© 2003, Guidry News
Service
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
© 2003, Guidry News
Service
|
Story Links: Galveston Mardi Gras Committee Galveston County Commissioners Court Jefferson County Commissioners Court
Galveston County Commissioners Court Jefferson County Commissioners Court
Galveston County Commissioners Court Jefferson County Commissioners Court
Galveston County Commissioners Court Jefferson County Commissioners Court
Galveston County Commissioners Court Jefferson County Commissioners Court
Galveston County Commissioners Court Jefferson County Commissioners Court
Galveston County Commissioners Court Jefferson County Commissioners Court
Galveston County Commissioners Court Jefferson County Commissioners Court
Galveston County Commissioners Court Jefferson County Commissioners Court
Galveston County Commissioners Court Jefferson County Commissioners Court
Galveston County Commissioners Court Jefferson County Commissioners Court
Galveston County Commissioners Court Jefferson County Commissioners Court
Galveston County Commissioners Court Jefferson County Commissioners Court
|
Galveston Mardi Gras Committee The Galveston Park Board of Trustees Mardi Gras/Special Events Committee voted to recommend extension of the Krewe of Aquarius Fat Tuesday Parade, which concludes the festival, to 19th Street. Johnny Lidstone had requested to extend the parade to the area near Rosenberg Library to avoid congestion in the downtown area. "This is an all-krewe parade," Lidstone explained. "This is for Galveston." Lidstone was reluctant to extend the parade to 19th Street because of lighting difficulties, but the committee agreed that the park board will provide additional lights. Natha Nuckols of the Krewe de Soleil said that her group wants to hold additional parades following the Gambrinus and Momus parades. Discussion on that request was deferred to the next meeting. The committee voted to support an agreement with Kevin O'Brien to manage beverage sales at Mardi Gras. He will pay the park board 15 percent of his gross sales, minus taxes. The committee held an extensive, detailed discussion about complimentary passes to the Strand entertainment district during Mardi Gras. Galveston
County Commissioners Court Galveston County Commissioners Court voted 3-2, with Eddie Janek and Ken Clark opposed, to adopt a new salary schedule on Monday, granting virtually every county employee a pay raise. Clark objected because of budgetary reasons; Janek was opposed because he felt that some top officials should not receive pay raises. County Judge Jim Yarbrough acknowledged the action's impact on the budget. "I know everyone's feeling good about this today, but just remember at budget time, you're/we're going to have to come up with $900,000," warned Yarbrough. "It's not easy." However, Yarbrough noted that no elected officials are getting more than $600, and "some aren't even getting that." The commissioners court authorized Purchasing Agent Bruce Hughes to advertise for bids for demolition of the cotton warehouses where the new county criminal justice complex will be developed. The commissioners court approved a professional services agreement with Shiner, Moseley & Associates for engineering services for the design and repair of the geotube projects. The commissioners court approved an agreement with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company for high volume long distance discounts. "This agreement is for special pricing for a period of three years with a county minimum of long distance of $30,000 per year," stated Information Technology Manager Robert Canterbury. "It works out to be five cents a minute or less." The commissioners court voted to demolish eight properties which have been declared public nuisances. The buildings are at 17th Street at Highway 87 and at 1203 Bahama in Port Bolivar, 4209 Hallen Street in Bacliff, in the 900 Block of 11th Street in San Leon, 4700 Heron in Freddiesville, 1028 Bay Street in Gilchrist, 2703 Avenue D in Dickinson, and 883 Townsend in Crystal Beach. The commissioners court proclaimed Monday, January 20, 2003 as Martin Luther King Jr. Day. All other agenda items were approved. In workshop, the commissioners discussed the Vehicle Inspection Program with Joe Lapeyre and Bob Wierzowiecki of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The pair said that beginning May 1, 2003, vehicle inspection fees will be a maximum of $39.50, which will include the safety inspection fee of $12.50 and the new emissions test fee of up to $27.00. Jefferson
County Commissioners Court
Jefferson County
Commissioners Court appointed Kenneth Duhon to the
Jefferson County Navigation District Board on Monday.
He replaces Edward C. Moore, who resigned December, 2002.
The commissioners court
approved specifications for bids on automotive replacement
parts for automobiles and light trucks for Jefferson
County.
The commissioners court
approved specifications for several bids pertaining to the
Southeast Texas Entertainment Complex.
The commissioners court
approved specifications for operation of a restaurant/bar
at the Southeast Texas Regional Airport.
The commissioners court
proclaimed Monday, January 20, 2003 as "Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. Day" in Jefferson County.
"All citizens are
called upon to honor the memory and legacy of Dr. King,
recalling his vision of equal justice for all," read
the proclamation.
The commissioners court
approved a professional services agreement with WHM
Transportation Engineering Consultants, Inc. for a traffic
impact analysis in the I-10 Walden Road corridor.
The study will cost $22,000 and is being funded by the
City of Beaumont and property owners in the study area.
The commissioners court
received and filed a general warranty deed from Jim Walter
Homes, Inc., to Jefferson County for Labelle Road
right-of-way. A payment of $9,000 was approved.
The commissioners court
approved a contract between Jefferson County and Sempra,
for a detailed energy audit agreement in relation to
energy conservation.
The commissioners court
approved a resolution giving permission to Sheriff Mitch
Woods to conduct an auction to sell property currently
held by Jefferson County and the entities for whom it
collects.
All other agenda items were
approved.
The commissioners court set
the next meeting for Monday, January 27, 2003. There
will be no meeting on Monday, January 20, 2003 because of
the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday.
Jennifer Renfro spoke to the
commissioners court about donor awareness. She
introduced her daughter, Hannah, a recipient of a donor
heart, to the court.
Renfro praised the Southwest
Transplant Alliance and said she appreciates help from
Congressman Nick Lampson and County Judge Carl Griffith in
establishment of an office of the Alliance at St.
Mary Hospital in Port Arthur.
La Marque City Council appointed seven members to the new Charter Review Committee on Monday. City council members made individual selections. Richard Torres named James Winston and Lola Harris to the committee, James Osteen named Dorothy McDermott and Marian Lockwood, Joe Fichera named Bill Charbonnau, and Mayor Larry Crow named Wayne Sparks and Matt McGaffey. The city council voted to hire an additional firefighter, a move to keep a temporary firefighter who filled in during an extended vacancy. Richard Torres was opposed because the position had not been included in the 2003 budget. The city council tabled action on a new city purchasing policy. "This is a very important document," said Crow. "We want to give it careful study by each council member." The city council deferred appointments to the city's 50th Anniversary Committee. The city council approved a proclamation in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Crow said he will present it at the MLK Day event at Carver Park on January 20. The city council recognized Charlene Todaro of the police department as employee of the month of October. Friendswood
City Council Friendswood City Council told the Parks and Recreation Board to stay within its budget Monday night, after reviewing a request for additional improvements to the city's baseball park. Representatives of the Friendswood Little League said they would be willing to wait on the construction of a batting cage, if the city would move forward on the lighting project for Field One and Field Three and the construction of a new concession stand. City officials note that the request would put the project about $36,335 over budget. “I would like to stay within the budget," said Council Member Kim Brizendine. The Parks and Recreations Board has a very vigorous schedule in the next year”. “There is a long range plan for the development of the park, we should stick to it,” agreed Council Member Mel Measeles. The city council discussed a needs assessment for the fire department with consultant Richard Munson “A fire station on the north side of town will greatly improve our response time,” said Rick McFee, president of the Friendswood Volunteer Fire Department. Mayor Harold Whitaker expressed support for the fire station, but said it depends on the results of the February bond election. "We are with you all the way on that!” McFee agreed. Council Member Terry Goza expressed concern about a requirement for retention ponds in new development, that "will leave a number of smaller lots inaccessible.” “This is ready to come before council on the regular agenda once the retention pond requirements has been settled with the Galveston County Water Board,” noted Whitaker. Nassau
Bay City Council Nassau Bay City Council voted 6-0-1, with Barbara Czerwinski abstaining, to approve a City Hall landscaping redesign. The new design includes removal of the existing clock and the installation of a 10-foot diameter pool with a fountain, and lighting in front of City Hall. “It’s an exciting issue for me,” said Council Member Bette Johnson, who succeeded her husband as champion of the project. The city council voted unanimously to accept the Fiscal Year 2002 audit. The document noted that general fund revenue increased over six percent from 2001. Property tax revenue increased $86,000 because of assessment value increases. Sales tax revenue increased $87,000 due to state adjustments allocating sales taxes collected collected by Nassau Bay businesses to the City of Nassau Bay rather than the City of Houston. The city council voted to adopt energy conservation goals set forth in Senate Bill 5. The goals are intended to achieve a five percent energy consumption reduction each year for the next five years. The city council held an ordinance to modify fence height restrictions in Swan Lagoon for its second reading at the next meeting. All other items were approved, 7-0. All council members were present. Shoreacres
City Council Shoreacres City Council approved the expenditure of up to $7,000 from the city’s BEACON grant for new computer equipment. The city council approved the purchase of the domain name cityofshoreacres.us for city employees’ email addresses and may, in the future, serve as the city’s web address. Jim Schul of the La Porte Independent School District agreed to purchase the domain name for the city. The city council voted to spend $2,087.50 for the installation of a level control for the lift station at Sunrise and Shoreacres Boulevard. The
city council deferred action on a proposal concerning
public access to computers in the city hall building. Council members voiced concern over security for the
equipment and asked for more specifics on cost. The city council tabled action on city expenditure for employee pagers and mobile phones. Council Member Jayo Washington will study the issue for future consideration. Citizens Hank Raddick and Joe Gomer expressed concern about the city's contract with the City of La Porte for fire protection, which is set to expire at midnight on January 31. “We don’t have to worry about not having service,” assured Mayor Nancy Edmonson, explaining that an extension on the agreement with La Porte is an option. Galveston Independent School District National education expert, Dr. Robert E. Slavin, co-founder of the Success for All reading model, will visit several Galveston schools on Wednesday, including Parker, Alamo and San Jacinto Elementary Schools. Slavin is currently co-director of the Center for Research on the Education of Students Placed at Risk at Johns Hopkins University and Chairman of the Success for All Foundation. He received his B.A. in Psychology from Reed College in 1972, and his Ph.D. in Social Relations in 1975 from Johns Hopkins University. All
nine GISD elementary schools utilize the SFA reading
program, implemented by GISD in 1996.
SFA curriculum requires 90 minutes of uninterrupted,
daily reading instruction.
Children are grouped, beginning in the first grade,
by reading ability rather than age, giving teachers the
opportunity to work intensively with students at a specific
reading level. “The district is truly honored to have Dr. Slavin visit our schools and see first-hand the success of his program at GISD,” said E.J. Garcia, interim superintendent and assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. “His program has made a difference in the reading skills of our students and we have seen growth in student reading achievement." The Galveston Seawall Future Enhancement Ad Hoc Committee voted to ask City Manager Steve LeBlanc to retain Kathy Thomas Barr as publicist to explain issues related to a paid parking plan for Seawall Boulevard. Representatives of Ampco System Parking appeared before the committee with a proposal to manage the city's on-street parking regulation, including providing personnel to ticket vehicles and to collect the fines. "Our team has a proven track record of improving the resolution rate of citations issued," said Troy Froboese, operations manager. LeBlanc
explained that a draft proposal sent to the Texas General
Land Office provides for 100 percent investment of meter
revenue into Seawall amenities for 15 years. Chair Garry Kaufman said Schlumberger will make a presentation on parking meters at the next meeting and transportation consultant Barry Goodman will discuss the prospects for federal grants. "It's a work in progress," Kaufman said. "We've got a lot of work to do, but I think we are making headway." Today's
Meetings 8:30
Scholes International Airport at Galveston Advisory
Committee, Airport Terminal Conference Room
|
Story Links, on the left side of this page, is composed of "bookmarks" to the stories in the newsletter. Click on the link to go directly to the article. Print individual articles by first clicking on the "Print Version" link, then using your regular print program. On The Online News Station, if you click on an audio cut and the photos stop loading, click on Refresh or Reload and they will resume. Gulf Coast E-news, published by Guidry News Service, provides comprehensive coverage of posted public meetings in Galveston, Harris and Jefferson Counties.
This electronic newsletter replaces, and expands on, the mission
of Galveston Fax, established by Jim and Lynda Guidry on
Galveston Island in Galveston County reporters, covering the city council meetings of all 13 municipal governments plus several school boards and special utility districts, include Jinelle Boyd, Drew Gilbert, Marcie O'Keefe, Shannon Hall, Kristina Weaver, Tom Foster, Jo Ann Gowing and Dedra Kratts. Weaver, Foster, Gowing and Kratts also cover the Harris County entities surrounding Clear Lake. Scott Nowell covers Harris County Commissioners Court, Houston City Council, and meetings of organizations in downtown Houston. Carl Guidry, representing Guidry News Service in Jefferson County, covers Jefferson County Commissioners Court, Beaumont City Council and Port Arthur City Council. We are seeking additional reporters to expand our coverage in Jefferson County. Gulf Coast E-news also will continue coverage of regional organizations in the Gulf Coast area. Gulf Coast E-news is interactive with The Guidry News Service Online News Station, providing coverage of special events and public meetings with photos and audio. Johnna Johnston and Terry Arnold are marketing representatives for The Online News Station. Marketing representatives are being recruited in Harris and Jefferson counties. Subscriptions to Gulf Coast E-news are $300 per year, or $75 per quarter, plus sales and use tax. A fax-only version of the newsletter is available for $350 per year or $87.50 per quarter, plus tax. Current subscribers to Galveston Fax or Clear Lake Area E-news will automatically receive Gulf Coast E-news.
Guidry News Service has
offices at 926 Broadway
|
|||||