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$3 billion in bond funding to be decided by Texas voters on Nov. 2
Construction, technology, security, HVAC, school buses among items in bond
 Approximately $3 billion in funding will be decided by Texas voters in 59 local bond elections being held Nov. 2.
The majority of funds will be used for facilities and infrastructure construction projects. Other prominent items include technology upgrades, security equipment, school buses and HVAC systems.
 The total bond dollars up for vote represent a 122 percent increase from November 2009 when 44 bond elections were held.
Most of the bond issues are for public schools, as growing student populations and aging infrastructure translate into the need for additional buildings. Here's how the bond issues break out::
- 42 school district bond elections totaling $2.7 billion;
- 13 city bond elections totaling $209.2 million;
- 2 county bond elections totaling $10.5 million; and
- 2 community college bond elections totaling $81.5 million.
Here are some examples of the dozens of bond elections to be decided: - A school district in the Houston area will ask voters to approve $459.7 million for new high school campus, four other new schools, renovations, technology upgrades and buses;
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| Attorney General files legal challenge against Dept. of Education
Seeks $830 million in federal funds earnarked for Texas in education jobs bill
 Called a "necessary step" by Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott, a legal challenge was filed by the state Thursday against the U.S. Department of Education. The action, filed by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, seeks to secure $830 million in federal education funds denied the state because of a Texas-specific amendment to the federal education jobs bill. Abbott filed a Petition for Review, which alleges that the U.S. Department of Education misapplied federal law when it interpreted an amendment by U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett of Austin in a way that discriminates against Texas. The challenge states that the Doggett amendment puts Texas under different standards than any of the other 49 states. "Because of the Doggett amendment," said Scott, "Texas was the only state required to make additional assurances for a three-year period in order to receive the money. We made all the assurances we could without violating our state constitution." The Department of Education disagreed and rejected a recent application by the state seeking the funding. Scott said the action is aimed at ensuring "that our school districts receive the funding they rightly deserve." The funding is part of a $10 billion federal jobs package, of which Texas was to receive $830 million. But Doggett filed his amendment to ensure that Texas not use the funding to fill state budget gaps instead of for its intended education spending. The amendment requires the state to commit to not cutting its share of education funding before 2013. Gov. Rick Perry contends that the Texas Constitution prohibits him from making such a promise. The episode began when some members of Congress accused Texas state officials of using millions of emergency school funds from the state last year to shore up the state budget instead of directing the money to state education efforts. |
Strategic Partnerships salutes Texas' Lone Stars
 Steve Westbrook, Vice President for University Affairs, Stephen F. Austin State University
Career highlights and education: First joined the staff at SFA in July of 1981 as program advisor in the SFA university center. Promoted to coordinator of programs in 1985, became director of student activities in 1989, director of student affairs in 2001, then executive director of student affairs in 2005. Named dean of student affairs beginning September 2006, superseded by appointment as interim vice president in August 2006. Named vice president for university affairs on April 24, 2007. Board of Directors of the National Association for Campus Activities from 2000-05, serving as Chair during 2003-04. Earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from SFA in 1981, a master's degree in education from SFA in 1989, currently ABD in the Supervision, Curriculum, and Instruction in Higher Education program at Texas A&M University-Commerce.
What I like best about my job is: Simple - the people. First, there are the students. Being in a position to witness the change in students from the time they enter college as unsure freshmen, until the day they walk the stage as confident graduates, is hard to beat. Next, there are the dedicated professionals I have the privilege of working with every day, as we collectively do our best to provide the right support to help our students be successful. The nature of my position allows me to be heavily involved in university life, and there is a lot of living that occurs on a university campus. I might just have the best job in town.
The best advice I've received for my current job is: You must be able to act in the absence of certainty. Sometimes questions change even while you are pondering a decision. Gather all the information you can, seek input and advice and then make the decision. I think Coach John Wooden had it right when he advised to "be quick, but don't hurry."
Advice you would give a new hire in your office: Balance is important. This job can consume your life, because it is interesting, compelling and it is never finished. Remember that you are running a marathon, so sprint only when it is necessary. Also, don't forget to have some fun along the way.
If I ever snuck out of work early, I could probably be found: These days you would probably find me perched at my laptop editing Chapter 5 of my dissertation. Hopefully soon my answer can be more intriguing.
People would be surprised to know that I: agreed to answer these questions.
One thing I wish more people knew about my agency: I wish more people knew how much SFA positively impacts the generational cycle of educational achievement among Texans. It is not unusual for more than half of our graduates in any given year to be first-generation students. The children of these SFA graduates will now be more likely to pursue higher education in the future as continuing-generation students. This simple, but profound, change benefits Texas, both economically and socially.
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Texas State University System picks Gaertner for interim position
 Former Sam Houston State University President Dr. James Gaertner (pictured) has been appointed interim vice chancellor for academic affairs for the Texas State University System. He will serve as the system's chief academic officer, overseeing academic program planning and review, curriculum development and academic standards. In making the announcement today, Friday, Texas State University System Chancellor Brian McCall called the position "critical to our institutional missions of teaching, research and public service" and said Gaertner would provide the leadership the system needs while a search is conducted for someone to fill the post on a permanent basis. Gaertner will serve in his new role from October 2010 until May 2011, and succeeds Dr. Kenneth Craycraft, who left the Texas State University System earlier this year for a private sector job. Gaertner, who served as president of Sam Houston State from 2001 to 2010, is president emeritus at the university. He had previously served as dean of the College of Business at The University of Texas at San Antonio and as a professor at UTSA and the University of Notre Dame. While at Notre Dame, he was director of the university's London Master of Business program in England. His retirement from Sam Houston State was effective in August. Gaertner holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Sam Houston State and a doctorate from Texas A&M University.
Nominations sought for TCEQ's Environmental Excellence Awards  The time to nominate individuals, communities, companies or organizations to win the state's highest environmental honor - the 2011 Texas Environmental Excellence Awards - comes to an end Oct. 8. The awards recognize achievements that have succeeded in preventing pollution, reducing waste and conserving natural resources. Categories for this year's honors include prizes in Agriculture, Civic/Community, Education, Individual, Innovative Operations/Management, Pollution Prevention, Technical/Technology, Water Conservation and Youth.
Dr. Bryan W. Shaw (pictured), chairman of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the organization sponsoring the awards, said the honors recognize those who serve as models to the nation for "taking an active role in protecting our natural resources." Click here for more information.
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TETF invests $1.6M in Irving health-insurance management co.
The Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF) is set to invest $1.6 million in Health Management Systems, Inc. (HMS) as the company shifts its headquarters to Irving. The move stands to generate a projected $17.6 million in capital investment and create 350 jobs in the process.
With clients in more than 40 states, HMS coordinates benefits for health care payors in addition to providing program integrity services. HMS clients recover more than $1 billion every year and potentially save billions more with HMS' prevention of erroneous payments.
Irving Mayor Herbert A. Gears said HMS has added top-quality jobs to the region since 2007, when the company's National Operations Center was relocated to the city.
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UT ROTC to receive $15 million from Houston oil exec, wife
 James and Miriam Mulva, a Houston oil executive and his wife, recently pledged $15 million to The University of Texas to help pay for a new home for the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program. The military training program is part of the College of Liberal Arts and will be located on the top floor of the proposed $95.7 million liberal arts building scheduled to begin construction this fall.
The Mulva donation will allow the university to move on with construction of the new building, which had been threatened due to the difficulty of raising funds, said Randy Diehl (pictured), dean of the College of Liberal Arts. The new quarters for the ROTC will be large enough to accommodate large navigational charts and large oversized tables where sand terrain can be shaped to match various parts of the world to simulate ground maneuvers. |
TPSC approves improvement plan for Driver License Division
The Texas Public Safety Commission (TPSC) has approved an improvement plan and restructuring of the Driver License Division.
The move is geared to improve efficiency, which should translate to better customer service in driver's license offices across the state.
The reorganization will focus on three areas: customer service, protecting the public and making the Driver License Division a more desirable place to work.
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DJOJP awards Youth Commission more than $500K in grant money
 The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Programs (DJOJP) has awarded $524,461 in grant money to the Texas Youth Commission (TYC). The funds will help support gang-affiliated youths in Harris County exiting TYC facilities now through September 2011.
The Gang Intervention Team: Re-Entry Development for Youth (GitRedy) project aims to reduce crime and increase positive outcomes for ex-gang youths by employing research-based therapy and offering educational, vocational and job placement services.
TYC Executive Director Cherie Townsend (pictured) said the grant funds will afford TYC the opportunity to "further develop our re-entry model for youth offenders and break the cycle of violence and crime that these youth were part of before their commitment to TYC."
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TTI's Environmental, Emissions Facility opens at TAMU-Riverside
 State and federal officials recently celebrated the grand opening of the Texas Transportation Institute's Environmental and Emissions Research Facility at Texas A&M University's Riverside Campus.
Researchers will test vehicle emissions and fuel consumption of large and small vehicles, including 18-wheelers and buses, at the $2.5 million facility funded by grants from several environmental research agencies. The effort will arm policymakers with information and help guide their decisions.
Joe Zietsman (pictured), director of the Center for Air Quality Studies at TTI, said the facility's enclosed chambers will allow for a "range of temperatures, solar loading, wind speeds and humidity conditions." He said the facility's location positions researchers to answer a lot of broad policy questions, such as the impact of Mexican trucks coming into the Unites States.
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| 7th Biennial Legislative Communications Conference set Oct. 5
Accenture, Cisco, HP, Texas.gov sign on as sponsors of pre-session event
 The 7th Biennial Legislative Communications Conference is coming soon and already more than 300 have registered for this popular event. Hosted jointly by Strategic Partnerships, Inc. and The University of Texas at Austin's LBJ School of Public Affairs, the Oct. 5 event will feature a networking luncheon. A CD will be provided to attendees to provide support through the session.
 The pre-legislative event this session is being sponsored by Cisco, Accenture, HP and Texas.gov. The event features agency executives who will address mandatory spending cuts, panels of staff from the legislative leadership's office to address the 2011 budget. Members of the legislature will offer legislative insight and tips for working with government leaders. A variety of other officials will participate. The conference will also feature keynote addresses by State Rep. Jim Pitts, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, and Sen. Kirk Watson. Sign up now before all the seats are taken!
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Texas Tech University System kicks off fundraising campaign
 The Texas Tech University System has kicked off a $1 billion fundraising campaign. Co-chaired by Jerry Rawls (pictured), executive chairman of Finisar Corp., Vision & Tradition: The Campaign for Texas Tech is geared to "take our institutions to the next level by heightening our investments in the students and faculty who make our university system great," said Kent Hance, Texas Tech University System chancellor.
The silent phase of the campaign began in 2007, and so far more than $600 million has been raised.
Funds raised will go toward student scholarships, faculty endowments and facility upkeep at Tech's three campuses: the flagship in Lubbock, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and Angelo State University.
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Tyler ISD saves $620,000 on new elementary school
Trustees for the Tyler Independent School District recently approved a change order on the original guaranteed maximum price for the Clarkston Elementary School Project from $13.7 million to $13.1 million.
The $620,000 the district saved on the elementary school project represents about 4.5 percent of the original guaranteed maximum price because the project required no contingency funds and came in on time, said Dr. Randy Reid, superintendent at Tyler ISD.
District officials have made no decision on what projects the money will be spent, but Reid said the district must comply with guidelines contained in the 2008 bond proposal. Those guidelines allow the district to use the funding for a future construction project or to buy a school bus. The money saved from the Clarkston project cannot be used to pay employees or for routine budget items, Reid said.
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NCI awards $5.6M to Latino/Hispanic cancer outreach network
 The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has issued a $5.6 million grant to Redes En Acción: The National Hispanic/Latino Cancer Research Network, led by the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
The Network has for a decade bolstered cancer awareness and relieved the burden of the disease for Hispanics and Latinos through research, training and education efforts. Redes has tested novel interventions to improve cancer care and screening, trained generations of Latino cancer researchers and raised cancer awareness among the Latino/Hispanic population in those 10 years.
Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez (pictured), Redes principal investigator and director of the IHPR at the UT Health Science Center, said thanks in part to NCI's support, the Network's efforts will continue to help Latinos, "who suffer higher incidence of some cancers and lower survival rates for most cancers, which reflects less access to timely, quality health care."
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TEA awards $692,605 Connections Grant to Dublin ISD
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) recently awarded a $692,605 Connections Grant to the Dublin Independent School District.
The grant will pay for increasing connections with students, parents, the public and higher education opportunities with school campuses, including the purchase of technology such as touch boards and computers as well as salaries and programs that improve communications, according to the TEA.
District officials have appointed committees on all campuses comprised of teachers, administrators, students and parents who will decide how to spend the grant funds.
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Socorro ISD forms committee to explore bond election
 Socorro Independent School District trustees recently appointed a new 20-member facilities committee to review all campuses and determine what improvements are needed. Each of the seven trustees will appoint two persons to serve on the committee and remaining members will be chosen from a group of civic leaders and district officials, said Superintendent Xavier de la Torre (pictured).
Once members are appointed, the facilities committee will meet two times a week to review campus facilities and prepare a report to present to board members in early December, de la Torre said. Board members in January most likely will decide whether to pursue a bond election. Voters in 2007 defeated a $397 million bond proposal.
Increasing enrollment fueled by more military personnel moving into the district has resulted in the need for more classrooms, district officials said.
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Longtime Board of Central Health member Patrick stepping down
 Neurosurgeon and lawyer Dr. Donald Patrick (pictured) is stepping down from his role as member of the board of Central Health, formerly the Travis County Healthcare District, which is responsible for overseeing health care for low-income and uninsured Texas residents.
Patrick's new charge as medical adviser to the Texas Workers Compensation Commission (TWCC) in addition to higher education duties at The University of Texas at Austin take up too much of his time to stay on the board, he said. Patrick is seeking a master's degree in music to add to his resume.
Patrick has served on the board since its creation by voters in 2004.
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SAISD schools receive Texas Title 1 grants to improve rankings
Two San Antonio Independent School District institutions - Fox Tech and Sam Houston high schools - have been awarded Texas Title 1 Priority Schools grants, given to schools identified as "persistently lowest-achieving."
Cora Johns, executive assistant to the superintendent for special programs, said the goal of the grant is to help struggling schools make a "very rapid, dramatic reform."
Schools receiving Title 1 grants can choose from four intervention models that include: closing the school, reopening as a charter school, a "turnaround" that replaces the principal and most staff members, or a "transformation." Both schools opted for the transformation model, which will require the schools to improve teacher quality, boost leadership effectiveness and academic performance, enhance the school's climate, and improve data-driven instruction and parent involvement.
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NRG Texas hires former Pedernales General Manager Garza
 Former Pedernales Electric Cooperative General Manager Juan Garza (pictured) has been hired as president of advanced technology at NRG Texas, a division of New Jersey-based NRG Energy Inc.
Garza's new charge will be to talk with public power providers in Texas about buying power from the South Texas Project nuclear plant, which is owned by NRG Energy.
Garza served as general manager of Austin Energy, the city's municipally owned electric utility, from 2002 until 2008 before managing Pedernales Electric Co-op, a post from which he was terminated.
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Texas Woman's University picks three finalists for provost
Officials of Texas Woman's University recently selected three finalists for provost to replace Kay Clayton, who left that position earlier this year. The finalists are:
- Robert K. Neely, an associate provost and associate vice president for research at Eastern Michigan University;
- Kichoon Yang, executive director with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics; and
- Larry Robinson, interim provost with Seton Hall University in New Jersey.
Each of the three finalists will travel to TWU in September to meet with campus leaders, tour the three campuses and have dinner at the chancellor's home with a small group of university leaders, TWU officials said.
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DART could privatize and include limo, taxi services
 Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) could soon become privatized in a bid to save the cash-strapped agency millions of annual dollars. The agency would incorporate other services - including taxicabs, limousines and other local independent contractors - to transport customers, about 10,000 of whom are physically challenged.
"This is how this is being done," said Victor Burke (pictured), executive vice president of operations for DART, referring to similar moves other agencies across the country have made.
The DART Board of Directors will vote Sept. 28 on next year's budget and a 20-year financial plan that aims to trim an anticipated $8 billion spending tab.
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| UTPA's technology startup - FibeRio - receives TETF funding
The University of Texas-Pan American's partnership with the Rio South Texas Region to increase technology-based economic development got a significant boost Sept. 14 with the announcement of major funding toward UTPA's first regional technology start-up company FibeRio Technology Corporation.
FibeRio was awarded the commercialization funds to help develop the company's novel and trademarked method of creating nanofibers, a technology co-invented by Drs. Karen Lozano and Kamalaksha Sarkar, both faculty members in UTPA's College of Engineering and Computer Science. The $1.5 million will be added to private financing led by an El Paso venture capital firm focused on investing in technology-based new businesses in the Rio Grande corridor. FibeRio also received a $10,000 Innovation Grant from the McAllen Chamber of Commerce to help bring entrepreneurial ideas to the marketplace.
The university is co-founder and an equity holder in the company that will produce the machines using the new technology to produce nanofibers in greater quantities and materials and at less cost. Nanofibers are microscopic fibers used in many manufacturing applications including medical and filtration materials, textiles, personal care products including diapers and cosmetics, insulation and energy storage. The new process also has potential for many new applications of nanofibers including drug delivery and tissue engineering. |
League City may slow down on proposed Eastern Regional Park
 Citing a lean economy, city council members in League City recently agreed to slow down on some of the proposed construction plans for the $16.3 million Eastern Regional Park.
Council members in 2009 approved building the 28-acre park calling for three soccer fields, a recreation building with two gyms and an outdoor pool and agreed to pay annual maintenance costs for the park. To help keep maintenance costs lower, city officials will stagger construction of some features of the park rather than building all features immediately, Councilman Tim Paulissen (pictured) said.
City officials plan to begin construction on the recreation and soccer fields in 2011, said Chien Wei, parks and cultural services director. Construction on the pool is now scheduled to begin in 2013. This will allow the city to collect more revenue from sports teams and summer programs to help pay for yearly maintenance costs, now estimated to be about $1.1 million, Wei said. The city's Section 4B Industrial Development Corp. has agreed to allocate 25 percent of future sales tax revenue to help offset the park's maintenance cost, he added, but the park's maintenance budget will still fall about $500,000 short in sales tax revenue.
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Loftin to be formally named A&M president during convocation
 Dr. R. Bowen Loftin (pictured) is set to be formally named the 24th president of Texas A&M University during the institution's 134th annual academic convocation today, Friday. He will outline his vision for the university at 2 p.m. in Rudder Theater.
Loftin, who graduated from A&M in 1970, began a tenure as interim president for A&M last year and has officially served as president since February. He served four years as a vice president of the university and CEO of A&M's Galveston marine-oriented branch campus.
Ceremonies will begin at 1:45 today with Military Walk, a traditional quarter-mile march along a pedestrian pathway that ends at the Rudder Center. The Military Walk was reopened this year after a year-long, $4 million restoration made possible by alumnus Dan A. Hughes, a 1951 graduate.
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Hooper UNT's CIO, acting VP for information technology
University of North Texas officials have named John W. Hooper as acting vice president for information technology (IT) and chief information officer. He replaces Maurice Leatherbury, who will retire on Oct. 1.
Hooper, an executive with more than 33 years of experience in IT management, currently works as the university's executive director for administrative computing. He joined the UNT faculty in 1991 as a technical manager for human resources and payroll applications.
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Goldsmith chosen to serve as CIO of UTB-TSC
 Dr. Clair Woodrow Goldsmith (pictured) has been named chief information officer at The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College.
Goldsmith previously served as senior adviser to the executive vice chancellor for business affairs for Information Technology at The University of Texas System in Austin, where he also worked as deputy director of academic computing and instructional technology services and as director of strategy and planning for management information systems. He has also held tenures as adjunct professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and as adjunct associate professor of software engineering at UT-Austin.
Goldsmith holds bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from Southern Methodist University.
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Beckham to direct Foreign Animal, Zoonotic Disease Defense center
 Dr. Tammy R. Beckham (pictured) has been selected to serve as director of the National Center for Foreign Animal and Zoonotic Disease Defense (FAZD) at Texas A&M University.
Beckham has served in an interim capacity since March. She previously worked for the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and Agriculture at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center before in 2008 joining the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, where she will continue to serve as director. She will also continue to work as director of the Institute for Countermeasures against Agricultural Bioterrorism, the agency charged with handling biological agents that could be used against America's food and agriculture supply.
Beckham holds two doctorates from Auburn University and is a member of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians and the Texas Veterinary Medical Association. |
Dallas to increase capital budget to $470 million in 2011
 Even when facing a shrinking general fund budget, Dallas City Council members recently agreed to increase spending for capital projects to $470 million in 2011.
City Manager Mary Suhm (pictured) advised council members that reduced construction costs and low interest rates make it shortsighted not to borrow money to pay for infrastructure improvements.
Among the projects included in the 2011 capital projects budget are funding for new parks and improvements to libraries, including a $4 million renovation to the Park-Wisdom branch library and a new $4 million whitewater park at the Trinity River.
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TxDOT awards Montgomery Co. DA $100K grant to stem fatalities
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has awarded the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office a $100,000 Texas Traffic Safety grant for funding additional driving-while-intoxicated no-refusal programs.
"We now run about 30 no-refusal nights a year," said Assistant District Attorney Phil Grant, which has resulted in fewer traffic fatalities. The TxDOT grant - which requires a $50,000 match from the DA's office - will push that number to 56 no-refusal nights per year, Grant said.
Grant said matching funds will be met through expenditures from the asset forfeiture funds and prosecutors' salaries.
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TWDB approves financial assistant of $157.7 million for entities
The Texas Water Development Board has approved more than $157.7 million in financial assistance to a number of government entities. The assistance includes:
- City of Granite Shoals - $14.745 million from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to finance wastewater system improvements;
- City of Hutto - $5.175 million from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to finance wastewater system improvements;
- Trinity River Authority-Central Regional Wastewater System (Dallas, Tarrant, Ellis, Johnson and Denton counties) - $104.615 million from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to finance wastewater system improvements;
- Trinity River Authority - Denton Cree Regional Wastewater System (Tarrant and Denton counties) - $28.035 million finance wastewater system improvements;
- City of San Augustine - $1.050 million from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund-Disadvantaged Communities Program to finance wastewater system improvements;
- Olmito Water Supply Corp. - $2.601 million from the Economically Distressed Areas Program to finance first-time wastewater service facilities; and
- Harris County Fresh Water Supply District No. 47 - $1.5 million from the Texas Water Development Fund to finance water system improvements.
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EDA awards El Paso $1.2M for growth accommodation
The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded $1.2 million to El Paso for future growth plans. The funds will be used to implement a regional growth management plan as Fort Bliss expands to accommodate 34,000 residents by 2013 (up from 14,000 in 2005).
The plan aims to improve and prepare roads, schools and health care services in a bid to accommodate new El Pasoans.
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Kilgore ISD group seek cost estimate for two new schools
 The Facilities Committee of the Kilgore Independent School District recently agreed to ask architects to perform a cost analysis on two options for upgrading district facilities.
One of those options includes building a new elementary school and a new middle school, noted Superintendent Jody Clements (pictured). The first option includes construction of the new elementary that would house kindergarten through second grades. The district would shift third and fourth grades to another elementary campus, fifth and sixth grade to Kilgore Intermediate campus and a new middle school would be built for seventh and eighth grades. This option would leave Maude Laird Middle School vacant.
The second option includes building a new middle school for fourth through six grades. It also calls for moving kindergarten through first grade to the Kilgore Intermediate campus, have second and third grades remain at Chandler Elementary and seventh and eighth graders at Maude Laird Middle School. Both options call for remodeling remaining campuses to reduce overcrowding and improve plumbing and electrical concerns, Clements said. The superintendent also cautioned board members that spending $20 million to continue doing "patchwork" repairs on some of the district's older facilities could result in the district facing the same problems and expense again.
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Baytown officials approve grant request to clean brownfields
Baytown city officials have announced plans to seek federal funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Brownfields Assessment Grant Program to clean sites that are contaminated or potentially contaminated by petroleum or hazardous substances. A brownfield represents any portion of land where development is impeded by pollutants and/or hazardous substances.
Chief among Baytown's major economic weaknesses are unsightly oilfields in key locations around the city.
A consulting team hired by the EPA is currently working with the city to prepare a 2011 Brownfields Assessment Grant application for submission.
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Rio Hondo to reduce size of new water plant, revise plan
After learning that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agreed to extend a funding deadline, Rio Hondo City Commissioners recently decided to reduce the size of a proposed water plant project. The plant originally planned was too costly and too large for the city's needs, said a city commissioner.
Extending the deadline past Sept. 11 for the $1.7 million grant for a new water plant will allow the city to revise its plans, but also will reduce the amount of the grant, said Alonzo Perez, an area specialist for the USDA. The city had planned to borrow $3.6 million to pay for the water plant to treat 1.8 million gallons a day.
The federal agency is currently in the process of determining the size of the new plant and amount of the loan, Perez said. A drastic reduction in water use in Rio Hondo following a large rate increase is the reason a smaller plant than originally planned is now needed, said Albert Cabrera, the public works director in Rio Hondo.
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North Texas regional group allots $78.2M for Kaufman Co. projects
 The Regional Transportation Council of the North Central Texas Council of Governments recently recommended $78.2 million in Regional Toll Revenue (RTR) funding for five transportation projects in Kaufman County.
Using a combination of funding from the Texas Department of Transportation and funding from cities, the recommendation includes $27.7 million in RTR funds earmarked for a SH34 bypass project in Terrell that carries a $29 million price tag, said Mayor Hal Richards (pictured) of Terrell. The extension of SH34 will connect with Airport Road and includes a bypass bridge. Construction on the SH34 bypass should begin in May 2011 if the recommendation is accepted, Richards said.
The recommendation also included $20 million in RTR funds to be divided between Kaufman, Forney, Crandall and a Lawson road project and $9.18 million in RTR funding to be combined with $17.46 million in state and city funding for the SH34 relocation project. Forney was allotted $9 million in RTR funding, which the city will use with $1.8 million in city funds and $10 million from a developer to pay for its part of its Forney Parkway Bridge project. Crandall was allocated $750,000 in RTR funds for reconstruction and expansion of 1st Street and the Lawson Road project was allotted $1.23 million. A decision on the recommendation is expected in October.
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Texas wins $24.3 million in federal funds to upgrade water systems
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently awarded $24 million in federal funds to two Texas organizations to improve their water and wastewater systems to help improve the health and safety in the communities they serve. The funding is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The Sharyland Water Supply Corporation in Hidalgo County received an $18,580,000 loan and a $3,451,000 grant to build a new water treatment plant to serve a population of 19,331 with 16,000 connections.
The Stephens Regional Special Utility District (SUD) received a loan of $2,305,000 to install 441,000 linear feet of line, two new standpipes, pump station improvements and new meters for residents. Stephens SUD serves 1,450 connections in Stephens County.
Grapevine approves $500,000 to upgrade campground
Grapevine City Council members recently agreed to issue a $500,000 bond to pay for improvements to the Vineyards Campground at Lake Grapevine, a city-operated campground. Council allotted $267,524 of the bond funds to buy seven manufactured cabins for the 52-acre camping area. The cabins, expected to be available in November, will offer 395 square feet of space with one or two bedrooms, said Joe Moore, assistant parks director for Grapevine.
A portion of the funds also will be used for a 400-square-foot camp store with a computer station for campers and for docks to be installed at four recreational-vehicle camping sites. Fees from cabins, RV and tent site camping are expected to produce about $700,000 in revenue for the fiscal year ending on September 30, city officials said.
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Grayson County to update security, communications at jail
 Grayson County Commissioners recently approved a $556,000 contract with an architectural firm to update the security system and communications system at the same time the firm works the design for a $6 million expansion of the jail.
When Commissioner Gene Short (pictured) questioned how the cost of expanding the jail to 96 beds would remain at $6 million with the additional cost of updating the security and communications system, a representative from the architectural firm said the company reduced the contingency funds for the project.
The plan calls for using mezzanine-like construction to allow guards to look down on inmates in cells and public spaces in order to save space. The addition will be on the south side of the jail.
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Dallas school chief has better chance to lead Las Vegas schools
Withdrawal of one of three finalists for superintendent of the Clark County School District has increased the odds that Dallas Superintendent Michael Hinojosa may be selected to head the Las Vegas-area school district.
James Browder, superintendent of Lee County Schools in Florida, withdrew his name after accepting another position, leaving Hinojosa and Dwight D. Jones, the Colorado Education Commissioner, as the two finalists to lead the Clark County School District. Both finalists are scheduled for interviews with board members, who are expected to name the new superintendent in early October.
In Dallas, board members scheduled a closed session Thursday and extended Hinojosa's contract, which ends in June 2012.
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Calhoun port group asks for changes in dredging of channel
 Board members of the Calhoun Port Authority recently asked the new district commander of the Galveston Corps of Engineers to change dredging methods to improve navigation of the Matagorda Ship Channel.
In the past, Corps of Engineer personnel completed dredging only two-thirds of the channel and stopped, causing it to fill in, resulting in only a 34-foot draft for two years, said Randy Boyd (pictured), the chair of the port authority. Boyd suggested the Corps begin dredging at the upper end of the channel and continue until the entire channel is dredged. The last dredging cycle was a waste of money, noted the branch pilot for the ship channel.
At the request of Boyd, Colonel Christopher W. Sallese, the new district commander, invited representatives from the port authority to attend planning meetings to help decide on the use of funding in future contracts.
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New Caney ISD studies lease of new athletic stadium
Trustees for the New Caney Independent School District recently began studying an offer by developers of a minor league baseball stadium to lease the stadium for school district athletic events. District officials have explored whether to renovate the Don Ford Stadium or build a new facility. Both New Caney High School and Porter High School currently use the Don Ford Stadium for athletic events.
The new stadium, a public-private partnership with the East Montgomery County Improvement District, a sports group and a developer, is expected to be open in time for the 2012 athletic season. The representative of the partnership suggested the district use money from the maintenance and operations funds for Don Ford Stadium to pay for leasing the new stadium.
Trustees did not discuss the proposal or make any decisions on when or if a decision will be made on the proposal for the New Caney school district to lease the new stadium located on US 59 in Porter.
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TML setting sail for Corpus Christi, Oct. 26-29
The largest municipal event in the state kicks off Oct. 26 at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, as the Texas Municipal League hosts its 98th Annual Conference and Exhibition. This ocean-front event will focus on "Charting New Horizons" by addressing topics such as Professional Ethics, Capital Budgeting, Negotiating Successfully and Engaging the Community. Wednesday will have attendees sailing through the aisles of the Municipal Marketplace when the TML Exhibit Hall opens at noon, followed by a powerful message delivered at the Opening General Session. Thursday's events will feature the traditional TML Risk Pools' Breakfast to jumpstart a variety of concurrent sessions. The day will also include keynote speaker John Sileo, America's leading professional speaker on identity theft prevention and corporate data privacy. Friday will begin with the Women in Government Breakfast, followed by additional concurrent sessions. The final delegate luncheon will send attendees home with a smile after Tim and Kris O'Shea use motivational humor to present the ups and downs of dealing with change. For more details and registration information, click here. Executive Women in Texas Government plan annual conference
The Executive Women in Texas Government 24th Annual Professional Development Conference will be Monday, Nov. 22, at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort in Lost Pines, Texas. This year's theme, "EWTG: Creating Leaders, Delivering Value," focuses on an investment in yourself. The event will feature a full day of keynote speakers, workshops and networking to enhance professional development, professional connections and personal growth. The event will begin with a 7:30 a.m. registration. The first keynote speaker, Merrie Spaeth, will be heard during the opening general session at 8:30 a.m. followed by the EWTG Woman of the Year presentation and one morning workshop. The second keynote speaker, Janet Sue Rush, will speak during lunch followed by two afternoon workshops. For more information on the conference and registration, click here.
7th Annual Tee IT Up Texas! Registration Open Now until Oct. 1
Registration is now open for the 7th Annual Tee IT Up Texas! Golf Tournament scheduled for Friday, Oct. 15. Early signup is encouraged since for the last few years, the teams and sponsorships have sold out fast. As in years past, players are welcome from all IT public sector entities - state and local government, school districts, hospital districts, etc. - and the event provides an opportunity for vendors and government employees to network. All government players are welcome to pay for their own fees for this tournament. Individual player fees are $50/player and include green fees, cart fees, practice range, tournament services, beverages, lunch and heavy appetizers during the awards ceremony. For more information, click here. IT vendors calling on Public Sector accounts are invited to visit the Web site to register and purchase sponsorships. Vendors are encouraged to form teams with at least two government players per team. This year's proceeds will be donated to the Directorate of Family Morale, Welfare and Recreation at Fort Hood. TxDOT Business Outreach & Program Services hosts webinars
In fiscal year 2010, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Business Outreach & Program (BOP) Services implemented a series of webinars offering technical business development opportunities to small, minority and women business - in the field of construction and professional services in the state of Texas. The webinar series topics ranged from how to become a pre-qualified bidder on TxDOT contracts, TxDOT Plans Online, How to Market Your Business To Prime Contractors, Construction Industry Bonding and much more. Each session's goal was to provide valuable information to contractors, suppliers and small businesses on how to do business with TxDOT, how to increase business capacity and improve opportunities to bid and obtain contracts with TxDOT. The final 2010 webinars concluded in August, but the 2011 fiscal year webinar series planning is under way and will be announced later in the 2010 calendar year. Each free Webinar is limited and registration slots are on a first-come-first-serve basis. More information on each webinar can be found at www.txdot.gov. Questions should be forwarded to TxDOT-BOP-Webinars@dot.state.tx.us or call 1.866.480.2518, Option 2 for more information.
CEVS 2010, 'Re-Imagining the Built Environment' in Austin
Austin Energy and the Clean Energy Incubator announce the fourth annual Clean Energy Venture Summit on September 29-30, 2010. Early stage clean-energy companies will audition their technologies for inclusion in Austin's $10.4M DOE smart-grid/smart-home demonstration project, a product of the Pecan Street Project, the nation's most ambitious city-wide clean-energy laboratory. "The feedback EcoFit Lighting received during the 2009 conference helped us refine our investor pitch, leading to the close of a $2M round of funding," said Cason Coplin, CEO of 2009 CEVS winner Ecofit Lighting, a Kansas-based firm.
TxDOT announces three Small Business Briefing conferences
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Business Outreach and Program (BOP) Services has announced three upcoming FY 2011 Small Business Briefing conferences. A Nov. 10 conference is set this year in Beaumont, an April 20, 2011, conference is slated in Fort Worth and a July 20, 2011, conference is planned for San Antonio. The conference goal is to provide small and minority-owned business communities an opportunity to learn more about contracting opportunities with TxDOT. Information will be available to help them do business with the agency and the State of Texas. The sessions not only allow small businesses to be introduced to TxDOT and other state agencies, but also allow them to learn more about the economic development opportunities in their regions. It also gives agencies a chance to show the myriad of prospects available for small and minority businesses in the state. For more information and to register, click here or call 512.866.480.2519, Option 2.
National Association of Social Workers, Texas plans conference
The 2010 National Association of Social Workers, Texas Annual Conference is slated for Oct. 8-10 at the Westin Galleria in Houston. Houston Mayor Annise Parker will be the opening plenary speaker and will address "Inspiring Community Action for a Better Quality of Life." Some of the pre-conference sessions planned, for which continuing education hours can be earned, include topics such as suicide prevention and postvention, overview of psychotropic medication for treating mental illness and teaching the next generation of social workers. inspiring community action for a better quality of life. There will also be numerous break-out sessions during the three days that cover everything from motivational interviewing to challenges facing children with incarcerated parents. The closing plenary session will feature Vicki Hansen, LMSW-AP, ACSW addressing "Advancing the Profession: Inspiring Social Workers. The closing plenary will provide attendees with a "State of the Chapter" to bring you up to date with NASW/Texas challenges and accomplishments. For more information on the conference schedules, click here. For registration information, click here.
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SPI offers roadmaps to upcoming Texas opportunities
 By Mary Scott Nabers, CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc.
There is no crystal ball to predict the future...but government documents often serve the same purpose. Sales teams willing to do a little digging can uncover extremely valuable information about upcoming opportunities. The hard-to-come-by information is readily available. Strategic Partnerships, Inc's (SPI) researchers analyze all kinds of government documents, but one of the most valuable sources of information comes from Capital Improvement Plans or CIPs. A CIP generally is a short-range plan prepared by a public entity. The document outlines planned expenditures. Most CIPs cover a five-year period. Some of the planned projects may already have funding allocated and others may be waiting to enter the queue. For most local governments, school districts and institutions of higher education, CIPs are built around strategic plans and annual budgets. [more] |
The Colony approves several capital improvement projects
The city of The Colony recently approved a more than $55 million budget for next year. City council members also approved the sale of $3 million in Certificates of Obligation to fund capital improvement projects and other expenses. Among the capital improvement projects are construction and renovation of the public services building, new vehicles for the police and fire departments and upgrades to the city's water and sewer system.
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Midlothian ISD mulls $97.3M bond election in May 2011
Trustees for the Midlothian Independent School District recently authorized district staff to proceed with necessary steps to hold a $97.3 million bond election in May 2011.
If approved, the bonds will be used to build a new elementary school, a second high school and additions to a middle school, said Dr. Jerome Stewart, superintendent of Midlothian ISD. Trustees also held two special meetings in September to gather public input from community leaders and the district's Growth Management Committee regarding the addition of a proposition for athletic facility improvements on the May ballot.
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City of Trophy Club selects Frederiksen as city manager
Trophy Club City Council members recently selected Paul Frederiksen as the new city manager. City officials currently are negotiating a contract with Frederiksen, an assistant general manager at the Las Colinas Association in Irving and a resident of Keller. Mike Slye, city manager of Burkburnett, was the only other Texan among the three finalists.
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Greg Evans resigns as superintendent of Bowie ISD
 Superintendent Greg Evans (pictured) recently resigned as superintendent of Bowie Independent School District. The resignation was effective immediately.
Board members appointed Lisa Gonzales, who served as assistant superintendent, as the interim superintendent and Steven Monkres, the assistant superintendent for support services, as the interim assistant superintendent.
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Wolfforth agrees to spend $2.1 million to buy school buildings
Wolfforth City Council members recently agreed to issue certificates of obligation for $2.1 million to buy unused administrative buildings from the Frenship Independent School District.
School district administrative personnel recently moved into a new building, leaving the former administrative offices vacant. Wolfforth city officials are interested in moving the city hall and police services into the office buildings located at the intersection of Main Street and Dowden Road. The city does not yet have a contract with the school district, said City Manager Darrell Newsom. The $2.1 million debt obligation includes funding to pay for moving and for infrastructure upgrades to the building, he said.
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Cypress-Fairbanks ISD selects Kinney-Haynes as testing director Trustees for the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District recently selected Thelma Kinney-Haynes as the new director of testing. Kinney-Haynes, who currently is a manager in the Student Assessment Department of Houston ISD, will replace Lisa Cottle, who has accepted another position.
Kinney-Haynes also has served as a teacher, an instructional coordinator and a senior assessment specialist. She has a bachelor's degree, a master's degree and is working on a Ph.D.
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Columbus ISD wins $121,000 in grant funds for youth center
The Houston Galveston Area Council recently selected the Columbus Independent School District to receive grants totaling $121,000 for each of two years to address at-risk youth.
The grants, along with any other federal funds available, will be used on a project with the county's Youth and Family Services for a youth center and a social worker to assist at-risk youth, school district officials said.
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Where are they now? Where do folks go when they leave 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 private sector employees are now.
 Robert Berdahl began his academic career in the history department at the University of Massachusetts Boston in 1965. In 1967, he moved to the history faculty at the University of Oregon and in 1981 was named dean of the university's College of Arts and Sciences, a position he held until 1986, when he left to become Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In 1993, Berdahl was chosen to serve as president of The University of Texas at Austin. He held that post until 1997, when he left Texas to serve as chancellor of the University of California until 2004. In 2006, Berdahl became president of the Association of American Universities. This week he announced his retirement from that position, effective next May when his contract is up. |
Dublin ISD exploring bond election in May 2011
Following a superintendent's report on infrastructure problems at the middle school, Dublin Independent School District officials agreed to hold town hall meetings to gather public input on how the district should address facility concerns.
Superintendent Shaun Barnett told board members the middle school currently needs upgrades to the roof, drainage and air conditioning system and does not provide a safe learning environment for students. Demolishing the middle school and building a new facility would most likely cost from $4 million to $7.5 million, she said.
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Hudson ISD shifts tax rate to help pay for technology upgrades
Voters in the Hudson Independent School District recently approved a proposal to shift 13 cents within the district's tax rate to create an additional $1.5 million to improve technology, expand career and vocational programs and address inflation costs.
Moving 13 cents from one budget category to another will increase revenue from the state to the district and the return on tax dollars from 173.86 percent to 227.56 percent, said Superintendent Mary Ann Whiteker.
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Plans cited for $95 million UT College of Liberal Arts building
The architect for a proposed $95 million College of Liberal Arts building at The University of Texas at Austin recently unveiled plans for the facility at a meeting of the Liberal Arts Council and the Senate of College Councils.
Plans for the new Liberal Arts building, which will be located between the new Student Activity Center and Waller Creek, feature 29 classrooms, ranging from small seminars to mid-size auditoriums and four laboratories, said Randy Diehl, dean of the College of Liberal Arts. The plans also call for lowering energy costs by covering the roof with vegetation and a series of multilevel atria to increase natural lighting in the facility. Construction should be completed in 2013.
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Stephenville ISD drops bond proposal to $34 million
 Trustees for the Stephenville Independent School District reduced from $59 million to $34 million the amount of a bond proposal on the Nov. 2 ballot. District staff, board members and the architect worked together to define the project's scope and cut some projects from the current bond proposal, said Superintendent Darrell Floyd (pictured). If voters approve the proposed bonds, district officials plan to renovate and modernize three elementary school campuses and move students from Central Elementary School to the three renovated campuses. The renovations to the three elementary campuses all will include improvements for technology, air conditioning and security.
Board members also will ask voters to approve the proposed $15.7 million in improvements at Chamberlin Elementary School. The project includes demolishing the original building, adding a new classroom addition to tie all freestanding buildings together, increasing campus security by renovating the office and front entry area and adding covered waiting areas and pick-up and drive-off areas. The district also plans to install a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, build a new activity center with stage and renovate the cafeteria in the Annex Building to be Pre-K classrooms.
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Johnson County Treasurer Robinson to resign
Johnson County Treasurer Barbara Robinson has announced plans to resign, citing personal reasons. County Judge Roger Harmon and members of the commissioners' court accepted the resignation, which is set to take effect Sept. 30.
Robinson ran unopposed in the Republican primary election in March. It is unclear whether a special election will be held to find her replacement.
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| Donna City Manager Oscar
Cuellar resigns position Donna City Manager Oscar Cuellar Jr. has announced plans to resign from his post at a recent commissioner meeting. In a resignation letter to commissioners, he did not cite a specific reason for leaving.
City Secretary Martha Alvarado will take over as interim city manager until a permanent replacement is found. Commissioners were not prepared for Cuellar's departure, according to Mayor David Simmons. Cuellar served in the capacity for two years.
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Beeville places skate park project first priority in parks plan
 Beeville City Council members recently agreed to make construction of a new skate park the first priority in the parks master plan. Council members changed the priority after learning that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department determined that the city will not qualify for a grant for its previous first priority, project, upgrades to Veterans Memorial Park, until electrical lines are buried underground.
Mayor Santiago "Jimbo" Martinez (pictured) agreed with the commission's recommendation to build the new skate park at the Martin Luther King Recreational Park. The estimated cost of the skate park is about $85,000 and the Beeville Economic Improvement Corporation (EIC) previously had agreed to provide $75,000 toward the cost of the park. City officials will request the EIC to award the grant again.
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Greanias takes helm of Metropolitan Transit Authority
 The board of Houston's Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro) recently selected George Greanias (pictured) as president and chief executive officer of the organization. Greanias, a former city council member, a management consultant and a college professor, has been the acting president and CEO of Metro since May 2010. Greanias replaced Frank Wilson after Metro board members agreed to buy out the contract of the former president and CEO.
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Three finalists for San Marcos city manager end interviews
Three finalists for the city manager position in San Marcos recently completed meetings and interviews with more than 100 residents, city staff and city council members. The three finalists are Jim Nuse of Round Rock, Jeffrey Howell of Kilgore and Scott Moore of Peoria, Illinois. The new city manager will replace Rick Menchaca, whose contract was terminated on June 25. City officials hope to select the new city manager as soon as Oct. 1.
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UTSA wins $12 million federal grant for health research
 The National Institutes of Health recently awarded a five-year, $12 million grant to support health research by faculty and graduate students at The University of Texas at San Antonio. The grant will be used to staff and furnish four new laboratories with up-to-date scientific equipment, said Ricardo Romo (pictured), president of UTSA. The new Nanotechnology and Human Health Laboratory is working on synthesizing nano-materials for drug and gene delivery, tissue engineering and electron microscopy, while the Protein Biomarkers Laboratory will be used to identify and study protein biomarkers, including those specific to minority populations to aid in diagnosing diseases and targeting therapy.
The Biophotonics Laboratory will explore biological processes at the molecular level in live cells and the Computational Systems Biology Laboratory will attempt to simulate biological systems using high-performance computers. A long-term goal of the research is to discover why diseases such as diabetes and obesity affect some populations more than others, Romo said.
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Denton County budget approved; capital projects delayed
The Denton City Council this week approved a $594.4 million budget with a tax rate hike and increased utility fees. Officials credited a smaller property tax roll and decreasing sales tax revenue as reasons for the need for a tighter budget. The approved budget also means the delay of the next bond election for capital improvement projects until at least 2013.
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| Vandergriff elected chair
of North Texas Tollway Authority
 Arlington businessman Victor Vandergriff (pictured) is the new chair of the North Texas Tollway Authority. He succeeds Paul Wageman of Plano, who is retiring after 10 years on the board. Dave Denison of Denton County was chosen as vice chair.
Vandergriff, an attorney and businessman, chairs both the Arlington Planning and Zoning Commission and the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles board.
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Richardson ISD staff presents preliminary draft of $165M bond
The Richardson Independent School District staff has offered board members the first draft of a $165 million to $175 million bond proposal to bring to voters in 2011.
The proposal allocates about $80 million to infrastructure maintenance and about $65 million to new technology, which includes the purchase of 16,000 laptops and upgrades of the district's wireless network, severs and phone system. About $2 million would go toward the purchase of new musical instruments and $16 million would be applied toward renovations of six of the 15 schools built in the 1970s. All four athletic facilities would be refurbished for about $11 million.
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| | Edgewood Superintendent
Elizabeth Garza to resign
 Elizabeth Garza (pictured) has announced she will resign as superintendent of the Edgewood Independent School District. School board trustees, concerned about recent declines in Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills scores, met recently to discuss the terms of Garza's departure.
Garza said she felt pressured into submitting her resignation, which takes effect June 30, the end of her contract term. Garza began her tenure as superintendent of the district in April 2008. She commands an annual salary of $136,000.
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Texas Government Insider Archives
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NCTCOG partners to bring electric car to State Fair of Texas
The North Central Texas Council of Governments' (NCTCOG) Electric Vehicle North Texas Initiative has joined forces with the North Texas Clean Air Coalition (NTCAC) and the North Texas chapter of the US Green Building Council (USGBC) to present the Electric Vehicle Showcase at the State Fair of Texas this weekend.
The Showcase kicked off with a VIP reception with state and local officials and business executives from General Motors and surrounding communities on Thursday and will continue throughout the weekend. Fair-goers will have a chance to drive the Chevy Volt electric car, take a look at the electric infrastructure being designed for North Texas and learn about the positive impact electric cars stand to make by interacting with the Oncor Mobile Experience Center.
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Fort Worth officials opt not to outsource vehicle maintenance
 Fort Worth managers and employees have proven to officials their vehicle maintenance labor costs are cheaper than if outsourced, so city leaders have decided to not contract with outside firms - for now. Three private companies submitted bids to run the $37 million vehicle maintenance department, said Assistant City Manager Karen Montgomery (pictured), but the employees' proposal proved less expensive, even accounting for health care and other benefit costs.
The city is still evaluating proposals to outsource its information technology department and is considering the same route for municipal airports and other departments.
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FAA awards S. Padre Island International Airport $795K
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded the Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport a $795,110 grant through the Department of Transportation (DOT). The funds will aid airport officials in conducting a wildlife-hazard assessment study and a terminal plan study. The money will also go toward the installation of a beacon and rehabilitation of a taxiway and terminal buildings.
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Governor's appointments
Governor Rick Perry has announced the following appointments:
- H.J. "Jay" Shands III of Lufkin, Finance Commission of Texas
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South Texas counties garner
$5.8 million in hurricane aid
The U.S. Department of Labor recently awarded a $5,849,481 National Emergency Grant to nine counties in South Texas to pay for cleanup and recovery efforts from flooding caused by Hurricane Alex in late June. The nine counties included in the grant are Cameron, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Maverick, Starr, Webb, Willacy and Zapata.
The Labor Department will initially release $2 million of the grant to the Texas Workforce Commission to create temporary jobs to assist in the recovery efforts in those nine counties. The remaining funding will be available as the state demonstrates a continued need for assistance, a spokeswoman for the Department of Labor said.
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Jasper ISD cuts $2 million from bond proposal going to voters
 After agreeing to delete plans for a covered athletic practice field, trustees for the Jasper Independent School District recently reduced the amount of a proposed November bond issue by $2 million, from $48.785 million to $46.785 million. Superintendent Jon Whittemore (pictured) presented board members with several options to lower the bond proposal amount, but noted that the covered practice field drew the most negative response from the public. Removing that $2 million practice field project from the bond proposal indicates the board's responsiveness to public concerns, Whittemore added.
If approved, the bond funding will be used to build a new school for grades three through six, replacing the gym, choir room and band hall at the junior high, build a new football stadium to meet standards of the Americans With Disabilities Act and provide improvements to existing buildings.
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USDA awards Texas rural businesses, ag producers $1.1M
USDA Rural Development State Director Paco Valentin has announced 23 Texas agriculture producers and small rural businesses across the state will receive more than $1.1 million in funding to reduce energy consumption, create jobs and promote economic development. "This program will be an outlet for rural businesses and agricultural producers allowing them to make their operations more energy efficient," Valentin said.
Funds will be used to purchase wind turbines and grain dryers, replace lighting systems and re-insulate poultry broiler houses, among other measures.
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| Marion ISD sets bond election
for voter action in November
Trustees for the Marion Independent School District recently set Nov. 14, 2011, as the date the district will ask voters to approve a bond proposal. This is the first bond proposal for Marion ISD in almost 10 years, district officials said.
Items that may be included in the bond proposal are a new science and technology building and upgrades to the agriculture building, the fine arts building and band hall, the board president said. Some of the bond funds also may be used to improve a gymnasium at the middle school and to help each campus become more energy efficient. No cost estimates for the proposed bond vote are available yet.
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| Elgin selects Vick as new
interim city manager Elgin City Council members recently selected Greg Vick, the city's current director of economic development, as the new interim city manager. Vick, who agreed to spend 30 percent of his time to continue his duties as director of economic development, will assume the duties of former Interim City Manager Chris Bratton, who will return to his full-time duty of police chief.
Vick previously served as a city manager in Cedar Hills, as interim city manager at The Colony and as assistant city manager in Sanger, Clute, North Richland Hills and Farmers Branch. He has a bachelor's degree from Abilene Christian University and a master's degree from North Texas State University.
Tomball ISD approves new elementary/intermediate school
Trustees for the Tomball Independent School District recently agreed to begin construction in January on a new combined elementary and intermediate school. The new K-6 school, the second combined elementary and intermediate school in the district, will be located in The Woodlands and is scheduled to open in fall 2012.
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Calhoun port group approves contract for engineering services
Board members of the Calhoun Port Authority recently approved a $49,703 engineering services contract for development of the E.S. Joslin power plant, a 254-foot megawatt facility the authority acquired from a private company. The plant has not generated electricity since 2002, and the authority's attempts to sell the facility to a Houston-based corporation failed after several years.
Navarro County to seek $1 million energy saving grant
Navarro County commissioners recently agreed to apply for a $1 million energy stimulus grant from the SECO Distributed Renewable Energy Technology Stimulus Grant Program. County officials failed in their first attempt to win the grant, but decided to try again and file an application for this second round of funding.
If awarded the grant, county officials plan to install solar panels on the county jail and precinct barns to save on future energy costs, the county judge said. A decision on awarding the grant is expected in about eight months. |
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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