VOL 7 No. 25
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FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
Official newspaper of Fort Bend County, Missouri City & Sugar Land
Parks Youth Ranch announces “Cowboy Up 2014”
Six vie for Pct. 4 JP nomination
Birds of Fort Bend: Downy Woodpecker
At least six people have thrown their hats in the ring seeking the Republican Party’s nomination for Fort Bend County Justice of the Peace, Pct. 4 seat. Following the passing away of Judge Jim Richard, the Republican Party has to find a new nominee to place on the ballot in November. Laura Richard will be the JP until Dec. 31. She is the Republican candidate for County Clerk in the November election. The county Republican Party’s executive committee, comprising precinct chairs, will elect the nominee. The executive committee on Monday, June 16, heard from six prospective nominees. They are David Hunter, attorney, Warren Diepraam, attorney, Joan Cain, attorney, Justin Joyce, Sugar Land Police Department officer, and Mike Rozell, former County Judge. Shannon Bloesch, left, Executive Director; US Congressman Pete Olson; Dick Hogan & Carl The executive committee is expected to vote on the nominee at its next Favre, PYR Board Members and Nancy Olson . PHOTO BY MARY FAVRE. meeting on June 30. The Parks Youth Ranch (PYR) Board of Directors and Heritage Properties are saddling up for success! This year’s event will be held on Saturday, October 4th at The George Ranch Historical Park Arena. The last two events have raised more than $350,000 and all monies raised were used to fund operations of the Fred and Mabel Parks Youth Ranch shelter for homeless teens. The Fred and Mabel R. Parks Youth Ranch opened its doors in March 2011 to address a gap in services for abused, at-risk and homeless youth. PYR is a 20-bed emergency shelter located in Fort Bend County that is able to accommodate 10 boys and 10 girls, ages 7 to 17, referred by Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and by the local community. PYR’s mission is to provide
emergency shelter, counseling and life-changing services to these children. May 2014 was a very important month for PYR’s mission. “We are extremely pleased to announce that we have provided over 10,000 nights of peace to a most vulnerable population – our homeless youth,” says Shannon Bloesch, executive director. “As we reflect on this accomplishment, we continue to prepare for our annual fundraiser, Cowboy Up. As always, all event proceeds allow us to continue to meet the needs of homeless children! We strive to provide not only “Home for Today,” but “Hope for Tomorrow!” U.S. Congressman Pete Olson and his wife, Nancy, have graciously agreed to “strap on their SPURS” for the cause and serve as Honorary CoChairs. Fort Bend County
Commissioner James Patterson will serve as the Event Auctioneer. Also returning as emcee will be local radio personality Michele Fisher. The unforgettable event will feature live music by Kim & Bill Nash from Nash3, BBQ with all the fixins’, dancing, cash bar, live auction and much more. Wanted: Your presence at Cowboy Up! Here’s your chance to put on your boots and hat, and party with a purpose. A variety of sponsorship and underwriting opportunities, from $250 to $10,000, are available. General admission tickets are also available for $75 each. For more information, visit the PYR website at www. parksyouthranch.org or contact Parks Youth Ranch Executive Director, Shannon Bloesch (smbloesch@parksyouthranch.org)
Missouri City partners with Texas Husky Rescue, flies dog to Carrolton
Red stands with rescuers from Pilots N Paws before his flight to Carrollton. Photo courtesy of Missouri City. Since the creation of Missouri City’s new Animal Shelter in the fall of 2013, Animal Control officers have been providing assistance to the lost and homeless animals in many interesting and creative ways. One prime example of a creative and strategic animal rescue occurred this May, when Missouri City Staff was able to partner with two dog friendly volunteer agencies to rescue a homeless, broken-
legged husky who was found within City limits. Toward the end of May, Missouri City Animal Control officers found a friendly husky wandering around with a broken leg. Despite his injury, the dog showed no signs of timidity and jumped right into the Animal Control vehicle. Staff and Animal Shelter volunteers quickly appealed to local husky, sled dog and Eskimo dog rescues to seek
treatment for the dog’s broken leg, which, despite its severity, had not brought the cheerful dog’s spirit down. A group in Carrollton named the Texas Husky Rescue offered to help the dog, but it was unable to provide a means of transportation. “We immediately sent out pleas through social media and personal contacts looking for transportation for the dog,” Missouri City Animal Control Supervisor Juan Acevedo said. “After hours of searching, miraculously Pilots N Paws, a group of private pilots that fly dogs to rescues, agreed to fly the husky to Carrolton over the weekend.” Missouri City Animal Control Officer Richard Perez delivered the dog to the Arcola Airport early one Saturday morning, where the husky was flown by Pilots N Paws to his new home in Carrollton. The dog received a new name, Red, was treated and put up for adoption. Residents interested in visiting the Missouri City Animal Shelter, can contact Acevedo via phone at 281.403.8707 or email jacevedo@missouricitytx.gov to set up an appointment.
Robin Elackatt’s election as Mayor ProTem ratified Missouri City City Council on June 16 ratified the election of Councilman Robin Elackatt as Mayor ProTem on a 5-2 vote. Councilmembers Jerry Wyatt and Don Smith voted against the ratification. Mayor Allen Owen who did not vote in the initial Mayor ProTem election, voted in favor of the ratification. Elackatt was first elected Mayor ProTem on May 19 with 4-0 vote. Newly elected councilman Chris Preston was not properly sworn-in on May 19 and hence, the reconsideration of the item.
Year round resident in Fort Bend, these sparrow-sized woodpeckers are often seen in multi-species flocks particularly with chickadees, titmice and wrens. Striking black and white, the Downy Woodpecker male has a small red cap. Main diet is beneficial to your trees as they clean them of many pest insects and larvae. Come to feeders containing suet or black-oiled sunflower seeds as they fly quickly between trees and “hop” up, down and around trees. You may hear males drumming in the spring. Never fear, they are not pecking holes but attracting mates. Photo by Margaret Sloan who is holding an informal “open garden” June 26 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for those interested in attracting birds to their gardens. For details and more Downy pictures, http://traction.typepad.com/birds
FBISD presents $1 billion capital plan; $333 million November bond election likely By SESHADRI KUMAR The Fort Bend ISD administration has prepared a master capital plan spanning over nine years in three phases involving capital expenditure of a little over $1 billion. At the Regular Fort Bend ISD Board Business Meeting on June 9, the FBISD Board of Trustees received a long-range Master Capital Plan presentation. The district’s capital needs include: construction, security, technology, and transportation projects, as well as facility and educational adequacy deficiency improvements over the next decade. The priorities in the Master Capital Plan were developed as part of a three-phase plan based on a Facilities Master Plan, a Security Master Plan and a Technology Master Plan.
These plans served as guides in prioritizing the immediate and long-range capital needs for the District. The first phase of the plan includes projects needed between years 2014 and 2017, the second phase includes projects needed between 2017 and 2020 and the third phase includes projects needed between 2020 and 2023. The first phase of the plan calls for $280 million in construction, $18 million for land acquisition, $34 million for security, $66 million for technology, $15 million for transportation and $19 million for project management. The administration also discussed with the Board their recommendation to call a November 2014 bond election for Phase One of the plan in the range of $333.4 million.
Preliminary plans for the Phase One capital needs for the next three years include: •$279.8 million for construction projects: new construction of elementary schools in Aliana and Riverstone, as well as two other schools; classroom additions, current facility deficiencies, educational adequacy deficiencies, and building system life-cycle needs; •$34 million for security and safety upgrades: security cameras, security vestibules, window film, security fencing, access control, emergency generators, new emergency notification system, and others; •$15.7 million for transportation needs: bus cameras, bus global positioning systems (GPS), and new school buses; •$65.7 million for technolSee BOND, Page 4
FBISD adopts $566 million budget By SESHADRI KUMAR Fort Bend ISD board of trustees on June 9 adopted a $566.5 million budget for 2014-15, without any tax rate increase. The budget is $33 million more than the current year’s expenditure. The district’s total tax rate remains $1.34 per 100 property valuation. At an earlier public hearing on the proposed budget, no one spoke. FBISD’s taxable property value increased by 9 percent compared to the 6.5 percent growth in the previous year.
The district’s total taxable value now is $28. 43 billion. For a penny of school tax rate, the district would earn a revenue of $2.8 million. The average home market value in 2013 was $194,444 and in 2014, it rose by 10 percent to $213,888. The average taxable value changed form $177,799 to $195,579. With the same tax rate of $1.34, an average home valued at $213,888, will have to pay a school property tax of $2,928, which is $285 more than last year. The budget provides for
a starting teacher salary of $50,000 per year. Also, the teachers will get salary increases ranging form 4 percent to 8.6 percent or $2,214 to $4,147. The district’s revenue for 2014-15 is $566.5 million and the operating expenditure in the general fund is $561.7 million, resulting in a $4.8 million addition to the fund balance. The fund balance of the district increases from $170 million to $175 million. The administration is proposing a Transfer of $22 million from the surplus fund balance to the bond funds.