The Guidry News
© 1996, Guidry News
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The Guidry News
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© 1996, Guidry News
Service
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Clear Creek Independent School District Clear Creek Independent School District Clear Creek Independent School District Clear Creek Independent School District Clear Creek Independent School District Clear Creek Independent School District Clear Creek Independent School District Clear Creek Independent School District Clear Creek Independent School District Clear Creek Independent School District
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Independent auditor Gayle Botley delivered a negative audit of the Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation to Port Arthur City Council this morning, for the third year in a row. Among other issues in the audit, Botley said the EDC has not enforced compliance with contracts. "During our compliance review of the above contracts, we noticed several instances of non compliance," Botley said, listing problems that were mentioned in the previous two audits and not corrected. "Billings were incurred from third parties by PAEDC before Council approved the contracts; and then PAEDC did not manage the contracts in the proper manner to maintain the budget discipline approved by the council." EDC President Ike Mills said that some members of the city council and city staff have worked to influence the audit. Listen Download "There is a concerted effort to put the EDC in an awkward position," Mills said. "There is a concerted effort by some council members, staff members, to actually take over the EDC." Council Member Michael Shane Sinegal agreed that some members of the city council have singled Mills out for criticism, but sought direction from Botley. Listen Download "As council people, we have eliminated the EDC attorney, our city attorney is acting as the EDC attorney, that's one thing we tried," Sinegal said, adding the city council has also made changes on the EDC board. "I don't see anything left. You see anybody else to eliminate?" "I'm standing here giving you the independent auditor's report today," Botley said. "I'm trying to answer your questions to the best of my ability, but I will not get into your personnel issues." Mayor Oscar Ortiz complained that the EDC continued to operate without changes despite the past two audits. Listen Download "As we have been told by the auditors, adding additional policies and procedures for control purposes would not be effective as long as the internal control environment, which is the foundation for all components of internal controls, is ineffective," Ortiz said. The city council was visited by Jennifer Walker of the Sierra Club, who presented the "Bays in Peril" report, which seeks legislation to protect the freshwater inflow to coastal bays and estuaries, including Sabine Lake. On Monday Walker made the report to Jefferson County Commissioners Court. Listen Download "It has been really positive," Walker said, adding that the reaction has been the same in other coastal communities. She said that she expects coastal legislators to prevail in passing the legislation. Beaumont City Council today voted unanimously to reappoint Craig Lively as city magistrate. Listen Download "We all were very, very pleased with the performance of Judge Lively during his recent term, and this was of course his first term with us," said Mayor Evelyn Lord. "The first two years have been wonderful," Lively said after taking his oath of office. "It's a great experience, and I appreciate your faith and confidence in the judges here that the city has." The city council named Lynda Kay Makin as vice-chairman of the Planning Commission. The city council appointed Johnny Casmore to the MLK Commission and named him chair of the commission. The city council approved a specific use permit to allow a beauty/barber shop, property management office and meeting facility in a Residential Conservation and Revitalization District at 2406 North Street. Coastal Connections, the electronic newsletter of Washington lobbyist Howard Marlowe, citing Congressional sources, reports that the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee may soon begin consideration of the Water Resources Development Act. The legislation authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects and policies that coastal representatives have been championing. "Negotiations on this important legislation stalled during the final hours of the last Congress, as Senate and House staff attempted to resolve disagreements over various policy issues outlined in each chamber’s version of the bill," the article said. "Passage of this legislation is vital to the economic and environmental health of the nation’s infrastructure, including our coastlines," Marlowe said. "Several Corps of Engineers projects and programs may be suspended if Congress continues to delay passage of this authorization bill." Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership Representatives from the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership will travel to Austin on Tuesday, February 15 to meet with state representatives and senators to discuss funding issues concerning education, workforce development, and technology outreach and aerospace scholars programs. More than 30 members of the Education and Workforce Development Committee of the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership will meet with the elected officials and provide information and data about the importance of investing in public education and workforce development. “Fully funding education and workforce development translates into a healthy economy,” said committee Vice Chair Harvey Hartman. “It’s not just about education. This issue is far-reaching." Advocates for the Technology Outreach Program, the statewide arm of the federally funded Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program, will also visit Austin on February 15 to promote full funding of the technology outreach program, administered by the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership. Advocates for the Aerospace Scholars Program, another state funded program in Bay Area Houston, will travel with the group. “These programs are valuable assets in our community from an economic development standpoint,” said SATOP Executive Director Bob Mitchell. “We are developing the next generation of scientists and engineers.” The Offshore Energy Center announced last week that three organizations have donated a total of $50,000 to develop a new Career Exhibit for the Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum in Galveston, Texas. The donations are from the Halliburton Foundation, $40,000; the New York Mercantile Exchange Charitable Foundation, $5,000; and the Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation, $5,000. "It's
very important to us that young people are knowledgeable about
the many careers that are available to them in the energy
industry," said Weldon Mire, senior vice president of
human relations for Halliburton. "We believe this exhibit
will help to open some eyes to possibilities that they
had not considered previously." The Career Exhibit will provide educational material about the numerous and varied careers in the offshore energy industry. Current data suggests a lack of young people pursuing careers in the energy industry. The exhibit will greatly expand the Center’s educational outreach by making much-needed career information available to every visitor touring the Ocean Star. Plans for the design of the exhibit are currently under consideration. The
Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum is located on Pier 19 at
20th Street at Harborside Drive in Galveston,
Texas. For information
call (281) 679-8040. Clear Creek Independent School District The Clear Creek Independent School District School Boundary Advisory Committee will present its final school boundary recommendations to the Board of Trustees during a workshop on Thursday, February 17, at 6:30 p.m. at Space Center Intermediate School. The board will make its final decision during the regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, February 22.
The public is invited to attend the workshop, however, there will be no public input permitted.
The SBAC recommendations may be viewed at www.CCISD.net.
Clear Creek ISD is recruiting judges for the 44th Annual Clear Creek Independent School District Science Fair on Monday, February 21. Students in grades four through twelve will participate in the fair. Two hundred judges are needed to judge approximately 1,000 projects in the following categories: Behavioral/Social Science, Biochemistry/Microbiology, Botany, Chemistry, Computers, Consumer Science, Earth/Space Science, Engineering, Environmental Science, Mathematics, Medicine and Health, Physics, and Zoology. For more information, visit www.CCISD.net or call Elizabeth Nixon at (281) 338-5941. The USS Winston Churchill, which is homeported in Norfolk, Virginia will dock at Pier 21 in Galveston next weekend for the Mardi Gras celebration. The ship's crew of 32 officers and 348 enlisted men will participate in several activities. Twenty-two of the sailors will march in the Momus Grand Night Parade. "Be sure to welcome these brave men and women to Mardi Gras! Galveston and thank them for their service to USA: Red, White & Blue," said Dianna Puccetti, chair of the Galveston Park Board of Trustees. The City of League City has issued a news release on the implementation of Comprehensive Plan 2025. Wallace Roberts & Todd, the planning consulting firm that worked with the city in the preparation of the Comprehensive Plan, is assisting in drafting the necessary amendments to development ordinances. “While a comprehensive plan sets out a vision and a roadmap of the future of the city and encourages certain types of development, zoning and land-use regulation must translate this vision into an achievable reality,” said Mary Chambers, Interim Director of Planning and Development. Chambers said that some of the tasks involved include defining use regulations and standards for new districts; updating existing district regulations to reflect Comprehensive Plan policy; and establishing supplemental standards for mixed-use activity centers and neighborhood centers. The existing zoning map will also be updated to reflect new districts. Property owners in League City will be notified of the public hearing on the proposed changes to be held by the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council. For information about the Ordinance Amendment project contact League City Planning Department at (281) 554-1080 or visit www.ci.league-city.tx.us. The Greater Houston Partnership will hold a half-day seminar to provide updates and new information on possible upcoming regional public works projects on Wednesday, February 3. "The Partnership remains committed to addressing the Houston region's transportation issues by assuring local and statewide cooperation on such issues as transportation infrastructures and regional mobility," said a news release. Harris County Judge Robert Eckels is the featured speaker for the seminar. Ric Williamson, Texas Transportation Commissioner, will provide the keynote address for the luncheon. Panelists for the regional mobility panels include Alan Clark, Houston-Galveston Area Council transportation director; George DeMontrond, president of DeMontrond Automotive Group, Inc.; Jim Kollaer, president and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership; Tom Kornegay, executive director of the Port of Houston Authority; Michael Marcotte, director of public works for the City of Houston; John Sedlak, vice president of planning, engineering and construction for the Metropolitan Transit Authority; Arthur Storey, P.E., executive director of the Harris County Public Infrastructure Department; Mike Strech, director of the Harris County Toll Road Authority; Gary Trietsch, P.E., Houston district engineer of the Texas Department of Transportation; and Richard Vacar, director of aviation for the Houston Airport System. Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. For information or to confirm attendance, contact April Young at (713)-844-3641 or email ayoung@houston.org. Several items of interest to Southeast Texas are posted on The Online News Station. Photos and audio excerpts from Monday's meeting of Galveston County Commissioners Court have been posted on The Online News Station. Photos and Audio Photos and audio excerpts from Monday's meeting of Jefferson County Commissioners Court have been posted on The Online News Station. Photos and Audio Senior citizens needing help understanding Medicare regulations, finding answers to health questions or contacting support groups can now visit one location in Galveston for these and other types of assistance. Release The Galveston Chamber of Commerce annual meeting will be February 17, 6 p.m. at The Tremont House Hotel’s Davidson Ballroom. Photo and Details Norwegian-born violinist and concertmaster Trond Sæverud will perform at 3 p.m., Sunday, February 6 at Galveston Island Arts Academy, 2627 Avenue O. Release A ceremony was held at Coast Guard Base Galveston to honor 23 crewmen of the cutter Blackthorn who lost their lives in a 1980 collision in Tampa Bay, Florida. Photo and Details The Houston Police Department has compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions about the HPD Crime Lab and Project 280. Visit www.houstonpolice.org Scheduled
Meetings Today,
February 1
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 of Gulf Coast E-news and The Online News Station. Jim Young is Houston City Correspondent. Dana Patricia Burke is the Bay Area Houston Correspondent. Chuck Lawrence is Galveston City Correspondent. Carl Guidry covers events in Jefferson County. Anita Donatto covers the education beat in Galveston. Patty Mayeux is editor of Gulf Coast E-news. Robert John Mihovil is a special photographic correspondent for Guidry News Service We
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