About the 2013 AISD Bond election

Aside from the 9 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution, area voters will only have to decide on whether to approve a $212 million bond proposal by the Alvin Independent School District.

Click here for the announcement of the election - and a description of the bond - in the AISD webpage. It was approved by the board in August:

Contents of the school bond proposal were recommended by the Citizen’s Advisory Committee (CAC), a group of parents, local citizens, and school staff. “The CAC worked long and hard for about six months to figure out the best options to address the fast growth that the district is experiencing,” said David Becker, co-chair of the group.

The recommended package totals $212,445,000 and includes funds for the District’s third high school to accommodate 2,500 students; elementary 16 for 800 students; replacing Longfellow Elementary on the original site to accommodate 800 students, land and design for elementary 17 and 18; a junior high school in Manvel to accommodate 1,000 students; renovation and expansion of Alvin Junior High for 300 more students, land for junior high seven; design and related costs for a Career and Technical Education Facility, and a new Godwin Ag Facility to improve instructional access. Also in the proposal are safety and security projects, including the addition of more secure entrances on older campuses, replacing outdated communication systems and adding surveillance cameras. The proposal also includes land and design for a centralized facility for a district athletic stadium, satellite transportation center and district competition swimming pool (natatorium).

With their focus on meeting the educational needs of students and their commitment to being good stewards of tax dollars, the Board voted to allocate $8.6 million from available fund balance and $3.46 million from current maintenance and operations funds to cover some of the projects recommended by the CAC. “These include items with shorter term use such as band uniforms, buses and technology,” said Tommy King, deputy superintendent for business. Additionally, due to lower construction costs, the District has $28,095,000 of authorized, yet unissued, bond funds available from the 2009 bond referendum which will also be used to fund bond some of the projects.

The Chronicle had a comprehensive story on the matter in August. This followed a previous one on the Citizens Advisory Committee that recommended the bond. The need for a high school on the west side was a major issue in the recent election:

When Nicole Tonini successfully ran in May for Position 5 Alvin school trustee, she said, "Many on this side of the district feel a high school on the west side is long overdue.

"It would be good for this area and also for the east side as it will alleviate growth at Alvin and Manvel high schools," she said.

. . . "The need for a third high school is incredibly crucial," said Paul Ingamells, who served as committee co-chair with David Becker. Ingamells added that the need for the third high school is documented by a third-party demographic company.

"This bond has really got to pass," Ingamells said.

Demographic forecasts indicate Manvel High School will have 2,504 students in the fall. It has a capacity of 2,500. Officials project it could have as many as 3,416 by 2017.

The district has already engaged SWA Architects to begin the design process, said district spokesman Dan Combs. The school's location is at Kirby and Broadway, across from Pearland Town Center. The district purchased the land as part of its 2009 bond initiative.

The third high school site prevents the inclusion of a varsity football stadium and natatorium; so the citizens committee recommends spending $8.9 million to purchase land and build such facilities.

Alvin ISD trustees voted 5-2 on Aug. 8 to call the election.

Tonini voted in favor along with board president Tiffany Wennerstrom, vice president Regan Metoyer and trustees Cheryl Harris and Charles McCauley.

Trustees Mike Lansford and Sue Stringer voted in opposition.

Some of the opposition was due to the way the vote was to be conducted:

Stringer said she is not specifically against the bond, but has concern over the district's practice of using branch polling locations in addition to the usual early voting and Election Day locations.

She believes it is an "attempt to skew the vote."

"Seniors, for example, are not going to be out after dark and could be disenfranchised," she said.

Lansford agrees with concerns over rotating polling locations, saying the additional cost is unnecessary. He adds, "Since the additional 23 sites are not neutral, many people will perceive the school district as stacking the vote in the bond's favor."

Combs said the district has been using branch voting locations for years when it comes to bond elections. He explained this allows for greater participation among residents.

"It means more people are enabled to participate," he said, adding that the practice is also used by neighboring school districts. Residents can also early vote and vote on Election Day. 

From the Alvin Sun-Advertiser: Mayor says future is bright for City of Alvin

Mayor Gary Appelt gave the state of the city address to the Alvin-Manvel Chamber of Commerce with the assistance of Economci Development Director Larry Buehler.

Here are highlights:

Housing permits have doubled from last year,” he said. “The sales tax is up 4.4 percent over last year.”

Airgas is adding a facility that will employee 17 people when it is operational at the end of the year, and CenterPoint Energy is consolidating two locations to Alvin, according to Buehler.

“Local entrepreneurs are investing in the community,” Buehler added. Big Kuntry Indoor Range is now open and Wellborne Cinema 4 is opening soon, he noted.

“Of course, the growth brings additional challenges such as traffic issues,” Buehler said.

The city and the Texas Department of Transportation are working on solutions to traffic flow, according to Beuhler.

“We will be making needed changes relating to the bypass and Mustang intersection, and the bypass and CR 1462. For example, motorists now face two traffic lights when turning from the bypass onto 1462 heading east or west.

The left turn lanes on the bypass will be moved over to eliminate one of the two traffic lights, he said.

Don Sapaugh, the president of University General Health System, told the gathering that plans to build a hospital in Alvin are back on track.

He said that 20 acres have already been dedicated to a medical facility, and it will be built in three phases.

“The first phase will have 10-beds, a 10-bay emergency room and an imagining room. Phase 2 will have an ICU and operating rooms. Phase 3 will add beds,” Sapaugh said.

Other items discussed were the Alvin Municipal Shooting Range and Youth Development Center that the city is currently pursuing and the innovative programs Police Chief Robert Lee has brought to the city.

Proposed changes to Alvin's City Charter

A variety of changes to the Alvin City Charter were presented to the voters in May. Click here for the results of the election. We will consider the significance of these changes in class.

ISD and Municipal Election Results - May 11, 2013

Click here for full results from Brazoria County.

And here for results for Harris County.

Commentary to follow.

Alvin's city council jump all over the architects hired to design a proposed animal shelter

The bid was a bit high, so the reception was a bit rough.

The Sun-Advertiser caught the fun:

Council Member Greg Bullard told HBL representatives, “Everyone of us here on council has some form of construction experience. You need not treat us like a bunch of dumb asses. We need to set up an all day meeting to discuss this issue. Plan to bring your lunch for that meeting and plan to have your heads down and your asses up,” he urged.

He went on to remind the representatives that this shelter will be built with taxpayer money. “It appears like there is not a whole lot of information about this project. We need a simple explanation,” he added.

A recess was then called. City Manager Terry Lucas, Mayor Gary Appelt and City Engineer Jim Nance took time during the recess to get their heads together. When the meeting was called back in session, Council Member Scott Read asked HDL to send information on the shelter to council members prior to a future planned meeting so they could review in, and not hand it out just prior to the meeting.

Appelt told the community the city remains committed to the building of the shelter. “First, however, we need to work through these numbers. We are trying our best to get where we need to be. We have this project on the front burner,” he concluded.

- The Alvin Animal Shelter.
- The Animal Shelter Advisory Committee.

Alvin also gets a new police chief.

Tis the season I suppose:

After a split vote, the city council namedhas announced the city’s new Police Chief. Robert E. Lee, who currently works as Assistant Police Chief in DeSoto, Texas, with a police force of 71 officers, was named to fill the vacancy left when Police Chief Mike Merkel retired in December. City Manager Terry Lucas recommended the hiring of Lee during the Council’s Executive Session at last Thursday night’s council meeting.

When Council Members returned following the Executive Session, a suggestion was made to call the roll for the vote. Council Member Jim Landriault was the first member to cast his vote by approving Lee’s hiring.

Scott Reed followed by voting yes for the recommendation. Council Member Adam Arendall voted against the recommendation. After taking several minutes to think, Council Member Brad Richards also voted against the recommendation. Terry Droege also voted against the recommendation while Greg Bullard voted for Lee to fill the position.

At that point, the vote was tied at three to three. Council Member Roger Stuksa was the last to cast his vote. He asked to be able to speak prior to casting his vote and he was granted permission to do so. “I am not qualified to understand the skills needed to work as a Police Chief, so I feel I have to respect the recommendation of our City Manager, who previously worked as a Captain at the Alvin Police Department. I vote yes,” he concluded.

With that, there were three no votes and four yes votes. Lee will be the new Police Chief of Alvin.

Alvin Bans Alcohol in Local Parks

A standing room only crowd at the city council meeting supported the ban.

A decision to change the designation of Kendall Lakes to include commercial and light industrial activity was tabled. Existing residents apparently did not know about the proposed change. I drive by the development every day and it looks a bit sad.

Recall in Alvin

In the May 10th election, Alvin residents were given the opportunity to recall Jim Landriault, a city council member representing District C.

According to the Brazoria County Facts, the issue stems from Landriault's support of a Mobile Home ordinance that passed last October. The paper tells us that the ordinance: gives mobile home owners up to five years to create paved roads, have proper and readable signs and make designated pedestrian walkways, among other improvements.

Up to a third of Alvin residents are said to live in mobile homes of some sort, so the industry has some clout. Following the passage of the ordinance the industry spearheaded an effort to remove Landriault from office. A source tells me that he shifted his position on the issue once in office.

From the Facts:

Those who organized the petition claimed Landriault voted to raise taxes, trash rates and to close Hugh Adams Park, Landriault has said.

Alvin City Clerk Tommy Peebles has said the trash contract was approved nine years before Landriault came to the council and property taxes have not been increased since 1994.

Landriault also has said he voted to keep the half-acre Hugh Adams Park open.

“None of it was true,” Landriault said of the petitioners’ claims.

Landriault said he has been campaigning throughout his district telling voters the facts about his voting record. Many of those who signed the petition have called him and said they were sorry for signing the petition, he said.

Landriault said he believes the recall has to do with his support for the mobile home ordinance.

For those who want him removed, Landriault said, “I don’t hold any hard feelings for that.”

A woman hired to speak for the mobile home owners who organized the petition drive did not return calls Friday seeking comment.

Landriault survived the vote 2/3rds to 1/3rd.

A website, Citizens for Alvin, accusing the mobile home industry of attempting to control Alvin politics can be found here.

Candidate Forums

For any in the vicinity of Manvel and Alvin in the next couple of weeks we have candidate debates for elections in each city. The elections are scheduled for Saturday May 12.

This coming Thursday April 19 in the new Manvel High School on Highway 6 from 6pm - 8:30pm the we will hear from the following candidates

Mayor
Ira Stevenson Van Scoyoc
Delores M. Martin (Incumbent)

City Council Position #3
Gary Garnett (Incumbent)
Melody Lynn Hanson

City Council Position #5
Dwight Harrison
Connie Aucoin
J.T. (Buddy) Williams (Incumbent)

Alvin Independent School District Position 4
J.S. Hensler (incumbent)
Mike Lansford

Alvin Independent School District Position 5
Eddie Martinez

And on Tuesday May 1, in the Texas Room here on our lovely Alvin Community College campus

City Council District B
Kathleen Holton

City Council District C
Jim Landriault

City Council At Large Position 1
Bob Dillman
J. D. MacGregor
Ramiro Mondragon

and once again

Alvin Independent School District Position 4
J.S. Hensler (incumbent)
Mike Lansford

Alvin Independent School District Position 5
Eddie Martinez

Since AISD covers the cities of Alvin and Manvel, these candidates have been invited to both events.

Among the issues we expect covered are issues related to the growth projected for the local area, but this will depend on who comes and what questions they bring with them.