VOL 8 No. 10
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FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
Official newspaper of Fort Bend County, Missouri City & Sugar Land
Bird of the Month: Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
State Rep’s bill opposed by son, gay community
By SESHADRI KUMAR State Rep. Rick Miller, (R) from Sugar Land stands by his faith and House Bill 1556, undeterred by his own son’s and the gay community’s opposition to the bill. HB 1556 called the Intrastate Commerce Improvement Act, would prohibit cities in the state from adopting or enforcing nondiscrimination ordinances protecting LGBT people. Beau Miller, an openly gay attorney in Houston, has spoken out against his father Rick Miller’s move to introduce a bill which contains a provision nullifying city-level LGBT protections in Texas, the Texas Observer reported. Beau Miller, described as a gay community activist, has posted in his FaceBook page: While I love my dad very much, I am extremely disappointed by
his actions and will do everything I can to prevent that bill, or any such legislation, from becoming law. I have been in fairly intense talks with my dad and his office about this issue. Although I am hopeful that I can persuade him to agree to not pursue this bill’s advancement, that outcome is far from certain.” Responding to the reports Rick Miller said in a statement: “I am saddened by the recent politicization of my personal relationship with my son. My life has been spent in service to my family, my country, and now my public service in the Texas House is a continuation of my care for all Texans “While I respect the right of my son to believe differently, my personal faith allows me to both love him and hold firm to the truth. It is my responsibility
as an elected official to move forward with this important legislation for Texas.” The statement of intent behind the bill is that “HB 1556 will prevent local governments from expanding business regulations beyond limitations established in state law. Competing and inconsistent local ordinances interfere with economic liberty and discourage business expansion. By promoting instead of restricting business growth, this bill is about job creation and an improved state economy, both of which have a direct, positive impact on Texas citizens.” “Because every private business is different, nothing in the bill prevents local businesses from voluntarily adopting their own discrimination policy not currently included in state law,” according to Miller.
The Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker is a woodpecker that winters in the southeastern US and Mexico. While mature woodpeckers have a red cap, the male also has a red throat. All matures have a yellow wash on the breast.Their drumming is distinct and sounds like Morse Code. They also will drum on metal including streets signs. The drilling stands out with neat horizontal rows that may need to be re-drilled or may form sap wells. They especially like high sap trees like birch and maple. You may hear them or see their drills before you see them. From the back they are well camouflaged on a tree, so that movement or sound may be your only clue. This medium-sized woodpecker will leave in the later spring. They mostly nest in the pine and hardwoods of Eastern By SESHADRI KUMAR resources to devote to each poll. 26 counties used the countyCanada. More pictures by Margaret Sloan can be seen on http://traction.typepad.com/birds. Fort Bend County is conFrom the management point wide voting program. Brazoria sidering a “countywide poll- of view, precinct based voting will use it in May. Hopefully, ing place program,” in which limited the ballot styles of paper Fort Bend will be able to invoters can vote in any polling ballots. Currently, about 3 mil- troduce the countywide voting booth in the county as they now lion ballots are printed in 300 to centers in November, Oldham do during early voting. 400 styles and half of them are said. Galveston and Wharton Currently, on election day wasted. New technology has counties are already doing it. By BARBARA FULENWIDER agreed with, no right to dis- ed, “Some good people just got voters can cast their votes only freed the elections department Voting locations can be adWhen Missouri City Coun- solve the district as that power some bad advice.” in a polling place within their from such constraints and it can opted to meet rapid growth, if With that said council apcilman Don Smith began look- is exclusively Houston’s; there voting precinct. print any number ballot styles. they are not limited by precinct ing at some newly proposed could be a duplication of ser- proved the resolution to oppose Fort Bend County Elections “Technology frees us from lines. There will be future cost legislation in the Texas Legis- vices and taxes because of two Senate Bill No. 343. Administrator John Oldham historical constraints of precinct savings, down the road. TurnBefore council tackled oplature and didn’t like what he other proposed management last week made a presentation based voting. Electronic Voting out could increase because of saw, he alerted fellow council districts that would overlap posing Bill 343, they voted to to commissioners court on the Systems allow all ballot styles convenience. members about putting a halt and city council would have no approve two resolutions supcountywide polling place pro- to be available in each polling The advantages of the votpower to resolve that problem, porting legislation to create to them. gram. location. Electronic Poll Books ing centers are that “Citizens Senate Bill 343 engendered and if the district were dis- Missouri City Management Often called Vote Centers, allow poll workers to access can vote near home, work, or the most discussion after Assis- solved Houston would become Districts No. 1 and 2. The disCountywide Polling Places al- registration records to be con- school. Polling locations can tant City Manager Scott Elmer owner of all facilities -- water, tricts would then allow funding low voters to cast a ballot at densed to laptops or notepads be adapted to meet rapid growth for public improvements for a told council that it would estab- sewer, drainage, roads. any polling location within the and also allow easy assignment and are not limited by precinct McDonald also noted that residential and commercial delish a management district that county. In this respect, they of- of correct ballot styles to any lines. Future Cost Savings will included 4,665 acres in Hous- the district would have the velopment planned by Cernus fer the convenience of Early voter,” Oldham said. occur due to fewer locations ton, 6,400 acres in Missouri same power as a city to make and FLC Parkway in different Voting, but on Election Day, If you used to vote at a site to staff and because of conveCity’s Districts A and B and economic development grants locations of the Mustang BayOldham said. early, and you show up at the nience, turnout may increase.” 776 acres in all of unincorpo- and grant tax abatements uni- ou Service Area. City staff told The county has filed a no- wrong place on election day, The current voting system is rated Fort Bend County within laterally rather than simply council the developments “will tice of intent with the secretary it disenfranchises a lot of vot- 10 years old, but is only certified the Houston city limits and part agree to participate in a city enhance the quality of life in of state to adopt the new pro- ers in the county, according to to 2000 standards. Replacing it of Houston Council District or county proposed tax abate- Missouri City and increase the gram.Oldham said a number of Oldham. with a precinct based system city’s ad valorem and sales tax K. The biggest concern, Elmer ment. counties are moving away from In 2006 the Texas Legislature would cost approximately $5.8 When it was time for discus- base.” said, is Houston would have precinct based voting and that authorized a pilot program in million if population growth The last resolution agenda total control and Missouri City sion, Councilman Jerry Wyatt is not sacrosanct any more. Lubbock county. In 2011 sever- were to stop today. Replacing it would have no say whatsoever said he wondered if Houston item council considered was in Election Officials historical- al states implemented vote cenregarding anything Houston City Council had seen the leg- regard to proposed statehouse ly needed to know how many See POLL, Page 3 ters. In Texas, last November, islation, and added, “This real- legislation that would change wanted to do. Elmer also told council that ly chaps me.” Then he thanked the current property sales and the legislation could limit the fellow Councilman Don Smith use tax policies and other inability of the city to facilitate who told Wyatt about the pro- come producing policies that quality growth and economic posed law. “I’m so glad Don would cause the city to lose revenue or its ability to raise development and would im- Smith was on top of this.” Mayor Owen asked what revenue. pose undesired levels of buThe resolution they apreaucracy and increased taxes state representative is carrying without Missouri City control. the bill and Smith said Rep. proved opposes Senate bills The assistant city manager not- Ron Reynolds. He said he had 182 and 156 and House bills ed that property owners in the talked to Reynolds about it and 365 and 957 and Senate Joint district have expressed their was told, “we are not in favor Resolution No. 14 and House disapproval of the proposed of it.” Smith said Reynolds Joint Resolution No. 71 along district along with developers said the bill “won’t go any far- with any other legislation of the 84th Texas Legislature that ther than this.” and business owners. Smith said he also talked would limit the ability of MisThe city’s outside legal counsel, Jeanne H. McDonald, to Houston Councilman Larry souri City to provide services reviewed the proposed legis- Green and told him, “I’ve nev- to its residents and businesses. Mayor Allen Owen almost lation for the city and urged er seen a contract so one-sidcouncil not to support it. She ed.” After the conversation was went ballistic on this. He said said Missouri City would have over, Smith said, “They under- he was “not aware of any city, county or school district” that no control over or approval of stood this would not happen.” Smith said he’d also talked did not oppose the bills. “If the issuance of bonds by the district; the city would have no to State Sen. Rodney Ellis. He this bill passes,” he said, “then BRAZOS RIVER PARK FESTIVAL SITE. Pictured (L-R) are Joe Harper and Jon Harper, of say in appointing the governing said, “Ellis doesn’t go along every city in the state of Texas Harper Brothers Construction; Sugar Land Director of Fiscal Services Jennifer Brown; Councilboard directors; all district gov- with these kind of districts at will set their tax cap at 4 per- members Himesh Gandhi, Joe Zimmerman and Amy Mitchell; Mayor James Thompson; Councilernance would be by Houston. all. He said, ‘If it’s necessary cent whether they need it or not member Steve Porter; University of Houston Sugar Land Associate Vice Chancellor Richard PhilAlso, Missouri City resi- for a management district to be so we can storehouse money so lips; Sugar Land Project Manager Ed Orozco; Sugar Land City Manager Allen Bogard; Sugar Land Director of Parks and Recreation Jim Browne; and Sugar Land Assistant City Manager dents would have no way to created it should be confined to See DISTRICT, Page 3 Mike Goodrum. Story on page 2. vote out directors they dis- the municipality.’” Wyatt add-
Countywide polling places likely
Missouri City nixes management district mooted by Houston
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