QUOTEOFNOTE “ALL OF THE THINGS WE TOOK FOR GRANTEDBEFORE COVID19 SEEM TOBE A LITTLE DIFFERENT NOW.” SHELLEY SEKULAGIBBS, THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS, IN REFERENCE TO CRIME AND SAFETY
Monique Sharp named president and general manager of TheWoodlands Township
BY VANESSA HOLT
township includes 29 years of service. According to the town- ship, she is the first woman to serve in the position. Sharp follows Jeff Jones, who was appointed in 2020 following the retirement of Don Norrell. Board Chair Gordy Bunch noted several of her achievements. “President Sharp has been a steadfast leader within the Township for the past 29 years,” Bunch said. “Her efforts have led our hometown to the
highest financial ratings, lowest historical debt and lowest tax rates since the inception of our commu- nity. We are blessed to have Monique help lead our hometown going forward, and we are proud to be able to announce her as our new president and general manager.” According to a township news release, Sharp and the township’s financial team won awards in 2021, including the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award and the Certificate of
THEWOODLANDS Monique Sharp, The Woodlands Township’s former assistant general manager for finance and administration, was named the president and general manager of the township after an executive session of the board of directors Feb. 17. She has been the interim president and general man- ager since Jan. 3 following the departure of Jeff Jones from the position. Her total experience with the
Monique Sharp
Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association. According to biographical information for Sharp avail- able from the township, she holds a bachelor of business administration degree from The University of Texas at Austin.
NUMBER TOKNOW
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Monique Sharp, president and general manager of
The Woodlands Township, has been with the township for 29 years through various forms of governance, including serving as assistant general manager for finance and administration since 2001. According to information from the township, she is the first woman to serve in the position of president and general manager. CITY HIGHLIGHTS OAKRIDGENORTH The general election in Oak Ridge North on May 7 has been canceled because all three candidates are running unopposed. The unopposed candidates are all incumbents: Mayor Paul Bond, Position 1 Council Member Ricky Moffatt and Position 3 Council Member Alex Jones. The City Council voted to cancel the election at a Feb. 28 meeting. Candidates hold a two-year term. SHENANDOAH The Shenandoah City Council held discussion Feb. 9 about a signage ordinance allowing one political sign per candidate at City Hall the day before election day for 24 hours. According to Shenandoah City Administrator Kathie Reyer, the ordinance applies any time the City Hall is a polling location. No action was taken on the matter, which officials said they will revisit at a future meeting. MEETINGSWE COVER The Woodlands Township board of directors will meet at 6 p.m. March 24 and 30 at 2801 Technology Forest Blvd., The Woodlands. 281-210-3800. • www.thewoodlands-tx.gov Shenandoah City Council will meet at 7 p.m. March 23 at 29955 I-45 N., Shenandoah. 281-298-5522. • www.shenandoahtx.us Oak Ridge North City Council will meet at 7 p.m. March 28 at 27424 Robinson Road, Oak Ridge North. 281-292-4648. • www.oakridgenorth.com
New recreation fees approved by board
Contested elections slated in Shenandoah
TWO LOCAL RACES The May 7 election will see two contested races in Shenandoah with the mayor not seeking re-election.
BY VANESSA HOLT
BY ANDREW CHRISTMAN
THEWOODLANDS Several recreation fees are being increased following a public hearing at the Feb. 23 The Woodlands Township board of directors meeting. Parks and recreation programs have been highly used in The Woodlands in the past year, with the department seeing $7 million in rev- enue—$779,000 above the budgeted amount for the 2021 fiscal year, Pres- ident and General Manager Monique Sharp said during the financial report presentation at the meeting. The changes to fees made Feb. 23 include the establishment of pickleball court fees of $10-$12 per hour for residents and $24 per hour for nonresidents. The higher end of resident fees are for peak hours, which are 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on weekdays and 5-8 p.m. on weekends, according to meeting materials. The multipurpose rink fee is $20 per hour for qualified organizations, $30 per hour for residents and $60 for nonresidents, according to township information. Previous fees were $20 for residents and $40 for non- residents. In addition, nonresident punch cards at Rob Fleming Aquatic Center are $100, an increase from $55, according to the township.
SHENANDOAH Two contested races were announced for the city of Shenandoah’s May 7 election. Among the races is the mayor’s seat, with candidates John Escoto and Esther Lum running for the position. Incumbent Ritch Wheeler has chosen not to seek re-election. Candidates for City Council, Position 1 include Gary Henson and incumbent Ron Raymaker in the running. Incumbent Michael
Mayor
City Council, Position 1
John Escoto Esther Lum
Gary Henson Ron Raymaker*
*incumbent
McLeod is running unopposed for Position 5. Voters can vote at the Shenan- doah Municipal Complex from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on May 7. SOURCE: CITY OF SHENANDOAH/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Strategic plan, community survey considered for 2022
BY VANESSA HOLT
Further strategic planning sessions will be held throughout the year to update the township’s long-term plan extending through 2034, officials said at the meeting. Annual updates are included in the outline for the 20-year plan. Director Shelley Sekula-Gibbs said crime and safety in particular has become a more prominent con- cern for many township residents since COVID-19. “All of the things we took for granted before COVID[-19] seem to be a little different, and I think that has to be factored in,” she said.
THEWOODLANDS The Wood- lands Township board of directors began revisiting the 20-year strategic plan it developed in 2014 in a Feb. 17 meeting. A community survey will be developed to help guide the process this year, officials said. The eight areas covered by the strategic plan are: service delivery, communication, organization support, governance, economic development, transportation and mobility, environmental sustain- ability and fiscal policy.
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THE WOODLANDS EDITION • MARCH 2022
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