NEWS BRIEFS
COMPILED BY HANNAH NORTON, WENDY STURGES & ERIC WEILBACHER
Potential 2023 bond projects begin lining up Ahead of a possible 2023 city of New Braunfels bond election, residents and community leaders have begun work to compile a list of proposed bond projects. The New Braunfels Bond Advisory Committee— comprising 24 representatives from each of the city’s six districts, Guadalupe and Comal counties, New Braunfels Utilities and other city departments—held its rst meeting Oct. 6 following a summer series of public input meetings. Possible projects under consideration include citywide intersection improvements, a downtown parking facility, an expansion of the city’s main library and a corridor study on Castell Avenue. A total bond amount has not yet been determined. The committee is expected to continue to meet ahead of early 2023, when the city is expected to formally vote on whether to call for an election. “There are currently 37 projects that are being considered by the Bond Advisory Committee, ranging from transportation, parks, library and economic development,” said Garry Ford, director of transportation and capital improvements, in a release from the city. “Now that residents have had a chance to weigh in on these projects, the Bond Advisory Committee will go over that input and continue the process of deciding which projects will move forward for consideration by City Council.”
First chief of school safety for Texas named by TEA after Uvalde shooting Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Oct. 3 the new chief of school safety and security for the Texas Education Agency. The governor asked the TEA to create the position in June following the deadly school shooting in Uvalde. John P. Scott, a former U.S. Secret Service Agent, will be the TEA’s rst school safety chief. In his new role, Scott will work with school districts, the Texas Legislature and state organizations to “ensure schools are using best practices to safeguard against school shootings or other dangers,” according to a news release. Scott worked for the Secret Service for over 22 years, according to his LinkedIn pro le. Beginning in 2018, Scott helped lead the inves- tigations team at the Dallas eld o ce. He has also served in Washington, D.C., and Houston. Abbott instructed the TEA to create the new position June 9. The school safety chief will be a “recognized expert on school security and pub- lic safety issues,” according to a letter Abbott sent to TEA Commissioner Mike Morath. Scott will report directly to Morath and communicate frequently with the governor, who said Scott’s experience in security and intelligence makes him a great t for the role.
PROPOSED BOND PROCESS
The city of New Braunfels has been working over the past several months to determine if the city will call for a multimillion-dollar bond in 2023. MAY 2021 City sta begins compiling needed projects
OCTOBER 2021
City issues survey for resident feedback and project recommendations
DECEMBER 2021
The city approves Bond Advisory Committee
JANUARY 2022
BAC begins reviewing recommended project list
MAY 2022
City Council approves projects for preliminary design
JULY 2022
City hosts public feedback meetings
OCTOBER 2022
NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2022 BAC reviews and narrows project list City reviews proposed project list
JANUARY 2023
City votes on call for bond election
MAY 2023
Possible bond election
SOURCE: CITY OF NEW BRAUNFELS COMMUNITY IMPACT
Local area siblings earn Eagle Scout project of the year awards
Two New Braunfels siblings were awarded the Glen and Melinda Adams Award for Eagle Scout Project of the Year at the University of Incar- nate Word in San Antonio on Oct. 20, according to a press release. COVID-19 restrictions delayed the awards for two years, resulting in
Harry “Quint” Bowers earning the award for his 2019 project and his sis- ter Elizabeth Bowers—the rst female Eagle Scout in New Braunfels—for her 2021 project. Elizabeth made more than 200 heart-shaped pillows that bene ted two nonpro t organizations focused
on breast cancer patients in the New Braunfels area: the Mudge Family Foundation and Pink Warrior Angels. Quint’s project was also oncology related. Quint created more than 400 reusable hand warmers that bene- ted four children’s hospitals in the San Antonio-Austin corridor.
Elizabeth and Harry "Quint" Bowers earned the awards for their projects.
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NEW BRAUNFELS EDITION • NOVEMBER 2022
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