2005 Archives

2004 Archives

2003 Archives

Wednesday        February 16, 2005

Jefferson County Politics

Former chief justice of the Ninth Court of Appeals, Ron Walker announced on Tuesday that he will run for Jefferson County Judge in the March 2006 Democratic Primary against incumbent County Judge Carl Griffith.

"The winds of change are beginning to blow across our great county, and I want to be part of that change," Walker said in his announcement at the  Jefferson County Courthouse.  "I want to see the control of the direction of our county government back in the hands of the people and back in the hands of our duly elected officers who are well capable of performing their respective duties."   

Walker is the father of current 252nd District Judge Layne Walker who has refused to participate in the county management study initiated by Griffith.

Griffith will formally open his campaign for reelection on Friday at a political rally at Ford Park.

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Houston City Council

White talked about the Medicare item and about his Safe-Clear program to remove stalled vehicles from freeway lanes in an after-council news conference. Video Download

"We know the Medical Center is a valuable part of our community," Edwards said.  "But they have to be a partner and not a 5,500-pound gorilla.  When somebody can sit in a meeting and tell me that, on one hand, they can use the sovereignty of eminent domain, and on the other hand (say) that they are a private group and that they don’t have to meet with the community on these issues, then I don’t see why we have to give them public dollars." Listen Download

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Nassau Bay City Council

Nassau Bay City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve an ordinance that will employ a “three strikes” policy for false fire and police alarms.  The ordinance will require that all home and property owners register their alarm systems for a $10 fee.

City Manager John Kennedy said that the ordinance will allow the city to impose penalties for repeated false alarms that waste time and police and rescue funds.

“Fifty percent of our fire alarms are false, and 99.9 percent of our police alarms are false,” Kennedy said. 

“It’s a real serious problem, and we are not taking this thing lightly,” said Mayor Don Matter.

The city council voted unanimously to give Kennedy permission to enter into an agreement with the City of Webster for dispatch communications and jail services.  The agreement will eliminate Nassau Bay’s dispatch and jail services, and the city will pay the City of Webster approximately $70,000 per year for use of their services. Listen

Kennedy estimates that the agreement will save the City of Nassau Bay approximately $100,000 per year.

“Our citizens expect us to look for cost-saving measures where we can,” Kennedy said.

The city council voted unanimously to approve an ordinance regulating the transportation of hazardous materials inside the city and providing a penalty for violation of the new policy.

The city council voted unanimously to rezone three tracts of land on St. John Drive and Space Park Drive to allow for the construction of a new building and bell tower connected to Christus St. John Hospital. Listen

Rosco Lee, chair of the Nassau Bay Planning Commission, gave a presentation on the new building, which hospital administrators hope will give Christus St. John Hospital a more distinctive appearance.

The city council voted unanimously to approve an ordinance that will create the position of emergency management director and will allow for the appointment of an emergency management coordinator by the director.

The emergency management director will conduct an ongoing survey of potential hazards to the community and will supervise the development of an emergency management plan.

The city council voted unanimously to approve a joint resolution between the City of Nassau Bay and Harris County that will allow the two entities to share emergency management resources and programs. 

The city council voted to call the city election to elect three city council members on May 7 and a runoff election on June 18, if necessary. 

All other agenda items were unanimously approved.

Mayor Don Matter recognized Nassau Bay police officer Tony Hernandez for 30 years of service. Hernandez was presented with a plaque and a gold watch.

Matter presented a check in the amount of $2,500 to Rex Wood, president of the Clear Creek Environmental Foundation. The environmental foundation, which conducts a yearly cleanup of Clear Creek, has collected 35,000 tires from the creek in its five years of existence. Listen

Matter also presented a check to Sue Mayfield-Geiger, editor of Edgar Literary Magazine.

Mickey Caldwell, president of the Nassau Bay Homes Association, announced details of the association’s upcoming election. Listen

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Clear Lake Shores City Council

Clear Lake Shores City Council on Tuesday voted to appoint Council Member Vern Johnson to serve on the Jarboe Bayou Park Steering Committee.  

The city council named Omar Akmal as an unpaid reserve police officer.  Mayor Katherine McIntyre said Akmal joins four others who were honored at the previous meeting of the city council, Bill Young, Charles Akin, Billy Milliken and Glen Rightmire.

"They expand the capacity of the police department," said McIntyre, explaining that the officers volunteer their service.  "Bill Young has been coming here for 21 years, and it happened that his anniversary was February 1, the night of the council meeting."

The officers were given gift certificates to Portofino Ristorante Italiano in Clear Lake Shores in appreciation of their service.

The city council voted to authorize the Galveston County Health Department to conduct aerial spraying for mosquitoes.

The city council voted to call an election on May 7 for the positions of mayor and two members of the city council.

The city council voted to establish a schedule of general minimum prevailing wage rates for specified crafts, trades and mechanics for highway construction projects performed under contract with the city.

The city council voted to table an item dealing with policies and procedures pertaining to funding requests submitted to the economic development corporation.

The city council voted to table an item adopting parliamentary rules of order and procedure governing the organization and conduct of City Council.

All other agenda items were approved.  All votes were unanimous.

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Tiki Island Board of Aldermen

Tiki Island Board of Aldermen on Tuesday voted to enter into an agreement with Abitibi Consolidated, also known as Paper Retriever, for a recycling program.  The company will establish a recycling bin to receive newspapers from residents as they drive in or out of the subdivision.

There is no cost to the village and Abitibi will make payments based on the amount of paper collected, after the first two tons.  For two to four tons, Abitibi will pay $5 per ton; and for more than four tons the company will pay $15 per ton.

"I have spoken to other communities that use this service," said Patty Mayeux, a Tiki Island resident who proposed the agreement.  "They are very happy with it."

Mayeux said that Bayou Vista has three bins that are picked up two or three times per month.

"They average six tons per month," Mayeux said, adding that Bayou Vista receives $90 per the agreement.

The board voted to approve Roadrunner Internet Service for the village's police department.

The board voted to authorize aerial spraying for mosquito control.

The board approved several items related to the May 7 election.

The board discussed but took no action on the collection of hotel occupancy taxes and sales tax at a private club on the island.

All other agenda items were approved.  All votes were unanimous.

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Port Arthur City Council

Port Arthur City Council on Tuesday voted 6-0 to revive plans for a hike and bike trail on Thomas Boulevard, approving a contract with Fittz & Shipman, Inc. to revise existing plans to meet the standards of the Texas Department of Transportation.

"Some time ago, sidewalk improvements were planned for both a hike and bike trail along Thomas Boulevard and for a Safe Routes to Schools project," said Public Works Director John Comeaux in his recommendation to the city council.  "Initially, both projects were approved for funding under Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funds, with the hike and bike trail being designed and approved for construction."

However, Comeaux said that the project was found to cost significantly more than anticipated, and was subsequently dropped. 

"Recently, a major CMAQ project in Beaumont was removed from this year's list of projects, freeing up funding for both the Thomas Boulevard Hike and Bike Trail and the Safe Routes to Schools," Comeaux said.  "Because the original hike and bike trail design was accomplished several years ago, the construction documents need to be updated to current TxDOT standards."

The city council voted unanimously to appoint Cesar Munoz to the Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors.

The city council authorized Coastal Demolition, Inc. to move forward on the demolition of several dangerous residential properties.

All other agenda items were approved. 

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Webster City Council

Webster City Council on Tuesday vote 6-0-1, with Floyd Myers abstaining, to authorize proceedings in eminent domain to acquire property for the construction of Orchard Street from Texas Avenue to Highway 3 and the extension of Live Oak south to Blossom.  This was the second and final reading of the ordinance.

The city council voted unanimously to approve the first reading of an ordinance to amend the Webster Code of Ordinances to freeze ad valorem taxes for residential homestead property owners who are disabled or 65 years of age or older.

The city council voted unanimously to award a $176,360.79 contract with Canyon Construction for the installation of an eight-inch replacement water line in Professional Park.

The city council voted unanimously to reject all bids for the structural repairs of the walkway canopy for the recreation building at the Civic Center complex.

All other agenda items were approved with unanimous votes.

The city council received a letter from a Troy Southerland of Southerland Industries, Inc. commending the city permit and code enforcement team for their professionalism in their work on an apartment complex construction project. 

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Texas A&M University at Galveston

Texas A&M University at Galveston will host the spring 2005 conference of the East Texas Historical Association, which begins Thursday at the Tremont House Hotel in Galveston.

“This is the fourth time the East Texas Historical Association has met here on the Island, and each time has been a great success!” said Dr. Donald Willett of TAMUG, the chair of the conference.

Willett notes that the conference will discuss several issues of interest to Galveston Island, including Galveston in the 1890’s, A Happening Place, Sick and Tired: Medical History in Galveston Bay, The First Hundred Years, Historical Research Opportunities in Galveston, Researching Galveston Bay in the Information Age, Galveston Bay Nautical Archeology, and Battle on the Bay: The Civil War Battle of Galveston.

The conference, which is open to the public, runs through Saturday. 

The Texas A&M University at Galveston's Sea Camp, now in its 20th year,  will begin offering sessions in May to youngsters who are interested in the ocean and marine life.  Release and Photo

"Sea Camp is geared to students ages 10 through 18 and it offers rewarding and enriching experiences to campers who attend the weeklong sessions, which start May 29 and run through July 30," said a news release.  "Since its beginning 20 years ago, more than 10,000 campers from all over the world have enrolled in Sea Camp programs where the beach and
ocean are the classrooms.

"Our first year, we had only one topic and about 125 kids," said Judy Wern, Sea Camp director.  "We now offer 15 different program topics and enroll between 700 to 900 each summer. This truly is a one-of-a-kind camp, the only one like it in Texas. 

Sea Camp instructors include Texas A&M faculty members and
graduate students from such departments as marine biology, marine sciences, zoology, wildlife and fishery science, range science and numerous other fields.  In addition, campers will get to visit with Sammy Ray, a member of the Texas Science Hall of Fame who is considered one of the world's leading oyster biologists. 

Ray started Sea Camp in 1986 and since then, more than 10,000 students from the U.S., Europe, Asia and Latin America have attended Sea Camp sessions.

Sea Campers will live in residence halls on the Texas A&M at
Galveston campus and costs range from $725 to $775, except for the international camps.  

For more information, visit http://www.tamug.edu/seacamp  or call (409) 740-4525.

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Texas General Land Office

The Texas General Land Office Oil Spill Prevention and Response Program's 13th Annual Information Transfer Meetings will be held along the Texas coast between February 23 and March 3.  The meetings will take place in each of the land office's five coastal field offices. 

The dates and locations are February 23, League City, South Shore Harbor Resort; February 24, Port Arthur, Holiday Inn Park Central; March 1, Brownsville, Brownsville Public Library; March 2, Corpus Christi, Texas A&M University - NRC Building; and March 3, Port Lavaca, Bauer Community Center

The meetings will last from 8 a.m. to noon, with registration beginning at 8 a.m., followed by a presentation at 8:45 a.m.

"The meetings provide a chance to catch up on the latest developments with both the Land Office and the U.S. Coast Guard," said a news release.  "Staff from both agencies will make presentations and answer questions. This is a great opportunity to meet pollution prevention and response personnel and network with colleagues."

Also at the meetings, 2004 Oil Spill Prevention and Response Awards will be presented to local individuals or groups who have improved oil spill preparedness, prevention, or response in Texas.

For additional information, call Debbie Saenz at (512) 475-1466.

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Port of Houston Authority

The Port of Houston Authority's Small Business Development Program has awarded or committed a total of $76.2 million in contracts to eligible small businesses that have participated in the program in the three years since it's inception.

"The SBDP is designed to help PHA contractors make good faith efforts to include small business participation in eligible contracts," said a news release.  "The program's ultimate goal is to award at least 35 percent of all eligible contracts to small businesses."

In 2004, the PHA reports that it committed a total of $63.9 (51 percent) to small business prime contractors and sub-contractors.  Of that amount, $5.7 million (5 percent) went to small business prime contractors. 

"In comparison, PHA spent nearly $10.7 million (28 percent) of its contract dollars with small businesses in 2003, including $1.1 million in second-tier sub-contracts," noted the news release.

"The Port of Houston Authority is a world-class organization," said Kase Lawal, vice chair of the PHA Commission who also served as chair of the port's Small Business Task Force during 2004.  "We could never achieve the global strength and status as the sixth largest port in the world without a strong regional economy fueled by local businesses. Our small business owners and employees are vital links in the port's supply chain. They are the leading employers in the Houston area and provide nearly half of all jobs in Texas, and the port authority recognizes that a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit is vital for a strong economy and leadership in global trade and commerce." 

Lawal cited the PHA commission's award of the $37.9 million Bayport container yard construction contract to Zachry Construction Corporation largely because of the company's high commitment to small business participation.  Zachry's plan commits $31.4 million (83 percent) to small business sub-contractors.

"The port authority's competitive sealed proposal process does not use price as the sole determining factor for selection of contractors," PHA Small Business Development Director Gilda Ramirez added.  "A range of criteria is also used to determine the best value, including vendor reputation, commitment to small business participation, overall compliance with port authority policies, and overall compliance with the technical specifications of a contract." 

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Rotary Club of La Porte

The Rotary Club of La Porte and the City of La Porte will dedicate the Norman L. Malone Memorial Clock on Fairmont Parkway in front of City Hall at 1 p.m. on February 22 in commemoration of the 100^th anniversary of Rotary International.

Mayor Norman L. Malone, who passed away April 30, 2004, was a Rotarian.  At the time of his death, Malone had been working with the La Porte club to find a suitable way to commemorate the 100^th anniversary.

“Mayor Malone was the epitome of a Rotarian; he served his city, community, and its citizens with unfailing devotion," said current Mayor Alton Porter.  "He was a great friend to me and a perfect role model exhibiting excellent character and a friendly smile to everyone he encountered.”

The Rotary club sold raffle tickets to raise money for the project, and Rotary President Bobby Schlenk drove to Illinois to pick up the clock, saving over $1,000 in delivery costs.   Jeff Beardon, President of Bayou City Industrial Contractors in La Porte, furnished materials and built the foundation pedestal that the clock sits on; roughly $3,000 of work and materials, at no charge.  Council Member Tommy Moser, of Moser Electric, made the electrical connections and set up the internal clock controls at no charge, and former city council member Lynn Pfeiffer, of Pfeiffer and Son Electric, furnished the boom truck to actually set the clock in place, also at no charge. 

“Norman would have been so honored and pleased to have this beautiful clock placed here in our city, as is our family,” said Ann Malone, Norman’s wife of 54 years.  “Please thank everyone for us”.

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Tsunami Survivors Benefit

Local musicians will perform in a benefit for survivors of the Indian Ocean tsunami at the Seabrook Beach Club at 3345 NASA Road One from 2 until 10 p.m. on Sunday, February 20. 

"One hundred per cent of proceeds will be donated to Tsunami
Relief Fund of Children's Hunger Relief Fund, Inc.," said a news release.  "A $10 donation is requested at the door and a raffle will be held."

For more information or to donate a raffle item, call (281) 326-5819.  

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Galveston Reads

Galveston Reads, the city’s “One Town, One Book” program hosted H.G. “Buzz” Bissinger, author of Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team and A Dream, attended a community discussion on Tuesday in the Galveston Island Convention Center. 

Bissinger shared his experiences of living in Odessa during the 1988 football season during the Permian Panthers’ bid for the state title. 

Bissinger said it was an honor for his book to have been chosen as this year’s Galveston Reads selection. 

“I think everyone was thrilled with the entire program and last night was the perfect finale,” said Karen Stanley, committee chair. “I couldn’t be more pleased.” 

The Galveston Reads selection committee will be meeting soon to choose a book for the program next year.

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

Today, February 16
4:00 Galveston Building Standards Commission, City Hall Room 204
4:00 Galveston Intermodal Transportation Commission, City Hall Room 100
4:00 Galveston Arts and Historic Preservation Advisory Board, City Hall Room 100
5:00 Texas City City Commission
6:00 Galveston Independent School District Board of Trustees Workshop
6:30 The American Business Women's Association, League City Charter Chapter, South Shore Harbour Country Club
7:30 Galveston Independent School District Board of Trustees 

Thursday, February 17
9:30 Galveston City Council Workshop
11:00 Galveston Tax Foreclosed Property Resale Committee, Prosperity Bank, 2424 Market
11:30 Galveston Island Pachyderm Club, Galveston Public Works Director Brandon Wade will speak
3:00 Gulf Coast Water Authority, 3630 FM 1765
4:00 Bay Area Houston Transportation Partnership
6:30 Clear Creek Independent School District Board of Trustees Special Meeting
6:30 Galveston Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet, Tremont House Davidson Ballroom
6:30 League City City Council and Zoning and Planning Board Joint Special Meeting, council chambers 
7:30 Santa Fe Independent School District Board of Trustees 
8:00 Same Time, Next Year, Bay Area Harbour Playhouse,3803 Highway3, Dickinson

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

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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.