Government
BY CASSANDRA JENKINS & KEVIN VU
BY EMILY LINCKE
Engineers recommend Bellaire decommission wastewater plant HDR Engineering conducted a condition assess- ment in December to study Bellaire’s wastewater treatment plant. Chris Malinowski, a project manager at HDR, said the study found the city’s plant and lift station is too old, in poor condition and “well beyond their useful life.” A closer look Malinowski said the city’s plant has subsided or sunk six feet in the last 50 years. This has led to electrical equipment, chemical feed equipment, final clarifiers and disinfection tanks being below Harris County’s 500-year floodplain map. The study also revealed that the plant’s struc- tural, electrical and mechanical assets are at or past the end of their life. For example, the plant’s main electrical gear is 50 years old, despite being
$4M invested in abuse reduction efforts On Dec. 10, Harris County Commissioners Court approved a $4 million plan to aid domestic violence survivors. The overview Harris County has a 75% turn-away rate for peo- ple looking for help when trying to escape domestic violence, Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said during a Dec. 10 press conference. The county has also had the highest numbers for intimate partner violence in the state since 2022, according to a Dec. 10 news release from Briones’ office. The Houston Area Women’s Center will receive the initial $1 million investment, according to the release. The center will collaborate with the University of Houston Institute for Research on Women, Gender & Sexuality, and the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council for the project.
West U appoints new fire chief
1st Harris County AAPI commission created A new Harris County commission—which was created during the Dec. 10 Commission- ers Court meeting—will target topics such as health and safety for Asian American and Pacific Islander residents throughout the county. The big picture The population of Asian Harris County residents grew 53% across the Houston metro area from 2010 to 2020, according to Dec. 10 Harris County Commissioners Court meeting documents. According to the meeting documents, the new commission will: • Advise Commissioners Court • Work with organizations and residents • Focus on advancing policies
The dollar amounts listed will be paid back by the city via taxes or water user rates. To decommission and connect to Houston’s WWTP $6.82 per 1,000 gallons To rehabilitate Bellaire’s current plant $11.12 per 1,000 gallons To replace the plant and build a new one $13.84 per 1,000 gallons
75% of people seeking help when experiencing domestic violence are turned away in Harris County. A 10% decrease in the turn-away rate is Harris County’s goal with the new plan.
75%
10%
West University Place officials appointed James Novak as the new fire chief Dec. 9. About the candidate According to a Dec. 10 news release, Novak joined the West University Place Fire Depart- ment in 1996 as a firefighter and paramedic. He became a lieutenant in 2010 and assistant fire chief in 2013. His other qualifications include: • Fire executive • Fire inspector and investigator • An Associate of Fire Science and Safety Technology Novak began overseeing all fire and emergency medical service operations, management responses and community outreach Dec. 9
$1M
$4M
is being invested to aid domestic violence survivors in Harris County.
will be initially given to The Houston Area Women’s Center.
SOURCES: CITY OF BELLAIRE, HDR ENGINEERING/COMMUNITY IMPACT
designed to last 30 years, Malinowski said. Additionally, HDR found that Bellaire’s lift station, the facility used to move sewage and wastewater from a lower to a higher elevation, is dangerous for staff to access because it’s located in a median on Bellaire Boulevard. Malinowski rec- ommended the city build the lift station outside the median. However, residents have expressed concern with connecting to Houston’s treatment plant and inquired about the city’s other options to either rehabiliate the plant or build a new one.
SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT/COMMUNITY IMPACT
According to Dec. 10 meeting documents, the county’s domestic violence plan will: • Aim to decrease shelter turn-away rates by 10% • Add texting and social media options • Allow for additional training for providers • Encourage increased collaboration • Be contracted Dec. 10, 2024-Dec. 9, 2025 with three options for one-year renewals
BUFFALO SPEEDWAY 9733 Buffalo Speedway (713) 838-7486
HOLCOMBE 2314 W Holcombe Blvd (713) 669-1722
WESLAYAN 3902 Bissonnet (713) 218-8144
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