Fort Bend Independent 081518 by Fort Bend Independent

VOL 11 No. 33

email: editor@ independent.com

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FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018

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

Official newspaper of Fort Bend County & Missouri City

Chase for the crown at Fort Bend County Fair

County proposes to drop property tax rate by half a cent

By SESHADRI KUMAR Fort Bend County Commissioners Court is expected to reduce the total general fund and drainage district tax rates for 2018 by half-a-cent for $100 property valuation. A tax rate of $0.445000 per $100 valuation has been proposed for adoption by the governing body of Fort Bend County General Fund. A tax rate of $0.019000 per $100 valuation has been proposed for adoption by the Fort Bend County Drainage District. This year’s total tax rate is 46.9 cents per $100 valuation. The 2019 tax rate will be 46.4 cents per $100 valuation. The Fort Bend County 2018 Fort Bend County Fair Queen Candidates. Front row (left to right): Annie Rule, Morgan Hajovsky, Alexis Smith, 2017 Fair Queen Marissa Salazar, Carson Yanta, Jillian Voehl, back row Tax Rate has not increased in (left to right): Marlies Cumings, Hannah Hunt, Kelsey Lattin, Skylar Higginbotham, Kelsey Lattin, 17 years, and decreased by $0.005 in FY2015, $0.00876 Isabella Golemi. Not present: Miranda Suchyta. in FY2016, $0.0120 in FY2017 Boutique, and Bill and Barbara Style, smiles, and social Railroad Café. Hats, heels, and a delicious Robertson with Magana Media media were part of the chase for the crown for the Fort meal allowed the candidates to participated in the workshops. A business-based etiquette Bend County Fair’s Queen practice what they learned in the instruction was presented morning workshops. competition. Fort Bend County Fair by Pollard who had this to The 2018 Fair Queen Candidates and 2017 Fair Queen Queen Scholarship Committee say, “These public speaking, Marissa Salazar participated members, several past fair leadership, and presenting skills During its August 13 meeting, at the 2nd Annual Enrichment queens, Fair Manager, Cindy will be with these young ladies the Fort Bend ISD Board of Day hosted by the Fort Bend Schmidt, and Fair Board far beyond this competition, Trustees unanimously voted to County Fair Queen Scholarship Member, Vickie Todd Autrey, these candidates are our future call a November 6 bond election and President-elect Marjie leaders and I couldn’t be prouder to address capital needs related Committee. The day started with Pollard all attended the social of them.” to new construction, safety and The Queen contestants security, renovations to address workshops on social media safe event with the candidates. The young ladies vying to receive scholarships and prizes maintenance and adequacy practices, interview techniques, make-up tutorials, styling be Fair Queen represent several as part of the competition. The throughout the District, and tips, etiquette enhancement, high schools within the Fort 2018 Fort Bend County Fair transportation and technology. Queen will be crowned on nutrition/well-being discussion, Bend County. The development of the Zelda Sosa of Glam by September 28, 2018. and hair 101. $992.6 million bond referendum For more information visit follows an extensive Facilities The candidates attended an Zelda, Travis Johnson, Amber afternoon at a Kentucky Derby Lockhart of A Wild Hair Salon, fortbendcountyfair.com or call Master Planning process that themed dinner held at the Ol’ January Lincoln of Rustic Closet the Fair Office at 281-342-6171. began in January of 2018 to ensure that the District is providing the best learning environments, valuable opportunities and access to programs Americans are led to believe why oncologists in accordance with the Boardthat the only way to discover want patients adopted Profile of a Graduate. cancer is by waiting for a to come in for This Facilities Master tumor to grow big enough for checkups every Planning process helped to a mammogram, a biopsy, or a six months.… identify construction projects They know PET scan to detect it. and other life-cycle maintenance surgery, Jenny Hrbacek proves this to the and adequacy needs essential be dead wrong. Her book Cancer- chemotherapy, for the next six years, and led to Free! Are You Sure? (October 2, and radiation the development of an updated 2018) empowers readers to seek they’re offering capital plan. early testing and treatments that are not a cure This capital plan also are personalized to their health but only a includes additional funding for needs. These treatment options t r e a t m e n t — can be lifesaving, as tumors can which can be for grow undetected for seven to ten repeated additional years. Hrbacek gives you the tools r e v e n u e , ” Sugar Land City Council has to be an advocate for your Hrbacek says. approved a memorandum of unW h a t own health. Building on her derstanding with Fort Bend ISD knowledge as a nurse as well followed were for the relocation of skeletal reas her own journey with breast chemotherapy mains found in the Telfair school cancer, Hrbacek stresses that treatments with site to the city’s adjacent Old Imside cutting out a tumor is not the brutal perial Prison Farm Cemetery, at cure. In her book she shares how effects. 6440 Easton Ave. She began she originally believed having The action is the first step toa a double mastectomy would attending ward a formal agreement with the support group, uproot the problem. but she also educated herself on Fort Bend Independent School Instead, ten days after the where cancer recurrences were the range of technologies that District. initial surgery Hrbacek found common among the members. can detect cancer as early as The agreement will establish Hrbacek vowed to stay possible. a 2.4-mm seed of cancer cells specifi c details of the formal reloon a lymph node. This changed cancer-free and not become Cancer-Free! Are You Sure? cation and interment of historical a statistic. Not only did she is a bundle of what Hrbacek everything. remains of prisoners discovered “It was starting to make sense radically change her lifestyle, See CANCER, Page 3 in an unmarked grave on FBISD’s

$0.005 in FY 2018 year and $0.005 this year, for a total of 3.576 cents in the ﬁve years. The county will use the revenue for funding additional courts authorized by the state of Texas, increased operations and maintenance costs of Health and Human Services, law enforcement and other ancillary services required by the rapidly growing population in Fort Bend County. The Drainage District proposes to use revenue attributable to the tax rate increase for the purpose of maintaining existing drainage channels through appropriate structural repairs and vegetation control and for review of drainage plans of new development due to a rapidly growing population of Fort Bend County. The volume of repairs necessitated by Hurricane Harvey requires a tax rate

increase of 0.3 cents to provide funding to allow completion of repairs in a timely manner. The general fund rate will drop by 0.8 cent, thus yielding a total tax rate decrease of 0.5 cent per $100 valuation. The county has scheduled public hearings on the proposed tax rate: First Hearing: August 29, 2018 at 5:30 PM at Fort Bend County Courthouse, Commissioners Courtroom, 401 Jackson St, Richmond. Second Hearing: September 4, 2018 at 1:00 PM at Fort Bend County Courthouse, Commissioners Courtroom, 401 Jackson St, Richmond. After formally adopting the tax rate, the commissioners court will adopt a 2019 budget. Next fiscal year budget is expected to be about 3.5 percent more than the 2018 adopted budget of $365 million.

Fort Bend ISD calls for $992.6 million bond election

Cancer-free! Are you sure?

safety and security, technology, and transportation needs. The $992.6 million bond referendum will fund the ﬁrst of a two-phase, six-year plan to address capital needs in the District, which is expected to serve more than 85,000 students by the year 2027. Phase one includes the $992.6 million bond referendum, followed by a projected $705.2 million bond plan in 2021. The $992.6 November 6, 2018 bond referendum includes: •$403.4 million for new construction, rebuilds and additions, including the construction of three elementary campuses, design of one middle school, construction of one high school, the rebuild of Lakeview Elementary and Meadows Elementary, and additions at Madden Elementary and Neill Elementary. •$396.5 million to address life-cycle deﬁciencies and educational adequacy across the District.

•$14.9 million to fund safety and security upgrades and investments. •$10.6 million for transportation. •$142.6 million for technology. •$19.7 million for future land purchases. While a successful bond election would not necessitate any immediate change in the tax rate of $1.32, a potential three penny increase may be needed during the duration of the threeyear program, with the earliest increase not until 2020. Even with a three-penny increase, at $1.35, Fort Bend ISD would still have one of the lowest projected tax rates compared to other districts nearby, and with a lower debt per student ratio. Taxpayers who have established Over 65 or Disabled Persons exemptions would not be impacted by a potential tax increase, as they have established tax ceilings on their homesteads and those ceilings will not be impacted.

property on Feb. 19. First Assistant City Manager Steve Griﬃth said,“The city of Sugar Land is an adjacent property owner, so we’ve closely monitored the ongoing developments and worked to establish a continued dialogue with all groups involved in the process.” City leaders recently organized a meeting with representatives of the Texas Slave Descendants Society - a group now called the Convict Leasing and Labor Project - to discuss preliminary plans for the relocation of the remains to the city’s cemetery and con-

ceptual ideas for enhancing and memorializing the cemetery. Local activist Reginald Moore participated. The Texas Historical Commission recognized Moore many years ago with an honorary designation as cemetery guardian for past educational eﬀorts to raise awareness of the state’s convict lease program. While the program was discontinued in 2012, the city continues to work with Moore to facilitate educational eﬀorts.

Adjacent cemetery will be home for skeletal remains found at school construction site

See CEMETERY, Page 2

Page 2 • INDEPENDENT • AUGUST 15, 2018

NEWS Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital offers First Taste of Rosenberg event free flu shots to benefit Santa’s Exchange draws over 1,000 people

Flu Shot Toy Drive volunteers With fall around the corner and the holiday season not far behind, Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is once again offering Fort Bend and surrounding area residents the opportunity to donate a gift and receive a free flu shot. Houston Methodist Sugar Land, in collaboration with the Exchange Club of Sugar Land, Fort Bend Exchange Club, Rotary Club of Sugar Land, Rotary Club of Fort Bend and Toys for Tots Fort Bend, is offering free flu shots on Saturday, Oct. 20 to community members who participate in Santa’s Gift Exchange. Fort Bend and surrounding area residents can bring a new, unwrapped toy or clothing item in exchange for a free flu shot. The toys and clothing will benefit local children in the Fort Bend area. “We are proud to partner again with the local exchange and rotary clubs and Toys for Tots to provide this community offering,” said Chris Siebenaler, CEO of Houston Methodist

Sugar Land Hospital. “This is a great way for the community to stay healthy while also putting smiles on children’s faces during the holiday season.” In 2017, Santa’s Gift Exchange provided toys and clothing to nearly 5,000 economically disadvantaged children in Fort Bend County. “Everyone’s assistance is needed to meet the challenge of providing toys for children who will not have toys this year without our help,” said Judge Rick Bell, chairman of Santa’s Exchange 2018. “We look forward to partnering with Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital for a ninth year. This is a great collaboration; get a flu shot and in return you are able to give back to the children in your community,” said Bell, a third year member of the Exchange Club of Sugar Land. “Our community is well known for its philanthropic values, so we encourage you to participate by dropping off toys or clothing even if you have already had your flu shot,”

Siebenaler said. If you want to participate in this community event, please bring a new, unwrapped toy or clothing item to the Main Pavilion lobby of Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital between 8 a.m. - noon Saturday, Oct. 20. For more information, please visit events.houstonmethodist.org/ flushot-sl or call 281.274.7910. No appointment is necessary. The flu kills as many as 20,000 people a year. The vaccine is indicated for active immunization for the prevention of influenza disease caused by influenza virus subtypes A and B. Vaccination with the flu vaccine may not protect all people who receive the vaccine. Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital will distribute a limited supply of the influenza vaccine to persons age 18 and over with no history of GuillainBarre Syndrome or rubber latex allergy. If you are pregnant, please talk with your obstetriciangynecologist about your flu shot.

The first-ever Taste of Rosenberg was held at the Rosenberg Civic Center on August 6. The event kicked off Rosenberg Restaurant Week, which will be held August 6-13, 2018, encouraging citizens to explore the diverse culinary treats that Rosenberg has to offer. With live music performed by Kirk Roberts and door prizes provided by Legacy Ford, guests were treated to food samplings from 13 area restaurants. An estimated 1200 guests attended, more than expected for a first-time function, but the idea of bringing together the community sparked a lot of media attention and blossomed into a large-scale gathering. “The turn out was fantastic,” Event organizer, Isabel Carranza said. “I can foresee this event growing and improving in the future. It was a wonderful

Bond From Page 1 The land owned by the city was proactively acquired in 2006 to preserve and protect the Old Imperial Prison Farm Cemetery and surrounding land. The property comprised just over 63 acres and has been designated as parkland -- no development has occurred on the city’s site. The action taken by the city ensured that the cemetery would not suﬀer the same fate as many others across the country that have been neglected, forgotten and disappeared into history. Should park development occur in the future, the city will work with the Texas Historical Commission and comply with all state antiquities laws and regulations governing archeological preservation prior to development. Additionally, the city will continue its coordination with the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation which was established by the city to preserve and document the community’s rich history - including the Old Imperial Prison Farm Cemetery on the city’s property.

event for the community.” Samples included cupcakes, pork roast, sandwiches, jalapeno poppers, tamales, bacon cheddar grits, pan dulce, gumbo, and endless other options. The event included something for everyone, including a little impromptu dancing! “The music was just right for the event,” City of Rosenberg Economic Development Director, Bret Gardella said. “With all the diﬀerent food oﬀered, everyone was happy. There was a lot of visiting and mingling… this is one of the ways that Rosenberg holds onto that small town charm, despite being one of the fastest growing cities in Fort Bend County.” The event was put on by the Rosenberg Development Corporation (RDC) in partnership with the City of Rosenberg. Special thanks to the guests and restaurants who made the event such a wonderful success. The RDC and City would

like to thank: Bob’s Taco Station, The Ice House DD and Snack Shack, Lupita’s Panaderia, Small Cakes, Brazos River Provisions, Joe’s Oyster Bar, Lost Cajun, Panera Bread, Chick-Fil-A, Holy Roast Coffee House, Ol’ Railroad Café, Pollos Asados El Regio, and Karlito’s Grill Taqueria. They would also like to thank the staff, and volunteers including Legacy Ford who donated raffle prizes and drinks, jazz guitarist Kirk Roberts, event organizers Isabel Carranza and Dan Kelleher, Bret Gardella, Jeremy Heath, Republic Services, Jenny Pavlovich, Lorenzo Lerma, Jenny Carranza, Josy Castillo, Amy Carranza, Tyson Lopez, Luca Jalowy, Joe Reyna, Sr., Travis Tanner, Darren McCarthy, Carrie Kmiec, Michael Nelson, Angelica Guzman, Bob Kinsey, Teresa Lee, Justin Jurek, Lt. Eder, Officer Torres, Officer Matthems, and the Rosenberg Police Department.

In 2016, the city’s cemetery was designated a state historical site. The city’s cemetery contains the remains of prisoners and guards who died from 1912-1942 at the Texas Department of Corrections’ Central Prison Unit. For more about the city’s cemetery and efforts to preserve, protect and honor the area’s past, visit http:// www.sugarlandtx.gov/1694/ The-Imperial-Farm-Cemetery. “Just as we’ve worked hard to honor and protect those buried at the Old Imperial Prison Farm Cemetery, the city of Sugar Land has a common interest in ensuring that the remains discovered on the school district’s property are memorialized with the utmost dignity and in a manner that honors their historical significance,” said Griffith. “We look forward to facilitating a coordinated effort that achieves this purpose and sharing more specific details as we work toward a more formal agreement.” Fort Bend ISD is working with Reginald Moore and The Convict Leasing and Labor Project (CLLP); the Fort Bend Historical Association, which operates the Fort Bend Museum; subject-matter experts

such as Dr. Helen Graham, with Houston Community College, George Mason University and the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society; and other stakeholders such as the National Black United Front. These groups were invited to the site to get a better understanding of the district’s continued diligence to ensure appropriate protocols and processes are being taken during the extensive exhumation and analysis underway. The ability to identify descendants is one of the shared goals for all of the stakeholders and the district remains open to partnering with other organizations to identify possible funding and hopefully permission for this destructive analysis. “While the National Black United Front has expressed concerns on various issues such as intellectual control over the project and reparations for past injustices, Fort Bend ISD remains committed to continuing the dialogue with all appropriate parties as we move forward toward appropriate reburial,” FBISD said in a statement.

INDEPENDENT • AUGUST 15, 2018 • Page 3

NEWS

More urban, mixed use development slated for Missouri City By BARBARA FULENWIDER At Missouri City City Council’s Aug. 6 meeting members unanimously voted to approve the rezoning of 24.45 acres on ﬁrst reading. The land is north of Excel Urgent Care, south of Murphy Express gas station and Cube Smart self-storage east of Quail Valley Thunderbird and a public storage and west of Colony Lakes residential subdivision. It will be more urban because the buildings in it will be higher and the residential structures denser. Mario Bolullo, design architect, presented the proposed Brazos Lakes development to council. There will be two phases, Bolullo said. The ﬁrst includes residential that consists of two 5-story condominium buildings and 3-story single family attached townhomes. There will be 42 single family townhouse units and 168 age restricted units in the condominium buildings. One building will have 80 units and the other 88 units. Parking would be partially underground and covered. There would also be a multi-purpose clubhouse and large meeting room provided for residents. The 42 single family attached townhomes will each have a 2-car garage. The second phase of

development, Bolullo said, will include 219,000 square feet of commercial, office and restaurant space. These uses would be in 2-story buildings distributed throughout the development. The development will have a multi-purpose plaza overlooking a lake and there will be indoor/outdoor seating and lounges. There will also be a 2-story parking garage for this part of the development. Future development fronting on Hwy. 6 is to include two-story buildings with retail downstairs and offices on the second floor. Parking areas are planned for both. The building design for both phases are proposed to incorporate rainwater recovery systems and green roof terraces that collect rainwater and re-route it throughout the development. Staff recommended some modifications that include providing some percentage of parking in garages for the condos. They also recommended the applicant have a study done that considers reducing parking for the condominium units. If that isn’t done, the total number of parking spaces required by city ordinance must be provided. Bolullo, the design architect of the development, said owners of the townhomes will

own the building but not the land it is on. He also said, “If we don’t have impact on the first phase, it will be difficult to get this (development) going.” Mayor Allen Owen said he and Bolullo had talked about “enhancing that ugly reservoir” and Bolullo told council he will make a major effort to enhance it. “We have talked about having some restaurants that might face it. Because of the mixed use it has to be a balance. Let’s say 120 units of residential vs. 120,000 sq.-ft. of commercial so we can start developing the first phase of this thing. We will also have houses facing one of the ponds. “We definitely want to do retail. The ground floor will be for retail and general services and the second floor offices and then an area dedicated to restaurants,” Bolullo said. Asked if the development could fill all the condos, Bolullo said, “The market is telling us a lot of 55 and older people want to live in condos and that’s why we are providing that number of units. I want to increase the number of regular townhomes and have units for those over 55.” He said the price he is putting on the townhomes are “about $250,000 is what I have in mind. The condos can go all the way up to $365 a sq. ft. We hope the condos are a way

Cancer From Page 1

scientists, physicians, and researchers. She also appears in Ty Bollinger’s docuseries The Truth About Cancer: A Global Quest and The Cancer Answers Global Summit and is a featured contributor to Doug Kaufmann’s TV show, Know the Cause.

Hrbacek is a member of the BeatCancer.org advisory board and a general advisory board member of the Best Answer for Cancer Foundation. She, with her husband, former Sugar Land Mayor Dean Hrbacek, lives in Sugar Land.

found so that readers can forge their own path to stable health. Cancer-Free! Are You Sure? features: • Steps to accessing the most current early-detection tests • Treatment options other than chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation • A free resource download to find information for contacting integrative cancer physicians • Insight as to which drugs and natural therapies are effective for which cancers Hrbacek explains where to get the most effective tests, what those tests look for, how much they cost, and how accurate they are. Cancer-Free! Are You Sure? enables readers to gain control of their health and stop cancer before it’s unstoppable. Jenny Hrbacek, RN, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 and has since set out on a lifechanging journey to help people detect cancer early, effectively treat it if diagnosed, and avoid cancer recurrence. She is the founder of Cancer Free University, an online, on-demand resource with over seventy world-class experts, CONSTABLE’S NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and/or Order of Sale issued on June 11,2018 by the 240th JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT of Fort Bend County, Texas in Cause# 17-DCV -246877 in favor of the plaintiff- MISSION GLEN HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff, recovered judgment amount for the sum of $9,018.03 ++++costs as taxed on said execution and/or order of sale and further the sum of executing the same. I have levied on June 11, 2018 and will offer for sale on the day of September 4, 2018 at the County Court house steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of Ten O’clock A.M. and Four O’clock P.M., and all rights, title, interests, and claims which the said Defendant (s)- NANCY GARCIA had of in or to the following described Real Property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; Legal Description: LOT ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-TWO (122), IN BLOCK EIGHT (8) OF THE REPLAT OF MISSION GLEN, SECTION ONE (1), A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN SLIDE NO. 574/A AND 574/B, OF THE MAP RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS; MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 15414 TOWN GREEN DRIVE, HOUSTON, TEXAS TERMS: CASH TIME: SALE TO BE HELD AT OR ABOUT 10:00 A.M. PLACE: 301 JACKSON ST., WILLIAM TRAVIS BUILDING, 1ST FLOOR MEETING ROOM, RICHMOND TEXAS 77469. Gary Majors, Constable Fort Bend County Precinct Two By: Sergeant C. McRae #132 Deputy Constable

Sugar Land City Council approves Land Use Plan update

Sugar Land City Council approved an update to the city’s Land Use Plan on Aug. 7 after a ﬁve-year public process led by a citizen Land Use Advisory Committee. The plan includes goals and policies that focus on ways the city can develop and redevelop to remain a desirable place to live and do business. All of the goals of the Land Use Plan will work together to guide development and redevelopment decisions with the intent of preserving the city’s single-family residential neighborhoods and ensuring Sugar Land continues to be a premier place to live, work, shop and play in the region. The Land Use Plan, also known as Chapter 6 of the city’s Comprehensive Plan, outlines policy direction and guidance for land-use decisions; establishes a vision for land use; and identiﬁes an action plan of projects to accomplish the land-use vision and goals. The 10 main goals of the plan include the following items: *Preserving Single-Family Neighborhoods *Creating Mixed-Use Activity Centers *Encouraging Residential Options *A Great Place for Business *Amenities for All *Inviting Outdoor Spaces *Connected Land Uses *Balanced Growth *Fostering Redevelopment *Celebrate Sugar Land Residents serving on the Land Use Advisory Committee sought extensive input from the

community during the process that guided work to update the plan. Public participation opportunities included public meetings, Online Town Halls, an educational forum series and more. “A commitment to public involvement and committee education efforts was at the center of the Land Use Plan Update in order to ensure this plan helps the city thoughtfully plan for its future,” said Debby Coffman, LUAC co-chair. “Throughout the entire process, citizen feedback and input had a strong influence on the recommendations in the plan. LUAC considered a variety of feedback in order to develop the guidance and recommendations in the plan, and we are pleased that the plan represents the citizens’ voice for how we want our community to positively and proactively approach longterm land use decisions.” Earlier this year, City Council asked LUAC to seek additional input on the topic of multifamily. LUAC completed the additional work and concluded that their original multi-family recommendations made in the plan were appropriate. LUAC’s final recommendation included maintaining their recommended proportion of single-family to multi-family (88 percent to 12 percent, respectively) and clarifying the ratio is the community’s vision today and in the foreseeable future. A definitive statement that no new stand-alone, single-use, multi-family residential development within the city should be approved is

also included. To ensure the intent of LUAC’s recommendations is clearly interpreted -- preserve single-family residential neighborhoods and Sugar Land’s recognition as a premier place to live, work, shop and play -- LUAC supported the clarification of language throughout the plan to reduce the opportunity for their intent to be misinterpreted and lead to unintended negative consequences. These modifications also include recommended additions to guide and encourage future public input and review by both the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council if an exceptional development proposal is brought forward that is in accordance with the spirit of the plan but may deviate from the specific guidance established in the plan. “I truly appreciate the time and extra-effort the Land Use Advisory Committee has dedicated over the last five years to developing this important plan,” said Mayor Joe R. Zimmerman. “This plan will guide land use decisions for the city over the next 20 to 25 years, ensuring Sugar Land will continue to be a premier place to live by providing desirable single-family neighborhoods and other housing options, quality schools, attractive amenities, and outstanding city services that add to the overall quality of life for residents supporting the city’s economic growth and low property tax rate. Visit www.sugarlandtx. gov/LandUsePlan.

Page 4 • INDEPENDENT • AUGUST 15, 2018

districts in America. Though African-American youth make up only 29 percent of the Fort Bend ISD student body, they account for approximately 60 percent of in-school suspensions, 60 percent of placements in disciplinary alternative education programs, and 67 percent of out-of-school suspensions. Black students in Fort Bend ISD were six times more likely to receive out-ofschool suspensions than white students and four times as likely to be placed on in-school suspensions, according to the U.S. Department of Education. To make matters worse, these disparities in school discipline practices are not exclusive to Fort Bend; they are the reality all across our State. Data from the Texas Education Agency show that, in 2013-14, AfricanAmerican children constituted Reynolds approximately 12 percent of Independent School District, the students in Texas, yet they one of the most diverse school made up 35 percent of out-ofschool suspensions, 25 percent PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE of the students placed in disciplinary alternative education The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend programs, and 26 percent of County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, September 4, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. in-school suspensions. These for acceptance of the traffic control plan numbers largely reﬂect discifor Harvest Green, Section 18, Precinct 3. pline options that are made at The hearing will be held in the the discretion of local school Commissioners Courtroom at 401 Jackson administrators. Street, Second Floor, Richmond, Texas. Yet, African-American stuYou are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter. dents are no more likely to misbehave than their white or LaSubmitted by, tino peers. According to a 2011 Laura Richard report produced by the Council Fort Bend County Clerk of State Governments (CSG), PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE the race-based gaps in suspension of expulsion rates disapThe Commissioners Court of Fort Bend pear when school rules make County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, September 4, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. those punishments mandatory for acceptance of the traffic control plan for certain conduct. Meaning for Jordan Ranch, Section 9, Precinct 3. it is only when schools have The hearing will be held in the the choice to punish that we Commissioners Courtroom at 401 Jackson see African-American students Street, Second Floor, Richmond, Texas. disciplined at disproportionYou are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter. ately high rates. These ﬁndings reveal discipline practices that Submitted by, are fundamentally unfair and Laura Richard motivated by bias. Fort Bend County Clerk Discipline that removes stuPUBLIC HEARING NOTICE dents from the classroom is The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend particularly troubling because County, Texas has set a public hearing on it means students are losing Tuesday, September 4, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plan classroom learning time. It for Bella Terra Parkway at Shops at Bella is no surprise, then, that the Terra Access Drive to add multi-way stop

GUEST COLUMN FBISD disparate discipline practices towards African-American students must stop By STATE REP. RON REYNOLDS

It has been more than half a century since Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and told the world that he had a dream; a dream that “children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” While society has made definite progress in turning Dr. King’s dream into a reality, injustices against children still exist in our cities and CONSTABLE’S NOTICE OF SALE Notice is hereby given, that by virtue of a certain Order of Sale issued by the clerk of the 400TH District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas on June 15, 2018 in cause numbered 17-DCV242927 styled HUNTER –KELSEY II. Inc. vs. DEBRA G. COSBY, in which a judgment was rendered on March 20, 2018 in favor of HUNTER-KELSEY II,LLC for the sum of Thirty-Two Thousand Nine Hundred Forty- Two dollars Six Dollars and Thirty Six Cents ($32942.36); plus fees for posting notice of sale, publishing, costs of suit rendered by the court, legal fees, and all costs of executing this Writ. I have levied upon the below listed property on JUNE 18, 2018 and will on Sept 4, 2018 Tuesday, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. proceed to sell for cash to the highest bidder, all the Right, Title, and Interest of Debra G. Cosby to and in the following described Real Property QUAIL VALLEY THUNDERBIRD W SEC I BLOCK I O, LOT 24: AND BEING MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS LOT TWENTY-FOUR(24) IN BLOCK TEN (10) OF QUAIL VALLEY SUBDIVISION, THUNDERBIRD WEST SECTION, A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY,TEXAS ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN VOLUME 10, PAGE 15 OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS STREET ADDRESS 3911 RIDGEVIEW DRIVE, MISSOURI CITY, FORT BEND COUNTY TEXAS 77459 The above sale to be made by me to satisfy the above described judgment in favor of HUNTER KELSEY II, LLC Plaintiff, and the proceeds applied to the satisfaction thereof. LOCATION: FORT BEND COUNTY TRAVIS BLDG 1ST FLR MEETING ROOM 301 JACKSON RICHMOND, TX 77469 DATE: SEPT 4, 2018 TIME: APPROX. 11:00 am TREVER J. NEHLS Constable Pct. 4 Fort Bend County, Texas

communities. In K-12 schools-places where they should be safe--African-American youth are subjected to biased school discipline practices that are harming their prospects of success. A recent news headline speaks to the fact that this is happening in our own backyard: Civil rights probe shows Fort Bend ISD disproportionately disciplined black students. The article highlights the startling racial disparities that exist in the school discipline practices of Fort Bend

CONSTABLE’S NOTICE OF SALE Notice is hereby given, that by virtue of a certain Order of Sale issued by the clerk of the 268TH District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas on July 6, 2018 in cause numbered 17-DCV-244551 styled Summerfield Estates Homeowners Assoc. Inc. vs. Barbara L. Wardlaw, in which a judgment was rendered on April 16, 2018 in favor of Summerfield Estates Homeowners Assoc. Inc. for the sum of Five Thousand Six Dollars and Forty Four Cents ($5,006.44); plus fees for posting notice of sale, publishing, costs of suit rendered by the court, legal fees, and all costs of executing this Writ. I have levied upon the below listed property on July 10, 2018 and will on September 4, 2018 Tuesday, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. proceed to sell for cash to the highest bidder, all the Right, Title, and Interest of Barbara L. Wardlaw to and in the following described Real Property LOT EIGHT (8), IN BLOCK FOUR (4) OF SUMMERFIELD, SECTION ONE (1) A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY TEXAS ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED UNDER SLIDE NO(S). 1294/A & 1294/B OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS MORE COMMONLY DESCRIBED AS 3107 PHEASANT TRAIL DRIVE, SUGAR LAND, TEXAS 77498 The above sale to be made by me to satisfy the above described judgment in favor of Summerfield Estates Homeowners Assoc. Inc. Plaintiff, and the proceeds applied to the satisfaction thereof. LOCATION: FORT BEND COUNTY TRAVIS BLDG 1ST FLR MEETING ROOM 301, JACKSON , RICHMOND, TX 77469 DATE: September 4, 2018 TIME: APPROX. 11:00 am BY: Dep Steele TREVER J. NEHLS Constable Pct. 4 Fort Bend County, Texas

City of Missouri City LEGAL NOTICE THIS IS A MANDATED PUBLICATION OF THE LEGAL NOTICE

control, Precinct 3. The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom at 401 Jackson Street, Second Floor, Richmond, Texas. You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter.

Submitted by,

Laura Richard Fort Bend County Clerk

******* OPENING DATE OF August 30, 2018 AT 2:00 p.m. ******* Request for Proposals for the provision of Golf Course Evaluation Services Commodity Code: 988-31, 918-32, 918-06 Responses must be sealed, marked on the outside of the delivery envelope with the RFP name and number as listed above, and the date of opening. Responses must be delivered to the attention of City of Missouri City Attn: Purchasing Office - RFP No. 18-240 Golf Course Evaluation Services 1522 Texas Parkway Missouri City, Texas 77489 Prior to the acceptance deadline. Responses marked improperly and therefore misdirected may be disqualified. Until final award of the contract, the City reserves the right to reject any or all responses, to waive irregularities or technicalities, to re-advertise, or proceed to do the work otherwise when in the best interests of the City. No bid may be withdrawn during the 60 days following the bid opening date.

City of Missouri City LEGAL NOTICE THIS IS A MANDATED PUBLICATION OF THE LEGAL NOTICE OPENING DATE OF August 29, 2018 AT 2:00 p.m. IFB # 19-308 Annual Contract for City-wide Fuel Services IFB’s may be obtained from the State of Texas Electronic State Business Daily (ESBD) at http://www.txsmartbuy.com/sp or Onvia/Demandstar at http://www.demandstar.com/. Responses must be sealed, marked on the outside of the delivery envelope with the Bid name and number as listed above, and the date of opening. Responses must be delivered to the attention of: Purchasing Manager City of Missouri City 1522 Texas Parkway Missouri City, TX 77489 prior to the acceptance deadline. Responses marked improperly and therefore potentially misdirected may be disqualified. Responses must be received on before August 29, 2018 by 2:00 p.m. PRE-BID CONFERENCE: None. Until final award of the Contract, the OWNER reserves the right to reject any or all Responses, to waive irregularities or technicalities, to re-advertise, or proceed to do the Work otherwise when in the best interests of the OWNER. No bid may be withdrawn during the 60 days following the bid opening date.

FORT BEND

CONSTABLE’S NOTICE OF SALE Notice is hereby given, that by virtue of a certain Order of Sale issued by the clerk of County Court at Law 5 of Fort Bend County, Texas on JULY 24 , 2018 in cause numbered 16-CCV-057599 styled Chimneystone Planned Community Development Homeowners Assoc, Inc. vs. Donald H. Kelly and Lynn E. Kelly, in which a judgment was rendered on June 29, 2017 in favor of Chimneystone Planned Community Development Homeowners Assoc, Inc. for the sum of One Thousand Five Hundred Twenty Eight Dollars and Sixty zero Cents ($1528.00); plus fees for posting notice of sale, publishing, costs of suit rendered by the court, legal fees, and all costs of executing this Writ. I have levied upon the below listed property on August 2, 2018and will on September 4, 2018, Tuesday, between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. proceed to sell for cash to the highest bidder, all the Right, Title, and Interest of Donald H. Kelly and Lynn E. Kelly to and in the following described Real Property LOT Eleven (11),In BLOCK Seven (7), of Chimneystone Section Two (2), an Addition in FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED VOLUME 29, PAGE 5 OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 4015 SHELBY ROW SUGAR LAND,TEXAS 77479 The above sale to be made by me to satisfy the above described judgment in favor of Chimneystone Planned Community Development Homeowners Assoc Inc Plaintiff, and the proceeds applied to the satisfaction thereof. LOCATION: FORT BEND COUNTY TRAVIS BLDG 1ST FLR MEETING ROOM 301 JACKSON RICHMOND, TX 77469 DATE: Sept 4, 2018 TIME: APPROX. 11:00 am BY: Sergeant M. Kutach TREVER J. NEHLS Constable Pct. 4 Fort Bend County, Texas

FEMA urges residents to buy flood insurance before it floods By BASIL HOUSEWRIGHT Last year’s hurricane season reminds us that disasters can happen anywhere, and often without warning. After the devastating flooding that hit Houston, Jacksonville, Atlanta, New Orleans, and Charleston in 2017, residents along the Gulf Coast and Eastern seaboard need to learn from those disasters and prepare for the next storms. Resilience is the backbone of emergency management and insurance is an important part of disaster recovery. As such, our agency joins the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in reminding people to purchase flood insurance before there is a flood and it’s too late. FEMA has made closing the insurance gap a part of its strategic priorities, since insurance prepares people financially to recover quicker and more fully after a disaster. Flood insurance, even if it is not required, should be considered since most homeowners and renters insurance policies typically do not cover flood. Many people think their property won’t flood, if it didn’t in the past or they do not need it because individual disaster assistance from FEMA will fill

12551 Emily Court, Sugar Land, TX 77478 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, TX 77478 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., 12551, Emily Court, Texas 77478. Periodicals Postage Paid at Stafford, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Fort Bend Independent, P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, Tx 77487.

real and that they are harming African American youths’ prospects of success. But it is not enough to know that these disparate practices exist-we must press school districts to take a hard look at the racial disparities that exist within their own schools and remedy their underlying causes. I commend Dr. Charles Dupre, Superintendent of FBISD for making substantive changes to drastically improve the disciplinary disparities within the district. I look forward to seeing continued improvement in the future. During the next legislative session, I will ask my fellow legislators to work with me to develop solutions that will address these concerns, which many Texans rightfully share. Together, we can ensure that schools are basing their judgment of misbehaving students solely on “the content of their character,” not the color of their skin. Editor’s note: The Aug. 1 issue of this newspaper carried an article “U.S. Department of Education’s Oﬃce of Civil Rights finds no wrongdoing at FBISD.” In May of 2012, the OCR notified Fort Bend ISD that it was seeking to determine whether the District discriminated against African-American students by disciplining them more frequently and harshly than other similarly situated students. Following six years of investigation, the OCR did not make any finding that the District discriminated against any students and did not otherwise identify any wrongdoing or non-compliance with federal law, FBISD said in a press release. After joining FBISD in April of 2013, Superintendent Dr. Charles Dupre created the Department of Student Aﬀairs to support campus principals and administrators, and guide them through behavior management scenarios that keep their campuses safe and secure.

INSURANCE

FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE.

Seshadri Kumar Publisher & Editor

research establishes a clear link between these discipline practices and bad outcomes for students. The 2011 CSG report further found that, among Texas students who had at least one suspension or expulsion, 10 percent dropped out of high school and 23 had future juvenile justice system contact. Students who received no disciplinary action had only a 2 percent dropout rate and 2 percent juvenile justice contact rate. So not only does disproportionate school discipline unfairly keep African-American youth out of the classroom, it also leads directly to behaviors that severely reduce their prospects of graduating and succeeding beyond school. Youth involved with the juvenile justice system have difficulty conceptualizing success. Dreams of a college education and a meaningful career fade away within the confines of a cell. In juvenile facilities, youth learn criminal behavior and lose the feelings of safety and security that define childhood. Even worse, a self-fulfilling prophecy sets in-youth trapped within the system are labeled “criminals,” and so they begin to identify that way. Of course, various explanations have been offered to explain this gross disciplinary discrepancy. Some--such as the lack of cultural competence or deep and unacknowledged biases on the part of school officials--have merit. Others-such as arguments that black youth simply misbehave more than their white or Latino counterparts--are simply ridiculous in light of the data. No matter the reason, one thing is certain: our youth deserve better. All youth have a right to an education. Unfortunately, this right appears to be conditional. Based only on skin color, many schools are quick to redirect African American youth away from the classroom into a school-toprison pipeline. The research confirms that these disparate practices are

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Housewright

Prepare for the Unexpected; Protect the Life You’ve Built in the gap of not having a policy. Although federal disaster assistance does provide limited temporary financial relief, it will not make you whole and too often people are left relying on their savings and other means to recover. For this reason, property owners are urged to take action today and buy flood insurance. Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster in the United States, and it often happens in low and moderate flood risk areas. Last year, Hurricane Harvey resulted in more than 19 trillion gallons of rainfall over the state of Texas, resulting in flooding that caused more than $125 billion dollars in damage. However, there doesn’t need to be a large amount of rain for it to flood and cause serious damage. Just one inch of water in a home can cost more than $25,000 in damage. There are other hurricane preparation steps residents should consider, such as assembling a go-bag with emergency disaster supplies like flashlights, batteries, cash, first aid supplies,

medications, and copies of critical documents. Residents should also establish an evacuation route and make a family communications plan. Visit - www.Ready.gov/hurricanes - for more information. “Research shows that individuals who have flood insurance recover more quickly and fully after a flooding event than those who do not,” said David Maurstad, FEMA’s deputy associate administrator for insurance and mitigation. “If residents complement their insurance portfolios with this extra layer of flood protection, they can better protect the lives they’ve built.” As residents prepare for storms, it’s also important for local agencies, state and federal partners, elected officials, and the private sector to work together to identify where Fort Bend County is at-risk and implement the necessary steps needed, such as stronger building codes and land use planning and zoning, to protect the community. A community that works together can plan for a safer future no matter what may come. Flood insurance policies typically take 30 days to go into effect. Don’t wait until disaster strikes to learn that you’re not covered, call your insurance agent today. Basil Housewright is manager of Texans Insurance & Financial Group, Inc a local Independent Insurance Agency operating in Sugar Land since 1991. He can be reached at (281) 277-7800, Fax (281) 277-7801, E-Mail – basil@ texansinsure.com. Visit https:// www.texansinsure.com.

INDEPENDENT • AUGUST 15, 2018 • Page 5

AUTOMOBILE : Kia Sorrento Water District Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Rate The FORT BEND COUNTY M.U.D. #48 will hold a public hearing on a proposed tax rate for the tax year 2018 on September 13, 2018 at 11:30 a.m. at 202 Century Square Blvd., Sugar Land, Texas 77478. Your individual taxes may increase or decrease, depending on the change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in taxable value of all other property and the tax rate that is adopted. FOR the proposal:

Donna Giblin, Jane E. Rotramel, Megan Robertson, Kenneth Wiltz

AGAINST the proposal: By BARBARA FULENWIDER For 2019 Kia’s best-selling Sorento SUV touts a number of visual and feature enhancements inside and out. Standard luxury features and amenities continue to be available across five trim levels – L, LX, EX, SX and SXL. Along with its new front and rear fascia, the cabin is now more upscale and integrates newlyadded technology that includes an available driver attention warning, lane keep assist and QuantumLogic surround sound. It also now pairs its available 3.3-liter V6 with a newly available 8-speed automatic transmission. The Sorento underwent a complete redesign for the 2016 model year with a revised front-end that got a more artfully detailed radiator grille flanked by a new headlamp configuration and newly sculpted bumpers. The rear fascia of the crossover has also been enhanced with a new bumper design, sleeker taillamps (LED bulbs for EX trim and higher), revised liftgate and a sportier muffler tip. The Sorento rides on three newly designed wheels that range from 17 to 19 inches, depending on trim level. Sorento offers 40/20/40 second-row folding seats and 50/50 third-row folding seats that now come standard on all trims and seats up to seven passengers. For added luxury the front seats are heated and ventilated and the rear

seats are heated. The Sorento interior also offers available dual-zone HVAC and panoramic sunroof, as well as available premium Nappa leather trim seating surfaces. The maximum cargo volume accessed through the new liftgate is 73 cu.-ft. Cargo area with the third row folded down is 38 cu.-ft. and with the third row in place is 11.3 cu.-ft. The 2019 Kia Sorento is loaded with technology that includes an upgraded 5.0 navigation system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay offered with higher level trims. The base level L trim gets a standard 7-inch user interface and a available wireless charging tray for compatible Android6 devices, as well as Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone X. When it comes to audio technology, the available premium sound system is a 630-watt, 10-speaker new Harman Kardon branded stereo system with an 11-channel amplifier. The Kia Sorento offers a choice of two engines -- a 2.4-liter inline-4 or a 3.3-liter direct injection V6. The 2.4-liter engine is mated to a more efficient electronically controlled six-speed automatic gearbox featuring Sportmatic shifting and delivers 185 horsepower. The Sorento’s V6 makes 290 horses and can tow up to 5,000 lbs. when equipped with AWD. It gets an average of 21 miles to the gallon – 19 in town and 24 on the

highway. Kia’s suite of advanced driver assist systems is now standard on Sorento EX trims and higher. In addition to the forward collision warning system, smart cruise control, blind spot collision, rear cross traffic collision warning and surround view monitor, Sorento now offers driver attention warning. It is designed to detect when driver concentration has waned so monitors the driver’s behavior. If it detects driver fatigue or inattentive driving practices, the system issues visual and audible warnings, including a coffee cup icon in the instrument cluster, to encourage the driver to take a break. In addition, all Sorento models continue to offer standard active safety features such as electronic stability control, traction control system, brake assist system, hill-start assist control, electronic brake force distribution and antilock braking system. Additional technologies such as roll over mitigation and cornering brake control on AWD models are standard equipment designed to help improve control. The Sorento is Kia’s top of the line SUV. It is well designed inside and out and with the V6 engine and all wheel drive retails for $46,490. It is definitely comfortable and roomy and I urge anyone in the market for a well established SUV to test drive the Sorento. It gets high marks all around.

None

PRESENT and not voting: None ABSENT:

Victoria L. Burns

The following table compares taxes on an average residence homestead in this taxing unit last year to taxes proposed on the average residence homestead this year.

Total tax rate (per $100 of value)

Last Year

This Year

$ .96000/$100

$ .95000/$100

Adopted

Proposed

Difference in rates per $100 of value

$ .01000/$100

Percentage increase/decrease in rates(+/-)

-1.04%

Average appraised residence homestead value $205,944

$216,283

General homestead exemptions available (excluding 65 years of age or older or disabled person’s exemptions)

Average residence homestead taxable value

$205,944

$216,283

Tax on average residence homestead

$1,977.06

$2,054.68

Annual increase/decrease in taxes if proposed tax rate is adopted (+/-)

$77.62

and percentage of increase (+/-)

3.92 %

NOTICE OF TAXPAYERS’ RIGHT TO ROLLBACK ELECTION If taxes on the average residence homestead increase by more than eight percent, the qualified voters of the district by petition may require that an election be held to determine whether to reduce the operation and maintenance tax rate to the rollback tax rate under Section 49.236(d), Water Code.

Bob Leared Interests, 713-932-9011

NOTICE OF 2018 TAX YEAR PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR FORT BEND COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT

NOTICE OF 2018 TAX YEAR PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR FORT BEND COUNTY GENERAL FUND

A tax rate of $0.019000 per $100 valuation has been proposed for adoption by the governing body of Fort Bend County Drainage District. This rate exceeds the lower of the effective or rollback tax rate, and state law requires that two public hearings be held by the governing body before adopting the proposed tax rate. The governing body of Fort Bend County Drainage District proposes to use revenue attributable to the tax rate increase for the purpose of maintaining existing drainage channels through appropriate structural repairs and vegetation control and for review of drainage plans of new development due to a rapidly growing population of Fort Bend County. The volume of repairs necessitated by Hurricane Harvey requires a tax rate increase to provide funding to allow completion of repairs in a timely manner. PROPOSED TAX RATE $0.019000 per $100 PRECEDING YEAR’S TAX RATE $0.016000 per $100 EFFECTIVE TAX RATE $0.015550 per $100 ROLLBACK TAX RATE $0.016794 per $100 The effective tax rate is the total tax rate needed to raise the same amount of property tax revenue for Fort Bend County Drainage District from the same properties in both the 2017 tax year and the 2018 tax year. The rollback tax rate is the highest tax rate that Fort Bend County Drainage District may adopt before voters are entitled to petition for an election to limit the rate that may be approved to the rollback rate. YOUR TAXES OWED UNDER ANY OF THE ABOVE RATES CAN BE CALCULATED AS FOLLOWS: property tax amount= (rate) x (taxable value of your property)/100 For assistance or detailed information about tax calculations, please contact: Patsy Schultz Fort Bend County Drainage District Tax Assessor-Collector 1317 Eugene Heimann Cir, Richmond TX 77469 281-341-3710 Patsy.Schultz@fortbendcountytx.gov www.fortbendcountytx.gov You are urged to attend and express your views at the following public hearings on the proposed tax rate: First Hearing: August 29, 2018 at 5:30 PM at Fort Bend County Courthouse, Commissioners Courtroom, 401 Jackson St, Richmond TX 77469. Second Hearing: September 4, 2018 at 1:00 PM at Fort Bend County Courthouse, Commissioners Courtroom, 401 Jackson St, Richmond TX 77469.

A tax rate of $0.445000 per $100 valuation has been proposed for adoption by the governing body of Fort Bend County General Fund. This rate exceeds the lower of the effective or rollback tax rate, and state law requires that two public hearings be held by the governing body before adopting the proposed tax rate. The governing body of Fort Bend County General Fund proposes to use revenue attributable to the tax rate increase for the purpose of funding additional courts authorized by the state of Texas, increased operations and maintenance costs of Health and Human Services, law enforcement and other ancillary services required by the rapidly growing population in Fort Bend County. PROPOSED TAX RATE PRECEDING YEAR’S TAX RATE EFFECTIVE TAX RATE ROLLBACK TAX RATE

$0.445000 per $100 $0.453000 per $100 $0.442990 per $100 $0.481625 per $100

The effective tax rate is the total tax rate needed to raise the same amount of property tax revenue for Fort Bend County General Fund from the same properties in both the 2017 tax year and the 2018 tax year. The rollback tax rate is the highest tax rate that Fort Bend County General Fund may adopt before voters are entitled to petition for an election to limit the rate that may be approved to the rollback rate. YOUR TAXES OWED UNDER ANY OF THE ABOVE RATES CAN BE CALCULATED AS FOLLOWS: property tax amount= (rate) x (taxable value of your property)/100 For assistance or detailed information about tax calculations, please contact: Patsy Schultz Fort Bend County General Fund Tax Assessor-Collector 1317 Eugene Heimann Cir, Richmond TX 77469 281-341-3710 Patsy.Schultz@fortbendcountytx.gov www.fortbendcountytx.gov You are urged to attend and express your views at the following public hearings on the proposed tax rate: First Hearing: August 29, 2018 at 5:30 PM at Fort Bend County Courthouse, Commissioners Courtroom, 401 Jackson St, Richmond TX 77469. Second Hearing: September 4, 2018 at 1:00 PM at Fort Bend County Courthouse, Commissioners Courtroom, 401 Jackson St, Richmond TX 77469.

Page 6 â&#x20AC;¢ INDEPENDENT â&#x20AC;¢ AUGUST 15, 2018 PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, September 4, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plan for Katy ISD Elem. School No. 32 at Cinco Terrace Drive and Fry Road to extend the school zone, Precinct 3. The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom at 401 Jackson Street, Second Floor, Richmond, Texas. You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter.

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, September 4, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plan for Jordan Ranch, Section 12, Section 14 and Jordan Ranch Street Dedication No. 2 and Reserves, Precinct 3. The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom at 401 Jackson Street, Second Floor, Richmond, Texas. You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter.

Submitted by,

Laura Richard Fort Bend County Clerk

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, September 4, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plan for Kingdom Heights, Section 4, Precinct 1.

The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, September 4, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plan for Riverwood Village, Section 4, Precinct 1.

The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, September 4, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plan for Silver Ranch, Section 17, Precinct 3.

The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom at 401 Jackson Street, Second Floor, Richmond, Texas. You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter.

The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, September 4, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plan for Stonecreek Estates, Section 2, Precinct 1. The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom at 401 Jackson Street, Second Floor, Richmond, Texas. You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter.

Submitted by,

Laura Richard Fort Bend County Clerk

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS ON PROPOSED FY 2019 BUDGET FOR FORT BEND COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT

The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom at 401 Jackson Street, Second Floor, Richmond, Texas. You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter.

FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS This notice of proposed salaries and allowances for Fort Bend County elected officials during Fiscal Year 2019 is pursuant to section 152.013 of the Texas Local Government Code. The Fort Bend County Commissioners Court will consider increasing the salaries of certain elected officials at regular session of the Court which will meet at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 11, 2018 in the Commissioners Courtroom of the Fort Bend County Courthouse at 401 Jackson Street, 2nd Floor, Richmond, Texas. The Elected Officials and their present and proposed salaries are listed as follows:

The Drainage District Board of Fort Bend County will conduct two public hearings on the Proposed Fiscal Year 2019 Budget for Fort Bend Drainage District. The Public Hearings will be held before the Drainage District Board at: TIME/DATE: 5:30 PM MONDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 2018 AND 1:00 PM TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2018 PLACE: COMMISSIONERS COURTROOM FORT BEND COUNTY COURTHOUSE 401 JACKSON STREET, 2ND FLOOR, RICHMOND, TEXAS

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All interested persons have the right to give written and oral comments and to ask questions about the proposed budgets. The proposed budgets will be filed for public inspection at the Office of the County Clerk (Research Dept.), 301 Jackson Street, Richmond, Texas between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday and Thursday, and 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday beginning Tuesday, September 4, 2018. The proposed budget will also be posted on the Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website at www.fortbendcountytx.gov beginning Tuesday, September 4, 2018.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS ON PROPOSED FY 2019 BUDGET FOR FORT BEND COUNTY The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County will conduct two public hearings on the Proposed Fiscal Year 2019 Budget for Fort Bend County. The Public Hearings will be held before the Commissioners Court at: TIME/DATE: 5:30 PM MONDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 2018 AND 1:00 PM TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2018 PLACE: COMMISSIONERS COURTROOM FORT BEND COUNTY COURTHOUSE 401 JACKSON STREET, 2ND FLOOR, RICHMOND, TEXAS All interested persons have the right to give written and oral comments and to ask questions about the proposed budgets. The proposed budgets will be filed for public inspection at the Office of the County Clerk (Research Dept.), 301 Jackson Street, Richmond, Texas between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday and Thursday, and 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday beginning Tuesday, September 4, 2018. The proposed budget will also be posted on the Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website at www.fortbendcountytx.gov beginning Tuesday, September 4, 2018.

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Water District Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Rate

The FIRST COLONY L.I.D. #2 will hold a public hearing on a proposed tax rate for the tax year 2018 on September 4, 2018 at 12:00 P.M. at 4330 Knightsbridge Boulevard, Sugar Land, TX 77479 . Your individual taxes may increase or decrease, depending on the change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in taxable value of all other property and the tax rate that is adopted.

The BLUE RIDGE WEST M.U.D. will hold a public hearing on a proposed tax rate for the tax year 2018 on September 4, 2018 at 6:00 P.M. at 1522 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, Texas 77489 . Your individual taxes may increase or decrease, depending on the change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in taxable value of all other property and the tax rate that is adopted.

FOR the proposal: AGAINST the proposal: PRESENT and not voting: ABSENT:

Ron Frerich, Christine M. Lukin and Zach Weimer None None None

The following table compares taxes on an average residence homestead in this taxing unit last year to taxes proposed on the average residence homestead this year. Last Year

FOR the proposal: AGAINST the proposal: PRESENT and not voting: ABSENT:

Monica Rasmus, Terah Bias, Daryl Smith, Llarance Turner & Perry Evans None None None

The following table compares taxes on an average residence homestead in this taxing unit last year to taxes proposed on the average residence homestead this year.

This Year Last Year

Total tax rate (per $100 of value)

$.20000/$100 $.20000/$100 Adopted Proposed

Difference in rates per $100 of value

Total tax rate (per $100 of value)

$.40500/$100 $.39500/$100 Adopted Proposed

$ .00000/$100 Difference in rates per $100 of value

Percentage increase/decrease in rates(+/-)

$ .01000/$100

0.00% Percentage increase/decrease in rates(+/-)

Average appraised residence homestead value General homestead exemptions available (excluding 65 years of age or older or disabled personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exemptions) Average residence homestead taxable value Tax on average residence homestead

This Year

$464,221

$468,273

$464,221 $928.44

$8.10

and percentage of increase (+/-)

0.87%

Average appraised residence homestead value

$113,522

$125,216

General homestead exemptions available (excluding 65 years of age or older or disabled personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exemptions)

$22,704

$25,043

Average residence homestead taxable value Tax on average residence homestead

$90,818 $367.81

$100,173 $395.68

$468,273 $936.54

Annual increase/decrease in taxes if proposed tax rate is adopted (+/-)

- 2.46%

Annual increase/decrease in taxes if proposed tax rate is adopted (+/-) and percentage of increase (+/-)

$27.87 7.57%

NOTICE OF TAXPAYERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; RIGHT TO ROLLBACK ELECTION NOTICE OF TAXPAYERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; RIGHT TO ROLLBACK ELECTION If taxes on the average residence homestead increase by more than eight percent, the qualified voters of the district by petition may require that an election be held to determine whether to reduce the operation and maintenance tax rate to the rollback tax rate under Section 49.236(d), Water Code.

If taxes on the average residence homestead increase by more than eight percent, the qualified voters of the district by petition may require that an election be held to determine whether to reduce the operation and maintenance tax rate to the rollback tax rate under Section 49.236(d), Water Code. Bob Leared Interests, 713-932-9011

Bob Leared Interests, 713-932-9011

INDEPENDENT • AUGUST 15, 2018 • Page 7

SCHOOLS

Back to punishing black students excessively By SHAR-DAY CAMPBELL Fort Bend Independent School District has a horrible record when it comes to failing and overly punishing our black students. According to a six-year study conducted by the U.S. Department of Education Ofﬁce of Civil Rights (OCR), black students in Fort Bend ISD were six times more likely to receive out-of-school suspensions than white students and four times as likely to be placed on in-school suspension. There are many reasons all parents in Fort Bend ISD should oppose black students being discriminated against, marginalized and excessively punished. This disparity in discipline results in these students receiving less instructional time, which is a catalyst to low academic performance and an entry into the schoolto-prison pipeline that pushes students out of school. Additionally, it increases the academic gap and impedes the district’s ability to eﬀectively compete locally, nationally and globally. As much as I appreciated Superintendent Dr. Charles Dupre acknowledging that racial discrimination in school discipline is a real problem nationally, I’m more pleased to hear that he is working to address it by moving away from heavy reliance on exclusionary discipline, suspension or expulsion, in Fort Bend ISD. As a black mother and community activist who not only fought for my two children to successfully graduate from the district, but also for others students to be treated

respectful and fairly; I know how diﬃcult it is for black parents to get their children through school without them being destroyed by the same system that is charged with the responsibility of educating them. That’s why I’m calling on the superintendent, school board members, educators, administrators and counselors to eradicate the racially driven punishment disparity by making policy change a major priority. The students of Fort Bend ISD schools along with parents deserve equitable, systemic practices in the disciplinary process. While parents are preparing for their children to return to school by buying school clothes and supplies, I’m urging black parents to be proactive in preventing their children from becoming another disciplinary statistic. 10 Back-to-School Assignments for Parents 1. Read the parent/student handbook that includes the school code of conduct and make sure your child knows and follows them. a. For an even playing ﬁeld, make sure that your child’s educator is following the rules and guidelines and applying them in a fair, equitable manner when administrating discipline to your child. 2. Don’t allow your child to make an oral or written statement regarding a disciplinary investigation without your presence and approval. 3. Don’t allow your child to sign any written statement without your permission and presence. 4. For your child’s school

record, submit a letter to the principal, area superintendent and the superintendent of schools at the beginning of the school year notifying them that your child is not to be questioned about a disciplinary issue without your presence or permission. 5. Don’t attend a disciplinary action meeting without a witness or recording it. 6. Make sure you get all the facts from your child and conduct your own investigation. 7. Create a file with all notes from the teacher/principal and teacher conference meetings. 8. During the teacher/parent conference, ask the teacher specific questions about your child’s conduct, progress and academic struggles, and what you need to do to assist him or her. 9. Develop a parent coop group where parents help each other to effectively navigate through the school and the State Board of Certified Educators (SBEC) complaint process. 10. Become and stay proactively engaged in your child’s education. For learning to properly occur, the school environment must be safe and conducive to teaching and learning. Therefore, advocate for your child to be allowed to grow as a child and learn how to behave appropriately without being criminally labeled. Although school disciplinary records are required to be kept confidential, they could still influence a court’s decision, show up on a background check or be subjected to disclosure on job, college or military applications. In an effort to bring about policy change and promote

transparency while supporting our children, please report any suspicious disciplinary action against a child to: honeybrownhope@honeybrownhope.org. This information will be used to track, monitor, research and develop a parent/ community report card to uncover these disparities. The information will expose schools that use abusive disciplinary tactics, so that parents can make an informed decision about which schools are a better ﬁt for their chil-

dren. Working together, we will mobilize grassroots action to bring about change. However, in order for others to stand with us in our eﬀorts to save our children – we must take the ﬁrst stand. Tammie Lang Campbell is a revered activist who made a quantum leap from rural Mississippi to become a nationally recognized civil rights leader and founder of the Honey Brown Hope Foundation. In a climate where the marginal-

ized are left feeling hopeless by the bitterness of social and environmental injustices, The Honey Brown Hope Foundation focuses on the best way to help people — give them hope. Founded in 1991, the organization is a nationally recognized, award-winning 501(c) 3 non-profit that contagiously spread hope through educational, engaging and informative programs that align with its causes — diversity appreciation, environmental stewardship and civil rights.

Download your free mobile app for fbindependent from the Playstore.

HOUSTON METHODIST CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY ASSOCIATES

WELCOMES DR. MARVIN ATKINS

Houston Methodist Cardiovascular Surgery Associates is pleased to welcome Marvin Atkins, MD, to the Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital campus. He completed fellowships in both cardiothoracic surgery and vascular surgery, and offers the full scope of surgical and minimally invasive endovascular options to treat diseases of the heart and vascular system. His level of expertise, combined with access to state-of-theart technology at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, allows for rapid diagnosis and treatment of heart and vascular conditions with better long-term outcomes for patients. To schedule an appointment, call 713.352.1820.

Marvin Atkins, MD Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgeon

16605 Southwest Fwy., Suite 410 Medical Ofﬁce Building 3 Sugar Land, TX 77479 houstonmethodist.org/spg

INDEPENDENT • AUGUST 15, 2018 • Page 8

COMMUNITY Fort Bend Brass Quintet to perform at George Memorial Library, Richmond

October 20, 2018 | 6:00 to 11:00 PM SAFARI TEXAS RANCH • 11627 FM 1464, RICHMOND, TX

Hosted By: Fort Bend County Commissioner

Andy Meyers and Co-Chairs

Jess & Terri Stuart | Jon & Sue Strange Host Committee:

Fort Bend Brass (L-R): Dan Patterson, Larry Olson, Coleman Locke, Dave Terrall, Milt Cousins.

Names Placeholders HERE AND BELOW Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer nec odio. Praesent libero. Sed cursus ante dapibus diam. Sed nisi. Nulla quis sem at nibh elementum imperdiet. Duis sagittis ipsum. Praesent mauris. Fusce nec tellus sed augue semper porta. Mauris massa. Vestibulum lacinia arcu eget nulla. Class aptent taciti sociosq.

Live music by talented local musicians in the Fort Bend Brass Quintet will be featured at Fort Bend County Libraries’ George Memorial Library on Sunday, August 26, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm, in the Meeting Room of the library. The group will play a variety of musical pieces arranged for a brass quintet, from jazz and Dixie to swing and contemporary. Reminisce with old favorites like Back in the Saddle Again or Alley Cat, sway to the mellow sounds of the St. Louis Blues, or tap your toes to Dixie Bach, and much more! The quintet features two trumpets, a French horn, a trombone, and a tuba. Between them, the musicians have more than 100 years of combined musical experience, including performing with the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra. The performance is free and open to the public. For more information, call George Memorial Library at 281-342-4455 or the library’s Communications Oﬃce at 281-633-4734. George Memorial Library is located at 1001 Golfview in Richmond.

Music By:

Attire:

Texas Swing Unlimited

Western Chic

September Book Sale The Friends of the University Branch Library will hold their September book sale on Saturday, September 8th from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the library, 14010 University Blvd., Sugar Land. Books, CDs and DVDs for adults and children will be available. Most items are $0.50 to $1.00. Proceeds support reading and other educational programs. Good condition books, CDs and DVDs may be donated to the library during the sale, or at any time. A receipt for income tax purposes can be provided. The library is located on the University of Houston campus at Hwy. 59 and University Blvd. Parking is free.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

TITLE SPONSORS

TABLE SPONSORS

Underwriter: $25,000

VIP Table: $5,000

Baron: $15,000

Premium Table: $2,500

Rancher: $10,000

Traditional Table: $1,500

EVENT SPONSORS

Program: $5,000 VIP Reception: $4,000 The Band: $3,500 Steer Raffle: $2,500 Wine: $2,500 Decorations: $2,500

SOLD

Individual Seat: $200

Live Auction: $2,500 Silent Auction: $2,500 Jail: $1,500 Video: $1,500 Special Effects: $1,000 Photographer: $750

Please make checks payable to “Fort Bend Charities, Inc.” RSVP to Sue Strange: jstrange@jnsellc.com 722 Pin Oak Road, Suite 202A Katy, TX 77494 281.391.3366 | Fax: 281.391.3375

I cannot attend. However, I would like to make a donation of : $______________.

REGISTRATION

PLANTATION at Quail Valley Active Senior Living; Embracing the lives of Seniors 55 and Better

Name: ________________________________ Company: ______________________ Preferred Phone: (____) ____-_______Email: _______________________________ Amount Enclosed: ___________________________

GUEST NAMES 1. ________________________________ 5. _________________________________ 2. ________________________________ 6. _________________________________ 3. ________________________________ 7. _________________________________ 4. ________________________________ 8. _________________________________ *To be included in media, we must receive your sponsorship by October 12, 2018. Thank you! All proceeds beneﬁting Fort Bend Charities, Inc. 501(c)(3) (Tax ID: 90-0675744)

2815 Cypress Point Dr, Missouri City, TX 77459 www. plantationqv.com

Phone: (281) 208-4470