 Gov. Greg Abbott delivered his State of the State address this week at the Texas Capitol. He urged lawmakers to get to work immediately on four issues he named as emergency items. During his address, Abbott shared that over 100 children died last year in the child protection system and that Child Protective Services (CPS) needs more workers, better training, smarter strategies and real accountability to safeguard these children. "I'm declaring CPS reform my first emergency item," said Abbott. "If you do nothing else this session, cast a vote to save the life of a child." Abbott turned his focus to immigration and shared a story about Juan Rios, who was arrested in Texas multiple times and deported three times. "Last September, he (Rios) went on a crime spree across Texas, killing two people and kidnapping another," said Abbott. "This is the session we will ban sanctuary cities. I'm declaring this an emergency item." Abbott also spoke about a Convention of States authorized by the Constitution to propose amendments. "The proposed amendments would include things like term limits, restoring the 10th Amendment, an amendment that reins in federal regulation and a balanced budget amendment," said Abbott. "The future of America can't wait for tomorrow, so I'm making this an emergency item today."
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Legislative Budget Board releases report
 A compilation of efficiency and information reports by staff of the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) was released Jan. 25. The Texas State Government Effectiveness and Efficiency Report contains 52 reports in the publication which cover a variety of government programs and fiscal policy areas. Of these reports, 32 provided staff identified options to improve the efficiency of government programs and operations.
The evaluation and audit process, established under the provision of Chapter 322 of the Texas Government Code, are tools to help the Texas Legislature identify and implement changes to improve state agency effectiveness and efficiency and ensure transparency of government programs. Each review provides an overview of the findings and concerns related to the issue or program reviewed by the LBB staff, as well as any associated recommendations and fiscal implications.
This report covers fiscal and policy analysis, government operations and employees, health and human services, public education, higher education, justice and public safety, natural and cultural resources, transportation and economic development and regulation. View the 503-page document here.
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Rainosek new CISO for Texas DIR
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|  | | Nancy Rainosek | |
Nancy Rainosek won confirmation as the new chief information security officer (CISO) for the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR).
In that role, Rainosek will oversee all cybersecurity policy and standards designed to protect and secure all state-owned infrastructure and data against cyber attacks, hacking and other security threats to the data gathered on about 27 million Texans. The state is now about 75 percent complete in its goal to safely consolidate and modernize its legacy information system, according to DIR officials.
During her 30 years in information technology both in government and the private sector, Rainosek also was deputy CISO and enterprise security operations manager for the Texas Health Services Commission and as an IT audit manager and information resource manager at the Texas Auditor's Office.
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High-speed rail route between Dallas and Houston moving foward
A private Texas-based company is proposing to build a $14 billion, 240-mile, high-speed railway between Dallas and Houston. The Federal Railroad Administration is completing an environmental impact statement, including a proposed route for the bullet train. The rail system would carry passengers at a speed of 200 miles per hour between the two cities in about an hour and 30 minute, said a representative for Texas Central Partners in an update to the College Station City Council.
While recognized as a state railroad by the Surface Transportation Board, the company does have the ability to use eminent domain to obtain land for the railroad system, but does not plan to use it and plans to offer fair prices to landowners said Jeff Moseley, a vice president of Texas Central and a former member of the Texas Transportation Commission. The company, which plans to privately fund the $12 billion high speed rail project, also plans to hold more community meetings.
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Highway 82 expansion in Henrietta
 Adele Lewis, a representative for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) outlined options to increase safety for travelers on U.S. Highway 82 in Henrietta that is heavily traveled by semis and other large trucks while protecting the economy of the small city near Wichita Falls.
In the past, TxDOT most likely would have widened US 82 into two lanes in the downtown area, but the more desirable option is to reroute the highway about a half a mile from its current alignment because of the size differential and speed difference between passenger vehicles and large trucks, which represent almost half of the traffic measured in the downtown area, Lewis said.
Citing the resulting decline in the economies of the cities of Holliday and Electra when the main highway was realigned, City Administrator Kelley Bloodworth expressed concern regarding the economy and the affect on local restaurants, gas stations and convenience stores if the highway is realigned. Residents will have until Feb. 13 to provide their input on the proposed plan to upgrade US 82.
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Austin's HOT funds for convention center expansion
Members of the Visitor Impact Task Force of Austin are reviewing two payment options presented by the head of the Austin Convention Center and Visitor's Bureau to expand and improve the Austin Convention Center, which is partially funded by the city's 15 percent hotel occupancy (HOT) tax.
With only 247,050 square feet of exhibit space, the current plans include the addition of a total of 447,450 square feet of exhibition space, 120,800 square feet of meeting space and 120,600 of ballroom space.
The first option is to have the public vote for funding the proposed expansion by reallocating $397 million in HOT funds currently being used to pay for previous expansions and improvements. The second option is to allow city council to decide whether to increase the hotel occupancy tax by as much as 2 percent to raise an estimated $609 million to expand the convention center and make more improvements to attract tourists. Task force members plan to present the two plans to fund the expansion to city council members in mid-February.
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Lewisville planning $46M for multi-generational center
 Lewisville city officials got their first look at a design plan for a new multi-generational center that includes the option selected by city council members in an effort to deal with a budget shortfall. That option adds $7.9 million in additional cost to the project and brings the total cost to $46 million, noted the lead architect for the project.
Plans now include building an 85,000-square-foot center with 100 parking spaces and a new access drive with bioswale drainage and using half of an existing parking lot and the west side of the existing access drive, he said.
The planning stage is expected to continue until spring 2018, with council members expected to seek bids in June 2018, and begin construction in the summer. Council members will continue to review plans throughout the design process.
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Lorena to use $2.3M in bonds to attract development
Lorena city officials hope to attract more economic development by using $2.3 million in bonds, issued by the city's Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ), to develop an area near Interstate 35.
The city established the 711.2-acre TIRZ in late 2014 to permit the financing of public improvements on property located east of I-35 at Old Temple Road. The first phase of the project is to install a 12-inch sewer line from I35 to the Waco Metropolitan Area Regional Sewerage System plant, said Kelly Snell, a commissioner with McLennan County who serves on the board of the TIRZ.
Once the new sewer lines are installed, it is estimated that development of new homes and businesses over the next 30 years will quickly increase tax revenue to the city. Current plans are to begin construction on the new sewer lines later this year and complete the project in 2018.
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US 380 and Dallas North Tollway getting $100M upgrade
 Officials of the North Texas Tollway Authority approved a project to upgrade U.S. Highway 380 and the Dallas North Tollway in Collin County in a $100 million project expected to begin later this year. The plan calls for extending the tollway, a new overpass on the tollway, building a southbound frontage road and a new bridge on US 380.
Plans are for Collin County officials to oversee the construction work, with the first priority being completion of the southbound frontage road north of US 380 and then building two overpass intersections along US 380 at the tollway and another at Preston Road, said Hulon Webb, director of development and community services for Celina. The goal is to mitigate traffic congestion and increase safety along the tollway and on US 380, Webb said.
The new lanes and overpasses in Collin County should be completed in 2018 and the tollway extension and bridge on US 380 to be completed in 2022, Webb said. He also said the tollway plans to add signage and signals to ensure motorists are made aware of the proper lanes to enter the tollway or remain on US 380.
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Strategic Partnerships salutes Texas' Lone Stars
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| | David Gutierrez |
David Gutierrez, Presiding Officer, Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles
Career highlights and education: I received a Bachelor of Science degree from Wayland Baptist University. I have over 35 years of Law Enforcement initially working as a Jailor with the Lubbock County Sheriff's Department and later promoting through numerous positions and Divisions. I was later elected Sheriff of Lubbock County and served for 11 years until being asked by Governor Perry to serve as a Board Member with the Texas Parole Board. In September, 2015 Governor Greg Abbott appointed me to serve as the Presiding Officer of the Parole Board. During my law enforcement career, I had also had the opportunity to serve as Chair of the Texas Correctional Office On Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments (TCOOMMI), Chair of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards as well as serving on numerous boards including the United Way of Lubbock County, Texas Jail Association, Texas Correction Association, Boys and Girls Club, South Plains Boys Scout Council, Highland Medical Center, Hospice of Lubbock and the American Heart Association.
What I like best about my job is: The ability to be part of a tremendous team that collaborates with stakeholders throughout the state to help ensure the successful reentry of an offender back into society, and at the same time protect the citizens of Texas.
The best advice I've received for my current job is: Good time management is essential to be a successful Parole Board Member. Have a successful strategy and a disciplined approach with regards to daily job functions which involve interviewing Offenders, Victims, and Attorneys, as well as reviewing lengthy files on each offender prior to rendering a decision.
Advice you would give a new hire in your office: No two cases are the same. In addition to having a direct impact on the Offender, each decision rendered often impacts a victim, family members, and the community. As an employee that works for the citizens of this state, each decision deserves careful evaluation with Public Safety always a primary consideration
If I ever left work early, I could probably be found: At the nearest vintage car show/dealership admiring the automobiles I grew up with and hoping to find that immaculate 1965 Corvette at a ridiculously low price.
People would be surprised to know that I: Shined Shoes in front of the Goliad County Courthouse in 5th grade for 10 cents a shine. The following year my father had me picking cotton in the fields.
One thing I wish more people knew about your agency: Seven Board Members and 14 Parole Commissioners make discretionary parole decisions on approximately 100,000 Offenders each year. While the State recidivism rate has been decreasing in the last decade, we are always looking at evidence based practices to improve upon our system.
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Tyler reviewing three options for Rose Complex Master Plan
 Tyler city officials are reviewing three options for a master plan for the Rose Complex that now houses the Rose Garden Center, the Harvey Convention Center, football and baseball fields and the annual East Texas State Fair.
The goal is to create more parking, renovate or relocate the convention center, add a park to the complex and develop more retail space, said John Sykes, president and chief executive officer of the East Texas State Fair. The lease for the fair at the Rose Complex expires in 2026 and city officials and other leaders are working together to help ensure a smooth transition.
Fair officials purchased a larger site to serve as the new fairground about 12 years ago, but the non-profit organization has been unsuccessful in raising funding to develop the new fairgrounds despite space and facility limitations at its current location in the Rose Complex.
The chair of the steering committee developing the master plan for the Rose Complex said his organization is planning to work in a partnership with executives of the fair to ensure the fair finds a new and more suitable home before the lease expires. Committee members set a goal to finalize the master plan by June.
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Round Rock ISD $530M bond vote awaiting approval
A citizens bond committee from Round Rock Independent School District urged board members to schedule a $530 million bond election in May with three separate propositions to pay for a new high school, a new elementary school, expand and improve existing campuses and upgrade technology and safety at all district facilities.
The first proposition urged by the bond panel is to approve $397 million in bonds to pay for a new high school estimated to cost $130 million, a new elementary school in the northeast portion of the district estimated to cost $35 million, $52 million for additions to two existing high schools and funding for technology, safety equipment and new buses throughout the district.
The second proposition would ask for voter approval of $110 million to add classrooms at two elementary schools, expand athletic and classroom space at a middle school and construction of a new building at a middle school expected to cost about $45 million. The third proposition for $51 million asks for voter approval for a $22 million aquatics center and $20 million for an auditorium for the proposed new high school. Board members are expected to vote on Feb. 16 on projects to include on the bond ballot and whether to schedule the bond election in May.
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GBRA looking at options for failed dam
 Following a recommendation from an engineering firm, Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) officials are mulling two options to replace the Lake Wood H-5 Dam that failed earlier this year. Replacing the dam will take from nine months to two years to complete once funding is identified, said Kevin Patteson, general manager for GBRA.
The first option is to replace the Bear Trap Dam Gate, which is operated by the force of water, Patteson said. The cost to replace one arm of the more historical dam is estimated to be between $3 million to $5 million. Because of the expense of setting up the work site and the possibility of the second arm failing, the best option would be to replace both of the gates at an estimated cost of $6 million to $10 million, he said.
The second option involves installing a more modern dam, an Obermeyer Dam Gate, a metal structure supported by rubber bladders protected by the structure to prevent puncturing the bladder. The gate is hinged from the bottom and can maintain accurate automatic water level control under power failure conditions, Patteson said. The second option is considered to be less costly to maintain and would cost about the same as replacing the older Bear Trap Dam, he added. GBRA officials are exploring the possibility of applying for state and federal loans and grants to pay for replacing or repairing the dam.
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Alvord ISD discusses $10.6M for bond election
A facility committee for Alvord Independent School District recommended that trustees schedule a $10.6 million bond election in May to pay for upgrading facilities.
The most costly projects urged by the community facility committee are the addition of six new classrooms, a new stage and music room, corridors to connect buildings, a new gym and demolishing some existing structures at the elementary school at an estimated cost of $6.1 million. The bond panel also recommended approving $3.1 million in bonds to build a new gym and restrooms.
Other projects urged by committee members are to spend $546,000 to improve the vocational agriculture facility at the high school and spending $670,000 for a new administration building. Board members plan to discuss and vote on the bond recommendation by Feb. 9.
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San Antonio approves $200M development
 San Antonio City Council members on Thursday unanimously approved development on city land that will continue to spur the redevelopment of Hemisfair Park and usher in a planned hotel and residential development.
The mixed-development plan will begin immediately between the Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corporation and a private company on a 5-acre, $200 million project that will provide 385 housing units, up to 70,000 square feet of retail space, up to 120,000 square feet of office space, 200 hotel rooms and more than 600 underground public parking spaces.
This development is part of the Hemisfair Master Plan the City Council approved in 2012 that the city and the Texas Legislature worked together on in order to clearly identify parkland and land available for potential development
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Training facility in Conroe approved for additional funding
Conroe City Council members approved an additional $464,653 to complete the driving pad at a new $4.3 million training facility expected to open late this year.
Located on 20 acres off of FM 1484, the new training facility will feature a three-story burn building, six-story rescue tower and 2-acre driving pad, said Fire Chief Ken Kreger, who requested the additional funding. Future plans include adding classrooms and other training infrastructure not included in the budget for the facility. The new fire station, that will cost about $5.2 million, is designed to house one fire engine staffed by four personnel at one time. The city also is buying a new fire truck and equipment for the truck and firefighters.
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San Benito seeks bids to renovate 90-year-old water plant
San Benito city officials are seeking bids for a $3 million project to renovate the 90-year-old water plant just weeks after shutting the facility down and issuing a boil water advisory.
The water plant project is divided into three phases based on a recommendation by a consultant, with the first phase calling for the replacement of a triplex backwash pump system. City officials are receiving bids to install the pumps, a control panel, piping for the yard and activation, said City Manager Manuel De La Rosa. The second phase of the project includes a design plan, upgrading technology and electrical components with a supervisory control and data acquisition system, an automation control system and chemical treatment containers. To prevent another shutdown of the water plant, because of freezing weather that occurred in January, city officials installed new heaters, insulation and took other steps to protect the equipment at the aging plant. The city had to use this plant in 2014 as the city's primary source of water when a $17.9 million water plant built in 2009 was shut down after failing to meet operating standards. The city filed suit and is seeking damages from the companies that built the water plant.
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Floydada ISD discussing $40M for bond election
 Trustees for Floydada ISD are considering calling a bond election in May to raise about $40 million to build a new campus for grades six through 12, a new transportation and maintenance facility and provide an upgrade to athletic facilities.
Facility assessments performed by the Texas Association of School Boards stated that the current campus, which houses upper level students, does not meet standards required by the Americans with Disabilities Act, has unsecured entrances, a shortage of classroom space and outdated heating and cooling systems that should be addressed.
A vote is scheduled for Feb. 16, when board members will plan to decide whether to schedule a bond election in May and which projects to place on the ballot.
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San Angelo ready to upgrade Bell Street
In response to a 10-year, $80 million plan to fix streets in disrepair, San Angelo city officials are moving forward with the first phase of a three-phase project to upgrade Bell Street between Rio Concho Drive and Bell Street.
The city also plans to issue $16 million in bonds every two years to pay for upgrading streets identified as needing total reconstruction. These streets include Bell, MLK, College Hills, Glenna Drive, Avenue N and, Bell, 29th Street and Southwest Boulevard. City officials plan to seek bids to begin construction on the Bell Street project this fall. While design work is about 90 percent complete, city officials are still negotiating with landowners on purchasing property needed to complete design on the project. Construction of the first phase will take around 18 months.
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Plano reviewing $226.1M in projects for bond election
 Commissioners of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) announced the official designation of a 25-mile segment of U.S. Highway 190 as Interstate 14.
The designation of that stretch of US 190 as an Interstate, is the first step in creating a larger highway network to strategically connect Fort Hood with military installation and ports throughout the Southern states.
Current plans call for the segment of the interstate highway to run concurrent with US 190 from Business US 190 East in Copperas Cove to the junction of US190 and Interstate 35 in Belton, said Ken Roberts, a spokesman for TxDOT. Small signs for I-14 will begin to appear in late summer of this year and will be replaced when the manufacturer completes the larger signs, he said. Local officials also cite significant opportunity for economic development along the new interstate which runs through Coryell and Bell counties. Individual states will have a hand in the project, to include construction and approval of the suggested route. There is no date set for completion of the project. Information on the status of the project can be found here.
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Austin intersections get $1.9M safety update
The Austin City Council agreed to use a $1.9 million grant from the Texas Department of Transportation to pay for studying intersections and installing safety devices throughout the city to help protect pedestrians.
The three types of safety devices being considered are countdown timers that pedestrians can see and hear, hybrid beacons that act as warning devices to alert pedestrians in areas without a traffic signal and accessible pedestrian signals that provide audible indications of when to walk or remain stationary. City officials plan to install countdown timers at 500 intersections which is projected to reduce pedestrian crashes by 25 percent. The plan is to place the pedestrian-activated warning devices on several major traffic arteries throughout the city and about 12 of the accessible pedestrian signals in areas that have a large number of visually-impaired persons.
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By Mary Scott Nabers, CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc.
The Texas A&M University System has had a goal of "leading change in the world" for a very long time. Lately, however, it seems that progress toward the goal is in overdrive.
The university's latest contribution to leading change is an effort to create a premier public-private research, technology development and education complex. If there are Texans who have not yet heard of the RELLIS campus, that's about to change.
A&M has given a nod to its six core values - respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, integrity and selfless service - by including the acronym (RELLIS) in the name of its newest endeavor. The Texas A&M RELLIS Education and Research Campus was created to initiate a new paradigm for collaboration between the public and private sectors. The objective behind the new campus plan is to create partnerships to design, develop and test new technologies at a campus dedicated to research, testing and workforce development.
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High-speed rail between US and Mexico
In a gathering organized by U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Laredo, representatives from state and federal agencies, local city, county officials, the Federal Railroad Administration and representatives from state and federal agencies in Mexico discussed the feasibility of building a high-speed passenger train between Texas and Mexico.
The Texas Department of Transportation has conducted a feasibility study for a new rail line proposed to begin in San Antonio, stop in Laredo at a new railway bridge near the Laredo Colombia Solidarity Bridge (LCSB) and connect to Monterrey, Mexico on a new rail line already approved in Mexico.
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Lewisville moving forward with two fire stations
Lewisville city officials plan to seek an architect in February to finalize the design for two fire stations in the southwestern area of the city that are now estimated to cost about $5.6 million each, or about $1 million over budget, said Fire Chief Tim Tittle.
Citing increasing construction costs for the higher costs, Tittle urged city council members to consider funding the additional costs of the fire stations using the 2017-2018 fire control budget.
City officials plan to select an architect in mid-February, complete design of the two new fire stations in June and begin construction in September of this year, Tittle said. The goal is to complete the project in September 2018.
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Montgomery County to build $8M road
Montgomery County Commissioner Charlie Riley of Precinct 2 has received preliminary approval from the Texas Department of Transportation to build a new road to connect Dobbin Hufsmith Rd. to FM 2978. The road project is expected to cost between $6 million to $8 million.
Funds from precinct 2 will pay for surveying and engineering services for the new connector road. The timeline for the project has not been determined.
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Scottsville receives grant for water lines
Scottsville city officials plan to use a $275,000 community development block grant from the Department of Agriculture to install about 13,900 feet of water pipe and add 45 service reconnections to its water system.
The new water pipes and improvements will allow the city to provide water to more than 35 customers the city had served by purchasing water from Marshall, the mayor pro tem said. City officials also agreed to contribute $13,750 in matching local funds to pay for upgrading the water system.
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Harlingen selects architect for $1.3M renovation
The Harlingen City Commission authorized City Manager Dan Serna to finalize a contract with a Harlingen-based architectural firm to oversee a $1.3 million renovation of city hall. The firm was selected from a field of four architectural firms.
The renovation involves expanding the Town Hall meeting room that serves as the site for meetings of city commissioners and city boards, renovate an adjacent room to serve as a larger, more efficient meeting room for executive sessions, and move two offices.
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Williams selected to lead Rawls College of Business
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| | Margaret Williams |
Margaret L. Williams won selection as dean of the Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech University. Chosen from a field of three finalists, Williams replaces Paul Goebel, who has served as interim dean since January 2016.
Most recently the dean of the College of Business and Public Administration at the University of North Dakota, Williams also was the chair and interim dean of the School of Business Administration at Wayne State University in Michigan as well as faculty positions at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business, the University of Tennessee, Purdue University, and Indiana University.
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Harris County to widen Hufsmith-Korville Road
Harris County Precinct 4 officials plan to spend $27.4 million to widen Hufsmith-Kohrville Road from two lanes to four lanes. While work on the first segment of the project was completed in August, county officials plan to seek bids for Segment 6 of the project, once the design phase is completed.
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Beaumont considering $3M upgrade for park
The Beaumont City Council is considering a recommendation by City Manager Kyle Hayes to spend $3 million to add a new $1.5 million, 6,000-square-foot splash park, a food truck park and new restrooms to Riverfront Park.
The estimated cost of the food truck park with utilities is $300,000 and would accommodate four food trucks, a shaded dining area and a small covered band stand near the parking lot of the civic center, Hayes said. Other costs would be $240,000 for access and drainage improvements, $290,000 for prefabricated restrooms, and $250,000 for lighting and landscape upgrades, he said.
Funding for upgrades to the park along the Neches River is available from $42 million council members borrowed in 2013 to pay for several projects to improve streets and new facilities.
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Miller resigns from City of San Marcos
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Jared Miller
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City Manager Jared Miller of San Marcos resigned from that post in January to become the new city manager in Amarillo. He became city manager in San Marcos in January 2014.
Council members also named Collette Jamison, the assistant city manager since 2006, as the interim city manager until a new city manager is selected. Jamison previously served as interim city manager in 2007. Council members also plan to conduct a national search to find a new city manager to replace Miller.
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Johnson City ISD superintendent set to retire
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David Shanley
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Superintendent David Shanley of Johnson City Independent School District notified trustees that he is retiring effective on Aug. 1 of this year. Previously a principal for the district, Shanley became superintendent of that district in 2004.
Board members are expected to announce soon their plans for a search for a new superintendent to replace Shanley.
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Harris County to build animal transfer center
 Harris County Commissioners approved spending $420,000 along with a $180,000 grant from the Petco Foundation to build a new animal transfer center designed to screen animals for diseases, increase adoptions and avoid euthanizing unwanted stray animals.
The transfer center, which will screen animals before relocating them to transfer groups, is scheduled to begin construction in August and should be completed within a year to 18 months, said Dr. Umair A. Shah, executive director of Harris County Public Health. Harris County voters approved $24 million in bonds in November to pay for a new county animal shelter.
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 Gordon King became the new executive director of construction management for the Austin Independent School District on Jan. 30. In that post, he oversees planning, design and construction of about 130 schools and facilities in that district.
During his 30 years in construction management, King has consulted and worked for a variety of clients, including Fort Bend ISD, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Hawaii, Suffolk University and the Massachusetts Port Authority.
King has a bachelor's degree from Rice University and a master's degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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Llano looking at road and sidewalk upgrade options
Llano city officials are studying a recommendation by City Manager Scott Edmonson to ask voters to approve bonds to pay for improving streets throughout the city. Council members are meeting on Feb. 6 to discuss the bond recommendation.
The city manager also told council members he is negotiating with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to proceed with a $1.3 million sidewalk project on Rural Route 152 to build a mile of sidewalks, a pedestrian bridge and walking trails to connect with parks and facilities.
TxDOT officials plan to use a grant from the Transportation Alternatives Grant program to pay for the sidewalk project, which is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2018.
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Mission mayor raising $25M for bridge
The mayor of Mission is working with McAllen city officials and Hidalgo County officials to raise an additional $25 million to help pay for a new international bridge that would serve only commercial traffic.
Bridge supporters have already secured $19 million for the Madero Bridge project and have won the support of the governor of Tamaulipas, Mexico, for building the new bridge and transforming the Anzalduas Bridge into handling car traffic, Mayor Norberto Salinas of Mission said. City officials also have a permit for the new Madero Bridge.
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Cotham retiring from Lockney ISD
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| | | Phil Cotham | |
Lockney ISD superintendent Phil Cotham is retiring from that post on June 30 after 35 years with the school district.
District officials plan to accept resumes of applicants for superintendent until noon on March 3, interview the first round of applicants during the week of March 20, interview the finalists on April 3 and name a lone finalist for the job on April 13.
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Harris County seeking funds for connector road
The Harris County Toll Road Authority is working with Texas Department of Transportation officials to identify funding to build direct connector roads between SH 249 and the Grand Parkway in Tomball. The goal is to begin work on the direct connector roads in the summer of 2019 and complete the project in the summer of 2021.
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Dozens of public-sector jobs are available. New jobs added this week include:
Click here to view more. Send postings to editor@spartnerships.com |
On Our Website
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Gov. Greg Abbott has announced the following appointments from Jan. 28- Feb. 3:
- Eleesha Blackwell, College Station, State Employee Charitable Campaign Advisory Committee;
- Norma Castilla-Blackwell, Canyon Lake, State Employee Charitable Campaign Advisory Committee;
- David Chapman, Midland, State Employee Charitable Campaign Advisory Committee;
- Linda Fernandez, Austin, State Employee Charitable Campaign Advisory Committee;
- Vanessa Nip, Austin, State Employee Charitable Campaign Advisory Committee;
- Renee Tuggle, Austin, State Employee Charitable Campaign Advisory Committee;
- Michael Wilson, Austin, State Employee Charitable Campaign Advisory Committee;
- Elaine Zavala, Buda, State Employee Charitable Campaign Advisory Committee;
- David Mattax, Austin, Commissioner of Insurance.
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Texas Government Insider is a free weekly newsletter detailing important happenings throughout the state and summarizing current political issues relevant to individuals interested in government.
Publisher: Mary Scott Nabers
Editor: Kristin Gordon
TGI is published by Strategic Partnerships, Inc. (SPI), a research and consulting firm. Founded in Texas in 1995 by former government executives and public sector experts, SPI has developed a national reputation as the premier marketing partner dedicated to helping companies secure contracts in the $1.5 trillion state and local government marketplace.
To learn more about SPI services, click here or contact our sales department at 512-531-3900.
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