Education funding to drop for first time in four years

Lottery sales decline means less money for Foundation School Fund

At a time when schools are facing higher costs for fuel, cafeteria food, air conditioning and heating, Texas school districts may also see a drop in revenue coming from receipts from Texas lottery sales.

Since 1997, the Texas Lottery Commission's lottery sales have contributed $10 billion to Texas education. The lottery contribution has increased every year in the past five years, said Robert Heith, director of the Media Relations Division of the Texas Lottery Commission. Since 2004, the lottery has been able to transfer about $1 billion per year to the Foundation School Fund, which is under the direction of the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

However, recent declines in lottery ticket sales could mean declines in funding for education. By the week ending July 5, lottery ticket sales in Texas had dropped 2.9 percent from the same 45-week period in 2007, said Heith. The commission reported $3.217 billion in sales of instant and online tickets in the first 45 weeks of 2007 compared to $3.125 billion in those ticket sales during the same period in 2008. This represents a drop of $92 million in sales of lottery tickets from the same period last year.

Lehman resigns after 10 years as TWC commissioner

Ron Lehman (pictured), commissioner representing employers for the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), has resigned, effective July 18. Lehman ends a 10-year career at TWC, after having been appointed to the position in 1998 by then-Gov. George W. Bush.

In announcing his resignation, Lehman said he has enjoyed working with Texas employers to focus "on retaining and growing jobs by creating a market-driven workforce system that helps meet the real world business needs of employers." He helped establish the online job-matching system WorkinTexas.com, with more than 250,000 employers enrolled as users and more than 1.3 million job seekers hired since the launch of the site.

Before beginning his state public service career, Lehman served in various management and staff positions in manufacturing, personnel, finance, engineering, customer engineering, management development and technical education in Austin and New York. He holds a bachelor's degree from St. Edward's University, and is a graduate of The President's Class-Advanced Business Institute at Harvard University and the Systems Approach to Education-Corporate Learning Institute at Vanderbilt University.

Strategic Partnerships salutes Texas' Lone Stars

Milton Rister, executive director, Texas Legislative Council

Career highlights and education: Rister joined the Texas Legislative Council as executive director in February 2006, following more than 20 years of research and management experience in the public and private sectors. A fifth-generation Texan, Rister was born in 1951 and raised on a farm east of Walburg and attended The University of Texas. He was the research manager for ClayDesta Communications in the mid-80s. In the early 90s, he served as the first executive director of the House Republican Caucus, then as chief of staff to State Sen. Jane Nelson and later as director of research and senior advisor to Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.

What I like best about my job is: the people! The people I serve are the members of the legislature, their staff and ultimately the people of Texas. I especially enjoy the staff I have the privilege to work with every day. They are diverse and interesting, full of ideas and all intensely committed to doing excellent work and serving the members of the legislature.

The best advice I've received for my current job is: if you focus your attention on the activities that rank in the top 20 percent in terms of importance, you will have an 80 percent return on your effort. That advice has helped me stay focused as I face the daily challenge of managing a staff of 400 people.

Advice I would give a new hire in my office: The staff at the council functions as a team. You need to understand that every council employee is important and highly valued. It takes all of us working together to provide the highest quality of service possible to the members of the legislature.

If I ever snuck out of work early, I could probably be found: watching my daughter play volleyball or riding my bicycle on the country roads between Taylor and Georgetown.

People would be surprised to know that I: am so passionate about teamwork that I regularly teach classes on teamwork to groups of council employees.

Book, magazine, or newspaper article I've read recently that really influenced my thinking: The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork and The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell have greatly influenced my thinking. I did not just read them a few years ago; I still study them and teach them almost every month. The books provide the staff at the council, especially the directors and managers, a window into how I think and make decisions. But the greatest thing about the books is that they have become a communication tool we use when we discuss and debate the merits of whatever decisions we are making. When someone tells me I am "spending a lot of change" on an idea, I know they are talking about the leadership law called the "Law of Solid Ground."

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.

Abbott recognizes regional assistant attorneys general

Nine Child Support Division employees of the Texas Attorney General's Office were recently recognized as "Assistant Attorney General of the Year" in their regions by Attorney General Greg Abbott. The award winners were selected from each of the state's eight child support regions and the main office in Austin by Deputy Attorney General for Child Support Alicia Keys. The recipients of the awards were chosen based on recommendations of their peers and supervisors and for their willingness to go beyond their normal duties to serve the children of Texas.

The winners include: Dawn Baardsen (pictured left with Abbott) in the Child Support Division's North Austin office, representing the 42-county Austin-based region, and Martha Fitzwater (pictured right with Abbott) in the division's main office in Austin; Yuri Venters, from the 21-county region based in El Paso; Curtis Collum in the Conroe office, from the nine-county region based in Houston; Troy Smith, from the 43-county region based in Tyler; Nova Washington-Hill, from the Dallas Southeast office representing the 16-county region based in Arlington; Amber DeSutter, from the 13-county region based in McAllen; Richard Ketola, from the 24-county region based in San Antonio; and Angela Jacob-Ware, in the Wichita Falls office representing the 86-county region based in Lubbock.

The awards were presented during the recent annual Statewide Assistant Attorneys General Conference in Austin.

HHSC awards $7.9M to nurse-family programs

Nine Texas organizations are the recipients of grant funding totaling $7.8 million from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) for the Texas Nurse-Family Partnerships, pairing nurses with low-income, first-time mothers in an effort to improve prenatal care and provide one-on-one child development education and counseling.

HHSC Commissioner Albert Hawkins (pictured) said the partnership is based on a national model providing intensive services in the mothers' own homes. Hawkins said studies show the program "reduces emergency room visits, leads to declines in abuse and neglect cases and improves a child's readiness for school."

The funding has been awarded to:

• Any Baby Can, Austin, $756,725;
• The Children's Shelter, San Antonio, $875,822;
• Healthy Family Initiatives, Houston, $1,522,800;
• Parkland Health and Hospital System, Dallas, $806,284;
• City of Port Arthur Health Department, $548,130;
• Tarrant County Health Department, $860,720;
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing, $854,835;
• University Health System, San Antonio, $808,154; and
• YWCA of Metropolitan Dallas, $795,409

Under the program, which begins Sept. 1, nurses will visit expectant mothers following referrals from a variety of sources and if a soon-to-be mother agrees, the nurse will make home visits throughout the mother's pregnancy and until the child is 2 years old, providing support, education and counseling. Pregnant women who meet the requirements for Medicaid services are eligible.

TxDOT grants to benefit urban, rural areas of state

More than $36 million in funding has been approved by the Texas Transportation Commission to support public transportation projects in small urban and rural areas of Texas. Eric Gleason (pictured), director of public transportation for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), said the funds will assist with transit costs for "capital and operating expenses for small urban and nonurbanized public transportation systems, assistance with higher than anticipated increases in fuel costs and other increases in rural expenses, enhancement of intercity bus service in Texas and the continuation of regional coordinated public transportation planning."

Some $2.2 million of the funds will go to rural transit operators for increased program costs due in part to increasing fuel costs. Funding will also be distributed to support intercity bus service, some of which will allow for the continued operations of a Midland-Odessa to Presidio route, the only available public transportation serving Crane, McCamey, Fort Stockton, Alpine and Marfa counties and Sul Ross University.

To view the amount of the awards to the various entities, click here.

Abbott: State not responsible for ISD benefits payment

Texas school districts will be required to match the increase in teacher retirement pensions brought about by a state-mandated salary increase approved by the Texas Legislature in 2006. Attorney General Greg Abbott noted last week that the state "requires a school district to pay to the Teacher Retirement System a contribution for certain employees who receive more than the statutory minimum salary."

That means districts throughout the state will have to pick up the tab on the $100 million per year cost of benefits that resulted from those increases. In the past, the state covered most base-pay retirement benefits and anything over that amount was paid by the districts. But when the state approved the raises, it did not make funds available for the teacher-matching portion, which now must be picked up by the school districts.

Abbott's ruling noted that the pay raise instituted by lawmakers was not part of the state minimum salary, and thus was not part of the state's responsibility for paying the associated amount to the pension fund.

Gilligan takes over as dean of McCombs School

Dr. Thomas Gilligan (pictured) is the new dean of the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. Gilligan is the E. Morgan Stanley Chair in Business Administration and professor of finance and business economics at the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business in Los Angeles. Gilligan previously served as intern dean of the Marshall School of Business.

The appointment of Gilligan followed a nationwide search by an 18-member committee. Gilligan replaces Dr. George W. Gau, whose six-year appointment as dean of the business school ends in August.

Gilligan holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Oklahoma in Norman and a doctorate from Washington University in St. Louis. Other academic positions he has held include assistant professor of economics at California Institute of Technology. He also was a Russian linguist in the U.S. Air Force and a staff economist on President Ronald Reagan's Council of Economic Advisers.

Petruso will take over as UTA Honors College dean

Karl Petruso, professor and director of the Anthropology Program at The University of Texas at Arlington College of Liberal Arts and associate dean of the Honors College since 2002, has been named dean of the Honors College, effective September 1. Victoria Farrar-Myers, who was previously named dean, withdrew from the position for health reasons.

Petruso joined UT-Arlington in 1990. As dean of the Honors College, he will have oversight of the College's study abroad programs, the Washington, D.C. Archer Fellowship program sponsored by the UT System, summer undergraduate research assistantships and the Honors College thesis/creative project process.

Farrar-Myers will be on medical leave this fall, but is expected to return to her role as professor of political science in January 2009.

Vitter accepts provost position at Texas A&M University

Texas A&M University President Dr. Elsa Murano recently announced that Dr. Jeffrey S. Vitter (pictured) has accepted an offer to become the new provost and executive vice president for academics. Vitter currently serves as the Frederick L. Novde Dean of the College of Science at Purdue University.

Vitter replaces Dr. Jerry Strawser, who has served as the interim provost and executive vice president for academics since last year. Strawser will resume his position as Dean of the Mays Business School as soon as Vitter takes over the position as provost.

Texas A&M is still seeking to fill several key positions, including vice president for research, vice president for student affairs, dean of the College of Architecture, dean of the College of Geosciences, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences and vice chancellor and dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Murano said.

Texas Tech researchers garner $1 million grant

A grant of more than $1 million from the National Institutes of Health has been made to three researchers at Texas Tech University's Institute of Environmental and Human Health. The grant will be used to encourage science education within under-represented minority groups.

Researchers (from left) Jaclyn Canas, Stephen Cox and Trey Brown received the five-year grant for the program that seeks to partner with educators and minority science students at South Plains College to help those students transfer successfully from the college to Texas Tech.

"Our goal is to help minority science students succeed in college and stimulate them to the point where they want to continue pursuing a career in science," said Canas, program director. "We want them to go to South Plains College, come to get their bachelor's degrees at Texas Tech, and then hopefully continue on to graduate school."

Jay Driver and Philip Anderson, professors at South Plains College, and Texas Tech faculty members John Zak, Jorge Salazar-Bravo, Juan Muñoz and Zenaida Aguirre-Muñoz also aided in securing the funding

Montgomery County approves $2M radio system

Montgomery County commissioners recently agreed to purchase radio equipment costing about $2 million for more than 20 local law enforcement agencies. The money will be spent on radios, repeaters and consoles.

The Conroe City Council and the Montgomery County Hospital District (MCHD) both voted against signing an agreement with the county, said Chief Deputy Randy McDaniel (pictured).

The county, MCHD and the city of Conroe share the radio system currently in use, but the city and MCHD will remain on the system with their own equipment when the county converts to the regional system in October, McDaniel said. The city and hospital district can still join the county's radio system in the future if both purchase their own equipment, he said.

TDA grant to help reduce feral hog numbers

Using a grant from the Texas Department of Agriculture, Young county officials are implementing a program to remove the hundreds of feral hogs that roam the county. Texas Agrilife Extension Agent Brad Morrison said the funding is part of a $1 million grant to test a program to reduce wild pigs throughout the state. Young County is one of three counties chosen to test the plan, Morrison said.

The plan calls for the use of a helicopter to search for and round up the animals and then experts will kill the feral hogs from the helicopter. Ground crews will follow up to ensure the animals are dead.

The animals pose a real problem to agriculture, Morrison said. Besides destroying crops, the feral hogs carry dangerous diseases such as brucellosis and pseudorabies that can ruin a herd of cattle. An estimated four to six million feral hogs roam the United States, with more than half located in Texas. In 2006, feral hogs caused $52 million in damages to the agriculture industry. The roundup of wild pigs most likely will be held in October to avoid interfering with hunting season.

O'Brien leaving Baylor for Carson-Newman College

Dr. J. Randall O'Brien (pictured), who has been with Baylor University for 17 years as a faculty member and administrator, has been named president of Carson-Newman College in Jefferson, Tenn. O'Brien, Baylor's executive vice president and provost, will leave Baylor effective Aug. 1.

Baylor President John Lilley and other administrators and faculty members are studying the choice of an interim appointment to succeed O'Brien and expect to make an announcement regarding their choice soon. A search committee will be named and a national search launched for a permanent replacement for O'Brien.

Del Rio officials welcome controversial border fence

At a time when many border officials oppose the proposed fence along the border of the United States and Mexico, Del Rio city officials are welcoming the 15-foot-high steel wall the United States government is building to slow down illegal immigration.

Officials in Laredo, Brownsville and other border cities have complained that the proposed fence is a barrier to trade, a waste of money, an eyesore and an insult to neighboring Mexico, but Del Rio Mayor Efrain Valdez (pictured) sees the fence as a moneymaker for the city.

Instead of barring government surveyors from city-owned property or refusing to sell land, the Del Rio City Council recently agreed to sell the U.S. Department of Homeland Security 70 acres of city-owned land for $1.2 million, a significant increase over the $90,000 the city paid for it a decade ago. Also, the existing chain-link fence is too easy to climb and DHS has promised to clear the waterfront land of Carrizo cane to help Border Patrol agents see the river, Valdez said. The city plans to use the proceeds from the land sale to build a new revenue-generating parking garage across from Del Rio's federal courthouse.

San Benito consolidating some city facilities

The San Benito City Commission recently approved the purchase of a $100,000 building near the city hall to consolidate most of the city's facilities into one block. The city plans to house the court, city inspectors, code enforcement and a dispatch center in the 5,000-square-foot building, said City Manager Victor Trevino.

Commissioners also approved $37,000 for the first phase of building renovations, including the purchase of a generator and creating a municipal courtroom, Trevino said. The departments of planning, finance, payroll and cashiers will remain in the city hall. Phase two is creation of the dispatch center, which is expected to cost about $92,000. Trevino said he is looking for grants to help pay part of the cost of phase two. The state often provides grants for cities developing emergency operating centers, he said.

Yates to lead Prairie View College of Education

Dr. Lucian Yates, III (pictured), has been selected dean of the Prairie View A&M University Whitlowe R. Green College of Education. Yates previously served as chair and associate professor of the School of Education at Kentucky State University, before joining PVAMU in January. Yates replaces Dean M. Paul Mehta, who retired recently. Yates also previously served as the director of education recruitment and retention for the Kentucky Department of Education and as superintendent of the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, school district. He was also a former school principal in Louisville, Kentucky.

Since joining PVAMU, Yates has implemented two highly successful initiatives within the College of Education - a self-assessment method for education students and a requirement that education majors maintain an electronic portfolio to help them develop for education careers.

Yates holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Morehead State University and his doctorate from Ohio University.

Williamson County discusses purchase of 865-acre park

Williamson County Commissioners recently agreed to spend up to $12.5 million for what will be the county's largest park if county officials approve a contract between the county and the owner of the 865-acre property north of Liberty Hill.

Commissioner Cynthia Long (pictured), whose precinct includes the proposed parkland, said the riverfront property with its rolling hills and 10-mile views could be the jewel of Williamson County parks. Commissioners Lisa Birkman and Valerie Covey voted against the park funding. Birkman said she does not support placing so much of the $22 million park bond funds approved in 2006 on only one piece of land.

While no plans have been made for the proposed parkland, commissioners have indicated it would have trails and be a place where groups could camp out rather than containing soccer, baseball or other sports fields. Liberty Hill is expected to be the next big growth area for Williamson County. Officials have proposed expanding Texas 29 into a six-lane expressway, with as many as six frontage road lanes to handle the expected growth. The county judge said he expects the contract for the land to come before the council in three to four weeks.

Blinn hires Miller as college vice president

Dr. Van Miller (pictured), director of admissions for Texarkana College for the last 21 years, has been hired as Blinn College's new vice president of business services. He will begin his new job in August, and replaces Dr. Dan Holt, who was promoted to Blinn College president.

At Texarkana College, Miller also serves as director of institutional research and is coordinator of the Virtual College of Texas (VCT). He also works closely with business operations of the college. He previously served as an instructor at Texarkana College.

Miller was one of five finalists chosen from some 30 applicants for the Blinn position. He holds a bachelor's degree from Baylor University and a master's from The University of Texas at Austin.

UT System sees 80 percent rise in oil, gas profits

The profits from drilling for oil and gas on the 2.1 million acres of land owned by The University of Texas System have increased 80 percent from the same time last year. With higher drilling profits, however, have come higher utility costs for facilities throughout the UT system, said Randy Wallace, the chief budget officer for the system. The UT System as a whole has seen utility costs increase by 13 percent from May of 2007 to May of 2008, he said.

At the end of June, drilling on university-owned land had produced $166.7 million in oil royalties and $133.6 million in gas royalties, Wallace said. Oil and gas revenues from the land have generated $4.4 billion in royalties for the Permanent University Fund, which is divided between UT System and Texas A&M System universities, with two-thirds of the fund going to UT and the remaining one-third going to A&M. The UT System reinvests the drilling revenues before they are deposited into the Available University Fund.

The UT System also has profited from land sales held twice a year that allow the winner to explore for oil and natural gas, said Steve Hartmann, executive director of University Lands. Two sales this year brought in $38 million in revenue from companies paying for the right to explore, he said. Companies that do not begin drilling by the end of the first term must pay an extension fee, which has brought in $3.4 million in revenue from May 2007 to May 2008.

TAMU-Kingsville campus upgrades continuing

Demolition of the Student Family Apartments on the Texas A&M University-Kingsville campus continues (see accompanying photo) as the university makes way for a new state-of-the-art student residence hall that is expected to house 400-500 students when completed.

With a 50 percent increase in student enrollment next fall over last fall, the new residence hall is one of several upgrades under way on campus. The facility is expected to be completed in fall 2009. Next up on the campus construction list is a new wellness center which will be under construction in October. New living-learning communities also will be readied for the fall.

The living-learning communities are associations of student residents with similar majors who live near each other in residence halls so they can provide each other academic support. An engineering living-learning community already is in place and others to be added in the fall 2008 semester include music, animal and wildlife sciences and fitness and wellness residence communities.

Mid-Valley to open regional emergency dispatch center

Three Mid-Valley communities - Weslaco, Mercedes and Donna - are moving ahead with plans to open a new regional dispatch center next year, most likely in Weslaco.

George Garrett, director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for Weslaco and Donna, said he still hopes to expand the operation to include dispatchers for Edcouch, Elsa, Progresso, La Villa, Monte Alto and the Precinct 1 constable's office. The central facility, which is expected to employ 25 to 30 call-takers and dispatchers, will help cities reduce communications lag time.

The new system will direct 911 calls to designated call-takers, who then relay the information to dispatchers who call emergency responders in the field. Allowing dispatchers to have uninterrupted communication with emergency responders will be an improvement over the old system that requires dispatchers to juggle between taking calls from the public and communicating with police and firefighters. Dispatchers also will be able to simulcast instructions to emergency responders in all three cities, Garrett said. The new dispatch center is modeled on a similar dispatch center that operates in communities south of Los Angeles.

Angelina College announces high-level appointments

Joe Deason (left) and Winifred Ferguson-Adams (right) have been appointed to key positions in the administration at Angelina College in Lufkin. Deason has been selected to serve on the Board of Trustees to succeed Joe Byrd, who retired. Deason currently serves as Director of Recruiting and Retention for the Lufkin Independent School District and has been involved in education and community service endeavors for more than three decades. He holds a bachelor's degree from Prairie View A&M University and a master's from Stephen F. Austin State University.

Ferguson-Adams, who has been an instructor in the college's Health Careers Division, now moves into the director position of that division, succeeding the retiring Kathy Hall. Ferguson-Adams' areas of expertise include psychiatric and community health, management and staff training. She holds a bachelor's degree from Texas Christian University and a master's from SFA. She will help oversee the transition into the new $6.2 million Health Careers facility that will soon be under construction.

Bloomington ISD mulling priorities for bond election

Trustees for the Bloomington Independent School District are weighing priorities on projects to be included in a November bond proposal. Board members also agreed to limit the bond total to no more than $7.5 million.

Trustees and members of the bond election committee are working with architects and construction consultants to help determine what work would be proposed and the price tag for the projects, said Brad Williams, the interim superintendent.

Projects under consideration include new libraries for all campuses, combination science classrooms, a new field house, a new track and other renovations. Bond committee members are scheduled to meet again on July 28 to continue in deliberations about which projects will be included in the proposed Nov. 4 bond election.

Little Cypress-Mauriceville ISD considering 2009 bond

After rejection in May of a $40 million bond proposal, trustees for the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Independent School District agreed to ask for a vote in May 2009 on another bond proposal to pay for repairs and renovations to its schools.

Superintendent Dr. Pauline Hargrove (pictured) said while district officials realize the economy will be an issue, school facilities are in real need of repair. A bond election in November would not give bond supporters the time for official planning and could be overshadowed by the presidential election, said Brenda Mott, vice president of the school board.

While most of the failed May bond election called for building a new high school at its current location and other needs at each of the district's five other campuses, Hargrove said the new mission of the bond committee is to meet with voters and determine what needs are most important and what is best for all students of the school district.

Harris County to study bid, contracting policies

How Harris County evaluates bids and awards contracts will be studied by the county attorney, following a directive this week from the county commissioners court. Current rules state that would-be contractors must be current on any taxes owed to the county before they can bid on or be awarded a county contract. However, the court also has the ability to waive that rule.

Commissioner Sylvia Garcia (pictured) said waiving the rule is unfair to bidders who keep their tax payments current, adding that it is not difficult for contractors to find out if they owe any county taxes. Some officials point out that collection of such taxes would not result in a huge amount of revenue for the county, while not waiving the rule on a low bid because the vendor's taxes are not current could cost the county millions.

The county also occasionally waives other rules related to accepting and rejecting bids that have minor infractions that keep them from meeting bid specifications. The county attorney will thus study all policies and rules for bidding and for the award of contracts.

McLennan County gets one response to bid for jail

After seeking proposals for a privately owned jail from 14 vendors, McLennan County Commissioners recently received only one response - from the same firm that has leased the county's old downtown jail since 1999.

McLennan County officials had hoped a privately constructed jail would help the county avoid a bond election and a tax increase to solve overcrowding at the county-operated jail. Recently, McLennan County has paid the private company to house prisoners in the downtown jail it leases, cutting into the $1 million a year the company pays the county for the lease.

While opponents of private prisons argued that those facilities experience more escapes, violence against staff and a higher percentage of prisoner-on-prisoner violence, County Judge Jim Lewis said that all jails face potential security issues. County officials are studying four options, including:

• A private firm building and operating a new jail while the county continues to run the Highway 6 and downtown jail facilities;
• A private firm would build and operate a new jail and operate the downtown jail;
• A private firm would build and operate the new jail and contract with a private firm to operate both the Highway 6 and downtown jails; or
• A private firm would build the new jail and take over operations for all of the county's jail facilities.

TSU president picks Ohia as VP/Provost

Dr. Sunny E. Ohia (pictured) has been named as the new vice president of academic affairs and provost at Texas Southern University. Ohia is expected to join TSU in September, subject to approval of his hiring by TSU regents.

Currently Ohia is dean of the College of Pharmacy at the University of Houston. His 16 years of academic experience include five and a half years at UH. He also served as an associate dean at Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Health Professions and has held adjunct professorships at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Houston.

Ohia received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Glasgow, in Scotland, United Kingdom. While under his leadership as dean at UH, the College of Pharmacy experienced a more than 400 percent increase in research expenditures and the number of endowed scholarships increased by more than 120 percent. Graduate enrollment is also up by about 70 percent and total expenditures from state and local sources increased by more than 100 percent.

Two research VP candidates to visit TAMU campus

Two of the three candidates for Vice President for Research at Texas A&M University will visit the campus next week. Dr. Charles Louis (left), currently vice chancellor for research and a professor of cell biology at the University of California, Riverside, will be on campus Monday to meet with various groups of faculty and staff.

Another candidate, Dr. Martin Philbert (right), will be on campus next Thursday. Philbert is professor and senior associate dean for research at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

A third candidate for the position has not yet been announced, according to the search committee.

Dallas County Community College District earns grants

Grants totaling nearly $90,000 were recently awarded to the Dallas County Community College (DCCDD). A $10,000 grant went to the district's Board of Trustees from the Association of Community College Trustees. The funds will be used to support trustee education and effective governance through a 30-month project that provides a model curriculum for the trustees. Templates developed around various training topics can be used by other community colleges throughout the country.

Another $40,000 in grant funding to the district and the Richland College was awarded by the American Association of Community Colleges for its "Plus 50 Initiative," aimed at promoting community colleges as the primary place for adults 50 and older to both learn and train and thus contribute to their communities.

The district and the Cedar Valley College garnered a $37,500 grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for the "Intensive Summer Program" that offers rigorous academic instruction in English language arts, math and science.

Leal to retire as president of TSTC-Harlingen

Dr. Gilbert Leal (pictured), recently announced he will retire as president of Texas State Technical College in Harlingen at the end of August after serving 30 years in that position.

Leal recalled that when he came to the institution in 1969, it had 67 students and 30 employees. Enrollment is expected to top 6,000 students and the school now has more than 500 in its workforce. The campus grew from 13.4 acres to 167.8 acres and now has 94 buildings on campus compared to six in 1970.

Leal has a bachelor's degree from the University of North Texas and a master's from Pan American University. He has a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University-Commerce.

San Angelo looks at $23M in capital improvements

San Angelo city officials recently rolled out their revamped list for more than $23 million in capital improvements for the 2008-2009 budget cycle beginning October 1.

Projects on the list include replacing the air conditioning unit at the San Angelo Police Department at a cost of $500,000, remodeling and rebuilding two fire stations at a cost of about $800,000 and a $550,000 project to replace the roof and floors of the Ralph R. Chase State Services Building, which is owned by the city, but leased by the state.

Other approved projects include new seating at the San Angelo Convention Center, sewer line replacement, a new two-inch waterline, street repairs, installing emergency generators at the water treatment plant and renovating the basement at city hall.

Plano looks at possible program cuts, fee increases

Plano city officials are eyeing cuts to arts projects, changes to patrolling middle schools and an increase in water and sewer rates and recreation fees as they struggle to adopt a city budget negatively impacted by higher energy costs and the increased cost of workers benefits.

The city is facing about a $17 million gap between expected revenues and costs, said Council Member Mabrie Jackson (pictured). Among the solutions to the budget gap being discussed are increasing property tax rates for the second time in three years, doubling recreation center fees, raising water bills a second time this year and capping the amount of sales tax revenue that can be used to pay for the city budget.

Also being discussed are cutting back on citizen boards, instituting a hiring freeze, delaying public art projects and reassigning five of the 10 police officers currently assigned to patrol middle schools. City staff is expected to offer a tentative spending plan to council by the end of July.

Brazoria County agrees on architects for fairgrounds

Brazoria County commissioners recently agreed to hire a Corpus Christi-based architecture firm to create a comprehensive design for new county fairgrounds that will include an exposition center, pavilion, an equestrian arena, an auditorium and new offices.

Both design firms competing for the design contract estimated the costs of the proposed project to be between $30 million and $40 million. Voters in 2005 rejected a $38.5 million bond proposal for new fairground facilities and must approve funding before the facility will be built.

A preliminary plan for the fairgrounds should be completed in September, which most likely will be too late to call a November bond election.

Sheriffs seek more support to fight border violence

Members of the Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition recently agreed to ask the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to remove restrictions against allowing law enforcement departments to use homeland security funds to hire more officers. Webb County Sheriff Rick Flores (pictured), president of the coalition of 19 Texas county sheriffs, argued that the current DHS policy of funding equipment, technology and officer's overtime is shortsighted.

If DHS allocates funding to Mexico, it should also consider more protection on the United States side of the border, Flores said. While Flores said he has received $1.8 million in federal assistance during the last three years, he said he needs an additional $14.5 million in the next five years to hire 25 new deputies to join the 37 deputies he now employs. Hidalgo County Sheriff Guadalupe Trevino criticized the decision by DHS to provide eight 13-passenger transport helicopters to Mexican security forces. The Merida Initiative, recently signed into law by the president, will provide $400 million in the first year to Mexico for training, equipment and other assistance to boost that country's campaign against drug traffickers.

Carroll ISD explores contract to handle bus service

Officials of the Carroll Independent School District are considering whether to hire Dallas County Schools to operate Carroll's bus services. Dallas County Schools provides transportation, technology and other services to nine school districts, including Dallas and Irving.

Derek Citty, the assistant superintendent for administrative services, said the agency approached Carroll ISD about managing its bus fleet and employing drivers. Carroll officials have provided financial records to the agency to determine whether the district would save money by contracting out its bus services. Dallas County Schools has a board of trustees and receives tax income, but has no building, students or teachers. It is separate from the Dallas Independent School District, which operates schools.

Dallas County Schools, which operates 1,500 vehicles, may be able to negotiate for cheaper fuel than one district working alone, Citty said. Once the financial study is complete, the results will be shared with school members. In 2006, voters approved a $24.5 million bond package that included funding for new air-conditioned diesel buses to phase out its current fleet that uses gasoline.

University Health Systems asks Bexar to OK bonds

The board of the University Health System recently voted to ask Bexar County Commissions to approve the sale of bonds to begin work on $900 million in improvements to the taxpayer-funded hospital and clinic.

Funding from the bond issue will be used to expand and renovate University Hospital and to rebuild the former Brady-Green hospital downtown. That hospital treats 235,000 outpatients per year and is facing overcrowded conditions, said Dr. Robert Jimenez (pictured), chairman of the University System board. With 25 percent of county residents lacking health insurance and the legal obligation to care for badly injured patients, the hospital already handles twice the patient load it was designed to treat and is closed for medical emergencies 75 percent of the time, he said.

A $280 million bond issue the first year would pay for renovations at the former Brady-Green, now the University Health Center-Downtown, including a new urgent care center, a diagnostic building and parking, along with engineering and design costs for a new trauma tower at University Hospital. Tentative plans call for $321 million in certificates of obligation to be sold next year to build the trauma tower and $178.4 million in 2010 to renovate the existing hospital and downtown campus.

Lewisville ISD approves night school option

The Lewisville Independent School District recently approved a plan for an optional flexible school day and night school program to give students a choice of taking classes on a schedule different from a typical school day.

The program has two components, said Penny Reddell, assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and assessment services. Night school will be available for all ninth through 12th grade students who want to attend. It will be held from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the Lewisville Learning Center and the Dale Jackson Career Center. The night school will have core classes available as well as career and technology education classes that include work/school opportunities. Accelerated high school credit and even some college credit can become available.

The Optional Flexible School Day Program is a sub-component of the night school. It is targeted to at-risk students in the ninth through 12th grades through age 21. The OFSDP is a grant that allows participating districts to receive weighted averaged daily attendance funding for students who meet the Texas Education Agency's at-risk standard. The night school is funded primarily by a high school allotment fund, Reddell said.

Corpus Christi bomb squad unveils new vehicle

Officials of the Corpus Christi police department recently unveiled a new $360,000 truck designed to be a base of operations for its four-member bomb squad.

The truck, mounted on a heavy-duty diesel chassis, allows the squad to consolidate operations from scattered boxes and locations into the vehicle, said Lt. James Brandon, who oversees the squad. The vehicle is about the size of two ambulances and is air conditioned and outfitted with food and water to allow technicians to be self-sufficient for up to three days in an emergency.

Funded with a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the new bomb squad vehicle also features a remote camera that can be extended more than 30 feet from the truck to scope out surroundings, a powerful light grid and a dedicated storage area of the squad's bomb-handling robot. Consolidating all the equipment in one place should substantially improve response time as bomb squad members no longer have to run from place to place to gather equipment. The squad averages about six or seven calls per month, including calls from other area cities, police officials said.

Webb County struggling with projected budget deficit

Facing a projected $3.5 million difference between revenues and expenditures, Webb County Judge Danny Valdez (pictured) recently instructed department heads to go back over their operations to find additional savings. The county must adopt its budget by July 31.

While the county saw about a $4 million increase in property values, Valdez said it is also facing increased expenses this year, including spending about $2.4 million annually on the soon-to-be-opened Webb County Youth Village. The facility has a 36-bed capacity and can be expanded to 48 beds.

The county also is exploring how to save on rising fuel costs, especially within the Webb County Sheriff's Office. Even with the ability to purchase gasoline at wholesale rates, fuel costs have prompted several supplementary requests from the sheriff to transfer more funds to pay for gasoline for patrol cars. One option under consideration is buying regular-grade gasoline and adding octane boosters to save money rather than using premium-grade gasoline for many of the vehicles, Valdez said.

Work begins on Clifton-Meridian pipeline

With local, county, state and federal officials looking on, workers in Meridian recently broke ground on a new water pipeline to deliver water from Clifton to Meridian.

After years of negotiations on how to meet water needs of the area as the water supply became scarcer, officials of the two Bosque County cities and the Brazos River Authority signed an agreement in 2002 to develop a plan to benefit both cities. The agreement allows Clifton to draw water from the Bosque River to a reservoir and water treatment plant built by Clifton. The water is then diverted to a pump owned by Meridian.

According to the engineers who built the Clifton treatment facility, it was designed in the first phase to provide some regional water treatment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provided two grants for the project, one for the pipeline project and another to pay for the purchase of the pump to deliver the water to Meridian. Meridian Mayor Jeff Keese and Clifton Mayor Raymond Zuehke praised state and federal officials for their support of the project that ensured a safe water supply for both cities.

Fuel, utility cost hikes cause Nueces hiring freeze

Fighting back against rising gas prices, utility and materials costs, Nueces County commissioners recently approved a hiring freeze to help balance their budget. County Judge Loyd Neal (pictured) said it appears the county will go over budget in several areas, including utilities, road materials and gasoline and must find savings in other areas to pay the increased costs. Because salaries and benefits comprise the largest portion of the county budget, a freeze on hiring will produce the biggest impact, Neal said The freeze does not include positions such as correction officers at the jail and juvenile detention center.

Neal also instructed County Purchaser Elsa Saenz to retrieve 514 county gas cards issued to some county employees and to pick up 210 county-issued purchasing credit cards while an ongoing review of spending takes place.

Midland finds unique solution to unusual problem

By Mary Scott Nabers, CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc.

The City of Midland experienced an unusual problem. The way the problem was solved is even a more unusual story.

Midland has long been blessed with an abundance of jobs, many of them very high-paying positions. The higher-paying jobs created many more employment opportunities but most at lower pay rates.

The blessing of numerous job openings turned problematic when there were too few job seekers to fill the positions. A cooperative effort between the Midland Chamber of Commerce, the Midland Development Corporation (MDC) and a private sector business has produced a success story that could become a model for other regions throughout the state.

The availability of high-paying jobs in the Midland region resulted in what officials described as a "critical" labor shortage for other jobs. The situation impacted a number of industry sectors but particularly the hotel/motel sector and local restaurants.

Groat named interim dean of UT's Jackson School

The University of Texas at Austin recently selected Charles G. "Chip" Groat (pictured) as the interim dean of the Jackson School of Geosciences.

Grout takes over the position held since 2006 by Eric J. Barron, who resigned to become director of the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Grout will serve as interim dean until a national search is held and a new dean is selected. He previously served as director of the U.S. Geological Survey from 1998 to 2005 and holds the John A. and Katherine G. Jackson Chair in Energy and Mineral Resources at the Center for International Energy and Environmental Policy. He holds a Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin.

Blinn College to improve radio system on campus

Blinn College has approved the purpose of $70,000 in radios to allow campus police to better communicate with other law enforcement agencies. The decision was made following a recent incident in which Blinn officials acknowledged they had no way of communicating with officers from other departments when it appeared the path of an escaped inmate led to Blinn's Bryan campus.

Chief Claud Free said the new 800 MHz radios will operate on the Brazos Valley Wide Area Communication System that links the Bryan, College Station, Brenham and Texas A&M University police departments and the Brazos and Washington county sheriff's departments. The new area-wide system is being funded by a $2.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It most likely will be a year before all the infrastructure for the new system is installed.

Where are they now?

Where do folks go when they leave state government? Some go to work in the private sector or for nonprofits. Some transition to executive-level positions in higher education while others may seek elected local government positions. And some just retire and spend a lot of time with their grandkids at the fishin' hole. This column focuses on where former state government officials and employees are now.

Commerce selects Miller
as new city manager

The Commerce City Council recently selected Dion Miller as its new city manager. Miller, who formerly served as city manager in Mineola, will start his new job on July 14.

Miller has a bachelor's degree from West Texas A&M University and is credentialed as a manager by the International City Management Association. He also served as an assistant city manager in Killeen and as city manager in Azle.

Pipes resigns as Huntsville's interim city manager

Gene Pipes, the interim city manager in Huntsville, recently submitted his resignation, effective July 15. Pipes, who replaced City Manager Kevin Evans after he resigned in January, previously had served as the city manager in Huntsville from 1981 to 2000 and as an acting city manager in the mid-1970s. He will return to his position as curator of education at the Sam Houston Memorial Museum.

After accepting the resignation, council members appointed Victor Pena to serve as acting city manager until a new interim city manager can be selected. Pena currently serves as director of the city's administrative services department and has applied for the vacant city manager position. Pena also has worked in various positions in Midland, McKinney, Ardmore, Okla. and Lake County, Ill.

SPI to roll out new 'services' division

Strategic Partnerships, Inc., will soon launch a new Services Division, which will include some of the state's premier and most experienced providers of services for agencies, businesses, education groups, communities, nonprofits and others. SPI will offer services that include strategic planning, meeting facilitation, grant writing, keynote speakers, executive coaching, economic development strategy, mediation, training and more. Some of the "luminaries" working with SPI will be featured in future issues of the Texas Government Insider...This week we feature Dr. Juli Fellows.

Dr. Juli Fellows (pictured) is an expert in customized organizational services. She is an experienced meeting facilitator, having facilitated meetings at the local, state, national and international levels for as many as 300 participants. She also designs and facilitates customized strategic planning sessions tailored to an organization's need. A volunteer mediator for the Austin Dispute Resolution Center for eight years, Fellows is a trained and experienced mediator, particularly in public policy mediation. She is also a seasoned trainer in the business, education, community and nonprofit settings and can provide conflict resolution training, group facilitation skills training and communication skills training. No stranger to government at many levels, Fellows has worked for the former Texas Department of Health, the Texas Youth Council, The University of Texas at Austin, a state Education Service Center and in the Texas public school system. She holds a bachelor's, master's and Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin.

To inquire about Fellows' services, contact J. Lyn Carl at 512-531-3936 or jcarl@spartnerships.com.

Texas Border Coalition backs ID plan for border

The Texas Border Coalition recently endorsed a plan backed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection to improve 39 major entry points using radio frequency identification technology. The radio frequency identification technology, which includes state-of-the-art passport cards and enhanced driver's licenses, will be used along United States borders with Canada and Mexico.

Eagle Pass Mayor Chad Foster said coalition members are pleased that Customs and Border Protection has chosen smart technology to bolster border security and shorten wait lines at border crossings. The plan is to use the radio frequency identification technology in El Paso, Laredo, Brownsville, Hidalgo, Rio Grande City, Fabens, Progresso, Del Rio, Roma, Presidio and Eagle Pass, he said.

Pleasanton approves new center, library expansion

Pleasanton City Council members recently approved a plan for a new 12,000-square-foot community center and library expansion as part of a $2.75 million infrastructure package. The council also plans to expand city hall, build a new municipal court and shut down the city's landfill.

Council members are considering two options for a site for the new community center. Under consideration are a downtown site that would use two empty retail stores to house the community center and library and a site in the industrial park south of town that is easily accessible from local highways where supporters plan to build a new community center.

Hanna appointed as assistant city manager

Weatherford City Manager Jennifer Fadden recently selected Robert Hanna (pictured) as the city's new assistant manager over infrastructure and development. Hanna currently is city administrator of Hudson Oaks.

Hanna, who also served as the airport operations manager and assistant to the city manager in Denton, received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of North Texas. He is slated to start his new position in Weatherford on July 28.

Midland selects five finalists for city manager position

Midland city officials recently released the names of five candidates who will be interviewed in the city's search for a new city manager. The finalists are:

• Mount Pleasant City Manager Courtney B. Sharp;
• Port Arthur City Manager Steve Fitzgibbons;
• Former Commerce City Manager Bill J. Shipp Jr.;
• Kilgore City Manager Jeffrey J. Howell; and
• David A Hales, director of finance/administrative services for West Jordan, Utah.

Mayor Wes Perry said he expects candidates will travel to Midland on July 21 and 22 for interviews. The city had 63 applicants for the job to replace former Midland City Manger Rick Menchaca, who resigned to become city manager in San Marcos.

Conroe ISD moves ahead
on new police headquarters

The Conroe Independent School District is moving ahead with plans for its new 15,000-square-foot police headquarters slated to open in August 2010, said CISD Police Chief Bill Harness (pictured). The police headquarters will be located on a four-acre site on Loop 336 and FM 3083 and will cost an estimated $3.5 million to be funded from the proceeds of $527 million in bonds approved in May.

The new headquarters building will have a 24-hour dispatch center, a training room that doubles as a command center in emergencies and an alarm and camera monitoring equipment, Harness said. CISD currently employs 40 full-time and three part-time officers, four dispatchers, eight prevention control officers, 31 crossing guards and two other employees in addition to four K-9 units.

Recent Reports

• House Bill 3575, Health and Human Services Eligibility System Transition Plan, July 2008 Update, HHSC
• Senate Bill 103 Executive Summary and Agency Reports, HHSC
• 'Eye on Government'
• SPI's May 2008 Municipal Bond Elections Report
• SPI's Defense Appropriations Bill Earmarks Report
• SPI's November 2007 Bond Election Results Report

Event Links

• Texas GIS Forum 2008
• July SGMP Monthly Meeting
• 6th Biennial Legislative Communications Conference
• Texas State University Small Business Development Center training schedule
• TWC Texas Business Conferences
• LBJ School Professional Development Calendar
• Upcoming Executive Women in Texas Government events

Texas Government Insider Archives

Volume 1 - 6 Archives · 11/7/03 - 7/3/08

Andrade named interim president, CEO of chamber

Hope Andrade (pictured), former chair of the Texas Transportation Commission, has been named interim president and CEO of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She replaces former president A.J. Rodriguez, who resigned recently to take a position with the City of San Antonio. A committee is interviewing candidates from a nationwide search for a permanent replacement for Rodriguez and expects to make its recommendation to the Executive Committee later this month.

Andrade served as chair of the chamber board in 1998. While serving as interim president and CEO, she will also continue her work as executive director of MATT.org, an organization whose goal is to influence policy that will improve relations between the United States and Mexico.

Port of Galveston finalizes $28.1 million loan

A more than $28 million loan for infrastructure improvements has been signed by officials of the Port of Galveston. The funds will be used to support infrastructure improvements that will allow the port to accommodate larger vessels. Among the projects planned are deepening of the Galveston Harbor Channel and modernizing front berths to increase prospects for bulk cargo shipping and cruise liners. Officials estimate some $405 million in revenue could result from the restructuring, and 2,000 jobs could be created. Bond proceeds will be used to pay down the loan.

Governor makes appointments

Governor Rick Perry has announced the following appointments:

• Devora Mitchell of Kermit, Manufactured Housing Board
• Frank McCamant of Austin, presiding officer, Texas Council on Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders
• Michael R. Bernoski of Cedar Park, Texas Council on Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders
• Mirella Garcia of El Paso, Texas Council on Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders
• Pam Rollins of Dallas, Texas Council on Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders
• Stephanie Sokolosky of Lubbock, Texas Council on Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders
• Sharon J. Barnes of Port Lavaca, Health and Human Services Council
• Leon Leach of Houston, Health and Human Services Council
• Ronald Luke of Austin, Health and Human Services Council
• Jose Adan Trevino of Bellaire, Health and Human Services Council
• Janet Hall of Georgetown, Texas State Board of Examiners of Dietitians
• Brian Ions of Lubbock, Texas State Board of Examiners of Dietitians
• Amy McLeod of Lufkin, Texas State Board of Examiners of Dietitians
• Hawley Poinsett of Austin, Texas State Board of Examiners of Dietitians
• D.A. Sharpe of Aurora, Texas State Board of Examiners of Dietitians
• Paul Plunket of Dallas, Finance Commission of Texas
• Stacy G. London of Houston, Finance Commission of Texas
• Stanley D. Rosenberg of San Antonio, Finance Commission of Texas
• Gary Eugene Wood of Austin, Texas Public Finance Authority
• Richard McElreath of Amarillo, presiding officer, State Pension Review Board
• Robert Massengale of Lubbock, State Pension Review Board

Rusk County moves forward with airport improvements

Rusk County commissioners recently agreed to move forward with a $960,000 runway improvement project at the Rusk County Airport. Commissioners are considering asking contractors to submit bids for two options for improving the runways. The first option would be to reseal the existing runway pavement and the second is to do an overlay of the runway. The overlay of the runway could add an estimated $150,000 to the project cost, said Jim Patterson, airport manager.

A grant from the Texas Department of Transportation is paying 90 percent of the cost of the project, with Rusk County required to pay 10 percent of the cost of the runway improvements.

Plano plans to eliminate
50 vacant positions

Plano city officials recently said the city will eliminate 50 vacant positions to help close a projected $17 million budget gap. The city could save as much as $3.1 million by cutting the 43 full-time and seven part-time positions, said Assistant City Manager Bruce Glasscock (pictured).

Police and fire services will be impacted by the job cuts as the Plano City Council approved the elimination of 11 police officers and six firefighter positions that are now vacant. The city also plans to reduce by half the number of police officers patrolling 10 middle schools as each officer will now patrol two middle schools instead of one. Those officers will be assigned to other duties, he said. The other jobs eliminated are scattered throughout the city and do not require city council action to be eliminated. The city council is expected to hold budget hearings in August.

Midland approves $4.7 million airfield rehabilitation

The Midland City Council recently approved $4.7 million to rehabilitate a runway at the Midland Airport. Council members also approved $76,000 for the design phase for new airfield lighting and signage. The Federal Aviation Administration provided 95 percent of the funding for the airport project.

Central Heights ISD
selects Glenn as finalist

Board members for the Central Heights Independent School District recently selected Jeremy Glenn as the lone finalist for superintendent. Glenn currently serves as an assistant superintendent at Trinity ISD. He will replace former Superintendent Pat Adams, who accepted the superintendent's position at Daingerfield-Lone Star ISD.

Glenn, who previously was a principal and interim superintendent at Oakwood ISD, is working to complete his Ph.D. at Sam Houston State University. The district received 27 applications for the superintendent's position.

Brenham stops construction contract for police station

After receiving bids that ran millions more than expected, the Brenham City Council recently voted to terminate the contract with the city's construction manager on a new police station.

Assistant City Manager Kyle Dannhaus (pictured) said the construction bids came in at approximately $7.3 million, substantially more than the $4.6 million estimated cost. City Manager Terry Roberts said the city may shift to the design-build process, although no decision has been made on how to proceed with the project.

Construction on the proposed 23,000-square-foot police station had already been postponed from early 2008 and was to have been completed by mid-2009. The police station is currently in a former municipal building with water leakage problems that have produced mold and mildew inside the building.

New Braunfels ISD to purchase new computers

Trustees for the New Braunfels Independent School District recently approved $400,000 to purchase new computers to replace older ones. The replacement computers are part of its "refresh" program that calls for the district to replace computers seven years after their purchase.

Money for the computers was from the district's technology fund.

Parker County reviews options for bond vote

Parker County Commissioners recently reviewed financing options for proposed highway construction and maintenance projects to be included in a November bond election.

Commissioners are considering asking voters to approve between $40 million and $60 million in bonds to improve county roadways. The county's financial consultant advised that the county sell any bonds in phases rather than all at once to mitigate pressure on taxpayers. Commissioners have until August 26 to determine which projects to include in the bond proposal, the estimated price of the projects and to authorize a November bond election, the financial consultant said.

Georgetown mulling $87 million road, park bond

After trimming more than $38 million in proposed improvements, the Georgetown City Council recently agreed to include $87 million in projects in a November bond election. Council member Pat Berryman (pictured) said the initial $126 million proposal had to be reduced if city officials expected voters to approve it, saying she didn't believe voters would support any bond unless it was for less than $100 million. The two propositions call for $67.8 million for road widening and construction and $58 million for park expansions.

Included in the trimmed-down proposal were $13.2 million to widen Austin Avenue, $10 million for renovations to San Gabriel Park (including an amphitheater and festival area), $16.9 million for widening FM 1460, $10 million for Garey Park development, $2.5 million to remodel two small pools and $5 million for new hike-and-bike trails.

W. University Parks Board reduces park bonds

Members of the West University Place Parks and Recreation Board recently voted to lower the proposed amount needed to renovate the pools and buildings at Colonial Park and the West U. Recreation Center. The board reduced the total $1.1 million, from $14.9 million to $13.8 million.

Russ Schulze, parks board chairman, said the board recommended removing the covered diving well at the Recreation Center because there will be diving boards up to one meter tall at the Colonial Park pool, saving $600,000.

The board also recommended saving $200,000 by removing 1,500 square feet of space from the proposed Recreation Center building and $300,000 by paring back on some of the furniture and equipment included in the initial proposal. The board will present its recommendation to the City Council who will decide in August whether to ask voters to approve the bond proposal.

TGI ad space available

If you're not advertising in TGI, you're missing out on an opportunity for some very targeted messaging. TGI reaches more than 31,000 readers each week. Interested in details, call Patti Maugham at 512-531-3900 or click here.

Albert resigns as city manager of Red Oak

Scott Albert (pictured) recently resigned as the city manager of Red Oak. Albert assumed the city manager's position in Red Oak in September 2007. Following the resignation which is effective today, Friday, council members appointed Fire Chief Eric Thompson as the interim city manager.

Mayor Alan Hugley said he expects Thompson to remain as interim city manager through the city's budgeting process and through October when he expects the city to begin its search for a new city manager.

Jobs at SPI

SPI seeking consultants in Houston area

SPI is seeking individuals with well-established credentials, expertise and strong connections and relationships in Houston city and Harris County governments who are interested in assisting its consulting teams. Candidates should have both subject matter expertise in local government as well as longstanding relationships with executive-level decision-makers in the Houston area.

To apply for these part-time consulting positions, please send a brief cover letter and a copy of your resume to J. Lyn Carl at jcarl@spartnerships.com and put "Application for Houston consultant" in the subject line, or for more information, send an e-mail to the same address.

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The Texas Government Insider is a free weekly e-newsletter detailing important happenings throughout the state and summarizing current political issues relevant to individuals interested in government.

Publisher: Mary Scott Nabers

The Insider is published by Strategic Partnerships, Inc. (SPI), a research and consulting firm. Founded in Texas in 1994 by former government executives and public sector experts, SPI has developed a national reputation as the premier marketing partner dedicated to helping companies secure contracts in the $1.5 trillion state and local government marketplace.

To learn more about SPI services click here or contact our sales department at 512-531-3900.

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Texas GIS Forum 2008 slated for Oct. 27-31

The Texas Natural Resources Information System, a division of the Texas Water Development Board, is hosting the Texas GIS Forum 2008 on Oct. 27-31 at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus in Austin. The forum is billed as the "largest Geospatial Technology forum in Texas." Sponsorships are available and the forum will also feature exhibitors. To register, click here. For information for sponsors and exhibitors, click here. Registration for the forum is available to individuals from government agencies (federal, state, local), universities, industry representatives, sponsors and exhibitors. The group is also seeking presentation proposals, with an Aug. 15 deadline. Some of the topics sought in the proposals include innovative uses for GIS, alternative GIS environments, budget GIS projects, Web-based GIS advancements, GIS or remote sensing for emergency response, etc.

SGMP July monthly meeting to feature volunteer award

The Texas Lone Star Capital Chapter of the Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP) will hold its July meeting on Thursday, July 10, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 6121 N. IH 35 at Highway 290 in Austin. The July meeting will feature a silent auction and naming of the Community Involvement Volunteer of the Year. The SGMP includes federal, state or local government employees who have the responsibility for planning or implementing any type of meeting, conference or convention as part of their official duties. Employees of private organizations, a majority of whose membership is comprised of government employees, may also qualify as government planners if they plan and implement meetings as part of their official duties. The group meets the second Thursday of each month and offers a variety of opportunities including educational programs, a newsletter, community service activities and leadership opportunities. Government planners and contract planners are charged $5 for the meetings while suppliers pay $20. RSVP here.