January 16, 2003

Galveston County Economic Development Alliance

Galveston County Judge Jim Yarbrough reviewed developments with members of the Galveston County Economic Development Alliance Thursday night.

"We will start demolishing warehouses next month," Yarbrough said, referring to the criminal justice complex that will be constructed where the old cotton warehouses stand, north of Broadway.

Yarbrough listed a "few concerns," including the need to stabilize the tax base in light of the BP tax challenge, growth in the north county, drainage problems along Clear Creek and in the Highway 6 area, and public school finance.

He said the county government can be a facilitator to bring about cooperation.  "We don't want to be 'big brother'."

"We need to bring all the districts together," Yarbrough said, suggesting that the independent school districts should cooperate to solve the school financing problem. "We've got to bulldoze through all that turf."

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