The Houston-Galveston Area Council Board of Directors on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve a draft recommended method of distribution for Hurricane Ike Disaster Recovery funds. Listen:  MP3  RealPlayer

“We reviewed the staff (recommendations) and approved, for the purpose of putting out to the public over the next several weeks, non-housing allocations and housing allocations,” said Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski, chair of the H-GAC Hurricane Ike Disaster Recovery Committee, adding that the recommendations will be presented at public hearings before the November meeting of the H-GAC board, when they will be considered for submission to the Texas General Land Office.

“I look at some of the things that are all worthwhile, but there are a few items there that I would like to see that aren’t there,” said Galveston County Commissioner Ken Clark. “Do we have the ability to add items to that particular category?  Like fresh water or wastewater treatment?”

H-GAC Executive Director Jack Steel urged the board to approve the recommendations as submitted, then work with the GLO to encourage other projects.

The public hearings will be held on Tuesday, October 25 at 10 a.m. - noon at the Humble Civic Center, located at 8233 Will Clayton Parkway in Humble; on Wednesday, October 26 at 10 a.m. - noon at the Hobby Airport Marriott (Corpus Christi Room), located at 9100 Gulf Freeway in Houston; and on Thursday, October 27 at 6 - 8 p.m. at the Galveston County Courthouse (in the Commissioners' Courtroom), located at 722 21st Street in Galveston.  More

H-GAC Director of Human Resources Rodney Bradshaw updated the board on recent Workforce office realignments that resulted in the closing of four offices. Listen:  MP3  RealPlayer

“We told you that if we were able to get some help from the communities where we closed those offices we’d try to maintain a part-time presence there,” Bradshaw said.  “I want to tell you we had a very good response.”

Bradshaw said the City of Galveston has provided space at the McGuire-Dent Recreation Center which is being staffed by employees from the Texas City Office three days a week, the Houston Public Library is offering to host job search seminars and Chambers County is making space for Workforce in Winnie.

All other agenda items were approved with unanimous votes.