Natural disasters are becoming more regular and more intense. Thousands of lives have been lost over the last several years and trillions of dollars have been spent on the accumulated damage. The growing cost of coping and dealing with the aftermath of weather events has made one thing abundantly clear - investing in resilience makes good financial sense.

A recent study by the National Institute of Building Sciences revealed that for every $1 spent on resilience and mitigation projects at least $6 is saved because future losses are significantly lessened. 

Because natural disasters are unpredictable and varied, damages impact every segment of U.S. infrastructure. Future devastation that can be predicted is staggering. Because of that, funding to deliver resilient infrastructure is now available from numerous divisions of the federal government. 

One of the major sources of funding is available now through the Department of Defense’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program. It supports resilience-oriented partnerships between the federal government, local governments and community stakeholders. Congress recently expanded the grant funding program to include support for projects involving natural infrastructure solutions such as wildfire mitigation and coastal resilience projects.

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Four Ellis County school districts have bond elections coming up on May 6. Waxahachie, Midlothian, Red Oak and Maypearl school districts are proposing bond issues to address growth in districts south of the Dallas metro.

Waxahachie Independent School District (WISD) is proposing the largest bond issue at $595 million to prepare for growth expected to over 17,000 students by the early 2030s.

WISD’s bond is divided into four propositions:

• Proposition A ($192.3 million) would fund two elementary schools; a new Wilemon STEAM Academy; land purchase for new campuses; and expansion of the Hancock Building, Finley Junior High and Howard Junior High. 
• Proposition B ($322.1 million) to construct a second comprehensive high school. 
• Proposition C ($60.7 million) for facility upgrades throughout the district. 
• Proposition D ($20 million) for improvements to Waxahachie High School athletic facilities. 

Red Oak Independent School District (ROISD) is having a $97.5 million bond election to fund construction of a new middle school. The new middle school would house 1,200 students and provide relief for the current middle school, which is designed to hold 1,200 students but is overcapacity with 1,600 students. 

Maypearl Independent School District is proposing a $35 million bond to help address capacity issues across the district. If the bond is approved, several projects are planned:

• Maypearl Middle School would add five classrooms, two science labs, more restrooms and space for a storm shelter at Maypearl Middle School. 
• Maypearl Middle School would add a larger cafetorium, additional classrooms, Career Technology Education labs and space for a storm shelter.
• Lorene Smith Kirkpatrick Elementary School would receive replaced carpeting and new wall panels. Parking lots would be enhanced with concrete, and HVAC would be replaced and upgraded throughout the district.

Midlothian ISD is proposing a $415.9 million bond covering three propositions:

• Proposition A calls for two new elementary schools, a career and technical education center, land acquisition and additions/renovations to five campuses and two other facilities. 
• Proposition B calls for storm shelters at several campuses. 
• Proposition C includes funding for athletic improvements. 

(Photo: Waxahachie High School Athletics. Courtesy of Waxahachie ISD.)

The Texas Tech University System Board of Regents has authorized design services to begin on the Lubbock campus for an anticipated 300-bed residence hall with an estimated budget of $38 million. The board unanimously approved the initial expenditure of $640,397 to start a design contract. 

The West Village II Residence Hall will be next to West Village I Residence Hall on 19th Street — across from Covenant Medical Center. 

According to Texas Tech’s project website, West Village II Residence Hall will be constructed. The expected occupancy is upper-class undergraduate students. The new structure of approximately 105,000 square feet will be located west of the existing complex and east of Knoxville Avenue and provide approximately 300 beds. Room layouts will be predominantly four-person suites with each student having a single room, two bathrooms shared by only two students in the suite and a common living area. 

Officials say this comes as there's been an increase in upperclassmen interested in living on campus. As of right now, there are enough beds for first-year students on campus, and the university will most likely cap that at 7,000 students. 

Building this dorm will allow the administration to close sections of the older dorms for future renovations without greatly affecting the number of beds available for students. 

Klein Independent School District (KISD) officials have announced that seven schools will be the first to undergo renovations under the 2022 bond program. The $895.3 million bond was approved by voters last May, with Proposition A allocating $843.8 million for facility improvements and Proposition B providing $51.5 million for classroom technology. Propositions C and D, which would have allocated $141 million and $75.2 million respectively to build an events center and renovate Klein Memorial Stadium, were not approved.

The seven schools undergoing renovations and expansions are Klein Collins, Klein Cain and Klein Oak high schools; Kleb, Doerre and Hildebrandt intermediate schools; and Northampton Elementary School. The renovations will begin first, with an estimated completion date of August 2024, though district officials have noted that supply chain issues and inflation continue to pose challenges.

The renovation projects include two-story, 20,000-square-foot building additions at Klein Cain, which will feature 24 new classrooms with a capacity to accommodate 1,000 students, as well as 144 new parking spaces. Renovations at Klein Oak will include an enclosed, secure vestibule with a designated visitor and student entrance, 22 instructional classrooms and a college and career center. Dance and gym additions will be constructed at Klein Collins, and Kleb and Doerre intermediate schools will have secure vestibules, single-canopy entrances and fine arts and gym facilities. Hildebrandt Intermediate and Northampton Elementary will undergo total renovations, with improvements including additional security cameras, collaborative learning pods and increased carpool access.

No cost estimates will be released until a contractor has been selected. However, proactive measures are being taken to ensure that the bond timeline is not significantly impacted by inflation and supply chain challenges and that all bond projects are currently estimated to be completed by the 2027-28 school year.

(Photo: Klein High School. Courtesy of Klein ISD.)

Rich Gagnon

Assistant City Manager and Chief Information Officer

City of Amarillo

Public career highlights and education: My background is primarily private sector. I served as the Global Director of infrastructure at a large video game retailer, as the Global VP of Engineering at a global data center company, and as Theater VP of Engineering for the largest cybersecurity manufacturer. I have been with the City of Amarillo for seven years and serve as Assistant City Manager and Chief Information Officer.    

What I like best about my public service is: There is inherent purpose and impact to the work we do in public service. Every day I see opportunities to have an impact in my own hometown.

The best advice I’ve received: Failure only happens when you quit. Iterate and adapt until you have a plan that works.

People might be interested to know that: I served in the Marine Corps and the Air Force.

One thing I wished more people knew about the City of Amarillo is: The City of Amarillo has more refugees per capita than any city in Texas. We have an extremely diverse culture… and amazing food options.

Marshall Archer joins Strategic Partnerships, Inc. as an account executive. His areas of expertise have been focused on sales and marketing and he has sold to governmental entities in the past. Marshall is also an accomplished account executive with years of experience in technology and finance.  

His experience working in sales, marketing and consulting allowed him to develop a reputation for delivering high-quality work and exceeding expectations. He has a strong academic background, with a degree in business administration from The University of Texas at Arlington.  

The SPI Team will be launching a number of new programs in the near future and Marshall will be working with the team in the areas of marketing and sales expansions.  

A new San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) substation will be built on the city’s South Side using funds from a portion of the $185 million in proposed 2022 bond funding.

The substation, designed to bring multiple community programs to the area, will be built on a 17.8-acre site at 8801 S. Flores St. as part of the city’s 2022 bond program.

The SAPD substation will be equipped with the latest technology and designed to bring multiple community programs to the surrounding area. The facility will include space for patrol officers, SAFFE officers and the Crisis Response Team. 

By enhancing visibility and neighborhood safety for residents, the substation will allow for increased collaboration on neighborhood safety initiatives. 

Construction is expected to start in May 2025 with a completion timeframe in December 2026. 

With this being the first substation to be built since 1989, the city must keep its infrastructure up to date. The addition of this substation is essential in meeting the demands of a fast-growing city. 

The next step in the process will be to hold community input meetings during the summer regarding the substation's features and the services to be provided.  

More than $30 million in certificates of obligation are being considered by the Killeen City Council to fund several needed capital improvement projects. The largest proposed project will be an $18 million new facility to house and service city fleet vehicles.

Other proposed projects include:

• $4.5 million park construction and renovation.
• $3 million police evidence storage building.
• $2 million parks maintenance facility.
• $2.7 million Skylark Field operator building.
• $1.3 million police parking facility.
• $380,000 in issuance and contingency.

If approved by the council, funds could be available as early as August. 

According to city officials, the city could need as much as $232 million in bond debt over the next nine years to improve and build public buildings and other infrastructure. This includes building a $66 million City Hall, an animal quarantine facility, a southwest branch library, a recreation and teen center, park development and new roads. Council members will vote in August if they want to call a bond election for November.

A proposed 9.8-mile expansion of the RM 620 corridor, from U.S. 183 to the Colorado River Bridge, could relieve current traffic congestion. The $38 million project will add frontage roads, elevated bypass lanes at the Anderson Mill Road and El Salido Parkway intersections, turnarounds at both intersections, additional right-turn lanes and a shared-use bicycle and pedestrian path.

In 2019, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) conducted a refinement study on RM 620 and found commuters traveling on RM 620 experience major traffic-related delays during morning and afternoon peak travel times. The area of Williamson County continues to grow and traffic issues will get worse, according to officials. 

TxDOT is currently undertaking environmental studies and anticipates finishing that stage by early winter. A detailed design state will follow, including right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation. Those are anticipated to take up to 3 years. Construction would follow. 

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) on April 6 approved financial assistance in the amount of $18.1 million to the Greenbelt Municipal and Industrial Water Authority. The water authority will construct three water wells, well field piping, electrical distribution equipment and a 12-mile transmission line to transport water to its existing water treatment plant. 

The TWDB also approved $7.5 million to the city of Southside Place to address frequent flooding by installing two new stormwater drainage systems in the Edloe-Auden-Harper area to increase capacity and reduce street ponding. 

The Greater Texoma Utility Authority on behalf of White Shed Water Supply Corporation received $3.5 million to construct a new well and an elevated storage tank with associated disinfection equipment to provide sufficient production and storage capacity. The Lazy River Improvement District received $3.4 million from the Texas Water Development Fund to make improvements at its existing wastewater treatment plant by upgrading and repurposing existing equipment. 

The TWDB also provided an additional $505,000 to the Greater Texoma Utility Authority on behalf of Gober Municipal Utility District for planning of water system improvements. The utility district will replace approximately 11,000 linear feet of water lines, install variable frequency drives at an existing well pump and at the high service pump station, install a new backup generator for the well and pump station, and install a liner inside the existing ground storage tank. 

A plan to reduce flooding in the North Beach area is in the works. On April 11, Corpus Christi City Council was presented with a preliminary design aimed at improving drainage along North Beach. 

The design is called the Linear Park project. A Corpus Christi official said the project would reduce flooding and increase tourism. Within five months, the city will have more clarity on the engineering part of the plan. Following that will be more detailed designs and construction bid documents. 

Drainage has long been an issue at North Beach due to a lack of elevation, officials say. The option recommended was to introduce a linear canal through North Beach. Included in that would be the installation of dunes, raised infrastructure, elevated buildings and an improved stormwater system. 

City leaders want to add a canal so community members and visitors can ride their kayaks and enjoy the scenic area. They also plan on adding walking trails. 

As of right now, there is no set cost for construction. That will be determined once the design is complete. Officials expect the project to be completed by October 2025. 

(Photo: Concept of the North Beach Canal and the future surrounding development that might result. Courtesy city of Corpus Christi.)

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has released new design options for the Interstate 35 Capital Express Central expansion project, which will cover eight miles along the I-35 corridor from U.S. Hwy. 290 East down south to SH 71 and Ben White Boulevard and aims to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion in Austin.

The proposed $4.5 billion plan includes removing the existing I-35 decks, lowering the roadway, adding two non-toll HOV lanes in each direction, building east-west cross-street bridges and providing pedestrian and bicycle shared-use paths. TxDOT unveiled the conceptual renderings during a public aesthetics meeting on April 19, 2023. The designs feature key markers along the proposed highway expansion, including Lady Bird Lake, 6th Street and Cesar Chavez Street.

The plan has been sent to the federal government for approval. TxDOT is expected to announce the finalized version of the project's design and scope in August 2023, with a targeted construction start date in mid-2024. The project is expected to take eight years to complete with an estimated finish by 2033.

In January 2023, TxDOT released the environmental impact statement (EIS) draft for the project, which had three proposals: Build-Alternative 2, Modified-Build Alternative 3 and a proposal to forego the project altogether. Officials stated that the Modified-Build Alternative 3 design is preferred, which would add two non-toll high-occupancy-vehicle managed lanes on I-35 from U.S. 290 East to State Highway 71/Ben White Boulevard.

This alternative is slightly more expensive than Build-Alternative 2's $4.45 billion, but TxDOT plans to move forward with the Modified-Build Alternative 3 design. 

Peters Colony Memorial Park in Flower Mound will soon open for construction bids. The design phase of the project is at 95% and plans are to open the park by next year. The 3.3-acre park has a development budget of $2.96 million, including $750,000 coming from a Texas Parks and Wildlife Grant and remaining funding coming from tax increment reinvestment zones. 

The park, located at 3201 Peters Colony, will feature a soft-surface trail, signage, a 30-inch-high water feature, a children’s area, natural landscaping, a custom-type pavilion, artwork, and space for legacy monuments.

According to city officials, they hope the park will be a restorative and educational space.

(Photo: Artist rendering of a 3.3-acre park set to open next year in Flower Mound. Courtesy town of Flower Mound.) 

El Paso City Council approved a $276 million capital improvement plan for the airport in April. The bulk of funding, nearly $130 million, will go toward airfield improvements. About $44 million will go toward terminal improvements and $102 million toward non-aviation projects and developments.

El Paso International Airport is getting a new air traffic control tower – one of several large-scale projects and investments planned for the 7,000-acre airport property. The airport’s current tower was constructed in 1967.

While the 174-foot air traffic control tower is on airport property, it is an asset of the federal government, which is taking the lead on the project. The design phase of the tower began in March. 

According to airport materials, there were issues identified with the current tower during a line-of-sight assessment. The terminal building obstructs the view of parts of Runway 4, and the north cargo building obstructs parts of Runway 22. A new site for the air traffic control tower would eliminate these obstructions and improve safety. 

(Photo: El Paso International Airport.)

Kyle City Council announced on April 18 that Bryan Langley was appointed to the position of city manager. Langley previously served as the city manager for the city of Burleson. He also served in multiple capacities in Denton, Addison and Dallas.  

The city had been without a permanent city manager for about eight months since former City Manager Scott Sellers resigned in September. Assistant City Manager Jerry Hendrix had been acting city manager since July. 

Alejandro “Alex” Meade III of the city of Mission was appointed by the Texas governor to the Texas Transportation Commission for terms set to expire Feb. 1, 2025. Meade is the executive vice president of a financial institution and previously served as the city manager to the city of Pharr. 

Steven Alvis, co-founder and managing partner of a commercial real estate agency, was also selected by the governor to serve on the commission through 2029. Alvis is chairman of the Texas Facilities Commission.

The Texas Transportation Commission governs the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and is responsible for policymaking regarding the state’s highway system, developing a statewide transportation plan, assisting the development of public transportation and adopting rules for TxDOT’s operation. 

The Judson Independent School District has selected Dr. Milton Fields III as the lone finalist for superintendent.

Fields has been an educator for more than 20 years, including 16 years in the district. He's held numerous jobs within the district, most notably serving as the interim superintendent this school year. Fields took over for Dr. Jeanette Ball after she resigned in November. She has since taken the same position at Southwest ISD. 

In preparation of spring and summer weather, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar reminds Texans they can purchase certain items tax-free during the state’s sales tax holiday for emergency preparation supplies. On Saturday, April 22 through midnight on Monday, April 24, there is no limit to the purchases for the following emergency items: 

• Household batteries, fuel containers and flashlights priced less than $75. 
• Hurricane shutters and emergency ladders that cost less than $300. 
• Portable generators priced less than $3,000. 
• Mobile telephone batteries and mobile telephone chargers less than $75. 
• Radios - portable self-powered (including battery operated). This includes two-way and weather band radios less than $75. 

A full list of emergency preparation supplies that may be purchased tax-free can be found on the Comptroller’s website. 

For purchases made online, note that delivery, shipping, handling and transportation charges are part of the sales price. Consider these charges when determining whether an emergency preparation supply can be purchased tax-free during the holiday. 

For example, if you purchase a rescue ladder online for $299 with a $10 delivery charge, the total sales price is $309. Because the total sales price of the ladder is more than $300, tax is due on the $309 sales price. 

Purchases that do not qualify include batteries for automobiles, boats and other motorized vehicles, camping stoves and camping supplies, chainsaws, extension ladders and stepladders, plywood and tents. 

The Brownwood City Council authorized the city to seek bids for the renovation of the former Texas State Technical College (TSTC) into the new home of the Brownwood-Brown County Health Department. According to city officials, the county and city are working together to determine construction costs. 

The former TSTC building, at 305 Booker, has deeded the property back to the city after it no longer needed the building for educational purposes.

The current health department location, 510 Lee St, is limited in space and expanding the facility is not an option for staff and additional programs. The current facility also needs updated HVAC, plumbing, roof work and replacement of windows and doors.

The city of Corpus Christi and the Port of Corpus Christi are joining together to find a drought-resistant water source, including the option to pursue water desalination.

Assessments are in progress to implement desalination on Harbor Island. According to officials, they are analyzing the amount of output and the placement of intake and outtake tunnels. The Port has designated $250,000 to evaluate how the Harbor Island site could connect to the city’s water distribution system. The desalination facility would intake a proposed 50 million gallons of seawater per day. 

Seawater desalination involves separating dissolved salts and other minerals from ocean water to produce water for use by residents and industry. It is seen as a source of water that can withstand significant droughts.

If assessments go well and the two entities decide to proceed, construction will take up to approximately 40 months. So, no working solutions are expected for at least five years. 

According to city officials, there could be legislative funding availability if the two entities collaborate.  

The Shenandoah City Council on April 12 agreed on $1.86 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for design services on an $18 million project to extend water and sewer to the Tamina community. 

If approved, Montgomery County would provide federal ARPA funding to Shenandoah for the city to build water and sewer facilities in Tamina and to treat wastewater from Tamina. The estimated construction completion date is October 2026.

Tamina residents do not have sanitary sewer services, an operating well or a water system that can provide fire protection. 

In December of 2022, the city of Shenandoah and a water supply corporation reached an agreement for the city to provide water and sewage service to residents of the Tamina community. Once the system is built and operational, Tamina residents would be charged the same amount as Shenandoah residents for water and sewer services, according to the agreement.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced these appointments and reappointments from April 14 to April 20:

Texas Racing Commission

Robert C. Pate - Corpus Christi (reappointed)

Texas Facilities Commission

Eddy Betancourt - Mission (reappointed)

University Of Houston System Board Of Regents

Gregory King - San Antonio 

Texas Funeral Service Commission

(all reappointed)

Dianne Hefley - Amarillo

Kristin Tips - San Antonio

State Preservation Board

Alethea Swann Bugg - San Antonio (reappointed)

Texas Industrialized Building Code Council

(all reappointed)

Devin Duvak - Burleson

Otis Jones Jr. - Houston

Binoy Kurien - Pearland

Edward "Eddie" Martin - Austin

Scott McDonald - Keller

Stephen Shang - Austin 

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

Editors: Kristin Gordon

Claire Robertson

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, the SPI Team has developed a national reputation for partnering public and private sector entities.

To learn more about SPI services, click here or contact our sales department at 512-531-3900

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