"The department is proud to accept this prestigious award," said Amadeo Saenz (pictured), TxDOT executive director. "SH 161 is a perfect example of the type of innovative management philosophy that the agency embraces - bringing in projects not only on time, but ahead of schedule. That's worth recognizing."

TxDOT picked up the award in the large-project division of the On Time category. Winning projects are awarded in three main categories: One Time, Under Budget and Innovative Management.

University officials are actively searching for a private company that can take over maintenance and custodial duties for university facilities, he said. Current maintenance and custodial employees at the college will be given first choice on the jobs with any private company selected by the university, Simmons said. Maintenance and custodian duties only will be turned over to a private contractor if the university realizes an economic benefit.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality recently awarded The University of Texas at El Paso a $404,000 grant to fund efforts to measure and reduce ozone pollution.
 

UTEP's Civil Engineering Department will conduct a 15-month research project that includes gathering and modeling data to quantify ozone levels.

The project will identify when high ozone episodes occur and determine what measures best reduce pollution in the area, said Wen-Whai Li (pictured), UTEP civil engineering professor and principal investigator.

Houston architecture firm gets OK for design of $4.5M transit center

After several revisions, a Houston architecture firm has sealed approval from Galveston's Landmark Commission to design a $4.5 million transit center (pictured) in The Strand National Historic Landmark District.

The modern designs for the center have stirred debate and drawn opposition from two influential organizations, but a third design has met architectural guidelines, prompting the Landmark Commission to issue a certificate of appropriateness and approve the project. The Commission is charged with regulating anything that may alter the appearance of historic districts.

The center will house an information center, 160-space parking garage, public restrooms and a city bus terminal.

Travis County plans public hearing on roads, parks projects

A Travis County public hearing for a proposed list of $205.6 million in roads and parks projects for a November bond referendum is set to take place July 26. Judge Sam Biscoe will preside. Commissioners will review comments from county residents during the proceedings.

The list of measures began with 120 projects estimated to cost $638 million, according to Steve Manilla, head of the county's Transportation and Natural Resources department, but county budget officials asked for the projects to be whittled down to $150 million. Projects that made the cut include the following:

• Blake-Manor Road: Widen two-lane road to four-lane arterial with bike lanes and sidewalks from future Wildhorse Connector to East Metro Park entrance for $12.442 million;
• Wells Branch Parkway Improvements: Widen existing two-lane roadway to four-lane divided arterial with bike lanes and sidewalks from Immanuel Road to Cameron Road for $7.009 million;
• Bee Creek Road: Widen existing two-lane road to four-lane divided arterial with bike lanes and sidewalks from SH 71 W to future Middle School, and widen two-lane roadway to three lanes from Middle School to Highlands Boulevard for $7.369 million;
• William-Cannon Drive: New four-lane divided arterial with bike lanes and sidewalks from McKinney Falls Parkway to US183 for $8.599 million;
• Onion Creek Greenway Improvements: Build recreational facilities and support infrastructure on county-owned land from McKinney Falls Parkway to the confluence of Onion Creek with the Colorado River; restore bottomland woods, grasslands, and riparian areas for $12 million; and
• Arkansas Bend/Dink Pearson Park Improvements: Build recreational facilities and support infrastructure for day use, camping and boat ramp areas at Arkansas Bend Park and boat launch at Dink Pearson park; restore disturbed land at both parks for $8.5 million.

In an ongoing bid to foster public-private relationships while restoring property damaged by Hurricane Ike, the Galveston Housing Authority (GHA) has teamed with a private-sector master developer to repair public housing on the island.

Paula Neff, chair of the GHA Board of Commissioners, said the Board's goal is to facilitate public-private ventures "with real estate developers, property managers and service providers to strengthen individuals, families and communities within the City of Galveston."

GHA officials announced the selection of the public housing recovery partner that specializes in mixed-income development at a press conference this week - much to the delight of more than 1,000 families on a waiting list for homes in Galveston. The developer will assist in restoring much of 569 public housing units managed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Sam Houston State University officials recently named Rhonda S. Beassie (pictured) director of Students' Legal and Mediation Services, effective July 1.

In her new role, Beassie will help students with legal problems, which may include landlord issues, employee rights, automobile accidents and family law.

Beassie has served as both assistant dean for career development and assistant clinical professor at the University of Houston Law Center. She also holds a law degree from the UH Law Center.

Mesquite IT department presents $1.7M budget to city council

The City of Mesquite's information technology department recently proposed a budget totaling $1,748,838 to the city council. Allocations figured in that amount include: $605,782 for personal computer network support; $412,412 for administration; $344,271 for software development; $213,120 for telecommunications; and $173,253 for public-safety support.

At the meeting, IT Director Zak LaJoie explained the department's role in ensuring the city's ability to work effectively with limited resources as it oversees a variety of networks and support systems, including those designed for public safety, city finances and data security.

Mesquite's IT department is working to establish a document-management system in an ongoing bid to "go digital" and reduce paperwork. The system would allow millions of documents to be searched instantly.

Molecular biologist Cheryl Lyn Walker (pictured) recently was named director of the Texas A&M Health Science Center (TAMHSC) Institute of Biosciences and Technology, effective immediately. She replaces David S. Carlson, who served as interim director of the institute since 2008.

Walker most recently served as professor at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, as well as holding joint appointments with The University of Texas and Texas A&M University.

Walker, who holds a Ph.D. from The University of Texas Health Science Center in Dallas, has won several awards for cancer research.

Officials at The University of Texas at Tyler recently named veteran higher education administrator Randall Powell (pictured) vice president for business affairs, effective Sept. 1. In his new role, Powell will act at UT Tyler's chief financial officer, overseeing the university's $62.1 million budget.

Powell has 30 years of experience in higher education management and has served at seven institutions of higher education, most recently at Sam Houston State University as associate vice president for budget and operations.

Powell holds a bachelor's degree, a master's degree and a Ph.D. from the University of Alabama.

Killeen city officials recently stopped plans to build a new, larger City Hall to replace the nearly 100-year-old facility.
 

Council rejected all requests for qualifications from engineering firms interested in completing a building needs assessment study - the first step in new construction.

Several city officials, including Mayor Timothy Hancock (pictured), said the project was premature and will be shelved for a later date when the city has more money.

Rusk city leaders are in initial discussions about building a sports complex that would house baseball, soccer and football fields.

Councilman Kris Morgan suggested building on 25-30 acres of city-owned land and using money from the recreation budget to fund the project. 

Mayor Abigail Raiborn agreed that a nice sports complex could hold baseball tournaments, which could be a boon for local hotels, motels and restaurants.

Southlake City Council to revive talks of multi-million facility

Southlake Mayor John Terrell (pictured) said he expects the City Council to revive discussions soon about whether to build a multi-purpose center. A decision could possibly arrive as soon as this fall.

Big decisions remain for councilmembers, however, including where to build the facility - which would house recreation and meeting spaces as well as a performing arts center - in addition to how the structure should look and how to hire staff.

So far, the city has allocated $4.5 million for the project with plans to add $10.7 million, funds that have been set aside from annual budgets. Terrell said city officials hope to build without raising taxes. Private consultants hired to conduct a feasibility study for the project (to the tune of $194,687) estimated the facility could cost as much as $31 million to build.

Upshur County commissioners recently named former college dean James M. Bowling interim county judge. Bowling, who said he will serve as judge without pay, was among four applicants for the interim position.

The position was vacated in January when state officials suspended Judge Dean Fowler, who had been indicted on two still-pending misdemeanor charges.

Commissioners were initially hesitant to name an interim judge, but moved forward when District Attorney Billy Byrd said the court could not make a county budget without a judge.

Bonham community members gather in support of November bond

Bonham residents recently gathered for a facility assessment workshop aimed in part at getting a bond issue for the school district packaged and on the November election ballot. Last May, supporters of a $25 million bond issue for Bonham Independent School District (BISD) were disappointed when the measure was defeated by 143 votes.

During the workshop, proponents for the bond issue implored BISD board members to call an election in November while admitting to trust issues among members of the community. Some groups attending the workshop offered solutions to the trust issue, which ranged from starting with a basic-needs bond issue, which may spur fiscal confidence, to allowing voters a say in where the money should be spent. Most in attendance agreed the I.W. Evans campus presents the greatest need.

Out of 49 respondents at the meeting, 45 asked the board to consider a November bond election.

Rio Grande City secured part of a $5 million federal grant that helps finance the construction of water and wastewater projects in the U.S.-Mexico border region.

The city will receive $448,522 to provide sewer service to 27 homes on Water Street, where residents now live with failing septic systems.

The Environmental Protection Agency funds the grants, which are administered by the North American Development Bank.

Bridge City recently won a $4.1 million grant to repair roads and the sewer system damaged by Hurricane Ike. The city previously received a $9.7 million grant to pay for upgrades to emergency communication systems, repair roads and purchase emergency power generators for city facilities to help recover from water damage to 99 percent of housing, businesses and other structures in the city as a result of flooding caused by storm surge.

City officials plan to begin work on road and sewer projects using this phase of grant funding by early next summer or sooner, said City Manager Jerry Jones. City officials also expect to apply for more grants in the second round of the phase two funding for Hurricane Ike damages, he said.

El Paso may host first automated toll booths along southern border 

The Zaragoza and Stanton Street international bridges in El Paso may soon become the first toll bridges along the southern border manned by machines. The El Paso City Council has approved more than $1.7 million to upgrade toll-collection technology at the two bridges, making it possible for four electronic kiosks to be installed as early as December. The funds will be culled from a State Infrastructure Bank loan, set to be paid back in 10 to 15 years.

Drivers heading south to leave the country would be able to pay tolls at the kiosks using cash or credit/debit cards. Vehicle inspections would continue, however.

According to Said Larbi-Cherif, director of international bridges in El Paso, the switch to automated tolls will save about $2 million annually spent for workers' wages and benefits.

Midland ISD home to new bus fleet thanks to $700K ARRA grant

An interlocal agreement between Midland Independent School District (MISD) and the Railroad Commission of Texas (RCT) will make way for seven new buses to roll in this December. The district has received a grant for more than $700,000 as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

The funds will allow MISD to purchase seven 71-passenger buses and a 20,000-gallon propane-fueling station. Willie Tarleton, MISD director of transportation services, said the district usually replaces five to seven buses every year, but didn't this year due to budget restraints.

Ed Zachary, assistant superintendent of administration, operations and resources at MISD, said the grant will impact the way the district purchases buses in the future as officials evaluate the effectiveness of propane buses.

Alton city officials are applying for $1.5 million in federal funds to create a digital library of computers and iPads instead of shelves and books.
 

If the U.S. Department of Agriculture OKs funding, which could come as a full loan or a loan-grant mix, the library would be the first of its kind in the Rio Grande Valley.

City officials are working with representatives from The University of Texas-Pan American, and the Sharyland, Mission and La Joya school districts to plan the library, which would be housed in the city's mostly empty Incubation Center.

Grapevine-Colleyville OKs methods for six bid contracts of $124.5M

Grapevine-Colleyville school trustees have approved two methods to award the first six construction bids of a $124.5 million bond package.

Chief Operations Officer Paula Barbaroux explained the methods, saying that unlike the 2005 bond program, in which the district used the construction manager-at-risk method for its major projects, the 2011 bond program "contains some major projects where the best value is more likely to be realized through the method of competitive sealed proposal, and the balance of projects through construction manager-at-risk."

Bids centered around athletic fields and technology upgrades will be among the first improvements and will be administrated through the sealed-bid process. The four remaining packages, including campus renovations, will be carried out as construction manager-at-risk projects.

A long-anticipated assisted living center in Nacogdoches will benefit from a $750,000 federal grant awarded to the city through the Texas Capital Fund.

The money, funded by the federal Community Development Block Grant program, will go toward sidewalk and parking improvements at the facility, which is expected to create 37 jobs.

Nacogdoches Mayor Roger Van Horn (pictured) said the city has been working on the assisted living project for years, and this grant will help make the center a reality.

After a request by the chief of police for a new public safety building to reduce maintenance costs and handle future population growth, the city's mayor recently ruled out the possibility until 2017.

The police chief, supported by the director of the Conroe Industrial Development Corporation, proposed building a $9 million, 60,000- to 80,000-square-foot public safety building on six acres of land located off FM2854, For that option, the city also would need to spend about $650,000 to build a new road connecting FM2854 to West Davis Street, the city administrator said.

The mayor explained that the city will not pay off debt incurred to build the current public safety building until 2017 and that city officials support staying in the current public safety building until that debt is paid off. The mayor also urged city staffers to continue researching options for upgrading the public safety building for the near future.

Johnson previously served as a superintendent at McKinney ISD and as an interim superintendent at the Whitesboro, Decatur, Sanger, Meunster, Pilot Point and Collinsville school districts.

Luling superintendent placed

on administrative leave

The Luling school board recently placed Superintendent David Davis on paid administrative leave while lawyers negotiate ending his contract, which runs through 2013.

Although trustees gave no explanation for the termination, the move follows an outside audit that found an unnamed administrator used a district credit card for personal use.

The audit states that the district's internal controls worked to catch the misuse.

Search to replace CEO

at Austin charter school begins

The founder and chief executive officer of a charter school system, which serves 1,400 Austin students at five schools, recently announced she will step down to spend more time with her family.

Jill Kolasinski, who founded KIPP Austin Public Schools in 2002, will continue to support the schools through advocacy and fundraising efforts. She will stay in the executive leadership position until her successor is found. The KIPP board of directors has begun a national search.

The capital improvement projects include building and improving roads, bridges and sidewalks, design, construction and installation of flood control upgrades, renovations, including technology upgrades to city facilities, public art projects, equipment for the fire department and improvements to public transportation and terminal facilities, said Bill Studer (pictured), deputy city manager. Council is expected to provide the final approval for publishing the notice to issue certificates of obligation on Aug. 23, he said.

The Texas Department of Rural Affairs, now a part of the General Land Office, recently awarded an $18 million grant to La Feria to upgrade and repair drainage structures and construct a new drainage ditch benefitting areas near Tio Cano Lake to help ease flooding.

In 2007, Hurricane Dolly caused widespread flooding, especially in northern areas of the city and heavily damaged the drainage system, the mayor said. Plans call for the drainage project to include building and installing culverts, constructing retaining walls, adding pipes, gutters and manholes to improve channels serving the Rio Cano watershed. The three-year grant is a regional grant that will benefit areas located outside of La Feria and construction will proceed when grant funds are received.

Abilene officials evaluating transit management firms 

City of Abilene staff members are weighing proposals from two transit management firms as they gear up to make a recommendation to the City Council. Staff members are currently checking references from clients of the two firms that responded to requests for proposals last spring.

James Condry, city traffic and transportation administrator, said a timeline hasn't been announced to award a new contract as city administrators evaluate the two companies.

After a 2010 review, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) concluded the city should improve its efforts to meet federal requirements for full and open competition. Concerns about the city's current transit-management firm have likely been addressed, Condry said. Abilene's transit-management services are funded mostly with federal money with transit-operations revenue and state and city funding providing the remaining $10,600 monthly fee.

Pecos City Council opts to not hire Aguilera as city manager

The Pecos City Council will not move forward with plans to hire Jim Aguilera as city manager after allegations of the candidate's criminal record surfaced weeks ago.

Aguilera met with council members in a closed session recently. Although well-qualified for the position, according to city leaders, Aguilera pled no contest to alleged bribery charges 12 years ago, prompting officials to call off the hiring.

Beginning Aug. 1, city officials said they will have someone take over the assistant city manager role. They will also re-open the city manager position as well as make adjustments to the hiring process regarding background checks.

Durant announces retirement from DISD after 16 years

Chief academic officer of Dallas Independent School District (DISD) Ivonne Durant (pictured) will retire after 16 years with the district, where she has also served as dean of instruction and as an area superintendent. Before serving in education administration at DISD, Durant supervised the Northwest Learning Community.

Durant's departure marks the third instance of a cabinet member leaving the district in the last eight months.

Interim Superintendent Alan King said he would not replace Durant, leaving the decision of whether to do so for his successor.

West Rusk Consolidated ISD considers $14.9M bond project

A public hearing for a proposed $14,943,818 in projects will be under way Aug. 8 as West Rusk County Consolidated Independent School District (WRCCISD) board members consider adding the measures to a November bond election.

A Tyler-based architecture firm has drawn up plans for a $6,589,619 multi-events center, $4,009,471 football stadium, $2,955,246 cafeteria and $889,482 cafeteria overhaul, which would convert the space into four or five new classrooms. An additional $500,000 would allow for agricultural improvements, furniture, fitness-room equipment and hazardous material abatement.

Superintendent Tommy Alexander (pictured) and district trustees have agreed to accept the projects and look to place the issues on a Nov. 8 bond election.

• Sherri Barr Walker of Pflugerville, Fire Fighters' Pension commissioner;
• Darrell Brownlow of Floresville, San Antonio River Authority Board of Directors

Missouri City seeks full-time accountant to oversee program

Missouri City is looking for a full-time accountant to supervise the Finance Department's Capital Improvement Program.

The mid-level professional position calls for help preparing the annual budget with the Capital Assets Manager as well as maintenance of the project's accounting module, preparing reports and analyzing project funding requests.

Applicants should have a bachelor's degree in accounting and two years' experience in a similar capacity. Special consideration will be given to those with experience in general ledger, project and fund accounting and capital assets reporting.

Pearland city officials look for funding for parks , recreation

Pearland city officials are looking to possibly tap private donations and foundation grants to help support the city's environmental and educational programs.

Parks and Recreation Director Michelle Smith (pictured) recently mapped out several alternative funding options at a Pearland City Council workshop. Among the proposed funding sources, Smith outlined the possibility of creating a private foundation funded by donations and grants.

The city council advised Smith and her staff to move forward with additional research following the workshop.