Fort Bend Independent

Page 1

VOL 4 No. 23

Phone: 281-980-6745

ww www.fbindependent.com .fbindependent.com

FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623

Official newspaper of Fort Bend County, Missouri City & Sugar Land

Birds of Fort Bend: Pied-Billed Grebe

Pied-Billed Grebes are plucky little water fowls that live in fresh water marshes, creeks, lakes and ponds. They dive mostly for their food as you can see with the ambitious-sized crawfish in his beak, which is shaped like a chicken’s rather than a duck’s. Its feet are also more like a chicken’s than webbed like a duck’s. The feet have lobes on the toes for paddling. While the Pied-Billed can fly, it dives for protection. Its flight is usually low as it taxis along the water. The male takes on the distinctive black and white beak during mating season. Most of the time the beak is brown. This interesting bird is quite common in Fort Bend. They are not afraid to “goose” a larger bird out of the way and comical to watch. Photo copyrighted by Quail Valley resident Margaret Sloan. To see more photos of this bird, visit http://traction.typepad.com/birds

Missouri City considers $32 million budget By BARBARA FULENWIDER City Manager Frank Simpson provided the guts of the next annual proposed budget to Missouri City City Council on June 1. The total amount it will take to pay the city’s bills for 2012 is $32 million. The $32 million is $945,804 or three percent more than the 2011 Missouri City budget and $1,830,017 or 5.4 percent less than the 2009 city budget. Personnel costs are the largest part of any city budget. For 2012 total personnel expenditures are proposed at $21.71 million compared to last year’s total of $21.77 million. The 2011 budget included the addition of seven police officers.

Total revenues for 2012 are expected to remain flat at $30.86 million, up by only $468,379 or 1.5 percent from the 2011 original budget revenues. The total property tax rate will remain the same at 52.84 cents per $100 valuation. City revenues not only include property taxes but also sales taxes, estimated at $6 million for 2012, and numerous fees with franchise fees bringing in the most at an estimated $3.27 million for 2012. Missouri City expects to end their 2011 fiscal year with a fund balance of $7.96 million, which is between the 15 and 25 percent of budgeted revenues

that city policy states must be there. The proposed 2012 budget is expected to use $1,273,893 of the fund balance and leave 21.67 percent or $6,687,852. The 2012 budget will spend the $1 million plus out of the fund balance for one-time expenditures of computer replacements, $224,212; fleet replacement, $319,774; equipment, $223,449, and contingency, $350,000. The number of full-time city employees will stay the same at 311, which includes the seven police officers added last year and 16 positions cut last year.

Entertainment line-up set for Sugar Land’s 26th annual Red, White & Bluefest The City of Sugar Land’s 26th annual Red White and Bluefest will set the skies ablaze over Oyster Creek Park on Monday, July 4, from 5-10 p.m. Celebrate America’s 235th birthday with family, friends and fellow residents while enjoying new main stage performances, delicious county fair-type goodies and numerous children’s activities. The main stage will showcase electrifying performances by the always engaging band Midstream and young artists Savannah Berry and Kathryn Hallberg, who will perform at a Sugar Land event for the first time. Also on the main stage will be a historical musical quartet with professional actors portraying characters such as Betsy Ross, Paul Revere and George and Martha Washington. Activities specifically for kids are planned on the Whole Foods Market children’s stage which will be programmed

with breath-taking reptile shows, amusing and sometimes comedic magic shows and vibrant cultural performances by the Fort Bend Chinese American Association. Children’s activities will also include balloon artists, stick-on tattoo parlors and carnival games with prize giveaways. Throughout the day, unicyclists, jugglers and pantomime artists will interact with the crowd. In the spirit of traditional Fourth of July picnics, refreshment booths will offer treats such as BBQ sandwiches, sausage on sticks, hot dogs, nachos, cotton candy, juicy pickles, sugary funnel cakes, snow cones and ice pops to cool everyone down as they await the grand finale. These mouth-watering treats, along with water and sodas, will be available for sale at a minimal cost throughout the event. This year’s Red White and Bluefest will be hosted by

Harish Jajoo elected to Sugar Land City Council By SESHADRI KUMAR In the City of Sugar Land city council election for District 4, Harish Jajoo won, defeating Farha Ahmed on June 11. In the District 3 runoff, Amy Mitchell defeated Howard Paul by a single vote, according to unofficial results. Mitchell got 791 and Paul 790 votes. Though Paul received the maximum of 651 votes, followed by Mitchell’s 430 and Jim Hoelker’s 411 votes in the May 14 general election, Paul lost in the runoff. Paul’s attorney has informed the city secretary that his client would formally seek a re-count. The city secretary has mailed seven postal ballots and none has been returned yet. The mail-in ballots should be received no later than June 16. Seven years ago, Councilman Tom Abraham won his at-large council seat by a two-vote margin, defeating Mike Casey. The result was same even after a recount. Jajoo received 1,574 votes and Ahmed 1,340 in the runoff. In early voting, Jajoo got 191 votes more than Ahmed, but on election day, Ahmed got 57 votes more, but not enough to bridge the gap.

Jajoo

Mitchell

In the May 14 election, in a three way race, Jajoo and Ahmed were top two vote getters and they had to face a runoff election on June 11 to decide the winner. On May 14, Jajoo received the maximum of 1,153 votes followed by Ahmed’s 952. Frank Yonish finished third with 629 votes. The District 4 race drew wide attention because the election campaign involved the war on terror and AlQaeda, topics far removed from the local government. An anonymous mailer based on Ahmed’s link to a convicted Al Qaeda operative Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, sparked a controversy during the runoff election campaign. Ahmed said she was not representing Siddiqui as an

attorney, but did not deny her connection to Siddiqui or her family. Now, Sugar land City Council will have three new faces. While incumbent District 1 Councilman Don Smithers was re-elected, for Dist. 2, Bridget Yeung was elected unopposed. She filled the vacancy created by Don Olson, who did not seek re-election. Incumbent Dist.3 and Dist. 4 councilmen Russell Jones and Michael Schiff are term-limited. In another runoff held on June 11, in Rosenberg Bill Benton was elected to atlarge position 1. He got 826 votes and defeated James Urbish, who got 673 votes.

Sheriff’s Office has a new (and young) deputy The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office has a brand new deputy, but he’s a little short and very young. Sheriff Milton Wright deputized seven-year-old Javier Munoz III during special ceremonies held Tuesday, June 7. Young Munoz is the son of former deputy Javier Munoz Jr., who still serves the Sheriff’s Office as a reserve officer. Javier Munoz III has undergone surgery for a brain tumor. He always expressed a desire to be a deputy sheriff like his dad, so Sheriff Wright took action. Wright formally deputized the youngster, who was all smiles during the ceremony. He wore a white hat and boots for the occasion, and he received a plaque that included his commission, a small Texas flag, an official Sheriff’s Office patch and his own deputy’s badge. He was surrounded by family members, including his mom, Laura, sisters Cassandra and Jessica, and his father. The Munozes live in Sugar Land.

Houston’s 106.9 The Zone, who are partnering with Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas, to offer a chance to win a vacation trip to the Bahamas and other surprises. Be sure not to miss the silent auction booth for an opportunity to bid on a one-of-a-kind work of art by the famous artist Bernar Venet, whose monumental sculptures are installed throughout Oyster Creek Park. The day will close with a 15 minute spectacular fireworks show that will make the sky sparkle with magic and majesty. This year’s state-of-the-art fireworks finale will include some new surprises and hightech upgrades not to be missed. A free shuttle service will be provided from Mercer Stadium, 16403 Lexington Blvd., to Oyster Creek Park, 4033 State Highway 6 South, from 4:3011 p.m. For more information,call Above, Sheriff Milton (281) 275-2885 or visit www. Wright, right, kneels by Fort sugarlandtx.gov. Bend County Sheriff’s Deputy

Javier Munoz III. Wright deputized the youngster June 7 in ceremonies at the Sheriff’s Office in Richmond. Shown with the new deputy and sheriff are, from left, Javier’s mother, Laura, sisters Cassandra and Jessica, and his father, Javier Munoz Jr.

10701 Corporate Drive, #282, Stafford, TX 77477 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, TX 77487 Seshadri Kumar Publisher & Editor

www.fbindependent.com 281-980-6745

Fort Bend Independent, (USPS 025-572) is published every Wednesday (for a subscription rate of $20 per year) by Fort Bend Independent, LLC., 10701 Corporate Dr., #282, Stafford, Texas 77477. Periodicals Postage Paid at Stafford, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Fort Bend Independent, P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, Tx 77487.


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