FBISD Pushing For Pre-election Start On Controversial "Global Taj Mahal" Project--click the title link for more--

Follow the title link for more....

MeadowCreek Community In Missouri City, TX Launch Website To Keep Community Informed--click the title link for more--

Residents of MeadowCreek in Missouri City launched this website to initiate communications in there community around their own HOA, which has been involved in many closed door activities with the help of their law firm Holloway and Jones over the years (a former MC and current SL city council member is a principal in this law firm). Click the title link for more....

ABC13: Sugar Land City Council Member Russell Jones In The Middle Of Missouri City Neighborhood Controversy! --click the title link--

MISSOURI CITY, TX (ABC13-KTRK) -- People who live in one Missouri City subdivision plan on protesting Thursday night. They are upset about changes to deed restrictions.

Beth Blankenship is on a door-to-door mission. She wants the Meadowcreek homeowners in Missouri City to know about the possible changes to their deed restrictions and annual dues.

There is a group of homeowners who think the association is trying to push through a due increase of $100 per year without telling residents. That it comes with a 22-page document which rewrites the restrictions.

"They are extremely, extremely restrictive," said Tommy Blankenship, Meadowcreek homeowner. "I think a lot of our neighbors and a lot of people I have spoken to in the neighborhood have been deluded."--Click the title link for the full story from abc13!

Visit Texans for HOA reform for a better understanding of how some boards operate without the consent of the members:

http://www.texashoareform.org/

FBISD Zoning Problems Continue--click the title link for more--

Click the title link for the full story...

Local Fort Bend Resident And Property Rights Advocate Nancy Hentschel Was The Guest Speaker On This National Radio Hook-up!--click the title link--

From Syndicated Radio Blurb: "On The Commons this week we are joined by Nancy Hentschel. Nancy lives in Sugarland, Texas and owns 3 houses in three separate HOAs in Texas and she maintains a web site at http://www.newterritorysentinel.com/. Prior to moving to Texas, Nancy and her family lived in a real, HOA free, community on the East Coast so the added expenses, the fear, the closed books and records, the creative ways the association raises money were new experiences and real eye openers. Please join us On The Commons this Saturday, October 24, 2009. We'll talk about her observations, the fear that seems to keep neighbors from being neighbors and building real communities and we'll find out why her house in Arizona does NOT have an HOA"....click the link to listen to the live radio feed for the latest "On The Commons Podcast" out of Virginia...

http://onthecommons.net/2009/10/23/on-the-commons-with-nancy-hentschel.aspx#AddComment

FBISD Important Dates-

Date/Event

Nov. 9 Regular School Board Meeting
Nov. 11 Public Hearing - Zoning
Nov. 12 Public Hearing - Zoning
Nov. 25-27 Thanksgiving Holidays
Dec. 14 Regular School Board Meeting

Chron: County Ethics Reform Meets Resistance---click this title link for more--

Official not OK with reimbursement policy

November 2, 2009 2:29 pm Zen T.C. Zheng, Houston Chronicle

A set of proposed changes in the county’s travel policy concerning reimbursement to county elected officials who incur business travel expenses is not sitting well with County Commissioner Andy Meyers.

Commissioners Court would have voted on the changes two weeks ago but instead decided to put off the matter until tomorrow after Meyers raised concern that the changes may cause them not to be fully reimbursed and that they may have to reach into their own pockets....

FB Sun: New Sienna High School Gets Zoning Preferences!--click the title link for more--

Get the actual and functional capacity numbers in this FB Sun release on the zoning proposal the board and administration are pushing prior to public hearings.....http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2009/10/31/fort_bend_sun/news/sws_-_fbisd_zoning_1027.txt

Visit "Texans For HOA Reform"--click this title link for more....

Also see these related sites:

http://pages.prodigy.net/hoadata/ -- A growing problem locally...


http://www.ahrc.com/new/index.php/src/news -- And nationally...

http://thetupcareview.com/ ...and more...

Gary Opposes Tax Rate Increase And Draws Heavy Criticism--click the title link for more--

Chron update 10-22: http://www.ultimatefortbend.com/2009/10/parkway’s-sidewalks-drainage-be-upgraded#comment-183

MoCity’s Lenton-Gary Defends Vote Against Tax Increase
October 20th, 2009 | by Jamie Mock | Published in News | 5 Comments

An update on the Texas Parkway Corridor project led to a not-so-friendly exchange between Missouri City Councilman Jerry Wyatt, At-large Position 1, and Councilwoman Cynthia Lenton-Gary, District B, at Monday night’s council meeting.

City council voted earlier this month to approve the effective tax rate of $0.5284 – the rate the city has to levy to generate the same amount of money as the previous year – which was about a penny higher than last year’s rate due to decreased property values. Lenton-Gary was the lone nay vote on the rate, with Councilman Robin Elackatt absent....

http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/10/20/41553

FBN: Reasons For Lost Sienna-Missouri City Hospital Finally Reported Through The Media--click on the title link for more--

Chron: Damaged campus fire alarm system replaced at LOMS

Damaged campus fire alarm system replaced
October 19, 2009 1:04 pm Zen T.C. Zheng wrote:

Criticism from the community was quick when Lake Olympia Middle School’s [Missouri City, TX] fire alarm was out on Oct. 2.

I got a couple of e-mails alerting me to the problem, counting the days that the campus had gone without a functioning alarm and accusing the Fort Bend school district of neglect.

I was told that the Missouri City fire marshal had to place the campus on fire watch. One sender charged school officials of having “not done due diligence and cannot guarantee our children's safety...."

...Here is the good news: the new alarm system was installed last week, Porter said.

http://www.ultimatefortbend.com/2009/10/damaged-campus-fire-alarm-system-replaced#comment-156

Olivo Seeks Re-election To District 27 Seat--click the title link for more--

This was sent to the MCC site and we are posting it here. Ms Olivo has opposed the expansion of the Blue Ridge Landfill and the tolling of our public roads for private foreign companies as well as supports and works for school improvement at the legislative level. She is also working for the property rights of individual homeowners being eroded by special interest. Get more below:

St. Representative Dora Olivo
Endorsed by Houston Area Legislators

State Representative Dora Olivo of Rosenberg has received the endorsement of many Houston area legislators as she seeks re-election in 2010.

Olivo, a Democrat representing part of Fort Bend County, will be running for her eighth term in the Texas House of Representatives next year.

“I am humbled by the support of so many of my colleagues in the Houston area,” said Olivo. “I look forward to returning to the House and working with them on many issues that protect the interests of our families and communities, including education and mental health.”

Endorsing Olivo for re-election are State Senator Mario Gallegos and State Representatives
Alma A. Allen, Carol Alvarado, Ellen Cohen, Garnet F. Coleman, Harold V. Dutton, Jr., Jessica Farrar, Ana E. Hernandez, Scott Hochberg, Kristi Thibaut, Senfronia Thompson, Sylvester Turner,
Hubert Vo and Armando Walle.

Olivo serves on the Public Education and Border and Intergovernmental Affairs Committees in the House.

Campaign site: http://www.doraolivo.com/

FBW: Problem With Lake Olympia Fire Protection System Continues--according to our sources--

According to this linked release from FBISDWatch, Lake Olympia Middle School, in Missouri City, is still under a fire-watch ordered by the fire marshall. It has been over two weeks since the system went down. Click the title link for the full story and e-mail quotes from concerned residence of the LOMS....

Richard Raymond Announces Run For Fort Bend County District Attorneys Office!

FBN: Raymond Announces Run For Fort Bend County District Attorney

Raymond Announces Run For Fort Bend County District Attorney
October 15th, 2009 | by FortBendNow Staff

Republican Richard Raymond has officially announced his candidacy for the Fort Bend County District Attorney Republican primary on March 2. He will most likely face long-time District Attorney John Healy, although Healey has made no formal announcement that he will run again.

Raymond is a practicing attorney and partner at Cohen & Raymond, L.C., as well as the president of Gulf Scientific, Inc. Raymond serves on the board of directors for Access Chemicals & Services LLC. Raymond is a past CEO of Pritech Technologies, Inc., and a past director of Petrochem Consulting SA de CV. Raymond has also worked as a tax research analyst at Deloitte & Touche.

“As your next District Attorney, I pledge to make Fort Bend County a better place for families to live, work and raise children,” said Raymond. “As DA, you can be assured that Fort Bend County will not be a friendly place for drug dealers and career criminals. I believe in seeking strong sentences for criminals, and will make sure individuals wanting to do harm to our county’s children and senior citizens will be punished for their actions to the fullest extent of the law.”

He has been a Fort Bend County resident for almost 30 years.

Source: http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/10/15/41442#comment-5156

"Weinmann said Raymond believes he can clean up the image of Healey's office that in recent years has been tarnished by public criticism of his office's handling of several cases as reported by the press.

"Mr. Raymond wants to provide better service to taxpayers and further his commitment to justice," Weinmann said." Chronicle

http://www.ultimatefortbend.com/2009/10/missouri-city-lawyer-eyes-das-job

FB Sun: Missouri City Mayor Allen Owen & City Manager Pushing For Another Tax Rate Increase (Gets Approval)!

Hiring freeze considered during budget crisis.....Click the above title link for more...

FB Star piece: http://www.fortbendstar.com/101409/n_missouricityapproveshigherrate.htm

MCC note: Currently Missouri City has a lower bond rating than Sugar Land which means it costs the city more to borrow and create additional debt, which has a major impact on their current budget decisions regarding taxes.

Visit MyFortBend.Net (Formerly fortbendweb.com) For The Latest In County News & Blogs--click this title link for more--

FBN: Christus Hospital In Mo-City Is No More?--click the title link--

MCC comment:
In 2006-07 this story was first leaked to the media. At that time the development company involved attempted to unsuccessfully place a gag order on this blogsite via judge Ruiz of the FBC district courts (under supervising judge Thomas Culver) when it released the exclusive. See the follow up story by clicking the title link above...


UPDATE 10-8-09: http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/10/08/41181

"Missouri City has been without a hospital since 2006, when Herman Memorial left the property on Hwy. 6 that is now home to a Lowe’s home improvement store. Soon after, city representatives were talking about an imminent groundbreaking at Sienna Plantation for a Christus Hospital system facility...

Sienna even has a street named “Sienna Christus Drive” that runs through the property once expected to become a hospital. The land, however, is now for sale, and Missouri City representatives say the hospital has no plans to build." FortBendNow

FBN: Conflicting Explanations As To Reasons For The Budget Crunch Emerging From MC Leadership!--click the title link for more--

Click the title link for more on MC tax increase....

More at: http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/10/05/41016

FB Star Reports: Police Chief Resigns!

FBISD police chief plans to retire
Watchdog group called for investigation

Houston Chron Update 10-6: http://www.ultimatefortbend.com/2009/10/why-fort-bend-isd-police-chief-leaving

By Cheryl Skinner

Fort Bend Independent School District Police Chief J. L. Campbell announced last week he will retire from that position at the end of this year. In the meantime, a watchdog group is still calling for an investigation into allegations made by some of the members of the school police force on alleged mismanagement on the part of Campbell....

Full article: http://www.fortbendstar.com/093009/n_FBISD%20police%20chief%20plans%20to%20retire.htm

Other:

http://www.fortbendstar.com/093009/n_Instructional%20day%20added%20to%20calendar%20at%20expense%20of%20Fort%20Bend%20County%20Fair%20Day.htm

FBISD VOTES TO RAISE TAXES AGAIN!

Tax rate goes up in Fort Bend ISD
Trustees approve increase Sept. 28
By ZEN T.C. ZHENG HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Sept. 29, 2009, 8:57PM

Fort Bend school officials said the district's 3½-cent property tax hike for next year will not fund anything other than what voters endorsed nearly two years ago.

The school board approved on Sept. 28 a new tax rate of $1.305 per $100 assessed value. Last year, the district's tax rate rose by 2 cents from $1.25 in 2007. . .

During recent school board workshops and the Sept. 28 meeting in which trustees approved the tax-rate increase, officials tried to dispel speculation from critics that the district sought the higher tax rate to fund projects they described as wasteful, including a controversial “Global Center for Science and Technology.”

Get the full story at: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/fortbend/news/6643858.html

http://www.ultimatefortbend.com/2009/09/fort-bend-isd-raises-property-tax-rate#comment-79

FBISD Zoning Problems For Sienna Plantation Area Schools--click the title link for the full FBN story--

Follow the title link above for the complete FBN article...

More: http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/09/30/40926#comment-4189

FB Sun Covers FBISD Police Chief Controversy

Click the title link for the full story...

BREAKING NEWS FROM FBN: FBISD Police Chief Will Leave Force By End Of The Year!

Controversial Fort Bend ISD Police Chief To Retire At End Of Year
September 24th, 2009 | by John Pape, Fortbendnow

Fort Bend ISD Police Chief J.L. Campbell has announced he will retire and the end of the year.

Campbell made his plans known to police personnel in a memo dated Tuesday. FBISD Chief Communications Officer Mary Ann Simpson also confirmed the chief had notified district administrators he plans to retire.

In the memo, Campbell told police personnel that “it is time for me to begin a new journey on my career path.” He said he would retire effective Dec. 31 after 15 years with the department....(search earlier articles on this item)

Full story: http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/09/24/40729

http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/09/24/40729/924-fbisd-police-chief-letter-fb

Background:

http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/01/02/34462

http://fbisdwatch.blogspot.com/2009/01/fbisdwatch-issues-call-for.html

http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/01/05/34534

http://missouricitychatter.blogspot.com/search?q=FBISDwatch+seeks+investigation

Missouri City Leadership Proposes Yet Another Property Tax Increase--see this chronicle piece--

Click the title link for the full story on how city leadership is once again raising taxes and borrowing from the "fund balance" (a special account made up of unused bond-debt monies that were originally designated for other projects)...

Snip-it: "...City Council members in Missouri City have scheduled an Oct. 5 vote on a proposed 1-cent increase in the 2009-10 property tax rate, trading additional cuts in city spending to allow for quicker action on capital construction projects.
The proposed tax rate is .528 per $100 valuation for the budget year that began July 1. That compares to last year's rate of .51724. The new rate is in line with what was discussed during budget workshops earlier this summer, but with more money for debt service on voter-approved capital improvement projects such as streets, drainage and City Hall renovations...

...If the city manager's proposal is adopted, annual city property taxes on a home valued at $200,000 would increase from $1,034.48 to $1,056..." Chron

TRCC Abolished (Special Interest Commission Update)---from HOBB+

Texas Comptroller: "This agency imposes costly and bureaucratic roadblocks for homeowners left out in the cold by shabby construction and a commission dominated by builders," Strayhorn said... "It is clear that the Texas Residential Construction Commission functions as a builder protection agency." ..."if it were up to me personally, I would blast this Texas Residential Construction Commission builder-protection agency off the bureaucratic books."

http://www.homeownersoftexas.org/Who_supports_the_TRCC.pdf

Click the title link above for the full story of the influence of a special interest industry protection racket that still influences your local boards, councils and commissions...

How FBISD Zoning May Impact Sienna Area In Missouri City! --click the tile link for more--

FBISD trustees want harder look at zoning proposals
Zen Zheng

FBN update 8/16: http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/09/16/40395

http://blogs.chron.com/fortbend/archives/2009/09/fbisd_trustees_1.html#comments (full article)

http://www.fortbend.k12.tx.us/about/zoning.cfm (zoning plans)

Starting an early planning process, the Fort Bend school district has unveiled its proposed attendance zones for two new schools under construction in the district's fareast side. Both schools are set to open in fall next year.

The district's 45th elementary is being built at 636 Glendale Lakes Drive off FM 521 south of Texas 6 near Rosharon. It is expected to enroll 448 pupils from both sides of FM 512, including 111 Sienna Crossing elementary pupils to be transferred.

With the proposal, a small southern portion of the Schiff Elementary attendance zone where there are 12 pupils would be absorbed into that of Sienna Crossing Elementary. An eastern part of the Sienna Crossing zone, where the 111 pupils are, would be annexed into the new elementary's boundaries. The plan would reduce Schiff's enrollment from 799 to 503 pupils and that of Sienna Crossing from 974 to 881.

The new high school, the district's 11th, is being built at 500 Waters Lake Boulevard in Sienna Plantation area near the Hillwood residential development. Its attendance zone would comprise Hightower High's attendance zone portion south of Texas 6 and a southeastern part of the Elkins High attendance zone.

With the new high school proposal, an expected 265 students in the Vicksburg subdivision area attending Elkins High would be transferred to Hightower while 502 Sienna students attending Elkins would be relocated to the new high school. That plan would reduce Elkins' enrollment from 2,351 to 1,626 students and that of Hightower from 2,649 to 1,796. The new high school is anticipated to open with 1,171 students.

A projected 2 percent growth for the 2009-2010 school year is factored in the above student enrollment figures.

During the workshop Monday, school board members didn't have a consensus on if the administration's proposals should be presented as is to two public meetings, originally scheduled for Sept. 29 and 30 but postponed due to the lack of board agreement. . .

FB Star: How some elected officials treat the taxpayers...

"...From the comments Bud Childers made about the allocation of security funds, it appeared he was seeking publicity. So ...Judge, here it is. You might begin by starting court on time and allowing folks into the courtroom as prescribed by law. On your docket days you have more than your allotted bailiff and you still treat the public like something you wipe off the bottom of your shoe. The courts are the most scared part of the government which is supposed to be of the people, by the people and for the people, not the fiefdom of an elected demigod..." FB Star

Get the full story by following the link above...

Visit Texans For HOA Reform For The Latest On Property Rights Reform Efforts! --click the title link for more--

FB Independent Publisher Opines On TPIA & FBISD Compliance With Texas AG!

Open records request is a farce
By SESHADRI KUMAR, Fort Bend Independent

The public information request or the open records request with Fort Bend ISD has become a farce as far as my experience goes. What could be provided routinely to a requestor are first kept confidential and then released by the district for a nominal charge.

One would think that the feasibility committee report on the Global Science and Technology Center is a public document and the district would like it to be read by as many people as possible to win their support.

On the contrary, the report was given to the media only when asked and it was released after the statutory 10-day waiting period. It cost me $14.

Then when I wanted a copy of the comments posted on the FBISD website, I thought I could have them e-mailed to me. No, a print out was provided and the cost was $6.

Then, I posed to a query to the communications department asking what documents did the district provide to Ms. Nancy Hentschel who had filed an open records request. I had asked if the district had provided response to one of the specific queries made by her, namely “any communication via mail, phone, e-mail, text, or other routes between members of the committee, the PBK company representatives, [Dr.] Jenney, and the developer...”

I asked for the clarification because of conflicting claims made by Hentschel that she got nothing from the district and the district saying they gave all that could be given.

Instead of receiving a brief response from the communications department, my request was treated as an open records request.

Again, I had to shell out $28.50. I don’t mind it, but unfortunately, barring about five or six pages, all the other pages were a reproduction of the same feasibility committee report and comments on the website.

Making an ORR, especially with any public entity, is tricky. The requestor should be clever or the request letter may require the assistance of an attorney...

Get the full story at: http://fbindependent.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=89&twindow=Default&mad=No&sdetail=1808&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=2531&hn=fbindependent&he=.com

Local Media Reporting On Student Sorting Being Conducted By The District In Preparation For The President's Education Speech--

Get the full story at:

9-8 Update: http://blogs.chron.com/fortbend/archives/2009/09/inspirational_o.html

Update 9-3: http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/09/03/40126#comment-3040

http://blogs.chron.com/fortbend/archives/2009/09/fbisd_gives_par.html (Houston Chronicle)

and

http://www.kissmybigbluebutt.com/#September2letter (local political blog)

--We will update this news as it happens....

Visit Myfortbend.net For More On Local News & Commentary Impacting Our Community! --click here for more--

-Stay informed and keep in touch!

FB Star Reports On Blue Ridge Landfill Settlement Talks--click the title link for the full story--

Residents’ group opposed to landfill expansion
continues negotiations with trash company on landfill

By Cheryl Skinner

The city of Pearland and the three Houston television stations who were attempting to stop the issuance of an expansion permit for a landfill operation in Fort Bend County, have reportedly come to a settlement agreement with Republic Services. However, the grassroots group, Coalition Against Blue Ridge Landfill Expansion, continues “a good faith negotiation” with the company and no settlement has been reached, says Richard Morrison, the attorney representing the group.

The negotiations between the Coalition Against Blue Ridge Landfill Expansion and Republic Services Inc., is ongoing, Morrison says but no terms have been reached. The company reportedly came to a compromise with the three Houston television stations— KTRK (Channel 13), KRIV (Fox 26) and KHOU (Channel 11) and the city of Pearland during recent weeks. . .

MCC comment: This is the landfill company that has made contributions to Missouri City council members and some county commissioners along with signing a contract not to oppose this landfill planned for near 20 stories by giving these governmental entities "tipping fees" often called in the press "legal" bribes. Some of the key political players in supporting landfill expansion have been Bob Hebert, Allen Owen, Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council, Oberg PAC...

FBISD Votes To Increase Spending & Tax Rate--click title link for more--

8-27 Update: http://fbisdwatch.blogspot.com/2009/08/local-media-chimes-in-on-fbisd-tax-rate.html (Media chimes in)

Another update 8-1: http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/09/01/40045

Last week, former FBISD school board member Stan Magee issued a public comment asking where the $122 million dollar surplus "fund balance" had gone (now listed as nearly 93 million) on the FortBendNow.com website, while opposing further tax increases and supporting a balanced budget. He further issued a statement to the effect condemning the boards vote in June to move forward in building the $30 million dollar "Global Taj Mahal" duplicate spending project (see Global Science & Technology Center and HMNS project opening in October in Telfair).

Of special note, the same two board members whom had adamantly supported the GSTC project, David Reitz and former BOT president Sonal Buchar, seemed to lead the charge in the budget hearing for making drastic cuts in the operating budget over the next few years and then voted lock-step on an amended budget that actually increases spending over the administrations proposed budget. During the agenda session on the amendments to the budget, the trustees seemed to have quite a deal of difficulty implementing "Robert's Rules of Order", which govern most governmental meetings.

During the public comments portion, the district's teacher association made a very strong and successful case, to protect raises and healthcare benefits by using funds from the "fund balance" to attempt to reign in this years budget deficit projected at nearly 19 million dollars (the largest in the districts history).

Special note: The "fund balance", so often mentioned in the above piece, comes from prior district bond funds voted on by the public for school projects that were NOT used and then "slipped" (moved) to this account. The district regularly uses this account to fund other projects in the system.

SCHOOLS IN SESSION--PLEASE BECAREFUL IN SCHOOL ZONES!

More From The Houston Chronicle On The Blue Ridge Landfill Near Missouri City--click here for more--

Residents' group opposed to landfill expansion tries to make deal with operating company
By ZEN T.C. ZHENG HOUSTON CHRONICLE

In a twist in a near four-year battle, a grassroots group fighting a landfill expansion plan in east Fort Bend County is seeking an out-the-court settlement with the company behind the project.

The negotiations between the Coalition Against Blue Ridge Landfill Expansion and Republic Services Inc. come on the heels of a string of compromises between the company and other opponents that included three local television stations — KTRK (Channel 13), KRIV (Fox 26) and KHOU (Channel 11) and the city of Pearland....(follow the link above for the full story)

MCC comment: This is the landfill expansion project that the mayor of Missouri City (Allen Owen) and our county commissioners (Bob Hebert) agreed not to fight for "tipping fees" some years ago.

Dunn Leaves FortBendNow....

...Sad news reached the watch-group staff this morning involving a local reporter and resident who 4 years ago founded what would revolutionize, in our community, web-based news reporting. The articles were often cutting edge, for this county and will be missed. Not only did Bob Dunn allow the public to comment on the stories, which at the time was novel, he developed a strong network in the area that would provide the "other side" of the issues.

Almost a year ago Mr. Dunn sold FBN and with it the opinion editorial pages vanished. He took on the editorial supervisory role with the purchasing firm (Instant News Network). Comments on stories were still allowed, but as often is the case, in this type of media, advertising pressure seemed to drive the ever increasing releases from public relations interests.

Good luck with your future endeavors Bob! We know your pen won't remain silent for long.

http://fbisdwatch.blogspot.com/2009/08/dunn-leaves-fortbendnow.html

Visit The American Homeowners Resource Center For More On HOA Issues Nationally--click the title link--

For Texas HOA reform news visit:

http://www.texashoareform.org/index.html

Recent HOA study (Harvard) on HOA initiated home foreclosures and fairly substantial list of attorneys involved in this very lucrative business: http://pages.prodigy.net/hoadata/

And for more on some legislatures who protect this industry. See this Fox 7 investigative series: http://www.ahrc.com/new/index.php/src/tools/sub/yp/action/display/id/1863

Nationally syndicated weekly radio show hosted by Shu Bartholomew "On The Commons": http://onthecommons.net/

Stay informed and keep in touch!

Fort Bend Independent Reports On FBISD Tax Hearing

School board struggles with $18 million budget deficit
SESHADRI KUMAR

Even as the Fort Bend ISD board of trustees Monday night wrestled with an $18 million deficit in a $498 million budget, some taxpayers took the board to task for raising the debt service tax rate by 3.5 cents per $100 valuation.

The administration and the board, on the other hand, took credit for a much smaller increase in the debt service tax rate than was anticipated.

During the public hearing on the budget, Michael Lee submitted a “writ of remonstrance” against the trustees for “failing” the people and asked each trustee to resign immediately.

The writ was signed by 525 people and Lee gave a sworn affidavit stating that he witnessed each person signing the writ.

The speakers opposing the tax hike were mainly faulting the school district for proceeding with the mutli-million dollar Global Science and Technology Center at a time when the country is in an economic crisis.

Kevin Tunstall said public confidence in elected officials was at an all time low. A couple of trustees during their campaign said they would not support a tax hike and now they should keep their promise, Tunstall said. . .

Get the full story at: http://fbindependent.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=1&twindow=&mad=&sdetail=1759&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=2531&hn=fbindependent&he=.com


Youtube video of presentations: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW2Jq2HWaAk

Youtube on FBISD Tax Hearing....

The video says it all: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW2Jq2HWaAk

FB Star Covers FBISD TPIA (Open Records) Controversy-

Get the latest updates from the FB Star on this continuing problem with FBISD:

http://www.fortbendstar.com/081209/n_FBISD%20still%20has%20not%20released%20requested%20records%20%20New%20Territory%20resident%20claims.htm

http://www.fortbendstar.com/Columns/skinner_cheryl.htm

Stay informed and keep in touch!

FBW: FB Sun Reports On FBISD Budget Crisis!

Get the full piece at: http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2009/08/12/fort_bend_sun/news/slsws_-_fbisd_budget_811.txt

. . .Several people expressed concerns with plans by the district to move forward with the Global Science Center in the midst of its present budget crisis.

“We have a Global Science Center that we are looking at between $20 to $60 million dollars and we have a contracting economy at best, and taxpayers, myself included, have had to contract my spending and that is not what we are seeing here with Fort Bend [ISD],” Sugar Land resident Nancy Hentschel said.

Hentschel, a vocal opponent of the science facility, called Fort Bend ISD spending on the proposed Center an example of “very poor planning.”

Hentschel also challenged the board to release documents related to the proposed Global Science and Technology Center based on a recent directive approved by the Attorney General of the State of Texas.

Another resident, Michael Lee, called for the board to resign, alleging board members failed to deliver lawful requests for information to the people, failed to disclose potential conflicts of interest in connection with the center, and told taxpayers many times that the district had enough resources to pay for the science center.

“My goal is to get the school board to obey the law in every way, and not skirt and trick and deceive the people into believing this tax increase is really necessary and to get them to disclose their communications with the vendors who will be building the Global Science and Technology Center, because it is my belief that their campaign contributors are also in the construction business,” Lee said.

A retired computer professional, Lee also expressed concerns after the board meeting regarding 10 percent cuts in the teachers budgets proposed in the budget.

“Teachers now have to buy their own paper for copy machines and own fabric to do science class,” Lee said.

“They don’t have enough money to properly equip a science lab in every school, but they have enough money to build a three-story science boondoggle,” Lee said.

FBN Covers FBISD Tax Hearing & Budget Crisis--

See these separate pieces:

http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/08/11/39485

http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/08/11/39471

http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/08/11/39478 (Jenney & board point the finger)

http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/08/11/39482

"...All of the speakers spoke against having their property taxes raised.

One of the them, Michael Lee, spelled out his objections to the proposed tax increase in the form of a “write of remonstrance” that carried signatures Lee said totaled 525, and called for the resignation of all FBISD Board trustees.

As did others, Lee tied his objections to a tax hike to the science center.

The board of trustees made explicit and repeated representations to the taxpayers and the citizens of Fort Bend that spending on the Global Science and Technology Center was in the best interests of the taxpayers of Fort Bend,” Lee said, reading from his “writ.”

“The board of trustees made explicit and repeated representations to the taxpayers of Fort Bend that the resources of the Fort Bend Independent School District were sufficient to pay for the Global Science and Technology Center,” Lee said.

“In direct contradiction to those explicit repeated representations and assurances, and with a recession facing the taxpayers, the board of trustees is now asking for a 3.5-cent increase in the property tax rate,” Lee said, reading from his document.

After reading from his statement, Lee passed out copies of the document to each board member, including individual pre-formatted “resignation” letters, which board members ignored...." FBN

FBW comment: Actually two of the trustees thanked Mr. Lee when he handed them the "writ" which really constitutes a vote of no confidence.

...we will update these at intervals...

FBW EXCLUSIVE: FBISD REQUIRED TAX HEARING DRAWS LARGE CROWD AND MANY SPEAKERS IN OPPOSITION TO SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED TAX HIKE!

Click the title link above for the full story....

FBISD Continues To With-hold Documents Ordered Released By The Texas Attorney General's Office!

Houston Chronicle Update: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/fortbend/news/6566972.html#

A critic of the Fort Bend Independent School District's proposed $26 million “global center for science and technology” said district officials continued to withhold the information she requested even after the Texas Attorney General's office ruled that the district must do so.

“It is a real tragedy that getting basic open records for a taxpayer project of the magnitude of the Global Science Center should be this profoundly difficult,” said Nancy Hentschel. Chronicle Report

ANOTHER CHRON REPORT UPDATE 8-10: http://blogs.chron.com/fortbend/archives/2009/08/fbisd_ags_rulin.html

HOA Abuse Continues Unabated In Texas, See This Special Report!--click this title link--

FBN: IS FBISD With-holding Information Ordered Released By The Texas Attorney Generals Office Still???

Chron UPDATE 8-8-09: http://blogs.chron.com/fortbend/archives/2009/08/ag_fbisd_must_d.html#comments

Woman Wins Open-records Ruling, Says School District Still Won’t Release Science Center Info
August 7th, 2009 | by Bob Dunn, Fortbendnow

Even after a Texas Attorney General’s ruling in her favor, A New Territory woman says, Fort Bend Independent School District officials are purposely withholding public records about the proposed Global Science & Technology Center.

The school district said it has provided New Territory resident Nancy Hentschel with the documents ordered released by the AG’s office.

However, Hentschel said Friday, “I have been given nothing.”

An opponent of the district’s proposed $26.4 million science center, Hentschel said the information she is seeking could have been essential to the public before the FBISD Board of Trustees gave its approval for the project to proceed in a limited fashion.

Since the board vote on the science center came and went without the district releasing the information she requested, Hentschel said she hoped the release would come before next Monday’s board meeting, during which board members are expected to discuss the administration’s proposed 3.5-cent property tax increase.

It appears that won’t happen.

Events leading up to the current showdown between Hentschel and the district began this spring, when she made a formal request under the Texas Public Information Act for a variety of information related to the science center. Among records she requested were:

→ All documents under review by a committee the district set up to study the proposal’s feasibility;

→ All comments made about the project publicly on an FBISD web site;

→ A list of “current committed companies and the amounts they have already donated to this project;”

→ All communication between members of the feasibility committee, PBK architects, FBISD Superintendent Dr. Timothy Jenney, and former Sugar Land mayor and developer David Wallace, who headed the feasibility committee;

→ Any available financial disclosure statements since 2007 for Dr. Jenney.

After a records-release deadline expired under TPIA regulations, Hentschel said in a May 19 complaint to the attorney general’s office, FBISD outside counsel David Feldman provided her with a “PowerPoint sales pitch from Mr. Wallace” that “had nothing to do with any request that I had made…”

Get the full piece at:

http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/08/07/39421

http://fbisdwatch.blogspot.com/2009/08/fbn-is-district-with-holding.html

Chron: Missouri City Government Finds New Funding Source In Lieu Of New Taxes....

Click the title link for more...

FB Star: Former School Board Candidate Wins Court Case Against Taxing Authority--click the title link for more--

Fresno resident wins court case against
Fort Bend Central Appraisal District

By Cheryl Skinner, Fort Bend Star

Rodrigo Carreon, a Fresno resident, admits he spent more to fight the Fort Bend Central Appraisal District in court than he got back when he won the case, he would rather the court had the money than to have the CAD keep the funds. Last week after a nearly four year battle, Carreon was notified that he had prevailed in court.

Carreon said the issue surfaced in 2005 when the FBCAD failed to grant him a homestead exemption on his Fresno property. “They illegally changed the address to my property, which they later told the judge was a mistake,” he explained.

Carreon said he went through the normal appeals process but when the CAD wouldn’t budge, he decided to go to court in an attempt to rectify the situation. A man of modest means, Carreon said he didn’t have the extra money to hire an attorney. . .click the title link above for the full story!

FBN: County Appraisal District Having Trouble Again This Year Keeping Up With Tax Protests And Appeals While Hebert Points The Finger--click here--

The blame game is in full swing at the county......check out this piece from FBN (click the title link above for the full story) and remember, it is your elected officials that select the CAD board!

Quote for the day!

A small group of thoughtful people can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead

FB Star Reports On AG's Ruling Against FBISD (On "Global Taj Mahal")--click title link for more--

"The letter to Feldman from Davis says the district must release all information requested, with the exception of e-mails from the public who object to this information being released. However, the opinion goes on to say, that withholding e-mail addresses from vendors who seek a contract with the governmental body or a person who has a contractual relationship with the governmental body must be released." FB Star

FBISDWatch Exclusive: FBISD ORDERED BY TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL TO TURN OVER REQUESTED "GLOBAL SCIENCE CENTER" DOCUMENTS!

FBISD ORDERED BY TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL TO TURN OVER REQUESTED "GLOBAL SCIENCE CENTER" DOCUMENTS!

After numerous requests before public hearings by taxpayers of FBISD and formal requests for all documents and communications surrounding the $27 million dollar taxpayer funded controversial "Global Taj Mahal" and numerous attempts to block these requests by the superintendent until after the 7-0 school board vote in June, the Texas Attorney General has ordered the school district to comply with these requests.

Get the full AG order at: http://fbisdwatch.blogspot.com/2009/07/fbw-exclusive-fbisd-ordered-by-texas.html

FortBendWeb.com Becomes MyFortBend.Net--click this title link for more--

Also get this update from the Fort Bend Star on the controversial proposed tax increase and the Global "Taj Mahal" (approved in June by our school board at a cost of nearly 27 million dollars while they are projecting a 2009-2010 second annual budget deficit of 13-18 million dollars, according to local media sources)....

"Reader’s take on Global Science Center" FB Star

http://www.fortbendstar.com/Columns/letters.htm

Stay informed and keep in touch!

FortBendIndependent: FBISD-Jenney Projecting Another Record Budget Deficit For 2009 And Another Tax Increase!

"The administration’s proposed 2009 budget anticipates a deficit of $12 million to $18 million." FBI

FBI link: http://fbindependent.com/default.asp?
sourceid=&smenu=1&twindow=Default&mad=&sdetail=1676&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus
=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=2531&hn=fbindependent&he=.com

MCC Comment: This projected deficit comes only a month after the current school board voted to approve Jenney spending another $27 million on a duplicate museum (HMNS & GSTC).

FBISDWatch: FBISD Hiring Practices Under Review--click this title link for more--

Please follow the tile link above for the full story...

FBN: Judge Orders City To Turn Over Communications Of Mayor Owen In Largest Eminent Domain Case In Fort Bend County History! --click the title link--

See: http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/07/15/39007

"...there was no required “public necessity” for condemning the property, an act it has called “merely a pretext to confer a private benefit on particular private parties, including the mayor and a number of city council members.” (Missouri City Mayor Allen Owen and councilors Jerry Wyatt, Brent Holaja and Buddy Jimerson all live in Quail Valley)...."

&

"...Failure by the city to produce email has also hampered QVCC’s ability to take “key depositions,” Breeding said in court filings.

QVCC intended to depose Mayor Owen on July 10, but was told by a city attorney that email to and from Owen probably wouldn’t be available by that date.

“Communications reflecting a purpose for condemning the property that is contrary to the city’s stated purpose will create a fact issue on QVCC’s affirmative defense” Breeding argued. “Because no communications with Mayor Owen have been produced, QVCC was forced to pass his deposition. The city has not provided a date by which it will produce the responsive communications.” FBN

Follow the title link above for this evolving story that has cost Missouri City taxpayers thousands in legal costs to pursue when in all probability this case could have been settled by an outright market purchase of the course and for much less than the current boondoggle!

Chronicle: MHS Academy Safe For Now!

"...that the academy could remain so long as it remained “financially viable.” Superintendent Jenney

Follow this link for the full story: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/fortbend/news/6527321.html

Higher Property Taxes Again Proposed For FBISD?

Chronicle Update:

http://blogs.chron.com/fortbend/archives/2009/07/fbisd_proposes.html

Bond Review Board lists 4 Houston area districts in the top ten for bond debt. FBISD is one of them. See: http://www.brb.state.tx.us/lgs/summaries/08/isd08/isd2008sum.aspx

FBISD Administration Proposes 3.5-cent Property Tax Increase
July 13th, 2009 | by Bob Dunn, FortBendNow

Property taxes could go up for residents within Fort Bend Independent School District, as the district administration is recommending a 3.5-cent hike in its tax rate for 2009.

The FBISD administration is proposing a maintenance and operations tax rate of $1.04 per hundred dollars in property valuation - the same rate the district currently levies. However, the administration is proposing increasing the debt service tax rate to 26.5 cents per hundred - a 3.5-cent increase over the current 23-cent rate.

If the FBISD Board of Trustees approves a total administration-recommended 2009 ad valorem tax rate of $1.305 per hundred, the district tax bill for the owner of a $200,000 home would be $2,610.

The proposed tax increase comes on the heels of a county-wide property reappraisal by the Fort Bend Central Appraisal District that indicates property values will be increased an average of 10.8% higher than last year, despite a national real estate collapse that plunged property values throughout most of the rest of the country. (Property taxes are calculated based on the FBCAD’s appraisals.) . . .

Get the full piece at: http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/07/13/38976

FBISDWatch: UPDATE ON Possible Closing Of MHS Academy In Missouri City--click the title link for the full story--

Follow the title link above for more on this FBISDWatch exclusive. Stay tuned for updates:

Update 7-14: http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/07/14/38990

MCC Celebrates 4th Year With Over 130,000 Visitors--

MissouriCityChatter.blogspot.com is officially celebrating its fourth year on the web. It was predated in the Sienna Plantation area by a neighborhood run website called SiennaTalk.com (2002-2005) which later became MissouriCityTalk.com (2005-2006). The post below is the first that was issued by the site by the committee for responsible development, a group that has remained involved in local area issues ever since along with expanding throughout the county:

--------------
Missouri City Chatter (A blog for Mo-City)

Welcome to the official blog for the residents and citizens of Missouri City, TX to keep up with and follow local issues. This blog was born of controversy but we hope it will be a good place for you and your neighbors to visit and discuss open and honest issues that impact positively or negatively our community. We would like to encourage those posting to identify their neighborhoods and to encourage others to blog/post here. You may remain anonymous when posting but please follow the site guides. Repeated violations will lead to removal.

We will follow the core rules of netiquette located at http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html as our guide and will stop any violations when they come to our attention.


History:

This site was founded by the Committee for Responsible Development which started in the Sienna Plantation area and can be contacted at responsible_dvlpmnt@yahoo.com and grew from a grass roots movement opposed to further apartment development in Missouri City, Texas. Some of the critical issues which grew out of that movement are still with us, such as the campaign contributions and ethics violations filed with the city against the developer backed mayor of Mo-City.


The basic goals of CRD are simple:

-To encourage residents and citizens of Missouri City neighborhoods to get actively involved in their local politics.

-To engage developers and city officials on value added growth and sustainable development over the long-term.

-Allow for more open/honest discussions on controversial issues that often don't get discussed in the community with regard to the above goals.


We look forward to hearing from you and keeping the dialogue going!


*********
Committee for Responsible Development
responsible_dvlpmnt@yahoo.com
Missouri City, TX-Group

Chronicle: Another Effort Is Launched To Save The Marshall Academy In Missouri City!

Follow the title link above to get more on the efforts in Missouri City to save the Marshall HS Academy from the FBISD budget crisis...

MCC Wishes All A Wonderful Independence Day!

“I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.”

Thomas Jefferson

Houston Chronicle: Mediation Fails With Former QVGC Golf Course Owners In The Largest Eminent Domain Abuse Case In Fort Bend County! -click the title-

Mediation fails between Mo City and golf club

A mediator shuttled back and forth between two rooms Monday but couldn't get Missouri City and Quail Valley Country Club to strike an agreement to resolve their dispute over the 400-acre golf property the city wants for a park project. . .

. . .Kelley said both parties are "in active discovery" of evidences supporting their own case. She expects additional hearings to be set by the court between now and Sept. 8, the date of a trial by jury.

MCC comment: How much is this ED abuse case costing MC taxpayers???

FB Star: More Local HOA Abuse--click the title link for the full story--

Is your HOA protecting your property value or attempting to gain access to your home equity? Click the title link above for a local HOA abuse case impacting one First Colony homeowner:

"Peter Vogt said he doesn’t have a problem replacing the fence and had actually purchased the material to do it, but still questions the fact that some in First Colony are allowed to have half-fences, wrought iron fences or shadow box fences and are not threatened with fines for doing so." FB Star

See thousands of others online at: http://pages.prodigy.net/hoadata/

Visit FortBendWeb.com For More On Local News & Events...click this link for more...

Special Series On HOA Abuse Courtesy of Channel 2 Houston (The gilded cage)--click this link for more--

FOLLOW THE TITLE LINK ABOVE FOR MORE ON HOA ABUSE AND THE INDUSTRY GAMES.

UPDATE 6-18: http://www.click2houston.com/news/19779791/detail.html

http://www.click2houston.com/video/19785196/index.html

...ONE INTERESTING QUOTE BY AN INDUSTRY LOBBYIST (SANDY DENTON) CLAIMED IN THIS NEWS REPORT THAT FORECLOSURE IS "RARELY USED", BUT IN HARRIS COUNTY ALONE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE CASES HAVE BEEN FILED AND THE NUMBERS ARE INCREASING AS INDUSTRY INSIDERS CONTINUE TO POSITION THEMSELVES IN THIS GROWING AND LUCRATIVE MARKET WHERE HOMEOWNERS ARE THE TARGET AS ANNUAL DUES AND FEES CONTINUE TO RISE.

GET MORE INFO HERE: http://pages.prodigy.net/hoadata/

ALSO SEE: http://www.ahrc.com/new/index.php/src/tools/sub/yp/action/display/id/1863

Chronicle: Missouri City Officials Propose Drawing Nearly $1 Million From City Surplus Funds ("Fund Balance") For FY2010--click the title link for

"In the event of an emergency or unforeseen, necessary expenditures, the approved budget also includes a $950,000 fund for reserves and contingencies, which was drawn from the city’s fund balance of $7.9 million. That will leave a fund balance of about $7.2 million, which is 22.09 percent of the city’s budgeted revenue..." Houston Chronicle

Note: This is the second year in a row that the city manager has drawn down the "fund balance" post-QVGC purchase. The only question remaining is will officials push to raise the cities tax rate again for FY 2010. According to local reports Missouri City has the highest property taxes (due to NO homeowners exemptions for under 65) for a city its size in Fort Bend County as well as having some of the highest home foreclosure rates in the area.

Chron Update: City seeks out of court settlement with former owners of QVGC (how much has the city already spent on legal costs on this issue?).

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/fortbend/news/6484363.html

http://blogs.chron.com/fortbend/archives/2009/06/post_24.html#comments

FortBendWeb: Fort Bend County Officials Pull New Tax Building Off Agenda For Now!

Chronicle update:

Fort Bend Central Appraisal District to look at options to expand space after building plan runs into opposition

FBISD voted against proposal, while city of Katy voted for it

By ZEN T.C. ZHENG, HOUSTON CHRONICLE
June, 2009,

Fort Bend Central Appraisal District officials have agreed to explore other options to more building space for their operation after numerous taxing jurisdictions stonewalled their proposal to construct a $6.4 million building.

The district’s Chief Appraiser Glen Whitehead on June 9 retracted his request for Fort Bend County Commissioners Court to approve a district board resolution that aims to construct a 33,000-square-foot building with 330 parking spaces on 12 acres at the northwest corner of Bamore and Klauke roads in Rosenberg.

Since the county thinks there are different options out there, I thought it’s in our best interest to sit down with the county to discuss those options,” said Whitehead, referring to less expensive alternatives to create more building space. . . (follow the link below for the full story)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/fortbend/news/6468333.html

FBW comment: Keep an eye on your local boards councils and commissions as many of their elected officials are backed by special interests that indirectly benefit from your higher property valuation and increased taxes (several area mayors, council members, commissioner court members, the chief county judge, just to name a few). Many of these officials vote in favor of special taxing and abatement zones for companies that contribute to their campaigns, while indirectly passing the increased tax cost to the average taxpayer and homeowners in FBC. Currently, according to the U.S. Tax Foundation, FBC property taxes rank 1st in Texas and 11th nation-wide per median home value.

Missouri City Residents Urge City To Move Forward On "Other" Projects Being Neglected By Developer Backed Mayor Allen Owen...-click this title link-

Click the title link above for this full FB independent piece...

Lock Step FBISD Board Moves Forward With Duplicate GSTC Project At Near 30 Million Dollar Cost To The Taxpayers! --click this link for more--