CITY & COUNTY
News from Katy, Harris County & Fort Bend County
NUMBER TO KNOW bond to fund Harris County roads, parks and public safety could see November ballot $1 billion MEETING HIGHLIGHTS HARRIS COUNTY Members of the Harris County Election Commission voted unanimously to name Clifford Tatum, the former general counsel for the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, as the county’s new elections administrator at a July 5 meeting. He will run elections following the departure of former Elections Administrator Isabel Longoria, who resigned after issues in the March primaries. Chief Director of Voting Beth Stevens will serve as interim elections administrator until Tatum takes the role. FORT BEND COUNTY At a June 28 Fort Bend County Commissioners Court meeting, officials with Fulshear Lakes—a master-planned community with 558 acres of mixed- use property in Fulshear—agreed to pay Fort Bend County $98,000 for its portion of improvements to Pool Hill Road, a street adjacent to the development. Homes in this community will begin preselling in late 2023, according to officials. Katy City Council meets the second and fourth Mondays of the month at 6:30 p.m. The next meeting is July 25 at 910 Ave. C, Katy. 281-391-4800. www.cityofkaty.com Harris County Commissioners Court usually meets Tuesday mornings twice a month. The next meeting is Aug. 2 at 1001 Preston Ave., Ste. 934, Houston. 713-755-5000. www.harriscountytx.gov Fort Bend County Commissioners Court meets at 1 p.m. the first, second and fourth Tuesdays each month. The next meeting is July 26 at 401 Jackson MEETINGS WE COVER
Harris County officials consider $1B November bond
BY RACHEL CARLTON
The plan presented to Harris County Commissioners Court on June 28 includes $700 million for roads and transit, $200 million for parks and $100 million for public safety. HARRIS COUNTY BOND BREAKDOWN
HARRIS COUNTY Commissioners are considering a potential $1 billion bond issue for Harris County in the November election to fund roads, parks and public safety. County Engineer Milton Rahman presented a breakdown of the preliminary plan at the June 28 Commissioners Court meeting. The preliminary plan proposes allocating a total of $700 million for roads and transit, $200 million for parks and $100 million for public safety. A $1 billion bond would increase property taxes by $27 a year for residents with homes valued at around $314,000, said Daniel Ramos, executive director of the office of man- agement and budget. But rising property values coupled with the county paying its bonds at “a pretty prestigious rate” means issuing a bond could maintain rather than increase the tax rate, Ramos said. While there has not yet been discussion on specific programs, Rahman outlined where funds could go. Rahman said $300 million in flexible road funds would support road maintenance, rehabilitation and safety. Another $100 million would rehabilitate older roads in poor to fair condition, acting as a preventive measure against road reconstruction, he said.
General road bonds Neighborhood drainage Parks and trails Road rehabilitation Public safety Vision Zero Multimodal transit
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SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Apart from addressing poor road conditions, bond funds would have a flood risk reduction component with $200 million going toward improving street drainage in neigh- borhoods. The $50 million for multimodal transportation would go toward expanding alternatives to driving, with bike lanes, sidewalks and trails along county roadways.
Council rezones land at southern city limits
Fort Bend County Fair introduces 2022 musical lineup
Fort Bend County Fair and Rodeo entertainment lineup Sept. 23: Giovannie and the Hired Guns Sept. 24: Kevin Fowler Sept. 25: Secretto Sept. 28: Carson Jeffrey Sept. 29: Jon Stock Sept. 30: Shenandoah Oct. 1: Sammy Kershaw Oct. 2: The Bellamy Brothers SOURCE: FORT BEND COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION/ COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
BY ASIA ARMOUR
KATY The rezoning of just over 20 acres of land from a single-family residential district to a commercial district was approved by Katy City Council at a June 27 meeting. The tract of land, located at the intersection of Spring Green Bou- levard and Crossover Road, is the most southern point in the city, City Planner Rachel Lazo said. Officials said the change is meant to welcome businesses like doughnut shops or cleaners for residential use.
BY ILANA WILLIAMS
FORT BEND COUNTY The music lineup for the 2022 Fort Bend County Fair and Rodeo was announced in a June 21 Fort Bend County Fair Association release. From Sept. 23-Oct. 2, there will be eight acts representing Texas’ music scene, including traditional country music and Latin music. Fair tickets, which include concerts, are online at www.fortbendcountyfair.com.
St., Richmond. 281-342-3411. www.fortbendcountytx.gov
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Cinco Ranch 10705 Spring Green Blvd, Ste. 600 Katy, TX 77494
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Kingsland 21700 Kingsland Blvd, Ste.104 Katy, TX 77450
Katy 1420 Katy Fort Bend Rd, Ste.105 Katy, TX 77493
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KATY EDITION • JULY 2022
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