Archives

2003 Archives

Friday                    April 30, 2004

League City City Council

The Galveston County Criminal District Attorney has been asked to investigate allegations of an illegal meeting by some members of League City City Council which was discussed at Tuesday's meeting of the city council.

At the meeting, Council Member Thomas Cones had questioned Finance Director Monica Kohlenberg about a report that a council member had told her that four votes had been secured to contract with Southwest Bank of Texas rather than Moody National Bank for the city's deposits.

Guidry News Service was told today that the city's video recording of the meeting, which had been televised on Cable Channel 16, has been altered, with the discussion of the alleged illegal meeting removed.  An unedited audio recording of that portion of the meeting is being provided for broadcast on The Online News Station along with photos taken by Michael Durisseau.

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Harris County Commissioners Court

Members of Harris County Commissioners Court will participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the first eight miles of the all-electronic Westpark Tollway on Saturday in the Alief Hastings High School parking lot at 4410 Cook Road.  

The Westpark Tollway will be the first all-electronic (EZ TAG only) toll road system in the nation.  The eight-mile stretch will be from the Galleria area at South Post Oak and Rice Boulevard to Old Westheimer Road.

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, a soapbox derby race will take place benefiting the Greater Houston Soapbox Derby.

On Tuesday the commissioners court appointed Dr. Jeffrey Starke to the Children's Assessment Center Foundation Board of Directors.  

County Judge Robert Eckels deferred action on an appointment to the Harris County Hospital Board.

Three proposed authorizations to seek bids were withdrawn from the agenda, including the purchase of $60,000 in various sizes of reinforced concrete pipes, saddle inlet riser, and related items in Precinct 2; the purchase of $30,000 in various sizes of black corrugated plastic pipe and related items in Precinct 2; and the purchase of 10,000 tons of Type D asphaltic concrete material  in Precinct 4 at an estimated cost of $265,000.

A recommendation that the commissioners court "find that South Coast Construction, Inc. has discontinued prosecution of the work and neglected or refused to perform anew work rejected as defective or unsuitable for the construction of West Little York Road" was withdrawn from the agenda.

Award of a $3,325,791 contract with Angel Brothers Enterprises, Ltd. for paving and drainage improvements for Spring-Cypress Road, Secion 1; and a $2,781,024 contract with Angel Brothers for Section 2 were held for review, with the provision that no other work be done.

Requests for approval of agreements for legislative services; and for payment of dues to seven organizations were held for consideration at a later meeting.

A request for an additional $300,000 in support of a special counsel agreement with Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P., in connection with toll road projects was held for consideration at a later meeting.

A request by the Public Infrastructure Department for authorization to accept $200,000 in grant funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to study the effectiveness of best management practices implemented to reduce pollutants in receiving streams was withdrawn from the agenda.

The commissioners court asked that the Management Services Department and the county auditor review loan and payment options for the Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation, and bring the recommendations to the commissioners court meeting on June 15.

The commissioners court honored Joe Ruffino, Jr., Steven Conroy, Robert L. Baker, and John Mullens, who are retiring from the Sheriff's Department; Horace Manning who is retiring from the Information Technology Department; and Leon Gottselig who is retiring from the Flood Control District.

The commissioners court met in executive session with the county attorney, then voted to accept the resignation of Perry Wooten as Constable of Precinct 7.

All other agenda items were approved.

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Houston City Council

Houston City Council on Wednesday confirmed Mayor Bill White's appointment of Dr. David E. Persse as Houston Health Authority.

The city council confirmed White's appointment of Karen Becerra and Meera Kapur to the Houston Small Business Development Corporation Board of Directors.

Several items were tagged, or delayed for one week, by individual members of the city council.

A $3,870,741.53 contract with Contractor Technology, Inc. for neighborhood street reconstruction projects was tagged by Mark Goldberg.

Proposed contracts with Franklin & Wilson Airport Concessions and CBR, Inc. for specialty retail concessions at George Bush Intercontinental Airport were tagged by Gordon Quan.

An appropriation of $10,300,000 for a professional services contract with Parsons Brinckerhoff Construction Services, Inc. for professional architectural, engineering, construction management and program management services in connection with the International Services Expansion Program at George Bush Intercontinental Airport was tagged by Quan, M. J. Khan and Carol Mims Galloway.

A proposed construction contract with Ray Smith Construction, Inc. for water, sanitary sewer and storm drainage systems to serve Section Two of the Dominion Estates Subdivision was tagged by Toni Lawrence.

A proposed contract with TJ&T Enterprises, Inc. for Kingwood Drive paving from Willow Terrace Drive to Hidden Lakes Drive, was referred back to the administration.

A $1,100,000 appropriation and a contract with Insituform Technologies, Inc. for the emergency repair of a 72-inch sanitary sewer line at N. Braeswood and the Bintliff Ditch was delayed for one week on a motion by Goldberg.

An ordinance relating to towing of vehicles and the operation of auto wreckers, authorizing the chief of police to enter into agreements for police-authorized major freeway vehicle tows was delayed for two weeks on a motion by Michael Berry.

An ordinance relating to truck loading zones was delayed for two weeks on a motion by Carol Alvarado.

A proposed review and a proposal to continue the city's Juvenile Curfew Ordinance was removed from consideration.

All other agenda items were approved.

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Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership

Nearly 150 community leaders from throughout the United States will be in Washington D.C. May 3 - 6 to meet with members of the House and Senate to discuss the importance of funding the future exploration of space.  The Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership organizes the advocacy effort each year to promote human space flight programs to key U.S. Representatives.

"Its mission is to promote awareness of, and advocate support for, NASA and its human space programs, future exploration initiatives and enabling technologies development," said a news release.  "The advocates will meet with members of the House and Senate who serve on the House Appropriations Committee, the Senate Appropriations Committee, the House Science Committee and the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee."

The week's activities also will include an appreciation breakfast on May 4 at the Hotel Washington for the alliance partners that donate time and expertise to the Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program  

The Ellington Field Task Force will also send a delegation to Washington on May 5 and 6.  Citizens concerned about the President's 2005 Base Realignment and Closure list will meet with federal officials to discuss the role Ellington Field plays in the homeland security of the Texas Gulf Coast region.

The group also will discuss its business plan for Ellington, which includes expanding the military presence and recruiting private, aviation related businesses that will share in the cost of operating the air base and save taxpayer dollars.

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United States Congress

Congressman Nick Lampson, a former school teacher, was back in the classroom today teaching third grade students at Pietzch-MacArthur Elementary School in Beaumont.

The all-day event included a student-teacher assembly and various presentations.  Lampson discussed his leadership on children's issues in Congress, his role as founder and chair of the Congressional Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus, and the excellent work of the National Center on Missing and Exploited Children.  

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Oleander Festival

The 2004 Oleander Festival was officially kicked off today with a proclamation ceremony in Galveston's Darragh Park.

Betty Head welcomed the crowd to the event.  Boy Scout Troop 104, led by Scoutmaster Donald Rouse, presented the colors.  The Mainland Preparatory Academy Choir entertained with several tunes.  Donald Peak reviewed the history of the Darragh property.  

Mayor Roger Quiroga presented the official proclamation.  The party also enjoyed refreshments and a puppet show by Irma Hite and Carolyn Sayre and the Island Dragon Puppet Theatre at the adjacent Cottage.

The festival will be held on May 14, 15, and 16 at Moody Gardens and May 22 and 23 at Sealy Pavilion.

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Photos and Audio

Scheduled Meetings
Meetings will be held in the regular meeting place of the city council or other governmental body, unless otherwise specified.

Today, April 30
6:30 Galveston Community College District International Culinary Dinner In Honor of Regent Janice Stanton, Galveston College Gymnasium 
7:00 Village Fair and Texas Music Festival, 807 Highway 3, North, League City Schedule

Saturday, May 1
8:00 Village Fair Parade 
9:00 Spirit of Flight Air Show, Lone Star Flight Museum, Galveston Details
10:00 - 6:00 Galveston Historical Foundation Historic Homes Tour  Events Calendar 
10:00 - 5:00 "Keels & Wheels" Concours d' Elegance, Lakewood Yacht Club  Details
11:00 Village Fair and Texas Music Festival, 807 Highway 3, North, League City Schedule
8:00 Glen Campbell and Debbie Campbell at The Grand 1894 Opera House

Sunday, May 2
9:00 Spirit of Flight Air Show, Lone Star Flight Museum, Galveston Details
9:00 - 4:00 "Keels & Wheels" Concours d' Elegance, Lakewood Yacht Club  Details
11:00 Village Fair and Texas Music Festival, 807 Highway 3, North, League City Schedule
12:00 - 6:00 Galveston Historical Foundation Historic Homes Tour  Events Calendar 
3:00 Glen Campbell and Debbie Campbell at The Grand 1894 Opera House

Monday, May 3
9:00 Galveston County Commissioners Court, Holbrook Building
1:30 Jefferson County Commissioners Court
4:00 Galveston Landmark Commission  
4:30 Friendswood City Council Special Meeting
5:40 Friendswood City Council Regular Meeting
7:30 El Lago City Council

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Gulf Coast E-news, published by Guidry News Service, provides comprehensive coverage of posted public meetings in Galveston, Harris and Jefferson Counties as well as regional news impacting the Upper Texas Gulf Coast.

Jim and Lynda Guidry are publishers Gulf Coast E-news and The Online News Station.

Jenna Ware is editor of Gulf Coast E-news.

Chuck Lawrence is Galveston City Correspondent.  Carl Guidry covers events in Jefferson County.  Joe Grasso covers the education beat in Galveston. Sonja Faughn covers Texas City and La Marque.

Robert John Mihovil is a special photographic correspondent for Guidry News Service

Ivan Arceneaux is a special correspondent. 

Drew Gilbert, who covered the Galveston City Beat, was recently reactivated into the Coast Guard for the Iraq war.

We are seeking to hire reporters & marketing agents to expand our coverage in Jefferson & Harris Counties. 

Guidry News Service offices at 1818 Church Street, Second Floor, Galveston, TX. 77550 / P.O. Box 2130, Galveston, TX 77553
(409) 763-NEWS (6397), or email us at News@guidrynews.com

Subscriptions to Gulf Coast E-news are $300 per year, or $75 per quarter, plus sales and use tax. 

This electronic  newsletter replaced, and expanded on, the mission of the Galveston Fax, established by Jim and Lynda Guidry on Galveston Island in  July 1996; and Clear Lake Area E-news, begun on January 2, 2002.