Government
BY AUBREY VOGEL
County acquires Cole Theatre in Rosenberg The historic 124-year-old Cole Theatre in down- town Rosenberg will soon see a revamp. The details After nearly 20 years of ownership, William “Bill” Butler donated the Cole Theatre to Fort Bend County, with Commissioners Court approving the donation at a Feb. 13 meeting. Fort Bend County plans to conduct an assess- ment study as well as waterproof and decontam- inate the building, according to the county’s 2023 parks bond project list. The $1.02 million set aside from the bond also includes the preliminary design and schematics of the project. Digging deeper Since obtaining the building, Butler has worked to renovate the theater back to its original form before efforts were halted after he took on another
Candidates file for Fulshear May election The candidate filing deadline for the May 4 election closed Feb. 16, and there are several contested races taking place in Fulshear. The races for Katy City Council wards A and B as well as Fulshear City Council districts 2 and 3 were uncontested and therefore canceled, city officials said. The details Candidates for Fulshear mayor include: • Don McCoy • Joel Patterson • Dominic Giametta Jr. Candidates for council member at-large include: • Jason Knape (incumbent) • Kimberly Stacy
The background 1919
It opened as the Liberty Theatre, serving as a fully functioning live theater and movie theater.
1982
The theater screens its last movie.
Butler purchases the theater, hoping to renovate it. The theater is approved as a designated historical landmark by the state. Butler sells the theater to Fort Bend County.
2005
2023
2024
SOURCES: RENEE BUTLER, ANNI LUNDY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
project. As a way to continue his goal of having the theater restored, Butler said he decided to donate the theater to the county. Looking forward “[Bill] really wants it to be back to being the jewel of downtown that it was in the old days,” said Renee Butler, Butler’s ex-wife and owner of Another Time Soda Fountain and Cafe in down- town Rosenberg.
Fulshear City Council approves water meter upgrades Fulshear City Council approved a $1.02 million contract Feb. 20 with Aqua Metric supporting the Water Meter and Reading System Upgrade Program. These new water meter devices can communicate data directly to the city and will improve efficiency
Aqua Metric’s contract with the city included key details, such as: A total approved installation contract of $1.02 million Installing 7,800 Sensus water meters , replacing previously installed Neptune and Badger models
Fulshear Mayor Aaron Groff and City Council members said they would like to see the installation fast-tracked. Quote of note “I would love to see this done before the next budget cycle,” Groff said. “If logically we can pull it off, then get it done, and that’s going to be a win for the residents.”
of water use recordings. The new Sensus water meters were previously approved by City Council in December 2022, although installation has been delayed due to internal staffing changes.
Retrofitting existing city Sensus meters with a communication device
SOURCE: CITY OF FULSHEAR/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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KATY SOUTH - FULSHEAR EDITION
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