Monday Morning Report
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Internal
The Executive Committee of the Austin-San Antonio Intermunicipal Commuter Rail District will meet this Friday, 5/2 in San Marcos at the Corridor Council offices, 304 CM Allen Parkway at 10:00 a.m.
Infrastructure
Bowing to legislative and industry pressures, TxDOT Commissioners in Austin approved a long-range funding plan last week (4/24) that would reduce by about $4.9 billion the agency plans to spend on maintenance between 2009-2019, dedicating the money towards new projects and construction. Lt. Gov. Dewhurst said the move proved TxDOT 'wants to work with the Legislature' on funding issues. Details here.
The Longview News-Journal called on Gov. Perry last week to find some other way to expand Texas infrastructure without using toll roads and private concessions. "The governor's fear of taxes in any form is so visceral that he finds himself unable to conclude that there is any other way to build much needed public highways than to turn the process over to private enterprise," the paper editorialized. They stopped short of suggesting he raise gas taxes. Read it here.
The Houston Chronicle ran a piece yesterday about rural landowners' opposition to the proposed Trans-Texas Corridor I-69, repeating now-familiar arguments about dividing farms and communities and complaints about foreign ownership of American infrastructure. TxDOT's assertions about the need for the project (population and trade growth) are buried deep in the story, but to those interested it is worth a read here.
San Marcos’ mayor and council members have chosen Rick Menchaca as the next city manager. Menchaca is the president of RKMenchaca, a management and consulting firm in Midland, and served as the city manager of Midland from 2000 to 2007. He will start in his new position May 1.
Economic Development
Cabela’s Inc.’s Buda store will pay back a total of $173,000 to the city, Hays County and the Buda Economic Development Corporation after missing job targets for a third year in a row. Cabela’s has a three-year grant from the Texas Enterprise Fund for its Fort Worth and Buda stores and must sustain 400 jobs between the two stores over that three year period to receive $400,000 worth of enterprise fund money.
Dell Inc. announced plans to close an Ottawa call center and immediately let go 500 of its 1,100 employees. The Round Rock-based computer manufacturer will close the 2-year old center by the late summer. The move is part of a company wide mandate to trim its workforce by 10%.
Southwest Airlines has added a new daily nonstop flight between Denver and San Antonio International Airport. The Dallas-based airline now has two daily departures between the two cities. The new Southwest flight is slated to begin on Aug. 23.
Seguin’s City Manager, Doug Faseler, has been nominated “Administrator of the Year” by the Texas City Management Association’s (TCMA) board of directors after receiving the nomination committees report at its January 25, 2008 Board meeting. The award recognizes the city management professional who has made significant contributions to the field of local government management. TCMA will honor Faseler at it annual conference in Arlington in June.
Schertz, Lacks Stores, Inc., and Comal County cut the ribbon 4/17 at the new 308,000 square-foot distribution center off Schwab Road at IH-35 South. The retail giant will create as many as 277 jobs by 2009 with an annual payroll of $5 million. The $14.5 million distribution center includes 308,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space with 80,000 sq. ft. of mezzanine. Also on site is an 18,000 square foot, 3-bay truck shop and a fueling station. Details here.
“Persistence is the twin sister of excellence. One is a matter of quality; the other, a matter of time.”
Marabel Morgan