TxDOT audit: Budget forecasting system flawed

'Ineffective internal communication,' control weaknesses blamed

The Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) overscheduling of $1.1 billion in planned contract awards for FY 2008 was caused by "ineffective internal communication," a reporting structure that is probably too complex and misunderstanding of reported data, according to a State Auditor's report issued Thursday.

The audit report on TxDOT's financial forecasting and fund allocation processes was requested by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick after the department earlier this year announced it had made a $1 billion accounting error and would thus be forced to cut back on some scheduled transportation projects.

In addition to not timely notifying the Texas Transportation Commission and other state officials of the error, the audit notes that TxDOT also has "control weaknesses in the Department's process for approving the projected funding amount used to develop contract award schedules." The audit points out that TxDOT did not consider all significant revenue sources and associated expenses in its cash forecasting and monitoring processes. "Significant delays" in completing cash forecasts were also identified in the audit report.

Texas officials making preparations for Gustav

Storm could make landfall as hurricane as early as Tuesday

Only three weeks after Tropical Storm Edouard came on shore near Sabine Pass, Texas is preparing for what could be another major weather event. All eyes are on Tropical Storm Gustav - expected to strengthen to a hurricane as early as today and possibly slam the Texas and Louisiana coasts by Tuesday.

Gov. Rick Perry Thursday afternoon issued a disaster declaration for 61 counties in Texas, in anticipation of the storm becoming a hurricane and making landfall along the Texas Gulf Coast. Some 5,000 guardsmen are on standby, as are other state resources, in case Gustav strikes Texas.

"Texas is closely following Gustav's track as it approaches the Gulf and we are preparing for any potential impact on our communities," said Perry. "I urge Texans along the coast to monitor this storm closely, heed warnings from their local leaders, and take necessary precautions to protect their families, homes and businesses."

Townsend named executive director of TYC

Cherie Townsend (pictured), who has committed 18 years to the Texas Youth Commission in a number of roles, this week was named the agency's executive director. Her appointment is effective Oct. 1.

TYC Conservator Richard Nedelkoff, in naming Townsend to the position, said she has a "national reputation as an agent of change," and that he is confident she will lead the beleaguered agency forward. He also said he feels strongly that she can provide the leadership necessary to complete the TYC's reform efforts.

Townsend boasts more than 30 years of experience in juvenile justice, most recently as director of the Clark County Juvenile Services in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she was responsible for the leadership, planning, management and delivery of court services in one of the fastest growing counties in the United States. She also previously served as director of Juvenile Court Services for the Superior Court of Arizona's Juvenile Court Center in Maricopa County.

Townsend's 18 years with TYC include serving as director of community services where she developed and updated programs to meet the needs of youth and families and to improve results and better manage at-risk youth in communities.

UNT Center for Computational Epidemiology gets grant

Models will help officials predict course of infectious outbreaks

In what seems like a page from a book looking generations into the future, a team from the University of North Texas (UNT) is preparing to develop research now that will allow them to predict the extent of infectious disease outbreaks.

The results of their research could provide public health officials with the tools to accurately predict the dynamics of an infectious disease outbreak.

Three of the researchers involved in the project are Dr. Sam Atkinson (left), UNT professor of environmental science and one of the principal investigators for the project, Dr. Armin Mikler (center), associate professor in computer science and engineering and Dr. Joseph Oppong (right), professor of geography.

The research will be conducted at UNT's new Center for Computational Epidemiology. With a more than $470,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the research team will continue work begun three years ago by a team from the UNT Department of Geography, Computer Science and Biology, and the UNT Health Science Center's Department of Biostatistics. The Computational Epidemiology Research Laboratory begun in 2005 at UNT has already developed working models to estimate the pattern of transmission of diseases such as tuberculosis, human papillomavirus and influenza. The center will continue that work.

Bordelon new Commissioner of Workers' Compensation

Rod Bordelon (pictured) of Austin has been named commissioner of the Workers' Compensation Division at the Texas Department of Insurance for a term expiring Feb. 1. He replaces Albert Betts. The agency regulates the workers' compensation system in Texas, ensuring incapacitated workers receive benefits.

Bordelon served as public counsel and executive director at the Office of Public Insurance Counsel. He is a member of the American and Austin Bar associations and an advisory member of the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission.

Bordelon received his bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from South Texas College of Law.

Two staff changes announced for Governor's Office

Ken Nicolas, former director of the Criminal Justice Division in Gov. Rick Perry's office, has been promoted to the newly created position of Special Advisor and Director of the Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center. The new role for Nicolas is expected to expand the governor's criminal justice portfolio with statistical analysis of trends and provide local advocacy for criminal justice issues.

Taking Nicolas' place as director of the Criminal Justice Division is Christopher Burnett, current assistant general counsel in the Governor's Office. He will also continue to serve as the ethics counselor in the Governor's Office. The two appointments are effective Sept. 1.

TCEQ Web site offers computer recyling info

Finding recycling options for computer equipment just got easier. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has launched a new Web site, www.TexasRecyclesComputers.org that offers free computer recycling information.

"The goal of the program is to give Texans an easy way to recycle the used computer equipment they have been storing in their closets and garages for years," said TCEQ Executive Director Mark Vickery (pictured). "The most effective way to reduce the environmental impact of computer equipment is to help ensure it is reused or recycled."

The recycling program resulted from legislation aimed at curbing e-waste, which is a growing problem throughout the country. The legislation requires computer manufactures that sell in Texas to offer consumers convenient, free recycling on their brands of computer equipment. Program details, and information on how Texans can recycle certain used computer equipment, as well as a list of manufacturers and their recycling programs will be available on the new TCEQ Web site.

TCEQ officials point out that used computers can often be reused and offered to schools or non-profit organizations. Additionally, circuit boards, microchips and other components in used computer equipment can be recovered and reused in other electronics products, and metals such as copper and gold can be extracted from used computer equipment and recycled.

Beck to serve Office of Public Insurance Counsel

Deeia Beck (pictured) of Fort Worth has been appointed Public Counsel for the Office of Public Insurance Counsel for a term expiring Feb. 1. She replaces Rod Bordelon of Austin. The agency is charged with representing the interest of insurance consumers in regulatory issues.

Beck has served as an administrative law judge for the Texas Department of Insurance Workers' Compensation Division. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas and Tarrant County Women's Bar Association in addition to being a life fellow of the Texas and Tarrant County Bar foundations.

Beck holds bachelor's, master's and law degrees from Baylor University.

DPS increasing enforcement for Labor Day holiday

All available troopers with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) will be working today, Friday, through Monday looking for drunk drivers, speeders and seat belt violators during the long Labor Day weekend.

DPS Director Col. Tommy Davis (pictured) said alcohol-related incidents are a big concern because the holiday is the last big recreational weekend of the summer. "Simply put," said Davis, "drunk drivers are a menace on our roadways." Last Labor Day, DPS troopers arrested more than 900 motorists for driving while intoxicated, issued more than 34,000 tickets and 12,000 warnings trying to make driving on Texas roadways safer during the holiday.

Because of the increased enforcement, said Davis, "Drivers who disregard traffic laws should expect their chances of getting a ticket or getting arrested for DWI to increase dramatically this weekend."

TWC provides $1 million grant to Texas Tech

Texas Tech University has earned a $1 million dollar grant from the Texas Workforce Commission, which is set to situate the institution at the forefront of wind energy production. TTU will partner with Texas State Technical College West Texas in Sweetwater in forming the Texas Wind Energy Institute.

TTU President Guy Bailey (pictured) said the grant will allow the university to develop the workforce needed to make wind energy "a viable solution to our energy problem."

TTU is the only university in the nation to offer a wind energy doctoral program. "We have the chance to corner the market on this industry here," Bailey said.

Texas General Land Office program to cover more fleets

Texas General Land Office Commissioner Jerry Patterson (pictured) has announced he is expanding the Texas General Land Office Natural Gas Vehicle Initiative Grant Program to include eligibility for urban community private fleets.

According to Patterson, the grant program, funded by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, helps convert "expensive and dirty" diesel-burning vehicles to "clean-burning natural gas, which is produced right here in Texas." He said that once Texas establishes a network of clean-burning natural gas stations, "the savings can really start to add up."

The cities of Dallas and Austin have both applied for grants, which stand to save the cities about $1.30 per gallon based on estimates from a Lake Jackson city fleet fueled exclusively with natural gas.

Texas Supreme Court announces appointments

Alice McAfee (left), general counsel of the Supreme Court of Texas, will coordinate several judicial-administration efforts in addition to court initiatives - such as the Judicial Task Force on Emergency Preparedness and Court's Permanent Commission on Children, Youth and Families - for the 2009 legislative session. McAfee replaced Lisa Hobbs, who left for private practice in 2006, as general counsel.

McAfee holds a master's degree and bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin. She graduated from The University of Texas School of Law.

Megan Kraatz (center) will take over as central staff attorney at Texas' highest court, having served as staff attorney for Justice Bob Pemberton on the Third Court of Appeals in Austin.

Kraatz holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and graduated from Northwestern University School of Law.

Shelby O'Brien (right) will replace McAfee as mandamus attorney. O'Brien served more than five years as a Legislative Council attorney before joining the Texas Supreme Court. She graduated from the University of Maryland and from the UT School of Law.

Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine going to Texas schools

Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine will be shipped to more than 9,000 schools across the state for the next year thanks to a grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and a major oil corporation. The magazine will feature a four-page Keep Texas Wild section designed to introduce children to nature and wildlife at a fourth grade learning level.

"This is a wonderful age to inspire future hunters, anglers, conservationists, biologists, photographers and nature writers," said Lydia Saldana, Texas Park and Wildlife Department communications director.

Keep Texas Wild will include fun facts related to Texas with a focus on conservation efforts and will incorporate activities that engage art, math, science and social studies skills. A companion Web site will also be available with printable materials for teachers and parents.

Texas Water Development Board announces funding

The Texas Water Development Board, the state agency charged with collecting and disseminating water-related data, has approved grants and loans totaling more than $43 million. Allocations include:

• a $301,053 grant from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to fund wastewater improvements for the City of Paducah;
• a $36 million loan from CWSRF to fund wastewater improvements for the City of El Paso;
• a $480,000 loan from the Texas Water Development Fund for water system improvements for the Evadale Water Control and Improvement District No. 1;
• a $50,000 Economically Distressed Areas Program grant for the planning costs for water system improvements for the Richland Special Utility District; and
• a $6,328,500 loan from the Water Loan Assistance Fund for water system improvements of the Agua Special Utility District in Hidalgo County.

Five finalists named for Superintendent of Year

Five public school superintendents are in the running for the Texas Association of School Boards' annual Superintendent of the Year award. The five finalists include (top, left to right) Stephen Waddell of Birdville ISD, Dan Troxell of Kerrville ISD, Dennis Hill of Llano ISD and (bottom, left to right) Ted Moore of Lovejoy ISD and Doug Harriman of Seminole ISD. The 2008 Superintendent of the Year will be announced Sept. 28 at the Texas Association of School Administrators/Texas Association of School Boards Convention in Dallas.

Waddell has been at Birdville ISD for six of his 26 years in public school administration and earned his bachelor's degree from the University of North Texas, his master's from Stephen F. Austin State University and his Ph.D. from UNT. Troxell has called the Kerrville ISD home for the last five years and boasts 18 years in public school administration. He holds a bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin, a master's from Southwest Texas State University and his doctorate from UT-Austin.

Llano ISD has been home for Dennis Hill for the last five years of his 24-year public education administration career. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Texas State University. Moore, who holds a bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin and a master's from Texas A&M-Commerce, has served as superintendent of the Lovejoy ISD for the last three years. He has 24 years experience in public school administration.

Harriman has been superintendent in the Seminole ISD for the last seven years and has been a public school administrator for 25 years. He holds a bachelor's degree from Lubbock Christian University and a master's from Sul Ross State University.

The five finalists were chosen based on their dedication to improving educational quality, board-superintendent relations, student achievement and commitment to public support and involvement in education. They are nominated by their local school boards and a regional selection committee submits one nominee per region to the state selection committee.

Regional winners nominated by the ESCs include: Roel Gonzalez, Rio Grande City CISD, ESC 1; Sam Atwood, Goliad ISD, ESC 3; Abelardo Saavedra, Houston ISD, ESC 4; Mike Cargill, Bryan ISD, ESC 6; David Fitts, Pewitt CISD, ESC 8; Tom Woody, Vernon ISD, ESC 9; James "Ronny" Collins, Snyder ISD (now with Mineral Wells ISD), ESC 14; Matt Underwood, Mason ISD, ESC 15; Frank Belcher, Canadian ISD, ESC 16; and Ricardo Estrada, Clint ISD, ESC 19.

Telemarketing: new guidelines announced by FTC

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced rules mandating telemarketing companies obtain written permission from recipients before contacting them with an automated message and include an opt-out function so recipients can elect not to receive more unsolicited calls. The measures will take effect Sept. 1 and Dec. 1, respectively.

After the rules are published in the Federal Register, telemarketers with pre-existing customer relationships will be allowed one year of contact with customers before written consent is required.

Charity organizations will still be allowed to contact recipients but must offer the opt-out mechanism after Dec. 1. The new FTC rules will not affect certain outgoing calls, such as those announcing flight delays, appointment times or those related to healthcare because these services are not geared toward marketing a product.

Under these new outlines, automated telemarketing calls must: allow the telephone to ring for 15 seconds (or four rings) before disconnecting; prompt the automated message within two seconds of the recipient answering; offer an opt-out option for recipients who answer the phone, which adds the number to the telemarketing company's do-not-call list; and, in instances wherein a voicemail or answering machine answers the call, provide a toll-free number the recipient may call to opt out of future calls.

Homeland Security bumps back border fence deadline

Officials of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently gave Hidalgo County officials until March 31, 2009, to complete the longest segment of the combined levee and border wall, citing soaring construction costs as the reason for extending the deadline from Dec. 31, 2008.

Congress had mandated that 670 miles of barriers be in place along the 2,000-mile border between the United States and Mexico by the end of 2008. In a letter from the firm overseeing modification of the 20 miles of levees to the county's drainage district, the company stated that the new completion date was March 31, 2009, to allow for a more cost-effective project. As of July 11, the government had completed 182 miles of pedestrian fence and 153 miles of vehicle barriers along the border.

The plan calls for the side of the levees facing the river to be scraped away and replaced with a 15- to 18-foot high concrete wall. The project also can be built within the existing levee right-of-way rather than through private land. A 4.35-mile segment in western Hidalgo County was re-advertised for bid earlier this week. The bid will be split into two smaller pieces, said Godfrey Garza, district manager of the Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1, which is overseeing the project. According to a representative from the Rio Grande Valley chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America, the price of concrete, steel and diesel increased 36 percent, 122 percent and 329 percent, respectively, from December 2003 to June 2008. The cost of a typical border fence section is about $2 million to $3 million per mile, although some sections in California have cost as much as $16 million per mile because of the terrain.

Baylor chair earns highest national science honor

Envelope, please...The National Medal of Science award - the highest honor in the nation for scientists - will go to Dr. Bert O'Malley (pictured), chair of molecular and cellular biology at Baylor College of Medicine. The awards will be presented in a ceremony at the White House on Sept. 29. O'Malley is one of eight recipients of the award and only the fifth Texan to be bestowed the honor. The award recognizes groundbreaking scientific research in a host of fields - from biology to math, engineering to social science.

O'Malley said the award is a great surprise. "It certainly is appreciated and is humbling," he said.

O'Malley began his career at Baylor 36 years ago and is often cited for his pioneering work as the father of molecular endocrinology. Dr. Peter G. Traber, BCM president and CEO, said he could think of no one more deserving of the award.

O'Malley holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Duke University Medical School.

San Antonio still in bio-lab race, N. Carolina drops out

San Antonio officials continued their pursuit of a proposed National Bio Agro Defense Facility with renewed vigor when they learned a North Carolina site chosen as a finalist has dropped out of the competition.

A U.S. Representative from North Carolina recently notified Department of Homeland Security officials that Granville County officials opposed building the facility in their area because of unanswered environmental concerns.

Texas and San Antonio officials strongly support a Texas Research Park site located just west of San Antonio for the proposed 520,000-square-foot facility. The new facility is slated to be used to research high-consequence biological threats involving zoonotic diseases, which are transmitted from animals to humans. Researchers would also study and assess potential bioterrorism threats at the facility.

Sam Houston welcomes alumnus to administrative post

Dan Davis (pictured), a 1970 graduate of Sam Houston State University, is returning to his alma mater as director for the university's Office of Contracts and Grants. Davis' job, by his own admission, will be to ensure compliance "with the terms specified by the sponsor, filing all financial reports and billing the sponsor for research or service conducted."

In addition to Davis' charge as associate vice president and executive director for technology development at the University of Oklahoma - where his efforts led to the development of more than 30 companies, raising more than $60 million in capital - he previously served as assistant director for business affairs with the Texas Engineering Experiment Station of the Texas A&M University System. He also served as fiscal affairs assistant director at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler.

Davis said he likes the environment of higher education and looks forward to returning to SHSU. "I really enjoy being here," he said.

UH announces interim dean of Honors College

Effective Sept. 1, Stuart A. Long (pictured), a professor of electrical and computer engineering, will take over as interim dean of The Honors College of the University of Houston, replacing Dean Ted Estess, who held the position for more than 30 years. Long previously served as associate dean for undergraduate research at The Honors College. Long said he is "pleased to serve in this important position and help in the further development of the college."

Long began his tenure at UH in 1974 as assistant professor of electrical engineering before becoming a full professor in 1985. He has served as department chair of electrical and computer engineering and as associate dean of the Cullen College of Engineering.

Long earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Rice University and his doctorate from Harvard.

Texas Tech garners $15 million endowment

Texas Tech University alumnus Bob L. Herd has endowed $15 million to his alma mater's Department of Petroleum Engineering. In turn, TTU officials will name the Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering after him.

Herd, a 1957 graduate, founded Herd Production Company in Tyler, and, in 1995, was named Distinguished Engineer in the College of Engineering and Distinguished Alumnus by Texas Tech Ex-Students Association in 1994.

Dean of the College of Engineering Pamela Eibeck (pictured), said the TTU faculty is exceptionally proud of Herd's success in petroleum engineering and called his generosity to the department "transformative."

"[The endowment] will allow the program to provide one of the nation's best quality petroleum engineering educations to our students in the future," Eibeck said.

Thomas, Aldridge promoted at UT System

The University of Texas System Interim Chancellor Kenneth I. Shine has announced two promotions to senior positions effective Sept. 1. Amy Shaw Thomas (left) was named vice chancellor and counsel for health affairs, and Philip Aldridge (right) was appointed to vice chancellor for finance and business development.

Thomas, in addition to her new charge, will also implement initiatives and programs for the Office of Health Affairs and oversee the Texas Medical and Dental School Application Service and the Joint Admission Medical Program. She will continue to advise and consult with the UT System's six health institutions on matters related to legal, business, regulatory, organizational and public policy issues.

Thomas holds a bachelor's degree and a law degree from UT-Austin. She has worked for the UT System since 1997.

Aldridge's new charge includes ensuring all transactions requiring Board of Regents' and/or UT System Administration approval are completed within an allotted time frame and in a professional manner. And, in addition to serving as an administrative liaison to The University of Texas Investment Management Co., Aldridge will continue to advise departmental programs on issues related to market trends, debt issuance and capacity, cash management, capital projects and energy policy.

Aldridge graduated from Texas Christian University before earning his MBA degree from UT-Austin. He joined the UT System in 2001.

Investiture of TSU's Rudley planned for Sept. 5

The investiture of Dr. John M. Rudley (pictured), 11th president of Texas Southern University, will be Friday, Sept. 5, from 10 a.m. to noon in the Granville Sawyer Auditorium on the TSU campus. A weeklong celebration will be held that also includes the dedication of a new, state-of-the-art educational building, a panel discussion on the role of the university in urban communities and an inaugural dinner and a Jazz Hall of Fame Dinner and Concert on Sept. 6 at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

With an inaugural theme of "Legacy Now," students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters will celebrate not only Rudley's investiture, but also other events designed to showcase TSU's history, assets and relationship with the community.

Rudley came to TSU after having served as vice chancellor for administration and finance at the University of Houston and the UH System. He also previously served in interim dual positions as UH System chancellor and UH president. He is a former vice president for business and finance at the Tennessee Board of Regents and was a senior technical advisor with the U.S. Department of Education. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Toledo and his master's and Ph.D. from Tennessee State University. For more information on the investiture, click here.

UH budget amount approved at $1.25 billion

The University of Houston System Board of Regents has approved a $1.25 billion budget for fiscal year 2009, marking a 12 percent increase from this year's budget.

"This budget reflects our continuing commitment to providing a first-rate academic experience for our students while remaining fiscally responsible," board Chairman Welcome Wilson (pictured) said.

The student body for the system comprising four universities and two teaching centers is expected to exceed 58,000 this year. Under the new budget, scholarships and financial aid will increase as will the number of faculty members and salaries for selected faculty and staff. The system's FY09 budget, effective Sept. 1, 2008, breaks down as follows:

• University of Houston - $945 million;
• UH-Clear Lake - $95 million;
• UH-Downtown - $124 million;
• UH-Victoria - $65 million; and
• UH System Administration - $20 million.

UT-Austin College of Education receives $1.5M grant

The University of Texas at Austin College of Education has received a $1.5 million grant from the Meadows Foundation of Dallas to establish the Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk. The five-year grant will help fund start-up efforts for the center, which will serve as a research and training institute designed to assist school officials and teachers in diagnosing educationally at-risk students.

Dr. Manuel J. Justiz (pictured), dean of the College of Education, said the Meadows Foundation, a longtime supporter of the college, "is dedicated to improving education in our state."

Research focus areas will include academic instructional practices, social environments, knowledge attainment and the engagement of underrepresented youths, among others, according to Dr. Sharon Vaughn, director of the Meadows Center and founding director of the Vaughn Gross Center for Reading and Language Arts at UT-Austin.

Williamson County to purchase park lands

Williamson County commissioners have approved the purchase of 1,011 acres of land on the South San Gabriel River south of Liberty Hill that will house the county's largest park. The land featuring rolling hills, cedar and live oak trees was purchased for $10.6 million, about $2 million less than commissioners planned to spend.

Commissioners eschewed a $12.5 million, 865-acre offer of land from an Austin developer. "This is 200 acres more and $2 million less, which I think is a big statement," County Judge Dan A. Gattis (pictured) said.

The park, according to Jim Rodgers, the county's park director, will be for "passive use," featuring trails opposed to sports fields. A survey last summer revealed 72 percent of respondents wanted more hike-and-bike and walking trails.

Lewisville uses license plate recognition technology

The Lewisville Police Department is now using automatic license plate recognition technology to check on license numbers as police officers pass vehicles while on patrol. The system then cross checks the captured images of license plates against various databases and notifies officers if the identified plate is from a stolen vehicle or the vehicle is not covered by liability insurance.

The system processes four vehicles per second and can perform high-speed plate recognition across multiple lanes of high-density traffic moving up to 110 miles per hour. Police Chief Russell Kerbow (pictured) said the one-time purchase will help solve crimes and arrest wanted persons without having to add more personnel as it multiplies the efforts of officers. The devices cost $25,000 for each vehicle. Lewisville now has PlateScan devices installed in two police vehicles.

Kerbow also said he is interested in learning more about facial recognition technology and less-than-lethal technology that subdues combative suspects while minimizing the risk of injury to both the offender and police officers.

Killeen to use TIRZ funds for new city hall

The Killeen City Council recently approved a finance plan to use $15 million of its expected $41.2 million Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone fund to pay for a new city hall.

City Manager Connie Green (pictured) also presented council with other projects the city plans to fund using its newly-designated TIRZ. The TIRZ program will fund capital improvements such as street and sidewalk improvements, new sewer and water lines or parks and trails in growing areas, especially those with low property values that have potential for property tax increases.

In addition to the new city hall, the proposed list included $8 million in improvements to U.S. High 190 and FM 2410 and $12 million to pay for infrastructure development at La Cascata. The list is preliminary and can easily be changed if opportunities arise such as when Temple officials lured an auto plant by using TIRZ funds to pay for the infrastructure the plant needed.

Henderson ISD cites plans for addition to high school

Trustees for Henderson Independent School district recently approved plans for nine new classrooms and two science labs for Henderson High School at a cost of $2.6 million.

The new facilities should be ready in time for the 2009-10 school year, said Superintendent Bobby Brown (pictured). The state now requires additional math and science credits for students who entered ninth grade in 2007 and the new facilities will help the district meet that mandate, Brown said.

The project calls for an extension to be built on the north end of the east wing of the building, with three more rooms and a computer lab to be placed between the existing west wing and new construction on the east side. Brown expects the project to be placed for bid in December.

Cherokee County to buy new notification system

Cherokee County Commissioners recently approved the purchase of a new emergency notification system to warn residents of emergency situations.

Ken Hanna, the emergency management coordinator, said he has not yet chosen which system to purchase and is still analyzing warning systems used in other counties and cities such as Jacksonville, which has used its emergency notification system this year to warn citizens of flooding and power outages. Hanna said he is exploring a system in which a message is typed into a computer, the program is called from the computer, the message recorded and then sent to everyone included in the system or to targeted areas.

Another feature Hanna is exploring will allow up to four phone numbers per contact simultaneously to accommodate residents with a home telephone, a cell phone and a work number. The county has received a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and authorization from the state to purchase the system, he said.

University of Incarnate Word studying veterinary college

If San Antonio is the city chosen as the site of a $500 million federal laboratory - the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility - the University of the Incarnate Word has pledged to build a veterinary college there. The Department of Homeland Security is scouting six potential locations for the lab.

UIW Chancellor Terry Dicianna (pictured) said the university has not begun to calculate costs and that completion of the professional school would be four or five years away. He said the university's proposal is a "very legitimate commitment."

Costs are prohibitive for the start-up of a veterinary college since accreditation requires colleges to provide two animal hospitals where students can practice clinical skills. Only one veterinary college, at Western University of Health Sciences in California, has opened in the last 25 years.

Austin ISD tax rate triggers referendum

For its 2008-09 budget, the Austin Independent School District board approved an operations tax rate of $1.079 per $100 of assessed property value, prompting a referendum for the November election. Voters will decide whether to raise the school district property tax rate by 3.9 cents. Currently, the district's operations tax rate is the highest it can be set without voter consent - $1.04 per $100 of assessed value.

If approved by voters, the overall school tax would be $1.202. If rejected, the rate would roll back to $1.04 and eliminate proposed salary increases for employees. More than 70 school districts are holding November rollback elections.

District Superintendent Pat Forgione (pictured) said the board sought to "strike a reasonable balance." Forgione had originally proposed a tax rate of $1.078 in support of an $865 million budget to which the board added about $352,000.

Denton City Council approves $33M bond sale

The Denton City Council has approved a bond sale funding $33 million in Denton projects, including improvements to roads, soccer fields and water and electric systems. Some of the funds - about $7.3 million in general obligation bonds - will go toward funding roads, parks and public building projects that voters approved in a 2005 bond election.

Finance Director Brian Langley (pictured) said the community should be very proud of the upgrade Standard & Poor applied to the city's bond rating, making it less expensive for the city to borrow money. "The rating upgrade recognizes the growth of our community and the conservative financial management practices that we follow," he said.

The bond sale includes: $15.29 million for electric and water system improvements; nearly $24 million for residential streets; more than $1.3 million to expand Denton Senior Center; $925,000 to continue advances on "outer Square" streets to more closely resemble those nearer the courthouse; $589,500 for park improvements; $550,000 for the South Branch Library expansion; $510,000 to buy land for a proposed new park; $500,000 for City Hall East upgrades and $300,000 for a downtown master plan.

Counties to receive funding approval for projects

Denton, Collin, Dallas and Tarrant counties will receive some $2.5 billion for transportation projects from the North Texas Tollway Authority. The funds are allocated as part of a $3.3 billion payment for the right to designate Highway 121 a toll road.

Denton County received more than $825 million in the latest payment installment, $191 million of which will be allocated to the Denton County Transportation Authority's 21-mile regional rail system. The system will link Denton to the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system in Carrollton. DCTA is looking to bring rail service to Denton no later than December 2010.

Other Denton County projects to receive funding from the approval include widening U.S. Highway 377, Bonnie Brae Street and Mayhill Road, and extending Loop 288 northwest of the city. "You're looking at a great opportunity ... to get desperately needed transportation projects on the ground," Chief Transportation Officer Mark Nelson said.

Athens facing $25 million bond election in November

City of Athens voters will have another chance to approve or reject a $25 million bond on Nov. 4. Earlier this year, residents voted against the measure by a margin of 10 percent.

Athens Independent School District Superintendent Fred Hayes (pictured) said he believes "a togetherness" will spur voters to approve the bond. "We really didn't have a united front last time," he said.

Proposed in the bond are $21.5 million to construct a new elementary school, renovate the high school auditorium and band hall and construct new shop facilities for two vocational programs. The remaining funds totaling $3.75 million have been requested to renovate South Athens Elementary and provide upgrades for the intermediate and high school campuses. Voters may opt to pass one or both propositions.

UTMB purchases land in suburban Houston area

The University of Texas Medical Branch has purchased 29 acres of land near Interstate 45 in League City, outside Houston, for $9.4 million. The medical branch plans to develop the land, which sits beside 35 acres on which construction of a $61 million specialty medical center is about to begin. Officials do not have any specific plans for the tract yet.

The specialty center will offer outpatient surgery, advanced imaging, clinics for children and adults and pediatric emergency care.

The medical center venture has proven controversial since layoffs and resignations cut 381 from staff. The hospital's location was chosen, in part, to attract paying, insured customers to balance rising labor costs, medical inflation and insufficient Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements.

Los Fresnos to tow uninsured motorists' vehicles

Los Fresnos is joining a growing list of Texas cities whose officers have vehicles of uninsured drivers towed and impounded. The city will not allow exceptions for first-time offenders or for drivers with children in the vehicle.

Although the initiative will prove costly after towing and storage costs are figured in, Mayor David Winstead (pictured) said the measure will at least make residents think about getting insurance. "It's unfair for most of us having to buy insurance," he said.

To bolster efforts, Texas is joining the ranks of other states that utilize databases verifying whether a driver has insurance. The venture, dubbed "TexasSure," was recently tested in Austin where Department of Public Safety officers rated the device highly.

Galveston County sending $135 million bond to voters

Galveston County Commissioners recently decided to give voters the choice of approving $135 million in bonds to improve county roads, facilities and drainage projects. Three propositions will be presented to voters:

• $75 million for road projects;
• $45 million to renovate county facilities, including a health district building in Texas City and the animal shelter; and
• $15 million for flood control.

If approved, the $75 million in bonds will pay for widening Amburn Road in Texas City, widening Century Boulevard to a four-lane road with a curb and gutter, converting FM 646 in League City into a four-lane divided highway and widening Stewart Road in Galveston to three lanes between 75th Street and 7 1/2 Mile Road and adding a new bike lane.

The proposed $15 million for drainage would pay for buying land and building ponds around the Clear Creek and Dickinson Bayou to alleviate flooding. It also would fund a project to clear and de-snag Dickinson Bayou. The $45 million proposed for facility projects include buying a Texas City building and renovating it for the county health district, the Texas City tax office and the central appraisal district, renovating the old jail into a storage area and building a new animal shelter.

San Antonio aviation director leaving post

Mark Webb (pictured), aviation director for the City of San Antonio, is leaving his post to supervise a $900 million expansion and renovation project at Bexar County's University Health System.

Webb will begin his new charge as the health system's vice president of facilities development and project management, an opportunity he said he didn't think he could pass up.

Webb, a graduate of Trinity University, has worked for the city since 1994; his last day will be Sept. 19. He previously served as director of contract services before being named interim aviation director in 2005.

The Woodlands to build new fire station one year early

Due to rapid growth, The Woodlands Fire Department has agreed to build a new fire station in Creekside Park a year earlier than originally planned.

Instead of beginning construction in 2010, officials for The Woodlands Fire Department plan to begin building in March 2009. Because the average response time to a fire in that area is 12.5 minutes, the department will operate a temporary station with three firefighters until the new fire station is complete. The department has a goal of responding within five minutes or less, said Fire Chief Alan Benson.

Under a transition agreement with The Woodlands Township, the township will be required to approve the increased budget before the decision is final. Township officials said they expect the request for an increased budget for the new fire station will be approved. To conserve costs, renovations to the fire department's Central Station have been pushed back to 2010, Benson said.

Missouri City plans election for parks, recreation

The City of Missouri City will hold a Nov. 4 bond election for park and recreation improvements totaling $17.5 million. The city will hold the election for the general obligation bonds jointly with Fort Bend and Harris counties.

Bond sales will finance the purchase and improvements of the 400-acre Quail Valley golf property and the Tennis Fitness Center. Funds from the election will be allocated to parks and recreation improvements and procurements, including a new clubhouse/community facility for the Quail Valley property, golf course improvements and green space upgrades, among other undertakings.

The Quail Valley Feasibility Study Committee proposed the bond referendum to the city council in January. The referendum is geared to enhance quality of life for Missouri City residents and foster community gathering in addition to increasing property values, according to City Manager Frank Simpson (pictured).

Guadalupe hopes to use DHS grant for armored vehicle

With the hope of getting a U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant, Guadalupe County Sheriff Arnold Zwicke recently won approval from county commissioners to buy a used $148,500 Ballistic Armored Tactical Transport to deploy the Guadalupe County Combined SWAT Team in emergency situations.

The sheriff said he is optimistic that the county will receive a $118,300 grant from DHS to pay most of the cost of the vehicle and will use federal forfeiture funds to pay the remaining balance. His office expects to seize more than $500,000 in cash and property from those convicted of illegal drug trade, the sheriff said.

The vehicle, which has 1,200 miles on the speedometer, became available when another Texas city could not pay for it after an anticipated grant from DHS was not approved. The armored vehicle has a 6.8-liter V-10 engine with six "run flat" wheels, flip-forward hatches, a rear barn door, benches for 10 to 12 law enforcement officers and 13 gun ports on all sides of the vehicle. It also has equipment for detecting and handling hazardous materials. The vehicle is armored on the top, sides and bottom and will stop multiple 30.06 hits, including those from armor-piercing rounds.

Johnson County to issue $1.8M in bonds for technology

Johnson County Commissioners recently agreed to issue $1.87 million in bonds. The bonds will be used to pay for computers and other equipment for county offices, said County Judge Roger Harmon.

How do we teach
the 'Thumb Generation?'

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

Public schools have for generations been on the front line of the war against illiteracy. Today, there's a new kind of literacy challenge schools are facing - digital literacy.

Today's students are products of the computer age. The "Generation Y" group lives in a world of high tech - cell phones, instant messaging, social networks, video games and iPods. They are being called the "Thumb Generation."

Cutting-edge, high-tech tools are part of students' daily lives. And now, education models must keep up technologically or the knowledge that is being passed on in classrooms may be ignored. It's critically important not only to pass on information about history, language and math, but also to prepare students to be successful in an increasingly tech-savvy workforce. Teachers have a daunting task facing them in the next few years.

Harker Heights studies
$9.5 million bond issue

Harker Heights city officials recently recommended that council members approve the issuance of $9.5 million in bonds to pay for street and water projects, an athletic complex and new library.

City Manager Steve Carpenter (pictured) told council members that even with increased revenue from sales taxes and higher property valuations, the increased revenue is not enough to meet the growing demand for services. The bonds would be added to the more than $21 million the city has budgeted for the Capital Improvement Fund for fiscal year 2008-09, Carpenter said. The projects to be funded are projects the city does not want to put into operation funds because they are too expensive, he added.

Austin approves $2.3 billion contract for biomass power

The Austin City Council this week approved a $2.3 billion, 20-year contract with Nacogdoches Power LLC for biomass power that is to be created using wood waste as fuel. The city's payment will cover the plant construction costs.

The 100-megawatt plant will help the city meet its climate protection goals that require Austin Energy to include 30 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2020. The plant is expected to come online in 2012, and could either lower customer prices by $1.50 per month or raise them by $2.50 per month, depending on future regulations, incentives and prices.

Nueces considering wind turbines for fairgrounds

Nueces County commissioners this week authorized a feasibility study to determine if wind turbines at the county's fairgrounds might be an alternate energy source there. The fairgrounds' energy bill runs approximately $16,000 per month, and with rising energy costs, the county is looking for ways to reduce those costs. Commissioners note that if this project is feasible and a money-saver, wind turbines for other county facilities might also be considered.

UT-Arlington professor garners $4.1 million grant

The National Institutes of Health recently awarded Dr. Robert J. Gatchel (pictured), professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, a $4.1 million grant to continue his clinical research on tempooromandibular joint disorders, known as TMJ. TMJ is a pain or discomfort in the jaw that can cause locking while eating, talking or yawning, said Gatchel, who also serves as chairman of the psychology department.

About 75 percent of the United States population experience TMJ symptoms during their lifetime, but only 5 to 10 percent require professional help, Gatchel said. More than 5.3 million United States residents will seek treatment for TMJ within a 12-month period at an estimated cost of treatment of $1 billion, he added.

121 Tollway section
will open on Sunday

A nine-mile section of State Highway 121 in Denton County will open as the 121 Tollway opens Sunday under ownership of the North Texas Tollway Authority. The portion of the roadway opening is between Old Denton County Road to just east of Hillcrest Road in Collin County.

Hard-to-come-by research data

Need to know more about contracting vehicles or certain types of large contracts about to expire? Interested in competitor intelligence or obtaining contact information for all governmental entities within a region? How about a list of upcoming opportunities matching a specific criteria in other states?

SPI's research teams offer all this...and more. Call for details. Reagan Weil 512-531-3900 or rweil@spartnerships.com.

Where are they now?

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

Mike Moses has spent three decades in public education in Texas as a teacher, administrator and superintendent in public schools in the state. He was a teacher and administrator in the Duncanville and Garland school districts and later served as superintendent of the Tatum, LaMarque and Lubbock districts. In 1995, he was named Texas Commissioner of Education, serving in that position until 1999. He was then named deputy chancellor of the Texas Tech University System. Moses was appointed general superintendent of the Dallas ISD in 2000, and served there four years. He currently serves as CEO of Westmark Systems, which develops education programs for teachers and administrators.

Mark Stiles was in the private sector in the concrete business when he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1982. He served eight terms - until 1999 - and also served an unprecedented three terms as chair of the powerful Calendars Committee. He rose in the ranks of the concrete business to general manager of the company and then president when the company was bought out by Trinity Industries. He currently serves as Trinity's senior vice president and group president, after joining that company in 1993.

Llano County applies for radio system grant

Llano County commissioners recently approved submitting a grant request to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to help pay for new radios and transmission towers. The Capital Area Council of Governments must approve the grant request before it is forwarded to DHS for approval.

Llano County officials requested $113,535 to purchase digital radios for county law enforcement agencies and $417,620 for three new communication towers, three digital repeaters and four backup generators to replace the county's existing radio towers. Llano County Judge Wayne Brascom said the towers and repeaters are critical for communications between law enforcement agencies throughout the county. Fire departments are included in the request and include Horseshoe Bay, Kingsland and several Llano county fire-fighting organizations.

Corpus Christi ISD calls
for $192M bond election

Trustees for the Corpus Christi Independent School District recently will ask voters to approve $192 million in bonds on Nov. 4. The ballot will have two propositions, one for $140 million primarily to fund facility improvements and an additional $52 million proposition to pay for technology in classrooms and upgrades to athletic facilities.

An advisory committee had recommended that the district seek a $194 million bond in May or November, which included $30 million for classroom and district technology.

SPI launches new 'Special Services' division

Strategic Partnerships, Inc., has launched a new Special Services Division, which will include some of the state's premier and most experienced providers of services. SPI, working in conjunction with affiliates throughout the United States, will now offer services that include strategic planning, meeting facilitation, grant writing, keynote speakers, event planning, executive searches, economic development services, strategy development, mediation, customized training, executive coaching and more. Some of the "luminaries" working with SPI will be featured in future issues of the Texas Government Insider... This week we feature Ron Bassett, Ph.D.

For more than 10 years, Dr. Ron Bassett was an award-winning, tenured Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in The University of Texas at Austin's College of Communication. His specialization is persuasion. He helps clients get their messages across effectively when speaking to groups, testifying, answering reporters' questions and selling. He also provides thought-provoking, individual client-geared professional development sessions. Bassett is the author of a college textbook and many articles and book chapters. He has presented educational programs, keynote speeches and consultation to more than 30 state and federal agencies and many of the world's leading organizations including IBM, Motorola, Texas Instruments, Shell, Exxon, 3M, Hewlett Packard, ATT and NCR. Bassett provides clients with highly practical, immediately applicable communication strategies and tactics that are strongly grounded in years of communication research.

For a complete portfolio of services offered or to inquire about specific services, or to inquire about becoming a part of SPI's new Special Services division, contact J. Lyn Carl at 512-531-3936 or jcarl@spartnerships.com. For information on other individuals in our Special Services division and their areas of expertise, click here.

UTEP, EPCC receive grants to bolster math, science

The University of Texas at El Paso and El Paso Community College are recipients of $539,112 in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Education's Minority Science Improvement Program. The initiative is intended to support under-represented students in early college high school programs entering science, math, technology and engineering fields.

Hays ISD sets time schedule to find new superintendent

Trustees for the Hays Independent School District recently agreed on a timetable and a search firm to find a new superintendent to replace Kirk London, who announced in June he would retire at the end of the school year.

The schedule calls for the search firm to meet with trustees and community members to develop the desired profile of a new superintendent. In November and December, trustees will screen applicants and narrow the list to candidates to be interviewed during January. Trustees plan to announce finalists in February and hire a new superintendent in March.

San Antonio bans cell phone use in 18 school zones

The San Antonio City Council recently approved a pilot program to prohibit the use of cell phones in 18 school zones that have the highest number of speeding violations. Originally, the ordinance called for a ban on the use of cell phones in all school zones within the city.

In response to questions by Council member Diane Cibrian (pictured) on whether parents waiting in line to pick up their children would be in violation if they used their cell phone to call their children, the police chief said parents waiting in "car lines" would be exempt. The pilot program will last one year.

San Angelo approves November bond proposal

Trustees for the San Angelo Independent School District recently authorized a $149 million bond election on Nov. 4. The proposal will contain two propositions:

• Proposition 1 for $117 million proposes to pay for renovations to eight elementary schools, two high schools and a middle school; and
• Proposition 2 for $32 million would fund a new competition gym and cafeteria at Central High School and renovations on the natatorium. Proposition 2 can pass only if voters approve Proposition 1.

Midland selects Sharp
as new city manager

The Midland City Council recently selected Courtney Sharp (pictured) as the new city manager. Sharp will replace former City Manager Rick Menchaca, who resigned in May 2007. Sharp currently serves as city manager in Mount Pleasant. He also has served as an assistant city manager of Canyon and as an aide to a state senator. While city officials and Sharp are finalizing his contract, Sharp said he plans to start his new job Oct. 1.

Duque selected as new Nederland city manager

The Nederland City Council recently named Christopher Duque as the new city manager. He will replace former City Manager Andre Wimer, who resigned in May. Duque, who served as an assistant city manager in Mission, plans to assume his new duties in September.

Midland receives $200,000 grant for digital radios

The City of Midland recently received a $200,000 grant to purchase a new digital public safety radio system. A telecommunications firm also contributed an additional $4 million to the project in exchange for switching radio frequency bands with the city.

The digital radios should make it easier for officers and firefighters to respond to calls, said Director of Communications Chuck Gibson. The new radios should be operational by the end of February, he added.

San Antonio approves purchase of 50 Tasers

The San Antonio City Council recently approved the purchase of 50 more Tasers for $88,000 despite recent requests that the department further restrict officers from use of the devices.

Police Chief William McManus (pictured) said his officers currently have 141 Tasers that emit high-voltage, low-power charges of electricity meant to temporarily incapacitate targets. The department does not permit officers to use Tasers on pregnant women or in a flammable atmosphere. The Americans for Civil Liberties Union urged the San Antonio chief to limit how many times an officer can use the device on one person. The chief argued that the devices help lessen the use of deadly force and can save lives.

La Porte Fire Department
to upgrade security

The La Porte Fire Department recently received a $36,000 Assistance to Firefighters Grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The funding is part of the DHS effort to help strengthen the crisis readiness and preparation of emergency responders.

Funding from the grant's Operations and Safety Programs may be used to purchase new personnel equipment, improve training, health and wellness and pay for improvements to stations or vehicles, while funding from the Vehicle Acquisition Program allows for the purchase of new vehicles or equipment needed for the maintenance of emergency vehicles.

Windcrest agrees to borrow $5.6M for improvements

The Windcrest City Council recently agreed to borrow $5.6 million to build a new city hall, buy green space, add dormitories for volunteer firefighters and remodel the current city hall into a public safety complex.

While some council members had expected to call an election to allow voters to decide whether to borrow $7.5 million, Mayor Jack Leonhardt opposed the election, saying that taking action immediately would save the city from rapidly increasing construction costs. The mayor also said that an unidentified developer has proposed buying the property the city is considering for a city hall and will set aside a building for the city hall. This action would save the city $1.9 million, Leonhardt said. The council will hold a public hearing on Sept. 4 and take another vote before the action is finalized.

Harrison County hires architect to figure jail costs

Harrison County commissioners recently agreed to hire an architect to prepare a feasibility study on the construction of a new modular facility on county-owned property compared to renovating an existing downtown building.

The new study will cost $24,000 compared to the $400,000 the county paid to architects to prepare plans to build a 96-bed addition. County officials scrapped the plans when bids for building the addition came in more than $1 million more than available funds. Judge Richard Anderson said the new study should be complete in five weeks and will be presented in a more easily understood computer program.

Recent Reports

• An Audit Report on the Department of Transportation's Financial Forecasting and Fund Allocation
• Senate Health and Human Services - SB 10 Healthy Lifestyles - August 2008
• An Audit Report on Performance Measures at the Pension Review Board
• 'Eye on Government'
• SPI's May 2008 Municipal Bond Elections Report
• SPI's Defense Appropriations Bill Earmarks Report
• SPI's November 2007 Bond Election Results Report

Event Links

• SPI "Selling to Government" training workshop
• 5th annual Tee IT Up Texas golf tournament
• CONSEC 2008
• Executive Women in Texas Government 22nd Annual Professional Development Conference
• Texas GIS Forum 2008
• 6th Biennial Legislative Communications Conference
• Texas State University Small Business Development Center training schedule
• TWC Texas Business Conferences
• LBJ School Professional Development Calendar
• Upcoming Executive Women in Texas Government events

Texas Government Insider Archives

Volume 1 - 6 Archives · 11/7/03 - 8/22/08

Governor's apppointments

Governor Rick Perry has made the following appointments:

• Brian Keith Gary of Gunter, judge, 397th Judicial District Court in Grayson County

Selling to governmental marketplaces in Texas?

This will keep you connected

Mary Scott Nabers' columns run regularly in the Austin, Houston, San Antonio and Dallas Business Journals and each column features contracting opportunities in all segments of government - state, city, county, K-12 public schools, higher education and healthcare.

If you miss the articles in the journals, go to the SPI Web site, where they're posted each week.

SPI announces
four new employees

Strategic Partnerships, Inc., this week announces the addition of four new employees. Cory von Leonrod (top) is SPI's new marketing manager, Guy Thomas (center) is director of information technology, Anna Cook (bottom) is a consulting coordinator and Deborah Norris is SPI's newest research assistant.

von Leonrod brings eight years of marketing and advertising experience to the firm. He comes to SPI and Austin from his previous position as director of marketing for Grubb & Ellis/Martens Commercial Group in Wichita, Kansas, where he managed marketing and advertising. He also previously served as media director for the Topeka, Kansas, firm of Jones Huyett Partners and was an account executive for WIBW-TV in Topeka, where he sold advertising for the station. von Leonrod is a graduate of Kansas State University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in advertising and marketing.

In addition to having been co-owner of a retail store for four years, Thomas has significant experience in project management and technology. He has served as a technical engineer installing custom software and as a systems administrator and consultant for three private sector entities, including a Fortune 100 company. He is experienced in network administration, server technology, software support and other aspects of information technology. Thomas has studied communications at The University of Texas at Austin.

Cook comes to SPI after serving as a public relations and investor relations associate for a firm in Austin, where she worked with clients in a number of industries, from health care to high tech. She was also public relations assistant for a communications firm in Austin. Cook holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Oklahoma.

Deborah Norris brings state government, research and consulting experience to her position. She is a former policy advisor to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, performing research, evaluation and analytical work for a variety of programs there. She has extensive experience as a research analyst and consultant in the private sector and has been a writer and researcher on environmental issues in Texas and Michigan. Norris holds a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University and a Master of Public Affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin.

Parker County will propose $80M road bond election

Residents of Parker County may see relief from traffic woes soon. A proposed $80 million bond election is expected to be slated for the Nov. 4 election. Commissioners have discussed projects that include construction of a traffic loop around northwest Weatherford, widening Farm Road 1187, and road and signal improvements in Springtown.

County Judge Mark Riley said the order of the projects will be determined by the county's engineering firm and that the goal is to "start quickly, as soon as the money is in our hands."

The most costly venture, the proposed traffic loop around Weatherford, is estimated to cost $50.5 million. If the bond election is approved, construction could begin as early as next summer.

San Antonio wins $1 million grant to develop new park

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission recently awarded a $1 million matching grant to the City of San Antonio to develop a new 311-acre park in the north-central section of the city.

The new Max and Minnie Voelcker Park will include outdoor education classrooms and a pavilion, trails, overlooks, grove planting, a multipurpose recreation field, picnic units, oak savannah and grasslands restorations, drinking fountains, trash bins and roads.

Hays County to decide
$207 million road bond

The largest bond proposal in Hays County history will be decided Nov. 4, when voters decide a $207 million bond package for road improvements. Officials are hoping that as much as $133 million of that amount will be reimbursed by the state, based on the volume of traffic in the future on the roads.

The bond vote comes only a year after Hays County voters rejected a $173 million bond proposal including many of the same roadways in this bond issue. The cities of Kyle and San Marcos would also add a total of approximately $20 million to the project costs.

TGI ad space available

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

Beck holds interim
position at UT-Tyler

Garnesha Beck (pictured) has been named interim coordinator for career services at The University of Texas at Tyler.

Beck has served as UT Tyler AmeriCorps VISTA and as employer- relations specialist at the university since Aug. 1.

She holds a bachelor's degree from Grambling State University and a master's degree from the University of Dallas.

Cleveland police acquire mobile data terminals

The Cleveland Police Department recently acquired new laptop computers, called Mobile Data Terminals, that are networked to the Harris County Regional Radio System Mobile Database.

The new data system allows officers on patrol to obtain information on stolen vehicles, firearms and stolen goods listed through the FBI National Crime Information Center. The system also contains listing of warrants through the Southeast Texas Criminal Information Center, said Chris Grizzaffi, the city's technology director. Rather than having to run a driver's license number through dispatchers to learn if a person has any outstanding warrants, officers can determine that information through the database.

The terminals also notify officers of Amber Alerts and weather advisories and allow them to communicate via terminal instead of radio and cell phones that allow persons who have scanners to listen in on police activity. The city also plans to replace the in-car VHS cameras with new digital cameras.

UH regents approve sports venue improvements

The University of Houston Board of Regents has approved a $38.7 million sports complex at Robertson's Stadium north end zone. The Wilhelmina Robertson Smith Pavilion will add premium seating, conference facilities, club and banquet space, meeting rooms, classrooms and new concession areas to the existing stadium. It also will house offices for the UH athletic department, new team locker rooms and a media area.

Construction of the complex is scheduled to begin in April 2009 and be completed by September 2010. Some $12 million has been raised for the facility and additional donors are being sought.

The regents also approved a new $18 million parking garage for future residents of the Calhoun Lofts as well as for faculty, staff, students and visitors. The 1,500-space facility will be under construction in the fall with a completion date of July 2009.

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

Publisher: Mary Scott Nabers

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

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

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Austin, Texas 78730

SPI hosts 'Selling to Government' training workshop

Strategic Partnerships, Inc., announces its Austin "Selling to Government" workshop, which provides training for public sector sales executives. The event will be Sept. 16 at the Renaissance Hotel. The training is the same that SPI's corporate training team has delivered to Fortune 100 companies across the country, but features an expanded curriculum as well as an opportunity for one-on-one interaction with seasoned public sector decision-makers including former elected officials, CFOs, city managers, mayors and government executives. Facilitators will provide numerous best practices for increasing revenues in the government marketplace and will offer real-time assistance regarding current public sector sales obstacles participants may be facing. For more details, click here, or contact Patti Maugham at (512) 531-3900 or pmaugham@spartnerships.com. For a registration form, click here.

SGMP planning September meeting at Chez Zee

The Lone Star Chapter of the Society of Government Meeting Professionals will meet from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 11, at Chez Zee Restaurant at 5406 Balcones Drive in Austin. Joyce Sparks, CMP, Governor's Center for Management Development, will be the guest speaker and address the skills and knowledge one needs to be successful in their organization. The meeting will begin with a networking reception. Non-members may attend the first meeting free. On the second visit, government planner members and non-members pay $5, contract planners pay $5 and suppliers pay $20. The chapter offers educational programs, a newsletter, community service activities and leadership opportunities and it fosters communication and understanding between planners and suppliers. A government planner is a federal, state or local government employee who has the responsibility for planning or implementing any type of meeting, conference or convention as part of his or her official duties. Employees of private organizations, a majority of whose membership is comprised of government employees, may also qualify as government planners if they plan and implement meetings as part of their official duties. To RSVP click here.

6th Biennial Legislative Communications Conference set

The 6th Biennial Legislative Communications Conference is slated for Oct. 7 at The Commons of the the J.J. Pickle Research Center. The conference will feature several panels of government officials, legislators, policy wonks and others who will provide information relative to the upcoming 81st session of the Texas Legislature. The event is hosted by Strategic Partnerships, Inc. and The University of Texas at Austin Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, and is a "must attend" event for anyone with an interest in the legislature and the workings of state government. To view the draft agenda for the event, click here. To register, click here.

TML's annual conference, exhibition slated Oct. 28-31

"Texas Cities - Innovation Meets Progress" is the mantra for the upcoming Texas Municipal League 96th Annual Conference and Exhibition. The event is set for Oct. 28-31 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio. The event kicks off with registration on Oct. 28 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday will feature the TML Board of Directors meeting, the Exhibit Hall grand opening and the opening General Session and presentation of awards. Tours of the San Antonio River Improvements Project and the San Antonio Emergency Operations Center highlight the Thursday agenda, along with a luncheon keynote speaker by "Freedom Writer" Manuel Scott. Friday features a Women in Government breakfast, a downtown San Antonio tour via Segway and a delegate luncheon with keynote speaker "attitude kicker" Sam Glenn. Concurrent sessions will be held throughout the conference addressing issues such as energy conservation, workforce development, leadership, media relations, several legislative topics and more. For more information and registration forms, click here. There is a discount for early registration and a discount for online registration.

Tee IT Up Texas government IT tourney set Oct. 24

The Fifth Annual Tee IT Up Texas! Texas government IT customer appreciation golf tournament is set for Friday, Oct. 24, at the Lions Municipal Golf Course in Austin. Check-in and lunch will begin at 11:30 a.m. A shotgun start will begin at 1 p.m. and the awards ceremony is slated for 6 p.m. The format is a four-person scramble with awards to the first and second place teams and individual contest winners for longest drive and closest pin. Door prizes also are available. IT vendors doing business with Texas public sector IT customers are encouraged to register a four-member team consisting of at least two government players. Registration is limited to the first 30 paid teams. Registration deadline is Oct. 10. For more information, click here. To register, click here.

Executive Women in Texas Government set conference

The Executive Women in Texas Government 22nd annual Professional Development Conference will be Monday, Nov. 24, at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort in Lost Pines, Texas. Hailed as a meeting of "ideas, solutions and connections," this year's event will feature keynote speakers Dr. Tina Dupree (AKA as the Chicken Lady) and Major General K.C. McClain, Commander Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, and workshops relating to development of executive level management skills, expanding leadership capabilities and networking and mentoring. The event will begin with a 7 a.m. registration. The first keynote speaker will be heard during the opening general session at 8:30 a.m. followed by two morning workshops and breaks for exhibits and networking. The EWTG Woman of the Year presentation will be made during lunch, with another afternoon workshop on tap and the closing general session and second keynote speech at 3:15 p.m. Sponsorships are available and exhibitors are also being accepted. For more information on the conference and registration, click here.

CONSEC 2008 event set in Austin Sept. 22-25

CONSEC 2008 is slated for Monday through Thursday, Sept. 22-25, at the J.J. Pickle Center in Austin. This year's event centers around "Risk Management and Business Continuance: Achieving Success." The first day of the event will feature a "fireside chat" with Professor Howard A. Schmidt, President and CEO of R&H Security Consulting LLC and former White House Cyber Security Advisor. Day two is a one-day forum for executives and senior management while day three features speakers on emergency crisis communication, planning for pandemic and life lessons in information security. The final day will feature a variety of workshops. To view the brochure with the event agenda, click here. To register, click here.

Texas GIS Forum 2008 slated for Oct. 27-31

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