Texas seeking new energy sources
With near-record prices at the pump and the announced temporary closing of an oil field in Alaska responsible for 8 percent (or 400,000 barrels of oil per day) of all the oil production in the United States, federal officials are stepping up their efforts to help finance ways to increase energy sources and technologies. And Texas is at the forefront in many of those efforts.
Program guidelines for $2 billion in available loan guarantees aimed at increasing investments in projects using new energy technologies were announced this week by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Officials are hopeful the loans will encourage further development of renewable energy products such as solar and wind energy, clean coal technologies and biomass energy. Texas recently surpassed California as the leading producer of wind energy. Just this week, manufacturing companies, industry leaders, local economic leaders and state officials attended the first Texas Wind Industrial Network Summit in San Angelo.
The state also has two cities - Jewett and Odessa - that are on the short-list of four being considered for the $1 billion FutureGen project that is expected to create the world's first coal-based, zero-emissions electric and hydrogen power plant. Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams says FutureGen has the "trifecta" of benefits - energy, environment and economy. Coal already produces 30 percent of the state's electricity, said Williams, but the FutureGen plant would ensure even more power production with less impact on the environment with near zero emissions. The plant also will include carbon capture. "This carbon will have a second impact on energy because it can be used to improve the state's capacity to produce mature oilfields through CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)," said Williams, noting that an estimated 7-10 billion barrels of oil is recoverable with CO2 EOR.
Also this week, Texas A&M University was allocated $800,000 from $5.7 million in grant funds awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and DOE. The nine grants are for biobased fuels research that will accelerate the development of alternative fuel resources. The joint initiative is intended to improve the efficiency with which biomass and plant feedstocks are used to produce renewable fuels such as ethanol.
In an effort to step up the building of the nation's first nuclear plants since the 1970s, DOE has announced an incentive plan - offering $2 billion in federal insurance for construction of the next six plants. The United States has more than 100 nuclear plants in 31 states, two in Texas - the Comanche Peak power plant in Somervell County and South Texas 1 and 2 in Matagorda County. The DOE insurance plan would provide up to $500 million in coverage for the first two new plants constructed, and up to $250 million for the remaining four.
The goal of all these program is to continue diversification of the country's energy portfolio and reduce the nation's dependence on foreign energy sources.
UT System approves $1.6 billion capital plan
A $2.56 billion initiative approved this week by the University of Texas System Board of Regents is being hailed as an "unprecedented plan," by UT Chancellor Mark Yudof. The initiative is aimed at building a competitive science and engineering, medicine and math infrastructure, said Yudof, and will boost competitiveness in key scientific areas.
More than $1.6 billion in capital spending for 26 projects is included in the plan. Among the projects for the 15-campus system are:
- $280 million for expansion of the Alkek Hospital at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
- $55 million for a new Biomedical Engineering Building and $125 million for a new Experimental Science Building at UT-Austin.
- $70 million to build a therapy research center at M.D. Anderson focused on targeted cancer drugs.
- $220 million for projects at the UT Health Science Center in Houston - including $62 million for a new facility for adult stem cell research and $80 million to replace a dental branch building.
- $33.8 million for a new science and technology learning center at UT-Brownsville.
- $85 million for a physical sciences and engineering building at UT-El Paso.
- $156 million for a biomedical research building and underground parking lot for the UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
- $120 million for an engineering research building at UT-Arlington.
- $27 million for a new math and science building at UT-Dallas.
- $1.9 million for renovations for the science building and a $1.5 million new Student Health Clinic at UT-Pan American.
- $56 million for a new Science Building, new IT Building and renovations to allow for more classrooms at UT-Permian Basin.
- $2.4 million for an addition to the Braithwaite Building to support the College of Nursing and $48 million for renovation and expansion for engineering and sciences at UT-Tyler.
- $35 million for a League City outpatient center and $250 million for replacement of the Jennie Sealy Hospital at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.
- $95 million for a new Medical Arts and Research Center and $150 million for a South Texas Research Center for the UT Health Science Center in San Antonio.
- $97 million for a pediatric health research institute at the old Robert Mueller Airport site in Austin.
To view descriptions of the capital projects approved for the UT System, click here.
Texas sites in running for Bio, Agro-Defense Facility
Four Texas sites are among 18 in 11 states that remain in the selection process to name a site for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) proposed National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF). The four sites include Texas A&M University, the Brooks Development Authority and Brooks City-Base Foundation, the Texas Research and Technology Foundation and the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research.
The NBAF site, a joint venture between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, would be a defense facility to enhance and protect the nation's agriculture and public health. DHS would equip the NBAF with laboratories to conduct research and training on biological threats. NBAF would also develop vaccine countermeasures for foreign animal diseases and provide capability for threat detection, vulnerability and countermeasures assessment for animal and zoonotic diseases. Twenty-nine sites were offered originally, and then the list pared to 18. Environmental impact studies on those sites will follow, with DHS expected to name the final NBAF site in early 2008. Texas had more sites on the short list of 18 than any other state.
Conference registration opens
The sponsors of the 5th Biennial Pre-session Legislative Conference opened the conference registration this week. The full agenda is available online and a link to the registration site is at the upper right hand side of the agenda. The agenda also features links to biographic information about each presenter.
The conference is intended to help senior state agency officials prepare for the 80th Legislative Session and has traditionally been viewed as a "must attend" event for agency heads and their legislative directors. Increasingly, board members and other staff directors have attended, making this a sold-out event each year.
The conference is sponsored jointly by SPI and UT's LBJ School of Public Affairs and will be held on October 10th at UT's J.J. Pickle Research Campus in Austin. For further information, contact lriley@spartnerships.com.
Sunset Commission's Levine to chair NLPES
Sunset Advisory Commission Deputy Director Ken Levine will become chairman of the National Legislative Program Evaluation Society (NLPES) when it meets next week. The purpose of NLPES is to advance the profession of legislative program evaluation and performance auditing and to provide members with relevant training, opportunities for exchanging ideas and information, and recognition for superior performance.
NLPES traces its beginnings to the early 1970s, when many states began forming legislative units charged with evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of government programs. It became a part of the National Conference of State Legislatures when NCSL was formed in 1975.
Levine was first elected to the NLPES Executive Committee in 2001 and has been re-elected to two additional two-year terms. Last year he was selected vice chair, which traditionally has been viewed as the chair-in-waiting position.
Levine has worked for the Sunset Advisory Commission and the Texas Legislature in various roles since 1981 and has been deputy director of the Sunset Commission since 1995. He has performed or supervised policy evaluation projects in almost every functional area of state government. He has an MPA degree from the University of Texas' LBJ School of Public Affairs.
Dallas to call $1.35 billion bond election
Voters in the City of Dallas will go to the polls on Nov. 7 to decide the fate of a $1.35 billion bond election, the majority of which will affect city services from streets to parks to flood protection and storm drainage. The bond package will be divided into 12 propositions to be voted on individually. Among them are a $390 million streets and transportation proposition, a $343 million parks and recreation facilities proposition and a $334 million flood prevention proposition.
Tech could get list of chancellor candidates today
A handful of candidates has risen to the top of the approximately 2,000 who were under consideration for chancellor of the Texas Tech University System, and that list of fewer than 10 is expected to be given to the board of regents today.
Frank Miller III, Tech regent and chairman of the chancellor search committee, called the remainder under consideration "a great list." A five-member board of three regents and two Tech foundation directors will review these candidates. The top candidates from that list will then be interviewed.
The search for a new chancellor began in March, after then-Chancellor David Smith announced his resignation. Donald Haragan has been serving as interim chancellor. Tech officials are hopeful that a new chancellor can be named by October or November, or at least by the end of the year.
Hearings set for FutureGen finalist cities
The four finalist towns for the FutureGen coal power plant, including Jewett and Odessa in Texas, will be the subject of hearings by the U.S. Department of Energy this month to allow the public to comment on the proposed facility. The $1 billion FutureGen is designed to be a state-of-the-art power-generating plant that will help develop new clean-coal burning technology with near-zero emissions.
The hearing on the Jewett site will be held at 4 p.m. Aug. 22 at the Green Barn in Fairfield and the hearing on the Odessa site will be at 4 p.m. on Aug. 24 at the Center for Energy and Economic Diversification building in Midland. The remaining two cities that are finalists for the plant and carbon dioxide research facility are in Illinois, and hearings will be held near those cities as well.
State-Fed Office undergoes Sunset debate
Much of this week's Sunset Advisory Commission meeting centered on testimony on the staff's report regarding the Office of State-Federal Relations (OSFR). OSFR was created in 1965 as part of the Office of the Governor and became an independent agency in 1971. Its executive director is appointed by the governor, subject to Senate confirmation. It has seven full-time-equivalent employees; six in Washington, D.C., and one in Austin. In addition, six employees from five other agencies co-locate with OSFR in D.C. The governor, lieutenant governor, and House speaker form an advisory committee, and the OSFR executive director has frequent conferences with the key staffers from those three leadership offices.
The Sunset Commission staff recommended abolishing OSFR as an independent agency and moving the function back into the office of the governor as a "trusteed program." There would still be a Washington-based function; it would simply not be a separate agency with its incumbent administrative overhead. Commission members expressed concerns about this agency and whether the staff recommendation would lead to loss of legislative oversight. Key areas of concern were:
- The issue most widely publicized in the press related to consulting contracts. The hearing did not get into discussion of specific contracts, but members expressed great interest in: (a) why there was a need for contracted lobbyists generally; (b) the contracting (including selection) process; and (c) how much Texas is spending on lobbyists.
- There was concern regarding the state's "rate of return," or the amount of money that is returned to Texas as a percent of tax dollars paid by Texans. For many years, Texas has been in the bottom half of the states (typically in the mid 30s) when ranked by this measurement.
- Efficiency and effectiveness concerns were expressed. For instance, as a separate agency, OSFR must dedicate efforts to finance and human resources administration, technical support, and office management. Their three legislative directors have been there less than two years.
Sunset staff was directed to meet with each member of the commission to further compile their concerns and ideas. While the commission is scheduled to vote a decision on OSFR at its November 14-15 meeting, Chairman Sen. Kim Brimer added, "If it is ready by then…we may keep cooking it."
Whitmire opposes building new prisons
With Texas prisons again close to capacity, the Texas Board of Criminal Justice could hear recommendations to build two new prisons when it meets next Friday. Because Texas prison facilities are nearly 98 percent full and with the state already leasing five county facilities, the system is experiencing déjà vu all over again from a similar situation in the mid-1990s when the state spent $1 billion to triple the size of the system.
But don't expect support for new prison construction from Sen. John Whitmire of Houston. The long-time chair of the Senate's Criminal Justice Committee has long advocated rehabilitation instead of incarceration for some non-violent offenders who suffer from substance abuse. Whitmire advocates a "tough - and smart" prison plan that would not only free up prison beds, but also release rehabilitated non-violent prisoners who would not be a danger to society. The Houston senator says that alone could free up 5,000 prison beds.
Port Arthur ISD names superintendent finalist
Dr. Johnny E. Brown of Stone Mountain, Ga., is the lone finalist for the superintendent's job at the Port Arthur ISD. A Texas native, Brown is a former superintendent of the DeKalb County School System in Georgia, where he served from 2002-2004. He has since served the district as an educational consultant.
Brown, one of 43 candidates for the PAISD position, will replace Willis Mackey, who resigned in February. Charles McBee is currently serving as interim superintendent. By law, the school district must wait 21 days after naming its lone finalist before Brown can officially be hired. Brown is a graduate of Southwest Texas State University and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin.
Beaumont ISD suspends fall field trips
Like many other Texas school districts, the Beaumont ISD is doing what it can to keep up with rising gas prices. One way to cut gas costs, say school officials, is to declare a moratorium on most field trips this fall. Saying he doesn't think anyone wants to "cut out all the field trips," BISD Superintendent Carroll Thomas said school principals can petition for the trips if they can explain the necessity. Such trips will likely be granted, he said. In addition to taking away from class time, some school board trustees say field trips can be a huge expense because of gasoline price increases - particularly on trips that require multiple buses.
Kerrville proposes capital improvement plan
Kerrville city council members are studying a $37.7 million, five-year capital improvement plan. Some of the capital improvement projects sought for next year include a new fire station, improvements to the city golf course and a new park maintenance building.
City Manager Paul Hofmann said proposed bonds for FY 2007 would include the $1.4 million fire station, and $1.6 million for renovations to the Arcadia Theater. Proposed capital projects for 2007 included funding for the first phase of the Riverwalk Trail and for a library plan. City staff members also have recommended allocating $88,000 to renovate an existing building for temporary use as a Municipal Court building. The five-year plan would also call for issuing $7.2 million in debt for street reconstruction beginning in 2009.
Bryan could name city manager from within
Deputy City Manager Joey Dunn is among the four finalists being considered for the vacant city manager's position in Bryan. Dunn is among some 200 applicants for the job. The other finalists include: Garry Brumback, assistant city manager in Clearwater, Fla.; Kevin Evans, Huntsville city manager; and Theo Vaults, a retired Navy lieutenant commander working in manufacturing in Houston.
The successful candidate will replace City Manager Mary Kaye Moore, who has announced her retirement. Dunn was recruited as deputy city manager for community services in Bryan several weeks after Moore announced her retirement.
Mayors seek roadside police sobriety checks
Saying roadways in their areas of North Texas are among the deadliest in the state for motorists because of drunk drivers, Mayors Laura Miller of Dallas, Mike Moncrief of Fort Worth and Robert Cluck of Arlington will ask the Texas Legislature to allow police to conduct roadside stops to check for sobriety.
The city officials said last year more than 250 people died in alcohol-related crashes in the Dallas-Forth Worth metroplex area. White said cities "need to have the tools to combat the problems." Texas is one of only 12 states that do not sanction sobriety checkpoints.
Wolterman to lead THA board
Dan Wolterman, president and CEO of Memorial Hermann Healthcare System in Houston, has been named chair of the board of directors of the Texas Hospital Association.
Wolterman has been a member of the Memorial Hermann team since 1999, where he served as senior vice president of hospital operations before being named president and CEO in 2002. He also has worked for the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word Health Care System in Houston and Holy Cross Health Services in Utah.
Jon M. Foster, FACHE, president/CEO of St. David's HealthCare in Austin, was installed as chairman-elect. New trustees elected to serve three-year terms include: Christopher J. Durovich, FACHE, president/CEO, Children's Medical Center Dallas; George B. Hernandez Jr., J.D., president/CEO, University Health System, San Antonio; Arthur L. Hohenberger, FACHE, president/CEO, Hillcrest Health System, Waco; Steven L. Hunter, FACHE, president/CEO, Covenant Health System, Lubbock; Kathryn J. McDonagh, FACHE, FAAN, president/CEO, CHRISTUS Spohn Health System, Corpus Christi; Jan A. Reed, CPA, administrator/CEO, Electra Memorial Hospital; and Michael D. Williams, FACHE, president/CEO, Community Health Corporation, Plano. Other trustees installed to fulfill unexpired terms include Matthew T. Maxfield, CHE, chief executive officer, Brownwood Regional Medical Center; and Maura Walsh, CHE, president, HCA Gulf Coast Division, Houston.
Annual Border Energy Forum set in October
Energy and water development in the southwest United States and northern Mexico will be the focus of the 13th annual Border Energy Forum set Oct. 19 and 20 in Tampico, Tamaulipas.
The forum annually draws both government and private sector leaders from the United States-Mexico border region. Other issues to be discussed this year include the future of energy policy, water and energy efficiency, border energy infrastructure, financing energy projects, energy production and the environment and sustainable energy.
Because the border areas share both the same challenges and opportunities, leaders from industry, government and educational and environmental organizations gather at the forum to discuss energy-related issues and pursue goals that encourage economic development while protecting the environment.
Participants from the United States at this year's forum include the Texas General Land Office, the North American Development Bank, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the California Energy Commission, the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department and the Los Alamos National Laboratory. For more information and to register for the forum, click here.
Howard elected to NEA board again
An 18-year career as a school bus driver has led Shirley Howard of Midland to another three-year term on the board of the National Education Association. Howard outpolled five other candidates, two of them fellow Texans.
Howard will serve NEA, the largest educational employee organization in the country, by contacting state and federal lawmakers on behalf of the organization and studying the federal No Child Left Behind Act and education salaries.
Howard is president of the Midland Education Support Professionals Association and is president-elect of Midland Educators Association. She is a member of the Texas State Teachers Association Executive Director Screening Committee, is the TSTA Black Caucus vice president, is a TSTA Board of Directors Education Support Professional at-large, a TSTA Education Support Professional Task Force Chairperson, and a member of the TSTA-Texas Federation of Teachers Unity Talks Team.
Houston motorists to face red light cameras, fines
Houston motorists who were expecting a grace period before tickets are issued from the initial installation of a camera system that records traffic light violations - think again. Those running red lights in the camera-equipped intersections will face a $75 fine beginning Sept. 1. While the city is launching a public awareness campaign to let motorist know about the traffic light cameras, fines will begin being issued when the cameras are operational next month.
The city will add 10 more cameras at a time until the 50 most dangerous intersections with traffic lights are camera-monitored. Some of the intersections to be added are on highways owned by the state after an attorney general's ruling allowed cities to install cameras at those sites with permission of the Texas Department of Transportation. Houston is one of a growing number of cities throughout the state turning to cameras to help monitor dangerous intersections.
Baytown students could get hand-held computers
Some junior high or high school students and teachers in the Goose Creek ISD could soon be issued hand-held hybrid computers. School officials described the computers, which cost $450 each, as more advanced than a personal data assistant and less bulky than a laptop. They will perform some of the same functions as a laptop - word processing, spreadsheets, PowerPoint and streaming video. Because many students are already adept at using computers and laptops and other high-tech instruments, the GISD is hopeful to engage them in using similar technology for their school work.
The mobility of the hand-held computers is such that students can access the Internet for educational purposes from just about anywhere. GISD is hopeful to replicate higher achievement scores reported by other schools using similar technology devices. A pilot program is expected to begin in January and school officials hope to use the new hand-helds in areas that have the least access to technology. The units will be assigned to students just as textbooks are assigned.
Bandera County proposes jail bond election
A new jail and justice center could be on the horizon for Bandera County, after county commissioners ordered a bond election during their recent meeting. If the referendum passes, the county will build a 96-bed, $11.4 million facility that county officials hope will keep them from having to pay other counties to board overflow inmates. In fact, county officials are hopeful that Bandera County might even be on the receiving end of a lease agreement with other counties.
County Judge Richard Evans said that based on projections, if the county does not build a new jail, it could be paying other counties to house up to 90 Bandera County inmates by 2013.
North Harris Chancellor Pickelman retiring
Dr. John Pickelman, who has served as chancellor of the North Harris Montgomery Community College District since 1991, has announced his retirement, effective Aug. 31, 2007. Noting he has served in administrative positions in higher education for 40 years, Pickelman said community colleges across the nation have made "dynamic strides in popularity and excellence."
During Pickelman's time at NHMCCD, enrollment has grown from 17,000 to 45,000, the district's boundaries have widened from five to 11 school districts and the original three campuses have increased to five comprehensive colleges, seven satellite centers and The University Center. The school is known as one of the largest and fastest-growing community college districts in the state. Pickelman will continue to serve out his two-year term as chair of the board of directors of the Texas Association of Community Colleges.
Willacy County considers jail management contract
Willacy County officials are considering a cost-cutting measure that would have a management company operating the county's new $7.5 million, 96-bed jail. Strapped for the approximately $690,000 payment that will need to be paid to investors in November, county commissioners were told by County Treasurer Arturo Gomez that the county could cut half a million dollars in expenditures by hiring a management company to run the jail. However, the management company would in turn charge the county approximately $300,000 to house its prisoners there. The net savings to the county would be $200,000. The large number of federal prisoners the county had hoped to house in the new jail and that would be paid for by the federal government has not materialized, causing a shortage of funds with which to pay investors.
City of Pearland eyes May bond election
A new public safety building, a new city swimming pool and a fire station top the wish list for the City of Pearland as it considers a possible May 2007 bond election. The public safety building could house the city's police department and jail and possibly the city's courts and other city department offices.
City Manager Bill Eisen said the city is hopeful to have its list of priority projects for the bond election completed by the end of the year. Eisen said the bond amount could range from $70-$150 million. City officials are currently evaluating possible road, drainage, parks and facilities projects and have approved funding for engineers to determine detailed cost estimates. Eisen said the city has a "wide variety" of possible projects in mind.
San Angelo ISD may move bond date up
Escalating construction prices are pushing San Angelo ISD board members to call their upcoming $120 million bond election more "sooner" than "later." School officials expect by calling the election in November of this year rather than in May 2007 they could save the district as much as $10 million in rapidly increasing construction costs.
If the election is called, it will include a $90 million new Central High School that would house some 3,000 students in grades 9-12. It would also include a $10 million expansion of the Lake View High School to accommodate 1,700 students in grades 9-12. Two new elementary schools could also be included. The board will meet on Aug. 21 and has only until Aug. 29 to call a November election.
Simmons to head judges, commissioners group
Nacogdoches County Commissioner Charlie Simmons has been elected president of the North and East Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association, an educational organization for county leaders. Simmons has previously served the organization as secretary-treasurer and first vice president. The association, which includes 64 counties in North and East Texas, sponsors continuing education courses for county officials as well as hosting an annual conference.
Simmons, a former head football coach and athletic director at Stephen F. Austin State University, is a three-term county commissioner. He is also an executive board member of the Deep East Texas Council of Governments.
Six school districts receive GEAR UP grants
Six Texas school districts will share $10 million in GEAR UP grants to provide comprehensive college readiness programs for their students and to strengthen parental involvement programs. The grants, ranging from $125,000 to $250,000 annually for up to six years, will go to Alice Independent School District, Brooks County ISD, Corpus Christi ISD, Kingsville ISD, Mathis ISD and Odem-Edroy ISD. Nearly $8 million in additional GEAR UP funds will be used to fund similar college readiness and parental involvement efforts statewide.
The Texas Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP), Students Training for Academic Readiness (STAR), provides services and support to reach school districts with a high percentage of low-income and minority students and focuses on many different aspects of college readiness. Its goal is to ensure students are academically ready to enter and be successful in postsecondary education.
Alvarado ISD sets bond election
A $25.5 million bond election to build a new intermediate campus has been set for November in the Alvarado ISD. The new school will house grades four through six. The bond amount not only will provide for the initial costs of the new school, but also will provide an additional $1 million for inflation increases and possible campus renovations.
Fort Bend ISD conducting superintendent search
Fort Bend ISD officials are currently interviewing six finalists from the more than 50 applications for the district's superintendent position. The second round of interviews and site visits to candidates' home districts should be completed soon, with a lone finalist to be named toward the end of the month. FBISD officials hope to have a new superintendent hired in early September.
UT System to hire new computer security guru
There's a new "sheriff" coming to town… His territory will be the University of Texas System. His job will be to ensure information technology security.
UT System officials say they will hire a computer security guru to help reduce security breaches at their 15 university and health campuses. The action comes as a result of two recent security breaches within the system - at the UT-Austin McCombs School of Business and a separate incident in which a UT student hacked into a university database and accessed Social Security numbers. While each of the UT System campuses has a chief information security officer, the new official will be responsible for ensuring that all campuses are improving computer security.
Richland Hills eyes new community building
A new community building at Kate Baker Park is part of the proposed 2006-07 budget for the city of Richland Hills. City officials say the $60,000 budgeted for the new facility would come from city reserves. The city's development corporation also has earmarked an additional $40,000 from sales tax for the park building.
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COGs really do make government wheels turn
By Mary Scott Nabers, CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc.
Councils of Government (COGs) are important organizations. These groups are powerful in their own right and they often allocate large amounts of money for purchases. It is surprising to find that many government contractors do not know more about Texas COGs.
There are 24 regional councils of government in Texas. The organizations are charged with a number of mandates: planning for economic growth, water supply and quality, transportation, emergency preparedness and other services. COGs also operate programs in areas such as: aging, criminal justice, employment and training (workforce development), health and solid waste management. Additionally, they review and comment on federal and state projects. Each of the programmatic areas overseen by a council of governments has needs that private sector partners usually provide.
GOGs work to find regional solutions and all of them have cooperative purchasing programs. Savvy government contractors work hard to become listed on these cooperative contracts. In the past few years, many millions of homeland security dollars have been passed through COGs to private sector contractors. The federal government sends large federal grants directly to regional councils. State agencies also pass through funding to COGs and the Governor's Office distributes numerous grants to the regions through COGs.
Regional councils design their individual organizations to meet local and regional needs. At least two-thirds of the governing body of each council consists of elected city and county officials within the region. A COG is definitely a political entity and it is made up of powerful individuals from local governments. Activities of regional COGs should be carefully monitored by contractors interested in capturing government contracts in a particular region.
Every COG belongs to a statewide association known as the Texas Association of Regional Councils (TARC). This organization provides a forum for exchanging information and ideas. TARC also facilitates conferences and works on policy issues. Government contractors would be well advised to get acquainted with TARC. The next large statewide TARC conference is scheduled in October and complete details are posted on their Web site at txregionalcouncil.org.
Alexander joins SPI as consultant
John H. Alexander has joined Strategic Partnerships, Inc., as a senior consultant specializing in higher education and Texas state government. Alexander recently retired from his position as Director of Grant Development and Administration at Midwestern University in Wichita Falls, where he also previously served as Vice President of Administration and Finance. He also has worked for the University of Houston System as Associate Vice Chancellor for Budget and Planning, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Budget and Planning and Executive Director of Government Relations.
Alexander's educational background also includes work for the Region IV Education Service Center in Houston, the Kentucky Commission on Postsecondary Education and teaching stints at the University of Kentucky and the Kentucky public schools. In addition to his long career in higher education, Alexander also has been active in Texas state government, having served as senior budget analyst for the Governor's Office of Budget and Planning as well as having worked for the Legislative Budget Board as both a budget examiner and deputy director of the Select Committee on Financing Higher Education in Texas. He holds a bachelor's, master's and Ed.D. from the University of Kentucky.
San Antonio fire chief to retire
After 13 years as chief of the San Antonio Fire Department, Robert Ojeda has announced he will retire at the end of February 2007. Ojeda's career in the SAFD spans 33 years. He followed his firefighter father into the SAFD two years before his father died in the line of duty. City Manager Sheryl Sculley indicated the city will conduct a nationwide search for Ojeda's replacement.
San Angelo bus service going to COG
The City of San Angelo plans to consolidate its bus service next month and transfer it to the Concho Valley Council of Governments. The COG service already makes more than 120,000 one-way trips per year and logs more than 500,000 miles in the 13-county area that surrounds San Angelo. The city operates 11 buses and the COG operates 32 vans. The city routes are fixed routes.
The goal of the partnering is to eliminate duplication of routes and increase efficiencies. The COG already is applying for state and federal funds to acquire property that could include a terminal and administrative center. A 15-member board, including three members of the San Angelo City Council, will oversee operations.
HHSC launches new Medicaid Web page
Medicaid stakeholders now have a place to exchange best practices information, find additional resources and review program improvement information with the launch of a new Web page this week by the Health and Human Services Commission.
HHSC's Office of Community Collaboration, sponsor of the Web page, also will host an e-mail distribution list. To access the new Web page and to sign up to be on the distribution list, click here.
White Oak ISD superintendent to step down
White Oak ISD Superintendent Jack Hale has announced he will vacate the superintendent's job, effective Dec. 31, and has asked to be reassigned as high school counselor. Hale, who has been superintendent for four years, has worked in the White Oak ISD for 30 years - as a high school math teacher, high school counselor, elementary principal, curriculum director, interim superintendent and superintendent.
Board members will begin discussing the process for replacing Hale when they meet Aug. 14.
Decatur healthcare facility nears approval
A 56,000-square foot healthcare facility has been recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission for approved by the city of Decatur. The 140-bed skilled nursing care and rehabilitation facility will be situated on a five-acre tract, will employ 140 full-time workers and generate a payroll of $3.6 million.
Governor makes statewide appointments
Governor Rick Perry recently made the following appointments:
- Brian Todd Hoyle of Longview; justice of the 12th Court of Appeals
- Carmel Bitando Dyer M.D.; Nursing Facility Administrators Advisory Committee.
North Harris district bond election on track
Officials of the North Harris Montgomery Community College District indicate they are proceeding with plans to call for a Nov. 7, $249 million bond election. A previously called May 13 election was canceled due to concerns by local and federal officials regarding lack of polling sites in minority communities.
Bumphus heads to teaching position at UT
The long-time president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, Dr. Walter G. Bumphus, has resigned to take a full-time teaching position at the University of Texas at Austin. Bumphus will leave his Louisiana post in January 2007.
Bumphus, who earned his doctorate from UT, will teach doctoral students in the education administration and community college leadership programs at UT and will hold the Sid Richardson Chair in Community College Leadership there. Bumphus, who has been highly recruited by UT over the years, has served as president of the Louisiana system since 2001.
Ferguson new S.A. assistant city manager
Penny Postoak Ferguson, deputy city manager for the City of Overland Park, Kansas, has been named assistant city manager for the City of San Antonio. San Antonio City Manager Sheryl Sculley said Ferguson will be responsible for planning and development for the city. Ferguson is no stranger to Texas municipal government work, having worked in city management in Austin as well.
Sculley also announced the appointment of Roderick Sanchez as interim director of the Development Services Department, and named Florencio Pena to oversee the newly created Department of Administrative Services, which combined the previous Purchasing and Contract Services departments.
Sabine Pass names Nash as superintendent
West Sabine ISD Superintendent Malcolm "Mack" Nash will be leaving the Pineland schools to take the top job in the Sabine Pass ISD. Nash, who has been at West Sabine for 14 years, the last three as superintendent, began his career there as a teacher and then coach and principal.
Nash was one of 30 applicants for the Sabine Pass job, which became open when former Superintendent Walt Fenn resigned to take the top spot at the Royal school district. Zack Byrd is serving as SPISD interim superintendent.
Canyon police could get new equipment
Among the items being discussed by the City of Canyon in its annual budget meetings is a $30,000 request from the city's police department to bring high-tech equipment to its officers. The city commission is studying the police department's request for funds to purchase five laptop computers that would let officers access local, state and national databases from their police cruisers.
Police officials say the system would pay for itself in four years by reducing the number of calls officers make to the Randall County Communications District and by allowing a municipal court clerk to do more warrant processing instead of data entry.
| ONLINE POLL |
| Would you support, as a means of freeing up beds and eliminating the need for construction of new facilities in the state prison system, a proposal to release non-violent offenders who have been rehabilitated and who would not be a danger to society?
(Non-scientific results next week)
Last week, 67% of respondents said the state's tax-free holiday should be extended from a weekend to a full week and include more items such as school supplies, backpacks, bike helmets and children's safety items.
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Bryan accepts bid on new justice center
Although $3 million over the amount originally budgeted, the Bryan City Council this week approved a $17.5 million bid for construction of a justice center complex. City officials say they will issue debt to make up the shortfall, as well as cut nearly $2 million in expenses from the project.
The center will include the police department, municipal court, animal control and code enforcement departments, and should take approximately 16 months to complete. The city expects to save approximately $144,000 per year on the rent it currently pays for space for the municipal court.
Del Mar looking at tax increase for construction
A 19 percent tax increase for property owners in the Del Mar College District is being recommended to help the college pay for $108 million in capital improvement bonds sold in January. The bond proposal addressed development of Del Mar College West and improvements to existing facilities at Del Mar College East. Following public hearings, the increase is expected to go before the college regents at their Aug. 29 meeting.
Brazosport has 37 superintendent applicants
Brazosport ISD officials will have 37 applicants to choose from to replace Superintendent Rudy Okruhlik, who will retire in December. Officials say 23 of the applicants are experienced superintendents and represent 16 states and Nigeria. The names of the applicants will be presented to the school board on Tuesday.
College Station seeks new economic development director
Four finalists for the role of economic development director for the City of College Station will likely be pared to one today, according to city officials. The four finalists include Stephen Filipowicz of Lancaster, David Gwin of Carrollton, Brian Hamilton of Montgomery County, Va. and Dennis Pruitt of Montgomery County, Kan. The four were chosen from nearly three-dozen applicants. The new director will replace Kim Foutz, who resigned in February to accept the assistant city manager's job in Temple.
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