Monday Morning Report
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Legislative Update: The Texas House-Senate Conference Committee votes out a two-year budget this week, probably later today. Despite press reports to the contrary, prospects look promising for financing the Texas Rail Relocation and Improvement Fund and some additional funding for regional passenger rail. Yesterday, the Senate voted out its version of the TxDOT Sunset bill with language approving a ‘local option’ gas tax and other revenue enhancement measures for transportation funding in the State’s urban areas. Score a couple for the good guys.
Infrastructure
San Antonio's VIA Metropolitan Transit named Keith Parker head of the agency last week. Parker, who currently runs the transit authority in Charlotte, N.C., begins July 1. He is known nationally for his success in making light rail work in a city where critics said it would undoubtedly fail, board members said.
County Judge Mike Wiggins says Guadalupe County remains fiscally healthy despite the national downturn and is enjoying the best relationship with the city of Seguin under Mayor Betty Ann Matthies that the county has had in years. The remarks were part of a wide-ranging speech given last week and reported here.
Round Rock continues to plan for its future as a city of 300,000 people. With a Downtown Master Plan and a General Plan in progress, they've just launched a Parks and Recreation Strategic Master Plan effort that should be approved by city council next week, taking greenspace planning out to the year 2020. Details.
After a lengthy trial, a district judge has sent a letter suggesting that blasting regulations be imposed on the Hason Aggregates Servtex limestone quarry in Garden Ridge. The quarry spans about 3,000 acres and produces about 25,000 tons of crushed stone daily. Local residents claimed their property was being damaged by the plant's mining activities. Details.
Economic Development
The Lockhart Post-Register - home town paper of the 'Barbecue Capital Of Texas' in Caldwell County - has launched a web page devoted to, you guessed it, barbecue. And it will make you hungry. Visit it here.
Austin Energy has launched a new online tool that tracks power outages 24/7. The Storm Center features a map of the utility’s service area. Details.
Austin ranked first on Forbes.com’s list of the nation’s best bargain cities after looking at the country’s 50 largest US metropolitan areas. Austin’s 5.5 percent unemployment rated the best in the country and about half the national average. The other major Texas cities among the top 10 best bargains were Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Ft. Worth.
New Braunfels will serve as the primary software development unit location to the new owners of AutoGas Inc., the company that first developed pay-at-the pump technology in 1986. The New Braunfels office will handle quality assurance.
“Laughter is the shortest distance between two people."
~ Victor Borge