WDL-2019-03

COMPILED BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

Harris County receives part of $2 million grant for regional Upper San Jacinto River watershed study

Commissioners Court proceeds with application requesting countywide polling place program

that could prevent flooding. The study is funded by a $2.03 million grant by the Texas Division of Emergency Management from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Harris County commissioners approved the grant during the court meeting Feb. 12. The study is expected to be com- pleted by January 2022. officials said. Several projects could address San Jacinto River watershed flooding. FUTURE PROJECTS • Building large regional detention facilities • Managing sediment • Implementing home buyouts • Installing additional water gauges by 255 trial prosecutors; the recom- mended staffing of trial prosecutors for the 2018 caseload is 522 prosecutors. Prosecutors asserted heavy case- loads on overworked prosecutors have a negative domino effect on victims and the accused alike. Assistant DA Daniel Malik said on any given day, he has roughly 20 to 30 cases on his court’s docket for an average of 100- 150 cases each week. However, several Harris County residents and representatives form advocacy groups such as Texas Orga- nizing Project spoke in opposition to funding, asserting more prosecutors would mean more convictions. SOURCE:SAN JACINTORIVERAUTHORITY/COMMUNITY IMPACTNEWSPAPER

or closure of longtime polling locations, as they said they believed it could hinder voter turnout for res- idents who are accustomed to voting at their preferred polling location. Following the lengthy public hearing and discussion between the judge and commissioners, the court unanimously authorized Trautman to submit an application to the Texas secretary of state to participate in the program, authorized by the Texas Election Code and subject to review by the county attorney. Upon the application submission and pending approval from the Texas secretary of state, Trautman said during a community meeting Feb. 5 the countywide polling place pro- gram could be implemented in Harris County as early as the upcoming May election.

HARRIS COUNTY The San Jacinto River Authority, the city of Houston, and Montgomery and Harris counties agreed to partner to provide funds for the San Jacinto Watershed Master Drainage Plan, which could mitigate flooding along the watershed. According to a Feb. 13 release from the SJRA, the project will study the entire Upper San Jacinto River watershed and its major tributaries between I-10 in Houston and Hwy. 30 near Huntsville. The streams that will be studied span seven coun- ties and include the east and west fork of the San Jacinto River; the San Jacinto River; Cypress, Little Cypress, Spring, Willis, Caney, Peach and Lake creeks; and Luce, Tarkington and Jackson bayous. According to the release, the study will be used to identify future projects HARRIS COUNTY Instead of allocating $20.6 million to fund 102 additional prosecutor positions as requested by Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, Harris County Commissioners Court opted for a $5.8 million budget increase for the office and asked for a comprehensive study of Harris Coun- ty’s criminal justice system Feb. 12. According to Ogg’s budget pro- posal, presented during the county’s fiscal year 2019-20 budget hearings in January, the main goal of the addi- tional funding was to ease prosecutors’ caseloads. According to the proposal, in 2018, the Harris County DA’s office filed 108,773 criminal cases staffed

HARRIS COUNTY After several hours of listening to public opinions both for and against a countywide poll- ing place program, Harris County Commissioners Court proceeded with the application to participate in the program Feb. 12. Participation would allow Harris County voters to cast ballots at any of the 700 polling locations in the county. While Harris County voters can currently vote at any polling location during early voting, on elec- tion day, voters are restricted to their assigned polling location based on the voting precinct in which they live. According to County Clerk Diane Trautman, the countywide polling place program is used in 52 other Texas counties. Opponents of the program shared concerns over the potential relocation Other opponents advocated for the money to be spent in other areas to relieve the criminal justice system. After discussion during the public hearing, County Judge Lina Hidalgo suggested offering the DA’s office a 7 percent budget increase of $5.8 million and requested the budget management department seek outside consultants to aid with a comprehensive study of they county’s criminal justice system. “What I’m hearing is … additional prosecutors are not the only way and certainly not the most cost-effective way to decrease prosecutor caseloads,” Hidalgo said. In a 4-1 vote, the court directed the

Harris County commissioners deny funding for 102 additional prosecutors to ease caseload burden

Harris County Budget Management Department to put together a request for a proposal for a study of Harris County’s criminal justice system. CASELOADQUANDARY The staffing level for the Harris County district attorney’s office was below the recommended level in 2018.

108,773 criminal cases filed in 2018

Harris County district attorney’s office prosecutor staff:

Currently staffed by:

255

Recommended staffing level:

522

SOURCE:HARRISCOUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACTNEWSPAPER

Our Senior Care Program oers psychiatric stabilization following behavioral changes for senior adults (ages 55+). While patients are in the hospital, our specialty program can work on life issues associated with aging, such as: • Depression • Grief and Loss • Anxiety or Agitation • Memory Loss or Confusion • Addiction to alcohol or prescription medication • Loss of Independence • Medication Management

e behavioral needs of older adults are unique.

Free assessments 24-hours per day Contact our admissions department today When a patient completes treatment, we can help families and caregivers continue to improve the patient’s quality of life Please join us for our Open House 3/27 11 am-6 pm

12814041001 KINGWOODPINES.COM

The Woodlands edition • March 2019