The White House just released a list of stepped-up guidelines related to cybersecurity. The alert is an indication of how genuine the Administration’s concern is about cyberbreaches.

The latest communication is likely tied to evolving intelligence indicating that Russia may be planning a cyber-offensive against critical U.S. infrastructure. Federal cybersecurity rules have been in place for years, and compliance has been required in the past. But, compliance will be monitored more closely in the immediate future. Guidelines are morphing into mandates, and leaders in both the public and private sectors will be held responsible for compliance in the future. Enhanced protection from cyberbreaches has become a critical protection component for all Americans.

The increased security mandates make it critically important for both public and private-sector leaders to renew their knowledge of cybersecurity rules and requirements. Compliance oversight will be a top priority for federal officials in the coming months. If a public entity is found to be in non-compliance, millions in funding could be in jeopardy.

The threat of cyberbreaches is not new, but there is currently more angst. And, because compliance oversight has not been as intense in the past, it’s possible that some government executives are unaware of the responsibility that rests with them.

Handing off or delegating cybersecurity responsibility to CIOs, CISOs, and CTOs will no longer protect government executives. Technology teams, no matter how capable, will not be the targets if a cyberbreach occurs. It is the top officials at state agencies, universities, cities, counties, and school districts who will be held responsible.

Fort Worth residents will have the opportunity to vote on $560 million of capital projects in the city’s May 7 bond election.

City staff developed a list of projects designed to help maintain and improve existing infrastructure and address equity.

Other priorities include providing mobility and city services in growth areas, enhancing active transportation and recreational corridors, allowing for flexibility and partnership opportunities, and achieving balance and fiscal stewardship.

Projects are grouped into five propositions:

If the bond propositions pass, the measures will have no direct impact on the tax rate, and the city’s tax rate should not need to increase in order to repay the bonds.

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Harris County Flood Control District are two of the biggest beneficiaries in Texas of the $1.2 trillion omnibus spending bill.

The U.S. Department of Transportation will direct $20 million to DFW airport in four $5 million grants to help fund construction of new facilities and improve existing infrastructure.

Two members of Texas’ congressional delegation had sought $98 million initially for construction of the airport’s Brute Force Central Utility Plant, but their requests resulted in a $5 million earmark for this fiscal year.

The new plant will enhance capacity and restore redundancy of heating and cooling systems, in turn improving the airport’s resilience and regional air quality. The transition to zero-emission electricity for heating the new plant will reduce ozone precursor emissions by 85 percent.

DFW also stands to receive funds for its Parkway Bridge Replacement Program, a new snow and ice removal equipment storage facility, and aircraft rescue and firefighting station consolidation.

Harris County Flood Control District in Texas will receive a combined $38.1 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for pre-disaster mitigation projects including construction of stormwater detention basins and culvert improvements.

More than $9.9 million in partner funds from FEMA will go toward the design and construction of the 7.5-acre Meyergrove Stormwater Detention Basin, which is currently in the design stage of the project lifecycle. Once final design is approved and complete, construction is anticipated to start in fall 2022 and be completed by spring 2023.

The district also will get $9.95 million for its TC Jester Stormwater Detention Basin Project and $8.25 million for work on the Westador Stormwater Detention Basin.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved the Texas General Land Office (GLO) amended mitigation action plan for federal disaster recovery grants.

Revisions to the plan allocate Community Development Block Grant Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) funding of $750 million to Harris County and an additional $488 million to the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) for mitigation projects related to Hurricane Harvey recovery.

This brings the total infrastructure and mitigation investments in Harris County to more than $1.1 billion. HUD’s approval of the GLO’s plan is in addition to HUD’s direct allocation of $61.88 million to the city of Houston, $117.21 million in CDBG-MIT awards for Harris County projects, and $209.22 million in infrastructure funds from CDBG-DR.

Additionally, H-GAC continues to develop its method of distribution for mitigation projects within the greater Houston region.

The Texas Facilities Commission (TFC) will host a mandatory pre-submittal conference at 10 a.m. March 29 for architectural, engineering, and construction services for Phase Two of the Capitol Complex Project in Austin.

Phase Two is comprised of two new state office buildings, parking structures, and extension of pedestrian mall (“Capitol Mall”) within the complex.

Selected contractors will provide enhanced building system commissioning services during the pre-design, design, construction, post-construction, and warranty phases for Phase Two of the Capitol Complex Project.

Work will involve:

Estimated cost is $224.54 million.

Public career and education highlights: Upon receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees in environmental engineering from Texas Tech University, I spent a number of years serving public water utilities as an engineering consultant. In 2015, I went to work for my largest client, North Texas Municipal Water District. For the first six years, I oversaw our wastewater operations and was promoted to executive director last year. At NTMWD, we provide drinking water treatment and delivery, wastewater collection and treatment, and solid waste services for a population of over 2 million people in one of the fastest-growing regions in the country.

What I like best about my public service is: Knowing that the services we offer are essential for a high quality of life and our work has a positive impact on our community.

The best advice I’ve received is: Centered on honoring, respecting, and valuing people and the unique attributes they bring to the table. I recall many conversations with my parents over the years that included phrases such as treat others the way you want to be treated, do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and love your neighbor as yourself. I am thankful to have these values instilled in me.

My favorite way to de-stress is: to spend time with my family at the lake. The combination of time together, enjoying nature, being active, and having fun fills me up. Although that is my favorite way to de-stress, the more common ways are working out at home by indoor cycling or yoga and enjoying watching my three kiddos play soccer.

People might be surprised to know that I: have lived in Texas my entire life, except for one summer in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has an agency called Indian Health Service that, among other services, provides water and sewer service to American Indian Reservations. I had an opportunity to work with their staff to support 23 reservations in Northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

One thing I wished more people knew about NTMWD is: We are grateful to serve our communities with access to safe drinking water, improving water quality in our waterways, and proper disposal of our waste. We take pride in doing work that protects public health, enhances the environment, and enables economic development.

Richardson officials anticipate beginning procurement for a construction manager at risk (CMAR) in the second quarter of 2023 on renovations to both the city’s library and City Hall.

Voters approved a $64 million bond proposition in November 2021 that included $36.1 million for library renovations and $22.4 million for work on the first phase of a City Hall project.

Construction on City Hall will be divided into four phases to renovate existing staff areas and expand employee workspaces into the building’s Grand Hall. In addition, the city will create a central help desk for visitors, enhance security, renovate restrooms, and expand as needed to meet accessibility and facility needs. It will undertake other projects designed to improve overall operational efficiencies through updates to the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems in addition to technology updates.

The scope of the library project features open floor plans, configurable learning rooms, and technology for study and co-working groups for uses that were not in existence when the building opened in 1970. Other improvements include upgrades to heating and air conditioning, and plumbing systems, new stairways, and new centralized bathrooms. The library security and technology systems will also be upgraded.

Construction is expected to begin in 2023 on both buildings.

Longview Independent School District (LISD) residents will have the chance to vote on four bond propositions with a combined cost of $230 million. Pending voter approval, the bond election on May 7 could bring new construction projects and significant repairs to the 47-year-old Longview High School Campus.

The LISD board of trustees originally approved the decision to order a bond election in February based on a facility study published at the end of last year.

Findings from the December 2021 facility study indicated that Longview High School facilities are 75 percent functional, and the Longview Early Graduation High School facilities are only 58 percent functional. The four bond propositions would address functional shortfalls by funding the following renovation and construction projects:

As residents prepare to vote on these propositions in the upcoming bond election, Longview officials are stressing the prudence of carrying out these projects now before a costlier, more urgent need for them emerges.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded the state of Texas and the cities of Houston, Dallas, and Fort Worth millions of dollars in grant funding on March 22 for recovery efforts from the severe winter storm in February 2021. 

Texas will receive $26.39 million, Houston will get $30.29 million, Dallas will accept $24.43 million, and Fort Worth will collect $16.61 million. 

These funds are part of $2.93 billion HUD will distribute to communities to help them restore their infrastructure after disasters and build resilience to climate change. 

HUD is allocating $2.21 billion in Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds to 10 local governments and 13 state governments for 16 major disasters in 2021. 

Funding will aid these communities as they recover from and build resilience to natural disasters, including climate disasters, with a specific focus on low- and moderate-income populations. The funds are specified to be used for disaster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure and housing, economic revitalization, and mitigation, in the most impacted and distressed areas.  

With the March 22 allocations, HUD has now dispersed the remaining funds of the $5 billion appropriated in the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act for CDBG-DR funds. In November 2021, HUD allocated more than $2 billion in CDBG-DR for 2020 disasters. In January 2022, HUD opened access to more than $2 billion. 

The city of Decatur recently completed a $33.6 million bond sale that will now help fund a slate of capital improvement projects.

The issuance of certificates of obligation will support efforts to improve parks as well as the city’s water and wastewater systems.

However, the largest share of the bond sale proceeds will fund construction of a new police headquarters. City documents from 2021 indicate a need for a 16,000-square-foot police facility with short-term detention capabilities.

Decatur police operate out of a former residence hall building that was part of a relocated junior college. They have occupied that building for 15 years, but the building is not conducive to law enforcement services and experiences roof leaks.

The City Council originally decided which capital improvements would receive bond funds during a selection process that lasted much of 2021. In addition to an $18.3 million new police headquarters, proceeds from last week’s bond sale will go to other projects including a $5.6 million elevated water storage tank on Thompson Street, the $2.3 million cost of engineering and design on a wastewater plant expansion, $2.4 million in park improvements, $1.3 million in land acquisition, and library improvements priced at $943,000.

Some of these newly funded water, sewer, and infrastructure projects are expected to go to bid before June. However, city officials are forecasting longer timelines for work on the police headquarters, park improvements, and library renovations since they have yet to bring on an architect for those projects.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) will host a non-mandatory pre-bid conference at 10 a.m. March 29 for the replacement of the under-sized headquarters building at Inks Lake State Park.

Although the pre-bid meeting is not mandatory, bidders are strongly encouraged to attend as important information regarding bidding requirements and the project will be discussed. A tour of the site will be conducted immediately following the pre-bid meeting.

A visit to the project site is not mandatory, however, TPWD strongly encourages potential bidders to view the project site and offers no guarantee that the project site will be accessible to potential bidders at any time other than the March 29 conference.

At more than 300,000 acres, Inks Lake State Park is the largest state park in Texas.

The pressures of COVID on driver psychology are contributing to a rise in disastrous outcomes on the Texas roadways, according to a professor at The University of Texas at Austin.

At this year’s annual Texas Transportation Forum, psychology professor Art Markman stressed to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) leaders and transportation stakeholders the urgency for reminding people and drivers that they are part of a community. Failing to do so, he said, would lead to myriad negative consequences, including negative consequences on the road.

More than 4,480 people were killed on Texas roads in 2021, making it the second deadliest year since TxDOT began tracking fatalities in 1940. The deadliest year on record was 1981 with 4,701 fatalities.

A total of 1,522 people were killed in 2021 because of speed, and a total of 1,219 people were killed because they were not wearing a seat belt, according to TxDOT.

In addition to funding traffic safety campaigns and grant funds to law enforcement, TxDOT is working with researchers to deploy and study new roadway design features that are proven more effective in saving lives. The agency is using crash data to pinpoint areas where drivers are more prone to accidents and will be focused on improvements in those areas and sharing that data with the public.

With increased focus on engineering, enforcement, and the critical role drivers play in road safety, TxDOT leaders are aiming to end the streak of daily deaths on Texas roadways.

The city of Irving has begun design work on a project to replace the Carbon Road Pump Station while increasing the site’s pumping capacity from 25 million gallons of water per day (MGD) to 33 MGD.

Existing equipment is outdated at the oldest running water utilities station in Irving. The pumps and motors are outside and have deteriorated due to exposure to sun, rain, heat, and cold. The building is small, and it is difficult to maintain the valves, piping, and electrical equipment inside.

The facility will be demolished, and a larger building will be constructed with modern equipment located inside and protected from the elements.

Irving is planning to enhance the pump station’s outward appearance — pulling aesthetics from surrounding neighborhoods, as well as other city water distribution facilities. With design underway, construction is expected to begin by the end of 2022. The facility is scheduled to open in 2024.

Harris County is approaching the design phase for renovations of the existing Institute of Forensic Sciences (IFS) Building.

The building is 207,732 gross square feet with one nine-story office and laboratory tower and an attached one-story morgue, to remain. It opened for operations in 2017.

Major renovations include an approximate 3,000-square-foot expansion of the existing Medical Examiner morgue cold body cooler, the relocation and expansion of the Forensic Genetics Laboratory, located off-site at 2450 Holcombe Blvd., into the existing IFS Building, and the renovation of multiple floors in the existing IFS Building.

The total square feet of renovation is estimated to be 42,050.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner appointed Walter Hambrick as deputy chief of staff in his administration on March 24.

Hambrick has 16 years of experience in the public sector and has been the assistant director of Houston Public Works, Street, and Bridge Maintenance Branch since January 2018. Before joining the city, he served as maintenance administrator for the Texas Department of Transportation, Houston District.

The city of Hutchins named James Quin as its new city manager. He will take over from Interim City Manager Guy Brown who filled the position after former City Administrator Trudy Lewis vacated the position in December 2021.

Quin most recently served as city manager of the city of Haslet. Before that, he was city manager of the city of Richland Hills.

The Williamson County Purchasing Department invites businesses to attend its inaugural vendor forum from 10 a.m. to noon April 27 in the Purchasing Training Room of the Williamson County Georgetown Annex, 100 Wilco Way.

Vendors will learn how to do business with the county as well as acquire information about competitive bidding online, contracting for smaller non-bid county purchases, and joining state vendor databases.

Purchasing staff will cover performance requirements, ethics standards, and billing and payment policies. Vendors also will learn about the various county departments and the types of goods and services that are purchased.

Vendors may RSVP for the free event on the purchasing website www.wilco.org/Purchasing.

Bryan ISD trustees are set to vote on Ginger Carrabine as the district’s new superintendent on March 28.

Carrabine has been in Bryan ISD for over four and a half years serving as chief of staff, deputy superintendent and, since September 2021, interim superintendent, after Dr. Christie Whitbeck accepted a position as superintendent of Fort Bend ISD.

Prior to coming to Bryan ISD, Carrabine served as a teacher, assistant principal, elementary and middle school principal, executive director of curriculum and instruction, and executive director of strategic planning.

The Madisonville City Council appointed Fabrice Kabona as the new city manager. He succeeded former City Manager Camilla Viator who retired in October 2021.

Kabona most recently served as deputy city manager and assistant city manager for the city of Lancaster.

The Buda City Council named Micah Grau as interim city manager, effective April 1. He will take over from City Manager Kenneth Williams who tendered his resignation on January 4.

Grau began his tenure with the city of Buda in January 2017 as assistant city manager and was promoted to deputy city manager in April 2019. Before joining Buda, he was interim city manager, assistant city manager, and director of finance at the city of Hutto.

The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) board of directors voted unanimously to elect Fort Worth representative Henry Borbolla III as chair, Dallas representative Gloria Tarpley as vice-chair, and Fort Worth representative Vernon Evans as secretary.

Borbolla was appointed to the board in 2015 by the Fort Worth City Council and served as secretary and vice chair before being elected to chair. Tarpley was appointed to the board by the Dallas City Council in 2019 and most recently served as secretary. Evans was appointed to the board by the Fort Worth City Council in 2019.

Officers were nominated by Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson and Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, both of whom serve on the board.

Texas A&M Forest Service promoted Wes Moorehead to associate director of forest resource protection and fire chief.

Before moving to College Station in 2020 and being promoted to assistant director of the Forest Resource Protection Division, Moorehead served as department head of East Texas Operations and a regional forester in the agency’s Nacogdoches office.

The city of Beeville named Kevin Behr as its new police chief, effective April 4. He will succeed former Police Chief Robert Bridge who retired in July 2021.

Behr previously served as chief of police for the Coastal Bend College Police Department and as the director of public safety and emergency management for the college district. Before that, he was a captain with the Beeville Police Department.

The city of Dallas is seeking nominations to its inaugural economic development corporation board of directors.

Board members will oversee the city of Dallas Economic Development Corporation, which was approved by the City Council in January to support business development and serve as a public developer within the city.

The board will be made up of 15 members and represent a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, geographies, and expertise.

Initial directors will serve a term of up to four years and are eligible for reappointment for three-year terms. No director may serve for more than eight consecutive years.

Directors do not receive a salary or compensation for their services. They may be subject to a background check prior to confirmation.

Those interested in nominating themselves or others to the board may click here to apply by the April 30 deadline.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced these appointments and reappointments from March 18-23:

Anna Maria Farías - San Antonio 

Brandon Batch - Midland (reappointed) 

Jennifer Harris - Austin (reappointed) 

Marty Lucke - Floydada (named chair)

Roselyn Morris - San Marcos 

Scott Muri - Odessa 

Mario Lizcano - Pharr 

Kim Lemaux - Arlington (reappointed) 

Gerald Ladner Sr. - Austin (reappointed) 

William Brown - San Antonio 

Andrew Kahan - Houston 

Ryan Hill - Fort Worth 

City of Houston – Houston Climate Action Plan and Resilient Houston Two-Year Report

American Road & Transportation Builders Association – National Materials Dashboard

Dozens of public-sector jobs are available. Click here to view all job openings and guidelines for job submissions to SPI. New jobs added this week: