Volume 6, Issue 38 · Friday, Sept. 26, 2008 | |
$3.7 billion in bond elections up in NovemberBallots to include schools, cities, counties, higher ed entitiesVoters across Texas will head to the polls on Nov. 4 to decide the fate of more than $3.7 billion in bond propositions that, if approved, will provide funding for a variety of capital improvement items. A total of 52 local entities are holding bond elections, including:
The largest and highest-profile bond election is a $747 million proposal by Dallas County Hospital District to help fund the construction of a new Parkland Memorial Hospital. The bond money would provide about 60 percent of the construction costs, currently estimated at $1.2 billion, with the rest of the funding coming from Parkland's cash revenues and charitable donations. The Round Rock Independent School District is holding the largest school bond election in the state. The district is seeking the approval of a $293 million proposal, split between two propositions that would build three new elementary school campuses, purchase land for future school sites, buy new buses and computers, provide security improvements and add science, fine arts and weight rooms to existing facilities. [more]El Paso desalination plant attracting attentionAward-winning facility helping meet state's increasing water needsIn the arid southwest corner of the state, where supplies of fresh drinking water are scarce, El Paso Water Utilities (EPWU) and the U.S. Department of Defense at Fort Bliss partnered last year to implement the Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination plant, the largest inland project of its kind in the nation. The $87 million plant is expected to supply the city with clean water for the next 50 years. As Texas continues to struggle with finding viable options for providing the water needs of the state, the El Paso facility is one successful alternative that is gaining attention both in the United States and abroad. The flagship project, which transforms brackish water (salty groundwater) to potable drinking water, has spurred other developments in similar facilities around the country. "Tampa Bay has a working plant that came on line recently after some start-up issues...and I think Carlsbad, California, is working on one," said John Balliew, El Paso Utilities vice president of operations and technical services. [more]Strategic Partnerships salutes Texas' Lone StarsHope Andrade, Texas Secretary of StateCareer highlights and education: Attended Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio. I have 30 years of business experience, starting my own business from an idea, growing it and selling it in 2007 to a publicly traded company wishing to enter the San Antonio market. I served as both a member and chair of the Texas Transportation Commission. What I like best about my job is: The best thing about my job is that I can continue serving the state of Texas and its citizens. My experience as a business owner for 30 years gives me an understanding of the need for Texas to remain a business-friendly state. I value the opportunities available to those wishing to open, relocate and/or expand their business in Texas. Also, my experience working with border communities while serving on the Transportation Commission will help as I serve as the Governor's liaison to border affairs and continue to be an advocate for these communities. And, I know the importance of fair, credible elections that Texans can be proud of. The best advice I've received for my current job is: You have been given an opportunity to make a difference and you can. Advice I would give a new hire in my office: Work hard so that all Texans know that our office cares, listens and provides quality service in a customer-friendly manner. If I ever snuck out of work early, I could probably be found: Picking up my 8-year-old grandson from school so we can sit together on one of the many benches on the grounds of our Capitol. We would just share the moment, looking at our Capitol and feeling the presence of each other. People would be surprised to know that I: am a simple and quiet person. Book, magazine or newspaper article I've read recently that really influenced my thinking: Closing the Innovation Gap by Judy Estrin. It underscores why and how innovation is a critical part of our nation's future. Each week, the Texas Government Insider profiles a key government executive or decision-maker. If you would like to suggest a "Lone Star," please email us at editor@spartnerships.com. Ellison chosen for executive post at TAMU SystemMark M. Ellison was recently named Associate Vice Chancellor for Economic Development at Texas A&M University System, effective Oct. 1. Ellison previously served as director of the Emerging Technology Program for the Office of the Governor Economic Development and Tourism division. Before joining the Governor's Office, Ellison was director of the Office of Employer Initiatives for the Texas Workforce Commission. Ellison also previously was a partner in a Dallas specialty investment banking firm and served as Assistant Commissioner of Marketing and Agribusiness Development for the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) under then-Ag Commissioner Rick Perry. He has served as international trade specialist for U.S. Wheat Associates in Washington, D.C., and Casablanca, Morocco, and as a marketing specialist in Casablanca. He returned to D.C. as an international trade policy consultant for retailing, consumer electronics and agricultural commodity industries. Ellison earned his bachelor's degree in agriculture cum laude from Texas A&M University. National Night OutTexas finally gets its turn with Oct. 7 statewide eventResidents in neighborhoods across Texas are getting ready for a night out - the 25th annual National Night Out - a crime and drug prevention-awareness measure. The event features a bevy of activities - everything from block parties and cookouts to visits from local police and fire departments and flashlight walks. "It's really just folks banding together against crime," said Rosie Salinas (right), chair of the Central Texas National Night Out Committee. "The purpose is for neighbors to get to know each other. Neighbors don't really know each other except for the occasional 'hello.'" The celebration and crime prevention effort kicks off Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 5 p.m. Originally held in August, this year marks a National Night Out pilot program Salinas said her committee had been lobbying for. Because of Texas' blistering summers, organizers pushed back the event in Texas to October this year. More temperate weather will allow more seniors to get involved, Salinas said. October also marks National Crime Prevention Month. Texas, which has lead the nation in National Night Out participation for all but one of the last 13 years, is so far the only state to hold the event in October. The year also marks an increased effort in terms of participation in Travis County. "(This year) is the best showing of chiefs and sheriffs in Central Texas that I had seen in one place," Salinas said. Part of that success is due to Deputy James Kitchens (left), who, according to Salinas, has been "an integral part of the process." Together, Salinas and Kitchens are responsible for banding together Austin and Travis County communities for National Night Out, as evidenced at the huge turnout for a press conference for the event held this week on the steps of the State Capitol. More than 300 neighborhoods in Travis County are planning to participate in National Night Out this year. [more]Guthrie selected as TRS deputy directorBrian Guthrie (pictured) has been named deputy director for the Teacher Retirement System of Texas. Guthrie, currently the deputy director for Budget, Planning and Policy with the Governor's Office, will direct and oversee TRS operations and administration, provide leadership to agency executives and managers, act on behalf of the executive director in his absence, assist in communicating and coordinating with the TRS Board of Trustees and represent TRS to members, government officials, the public and the media. TRS Board Chair James H. Lee said Guthrie "brings excellent credentials and a breadth of knowledge" to the position, particularly because he has had oversight of the agency in his current position with the Governor's Office. Guthrie was one of three finalists chosen from a list of five candidates interviewed by TRS officials following a nationwide search. The other two finalists were Pattie Featherston, TRS's chief operation officer, and Lisa Ivie Miller, commissioner of the Office of Fire Fighters' Pension Commission. In addition to his work in the Governor's Office, Guthrie also previously served as special assistant on budget, taxation and health and human services in the lieutenant governor's office and was a federal funds policy analyst for the Legislative Budget Board. He holds a bachelor's degree from Franklin and Marshall College and a Master's in Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. TYC report questions handling of abuse allegationsA report from the Office of Independent Ombudsman at the Texas Youth Commission shows a large number of allegations of mistreatment have been closed in the last 18 months before they were properly disposed. More than 560 such cases were identified, according to Will Harrell, agency ombudsman. TYC Conservator Richard Nedelkoff (pictured) said he is "appalled" by the findings but said the primary problem may be the database. As a result, the database will be replaced and in operation by December 2008, all of the 564 cases will be reviewed, senior management will review monthly all investigations to ensure disciplinary action is taken when warranted, a certified law enforcement officer acting as an investigative supervisor must review and assign for investigation each allegation of mistreatment, the methodology of completing reports will be changed, additional training that will aid administrative investigations will be identified and the Green Book of principles and standards for investigators and investigations will be adopted. Of the 564 cases identified in the report, 272 of the complaints were general in nature without allegations of sexual abuse, assaultive behavior or excessive force. Approximately 103 cases were allegations of excessive force, 101 were allegations of assault and 88 cases contained sexual allegations. Those cases with sexual allegations were assigned the highest priority. "Uncertainty in the area of the treatment of youth simply cannot be tolerated," Nedelkoff said. "This agency must have a full accounting of each allegation from the time it is filed until its ultimate resolution. We will not be satisfied with anything less that 100 percent accountability on this issue." Greg Hebert to head TSABAA officersThe Texas State Agency Business Administrators' Association (TSABAA) officers for 2009 were recently named. They include:
The first vice president position is vacant. Hartnett White reassigned to emissions reduction panelKathleen Hartnett White (pictured) has been reappointed to the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan Advisory Board, the panel charged with evaluating and recommending changes to the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP). Hartnett White currently serves as Director of the Center for Natural Resources at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. She has also served as chair of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. TERP, passed in 2001, provides initiatives to improve air quality and ensure the state abides by the Federal Clean Air Act. The plan's two-fold objective is to fund pollution- and emission-reducing research and development, and boost economic development. Texas Parks and Wildlife awards grants to three citiesThe Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission recently awarded grants for park improvements to:
Poinsett leaving House Speaker's staffRoyce Poinsett, longtime general counsel and policy advisor to House Speaker Tom Craddick is leaving the public sector to continue his legal and public policy career in the private sector as a member of the legislative and governmental relations practice group of McGinnis Lochridge & Kilgore, LLP, in Austin. Poinsett has advised the Speaker and House members on legal and policy issues for the last two regular sessions and three special sessions of the Texas Legislature. He also served as the House Ethics Advisor and as the Speaker's designee on the Texas Enterprise Fund Board. Prior to joining Craddick's staff, Poinsett worked for Gov. Rick Perry as budget counsel and also served then-Gov. George W. Bush, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson. He also was a political aide to then-City Councilman Martin O'Malley in Baltimore. Poinsett also previously practiced corporate law with two nationally respected law firms. He attended The Johns Hopkins University, the London School of Economics and The University of Texas School of Law. Report analyzes economic impact of state parksTexas state parks generate nearly $3 million in annual retail sales and $2.5 million in residential income in counties with state parks, according to a report, Texas State Parks: Natural Economic Assets, released this week by Texas Comptroller Susan Combs. The report includes an analysis of the impact of state parks and returns on investment to operate, maintain and preserve the 93 state parks in Texas. "Our parks are in need of additional funding to meet their most basic needs," Combs said. "At this critical time, it is important to understand all of the benefits state parks provide to the state, including the economic prosperity they bring to local communities." The report further notes that state parks create an average of 66 jobs in rural counties and 53 jobs in metropolitan counties where parks exist. The study also found that visitors to state parks from outside Texas add $15.7 million to the gross state product, $7.9 million in total personal income and 288 new jobs to the Texas economy each year. Non-local park visitors and park employees spend an average of $2.1 million annually in counties with parks. Rural counties with a state park have taxable retail sales 15 percent higher per capita than rural counties without a state park, which means increased sales tax revenue for local communities. Railroad Commission addresses drilling backlogThe Texas Railroad Commission has voted to tap up to $750,000 from an account usually designated for abandoned oil well funds so it can make a dent in a backlog of permit drilling requests. Commissioner Victor Carrillo (pictured) said the escalating demand - driven by soaring gas prices - has spurred the need for uncommon measures. "We are in extraordinary times," he said. Originally the commission had planned to ask the Legislative Budget Board for the funds, but budgetary demands left by Hurricane Ike took precedence. Commission Chairman Michael Williams said environmental clean-up measures, such as well-plugging, would suffer because of the funds tap. Officials are expecting to issue almost 30,000 permits this year, up by almost half from last year. Ag Commissioner plans long-term hurricane reliefAgricultural Commissioner Todd Staples is planning for long-term Hurricane Ike relief efforts by asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture for assistance with future agricultural and rural restoration in Southeast Texas. Staples recently met with emergency management officials and took an aerial tour of the devastation left in the hurricane's wake. Staples said devastation must be addressed through long-term recovery planning and that he looks forward to working with the federal government "to rebuild our state's rural communities that have been impacted by the storm." In a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Ed Schaefer, Staples outlined a series of long-term relief effort needs requiring federal assistance. Those needs include costs associated with obtaining animal feed resources, financial assistance for grazing lands rehabilitation, indemnity for livestock deaths and activation of a crop disaster program, among others. TCEQ grant helps schools retrofit busesTwo Rio Grande Valley school districts, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District and the Valley View Independent School District, used state grants to pay for retrofitting school buses to reduce air pollution and are urging others to follow their example. An estimated 1.3 million students in Texas daily board 36,000 school buses, said David Ramirez, director of the Rio Grande regional office of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). About a third of the buses are 10 years or older and emit elevated levels of pollutants that are known to aggravate allergies and respiratory problems such as asthma. More than $8 million in grants is available to pay for devices that attach to older school buses and reduce dangerous emissions, Ramirez said. The PSJA ISD last year received more than $87,000 to retrofit 42 buses, or about one-third of its fleet, said Mike Cano, director of transportation for the district. Throughout Texas, more than 2,643 school buses from 58 districts received grant funding last year from TCEQ. The deadline for school district to apply for funding this year is Dec. 15. TCEQ Commissioner Buddy Garcia said it is the commission's duty to ensure the program successfully protects the environment as well as children's health. Retrofitted buses can curb emissions, which can aggravate respiratory problems and allergies, by up to 80 percent. TCEQ is currently accepting applications for reimbursement for school districts that implement pollution-control devices. More information can be found by clicking here or calling 512-239-3100. The agency grants a total of $8 million per year for the technology installations. TWDB announces loans to five Texas entitiesFive entities will share in nearly $93 million in loans approved recently by the Texas Water Development Board. They include:
State Board of Education meeting rescheduledA special meeting of the State Board of Education has been set for 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 29, in Room 1-104 of the William B. Travis Building at 1701 N. Congress Avenue in Austin. The board's meeting scheduled for Sept. 17-19 was canceled due to Hurricane Ike. Most of the items on the agenda relate to the updating of the state's curriculum standards and to textbook proclamation issues. To view the agenda, click here. Leleko new officer with TSTC Corporate CollegeCindy Leleko (pictured) has been selected to serve as the new Associate Vice President for Texas State Technical College Corporate College Marshall. TSTC Marshall President Randy Wooten and TSTC Corporate College President Mike Harder announced the decision this week. Leleko will replace Dr. James Wesley, who stepped down in July to fill a vacancy at a community college in Fredericksburg, VA. Leleko has been with TSTC since 2001. Harder expressed his gratitude for the small, efficient staff that has led the Corporate College team in the interim since Wesley's departure. He cited Leleko's experience with regional industries, her organizational leadership and economic development training as qualifications for the position. "She will be an excellent addition to the team," he said. Wooten, who recommended Leleko for the position based on her experience, praised her ability "to take on any challenge and get the job done." Leleko, meanwhile, said she is ready to hop on President Harder's "fast-moving train" and get started with her new charge as associate vice president. ORCA extends deadlines for grant programsThe Office of Rural Community Affairs has extended deadlines of two grant programs so that rural communities recovering from Hurricane Ike will have an extra month to complete their applications. Qualifying communities have until 5 p.m. on Nov. 21 to submit applications for the 2009-2010 Community Development (CD) Fund and Planning and Capacity Building (PCB) Fund. Only rural communities located in the Brazos Valley COG, Deep East Texas COG, East Texas COG, Houston Galveston Area Council and South East Texas Regional Planning Commission qualify for the extension. "These five COG regions include all 29 counties in the federal 'Public Assistance' declaration for Hurricane Ike," said Charles S. (Charlie) Stone, ORCA's executive director. "Many of these communities will need CD and PCB grants for disaster recovery efforts. The extended deadline will give them an opportunity to apply for those funds." ORCA is one of the few sources of disaster relief grants in Texas. For 2008, ORCA allocated for disaster relief $2,942,943 from the Texas Community Development Block Grant (TxCDBG) non-entitlement funds to provide public assistance for infrastructure only. The funds are available to rural counties in Texas for eligible activities in relief of disaster situations where either the governor has proclaimed a state disaster declaration or the president has issued a federal disaster declaration. Communities may use the grants as a 25 percent match required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or as funds of last resort. Dallas group to support $747M Parkland bondA group of Dallas areas citizens and public officials recently launched a campaign to convince voters to support a $747 million bond proposal to help build a proposed new $2.3 billion Parkland Hospital. Dallas County voters are being asked to approve about 60 percent of the $1.3 billion cost, with the remaining price tag being picked up by Parkland's cash reserves and private donations, said Dallas County Commissioner Maurine Dickey (pictured). A private fundraising campaign, "I Stand for Parkland" has pledges of $82 million toward its goal to raise $150 million. If voters approve the bond proposal, county officials plan to build a new 862-bed facility across from the current Parkland Hospital location. TAMU regents continue meeting todayThe Board of Regents of The Texas A&M University System will continue meeting today to hear status and damage reports on Hurricane Ike's devastation to the Texas Gulf region. TAMU President Dr. Elsa Murano and TAMU-Galveston Vice President and CEO Dr. Bowen Loftin will address ensuing changes to their campuses in the wake of the hurricane. Reports will also include updates on the system's rescue and relief missions from the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Forest Service and the Texas A&M Health Science Center. Among other initiatives, the board will be hearing a special report on the system's approaching 81st Legislature plans and a review of construction projects to be considered for approval, including the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility and the Emerging Technologies & Economic Development Interdisciplinary Building at the university's flagship campus in College Station. Other initiatives being considered will include new student housing and a recreation sports center, as well as the prospect of several academic programs, including a joint-venture Ph.D. nursing program between TAMU-Corpus Christi and Texas Woman's University. Experts pushing IT to improve health careThe State Alliance for e-Health has issued a report calling for accelerated adoption and use of health information technology and electronic health information exchange to hasten improvements in the American health care system. The alliance, composed of governors, state legislators, attorneys general and state commissioners, not only examined the challenges faced by states in implementing technology-based improvements to the system, but also notes that e-prescribing and consumer privacy are key to advancing e-Health. Other recommendations in the report include:
The alliance was appointed by the National Governors Association to address the needs of states relative to health information technology. Texas Tech forms search committee for provostTexas Tech University President Guy Bailey has compiled an 11-member search committee - comprised of faculty, student body, staff and community - charged with assisting in the search for the university's next provost. Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Michael Shonrock (pictured) will chair the committee. Bailey said finding the right candidate is "vital to Texas Tech's continued success" and cited the assembled committee's excellence. The provost, chief academic officer for the university, supervises all educational activities and components. TWC gets $15.9M for temp jobs after hurricaneThe Texas Workforce Commission recently received notice that the U.S. Department of Labor has granted $15.9 million to create about 600 temporary jobs associated with recovery efforts from Hurricane Ike. The eligible jobs include cleaning up debris, demolition, repair, renovation and reconstruction of destroyed public structures, facilities and lands within communities that suffered hurricane damage. An initial $7.9 million of the grant will be released now and remaining funds will be released as the state demonstrates a continued need for disaster assistance, the secretary of labor said. Counties eligible for the emergency public assistance program include Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, San Jacinto and Waller. Simmons added to UNT Research Development TeamThe University of North Texas' recently implemented Research Development Team will boast Dr. Denise Perry Simmons as its leader. The team's initiative will be to promote awareness of UNT's national and worldwide reputation as a leading research university. Simmons joins UNT from the cancer center of a major university medical center in New Jersey, where she served as director of clinical research. She has also served as a research fellow at the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health. Her new charge as team director will include increasing extramural research funding in addition to developing, writing and reviewing major research proposals. Simmons - who has developed seven drug design patents - has more than 30 years experience in research with tenures at The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Texas Medical School and the University of Chicago. City of Brenham planning water upgradesThe City of Brenham has approved a resolution for a new water tower and approximately three miles of water lines that includes up to $6 million in certificates of obligation. Funds included in the measure would also be allocated for repairs to the intake structure at Lake Somerville, Brenham's water supply. The certificates would not be sold until November with the opportunity to withdraw the issuance if interest rates spike or financial markets weaken. City financial advisor Gary Kimbell projects an interest rate of 5.15 percent spanning 20 years for the certificates. The original figure totaled $5 million, but another million was added to allow for escalating costs of construction materials and labor. In addition to the measure, water rates will be increased for residents and commercial customers, rising by about $5 per month and $11.49 per month for each, respectively. Community colleges use grants for new job academyParis Junior College recently joined with two other Northeast Texas community colleges, to create the Regional Advanced Manufacturing Academy. A $1,264,845 grant from the Texas Workforce Commission Skills Development Fund will pay for the academy, which is also being supported by North Texas Community College and Texarkana College. The goal of the academy, which will be located at NTCC in Mount Pleasant, is to create 85 new jobs and upgrade the skills of 624 other jobs in Northeast Texas, said Dr. Pam Anglin (pictured), president of Paris Junior College. Also participating in the job training program are 14 area businesses located in the area, she said. SPI offers special services in new divisionMeeting facilitators, executive coaches, mediators and moreIs your group, agency or nonprofit organization having a meeting but you need someone to keep things moving and organized while building your group into the team you need it to be? SPI can offer you the services of well-known and respected meeting facilitators such as Dr. Juli Fellows (left) or Mary Gordon Spence. Or perhaps you need a specialist to assist with media relations, such as Keith Elkins (right) or you need someone like Molly McDonald-Ogden, who can also teach your spokesperson how to handle media interviews and crisis communications. For more information on SPI's stable of experienced experts ready to meet your needs, or to book one of these service providers, click here. ERCOT withdraws service charge increaseDue to delays in implementing a new power-delivery system, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas has withdrawn a proposed service charge increase of 15 cents per megawatt hour, a fee likely to have been passed on to consumers. ERCOT repealed the proposed fee hike - intended to address operating expenses, debt repayment and other expenditures - to the Public Utility Commission once it became evident the new nodal would not be going live Dec. 1 as intended, said ERCOT spokeswoman Dottie Roark. Software delays prohibited the nodal market, containing 4,000 nodes, from going on line and increasing power efficiency to some 20 million ERCOT customers. Roark could not say when the nodal market would be implemented. Former Gov. Briscoe donates $5M to UTHSCFormer Texas Gov. Dolph Briscoe Jr. (left) has announced he is donating $5 million in support of cardiology research and women's health to The University of Texas Health Science Center. The announcement came during a fete honoring Briscoe and celebrating the establishment's 40th anniversary. UT Health Science Center President Dr. Francisco G. Cigarroa (right) said the university, in turn, will name the division of cardiology the Janey and Dolph Briscoe Division of Cardiology. To honor the memory of his wife, Janey, who was treated at the center after a heart attack, Briscoe has now donated more than $9 million to the university system. Briscoe said he will always be grateful to the doctors who took care of Janey. "I have no doubt they gave me at least two more years (with her)," he said. Plano city manager appoints Tacke as finance directorPlano City Manager Tom Muehlenbeck has named former Plano Controller Denise Tacke as the city's director of finance. Tacke replaces John McCrane, who left to become administrative services director for the City of Grapevine. Tacke, who served as controller for Plano since 1999, is responsible for financial analysis and reporting, development of financial policies and economic analysis as the city's chief fiscal officer. Her charge also includes oversight and supervision of many of the city's divisions, including purchasing, treasury, municipal court and risk management. Prior to her job as city controller, Tacke worked in the private sector in a variety of fiscal roles. She holds a bachelor's degree from Montana State University and is a member of the Texas Society of CPAs and the Government Finance Officer's Association. UT engineering school wins $750,000 grantThe Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas recently received a $750,000 grant from the Office of Naval Research. Sheldon Landsberger (left), a mechanical engineering professor at UT, and Ofodike Ezekoye (right) of the Nuclear and Radiation Engineering and Thermal Fluids Systems programs will oversee the program. The grant will allow the school of engineering to launch an outreach program to historically black colleges and universities to increase the awareness of minority students and professors to nuclear science and engineering. A growing need exists for nuclear scientists and engineers in nuclear medicine and homeland security, Landsberger said. The program most likely will include five to seven students and one faculty member from each of the historically black colleges and universities selected to participate, he said. So far, three participants have been chosen: Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas Southern University in Houston and Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens, Fla. Approximately one-third of the grant will remain at the UT campus to be used for internships and course development, administration costs and use of the Nuclear Engineering Teaching Lab. Additional $400M in funds for border fence approvedThe Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee recently approved a $400 million reprogramming request to allow construction of the fence along the South Texas border to continue. The rising cost of raw materials is blamed for the cost overrun. The subcommittee chairman said that the Department of Homeland Security will shift money from other projects, including $214 million from planned technology investments and $35 million from the U.S. Border Patrol. Technology improvements on the border will now be postponed into 2009 or 2010. Price also expressed doubt that DHS could meet its goal to complete the fence by the end of the year even with the increased funding. So far, only 341 miles of the proposed 670 miles of new fencing is built. A DHS spokesperson said that the agency will meet its goal because all of the fence will be under contract by the end of the year. UTEP will study nanotechnology with grant fundsUTEP will receive approximately $700,000 initially with more expected later. It represents one of the largest grants ever to the UTEP Chemistry Department, according to department Chair Jorge Gardea-Torresdey (pictured). Gardea-Torresdey plans to use some of the funds to hire additional researchers to include a post-doctoral candidate, one graduate student and one undergraduate. "I'm proud that UTEP is part of this effort. What we're doing will be part of the future," stated Dr. Andre Nel, director of the UCLA center. "Dr. Jorge Gardea-Torresdey was selected for his nationally recognized expertise and scientific strengths in studying the impact of nanotechnology on the environment, particularly the applications and safety of this technology on plant and terrestrial life." TSTC picks five finalists for presidentTexas State Technical College officials recently narrowed their search to four finalists for a new president to replace Dr. J. Gilbert Leal, who recently retired from that position. The finalists for president are:
Chancellor Bill Segura said each candidate has interviewed with college leadership and members of the search committee. He expects to appoint the new president in mid-October. Aaker new vice president of Paris Junior CollegeDr. Sherry Aaker (pictured) has begun her charge as Paris Junior College vice president. The former dean of student services at Spoon River College near Peoria, Ill., Aaker brings an extensive resume to the position, which includes a tenure at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos and serving as an assistant curriculum librarian at Southwest Missouri State University (SMSU). Aaker holds a bachelor's degree from SMSU, a master's degree from The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., and a doctorate from Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tenn. Aaker has also been active with a number of professional and volunteer organizations, including the Illinois Council of Community College Administrators, the YMCA and Middle Tennessee State University's Leadership Training Institute. Cameron County border fence contracts awardedBorder fence contracts have been awarded for Cameron County but only after Congress approved a $378 million appropriations request. Fence segments are slated to be built in rural communities Bluetown, Los Indios, El Calaboz and La Paloma. Congress must navigate around several legal and bureaucratic hurdles, however, before construction can begin. According to a Government Accountability Office report, nearly 100 landowners in the Rio Grande Valley have refused to sell their property to the federal government. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not announce when construction will begin on the fence. O'Rear chosen UMHB's new presidentRandy O'Rear (pictured) will serve as the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor's 19th president and CEO beginning in June of next year. O'Rear will succeed Dr. Jerry G. Bawcom, who is stepping down from the post to become chancellor of the university. A deliberations panel chaired by Andy Davis has led the search to find a new president since Bawcom announced his intention to step down. Davis said the committee had to search no further than its own campus. "We had the right candidate already here at UMHB," he said. O'Rear, an alumnus of UMHB, received both his bachelor's and master's degrees at the university. He earned his doctorate from Baylor University in 2004. This year marks his 20th during his tenure at UMHB. He has served as the university's executive vice president and chief operating officer for the past three years in addition to charges as assistant baseball coach, associate director of advancement, associate vice president for enrollment management, director of development and vice president for external relations. Rental assistance program being offerredGov. Rick Perry has joined forces with U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Steve Preston and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Deputy Administrator Harvey Johnson to form the Disaster Housing Assistance Program - IKE, a rental assistance program for Texans displaced by Hurricane Ike. The program will help find interim housing and will temporarily provide rental payments for those in need. Evacuees who cannot return home by Nov. 1 will be provided rental assistance if FEMA determines them eligible. HUD will provide funding for those eligible. The program - which will eventually increase its cost to evacuees in $50 increments - is set to end in April 2010. For more information, visit FEMA's Web site, or call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). HUD is also in the process of establishing an 800-number for Ike displaced victims. Texas Tech, partners to share $6 million in grant fundsSome $6 million in grant funds from the National Science Foundation is headed to Texas Tech University and seven regional partners for a project that could result in a new national model for training math teachers. Called the West Texas Middle School Mathematics Partnership, the collaboration includes Angelo State University, Sul Ross State University, Texas Tech University and The University of Texas of the Permian Basin, along with Texas Education Service Center Regions 15, 17 and 18 and the Lubbock Independent School District. The partnership will impact more than 150 teachers and 50,000 students during the course of the five-year project. "By partnering with other universities and Education Service Centers across West Texas, we can reach more teachers and many more students," said Gary Harris (pictured), the project's lead investigator and professor of mathematics at Texas Tech. The project is under the direction of Harris, Jerry Dwyer, assistant professor of mathematics at Texas Tech; Tara Stevens, associate professor of educational psychology at Texas Tech; Warren Koepp, educational consultant for mathematics, gifted/talented education for Education Service Center Region 18; and Zenaida Aguirre-Munoz, associate professor of curriculum and instruction at Texas Tech. The five-year project begins in January 2009 and will bring select middle school teachers together during the summer for intensive classes that will provide a deep knowledge of specific areas of mathematics taught in middle school. Participating teachers will receive up to nine hours of graduate credit, stipends totaling at least $9,000, and travel and subsistence allowance to allow them to take part in the WTMSMP program. Classes will be taught each summer at the participating universities' campuses. Corpus Christi again delays $12 million bond issueCiting the nation's unstable financial market, the Corpus Christi City Council recently voted to postpone issuing $12 million in non-voter approved debt to pay for landfill improvements. Cindy O'Brien, an interim assistant city manager, advised council members to wait another week to determine if the market settles. Bond rates are typically high in bad financial markets and low when times are better, she said. The city has time to wait because it still has $5 million remaining from the last bond sale dedicated to landfill work. The funding part of the $18.6 million in certificates of obligation is backed by taxes and revenues from solid waste fees approved by the council in May 2006, O'Brien said. Student to explore merging city, county servicesA graduate student of sociology at Sam Houston State University recently agreed to conduct a study to determine whether combining some city and county services in Big Spring could save money. Gene Theodori (pictured), a sociology professor, proposed the study to Precinct 3 Commissioner W. B. Crooker, who said the study was something that large cities such as Houston or Dallas undertake, but that cities the size of Big Spring also could benefit. The study is slated to begin this spring, Crooker said. The study will be conducted at no cost to the city or to Howard County, Theodori said. Howard County commissioners approved the study and also approved a $1,000 contribution to Sam Houston State University. Crooker also noted that neither the county nor city is under any obligation to act on any of the recommendations the study may make. The Big Spring City Council has not yet approved the study. Get your free copy of the Texas Government InsiderThe Texas Government Insider is a free weekly newsletter. If you are not a subscriber, or if you would like to tell your friends or co-workers how to receive a free copy, click here. Permission to reproduce, reprintThis newsletter may be reproduced, and all articles within may be reproduced and/or reprinted without permission when credit is given to the Texas Government Insider, a publication of Strategic Partnerships, Inc. Note to media:Need expert commentary on procurement issues relating to state government, city and county government, K-12 public schools, higher education or healthcare? Our consulting team has more than 300 years of high-level experience in decision-making among these government entities. Give us a call at 512-531-3900 and we'll arrange an interview for you with one of our experts. |
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6th Biennial Legislative Communications Conference setThe 6th Biennial Legislative Communications Conference is slated for Oct. 7 at the Doubletree Hotel Austin. 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. S. Texas Business Contracting Expo slatedThe 2008 South Texas Border Business Contracting Expo (STBBCE), is set for Thursday and Friday, Oct. 16 and 17, in McAllen. The expo is designed for small business owners, manufacturers and suppliers interested in doing business with the government or the private sector. Some 500 government agencies, corporations, small business owners, purchasing agents, procurement decision-makers, vendors, suppliers and manufacturers will be on hand to discuss opportunities. The event is sponsored by the McAllen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the STBBCE Planning Committee. Keynote speakers include Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, U.S. Congressmen Henry Cuellar and Ruben Hinojosa and federal agency and corporate officials. For more information, click here. To register, click here. South Texas Nonprofit Summit slated for Oct. 15The South Texas Nonprofit Summit, sponsored by The Texas Valley Communities Foundation, the Texas State Technical College Nonprofit Resource Center, the American Association of Grant Professionals (Rio Grande Valley Chapter) and the congressional offices of U.S. Congressmen Henry Cuellar and Ruben Hinojosa, will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the Texas State Technical College Harlingen campus. The free conference is sponsored by a variety of community groups interested in investing in the nonprofit sector of South Texas. One-on-one dialogue with foundations will be available, as will breakout sessions and sessions relating to information sharing, resource expansion, technical assistance and more. Interested parties may register by calling 956-630-3331. 24th Annual Shepperd Leadership Forum set Oct. 10-12The 24th Annual John Ben Shepperd Texas Leadership Forum is set for Friday and Saturday, Oct. 10-12, at the Doubletree Hotel, 303 West 15th Street in Austin. This year's forum, "Leadership 2010: Challenges and Opportunities for the Next Decade," provides an opportunity for hands-on breakout sessions aimed at discovering solutions to the challenges facing the state. Some of the guest speakers include State Rep. and House Speaker Pro Tempore Sylvester Turner, Sen. Kel Seliger, Aspen Institute Director of Homeland Security Clark Ervin and Texas Lyceum President John Boettiger. Attendees will have time to network, build relationships and collaborate with colleagues. There will be sessions on such issues as policy development, ethics in leadership and public speaking. The Outstanding State Leader Award will be presented at the Saturday night dinner. CLE Credit is available for legal professionals. For more information, click here. To register, click here. Deadline for registration is Monday, Sept. 29. 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. 24The 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. The maximum number of teams for the tourney has sold out, but companies can still register for the few remaining sponsorships. For more information, click here. Executive Women in Texas Government set conferenceThe 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. Texas GIS Forum 2008 slated for Oct. 27-31The 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. |
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