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Posts published in “Day: August 8, 2019”

Crosby ISD plans to use 2017 bonds to meet dire facility needs

August 8, 2019

CROSBY – The Board of Trustees of Crosby ISD met with Steven Doorman of Casey Sledge, attorney’s and the school’s bond consultant Doug DeWitt and authorized the selling of the bond that passed voters in 2017 for $109.5 M. with some changes to address current needs at a special meeting called for August 5.

The bonds were separated into two phases and a third was eliminated. Phase one was to include the Maintenance and Operations Budget Reimbursement for the years 2016 – 2018 for $11,125,431 and 2017- 2018 for $2,060,881. The bond would buy buses for $835,000. Upgrades to Barrett Elementary School and Newport Elementary School comes in at $835,000. A New Middle School with 6th Grade and site improvements for the E5 and middle school is scheduled to cost $38,099,960.

Crosby High School will add new wings for $20,378,802. Crosby Elementary School and Crosby High School are to get Emergency Access Drives or roadways for $877,123. The cost of converting Crosby Kindergarten Campus to Pre-Kindergarten through 5th Grade and Drew Elementary School and Crosby Elementary School for Pre-Kindergarten with special facilities to accommodate Drew Elementary, Crosby Elementary and Crosby Middle School is $1,844,571.

The total of the entire first phase is $78,845,613. Phase two is the building of a new elementary school for $30,654,387.

Commissioner Garcia details his plans for Pct. 2 improvements

August 8, 2019
Commissioner Adrian Garcia speaks at the Chamber luncheon about his plans for Pct. 2.

By Gilbert Hoffman

Speaking last week at a North Channel Chamber luncheon, Harris County Pct. 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia covered a wide range of topics related to his concepts of improving conditions for all the residents.

Garcia said that his focus at all times is on Precinct 2, and what he can do to better conditions there. He said a fundamental change in how the precinct is run is his emphasis on spending county money to hire companies and workers that are located in the precinct. He introduced his purchasing director, Jose Jimenez, saying he was they key to implementing the new plan.

Garcia reflected on his first seven months in office, and how it seemed like an unending string of catastrophes. He noted that his term started the first week with an ExxonMobil fire in the refinery in Baytown, and currently was ending the period the same way with the same disaster. He noted that the refineries in Precinct 2 have a history of violations of air and water pollution, and vowed that the county would implement new procedures to minimize these. Because of the large number of petrochemical plants in his district, he said that environmental concerns and safety would be a primary concern that he would focus on.

Garcia noted that his precinct has the lowest household income in the county, and related to that is the lowest home ownership percentage. He noted how important this is, related to other problems of educational achievement and crime rates.

He said a priority is to raise the level of educational achievement, and as a start he has partnered with HCDE, the Harris County Department of Education, to provide free SAT college preparation for about 200 motivated students that need help to pass the college entrance tests. This is a four week course for high school students, and if successful will be repeated for more. Garcia noted that passing the SAT will open more educational opportunities, and result in more job and career choices and opportunities.

Garcia told the students, “Go on to succeed, but come back to Precinct 2 and Give Back.”

Garcia said that healthcare was a major concern, and noted that he had started the first “food pantry” at a Clinic in the district, to provide more healthy food to clients. He noted that other factors affecting access to good healthcare included transportation, which is being provided.

$47 million to rebuild Lake Houston dam

August 8, 2019
Lake Houston Dam will soon have new gates to help control flooding on the San Jacinto River watershed area.

Crenshaw Releases Statement On FEMA Funds For Lake Houston

HOUSTON, TX – On Friday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced funding for the Lake Houston Dam Spillway Improvement Project. The project, which converts Lake Houston’s dam to dam gates, was awarded a total of $47,170,953 ($35,378,214 in federal funds).

Congressman Dan Crenshaw released the following statement in response to the announcement:

“This is great news for the entire San Jacinto watershed. This money will fund the much-needed Lake Houston dam gates to better manage the flow of water. For a community that feels the burden of flooding too often, this is a huge win. I’m grateful to partner with City Council Member Dave Martin, Governor Greg Abbott, Texas Department of Emergency Management Executive Director Chief Nim Kidd, and State Senator Brandon Creighton to make this a reality.”