2008: Gas prices, mansion fire, hurricane top stories

But it wasn't all bad news for government as year comes to close

The year 2008 – it brought news for government that changed as often as gas prices at the pump.

In fact, what Texans were paying for gas at the pump proved to be one of the top stories of the year. Not only did prices that climbed to the $4-per-gallon mark keep families at home, they also kept them wondering how they'd afford to drive themselves to work or the kids to school.

Government entities also found themselves looking for ways to cut back on their gas costs as well, particularly school districts using even more expensive diesel fuel for the buses that carried their students to and from school each day.

Fuel costs were budget-busters for many local governments. But local governments were creative in ways to save on fuel – putting some law enforcement officers on foot for patrols and telling other officers not to let their vehicles idle when stopped. Trips in city and county vehicles were consolidated. School field trips were curbed. Vehicle maintenance was beefed up to ensure better gasoline mileage. Then as quickly as the price rose to $4 per gallon, as winter set in prices began to fall to current rates of less than $1.50 per gallon. Government budgets at all levels breathed a sigh of relief.

State could have extra $1 billion in funds to budget

But agencies, higher ed left fines, fees, penalties uncollected

Imagine the 81st Legislature being gaveled in next month and someone hauling in $1 billion in unencumbered funds and dropping it at the feet of lawmakers as they prepare to write the state's biennial budget.

Fairy tale? Fantasy? Dream?

None of the above.

One billion dollars. That's how much money is still owed to Texas state agencies and institutions of higher education for fines, fees and penalties assessed but not collected during the 2007 fiscal year.

The Legislative Budget Board recently posted its survey of state agencies and higher education institutions required by law. Each entity must report before Nov. 1 each year all fines, fees and penalties it has assessed and all it has not collected during the prior fiscal year. Those figures for FY 2007 are now available.

Antonio 'Tony' Leal new chief of Texas Rangers

Antonio "Tony" Leal (pictured), a 24-year veteran of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), has been named chief of the Texas Ranger Division of DPS. A native of Sugar Land, Leal began his career with DPS in 1984 as a Highway Patrol trooper in Stafford and Rosenberg. He then moved to San Antonio as a Highway Patrol sergeant before being promoted to the Texas Rangers in 1994.

His Ranger assignments have been in Liberty, Seguin and San Antonio, where he was part of the Unsolved Crimes Investigation Team. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2002 and stationed in Austin. He was promoted to captain of Company A in Houston in 2005, where he was responsible for 20 Texas Rangers in 30 counties.

"It is my goal to continue to uphold the Ranger tradition," said Leal, "while moving ahead with the goals of the Department as a whole." The Texas Rangers, the state's elite crime-fighting force, specialize in investigating felony crimes such as murder, white-collar crime and public corruption. The division includes 134 Texas Rangers.

Foster named director/governmental relations at TWDB

Wendy McDaniel Foster (pictured) has been named director for governmental relations for the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). Foster comes to the TWDB from a private consulting firm, where she provided strategic counsel on legislative and regulatory issues and grassroots coordination. She previously served as project director for WaterTexas, the first privately funded company in Texas dedicated exclusively to development of wholesale water projects using private equity. She also is a former legislative assistant to a former Texas House Speaker.

Foster holds a bachelor's degree from Texas Tech University and has worked at the local, state and federal levels on rural and economic development programs, water supply projects and issues relating to rural affairs, agriculture, water, land use, property rights and public utilities. She will begin her role at TWDB on Jan. 5, 2009.

Sunset Advisory Commission to meet Jan. 14

The final vote on recommendations to the 81st Texas Legislature, which convenes Jan. 13, 2009, will be made by the Sunset Advisory Commission at their meeting Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009. The meeting will be at 10:30 a.m. (or upon adjournment of the Texas House and Senate) in Room E1.030 of the State Capitol Extension.

Agencies on the commission's agenda as pending business are the Texas Department of Insurance, Texas Department of Transportation and the Texas Department of Agriculture. Commission decisions will be made on: Texas Commission on Jail Standards, Board of Professional Tax Examiners, Office of State-Federal Relations, Texas Military Preparedness Commission, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Youth Commission, Texas Juvenile Probation Commission and Office of Independent Ombudsman. Commission members also will hear a status report on implementation of their recommendations.

TPWD's Outreach Program allocates $500K in funds

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has allocated more than $500,000 in Community Outdoor Outreach Program (CO-OP) grants to school districts, cities, museums, foundations and other groups throughout Texas.

The funds will be used for outdoor service projects and Hurricane Ike-related restorative measures. The initiatives range from summer camping trips for Austin-area YMCA members to archery programs at the Boys " Girls Club of San Antonio, and CPR and First Aid training at Rockwall's Tawakoni State Park. More than 300 students will restore trails and replace trees damaged by Hurricane Ike as part of an outdoor service project sponsored by the Redemption Community Development Corporation in Houston.

The grant amounts for each group are as follows: Abilene Independent School District ($49,250); City of Arlington ($29,620); Easter Seals Central Texas ($13,792); Gus Garcia Middle School PTA ($37,813); YMCA of Austin ($39,330); Brenham Independent School District ($8,204); Katoya's Playhouse, Inc. ($15,950); Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation ($38,615); Elm Fork Chapter Texas Master Naturalists ($40,394); Redemption Community Development Corporation ($47,840); ) Heard Natural Science Museum " Wildlife Sanctuary ($49,683); Refugio Independent School District ($39,988); Rockwall County Juvenile Services ($16,798); Boys " Girls Club of San Antonio ($28,000); Stephenville Independent School District ($21,158); and Camp Tyler Foundation ($20,698).

LBJ School dean chosen deputy Secretary of State

James Steinberg (pictured), dean of the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin, has been selected by President-elect Barack Obama to serve as Deputy Secretary of State in the Obama administration. Steinberg, who has been dean of the LBJ School since 2006, is a federal government veteran, having served as deputy national security advisor to former President Bill Clinton from 1996 to 2000, serving as the president's personal representative to the 1998 and 1999 G-8 summits.

Steinberg is also a former chief of staff at the U.S. State Department and director of the department's policy planning staff and a former deputy assistant secretary for analysis in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research. He holds a bachelor's degree from Harvard and a law degree from Yale Law School.

TCEQ receives requests for $13M for bus program

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has received more than $13 million in requests to retrofit more than 3,100 diesel school buses under the Texas Clean School Bus program. Only $9.3 million is available this grant round, however. School districts not funded this round will be placed on a waiting list.

So far this year, the program has provided grants to more than 80 school districts and charter schools to retrofit more than 2,300 buses with technology that improves air quality by reducing carbon emissions.

TCEQ Chairman Buddy Garcia said many districts across the state have partnered with the Texas Clean School Bus program "to help protect the health of their students with simple retrofits."

Texas Responds grants go to school, public libraries

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) has awarded $222,100 in Texas Responds grants to assist public, school and academic libraries that suffered damage during Hurricane Ike. Funds will be used to replace books and other library materials.

The grants (totaling $44,420 for each library) have been allotted to: Beaumont Independent School District, Bridge City Independent School District, Clear Creek Independent School District, LaMarque Independent School District and Rosenberg Library in Galveston.

The Texas Responds grant program is administered by TSLAC and funded by the federal Library Services and Technology Act through the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Kirk designated as U.S. trade representative

Former Texas Secretary of State and former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk (pictured) has been tabbed by President-elect Barack Obama to serve as U.S. trade representative, a Cabinet-level position. Kirk had widely been thought of as Obama's choice for U.S. Secretary of Transportation but expressed his interest in the trade representative post, which carries the title of ambassador.

Kirk served as Secretary of State in 1994 under then-Gov. Ann Richards and later served as mayor of Dallas from 1995 to 2001. He resigned in 2001 to run an unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. Senate. He currently is a partner in the Dallas office of a Houston-based law firm. Kirk's nomination must be approved by the U.S. Senate.

75 percent of schools meet, exceed progress standard

The Texas Education Agency's (TEA) Final Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) evaluations show 75 percent of schools and 67 percent of school districts have met or exceeded 2008 federal standards.

The evaluations are based on three criteria:

• Student graduation rates for high schools and districts;
• Attendance rates for elementary schools; and
• Passing rates and participation rates on state reading and mathematics tests for third through eighth grades and 10th grade.

Although many appeals ensued after preliminary AYP results were issued in October, the requests did little to alter final results. The percentage of schools meeting AYP standards remained at 75 percent, and the percentage of districts meeting those standards increased by only one percentage point for TEA's final report.

Results for districts and campuses AYP evaluations can be found here.

Matthews chosen Austin communications director

Doug Matthews (pictured), public communications director in Clearwater, Fla., has been named the city of Austin's chief communications director by Austin City Manager Marc Ott. His appointment is effective Feb. 23, 2009.

While in Clearwater, Matthews is in charge of media relations, Web content, government-access television, print design and production, employee communications, public outreach and engagement campaigns and citywide surveys. Matthews holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Central Florida and a master's from the University of South Florida. He is also a graduate of the Senior Executive Institute of the University of Virginia.

Ott also announced that Interim Communications Director David Matustik will serve as deputy communications director. Matustik brings more than three decades of communications experience to his position, 25 years in Austin and 14 years with the city of Austin's Communications and Public Information Office.

Boerne council weighs funding options for new library

Boerne City Council members have agreed to build a 30,000-square-foot, $9.9 million library, but have not decided how to pay for it. Members have recommended placing the historic Dienger Building up for grabs, hoping it would could fetch as much as $3.7 million and help close the funding gap.

Council members voted to hire John Wall as construction project manager. Wall will receive $83,290 for his services. He currently manages two other city bond projects, the expansion of Boerne's fire station and the construction of a new public safety building.

The city has earmarked $5 million in voter-approved bonds and $1.3 million in pledges for construction of the library. The Boerne Public Library Foundation's goal is to raise $2 million in addition to the funds raised from the sale of the Dienger Building.

University of Houston earns Carnegie designation

The University of Houston has reached another milestone in its mission to become a top-tier university. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has honored the university with its highest designation for community engagement. UH joins the ranks of 68 other institutions to be honored with the Carnegie Foundation's highest classification.

The distinction is based on an array of criteria that gauges university service to the community and students' curricular involvement in community issues. The recognition marks UH as the only public metropolitan university in the nation with this prestigious designation.

The honor is one that "we have emphasized for some time," said Welcome Wilson Sr. (pictured), chairman of the UH System Board of Regents. Wilson said UH's recent honors and distinctions - which also include The Princeton Review's No. 1 ranking of UH's Bauer College of Business Entrepreneurship Program - "reflect well on the world-class education" the university offers.

Splendora City Council approves red-light cameras

Splendora City Council members have approved a service agreement to implement red-light cameras on the north- and southbound feeder roads of U.S. Highway 59. A citizen's advisory committee will serve as a liaison between the council and the chief of police.

Once installed, violators will be offered a 30-day grace period after receiving a warning in the mail. After 30 days, tickets will issued to violators. Half of the revenue generated from violations will go to the company installing the lights; 25-30 percent will go to the state of Texas and the remainder will go to the city of Splendora.

A developer with the company installing the cameras said he is unsure when the devices will be installed.

DETCOG's Diggles earns national leadership award

Walter Diggles (pictured), executive director of the Deep East Texas Council of Governments (DETCOG) since 1990, has been named winner of the Walter Scheiber Leadership Award, presented annually by the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC). The award honors a COG director who has made significant contributions at the local, state and national levels.

DETCOG is an association of counties, cities, independent school districts, river authorities, soil and water conservation districts, hospital districts and sustaining private industry members in a 12-county region of Deep East Texas. While serving DETCOG, Diggles has served on the Executive Directors Council of the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) and was the Executive Director's Council Chairman for the Texas Association of Regional Councils (TARC). He also chaired the OneStar National Service Commission.

Diggles drew praise from NARC Past President and Polk County Judge John Thompson not only for his local leadership, but also for his regional, state and national work. Thompson said Diggles "is an example to be held up to all not only for his governmental work, but because he also touches so many lives through his church and civic work."

More than 100 apply for Rio Grande COG post

More than 100 people have applied to be the Rio Grande Council of Governments' next executive director. The position became available after Jake Brisbin Jr. was killed in a plane crash in September while accompanying officials to survey flooding in the Presidio/Ojinaga area.

Culberson County Judge Manuel Molinar said a five-member search committee will whittle the number to present to the board and expects the position to be filled by February.

The board has not yet determined a salary for the new director.

Texas awarded $3 million in DHS grant funds

Texas has been awarded more than $3 million in U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant funding that was distributed to four Southwest border states in support of ongoing local law enforcement efforts along the border. The funding is part of DHS' Operation Stonegarden, which assists local authorities with operational costs and equipment purchases that assist with border security.

Texas was awarded $3,070,081, Arizona was granted $6,353,174, California was awarded $1 million and New Mexico garnered $1,580,258. "Local law enforcement plays an undeniable role in helping to combat crime and secure the border," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "Our ultimate success at the border is going to require close coordination with local authorities and sustained commitments to remedying a security challenge that has been decades in the making."

Operation Stonegarden began as a successful pilot program in fiscal year 2005 that involved 14 border states. The initiative gave states the flexibility to use DHS grant funding to enhance coordination among state and federal law enforcement agencies at our borders. The pilot program resulted in an estimated 214 state, local and tribal agencies working 36,755 man-days on various public safety and border security operations.

Sour Lake, Ganado form sister city initiative

The cities of Sour Lake and Ganado have partnered to function as sister cities in times of crisis, such as the devastation wrought to each town by Hurricanes Ike and Rita. The partnership was spearheaded by Suzie Simmons, a member of the Sour Lake City Council, and Ganado Mayor Clinton Tegeler, based on the cities' similar populations and tax bases.

"We felt we could learn a lot from each other," Simmons said. Tegeler echoed that sentiment, saying he wanted to expand partnerships beyond the city level by adding cooperatives between the towns' school districts, churches and other community organizations.

The co-op program is tentatively known as the Texas Rural Exchange (T-REX). Its first mission is to revamp downtown buildings in Ganado citing Sour Lake's recent successful developments in that area. Tegeler said it's all about changing residents' mentality regarding downtown revitalization. "It's our responsibility to invest in the community and make it attractive," he said.

Lambrew nominated to serve in Obama administration

Dr. Jeanne Lambrew (pictured) has been nominated by President-elect Barack Obama to serve as deputy director of the newly created White House Office of Health Reform. Lambrew is an associate professor of public affairs at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin and a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.

Lambrew, recognized as an expert on Medicare, Medicaid and children's health care issues, joined the LBJ School faculty in 2007 and specializes in health care and policy, conducting research on the uninsured, Medicaid, Medicare and long-term care. No stranger to public service at the White House, she worked on health policy there from 1997 to 2001 as the program associate director for health at the Office of Management and Budget and as the senior health analyst at the National Economic Council. She served as the White House lead on drafting and implementing the Children's Health Insurance Program and helped develop other health care proposals and initiatives. Prior to serving at the White House, she was assistant professor of public policy at Georgetown University. She is also a former associate professor at the Department of Health Policy at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services.

Lambrew holds a bachelor's degree from Amherst College and a master's and Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Belton ISD committee finalizes long-range bond plans

Belton Independent School District's Long Range Planning Committee has helped finalize its first long-term plan developed by BISD administration officials.

The plan comprises a series of bond issues to build several schools at all levels. By 2016 the district is estimated to be 4,100 students over capacity if no new schools are built.

BISD administrators will propose a $36 million bond issue for a new middle school to come on line in 2011, the same year officials plan to introduce a $58 million bond issue for the construction of two elementary school campuses. The final phase of the current plans include a 2015 bond issue consisting of a new middle school ($41 million) and high school renovation ($35 million).

TAMU-CC opens international education office

The international student community at Texas A"M-Corpus Christi is currently benefiting from the campus' new Office of International Education, whose goal is to help those students adjust to the American culture and ensure classroom success. The new program also is responsible for oversight of the Study Abroad Program, a student and faculty exchange program with universities in other countries.

"The number of international students at the University is on the rise every semester," said Dr. Robert Nelsen (pictured), associate vice president for Academic Affairs. "Creating an Office of International Education is crucial to the University, where these students will receive the support, connections and opportunities they need to successfully assimilate into their new environment."

The new office provides guidance and assistance with campus offices and service providers and organizes international events and social activities to engage international students in campus life. There are currently more than 300 international students representing 42 countries among the 9,000 TAMU-CC student enrollment. The office, part of Academic Affairs, also promotes international diversity throughout the campus.

City of Temple receives $450K TDHCA grant

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs has approved a $450,000 grant for the City of Temple to spend on housing improvements. The grants will not be distributed until the city develops a prioritization process, which involves establishing a committee to set up application guidelines.

With the funds, Temple Assistant City Manager Kim Foutz said the city is required to rehab or build at least six new homes for those with low to moderate incomes. She said city officials are focused on rehab for now.

"We believe that we will get a significantly higher number of homes rehabilitated than going with the new structures," Foutz said.

Quintin Bullock named president of SCCC

Former Houston Community College adjunct professor and Prairie View A"M graduage Dr. Quintin B. Bullock (pictured) has been chosen to serve as the sixth president of the Schenectady County Community College in Schenectady, New York. His appointment becomes effective July 1, 2009, pending approval by the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York. He will replace President Gabe Basil, who retired Dec. 1.

Bullock currently serves as provost of the Virginia Beach Campus of Tidewater Community College. In addition to his time at Houston Community College, his 17 years in higher education also include serving as executive dean of the Damon City Campus of Monroe Community College and director of the Center for Urban Educational Studies there. He also taught classes at Monroe and Tidewater and was adjunct professor in the Graduate School at Old Dominion University.

Bullock holds a bachelor's and master's degree from Prairie View A"M University and a doctoral degree in dental surgery from the University of Texas Health Science Center Dental Branch. He completed post-doctoral work at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Galveston to study commuter rail system

Transportation is high on the "needs" list as Galveston continues to try to recover from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Ike earlier this year. And while more than a dozen of the island's transit buses were destroyed by the storm, interest in a commuter rail between Houston and Galveston continues to gain interest.

The city has thus agreed to hire a consulting firm and pay more than $530,000 for an alternative analysis of a proposed commuter rail system, which is required by the Federal Transit Administration before the city can submit the project for possible federal funding by the U.S. Congress. President-elect Barack Obama has indicated his economic stimulus package will include transportation dollars, which the island's officials hope to take advantage of. City officials are hopeful a passenger train could be operational by 2012 and carry 12,000 passengers per day with stops at numerous communities between Galveston and Houston. City officials also are looking at the possibility of merging the city's transportation system with a regional bus system operated by the Gulf Coast Center that serves both Galveston and Brazoria counties.

Austin's Lady Bird Lake trail needs repairs

The hike and bike trail around Lake Bird Lake needs $25 million in repairs in addition to about $12 million to close a one-mile gap on the south side of the trail, according to a staff report to the Austin City Council.

The trail, which runs in a 10-mile loop from Longhorn Dam to MoPac Boulevard, needs about $1.6 million to smooth out the trail, improve drainage, stabilize banks and retaining walls, said Stuart Strong of the Parks and Recreation Department. It also should be paved in some areas and access points improved at 16 major trailheads and 15 minor trailheads at a cost of about $3.9 million. The cost of renovating eight restrooms and adding seven new restrooms would cost about $4.6 million. The remaining $14.9 million would go to drinking fountains, shelters, bridges, observation points, signs and other improvements such as an intense fitness training site and a fishing pier.

Staff recommended the city pay for the trail improvements by asking voters to approve bonds and seeking private contributions.

Galveston employees asked to take pay cut

Employees of the city of Galveston have been asked to take a 3 percent pay cut to avoid layoffs in January. City Manager Steve LeBlanc (pictured) said even with those cuts, layoffs may be inevitable when property assessments come in April and the effects of Hurricane Ike manifest themselves in property tax revenue losses of up to one-third of the tax rolls.

City officials say that even though the city's budget expenditures were nearly 20 percent below budget, the city could still face more than a $3 million budget shortfall by September of next year. One way some of the shortfall will be made up is by not filling the more than 80 positions left vacant when some employees affected by the storm did not return to the city. All city employees were in line for a 3 percent raise at the start of the 2008-09 fiscal year, so the proposed 3 percent cut would put them back to what they were making at the start of the 2007-08 fiscal year.

Kerrville approves $1.6M for new city hall building

The Kerrville City Council recently approved entering a $1.6 million sales contract to purchase a downtown building and surrounding acreage to convert to a new city hall. The contract allows the city to conduct a 160-day feasibility study before the contract is final.

The feasibility study includes having an architect study the structural integrity of the building, a look at any environmental issues, space allocations and a budget estimate, said Don Davis, the interim city manager. A 2007 study determined that the city's 12,900-square-foot city hall is not large enough for current staff and cannot accommodate any future growth. The old city hall can be sold and the proceeds used toward the new city hall.

The new downtown building is larger, at about 15,000 square feet, and the adjacent property also would provide room for expansion, Davis said. The property also would tie into the new Pavilion Park and Promenade project currently being built and would link city hall with downtown, parks and the library. Council members are expected to consider issuing up to $10 million in a combination of tax and revenue certificates of obligation, which could be used for the purchase and improvements to the new city hall downtown location.

Aransas Pass to upgrade civic center kitchen

The Aransas Pass City Council recently agreed to spend nearly $500,000 to upgrade the kitchen at the new civic center and add teleconferencing equipment to civic center meeting rooms.

Upgrading the current kitchen that could only warm up catered meals to a full-service kitchen is needed to help make the civic center attract more civic and corporate groups seeking space for conferences and seminars, said Harlan Roberts, a member of the Municipal Development District board. The city also will place a teleconferencing camera and drop-down screen in every room of the center to make it the only facility outside of Corpus Christi to offer such an arrangement, Roberts said.

Dial selected as Clarksville city manager

The Clarksville City Council recently selected Wayne Dial as its new city manager. Dial formerly served as city manager in Clarksville from 1995 to 1999.

A veteran of the U.S. Army, Dial also has served as a police officer and a field representative for the Office of Rural Community Affairs for 39 counties in Texas. He will replace Pennye Hobbs, the interim city manager.

TGI to begin seventh year

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

A new year signifies a new beginning. And at Strategic Partnerships, a new year means turning the page on another volume of our weekly online newsletter, the Texas Government Insider. As we take our first steps into 2009, we begin volume seven of TGI next Friday. It will be our first publication of the new year.

The first edition of TGI was published on Nov. 7, 2003. At the time, we didn't know how the newsletter would be accepted, whether it would be read or if it would be worth the effort it would take to publish it each Friday. We made a big commitment and the jury was out on whether or not it was a wise move.

Today, with thousands of faithful readers, whose numbers increase every week, we believe it was a very wise move. TGI literally keeps us connected to the entire state. Our readers have helped us make the publication better each month.

We continue to be surprised at a scenario that happens on a regular basis. As our consultants travel the state and introduce themselves as being part of the Strategic Partnerships Team, it's common for folks to say, "Oh, you're the ones who publish the Texas Government Insider..." We like that, of course.

Hays County appoints former Texas Ranger sheriff

The Hays County Commissioners Court has voted to appoint former Texas Ranger Tommy Ratliff (pictured) to succeed Sheriff Allan Bridges, who died Dec. 6. Ratliff served as a Texas Ranger for 21 years before retiring in August.

Ratliff was initially slated to take the helm of the county's Precinct 2 justice of the peace office next month. He will face an election in 2010 if he wishes to stay on as sheriff of Hays County.

Commission funds initiative at San Marcos Airport

The Texas Transportation Commission has approved $333,334 for San Marcos Municipal Airport improvements, including a development plan and pavement upgrades.

A contract for the project is expected to be awarded this winter through the Texas Department of Transportation's Aviation Facilities Grant Program. The program is expected to have funded $60 million in planning, construction and maintenance of community airports this year. Approximately 275 airports throughout Texas are eligible for funding.

Leander ISD community relations director retiring

Bill Britcher has announced plans to retire as executive director of school/community relations at Leander Independent School District after 16 years of service. Britcher spent 19 years as chief communications officer for the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse before joining LISD in 1992 when he organized a strategy involving and informing citizens for the district. Retired LISD Superintendent Tom Glenn said Britcher's efforts "made a lot of difference" in the district's public perception during a crucial time.

Of his legacy, Britcher said he is most proud of voters passing five bond elections during his tenure, which demonstrates "the level of trust we've built between the community and the school district."

Boles ISD superintendent Graham Sweeney reinstated

Dr. Graham Sweeney has been re-hired as superintendent of the Boles Independent School District one week after the board of trustees voted to rescind his resignation at his request.

After serving 22 years with the district, Sweeney announced retirement plans, saying he looked forward to a more relaxed lifestyle. But, in a letter to board members, he said he had changed his mind after an unexpected discovery.

Sweeney said Boles ISD faculty and students "were every bit as much my family as my own children and grandchildren," adding he felt he owed trustees his continued service. His reinstatement was effected immediately.

Hubbard ISD superintendent heading to Schulenburg

Hubbard Independent School District Superintendent Walter Padgett (pictured) has announced plans to become superintendent at Schulenburg ISD.

More than 45 applicants applied for the position in a town described as "Halfway to Everywhere" according to its Chamber of Commerce slogan. (Schulenburg is located roughly 80 to 100 miles from Houston, Austin and San Antonio.) Padgett was scheduled to sign his contract with the district the day after Christmas.

Rockdale ISD names lone superintendent finalist

School board officials at Rockdale Independent School District have named Rosebud-Lott ISD Superintendent Howell Wright as lone finalist for their superintendent post.

Wright will replace Walter Pond, who announced plans to retire this year. As per state law, Wright must wait 21 days after the lone finalist announcement before board members vote to hire him.

Sam Houston hosts Texas police chiefs focus group

Sam Houston State University hosted a focus group for Texas police chiefs held recently at the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas. The focus group led by Texas Police Chiefs Association Executive Director James McLaughlin included participation by municipalities, water districts, school districts, colleges and universities. Agencies across the state - ranging in department size from a one-person staff to a department with 246 personnel - took part in the discussions.

The group's curriculum focused topics for the upcoming Texas Police Chief Leadership Series (TPCLS), a two-year training program required of all chief administrative officers.

Freeport plans asset management program

The City of Freeport could have a new department in place in 2009, as officials there are studying a new system that will allow city employees to track city equipment through an asset management program. Mayor Larry McDonald (pictured) said the program includes installing electronic bar codes on all electronic devices and tools that will allow employees to track city equipment and prevent it from disappearing.

Cost of the software for the program and the addition of the bar codes is expected to be approximately $10,000, which officials see as a small price to ensure city property worth millions of dollars - such as computers, printers, cameras, tools, etc. - remain under the control of the city. The city's police department already uses a bar code tracking system that the police chief says is working well.

Job-creation grant goes
to development district

A $150,000 grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) has been awarded to the East Texas Economic Development District to develop and implement a regional economic development plan to foster capital investment and job creation in East Texas. The federal funds come through the U.S. Department of Commerce. The East Texas Economic Development District includes Anderson, Cherokee, Henderson, Rains, Rusk, Smith, Van Zandt and Wood counties. The new financial strategy will merge the public and private sectors to produce an economic development strategy for a diverse, strong regional economy.

By strengthening the regional economy, employment will be expanded through an investment in small business and the workforce will be further developed. EDA's goals are the creation of new jobs, retention of existing jobs and promotion of economic growth in the nation's depressed areas.

DCTA purchases land
for Hebron rail station

The Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) has purchased a more than nine-acre site for the Hebron station in Lewisville as part of its plans to develop a regional rail line between Denton and Dallas counties. The site is expected to serve as the park-and-ride for the DCTA Interim Commuter Express, which is set for construction in the spring and expected to open in 2010.

The Hebron station will be one of five along the 21-mile route adjacent to I-35 East. Two more stations in Lewisville also are planned - near downtown and at the Intersection of Garden Ridge and I-35 East.

Vidor ISD narrows superintendent list

The Vidor Independent School District has narrowed its list of finalists for superintendent to five candidates, according to school board officials. A decision on the final two is expected within a month. When the final two are chosen, officials expect another round of interviews early in January.

More than two-dozen applications were received following the announced retirement of Superintendent Robert Madding, who will be leaving his post at the end of June. Willie Hayes, assistant superintendent under Madding, is serving as interim superintendent. The five finalists were chosen from approximately 19 applicants who made the first cut.

York named interim superintendent at GCISD

Dr. Toby York (pictured), Deputy Superintendent for Personnel and Students Services at Goose Creek Independent School District, has been named interim superintendent for the district. He will replace Superintendent Dr. Barbara Sultis, who plans to retire on Jan. 5, 2009. The school board will next decide if it will seek a new superintendent on its own or hire an outside consulting firm to assist.

York has been with the GCISD since 2001 when he was hired as executive director for school administration. He was appointed to his current position in 2005. Before joining the GCISD, he served as associate superintendent of curriculum and instruction in the New Caney school district and two years as principal of the New Caney High School. He also previously worked in the Conroe and Cameron school districts.

Rio Vista ISD looking at adding science labs

Trustees for the Rio Vista Independent School District are considering two options to add enough science labs to meet state-mandated requirements that all students complete four science and four math courses for graduation. Superintendent Rock McNulty told trustees the district currently has three options - build a new science wing to accommodate the required labs, lease portable buildings for the labs or consolidate with a district that has sufficient science facilities.

While consolidating with another district is unthinkable, he said, the district currently does not have funding to build a new science wing. The district has the funding to lease portable buildings for the science labs, but McNulty said the life span of a portable is only about 10 years and they are unsightly. McNulty recommended that trustees consider asking voters to approve bonds to pay for a wing with at least three labs. An architect is slated to present cost estimates for a new science wing to board members on Jan. 19.

Richie steps down as chair of Travis health board

Carl Richie Jr. (pictured) recently asked not to be reappointed as chairman of the Travis County Healthcare District board of directors when his term expires today. A lawyer and lobbyist, Richie has served on the board since it was created four years ago.

Richie cited a new job that required him to travel weekly and other business and family commitments as the reason he decided to step down from the health board. Richie will serve until the Austin City Council and Travis County commissioners name a replacement for him.

City of Taylor approves
$10 million bond sale

The Taylor City Council recently approved a $10 million bond sale to pay for building the East Williamson County Regional Park and a pump station for a new water tower. Any bond funds remaining after completing those two projects will be spent on improvements to Second Street or a waterline to connect the new water tower to the existing water system.

A Dallas-based firm submitted the lowest bid at an interest rate of 4.7 percent, almost a full percentage point lower than the national average for municipal bonds, said Jennifer Douglas, the city's financial advisor.

Lee retires as Georgetown city secretary after 20 years

Today marks the close of a 20-year career as Georgetown City Secretary for Sandra Lee (pictured). Lee began working for the city of Georgetown in 1988 as a temp working for the city manager. She later was moved to full-time status and then became deputy city secretary. In 1993, she was appointed city secretary. During her career in city government, she has served six mayors, four city managers and two interim city managers.

Although retiring from her job with the city, "work" will continue for Lee, as she will become the administrator for the construction company run by her husband and son.

Recent Reports

• Eldorado Investigation Report
• SPI's May 2008 Municipal Bond Elections Report
• SPI's November 2007 Bond Election Results Report

Event Links

• Putting America Back to Work Conference
• Texas Transportation Forum
• DIR e-Learning Forum
• Executive Women in Texas Government 22nd Annual Professional Development Conference
• Texas State University Small Business Development Center training schedule
• TWC Texas Business Conferences
• LBJ School Professional Development Calendar
• Upcoming Executive Women in Texas Government events

Texas Government Insider Archives

Volume 1 - 6 Archives · 11/7/03 - 12/19/08

Governor's appointments

Gov. Rick Perry has made the following appointments:

• Rodolfo "Rudy" Becerra Jr. of Nacogdoches, Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities
• Aaron W. Bangor of Austin, Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities
• Maureen F. McClain of Pharr, Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities
• Judy C. Scott of Dallas, Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities
• Kathy Strong of Garrison, Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities
• Scott Holliday of University Park, Texas Medical Board
• Cheryl Swope Lieck of Anahuac, district attorney, 344th Judicial District in Chambers County
• Marialyn Barnard of San Antonio, justice, Texas 4th Court of Appeals
• Jill R. Willis of Allen, judge, 429th Judicial District Court of Collin County

Help us share this message, please...

To ensure timely delivery and proper formatting of the newsletter, be sure to add editor@spartnerships.com to your safe senders list. Otherwise, the newsletter may be flagged as spam and automatically routed to your junk e-mail folder at any time.

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.

6034 W. Courtyard Dr. #100
Austin, Texas 78730

DIR plans e-Learning forum for agencies, universities

A free one-day e-Learning Forum for Texas state agencies and universities only will be held Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Commons Center of the J.J. Pickle Research Campus in Austin. Sponsored by the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR), the conference's goal is to share information on what is happening in the industry and specifically in Texas government. Potential topics include tools and trends in e-learning, case studies of successful government e-learning projects with speakers profiling different implementation styles such as simplistic modules requiring little specialized expertise, successfully deploying a subscription-based learning course library, extensive custom development, Web 2.0 and e-learning, collaboration of the IT and training departments and lessons learned and best practices. To register, click here.

Texas Transportation Forum planned in January

The Fourth Annual Texas Transportation Forum, featuring high-profile speakers - former U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt and former Federal Aviation Administration Administrator and Federal Highway Administration Deputy Administrator Jane Garvey - and a keynote address by Gov. Rick Perry, is slated for Monday through Wednesday, Jan. 5-7, 2009. The forum will be at the Hilton Hotel in Austin. The forum brings together both past and future transportation leaders and will feature sessions on Texas' future transportation needs, an overview of state and federal transportation policy and information on state initiatives, regional partnerships and federal initiatives. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst will speak about transportation issues for the upcoming legislative session. To view the program, click here, and to register, click here.

'Putting America Back to Work' conference planned

The Texas Workforce Commission will host its "Putting America Back to Work" conference on Jan. 15 and 16, 2009, at the Omni Austin Hotel at Southpark. The two-day conference topics include: The Texas Economic Model, Lessening our Dependency on Foreign Energy, Rebuilding Our Manufacturing Base and Challenges of our Business Tax Structure. Among the confirmed speakers are former Texas Secretary of State Phil Wilson and Barry Smitherman, chair of the Public Utility Commission of Texas. For a registration form and agenda, click here.