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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Seabrook City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve the preliminary plat for the Seabrook Fire Training Facility to be constructed on approximately 68 acres of land situated north of Red Bluff, east of Highway 146, south of Seabrook city limits and west of Todville. The preliminary plat was presented at a public hearing and approved by the planning and zoning commission on March 3. The city council voted unanimously to appeal the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s updated preliminary flood insurance rate maps, which will increase insurance rates for many residents of Seabrook. City Manager Bo McDaniel argued that the maps are not accurate for Seabrook because they are based solely on elevation and do not take the city’s drainage into the Gulf of Mexico into account. The city council voted unanimously to establish an Ethics Review Commission and will vote to appoint volunteers to the commission at the next council meeting. The city council voted unanimously to approve the first reading of an ordinance that allows Economic Development Corporation II employees to participate in retirement benefits. The city council voted unanimously to recommend Chris Kulman of the Eco-Tourism Committee for the Spring 2005 Eco-Star award. Kulman has worked to improve the natural environment of Seabrook and to maintain its natural character by developing and leading a model eco-tourism committee, leading the annual Trash Bash and joining the Board of Directors for the Galveston Bay Foundation. “We commend Chris’ sincere dedication to preserving and promoting ‘the wilder side’ of Seabrook,” said Dori Nelson, chair of the Eco-tourism Committee. The city council voted unanimously to approve an amendment to the Economic Development Corporation II budget to pay for an alliance contract in the amount of $15,000 for economic development consultant services. The city council voted unanimously to approve a contract with Cobb Fendley and Associates for police parking lot improvements and city pool renovations. Bond and EDC II funds will be used to pay for the project. All other agenda items were unanimously approved. Council Members Larry Bonnin and Jack Boteler were absent. Mary King, a candidate for Council Position 2 in the upcoming election, spoke during a public hearing regarding candidate support for the Bayport expansion. Listen Download “I am pro-Seabrook,” King said. “There is nothing we can do now that the port is in Bayport; however, port expansion into Seabrook will devalue the homes in the communities of Seascape, Mystic Village, Seabrook Island and Lakepoint Forest, to mention a few.” Council Member John Buhman also commented on candidates for election and their relationships with the port. Listen Download Greg Garrison of the Seabrook Fire Department requested that the city council extend the fire department’s contract so that the fire department can continue to legally operate equipment purchased by the city. Listen Download Print
Version Port Arthur City Council on Tuesday voted 8-0-1, with Martin Flood recusing himself, to authorize a contract with Dikita Enterprises of Texas, Inc. for the design of the widening of West 7th Street. The contract is not to exceed $47,870. "In order to spur economic development on the West Side by encouraging industrial and commercial development, West 7th Street needs to be widened to provide greater access for trucking and other commercial traffic," said City Manager Steve Fitzgibbons. "This will enable growth at the Port of Port Arthur and the proposed industrial park on West 7th Street." The city council voted 8-0-1, with Martin Flood recusing himself, to approve an application for low income tax credits for Southwood Crossing Apartments, an "affordable housing" development on about 14 acres at 3901 Highway 73. All other votes were unanimous. The city council appointed Lloyd Christian and Barbara Mulroy to the Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation Board as advisory members. The city council voted to designate Southeast Texas Hispanic Cultural & Educational Center, Inc. as the exclusive concessionaire for Mercado Days. "The Southeast Texas Hispanic Cultural & Educational Center, Inc. is sponsoring a Mercado Days Festival in downtown Port Arthur on Saturday, April 15th and Sunday, April 16th," said Dale Watson, director of planning. "This resolution would establish them as the exclusive concessionaire. The proposed agreement is the same as used for Mardi Gras and Shrimpfest." The city council voted to accept a grant from the United States Department of Homeland Security's Office for Domestic Preparedness for an aerial ladder truck. The vehicle will cost $829,268, with the 70 percent federal share set at $580,488. Motiva Enterprises contributed $100,000 of the city's 30 percent match; and Exxon-Mobil contributed $25,000. The city council approved an incentive agreement with PA Royal Homes Development Corporation to facilitate the development of up to one hundred and thirty-nine lots for single-family residences and a multi-function community center, at 9th Avenue and Jimmy Johnson Boulevard. The project also will include a road, water lines, sanitary sewer lines, street lights, and storm sewers. A brochure by the developer describes the project, Royal Meadows Estates, as "an enhanced golf living experience, crafting a community for the pleasure of active adults and families." The city council approved a specific use permit for property at at 319 6th Street to provide temporary housing for families visiting relatives at the area prisons. The city council voted to table a proposed master service agreement with Garner Environmental Services, Inc. All other agenda items were approved. Community Services Director Lawrence Baker reported recent problems with a pit bull that has been running loose on 30th Street. "The owner of the pit bull will be appearing in Municipal Court later this month regarding a citation she received from the Animal Control Division in February," Baker said. "We will request the judge to direct the owner of the dog to build an enclosure for the animal in order to prevent him form breaking loose again. I have met with the city attorney regarding the possibility of banning one breed of dog. At this time, I do not feel it would be legal; however we will continue to research this issue in light of the problems we have had with pit bulls." Houston City Council today voted 11-4, with Addie Wiseman, Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, Ronald Green and Michael Berry opposed, to approve strategic partnership agreements with Harris County Municipal Utility Districts 109, 132 and 153 providing for limited purpose annexations in each district. The agreements are similar to those approved by the council last month with 21 other MUDs and water boards. Listen Download"The concerns that I have deal not with the merits of a limited purpose annexation, but to what extent the people were aware of this action taking place," Wiseman said. "The MUD did meet the letter of the law as far as what they were required to do to notify the residents. However, that is not sufficient." Wiseman suggested that council delay action for a year so MUD residents could be well informed prior to approval. She asked that the legal department check to insure that the MUDs had followed the statutory requirements for providing notice of public hearings on the proposals. The approval vote came after Assistant City Attorney Don Cheatham advised that they had met the letter of the law and that, in fact, attendance at some of the MUD public hearings ranged from 70 to 100 persons. Some items were tagged, or delayed for one week, by individual members of the city council. Mark Ellis tagged a proposed contract award to the Andress-Walsh Company and Hahn Equipment Company for the purchase of pumps for the Public Works Department. Toni Lawrence tagged a proposed contract award to Dooley Tackaberry, Inc.; Jordan David Safety; Safeco; Inc, Safety Supply, Inc.; and Security Safety & Supply, Inc. for safety equipment for various departments. Wiseman tagged a resolution on participation in the Houston-Galveston Area Council’s Voluntary Mobile Emissions Reduction Program. Gordon Quan, Wiseman, Ada Edwards, Sekula-Gibbs and Carol Galloway tagged ordinances authorizing submission of the 2001 through 2004 grant applications for the Community Development Block Grant program. A city council committee will take up the proposed ordinances on Thursday for possible action next week. Lawrence and Ronald Green tagged a proposal to procure technology products and services with a maximum contract amount of $65 million. The proposal was referred to the city council’s Fiscal Affairs Committee. Wiseman, Holm, Ellis, Sekula-Gibbs, Green and Galloway tagged an ordinance to authorize a "temporary cash borrowing for the general fund in support of the annual budgets of the city for fiscal year 2005." Wiseman, Quan and Edwards tagged the proposed purchase of pumper trucks, ambulances and EMS squad vehicles. Wiseman tagged the proposed purchase of traffic safety devices from Security Safety & Supply; Water Filled Barrier Systems of Houston, Inc.; and Trantex, Inc. The city council drew lots to determine which of two identical bids for traffic safety devices to award for $2,037. Security Safety & Supply won over Trantex, Inc. An ordinance relating to special event temporary information signs was pulled from the agenda and not considered. All other items were unanimously approved. Mayor Bill White reported on his plan to rid the city of dangerous, dilapidated and, in most cases, abandoned buildings. Listen Download"We want to get up to at least 100 hundred demolitions a month," White said. "That’s far more than we’ve done in the past." White said that he is putting together a task force under the management of Houston Police Department Assistant Chief Brian Lumpkin, whose command now includes the city’s Neighborhood Protection office, to focus on the effort and help energize and streamline the process. Lumpkin is in the process of hiring eight additional inspectors to help with the project. Print
Version Webster City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved amendments to the city's personnel regulations dealing with misconduct and dishonesty, to be consistent with the new auditing standard, Statement of Auditing Standards 99 as promulgated by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The city council voted to approve Webster Economic Development Corporation's participation in the Beamer Road Water Transmission Line Project. The city council voted to postpone action on a proposed mini-park at McWhirter Elementary School until the April 9 meeting. The city council voted to accept the completion of the painting of the Magnolia Water Plant and the Blossom/Plumley Water Plant. The city council voted to condemn a parcel of property on Orchard Street, after discussing the issue in executive session. The city council also discussed pending litigation in executive session, but took no action. All other agenda items were approved. College of the Mainland will sponsor a Career Discovery Contest "similar to the popular science fair model" with the first-place winner in each category receiving a $500 scholarship. The contest is open to all 7th through 12th grade public, private, and home school students. Students must prepare a visual exhibit representing a relevant, contemporary career field. Students also must present a 300 to 500 word essay about the occupation. The student exhibits will be judged during the college's April 28 Open House. A complete list of criteria and an entry form are available from the college website at www.com.edu/techprep. The entry deadline is April 15, 2005. For more information call (409) 938-1211 or (888) 258-8859, extension 121. Kemah Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m., March 28, at the Kemah Community Center,1401 State Highway 146, Kemah. The program is "Share Your Memories". Attendees are urged to bring their photos and memorabilia to share with others. Photos and memorabilia will be scanned and returned that night. For more information, 281-538-1048. For more information, call (281) 538-1048.
"As the Grammy Award signifies excellence in recording, the Grammy Signature School Award is designed to honor exceptional public high school music programs across the country," said a news release. More
than 21,000 schools in the
"The application process is extensive and involves submitting recordings, concert programs, videos and lists of all repertoire performed during the year by the orchestra, band and choral departments," said the release. The money received from the Grammy Foundation will be used by the music department for program enhancements such as equipment, instruments and technology.
"The
department’s goal is to achieve this honor every year and
reach the highest honor as the Strand Galveston will host its Semi-Annual Sidewalk Sale on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 15, 16 and 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The event has been timed to coincide with Beach Party Weekend, to provide a shopping venue for local residents. Parking on the Strand will be free for the weekend and there is no admission to the Strand District. "The public is invited to participate in the fun as sidewalks are filled with bargains and entertainment for the entire family and to take advantage of the additional experience of riding the trolley," said publicist Mary Jo Naschke. The Fairy Godmother Project of Houston, a non profit organization that collects "gently worn, clean ball and prom gowns and party attire for area underprivileged young ladies so they can attend their high school prom," is soliciting donations in Galveston. Jan and Paul Grizzle, members of Galveston's Mardi Gras Z Krewe, will be accepting donations of "prom-worthy" dresses, shoes, purses, gloves, on Saturday, March 19 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at 1419 Market in Galveston's East End. Other locations in the Gulf Coast area are 728 Voyager in Clear Lake, behind Perry's Steakhouse near Bay Area Boulevard; and at 4908 Inker in the Houston's Upper West End near Jax Grill on Shepherd. Those donating items will receive coupons to shop at Goddess of the Universe in Clear Lake. For more information visit www.fairygodmotherproject.com or call Donna Alexander at (713) 861-808 or (281) 221-3794. Morning Star, "a poignant Jewish classic," will be presented as part of Celebrate 350 at the Main Street Theater in Rice Village, 2540 Times Boulevard in Houston, March 17 through April 17. "The National Foundation for Jewish Culture launched Celebrate 350, a year-long commemoration of 350 years of Jewish life in America, in September 2004," said a news release. "The Theater Advisory Committee of Celebrate 350 invited Main Street Theater to participate by programming a play reflecting on the American Jewish experience, only to find that Main Street had already announced one of their recommended titles, Morning Star by Sylvia Regan, one of America's foremost Jewish playwrights." The acting cast includes Karen Ross, Linda Boelsche, Shondra Marie, Kim Prause, Thomas Baird, Ron Jones, Tony Salinas, Norelia Reed, Brady Alland, Josiah Franklin, Steve Garfinkel and Dan Braverman. Braverman is a Galveston resident who has performed in many regional theatre productions. Visit http://www.celebrate350.org for more information. Several items of interest to the Texas Gulf Coast are posted on The Online News Station. On May 7, 2005, the Texas Dragon Boat Association brings “the second most popular paddle sport in the world” to Houston. Details The Houston Civic Symphony will make their debut in the Zilkha Hall of the Hobby Center on Friday, April 1st 2005 at 7:30 pm. Details Shakespeare’s comedy, Measure For Measure, is the current production at Bay Area Harbour Playhouse. Photo and Details Scheduled
Meetings Today, March 16 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. |
College
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on the left side of the Gulf Coast E-news page, is
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