 84 and US 75. Potential growth for Denison, as well as the safety factor for students, was cited by Watkins as reasons for the change in location. DISD Superintendent Henry Scott (pictured) was enthusiastic about the site change, calling it a win-win situation for the school district and the City of Denison.
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Each electronic guidebook includes hyperlinks for one-click access to additional information it could take months of research for individuals to find. For more information, a sample page, and information on how to order, click here.
Governor's appointments
Gov. Rick Perry has made the following appointments:
- Jean Boyd of Fort Worth, Texas Juvenile Probation Commission
- B. W. McClendon of Austin, Texas Juvenile Probation Commission
- Scott O'Grady of Dallas, Texas Juvenile Probation Commission
- Robert Shults of Houston, Texas Juvenile Probation Commission
- Jon Bradford of Edna, Lavaca-Navidad River Authority Board of Directors
- Sherry Kay Frels of Edna, Lavaca-Navidad River Authority Board of Directors
- Olivia R. Jarratt of Edna, Lavaca-Navidad River Authority Board of Directors
- Betsy Whitaker of Dallas, chair, Judicial Compensation Commission
- Ramiro Galindo of Bryan, Judicial Compensation Commission
- Tom Harwell of El Paso, Judicial Compensation Commission
- Harold Jenkins of Irving, Judicial Compensation Commission
- Pat Mizell of Houston, Judicial Compensation Commission
- Wanda Rohm of San Antonio, Judicial Compensation Commission
- Linda Russell of Kemah, Judicial Compensation Commission
- Mike Slack of Austin, Judicial Compensation Commission
- Bill Strawn of Austin, Judicial Compensation Commission
White to be named superintendent at Granger
Granger Independent School District trustees have selected a lone finalist - Steve White - for superintendent. The position came open when James Bartosh, the current superintendent, resigned to take the same position in Wharton. White was the only contender for the job, according to Bartosh, who said no one else was considered for the position, though resumes were reviewed. The school board will call a special meeting May 19, after a required 21-day period, to vote White as the new superintendent.
White, the current business manager under Bartosh's administration, will begin his new position June 1. White worked in Thrall from 2001 to 2003 and was employed in Aspermont for more than a year before that. He was also the middle school principal in Fort Stockton for five years.
UT-Brownsville receives $1 million Upward Bound grant
The Upward Bound Math and Science Program at the University of Texas-Brownsville/Texas Southmost College was recently selected to receive nearly $1 million over four years to serve students at two Brownsville high schools.
Awarded by the U.S. Department of Education, Upward Bound is a four-year college preparatory program sponsored by UTB-TSC that supports students taking college-level courses during high school and exposes them to careers in math and science. The grant will fund 57 students at Lopez and Rivera high schools in Brownsville to participate in the program. Through dual enrollment and concurrent enrollment, students can earn as many as 30 semester hours of college credit while still in high school.
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DCCCD breaks ground on El Centro West Dallas Campus
Representatives from the Dallas County Community College District, West Dallas businesses and others broke ground Thursday for the new El Centro College West Dallas Campus. The construction of a new community education campus is part of DCCCD's bond package approved by voters in May 2004.
The El Centro College West Dallas Campus, one of five DCCCD community education campuses under construction in Dallas County, is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2009 and will offer academic and continuing education classes and opportunities to area residents.
Plans feature a 33,800-square-foot facility at a cost of approximately $7.9 million. The satellite campus will offer adult basic education, developmental studies, limited credit classes, continuing and workforce education and community development; a variety of support programs will complement those areas.
Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition elects Flores
The Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition recently elected Webb County Sheriff Rick Flores (pictured) as its 2008-2009 chairman of the 19-member group.
The coalition was formed in Laredo in 2005 by 16 Texas sheriffs who place border security as a priority. Sheriffs Sigi Gonzalez of Zapata County, Leo Samaniego of El Paso County and Tom Herrera of Maverick County previously served as chairmen of the coalition. Coalition members are briefed on past and ongoing surge operations conducted by federal and state law enforcement agencies using sheriff's offices along the United States border with Mexico as the spearheads, Flores said.
TDA awards $1 million to remove, control feral hogs
The Texas Department of Agriculture recently awarded Texas AgriLife Extension Service $1 million for the agency's new Texas Feral Hog Control Program: Moving Towards a Long-Term Abatement Strategy. Texas is home to more than 2 million feral hogs, the largest feral hog population in the United States, and their numbers continue to increase due to high reproductive potential and the lack of natural predators.
Feral hogs wreak havoc on property, livestock, crops and pastures across the state and frustrate landowners because of their destructive nature. In fact, the Extension Service estimates the statewide annual economic damage caused by feral hogs is close to $52 million. The 80th Legislature directed this $1 million in funding following a $500,000 pilot project funded by the 79th Legislature.
Harris County to send more inmates out of state
Harris County Commissioners have approved a plan to move an additional 130 inmates to a private prison in Epps, La., in an attempt to ease crowding at the Harris County Jail. County officials say it is the best available solution for now. Currently, there are 600 local inmates already at the facility in Epps. The county is looking at other facilities in Texas and Louisiana to house up to 1,000 more Harris County inmates. There are more than 11,000 inmates in the Harris County Jail, and officials say that number will rise this summer.
Commissioner Sylvia Garcia said the proposal appears to be the only viable option. However, she said she also thinks there needs to be a full-scale review of the criminal justice system, from arrest and booking to prosecution and sentencing. One county official said Tuesday they're either going to have to look for a way to keep people out of jail or look for somewhere else to incarcerate them.
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Deadline being extended
for transportation worker ID
The Bush administration has delayed a post-9/11 program that provides special identification cards to every worker with access to seaports. The Sept. 25 deadline to enroll 1.2 million workers with access to ports into the transportation worker-credentialing program will be extended to April 15, 2009.
The Homeland Security Department started the enrollment process in October. As of last week, the department had enrolled 260,608 in the program. For enrollment, the department collects personal information including fingerprints, name, birth date, address and phone number. So far, the department has officially denied only 13 card requests because workers failed to meet the application standards.
The more than $70 million program has been criticized because of potentially intrusive background checks on the workers and the $132.50 cost of the card, which workers pay. In addition, the department has not deployed machines to read the cards. There are plans to test the machines later this year.
Calhoun County moving forward on new EMS facility
Calhoun County officials are moving forward on a new emergency medical services facility. Voters in 2001 approved a bond issue for a proposed $1.8 million EMS facility. Currently, EMS operates from the old Port Lavaca fire station building, which is owned by the city, but maintained by the county in lieu of free rent.
Commissioners have set aside approximately $1.2 million for the EMS facility. So far, the county has spent $50,219 for five acres of land adjacent to the fairgrounds, and have budgeted $74,409 for an architect and $33,396 for a building study. County Judge Michael Pfeifer said the cost of the building has not yet been determined, but that he expects the facility will be a metal building.
County will not join
in federal lawsuit
Cameron County will not join a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Secretary Michael Chertoff protesting the construction of the border fence. The item was placed on Tuesday's County Commission meeting by Precinct 2 Commissioner John Wood (pictured), but never went to a vote for lack of support.
None of the other commissioners or county judge made a second motion to bring the item up for discussion. Wood decided to place the item on the agenda following last week's meeting where County Judge Carlos H. Cascos announced the border fence would go up. Wood said the county could join the lawsuit at a fee of $5,000 or pay its dues to the Texas Border Coalition that would automatically include the county in the lawsuit.
Penitas to receive $4 million for wastewater system
The city of Penitas was recently awarded a $2.395 million grant and a $1.805 million loan by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the construction of a new wastewater system.
The funding will be used to build a mechanical treatment plant, lift stations, a grinder pump station and an additional 550 house connections. Currently, Penitas has no sewer system and residents have on-site septic tanks, which are considered a health hazard. The new wastewater treatment plant is expected to serve the 1,200 families living in and around the unincorporated city that is often described as a colonia.
Brown County Sheriff seeks jail cell security cameras
Brown County Sheriff Bobby Grubbs (pictured) is asking for security cameras in the Brown County Jail. Grubbs said such a system would be an expensive item for which funds are not currently available. Grubbs estimated that a system would cost $150,000 to $200,000. He said he has discussed the topic with the commissioners court and he thinks they understand the benefit but "the cost is a heavy factor."
Grubbs said a camera security system would allow jailers to monitor activities in the cells with privacy areas blacked out and sheriff's officials could review tapes if an incident such as an assault occurred.
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