Infrastructure grants head to Texas
Ports and transit systems in Texas are in line to receive more than $7.6 million in security infrastructure grants being made available by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Of that figure, more than $7.3 million will go to the state for the Buffer Protection Zone Area program, designed to protect critical infrastructure from terrorist attacks. Houston will receive $300,000 that will be funneled through the Texas Department of Transportation for the Bolivar Ferry roads as part of the Transit Security Grant Program that protects the nation's most critical transit infrastructure.
"Homeland security funds should go where they're needed most," said U.S. Senator John Cornyn of Texas. "I'm encouraged that this funding will add to the security of our critical infrastructure in Texas."
Free guide to homeland security funding available
Nearly two-dozen major federal grant programs are outlined in SPI's Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Grants: A Report on Federal Programs that Provide Funding to the State of Texas. The guide will assist vendors in navigating the grants process and includes objectives and timelines of the various grant programs with details of specific funding awards. To download your free copy, click here.
Eligible to apply for the Port Security Grant Program are ports in Beaumont, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Freeport, Galveston, Houston, Matagorda, Port Arthur, Texas City and Victoria. Transportation systems which can apply for grant funds include Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Trinity Railway Express, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Fort Worth Transportation Authority, Island Transport and VIA Metropolitan Transport. The grant application process began Thursday. Applicants will have 30 days to submit their proposals to DHS and awards will be made no later than Sept. 30.
The funds are part of nearly $400 million in FY 2006 grants being made available nationwide to help prevent, protect against and respond to and recover from terrorist attacks, disasters and other emergencies that might cripple the nation's critical infrastructure. The grants are divided among seven critical infrastructure sectors, with allocation totals determined only for five of those programs: Transit Security Grant Program (intracity rail, bus and ferry systems) - $136 million; Buffer Zone Protection Program - $48 million; Chemical Sector Buffer Zone Protection Grant Program - $25 million; Intercity Passenger Rail Security Grant Program - $7.2 million; and the Trucking Security Program - $4.8 million.
FEMA funds headed to Texas
More than $2.4 million in federal disaster aid is headed to Texas. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has made public assistance money available to reimburse the state for its disaster relief. Two projects were cited by FEMA for funding: the Texas Building and Procurement Commission will receive $1.41 million for emergency procurment and contracting services, including support for shelters following Hurricane Katrina last year. Jefferson County will receive $1.08 million for repairs to the county correctional facility that suffered damage from Hurricane Rita.
FEMA's Public Assistance program sends federal funds to state and local governments and some non-profit organizations. It allows for a response to disasters so that communities can recover from them.
County partnerships may be on horizon
When county officials from across the state gather in Austin next month for the Texas Association of Counties (TAC) annual conference, they'll be sharing their problems and looking to officials from other counties who have "been there, done that" for possible solutions. Many counties statewide are facing rising oil and gas prices that are eating away at their budgets. In West Texas, some are looking for revenues to replace firefighting equipment overused by an onslaught of wildfires. And some are facing unique problems - such as along the Gulf Coast where budgets are being increased for mosquito control efforts due to the lingering effects of last year's hurricanes. Then there are the always-current problems related to jails - overcrowding, increased overtime pay for jail workers, the need for new jails and the expansion and renovation of existing jails.
Some counties already are amending this year's fuel budgets and are expected to add more to next year's because of rising oil costs and the increased demands for fuel among both county road crews and law enforcement, said Elna Christopher, spokesperson for TAC. "Everybody is talking fuel," she said.
In West Texas, fighting an unusually large number of wildfires has caused some fire departments to have to upgrade aging equipment, and many of the rural area volunteer fire departments are asking counties for more financial support for the same reason. In Harrison County, officials' efforts to rehabilitate the county courthouse (pictured) have been stymied by construction costs that of late have risen 1 percent per month.
The bottom line is that many counties are going to be strapped for cash going into their annual budget cycles and all will be searching for cost-savings, said Christopher. With a "strength in numbers" philosophy, some counties already are looking at ways to partner with other entities so they can realize price discounts and savings through volume purchasing.
Christopher said TAC and the Texas Municipal League are partnering with the Texas Association of School Boards insurance pools to lower prescription drug prices as part of their employee health care benefits. "The more local governments are able to make group purchase arrangements and bid arrangements, the better it is for both them and the vendors," she said. "It means more customers for vendors and bigger discounts for governments." Such pairings by governments may not only represent a trend, but also could be a partnership of necessity given local government budget constraints.
Dallas Mayor Laura Miller won't seek re-election
Dallas Mayor Laura Miller announced Thursday that she will not seek re-election to the city's top job. Miller was first elected mayor in a special election in 2002, to fill the unexpired term of then-Mayor Ron Kirk, who resigned to make an unsuccessful run at a U.S. Senate seat. Miller has previously served as a member of the City Council. She was re-elected in 2003 and survived two mayoral recall attempts.
One of Miller's career highlights is negotiations with Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief and American and Southwest Airlines to reach a compromise on the Wright amendment. The deal would lift restrictions on long-haul flights at Dallas Love Field by 2014.
Miller has indicated she will make no endorsement in the upcoming mayoral race. Early candidates include Councilman Gary Griffith and attorney Darrell Jordan, who unsuccessfully ran against Kirk in 1995. Others are also expected to file.
Golf site could become TAMU Health Science Center
Bryan city officials voiced their support for bringing a new Texas A&M University System Health Science Center campus to the site of the city's golf course. Although A&M has expressed some interest in the site, the final decision is up to the Board of Regents. Bryan officials see an expanded and consolidated campus in their city as a boost to the city's economic development and an opportunity to access state funds for infrastructure needs. The golf course sits on 130 acres and meets TAMU's goals of a site with a separate identity from the Bryan campus and has at least 100 acres and enough extra land for potential growth.
TxDOT plans small business briefings
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will host a series of briefings throughout the state beginning this month to provide small and minority-owned businesses with information on how to do business with TxDOT. Attendees will learn how the agency procures services and purchases products.
TxDOT will provide in-depth training on the new Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program (DBE) and the state's Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Subcontracting Plan. This training will be available for DBEs, prime contractors and TxDOT staff. In the General Industry sessions, an overview of toll projects and contracting opportunities on tollway projects, professional services consulting contracts and state contracting for IT products and services will be addressed. There will also be a number of breakout sessions relating to small and minority business certification, resources for small business development and how to market a small business to the state. Each briefing will conclude with an industry networking session and reception.
The briefings will begin July 25 and 26 in Houston. Other briefings include: Dallas, Aug. 2 and 3; Lubbock, Aug. 23 and 24; El Paso, Sept. 13 and 14; and Austin, Sept. 20 and 21.
For more information, click here. To view the event program, click here.
Texas parks: costs vs. benefits
At a time when Texas state parks are strapped for cash, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials have some new ammunition for making their case for increased state funding. Following interviews with nearly 12,000 state park visitors, a team of researchers headed by Texas A&M University professor Dr. John Crompton determined that the economic benefits from the state's parks far exceed the parks' operational costs.
Crompton reviewed his research at a recent meeting of the Texas State Parks Advisory Commission, pointing out that the 80 state parks in the study generated an estimated $793 million in sales, had a $456 million impact on area residents' incomes and created 11,928 jobs. Only expenditures of park visitors from outside the host counties were measured.
"Tourism is a major component of the Texas economy, attractions drive tourism, and state parks operate more of these desired attractions than any other entity in the state," said Crompton, who also said that investments in maintaining and improving parks increase their economic value.
Sunset staff proposes restructuring Office of State-Fed Relations
Staff of the Sunset Advisory Commission this week released its report recommending abolishing the Office of State-Federal Relations as an independent state agency and restructuring its functions in the Governor's Office. The Washington, D.C.-based office advocates on behalf of the state regarding policy and funding issues. While determining that Texas does, indeed, benefit from the work done by the office, the commission noted that the state would likely be better served if the advocacy on behalf of the state came from the Governor's Office.
With the recent scrutiny of lobbyists at the federal level, there have been questions as to whether it is advisable or legal for the State-Fed Office to contract with outside government relations consultants.
The Sunset recommendations provide for an executive director to be appointed by the governor and for the office to provide the following:
- Prepare an annual priority document to be approved by the governor,
- Provide updates on federal activities to the governor and legislative leadership and update the Texas Congressional delegation on state activities;
- Coordinate with the Legislative Budget Board on how federal funding affects the state budget.
The Sunset Commission will take testimony on Aug. 8 and at a Nov. 14-15 meeting will formalize the recommendations it will make to the legislature.
More I-35 work due in Denton County
Motorists in the Denton area can look forward to continued road construction projects, as the Texas Department of Transportation prepares for a September start date for even more work on widening I-35 East from four lanes to six through Hickory Creek and Lake Dallas. The first part of the project began near Lewisville Lake bridge.
The remainder of the I-35 project in Denton County includes widening to 10 lanes from the President George Bush Turnpike in Lewisville to FM 2181 in Lake Dallas; widening from four to eight lanes from FM 2181 to U.S. 380 in Denton; and widening from four to eight lanes from U.S. 380 north to the Cooke County line.
NPS announces call for projects
Communities seeking assistance in preserving their natural resources and developing recreational opportunities may apply for planning assistance from the National Park Service's Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) Program through Aug. 1. The funding will be available in FY 07 - October 2006 to September 2007 - for projects that will create networks of trails, parks, rivers, greenways and open spaces as well as projects that help the National Park Service areas with gateway and adjacent natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation issues. Applicants may be non-profit organizations, community groups, tribes or tribal governments, and local, state, or federal government agencies. Click here for information on application guidelines and selection criteria.
Applicants should contact one of the Texas Field Office staff to discuss a proposed project in advance of preparing the application. Contact: Steve Bonner, 210-387-8628; Marta de la Garza Newkirk, 512-245-7232; or Kathryn Nichols, 512-245-7246.
CAMPO welcomes Leander, Kyle
Representatives of two neighboring cities south of Austin will become members of the technical advisory board of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO).
The advisory board, formed in 2003, makes recommendations on proposed transportation projects and includes representatives of cities throughout Central Texas.
Leander Mayor John Cowman is pleased his city will have a seat at the table. With the growth of areas south of the Capitol City comes need for additional infrastructure and transportation projects. He called adding Kyle and Leander to the CAMPO advisory board a "positive step."
Eagle Pass cameras to help catch criminals
Law enforcement officials in Eagle Pass have turned to technology to assist in catching drug smugglers and others who break the law. The city is using three high-tech surveillance cameras to help curb unlawful acts in the border city, with one of the cameras allowing a 360-degree view and another including night vision capacity.
The cameras will be monitored round-the-clock in hopes of preventing criminal activity, public safety emergencies and homeland security threats. A federally funded San Diego-based group that provides technological assistance for border area state and local law enforcement paid for the $100,000 camera network.
If successful, similar camera projects could be used in other border cities.
Adkins resigns from Frisco Chamber
Tony Felker (pictured), director of business development for the Frisco Chamber of Commerce, has been named interim president of the organization following the resignation of Audie Adkins. Adkins had served the chamber since 1995.
Felker said the appointment of a new president could take up to six months.
Railroad Commission offers free seminars
Filing permits and finding oil and gas data such as production and drilling statistics is about to get a little easier, thanks to the Texas Railroad Commission (TRC). The commission is offering five free seminars in different areas of the state this month and in August to demonstrate how to use the TRC Web site to obtain such information.
The seminars will include a demonstration of the Web site and query systems for production data, production reports, drilling permits, surface commingling, and on the Geographic Information System (GIS) Viewer, which provides access to information on gas wells and pipelines through the TRC mapping system. Also covered will be the agency's online security requirements and how to file online production reports, and surface commingling and drilling permit applications. To register call 512-463-6838 or email rachel.rodriguez@rrc.state.tx.us.
The workshops, all of which will be from 8 a.m. to noon include:
- Corpus Christi - Wednesday, July 12, at the Omni Corpus Christi Hotel, 707 N. Shoreline Blvd
- Amarillo - Tuesday, July 25, at the Ambassador Hotel Amarillo, 3100 I-40 West
- San Angelo - Wednesday, Aug. 9, at the San Angelo Inn & Conference Center, 441 Rio Concho Drive
- Dallas - Wednesday, Aug. 30, at the Holiday Inn Select North Dallas, 2645 LBJ Freeway
- Tyler - Thursday, Aug. 31, at the Holiday Inn Select, 5701 South Broadway
Cuero ISD gets salvage computers from state
The Cuero ISD is the recent recipient of 60 computer systems that were part of state surplus goods. By law, public schools, other government agencies and assistance organizations can submit requests for state surplus or salvage property donations. Priority is given to public schools and in particular schools in the lower 30 percent of wealth per pupil. When the computer systems became available, the Texas Legislative Council, which manages and provides technical support to the legislature, notified CISD, which then made a trip to Austin to retrieve the computers. The 60 computers have been refurbished by the CISD technology department and have been installed at the Cuero intermediate, junior high and high schools.
CBISD considers bond election
The Columbia-Brazoria ISD board is contemplating a November bond election, having revived its Facility Assessment Committee that will begin an assessment of the district's needs. The committee was disbanded after a successful $28 million bond issue in 2003.
Among the needs of the district are a larger elementary library, an elementary gymnasium, expansion of an elementary food service area, renovations to the high school, expansion of the high school auditorium and fine arts area, upgrades to locker rooms and technology updates. Athletics facilities upgrades also are expected to be considered.
GLO outlines new online mapping application
A new online mapping application is being touted by the Texas General Land Office as capable of bringing millions of land grants, coastal leases and oil and gas leases to life. "The GIS (Geographic Information Systems) application will give historians a new way of researching Texas landmarks, land grants, oil and gas leases and census information by county," said Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson. "We are paving new ground here."
The GIS was originally used in the late 1980s for surveying state lands and for legislative redistricting mapping. Since then, it has been expanded to include supporting lease sales, for oil spill responses, studying coastal resources and land surveying. Patterson said it allows genealogists to look up family land grants online, assists oil and gas companies in their searches for information on specific oil and gas leases and get detailed maps of the surrounding areas.
To begin searching land transfers, oil and gas leases, coastal leases and other data, click here.
TCEQ to host mulch demonstration
Got mulch???
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Home Builders Association of San Angelo will host a demonstration next week on how to use mulch to control storm water erosion. The demonstration is set for Wednesday, July 12, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the Trinity Ridge Subdivision in San Angelo.
Construction projects often contribute to sediment buildup in city storm sewers and natural waterways when soil is disturbed. The demonstration is aimed at showing builders how to prevent this problem and also comply with federal law. TCEQ staff will show a simple practice that can be instituted at construction sites and demonstrate why mulching is an effective control measure. For more information, click here.
Sixteen nominated for Superintendent of Year
The Superintendent of the Year, named annually by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), will come from a list of 16 individuals nominated by their respective Education Service Centers for their excellence and achievement in educational leadership. The winner will be announced Oct. 6 at the TASB/Texas Association of School Administrators convention.
Nominees include: Daniel P. King, Hidalgo ISD; Ignacio Salinas, Jr., Benavides ISD; Bernard Zarosky, Jr., Karnes City ISD; Nadine S. Kujawa, Aldine ISD; Pauline Hargrove, Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD; Brian Zemlicka, Willis ISD; Sharon A. Richardson, Union Hill ISD; Scott Niven, Liberty-Eylau ISD; Jerry D. Baird, Iowa Park CISD; Russell D. Marshall, Mabank ISD; Jerry W. Roy, Lewisville ISD; Vivian A. Baker, Belton ISD; Sylvester Perez, San Marcos CISD; Ray Cogburn, Shamrock ISD; Dick Van Hoose, Lorenzo ISD; and John M. Folks, Northside ISD.
Feds address eminent domain issue
The prickly issue of state's rights regarding eminent domain has taken a back seat to the feds, as President George W. Bush recently issued an executive order limiting the federal government's use of eminent domain to seize private property. The issue was a hot one for the Texas Legislature during the last legislative session after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that local governments could seize private property for economic development purposes. Bush's executive order seeks to limit the taking of private property by the federal government.
New decision tool could aid evacuations
A new web-based interactive decision tool that will assist emergency preparedness and recovery planners as they determine how to access and use health information about persons with disabilities has been announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The tool is being used consistent with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule. HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said being able to coordinate health information in advance "will help save lives" during natural and man-made disasters.
The tool will guide emergency preparedness and recovery planners through a series of questions on how the HIPPA Privacy Rule applies to certain disclosures. This information will help meet the needs of the elderly and persons with disabilities during evacuations, and is applicable to most emergency planning events. The intended audiences include covered entities as well as emergency preparedness and recovery planners at the local, state and federal levels.
DART light rail to more than double miles
A $700 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration will allow the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) system to double its light-rail miles by 2013. FTA Deputy Administrator Sandy Bushue said the grant funding will ensure that commuters "will have a choice" when the system opens in 2007."
The expansion of the system, expected to cost $2.5 billion and span 21 miles, will include lines that run from Farmers Branch on the north to Buckner Boulevard in south Dallas. The number of people riding the DART bus and rail network has increased more than 10 percent during the past eight months.
City of Rosenberg addressing space issues
Facing explosive growth, Rosenberg city officials are considering selling or remodeling two former municipal buildings to help meet their housing needs for city operations. The city recently approved requesting bids to sell one building and is exploring possible uses for the former civic center, which has been used for storage since the new convention center opened in 2000. City officials are considering using the building as an emergency operations center where first responders and city officials could coordinate efforts during disasters. The building also holds possibilities of providing additional city office space.
"With the growth we're experiencing in Rosenberg, we're adding staff to meet needs, but we're running out of room," said City Manager Jack Hamlett.
San Marcos hires economic development director
Kim Moore has been hired by Global Maraketeer Group, Inc., a firm responsible for economic development for the City of San Marcos, as the new Economic Development Director. Moore comes to San Marcos from a similar position with the City of Denton, where she was responsible for business retention and expansion. She also coordinated special events and symposiums to educate the public on economic development efforts. In San Marcos, Moore will be responsible for business recruitment, retention, expansion and other economic development services in the community.
TDA awards grants to support wine industry growth
More than $600,000 in grant funding is being awarded by the Texas Department of Agriculture to encourage the continued growth of the grape and wine industry in Texas. The nine grants are spread among Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University and the T.V. Munson Viticulture and Enology Center at Grayson County College. The projects will focus on outreach, research and education programs for viticulture (the cultivation of grapes) and enology (the study of wine and wine-making). Texas is the fifth-largest wine producing state in the country with more than 110 wineries.
ACC budget provides for expansion
Funding for 30 new full-time faculty positions is part of a $159 million operating budget approved this week by the Austin Community College Board of Trustees. In addition to operating costs of the ACC campuses, the budget also includes $900,000 for expansion of the Cypress Creek Campus and $350,000 for expanding student support services for tutoring, learning labs and technology. "This budget demonstrates the college's commitment to increasing access to a quality higher education by enhancing various areas of student services and expanding our facilities," said ACC President Dr. Stephen B. Kinslow.
Montgomery County uses grant for radios
Montgomery County law enforcement officials are taking advantage of a U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant to equip their public safety personnel with hand-held radios that allow them to contact officials in other counties. The county also is benefiting from some radios left over from the Katrina relief efforts at the Astrodome. They came at no cost to the county and are part of the "interoperability" of emergency systems that is required by Homeland Security. The grant will pay for 200 more portable radios, which will be distributed to sheriff and constable deputies, fire marshals and city police at the county's borders.
20 apply for superintendent of CCISD
At least 20 people have thrown their hats into the ring to become the next superintendent of the Corpus Christi ISD. Today is the last day the school district will received applications. CCISD is looking for a replacement for former superintendent Jesus Chavez, who accepted a position with the Round Rock Independent School District in January. The district plans to have a finalist for the position by July 29.
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Got a solution for government? You don't have to wait for a procurement!
By Mary Scott Nabers, CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc.
State and local governmental agencies sometimes get so consumed just taking care of business that it's almost impossible for them to find time to identify more efficient ways to deliver services. As a result, Texas governmental leaders put in place a process that allows private sector contractors to bring ideas to public sector officials through unsolicited proposals.
Unsolicited proposals bypass the concept of having to wait for public agencies to issue procurement documents. The idea of allowing private sector experts to make suggestions to government is an excellent one.
The offering of an unsolicited proposal should be initiated only after research has been completed and it has been determined that there is a way to reduce costs, offer additional value or provide more efficiency to a governmental agency. . Some agencies are more receptive to unsolicited proposals than others but most are willing to consider them. Visionary leaders welcome opportunities to see leading-edge technology advances and/or consider new ways of doing things. Taxpayers are well served by this process.
A positively received unsolicited proposal is, unfortunately, no guarantee of capturing a contract with a particular agency. However, such work often leads to business. Occasionally, unsolicited proposals motivate an agency to issue a request for qualifications proposal or actual bid documents. And, if the proposer has a contracting vehicle in place, there is always a possibility that an agency may move forward without a bid process. But, any contractor who has already completed research and spent time developing an unsolicited proposal is going to have a competitive advantage in the event that the business opportunity is opened up to other competitors.
Unsolicited proposals usually have the following segments and each section is well defined: Executive Summary, Statement of Problem, Business Case or Value Proposition, Description of Products and/or Services including Costs, and a Closing that includes suggested steps for moving forward.
TxDOT launches new Web site
A new site that is easier to navigate, with useful information that is easier to find is the way the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is touting its new Web site. The site with the new look also has a new address, at www.txdot.gov.
The site has been reorganized into four categories of various kinds of information - citizen, business, government and travel. There are also direct links to information regarding employment, department/division information, news, local information, programs and services and travel.
SH 21 corridor now toll road
The State Highway 21 corridor was opened as a toll road this week in Lewisville and Coppell but motorists will get a free pass on the roadway until Sept. 1. The six-mile, $117 million highway becomes the state’s first toll road to open as a result of legislation authorizing financing roadways with the revenue from tolls. Drivers who plan to use the toll road can be charged electronically on their North Texas Tollway Authority’s TollTag. TxDOT’s TXTag stickers and Harris County Toll Road Authority’s EZ Tag will also be electronically read. Those without proper toll tags may use the corridor as well – as video cameras will record their vehicle license plate numbers and the vehicle owner will be billed by mail, along with a $1 fee. The fees for the toll road have not yet been determined.
Rep. Luna to give up House seat
State Rep. Vilma Luna of Corpus Christi will give up her seat in the Texas House of Representatives at the end of this month. Luna was first elected to the District 33 House seat in 1993.
Saying she wants to spend more time with her family, Luna said her resignation comes at a time that will allow for her successor to be elected in the November General Election and thus serve a full two-year term. Luna currently serves as vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee.
LCRA opens new park facilities
The Lower Colorado River Authority opened new facilities at Matagorda County Jetty Park this week including a group pavilion, picnic shelters, outdoor showers and restrooms. The park, which LCRA operates in an agreement with Matagorda County, is free and open to the public. Other improvements are being planned as part of developing the 1,600-acre Matagorda Bay Nature Park, including adding a natural science center and a bath house for the recently opened RV park.
| Ask the experts |
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Q: I've been reading about cities and counties pursuing multi-million dollar bond issues. Does that mean that opportunities are soon to follow?
A: Definitely. But opportunities may already exist. Local government bond programs often take 1-2 years to develop before the propositions are ever put before the voters (if required) or before bonds are actually issued and money is available. Consequently, engineering, architectural and other professional services may be engaged to assist staff in developing the program. Contractors and vendors may also be consulted to provide realistic construction or project budget estimates.
A good place to start is to determine whether the city council or commissioner's court has appointed a bond task force or similar committee to make recommendations to the board regarding a bond program. The task force's recommendations are available upon request. Their report will provide more detail about priorities and specific projects. If the task force is still meeting, their meetings are usually open to the public and minutes from those meetings are public records.
The second piece of information to gather is regarding any implementation or financing schedules prepared by staff and submitted to the board. This, too, is available upon request.
Your next step should be to make contact with the head of the department most likely to be the ultimate "owner" of a particular project - such as the Fire Chief for fire stations, the Chief of Police for computer-aided dispatching systems and the Public Works Director for road, water or wastewater projects. They can provide information about specific projects, staff needs, funding issues/concerns and procurement procedures or timing.
Finally, do not be surprised to learn that not all details have been worked out. A local government bond program typically provides funding for "categories" of projects, not specific projects - such as funding for road improvements, not necessarily Main Street.
Once bonds are sold and funds are available, it often takes several years to draw down. During that time, project priorities change, scopes of work change, and project budgets go from estimates to reality.
-Robert Powers,
Senior Consultant, Strategic Partnerships, Inc.
Have a question for one of SPI's government affairs experts?
Drop us a line!
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Katy organizing new bond group
The Katy ISD is organizing a new bond committee, just two months after a narrow defeat of its bond proposal to build three elementary schools, two junior highs and a ninth-grade center and to provide renovations to existing facilities as well as the addition of new technology and security systems. The committee can't recommend a bond package until after Aug. 3, the school board's deadline to approve a November referendum.
Leander could be facing bond issue
City officials in Leander are studying a $53 million priority list recommended by a bond committee for a possible bond vote in November. The 25-item list includes addition of a recreation center, equipment for the fire department, constructing of a fire administration and training facility, completing the second floor of the police headquarters, improving the police and fire communications system, building sidewalks, upgrading the police training facility, building a new water tower and buying land for a park.
Thomas joins SPI
Longtime educator and consultant Teresa (Terry) Thomas has joined Strategic Partnerships as a senior consultant. Thomas, who holds a Ph.D. in history from The University of Texas at Austin, is currently a professor at Austin Community College, where she has also served as a department chair. Thomas was a visiting research faculty member at Florida International University and has experience in health care through a program at the University of Miami. The new senior consultant has IT experience as well, having worked as a computer programmer and information specialist and as a systems analyst at The University of Texas at Austin. The SPI team welcomes Terry!
UNT has one finalist to fill presidency
Dr. Gretchen M. Bataille, a top academic official for the University of North Carolina system, has been named the sole finalist to be the 14th president of the University of North Texas. Bataille would replace Dr. Norval Pohl, who is stepping down at the end of August after having served the university since 2000.
Bataille is a scholar of Native American literature with experience as an academic admininstrator at university systems in California, North Carolina and Washington state. If confirmed, she will become UNT's first female president.
1,000 National Guard troops on border
Some 1,000 National Guard troops are participating in Operation Jump Start along the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas and New Mexico in an effort to free agents of the U.S. Border Patrol to work in the field and squelch illegal activity along the border. The troops are part of the 6,000 that President George W. Bush said would be deployed by August for a two-year mission. Approximately 500 of the Guard personnel are working in the El Paso Border Patrol sector, which includes El Paso and Hudspeth counties. Thirty Texas National Guard troops are training in El Paso after Gov. Rick Perry indicated 500 troops would be on the Texas border by July 1 and 1,500 by Aug. 1. Perry has authorized the deployment of up to 2,300 troops in Texas, but how many will actually be needed will be reassessed at the end of the month.
| ONLINE POLL |
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Should the state invest more money in maintaining and improving state parks?
(Non-scientific results next week)
Last week, 60% of respondents said the state should leverage the resources of the private sector to assist in road construction projects to ensure roads are built faster and sooner.
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Southern Governor's Conference to meet July 15-17
Improving energy preparedness, efforts to keep children in school and to improve their performance and the development of state-based health information systems (e-Medical Records) will be the focus topics of the Southern Governor's Conference next weekend in New Orleans. Among the speakers for the three-day event are Mike Leavitt, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and Bruce Baughman, president of the National Emergency Management Association. To view the preliminary conference agenda, click here.
Job Opportunities at SPI:
Strategic Partnerships, Inc., is seeking affiliates with subject matter expertise in public school grades K-12. Candidates should have an extensive knowledge of public schools K-12, including budgetary and procurement processes and should have existing relationships with executive decision-makers in the public schools. For a full job description, click here.
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