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VOL. 6 No. 43
FORT BEND news FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. news WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
Birds of Fort Bend: Catbird
St. Laurence Catholic School Celebrates Grandparent’s Day
In the Catbird’s seat, anyway the Gray Catbird that is a bird you may have heard, and thought it was a cat meowing. Sometimes hard to see much less photograph, this bird is related to the Mockingbird and Brown Thrasher. It is like the Mockingbird in that it is a great mimic and meow is just one of its sounds it strings together—or it could be a cell phone ring tone. A song can be 10 minutes long. Unlike the Mockingbird, the Catbird behaves more like a Brown Thrasher and can be normally found near a brush pile or thicket near understory trees or shrubbery. It’s deep gray with a black crown as well as a beautiful bit of rufous on its rump/under tail distinguish it. It loves insects such as ants and beetles and fruits and berries as well. See more great photos by Margaret Sloan at http://traction.typepad.com/birds
More than 750 people were on hand at St. Laurence Catholic School Friday, Sept. 27, to take part in the annual Grandparent’s Day celebration. This special day began with a packed Mass led by Father Drew Wood, pastor at St. Laurence parish, and the church was filled with grandparents, guests, faculty, and students. Following the Mass, students in the school’s pre-kindergarten and kindergarten programs performed. While serving a light breakfast in the main campus gym, the group enjoyed a performance from each grade. Also, the school band and choir gave an amazing performance. The day was capped off with the grandparents and guests visiting the classrooms that were proudly shown off by the students.
Parks bond proponents say “Tax impact exaggerated”
County to take steps to prevent prostitution By SESHADRI KUMAR Fort Bend County is in the process of establishing a “prostitution prevention program” as required by SB 484, enacted by the Texas Legislature in its 2013 session. The law which became effective on Sept. 1 requires counties with populations of more than 200,000 in which no city already had a prostitution prevention program to establish one, if they received sufficient state or federal funding specifically for it. Counties required to establish programs would have to apply for federal and state funds to pay for the programs. Prostitution prevention programs have been added to the list of specialty courts eligible for certain grant funding from the governor’s criminal justice division. Counties that were required to establish a program but did not maintain a program would be ineligible for state funding for a community supervision and corrections (probation) de-
by our citizens is an important step in this regard,” the statement said. Sugar Land’s Parks Propositions are broken into three areas for voter consideration: the development of a new 65 acre park that will be highly accessible to the public located just South of Highway 90 and West of Highway 6; the expansion of Brazos River Park along the Brazos River and development of a new festival site near the University of Houston Sugar Land; and, hike and bike trails and bridges that connect City Parks and neighborhoods together and provide safe crossings under US Highway 59 and State Highway 6 for families seeking to use our parks and trails for recreation. “Please vote FOR all three of the Sugar Land Park Bond Propositions today. Additional parks for the City of Sugar Land will increase the capacity for organized sports, preserve significant green space, and increase safety for walkers, runners and cyclists. Please help the City of Sugar Land continue to provide the quality By BARBARA FULENWIDER of life that residents in Sugar After Missouri City’s bond Land have come to expect and exploratory committee finished deserve,” Brown said. its initial work it was the community’s turn to weigh in on what should or shouldn’t be on the city’s next referendum. Radio Disney is making its way to Town testants are encouraged to pre-register soon usThe bond committee of citiSquare for Sugar Land’s sixth annual Hallow- ing the contest entry form at www.sugarlandtx. zens named by city councilmen gov/halloweentown. For a printed form or more recommended that of the total een Town event on Oct. 27, from 4-8 p.m. Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” spectacular information, call (281) 275-2885. $40 million referendum $6.5 Other entertainment this year will include would be used for improving prizes and the Radio Disney road team will spice up the night with choreographed dance festive walk-around entertainment, a strolling drainage; $8 million for public magician, carnival games, a munchkin pumpkin safety -- build the city’s sixth moves and interactive intermissions. Costume contests for trick-or-treaters of ev- patch, a spooky story telling booth and a piñata fire station and expand the ery age will be held on the steps of City Hall area. A variety of Town Square retailers will public safety center; $10 milthroughout the evening. Prizes will be awarded have other scare-free surprises for families in lion for city hall and a feasibilto first- , second- and third-place winners. Lim- attendance. Admission is free and open to the ity study and improvements; ited space is provided per category, so all con- community. $2.5 million for parks, and $13 million for transportation improvements. On Oct. 15 citizens gathered Election Day is Tuesday, also an election for the creation ony Conference Center, Sugar at City Centre to have their say. Nov. 5. Early voting is now of County Assistance District Land Branch Library, RanThirty fi ve signed in and nine underway and runs through limited to a small section of dall’s at 5800 New Territory fi lled out comment cards on the Blvd., Lost Creek Park a n d the county. November 1. projects the bond committee Voters in Sugar Land will Sugar Land City Hall. Fort Bend County voters proposed. For more information call will have the county’s $184 have an additional ballot on the One resident wrote that she/ million mobility bond on the city’s $50 million parks bond 281-341-8670 or visit http:// he supports transportation imwww.fortbendcountytx.gov/ ballot, along with the special propositions. provements “as long as the Early Voting Locations in index.aspx?page=888. election for the state’s constifunds are earmarked to include tutional amendments. There is Sugar Land include First Colresidents in Hunters Glen!”
“Critics would have you believe the consequences of voting for the (Sugar Land Bond) propositions will be a significant increase in your taxes. This is of course nonsense,” says Bob Brown, chairman of the Citizens Committee for Sugar Land Parks. Sugar Land’s Parks Propositions, if passed, may have a one cent per year increase in the city’s property tax rate over the next five years. Even with an increase, the cost to the average Sugar Land homeowner will be minimal, Brown said in a statement. “In general, it amounts to less than the cost of one cup of coffee a month at your local coffee shop. However the impact could be even less if our property values continue to increase in Sugar Land as they have consistently in the past,” he said. The average Sugar Land resident’s impact is only about $2.29 per month, per year over 5 years. “For example, for an average $275K home, with One Penny increase in tax rate would amount to $2.29 cents, the cost of One Cup of coffee,” according to Brown. “If these numbers look dif-
ferent than the ‘just say no crowd,’ understand that they have to deal in percentages to scare you. Instead, let’s look at the real impact,” he said. “For example, the average Sugar Land home valued at $275,000 in 2013 would potentially have an increase of $27.50/year or $2.29 per month. This does not take into account the Homestead exemption or Senior exemption that further reduces the tax bill for many citizens. “Sugar Land has been a fast growing part of one of the fastest growing Counties in the nation over the last three decades. That growth has led to a strong economy, new commercial and retail investment and one of the lowest tax rates in the state for a city of its size. “Sugar Land has achieved great success by being aggressive in recruiting companies, building the necessary infrastructure and providing amenities that benefit the quality of life for its citizens. “Part of building a world class community is the development of first class amenities and activities that keep our community in high demand. The development of parks and recreational facilities for use
Special guests await at Sugar Land’s Halloween Town
Early voting in progress
partment. Two or more counties or two or more cities could establish a regional program. On Oct. 1, Fort Bend County Commissioners Court approved the appointment of a committee to address compliance with the 83rd Legislature Regular Session Senate Bill 484. The committee included Dr. Connie Almeida, Director, Behavioral Health Services, James Shoemake, District Judge, 434th District Court, Paul Stewart, Assistant County Attorney, Chad Bridges, Chief Prosecutor, District Attorney’s Office, Mike Enax, Director, Community Supervision and Corrections, Jenetha Jones, County Judge and LoriAnn Belin, representing Commissioner Pct. 3. Representatives from the Juvenile Division and the Sherriff’s Office are yet to be named. The committee has met to evaluate the County’s participation in the new program to consider the bill’s requirements or a waiver option. This week, Commissioners
Court is expected to approve a waiver request from participation for current funding year FY2013 while committee conducts a needs assessment for a plan for the program Fort Bend County District Attorney John Healey said the number of prostitution cases in the county is not significant. The county has registered 97 cases in the last 20 years and last year alone, the county registered 15 prostitution cases, of which three were rejected. The spike in the number was due to increased police activity and sting operations, Healey said. The current case load does not justify a special court for handling prostitution cases, though the county could apply for a state grant to participate in a program already functioning in Harris County. Also, in almost all the prosecution cases, the accused plead guilty and rarely do they face trial. Under the new law, prosecutors would have to agree to a defendant’s participation in a program.
Missouri City bond committee prepares project list Another wrote that she/he “believes the money would be better spent as part of a new municipal center (city hall) along Hwy. 6 doubled with a private, multi-purpose commercial development.” Four of the nine residents who submitted comments agreed on the drainage improvements while two disagreed and three had no comments. Project No. 2 at $5 million for public safety had five people agreeing, none disagreeing and four providing no comment. Project No. 3, $13 million for city facilities, also had four people agreeing, two disagreeing and three with no comment. The $2.6 million for park improvements got four agreeing, one disagreeing and four making no comment. The fifth project, $13 million for transportation, once again got four people agreeing, one disagreeing and four not committing. Likewise no specific com-
ments were made regarding the $40 million total that is proposed for the next bond election in May 2014, according to Stacy Walker, director of communications. The city’s next step in the process is a presentation of the projects to members of the Missouri City Planning & Zoning Commission on Nov. 13 and then to city council, which will have the final say in December. Missouri City’s past bond election was in 2008 and got support from more than 72 percent of voters citywide. It included money to buy, refurbish and rebuild Quail Valley Golf Course, recreation and tennis center and City Centre. Prior bond referendums were held in 2003 and 1995. City council will consider the debt service tax impact and prioritize the projects, before finalizing the bond amount and proposed projects. It is likely that council may drop some of the projects from the submitted list.