Hight has worked previously in the Applications Development and Maintenance Division at the Texas Employment Commission, was deputy director for Information Technology at the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services and director of Information Technology services at the Railroad Commission of Texas. He was named chief information officer at HHSC earlier this year.

Senate confirms Texas judicial nominee Nelva Gonzales Ramos

The U.S. Senate recently swore in State District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos (pictured) of Corpus Christi as a federal judge.

Ramos replaces U.S. District Judge Hayden Head, who was appointed by President Ronald Reagan and went to senior status after announcing his retirement in 2009.

The Senate confirmed three other judicial nominees before a month-long recess, but did not vote on 20 more nominees.

Alvin Shaw appointed commissioner of Texas Facilities Commission

Long-time public servant Alvin Shaw (pictured) was recently appointed to the Texas Facilities Commission.

Shaw has served in city, county and state positions for 36 years. His service began in 1975 with the Austin Police Department, where he was promoted to lieutenant and oversaw the child abuse unit, homicide and the organized crime unit.

He has also served as chief deputy of the Travis County Sheriff's Office and as a member of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Section of US 77 approved as part of interstate highway system

A 6.2-mile section of U.S. Highway 77 in South Texas was recently moved one big step closer to being renamed Interstate 69.

The Federal Highway Administration OK'd adding the stretch between Interstate 37 and State Highway 44 to the interstate highway system.

Before signage can be posted on the road, a committee must approve the use of the Interstate 69 route number. Then, the Texas Transportation Commission must vote to add I-69 to the state highway system.

Texas Department of Transportation officials will work with the committees and local officials to bring appropriate sections of roads to interstate quality, said Ted Houghton (pictured), Texas Transportation Commission commissioner.

Landivar new director of Weslaco Texas AgriLife Center

Leaders at Texas AgriLife Research, a member of the Texas A&M University System, recently named Juan Landivar (pictured) director of the Weslaco and Corpus Christi research centers, effective Sept. 1.

The AgriLife system is comprised of a headquarters in College Station, 13 research centers across the state and associated research stations.

Landivar, previously director of the Corpus Christi facility alone, was appointed to also head the Weslaco center when the director there, Michael Gould, was promoted to director of strategic initiatives for AgriLife Research. Gould will continue to serve as director of the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Dallas.

The board of directors of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) recently agreed to begin a one-year experiment to establish paid parking at two DART stations. The one-year trials will be at the Parker Road station on the Red Line in Plano and the North Carrollton/Frankford Station on the Green Line.

DART officials plan to maintain free parking for residents of its 13 member cities, but non-residents of the member cities will pay $2 a day or $40 a month. Long-term parking also will be free for member-city residents and $5 a day for others. DART plans to hire a consulting firm to design the parking system this fall and come up with details such as how customers can establish residency status and the method for collecting parking fees.

Moore selected to lead Emergency Services Training Institute

Officials with the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) recently named Robert Moore (pictured) director of the Emergency Services Training Institute, one of the top fire and emergency service training programs.

He has served four years as associate director of the institute, which trains more than 80,000 firefighters and emergency responders each year, and was appointed interim director in April.

Before joining the institute, Moore served 19 years on the industrial fire brigade for a chemical company and concurrently spent 14 years as a firefighter for the Channelview Volunteer Fire Department, where he rose through the ranks to fire marshal and assistant chief.

Angelo State University officials recently approved an updated facilities master plan that includes more living quarters for students and more support for the distance education curriculum.

Expecting to accommodate 10,000 students by 2020, ASU officials revised the master plan to provide appropriate facilities for housing students, additional classrooms, support facilities as well facilities to meet recreation and social needs.

The revised master plan also calls for increasing space for administrative work, upgrading campus entrances and outdoor spaces, improving pedestrian access on campus and including public art and architecture throughout the campus in San Angelo. 

Board of Nursing's Thomas, Majek recognized at annual meeting

Two high-ranking officials with the Texas Board of Nursing were recently honored at the annual meeting of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (BON).

Mary Beth Thomas (left), director of nursing practice and education for the BON, was honored with the Exceptional Contribution Award. Thomas was selected for her commitment to patient safety. She is a member and current Chair of the NCSBN Taxonomy of Error, Root Cause Analysis Practice Responsibility Committee. She has served as Director of Nursing Practice/Education for the BON for the last seven years and served as Chairperson of the NCSBN TERCAP Committee since 2010. 

Mark Majek (right), who serves as director of operations for the BON, was elected to serve on the leadership succession committee for the national council. This committee is responsible for identifying and developing qualified leaders who: serve the purpose, mission, vision and values of the organization; advance and promote excellence in nursing regulation; sustain and evolve continued success and viability of the NCSBN; and embrace and cultivate a culture of service and stewardship. Majek received the Meritorious Achievement Award from the NCSBN in 2007 and served as Director of Area III for the NCSBN from 2001 until 2005. 

Texas Tech announces new bachelor's degree in wind energy

Texas Tech University will offer an innovative, new Bachelor of Science in Wind Energy degree program this fall.

The curriculum aims to educate students for positions beyond the usual engineer and technician graduates, and into a wide range of positions that include weather forecasters, financial analysts and government liaisons.

"As the renewable energy field continues its rapid growth and development, the wind energy job market will continue to broaden," said program director Andy Swift (pictured).

Blinn College officials reviewing 35 applicants for president

A Blinn College search committee will soon whittle the 35 college president applicants to three to five finalists. The decision could be made before the end of August.

Those finalists will travel to Blinn's Brenham and Bryan campuses to interview and meet the faculty, staff and community leaders.

Applicants come from 16 states, including 16 from Texas.

Trustees for the Lone Star College System recently agreed to spend $9.19 million to upgrade technology while approving the system's $276.75 million budget for 2011-2012.

Faced with reduced state funding, Lone Star officials already agreed to increase the credit hour tuition by $2 per credit hour, the fee for a distance learning class by $5 per credit hour and a new $20 per semester infrastructure fee for on-site students, said Chancellor Richard Carpenter. The new infrastructure fee will be used to maintain campus infrastructure, including sidewalks, building amenities, parking areas and roads, he added.

The major focus during budget negotiations was to keep access to college courses open to everyone, Carpenter said.

Longtime UT vice president Hale latest cut in shake-up

In an ongoing reorganization and reduction at The University of Texas at Austin, longtime Vice President for Public Affairs Don Hale has been named the latest cut.

The Office of Public Affairs will be eliminated and about 20 staff members will be transferred to either the Development Office, which oversees event planning, or a new unit called the Office of University Communications.

Geoffrey Leavenworth, director of communications and special assistant to President William Powers Jr., will serve as director of the new unit. 

Kosten will head research at Houston's DeBakey VA Center

Acclaimed substance abuse psychiatrist Thomas Kosten (pictured) has been named associate chief of staff for research at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston.

In his new post, Kosten will oversee one of the largest research programs in the VA health care system.

In addition to his responsibilities at the VA, Kosten also serves as a professor at Baylor College of Medicine, where he founded the Division of Substance Abuse. Kosten, who has won numerous awards for his clinical research, is editor of two major journals on substance abuse, and has served as a member of the American Journal of Psychiatry Editorial Board.

Texas Education Agency (TEA) officials recently announced plans to close Premont Independent School District and send those 600 students and district tax revenue to neighboring school districts.

TEA has had oversight over the financially struggling school district, which has100 employees, since December 2009. State officials blame poor test scores, a depleted bank account and inadequate schools with rodent and insect infestations at the three schools operated by the district in South Texas. In the last 10 years, the district has lost one-third of its students and 7 percent of its population as ranching and oil jobs disappeared. Since 1999, TEA has closed five other school districts in Texas.

Premont Superintendent Ernest Singleton said he hopes to appeal the decision as he has made many changes in district operations since he began the job in June.

Former Montana State President Gamble hired by UNT  

Officials at the University of North Texas recently named Geoffrey L. Gamble (pictured), former president of Montana State University, as interim senior vice provost, effective Aug. 1.

In his new role, Gamble will take on a number of signature projects that include looking at the university's procedures and policies relating to institutes and centers, as well as advising the provost's senior staff on faculty-related topics.

Gamble, who retired from Montana State in 2009, previously served as provost and senior vice president at the University of Vermont and vice provost for academic affairs at Washington State University. 

Plotkin selected as director of A&M Sea Grant program

Texas A&M University graduate Pam Plotkin was recently named director of the Texas Sea Grant College Program, a division of the College of Geosciences that focuses on marine research, outreach and education. She replaces Robert Stickney, who retires Sept. 1.

Most recently, Plotkin served as deputy director of Cornell University's Office of Sponsored Programs. She has also worked at East Tennessee State University and Frostburg State University in Maryland.

Plotkin received both her master's degree and Ph.D. from Texas A&M.

ACC closes purchase of last of property at Highland Mall

The Austin Community College District recently finalized a $15.7 million purchase for Highland Mall's J.C. Penney building and surrounding parking lot - making ACC the sole owner of the mall.

ACC intends to develop the mall, which is comprised of about 80.8 acres and three anchor buildings that total more than 642,000 square feet, into classrooms, a conference center, professional development center, administration offices and more.

Mall businesses are expected to continue operating according to the terms of their sub-leases with the ground tenant. ACC plans to develop the property after expiration of the ground lease.

Bayley appointed deputy director of DeBakey VA center

Air Force veteran Bryan Bayley (pictured) was recently named deputy director of the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston.

Bayley, who will serve as chief operating officer, has worked for the VA since 2000. Most recently, he served as deputy network director of the South Central VA Health Care Network.

Other recent management changes at DeBakey include:

• Edgar Tucker, who had previously served as director, is now a senior vice president for Texas Medical Center, and
• Carlos Escobar, a previous associate director and COO at DeBakey, now serves as an assistant vice president for The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

Parkland Hospital COO takes Atlanta hospital's top job

Officials with the Grady Health System in Atlanta recently named John M. Haupert of Parkland Memorial Hospital president and chief executive officer.

Haupert will continue to serve as Parkland chief operating officer until about Oct. 1. He has held the position since 2006 and previously worked for the Methodist Health System in Dallas.

The similarities between Parkland and Grady - both are safety-net hospitals and academic medical centers for training doctors - attracted Haupert to the Atlanta job.

Boerne ISD completes solar power installation at elementary

Officials at the Boerne school district are celebrating the completion of a solar panel installation that is expected to generate more than 160,000 kilowatt hours a year - enough to provide energy to 16 homes for a year.

The Fair Oaks Ranch Elementary School installation was initiated after receiving two renewable energy technology grants from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) that totaled $643,974. The project, which cost a total $894,962, is expected to save the district $16,260 a year.

That money will be rerouted to the classroom, where Fair Oaks Ranch students will use the solar array to evaluate how much electricity their school uses, said Jeff Haberstroh (pictured), facilities engineering and cost manager for the district.

Burnet group needs $1 million for new $4.75 million library

A Burnet group supporting the Herman Brown Free Library recently warned that they must raise nearly $1 million by the end of August to qualify for a federal grant that will keep the project on track.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development program has approved a $1.75 million, low-interest loan to build a proposed 20,000-square-foot, energy-efficient library with three meeting rooms, a children's area, wireless computer connections, a coffee shop and museum, said Donna Kladstrup, president of Friends of the Herman Brown Free Library. But, local supporters must raise $1 million to qualify for the loan and they are reaching out to donors who have supported the library in the past in order to move forward, she said.

The new facility, which will be designed to hold 50,000 volumes, will replace the current 8,950-square-foot facility on Washington Street with space for 26,000 volumes, Kladstrup said.

Midland County officials recently announced the Barbara Culver Juvenile Detention Center will remain open this year, but will have fewer beds for juveniles along with fewer staff members.

A budget recommendation by commissioners includes funding to pay 24 employees who staff the facility 24 hours a day. That recommendation may be revised with a specific funding proposal from the Juvenile Board during the next commissioners meeting, County Judge Mike Bradford said. The juvenile center currently operates with 44 beds and will be decreased to 24 beds that will need less staff.

The population at the facility has decreased to less than an average of 10 youth per day and the county was spending too much for the services rendered, Bradford said. The budget approved by the Juvenile Board decreases the 2011 budget of $1.56 million by about $300,000, and includes plans to reduce the number of staff, food costs and janitorial services because a smaller area in the facility will be used.

After receiving 24 percent less in state funding, the Panhandle Workforce Development Board recently announced plans to shutter Workforce Solutions offices in Borger, Childress, Dalhart, Dumas, Hereford, Pampa and Tulia on September 30. Communities should prepare for no local Workforce facilities, but the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission (PRPC) will continue to provide some workforce services, said Tom Dressler, the director of PRPC.

After the Workforce Solutions offices close, PRPC plans on relying on Web sites, e-mails, faxes, telephones and a partnership with Frank Phillips College to help rural residents, Dressler said. The plan is to use some staff from the closed offices in the main office and other staff will operate from their homes, Dressler said. In the past two years, the budget for the Panhandle Workforce Development Board has fallen from $24 million to $12 million, he added.

Fannin County commissioners recently began considering a $200,000 to $300,000 contract with a private company that built and operates a 592-bed county jail on Silo Road to house prisoners at the former 96-bed county jail on CR4200.

The lease payment will help pay the county's annual payments on the former jail, which has been vacant since 2009, said County Judge Spanky Carter (pictured).

The agreement calls for the private company to begin operating at the old jail facility on Sept. 1. The company plans to hire 17-18 new employees to staff the newly leased facility. This jail contract runs concurrently with the contract to operate the county jail, which is in its third year of a three-year agreement with two one-year options.

San Antonio grants Alamo RMA another year to repay loan

The San Antonio City Council reluctantly granted the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority, the only Bexar County agency with tolling authority, another year to repay a $500,000 loan plus nearly $100,000 in interest. This marks the second one-year extension.

The loan, issued in 2005, was originally due Sept. 1, 2010, a date that RMA officials expected to be collecting revenue off toll roads. However, a series of lawsuits and environmental studies have delayed all construction, leaving the RMA with no revenue.

Tolling authority officials said the city will get its money after the first project is complete. An environmental study for Loop 1604 is expected to be complete in 2012, while the study for U.S. 281 could take another two years.

Beeville City Council members recently approved two agreements with a Corpus Christi-based company to move forward with several planned park improvements later this year. Council also agreed to seek a request for qualifications for a construction manager-at-risk to oversee the park upgrades.

The projects include updating baseball and softball facilities at Veterans Memorial Park and developing a youth football complex on property near a middle school. Plans also call for building a play area and a skate park, said John Longoria, project coordinator for the parks program. The request for qualifications allows the city to hire contractors based on experience and ability to work on athletic facilities rather than being required to choose the lowest bidder, Longoria said.

The agreements allows the company that specializes in park architecture to perform the work for 6 percent of the total construction price, a move that Longoria said provides an incentive to keep the projects within budget.

With less than a month to meet the state benchmark for a disaster housing recovery program, Galveston city officials are still closely examining bids to ensure those structures meet standards even though they are falling short of meeting the number of approved housing units required by the program.

Council members said they are more worried that houses meet the high standards required rather than approving projects that will not meet new standards for construction, city officials explained when questioned why two separate bids for 34 home rehabilitations were denied because of concerns over the quality of work. City officials also blamed some of the delay over the need for housing units in historical areas to receive approval from both the city historical board and the Texas Historical Commission.

The state benchmark requires the city have 517 houses approved for construction by Sept. 2 as part of a $160 million Community Block Grant program to repair and rebuild homes damaged by Hurricane Ike. As of early August, the city has approved contracts for 251 homes. More than 2,000 people applied for the disaster assistance program and about 1,000 applicants were found to be eligible. City officials estimate the program can serve about 1,033 residents.

Austin getting 103 plug-in vehicle charge stations

Austin Energy now offers 103 plug-in charging stations for electric vehicles. 

The stations, which are financed with federal stimulus funds, are located at restaurants, hotels, medical facilities, schools, retail stores and libraries. 

Drivers can purchase a $25 swipe card, which allows unlimited charging for six months, or pay $2 per hour of charging.

Assistant public works director in Longview, Rollin McPhee (pictured), recently released a tentative schedule to begin an estimated $53.6 million plan to upgrade streets and walkways over the next six years. Voters in May approved the bond proposal to pay for the projects.

The tentative schedule calls for repaving of High Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and upgrading sidewalks along MLK and Birdsong Streets to begin in March 2012. Design work also has begun on three projects. The projects are widening Hollybrook Dr., upgrading intersections along Hawkins Parkway and Eastman Road and improving Green Street in the downtown area, McPhee said.

The Green Street project could cost as much as $6 million because it includes reconstruction of a street and possibly lowering the street by a foot beneath a railroad pass, now a scene of many accidents, he added. The design phase of a $5 million project to upgrade oil-dirt streets throughout the city is scheduled to begin in December with city engineers planning to make some upgrades during the four-year period beginning in June.

Texas Municipal League Conference, Exhibition set Oct. 11-14  

 

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

As the Sept. 30 congressional deadline approaches for renewing the nation's surface transportation bill, state officials from throughout the country will have their eyes on Washington, D.C. If new legislation is not passed before the deadline, federal funding for highway construction and repair will be curtailed. And the number of construction jobs at stake nationwide will pale in comparison to the 70,000 airport construction workers who were temporarily out of work in a similar situation recently with the Federal Aviation Administration.

The two transportation bills under consideration in Congress are polar opposites. One would make federal funding cuts of $14.1 billion and would likely cost 490,000 highway construction workers their jobs. The other would maintain current levels of spending for the next two years if the bill sponsor can find $12 billion in other cuts in the federal budget.

Facing a shrinking pool of federal and state dollars, government entities already are exploring other avenues to fund infrastructure projects. They are taking advantage of an array of innovative financing options. Public-private partnerships (P3s), which have long been used - and used successfully - are becoming more popular. Other options for paying for infrastructure projects are tolls, user fees and other project-based revenue sources and finance tools.

City of Marlin fire, police

receive new radios

The Marlin fire and police departments recently divvied up six handheld and six mobile radios, which were bought with a regional grant from the Heart of Texas Council of Governments (HOTCOG).

The radios, which cost $13,062, will provide improved communications between local emergency services.

The city expects nearly $80,000 more of grant funding, which will be used to upgrade the communications system.

Trustees for the Daingerfield-Lone Star Independent School District recently named Sandra Quarles (pictured) as the lone finalist for superintendent. Quarles, who was named as interim superintendent in January 2011, replaces former Superintendent Pat Adams.

Quarles was a teacher at Atlanta ISD and a teacher and principal at Daingerfield-Lone Star ISD before being named as interim superintendent for that district. She has a bachelor's degree from Stephen F. Austin State University and a master's degree from East Texas State University.

McKinney taps Rhoades

as new finance director

McKinney City Manager Jason Gray recently chose Rodney Rhoades as the new finance director for the city. Rhoades most recently served as county executive and budget officer in Travis County. He also held a similar position in Collin County and with the cities of Grand Prairie and Garland.  

Gray also appointed Jason Cooley, who has served as interim finance director, to the director of budgeting and strategic planning. Both Rhoades and Cooley will report directly to the city manager.

Rusk County approves improvements to airport

Rusk County commissioners recently approved the construction of a new 70-foot by 25-foot parking carport at the Rusk County Airport. The new structure will be located in front of the terminal.

County officials plan to use funds remaining from a 2011 grant to pay for almost 50 percent of the overall cost of the project if the county's request to the Texas Department of Transportation is approved as expected later this year. County officials also plan to stripe the parking lot once the carport construction is completed, said a Rusk County official.

After opting out of scheduling a nearly $400 million bond election in May, North East Independent School District officials recently began considering whether to schedule a nearly $400 million bond election in November.

Members of the Community Planning and Advisory Committee that helped develop the proposal, requested Interim Superintendent Brian Gottardy (pictured) to consider recommending trustees schedule a November bond election. Voters would decide whether to issue nearly $400 million in bonds. The bond proposal includes $64 million for upgrading technology and a new middle school along Bulverde Road if voters approve.

Grapevine-Colleyville selects Westfall as first chief learning

Grapevine-Colleyville school officials recently hired former Keller High School Principal Rick Westfall (pictured) as the district's first chief learning officer, effective immediately.

In his new role, Westfall will oversee all instruction, staff development, assessment and evaluation, career technology, instructional technology, special education, fine arts and federal programs and grants.

Westfall has been an educator for 18 years.

Trustees for the Boerne Independent School District recently adopted a plan to name a lone finalist for superintendent by Nov. 5 and hire that finalist by Nov. 28. District officials should expect from 45-50 applicants for the job, according to a consultant for a search firm.

The new superintendent will replace Dr. John Kelly, who resigned. Dr. Jack Cockrill is serving as interim superintendent for the district until the new superintendent is on the job. Applicants must submit their applications by Sept. 26.

DeSoto school board votes

to cut ties with superintendent

The DeSoto school board recently decided, in a 3-2 vote, to pursue a voluntary exit agreement with superintendent Kathy Augustine (pictured), who has been on paid leave since her first day on the job in July.

Augustine, who has collected about $15,000 in salary, was placed on leave after being implicated in a cheating scandal in Atlanta schools, where she previously served as second-in-command. She denies the allegations.

At a previous meeting, board members discussed an exit agreement that offers Augustine between $40,000 and $60,000. Her salary is $188,000.

Kemah continues search

for new city administrator

Kemah leaders probably won't have time to choose and hire a new city administrator before Sept. 30, when Bill Kerber retires.

City Council members, who have not made top picks from 50 city administrator applications, recently tabled discussion of filling the spot during an interim period.

Mayor Bob Cummins didn't want to train both an interim city administrator and a city administrator - "That's sort of ridiculous."

Ector County commissioners recently approved the lease of a parcel of airport property to a development company with plans to build new hangars on the property.

The agreement also calls for creation of an Odessa Hangar Owners Association (OHOA). After construction is completed in 2012 on the new hangar, OHOA will take over management of that property. The new hangars will be located near a new terminal that will be under construction soon.

The county operates only one hangar that is rented on a nightly basis and has few privately owned hangars at the airport despite some demand, noted Commissioner Dale Childers (pictured). Airport staff said that they have five letters of commitment to lease hangars and expect as many as eight commitments by the time construction begins in a month to 45 days. When the 40-year lease expires, the county will take possession of the hangars built on airport property, Childers said.

Socorro ISD provides iPads

to students for algebra class

Socorro Independent School District officials in San Antonio recently distributed new iPads with an algebra application to students to use instead of textbooks in two algebra classes.

The new iPads, which were paid for with federal stimulus funds, will be distributed to two classes with the remaining students in algebra classes using textbooks, a district spokesperson said. Once the semester is completed, district officials will analyze and compare the scores of students who used iPads to compute their equations or those who used textbooks.

Pasadena seeks contractor for infrastructure assessment

Pasadena officials want to hire a contractor to assess the condition and structural integrity of various facilities.

Officials want to know if the buildings could survive a hurricane or disaster associated with the neighboring petrochemical facilities.

Comal ISD to sell advertising space on 10 of its buses

In the face of state funding cutbacks, the Comal Independent School District has made plans to sell ad space on the side of 10 buses for a net $2,100 a month.

If sponsors buy space on all 245 buses, the district stands to make an extra $300,000 annually.

The first ads, which decorate the right and left side of the bus near the back of the vehicle, have already been purchased.

• Ashley Johnson of Dallas, Texas Judicial Council;
• Henry Virgil Justice, III of Kerrville, Texas Judicial Council
• Mary "Missy" Medary of Corpus Christi, judge of the 347th Judicial District Court in Nueces County
• Michael "Mike" McKinney of Austin, State Cemetery Committee

HISD Superintendent Grier asks dual review of buying processes

After reports of close relationships between Houston school trustees and vendors, Superintendent Terry Grier has announced that two outside groups will review the district's procurement processes.

A Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, the Council of the Great City Schools, will conduct one review and the district's outside financial auditors will conduct another.

School board vice president Anna Eastman called for the audits following news reports that two trustees may be pushing business toward friends or taking gifts from vendors.

Tolling authority granted extension on repayment of debt

The San Antonio City Council has granted the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority, the only Bexar County agency with tolling authority, recently asked San Antonio officials an extra year to repay a $500,000 loan. This marks the second one-year extension.

The loan, issued in 2005, was originally due Sept. 1, 2010, a date that RMA officials expected to be collecting revenue off toll roads. However, U.S. 281 and Loop 1604 have not been built because a series of lawsuits and environmental issues have delayed construction.

An environmental study for Loop 1604 is expected to be complete in 2012, while the study for U.S. 281 could take another two years.

Correction

In the Aug. 5 edition of the Texas Government Insider, a story on the sale of the Bill Clayton Detention Center, a minimum-security prison in Littlefield, noted that the prison facility was sold for $1 million. That figure was incorrect. The facility sold for $6 million. We regret the error.