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Tommy Philips of Sugar Land who recently announced his in- tention to run for Sugar Land City Council at-large position No. 1, has dropped out of the race. The incumbent Tom Abraham is term-limited. Himesh Gandhi, a Planning and Zoning Commission mem- ber, has announced his candidacy for the same seat. Philips said in a statement: “After months of preparation and campaigning, I was recently faced with a very difficult deci- sion regarding the upcoming City Council election. “Due to an unexpected career promotion I am no longer able to pursue the office of Sugar Land Phone: 281-980-6745 ww ww w.fbindependent.com .fbindependent.com P.O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012 VOL 5 No. 5 Seshadri Kumar Publisher & Editor 10701 Corporate Drive, #282, Stafford, TX 77477 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, TX 77487 www.fbindependent.com 281-980-6745 Fort Bend Independent, (USPS 025-572) is published every Wednesday (for a subscription rate of $20 per year) by Fort Bend Independent, LLC., 10701 Corporate Dr., #282, Stafford, Texas 77477. Periodicals Postage Paid at Stafford, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Fort Bend Independent, P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, Tx 77487. Official newspaper of Fort Bend County, Missouri City & Sugar Land Tax Return Preparation— Electronic Filing We are ready to help you with a broad range of tax needs including * Form 1040— Personal Tax Return * Business Returns —Corporate & Partnership * Tax Planning & Projections * Complimentary Electronic Filing for School Teachers, Peace Officers and Firefighters Sandersen Knox & Company, LLP 130 Industrial Blvd, Suite 130 Sugar Land, TX 77478 (281)242-3232 www.sktx.com; [email protected] The Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce kicked off the New Year with its annual Chairman’s Gala on Satur- day, January 28th at the Tex- as Safari Ranch. The Fort Bend Chamber celebrated its 40th anniver- sary and honored the leaders and volunteers of the cham- ber. Immediate Past Chairman Chris Breaux of Null-Lairson recognized the board mem- bers retiring in 2011 for their outstanding service and com- mitment. Special awards were pre- sented to three retiring lead- ers of chamber divisions. They included Mary Gayle Brindley – Member Services Vice Chair, Josie Morgan – Chamber Young Professional Vice Chair, and Toni Nel- son – Programs and Special Events Vice Chair. Breaux thanked Himesh Gandhi who served as the 2011 Legal Counsel. The 2011 Secretary/Treasurer Na- mita Asthana is retiring from her role as treasurer but con- tinues to serve on the board. Breaux also paid tribute to the Immediate Past Chair- man who is retiring from the board this year. Bridget Yeung has served the cham- ber with great distinction and was honored with a special award. In the last 40 years, the Fort Bend Chamber of Com- merce and Fort Bend County have been truly fortunate and blessed with devoted, energetic and generous vol- unteers. Each year, at this Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce 2012 Executive Committee: Chris Breaux, left, immediate past chairman, Keri Schmidt, President & CEO, Bruce Mercer, 2012 Chairman, Stewart Jacobson, incoming chairman and Carl Favre, Legal Counsel. Right, Chris Breaux, Glenn Smith, recipient of the Ursula Coates Award and Bruce Mercer. Photo by LARRY PULLEN. Fort Bend Chamber celebrates 40th anniversary By SESHADRI KUMAR Nearly 300 people joined the Health for Humanity-Yogathon on Saturday, Jan. 28 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m at the Sugar Land Town Square Plaza in front of the city hall. Unfettered by the cold breeze and aided by the glowing sun- shine, participants in all age groups from the greater Hous- ton area demonstrated “Sun Salutations,” involving a dozen simple body movements, with controlled breathing. Sugar Land joined the rest of the nation in bringing yoga exercises to the public square, involving people from all parts of the country regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, faith, or nationality to achieve personal goals of a healthy life style. The Sugar Land event be- came a part of the national campaign launched by Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (Organi- zation of Hindu Volunteers) to create awareness about yoga and its advantages in achiev- ing a healthy body, mind, and spirit. Sugar Land Mayor James A. Thompson issued a proclama- tion acknowledging the benefit of the Health for Humanity Yoga campaign. In the absence of Mayor Thompson, Sugar Land City Councilman Harish Jajoo read the proclamation and presented it to Ramesh Bhutada, vice- President of HSS, USA. Similar proclamations were issued by mayors from 22 dif- ferent cities across the USA which includes cities of Aus- tin, Pearland, Flower Mound and San Antonio in Texas, and by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Governor of Colorado John Hickenlooper also proclaimed Jan. 14 thru Jan. 29 as “Health for Humanity Week.” Sugar Land City Manager Alan Bogard , impressed by the enthusiasm of the participants, greeted them and wished the yoga session every success. The Surya Namaskar (Sun salutation) yoga routine inte- grates simple postures of well- balanced movements in dozen steps with an easy breathing technique to provide health benefits for everyone from beginners to yoga enthusiasts, said Dr. Bobby Kapur, M.D., Director of the Center for Glo- balization and Associate Chief Yoga grips Sugar Land Town Square Ramesh Bhutada, second from left, receives the Sugar Land Mayor’s proclamation from Councilman Harish Jajoo. At left is Alan Bogard, Sugar Land’s City Manager and at right is Manoj Rathi, coordinator of the Yogathon. By BARBARA FULENWIDER There was good news and bad news in Mayor Leonard Scarcel- la’s annual state of the city report that he delivered last Wednesday. It’s rare that any bad news he includes trumps good news but the fact that Texas Instruments (TI) will be gone from Stafford by the end of this year did. It wasn’t the first or last thing that the mayor announced in his speech but it will have a huge im- pact on the city that has suffered financially thanks to the national economic downturn. Scarcella’s good news was that in spite of “a near catastrophic national recession” last year Staf- ford made multi-million dollar infrastructure improvements, maintained services, retained adequate cash balances and com- pletely extinguished its general obligation debt and did all of that with operating funds. This year, the mayor said, the city has some “prominent chal- lenges” that include enhancing the economy; developing prima- ry corridors; continuing the zero property tax rate and commitment to fiscal prudence; strengthening emergency services; continuing to elevate Stafford Centre. Also, securing long-range water availability, strongly fight U.S. 90A double tracking, which will diminish Stafford’s quality of life; “truly trans- Council candidate drops out Stafford mayor upbeat despite TI closure See STAFFORD,Page 3 See YOGA, Page 3 Participants perform the yoga technique of Sun Salutation at the Sugar Land Town Square as a part of the Health for Humanity campaign. Photos by Bijay Dixit. City Council. My duties as a hus- band and father come first. The new assignment does not allow me the time to focus on winning an election at this time. I will continue to be involved in giving back to the City I call home but in other capacities. “In the future, when the time is right and the decision will not affect my career, I will revisit running for office.”
Transcript
Page 1: Fort Bend Independent

Tommy Philips of Sugar Land who recently announced his in-tention to run for Sugar Land City Council at-large position No. 1, has dropped out of the race.

The incumbent Tom Abraham is term-limited.

Himesh Gandhi, a Planning and Zoning Commission mem-ber, has announced his candidacy for the same seat.

Philips said in a statement: “After months of preparation and campaigning, I was recently faced with a very diffi cult deci-sion regarding the upcoming City Council election.

“Due to an unexpected career promotion I am no longer able to pursue the offi ce of Sugar Land

Phone: 281-980-6745wwwww.fbindependent.com.fbindependent.com

P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

VOL 5 No. 5

Seshadri KumarPublisher & Editor

10701 Corporate Drive, #282, Staff ord, TX 77477Mailing Address: P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, TX 77487

www.fbindependent.com281-980-6745

Fort Bend Independent, (USPS 025-572) is published every Wednesday (for a subscription rate of $20 per year) by Fort Bend Independent, LLC., 10701 Corporate Dr., #282, Stafford, Texas 77477. Periodicals Postage Paid at Stafford, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Fort Bend Independent, P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, Tx 77487.

Offi cial newspaper of Fort Bend County, Missouri City & Sugar Land

Tax Return Preparation— Electronic FilingWe are ready to help you with a broad range of tax needs including* Form 1040— Personal Tax Return* Business Returns —Corporate & Partnership* Tax Planning & Projections* Complimentary Electronic Filing for School Teachers, Peace Offi cers and Firefi ghters

Sandersen Knox & Company, LLP130 Industrial Blvd, Suite 130

Sugar Land, TX 77478(281)242-3232

www.sktx.com; [email protected]

The Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce kicked off the New Year with its annual Chairman’s Gala on Satur-day, January 28th at the Tex-as Safari Ranch.

The Fort Bend Chamber celebrated its 40th anniver-sary and honored the leaders and volunteers of the cham-ber.

Immediate Past Chairman Chris Breaux of Null-Lairson recognized the board mem-bers retiring in 2011 for their outstanding service and com-mitment.

Special awards were pre-sented to three retiring lead-ers of chamber divisions. They included Mary Gayle Brindley – Member Services Vice Chair, Josie Morgan – Chamber Young Professional Vice Chair, and Toni Nel-son – Programs and Special Events Vice Chair.

Breaux thanked Himesh Gandhi who served as the 2011 Legal Counsel. The 2011 Secretary/Treasurer Na-mita Asthana is retiring from her role as treasurer but con-tinues to serve on the board. Breaux also paid tribute to the Immediate Past Chair-man who is retiring from the board this year. Bridget Yeung has served the cham-ber with great distinction and was honored with a special award.

In the last 40 years, the Fort Bend Chamber of Com-merce and Fort Bend County have been truly fortunate and blessed with devoted, energetic and generous vol-unteers. Each year, at this

Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce 2012 Executive Committee: Chris Breaux, left, immediate past chairman, Keri Schmidt, President & CEO, Bruce Mercer, 2012 Chairman, Stewart Jacobson, incoming chairman and Carl Favre, Legal Counsel. Right, Chris Breaux, Glenn Smith, recipient of the Ursula Coates Award and Bruce Mercer. Photo by LARRY PULLEN.

Fort Bend Chamber celebrates 40th anniversary

By SESHADRI KUMARNearly 300 people joined the

Health for Humanity-Yogathon on Saturday, Jan. 28 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m at the Sugar Land Town Square Plaza in front of the city hall.

Unfettered by the cold breeze and aided by the glowing sun-shine, participants in all age groups from the greater Hous-ton area demonstrated “Sun Salutations,” involving a dozen simple body movements, with controlled breathing.

Sugar Land joined the rest of the nation in bringing yoga exercises to the public square, involving people from all parts of the country regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, faith, or nationality to achieve personal goals of a healthy life style.

The Sugar Land event be-

came a part of the national campaign launched by Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (Organi-zation of Hindu Volunteers) to create awareness about yoga and its advantages in achiev-ing a healthy body, mind, and spirit.

Sugar Land Mayor James A. Thompson issued a proclama-tion acknowledging the benefi t of the Health for Humanity Yoga campaign.

In the absence of Mayor Thompson, Sugar Land City Councilman Harish Jajoo read the proclamation and presented it to Ramesh Bhutada, vice-President of HSS, USA.

Similar proclamations were issued by mayors from 22 dif-ferent cities across the USA which includes cities of Aus-tin, Pearland, Flower Mound

and San Antonio in Texas, and by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Governor of Colorado John Hickenlooper also proclaimed Jan. 14 thru Jan. 29 as “Health for Humanity Week.”

Sugar Land City Manager Alan Bogard , impressed by the enthusiasm of the participants, greeted them and wished the yoga session every success.

The Surya Namaskar (Sun salutation) yoga routine inte-grates simple postures of well-balanced movements in dozen steps with an easy breathing technique to provide health benefi ts for everyone from beginners to yoga enthusiasts, said Dr. Bobby Kapur, M.D., Director of the Center for Glo-balization and Associate Chief

Yoga grips Sugar Land Town Square

Ramesh Bhutada, second from left, receives the Sugar Land Mayor’s proclamation from Councilman Harish Jajoo. At left is Alan Bogard, Sugar Land’s City Manager and at right is Manoj Rathi, coordinator of the Yogathon.

By BARBARA FULENWIDERThere was good news and bad

news in Mayor Leonard Scarcel-la’s annual state of the city report that he delivered last Wednesday.

It’s rare that any bad news he includes trumps good news but the fact that Texas Instruments (TI) will be gone from Stafford by the end of this year did.

It wasn’t the fi rst or last thing that the mayor announced in his speech but it will have a huge im-pact on the city that has suffered

fi nancially thanks to the national economic downturn.

Scarcella’s good news was that in spite of “a near catastrophic national recession” last year Staf-ford made multi-million dollar infrastructure improvements, maintained services, retained adequate cash balances and com-pletely extinguished its general obligation debt and did all of that with operating funds.

This year, the mayor said, the city has some “prominent chal-

lenges” that include enhancing the economy; developing prima-ry corridors; continuing the zero property tax rate and commitment to fi scal prudence; strengthening emergency services; continuing to elevate Stafford Centre.

Also, securing long-range water availability, strongly fi ght U.S. 90A double tracking, which will diminish Stafford’s quality of life; “truly trans-

Council candidate drops out

Stafford mayor upbeat despite TI closure

See STAFFORD,Page 3

See YOGA, Page 3

Participants perform the yoga technique of Sun Salutation at the Sugar Land Town Square as a part of the Health for Humanity campaign. Photos by Bijay Dixit.

City Council. My duties as a hus-band and father come fi rst. The new assignment does not allow me the time to focus on winning an election at this time. I will

continue to be involved in giving back to the City I call home but in other capacities.

“In the future, when the time is right and the decision will not affect my career, I will revisit running for offi ce.”

Page 2: Fort Bend Independent

Page 2 • INDEPENDENT • FEBRUARY 1, 2012

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Old Orchard 1,900 - 4,000 sq. ft. (281) 277-18002,600 - 4,400 sq. ft. (281) 265-4555

The Oaks of Rosenberg 2,100 - 3,300 sq. ft. (281) 633-9366

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HEART SMART SEMINARThursday, February 23, 2012 6-8 p.m.

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Page 3: Fort Bend Independent

NewsFEBRUARY 1, 2012 • INDEPENDENT • Page 3

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Friends of First Colony Branch Library, 2121 Austin Parkway at Grants Lake, Sugar Land, will hold its monthly bargain book sale Sat. Feb. 4, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hardbacks $1, paperbacks $.50 (some upcharged). Books, CDs, DVDs may be donated during regular li-brary hours or at the sale and are tax deductible. 281 416-0936.

Bargain Book Salefor Emergency Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. Kapur gave a brief introduc-tion to the yoga technique and its health benefi ts.

“As a yoga instructor, I highly recommend that those who are able, try to learn the sequence and discover for themselves the wealth of im-proved health from a regular practice,” says Roslyn Earle of Yoga For Peace, Inc., a non-profi t educational organization dedicated to promoting Yogic Principles, Philosophy and Practice.

Earle conducted the Sugar Land event, with fellow Yoga instructors 75-year-old Mal-likarjun B. Shintri and Daksha Shah. Children who learned yoga from HSS classes dem-onstrated the technique on stage for the participants to follow.

People need to understand the value of Sun Salutations and more people need to learn this fl exible technique, Earle said. The technique is very rel-evant to school children, who face the problem of obesity and Sun Salutations can help combat this problem, Earle said.

Manoj Rathi, a Sugar Land resident and coordinator of the Town Square Yogathon, said he was immensely pleased with the turn out as it exceed-ed expectations and HSS ac-complished its goal of spread-ing the awareness about yoga.

“When I attended the Health for Humanity Yogathon today I felt a sense of inner peace and hope. Seeing all the par-ticipants joining together with a positive unifi ed purpose was truly inspirational,” said Alan Simberg.

Ratanlal Jaju, 90, Yoga In-

structor, from Patanjali Yog Peeth, Haridwar, India, was among the participants.

Jaju said: “The program was highly impressive. It ap-pears that the people have not forgotten Surya Namaskar, Pranayam and Yogasan, the age old Indian culture of keep-ing body and mind healthy and active. The gallant festival of Yoga-Thon and the enormous gathering of yoga fans show that people have great attrac-tion towards Surya Namaskar, Pranayam and Exercise. Yoga is a simple Indian art of liv-ing and leading a healthy and peaceful life. The effort of this Organization in promoting and spreading Yoga awareness is highly commendable.”

Heather Smith from Hous-ton, who is training to become a yoga teacher, said yoga helped change the way one eats, lives and thinks, in a pos-itive manner.

Yoga is not a religious ritu-al, but it is a life style, Smith said to persuade those who suspected yoga as a tool of Hindu religious indoctrina-tion.

Neza Ramos of Houston, who has been practicing yoga for seven years, took to the ex-ercise like a fi sh to water and enjoyed the regimen.

Boy Scouts under the lead-ership of Scout Master Glenn Bear helped by guiding the cars to the parking area. They were stationed at various areas around the main street of Sug-ar Land Town Square.

Several organizations, which promoted Yoga, Patan-jali Yog Peeth of USA, VYA-SA, Isha Foundation, Texas Yoga Association, One Yoga, Art of Living and Natures Meditation/Yoga for Peace, participated. There were 16 booths distributing informa-tion on yoga. The Vegan Soci-

form” Stafford Municipal School District (SMSD) into a district of excellence; con-tinue infrastructure program, and begin process to redevel-op the TI site.

As for enhancing the econ-omy, commercial expansion has already begun with Ty-co’s announced $15-million expansion and the new facil-ity planned by OMB Valves. Both companies are oil fi eld valve manufacturers and their expansions in Stafford are ex-pected to add 70 more jobs to the workforce and may add many more.

The mayor noted that three council seats, two SMSD board seats and two Charter propositions may be on the May election ballot. The two propositions citizens may be asked to vote on would allow an elected offi cer to take the oath of offi ce and be imme-diately seated at the meeting, and the other appoints a four-member commission every fi ve years to review the city charter.

The mayor closed by say-ing that “in spite of fallout from the Texas Instruments closing, our economy seems to be regaining some of its former vigor. It can come none too soon. Stafford has a proud history and a very bright future, which will only be attained with the contin-ued persistence of doing it our way, irrespective of the non believers and critics, es-pecially those who are most fl ustered because we refuse to be like all the others.”

Karen Austin, Stafford fi -nance director, presented a Power Point that showed as of 2011 the city’s general fund fi scal year ending bal-ance at $8,118,000 compared to $7,388,000 in 2010 and $10,116,000 in 2007.

Total sales tax receipts for Stafford in 2011 were $13,524,146 compared to 20-10 receipts of $12,981,536, and the city’s largest total yet

at $14,422,677 in 2008. Major sales tax categories are retail trade, which make up 40.30 percent of the total sales taxes collected; wholesale trade, 15.13 percent; hotel and food services, 9.08 percent; manu-facturing, 7.96 percent, and others, 27.53 percent.

Excess sales tax receipts over debt service requirements were $3,180,000 in 2011 com-pared to $3,094,000 in 2010 and $3,225,000 in 2009. Fran-chise tax receipts also rose a bit in 2011 over 2010. They to-taled $1,721,000 last year com-pared to $1,677,000 in 2010 and $1,551,000 in 2009.

Currently Stafford has an $18,460,799 cash balance and the Staffod EDC, $6,511,129 for a total of $24,971,928. The city’s total outstanding general obligation debt is $635,000 with the city being debt free in 2014.

Police Chief Bonny Krahn also provided a Power Point presentation, which showed annual fi gures for nationally tracked crimes were down con-siderably in Stafford – from 950 in 2010 to 843 in 2011. Homicides dropped from two in 2010 to one in 2011; sexual assaults went from six in 2010 to two last year and aggravat-ed assaults dropped by fi ve -- from 41 in 2010 to 36 in 2011.

The only increase in the vio-lent crimes category was rob-bery with 33 in 2010 and 34 in 2011.

Property crimes include bur-glary, theft and vehicle theft and two of the three dropped last year. Burglaries went from 163 in 2010 to 161 last year while thefts showed the largest decrease with 643 in 2010 and 537 in 2011. Vehicle thefts in-creased by 10 last year with 62 in 2010 and 72 in 2011.

Stafford PD clearance rate for the total 843 nationally tracked crimes that occurred last year was 203 or 24 percent compared to a state average clearance rate of 18 percent.

Calls for police service also dropped last year when they totaled 14,862 compared to 15,471 in 2010. Misdemeanor crime investigations dropped from 2,522 in 2010 to 2,403 in 2011; non-criminal investiga-tions totaled 10,427 in 2010 and 9,977 in 2011; accident in-vestigations came in at 510 in 2010 and 525 this past year and other agency assists were 1,101 in 2010 and 1,092 in 2011.

Stafford police made 18,055 traffi c contacts in 2010 and 15,967 in 2011. They also made 199 felony arrests in 2010 and 186 last year and made a total of 1,352 misdemeanor arrests in 2010 and 1,198 in 2011.

StaffordFrom Page 1

Boy Scouts under the leadership of Scout Master Glenn Bear helped with traffi c control for the Yogathon. The HSS team with the scouts included Manoj Rathi, left, Roslyn Earle, rear, Vijay Pallod, rear right and Raman Dhar, right.

YogaFrom Page 1

ety of PEACE, which promotes vegetarian diet for healthy liv-ing, had a booth and distributed informational literature.

HSS initiated this health awareness project in 2006. Since its inception, various Yoga Centers, community or-ganizations, schools and col-leges regardless, of individual faiths and beliefs, have par-ticipated all across the United States.

This fi fteen day Yogathon that began on January 14, 2012 ended on January 29, 2012. Participants continued the sun salutation yoga individually at home or collectively at com-munity centers or other public gathering places all across the United States. For 2012, SNY has set a goal of one million Surya Namaskar through the contribution of at least 12,000 individuals.

the Chairman has the honor of recognizing someone who has been a special friend, resource and asset to the Chamber. The award, formerly the “Chairman’s Award” was established many years ago and past recipients have represented outstanding service to the Fort Bend Cham-ber of Commerce. This award is especially meaningful, sub-sequent to its being re-named in honor of Ursula Coates, who passed away in 2008. She be-lieved so strongly for many years in the value of membership, and was always an ardent and vis-ible supporter of the Fort Bend

Chamber.Following that level of ex-

cellence, Glenn Smith of The Growth Coach is this year’s re-cipient of the “Ursula Coates Chairman’s Award.” He has been an invaluable friend and resource to the Fort Bend Cham-ber. Smith is a community lead-er with 25 years of training and coaching business profession-als. He is a coach, motivational speaker, and avid blogger.

Following the presentation of the Ursula Coates Award, guests were escorted to the Vegas style Copa Club for great live music from Sound Advice, dancing, gaming, and fl aming crepes. In-coming Chairman Bruce Mercer belted out a few tunes to the de-light of the audience.

ChamberFrom Page 1

Page 4: Fort Bend Independent

Infl ation is a common subject on talk radio and gold commer-cials. Many are concerned that current debt levels, combined with massive government spend-ing, will lead to higher infl ation and a corresponding decrease in the standard of living for Ameri-cans. Below is a summary of infl ation to help you understand how it affects the economy and you directly.

Defi nitionInvestopedia.com defi nes in-

fl ation as “the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services is rising, and, sub-sequently, purchasing power is falling.” For practical purposes, infl ation means the things you buy will cost more in the future than they do today.

The change in the cost of stamps demonstrates the impact of infl ation. In 1982, a stamp cost 20 cents. Today, it costs 45 cents, or a 120 percent increase in price through the last 30 years. Over the same period, the price of a gallon of milk rose from $2.24 to $3.50, a 56 percent increase. In both cases, the value of your dollar fell in relation to milk and stamps, which means you had to use more dollars to buy those goods. This is infl ation.

CausesMany things can cause prices

to rise. Demand infl ation comes when consumers purchase goods that are limited in availability. The increased price is a signal to producers to make more, thereby increasing supply and moderat-ing the price increases. Think of a new hot electronic gadget: the more people want it, the higher the price will rise.

Another type of infl ation is based on the supply of dollars in an economy. If the supply of dollars is increased, the value of existing dollars in the economy is diluted. This causes the price of goods and services to rise to offset the dilution impact of in-creased dollars in circulation.

Measures and StatisticsThere are many infl ation mea-

sures. The most commonly cited by the media and government is the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is published monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The CPI is the measure of prices

of more than 200 goods and ser-vices in metropolitan areas. It does not include prices in rural areas. The Social Security Ad-ministration uses the CPI to de-termine benefi t increases to its eligible recipients.

The core CPI includes all the items in CPI minus food and en-ergy. Food and energy prices can fl uctuate signifi cantly, which may distort actual trends in broad pric-es. The Federal Reserve follows the core CPI closely in determin-ing monetary policy.

Ultimately, the only rate of in-fl ation that matters is your own. Look at the goods you purchase or services you use on a regu-lar basis, such as movie tickets, milk, electricity or rent, and see how their prices have changed over time.

Infl ation predictions are noto-riously diffi cult; thus, you should work with your fi nancial advisor to protect your portfolio no mat-ter what the future infl ation rate turns out to be.

WJ Interests is a fee-only fi -nancial planning and investment management fi rm in Sugar Land. For more information, please contact us at [email protected] or 281-634-9400.

Seshadri KumarPublisher & Editor

Email: [email protected]

www.fbindependent.com

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten

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Opinion

Scanlan

Musings: More novel events

The View from Sugar Land

By JANICE SCANLANA couple of weeks ago

my column was about novel events happening during this Fort Bend winter bird sea-son. This has really been a fun couple of weeks hearing about your novel events and learning how serious birders approach them. Texas is con-stantly competing with Cali-fornia for the most species of birds so birds not only draw local attention, but also have become a tourist opportu-nity—kind of like seeing the wildfl owers in the spring Hill Country.

We’re blessed in Fort Bend to be benefi ciary of winter visitors as well as spring and fall migrants. This year we’ve been getting more new winter visitors and are having more species of hummingbirds actually winter here. Cor-nell’s Project Feeder Watch confi rms this . . . more and more hummingbirds are be-coming “winter Texans” and actually winter all along the southeast US. Those that once chose New Mexico, Arizona and West Texas may have come this way due to severe drought.

Many of the hummingbird winter vagrants look like one another . . . so it’s easy to mis-takenly indentify them. So Birder Margaret Sloan called the Hummingbird bander. She actually had fi ve species of Hummingbirds at one feeder. She’s always has some Ru-fous and Ruby-throated win-ter in her garden. This year in

addition to them, she had Al-len’s, Broad-tailed and Black-chinned Hummingbirds at the same feeder.

Now I could get into all the differences and that male Al-len’s resemble male Rufous or female Ruby throated re-semble female Allen’s and Ru-fous. Then, male Broad-tailed resemble male Ruby-throats. If you’re confused, so are my notes. I now understand what keeps the Hummingbird band-er busy!

The big story was the sight-ing of a Flamingo at the num-ber-four tee box on the El Do-rado course in Quail Valley in late December. Tony Estus thought his wife had mistaken-ly identifi ed a Roseate Spoon-bill for a Flamingo, but then the Flamingo fl ew over him at a closer distance than his wife’s sighting. While their coloring is the same, the bills are very different, the Roseate fl y with their necks straight while the longer-legged Flamingos fl y with a curved neck like herons and egrets.

I thought I saw a Flamingo in MacNaughton Park near Thunderbird Lake in late De-cember, but it fl ew toward the El Dorado Golf Course before I could get a closer look and was fl ying with its back to me so I could not confi rm the neck curved or was straight in fl ight. I’m having a cataract removed in February, so my distance vi-sion isn’t too good so I didn’t bother Margaret with it.

Seems she would have liked me to bother her. The whole story of the serious birding community and Flamingoes is quite a saga of tracking two birds that are making their way along the Gulf Coast. One is an escapee from a zoo in Wichita, Kansas—a Greater Flamingo. The other is an American Fla-mingo that was banded as a young bird in Honduras. All Flamingoes in the US are considered escapees and even banded are very hard to track as they leave an area quickly. Late December is old news the third week of January.

As our tale shows, when they are seen by novice birders, we don’t think about what to do. Well, write to me at [email protected] or Google Birds of Fort Bend to contact our website. If Margaret is in town, she’ll do her best to pho-tograph the bird, especially a Flamingo.

Page 4 • INDEPENDENT • FEBRUARY 1, 2012

Letter

Jones

By RUSSELL JONESOn Friday Sugar Land’s may-

or Jimmy Thompson delivered his fourth state of the city pro-gram to the largest crowd ever assembled at the Sugar Land Marriott Hotel. Representatives of many organizations involved with the city gathered to review the successes of 2011 and plans for 2012.

Special guests were represen-tatives of Sugar Land’s various artistic and cultural groups, rang-ing from the Sugar Land Skee-ters to the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation. Mayors of nearby cities came to learn what makes a great city. County commis-sioners came to pick up tips on how to keep up.

No doubt 2011 was a positive year for the city. Once again, Sugar Land was recognized for its efforts in public safety, in-cluding downward trends in violent and property crimes. De-spite the continuing downturn of the national economy, the city has fared relatively well, with home sales high and even more expected in the future. Telfair and Riverstone continue to lead the way as two of the most suc-cessful communities in the na-tion.

Using funds dedicated to economic development, the city began a new tourism offi ce, in-tended to encourage visitors to experience the new baseball park, the highly successful Hous-ton Museum of Natural Science, excellent hotels and fi ne restau-rants located in Sugar Land.

The city’s seventh fi re station opened during the year. Located in Telfair and serving both that community and nearby New Territory, the station will sig-nifi cantly improve emergency response times to both of those areas. A new county library was completed on the grounds of

the University of Houston and is open to the public. Additionally, the city’s fi rst recreation center opened, with usage exceeding ex-pectations.

Other capital projects begun last year include Constellation Field. Opening in April, it will be the premier minor league stadium in the country. With 7500 seats, the new ballpark will be family friendly and easily accessed, al-lowing for frequent visits. It will have a playground in the outfi eld, and children in sports uniforms will be admitted free.

Of particular success in 2011 was the city’s legislative program. The state’s oldest prison unit is being closed and sold to the city, which will use the land in a pub-lic/private partnership to develop a new business park. In another key piece of legislation, the city overcame opposition of Galves-ton County to add representa-tives from Fort Bend and Brazoria Counties to the Board of of the Gulf Coast Water Authority.

The city modernized its solid waste collection program, reduc-ing its cost to residents. One side benefi t has been the substantial in-crease in material set aside for re-cycling from 340 tons per month to 840 tons in the fi rst month of the

new program.The pride of its citizens showed

in 2011, as more than 700 volun-teers contributed 24,000 hours of time in providing services of vari-ous kinds to the city.

In 2011, the city adopted a long-term mobility plan follow-ing input from both citizens and experts. In 2012, the city’s com-prehensive plan will be revised, incorporating input from citizens and offi cials alike.

Signifi cant improvements to the city’s roadways were begun in 2011 and will open in 2012. Uni-versity Blvd. will connect Com-monwealth Blvd. to Riverstone. From there, the developer of Riv-erstone will complete the project to Hwy. 6, with the result that westbound traffi c from Missouri City and Sienna Plantation can reach US 59 by a southern route to avoid the more congested portion of Hwy. 6.

Dulles Avenue will soon open to Lexington. For years, little more than a cow path leading to the school campus, and improved in the 1970s by a county project with few resources other than ex-cess asphalt, Dulles will fi nally become the well-planned thor-oughfare it should have been 35 years ago.

The city’s new surface water plant, mandated by the state and costing almost $100,000,000, in-cluding new transmission lines and upgrades to the city’s exist-ing ground water treatment plants, will approach completion in 2012. It is expected to fi nish under bud-get and ahead of schedule.

Congratulations to the city council and particularly the city’s staff for another great year!

Jones served as a member of the Sugar Land City Council from 2003 through June, 2011. He owns a law fi rm and a title in-surance company in Sugar Land.

The state of Sugar Land

FINANCE 101: Infl ation

Bill & Jared Jameson

By BASIL HOUSEWRIGHTFort Bend County has hun-

dreds of miles of fl ood control levees consisting of earthen em-bankments, designed and con-structed in accordance with sound engineering practices to contain, control, or divert the fl ow of wa-ter so as to provide protection from temporary fl ooding. The levees have been designed to protect urban residential areas, which are located in high-risk fl ood zones. Some of these areas are Greatwood, Pecan Grove, New Territory, Sienna Plantation, Colony Lakes, Riverpark and many more. The Brazos River and drainage leading to it are the primary source of potential fl ood-ing in these areas. The need to create these levees around these subdivisions is to allow residen-tial development with affordable insurance available to the home-owners and business owners. However, no levee provides full protection from fl ooding.

All levees are designed to pro-vide a specifi c level of protection, and can be overtopped in larger fl ood events. Levees require reg-ular maintenance to retain their level of protection. The fact is, le-vees can and do decay over time, and maintenance can become a serious challenge. When levees do fail, or are overtopped, they fail catastrophically and the fl ood damage may be more signifi cant than if the levee was not there. For these reasons, the thousands of Fort Bend County residents affected by levees need to un-derstand the fl ood risks they face and take steps to address them by considering purchasing fl ood in-surance.

The Federal Emergency Man-agement Agency (FEMA) man-

ages the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the cornerstone of the Nation’s strategy for pre-paring communities for fl ood disasters. The NFIP was created to reduce fl ood damages by iden-tifying fl ood risks, encouraging sound community fl oodplain management practices, and pro-viding fl ood insurance.

FEMA is updating the Na-tion’s fl ood hazard data and maps through an effort called Flood Map Modernization. Accurately identifying the fl ood risk behind levees is an important element of Flood Map Modernization. Levees are present in over one quarter of the counties being re-mapped.

Flood hazard maps, also known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps, or FIRM’s show the high-risk areas where there is a 1% chance of fl ooding in any given year. They also indicate the low-to-moderate risk areas with a less than l% annual chance of fl ood-ing. This does not mean it is not going to fl ood rather it means it is a lower probability.

Assessing fl ood risk for ar-eas behind levees is complex. Among the many factors the as-sessment must take into account are the actual elevations that

an l% annual chance fl ood will reach and the ability of the le-vee to contain such fl oodwaters. FEMA has criteria for recogniz-ing levees as protecting against the l% annual chance of fl ooding. The levee owner is responsible for providing documentation to show that the levee meets these criteria. FEMA does not examine structures or systems to deter-mine how they will perform in a fl ood event.

If a levee meets FEMA cri-teria, the fl ood hazard map will show the area behind the levee as a moderate risk zone. If the levee does not meet FEMA criteria, the fl ood hazard map will show the area as a high-risk area, or Spe-cial Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). The SFHA is the area subject to probability of the 1% annual chance of fl ooding and all resi-dents located in this area would be subject to mandatory purchase of fl ood insurance if their proper-ty were fi nanced. There is always the potential of a levee previously meeting FEMA criteria but with new criteria limits set by FEMA the levee is no longer in compli-ance. This would mean all resi-dents located in this area would be subject to mandatory purchase of fl ood insurance if their proper-ty were fi nanced. Spring is upon us and brings torrential down-pours so it is best to know your particular situation. Talk to a lo-cal Insurance Agent for advice.

Basil Housewright is manager of Texans Insurance & Financial Group, Inc a local Independent Insurance Agency operating in Sugar Land since 1991. He can be reached at (281) 277-7800, Fax (281) 277-7801, E-Mail – [email protected]. Visit www.texansinsure.com.

Housewright

Flood control levees: Protection with risk

To the Editor:This is regarding the story

on Texas straw poll that ran in your Jan. 25 edition, which you ended with the phrase “So, now you know the whole story of two headlines”; I beg to differ.

In this second article, you included 1) a not so subtle and unsubstantiated charge of vote buying against both Pete Olson and Sonal Bhuchar, and 2) allowed that charge by an unidentifi ed source.

Based on this, I would be led to view your newspaper, not as serious objective jour-nalism, but as yet one more Fort Bend blog that spews out hit pieces where the anony-mous author provides not one shred of proof for their accu-sations. We clearly have way too much of that already.

Finally, I notice that your mast head proclaims that you provide “fair & balanced” information. You should try harder to live up to that claim.Steve PorterSugar Land

Page 5: Fort Bend Independent

FEBRUARY 1 , 2012 • INDEPENDENT • Page 5

Opinion

NOTICE TO PROPOSERS

Four (4) sealed proposals, one (1) original and three (3) copies and one (1) electronic media copy, addressed to the City of Sugar Land, Texas, will be received until 11:00 o’clock a.m., Thursday, February 9, 2012, for:

STADIUM SIGNAGE

Sealed bids shall be appropriately marked as follows:

RFP NO. 2012-19 STADIUM SIGNAGE BIDDER’S NAME, ADDRESS, AND DUE DATE.

Bidder shall sign and date the bid. Bids that are not signed and dated will be rejected.

Signed and sealed proposals shall be delivered to the Offi ce of the City Secretary, on or before 11:00 o’clock a.m., Thursday, February 9, 2012, City of Sugar Land, City Hall, Suite 122, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479. All proposals received after the appointed time shall be returned to bidder unopened. Notice of the award of contract shall be given by the City within ninety (90) days following the date for the opening of bids.

The City reserves the right to revise or amend the specifi cations prior to the date set for opening of proposals. Such revisions or amendments, if any, will be announced by addenda or addendum to the specifi cations. Copies of such addenda so issued will be furnished to all prospective bidders and may or may not aff ect the bid opening date.

The City of Sugar Land reserves the right to reject any and all proposal and to waive informalities in bids received. The award will be made to the lowest responsible bidder based on the evaluation criteria provided in the RFP.

Proposal documents may be secured from City of Sugar Land, Offi ce of the City Secretary, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Suite 122, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479, or by registering at https://www.bidsync.com. Registration is free. All bid documents, amendments and other information relating to the bid will be posted at this site.

Questions regarding the request for proposal must be received by 3:00 p.m., Thursday, February 2, 2012. Please contact Jason Poscovsky, Contract Administrator at telephone number (281) 275-2302 or email [email protected].

Glenda Gundermann, TRMC, CMC, AAECity Secretary

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

TERMINAL BUILDING PARKING LOT EXPANSION

Sugar Land seeks bids, in triplicate, for The City of furnishing all labor, material, and equipment, and performing all work required for the following project in the City:

CIP PROJECT NAME: Terminal Building Parking Lot Expansion CIP PROJECT NUMBER: AP1204 LOCATION OF WORK: Sugar Land Regional Airport

Plans, specifi cations, and bidding documents may be obtained at the following offi ce and location with payment of $50.00:

KSA Engineers, Inc.816 Park Two Drive

Sugar Land, TX 77478(281) 494-3252

Fax: (281) 494 - 3234

Sealed bids, one (1) original and two (2) copies, shall be delivered to the City of Sugar Land; Offi ce of the City Secretary, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Suite 122, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479, on or before 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 23, 2012, at which time bids will be publicly opened and read. Bids received after the opening date and time will not be considered.

A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting for all interested parties will be held 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 8, 2012, Sugar Land Regional Airport, 12888-B Highway 6 South, Sugar Land, TX 77498.

The City Council will award the bid to the lowest responsible bidder that complies with all requirements of the Request for Bids. The City of Sugar Land will give notice of the contract award within sixty (60) calendar days after the bid opening date and time.

Glenda Gundermann, TRMC, CMC, AAECity Secretary

NOTICE TO PROPOSERS Six (6) sealed proposals, one (1) original and fi ve (5) copies, addressed to the City of Sugar Land, Texas, will be received until 2:00 o’clock p.m., Thursday, February 16, 2012, for:

DEVELOPMENT OF A CULTURAL ARTS STRATEGIC PLAN AND IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

Sealed bids shall be appropriately marked as follows:

RFP NO. 2012-20 DEVELOPMENT OF A CULTURAL ARTS STRATEGIC PLAN

AND IMPLEMENTATION GUIDEBIDDER’S NAME, ADDRESS, AND DUE DATE.

Respondent shall sign and date the proposal. Proposals that are not signed and dated will be rejected.

Signed and sealed proposals (one original and 5 copies) shall be delivered to the City Secretary Offi ce, on or before 2:00 o’clock p.m., Thursday, February 16, 2012, City of Sugar Land, City Hall, Suite 122, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479. All proposals received after the appointed time shall be returned to bidder unopened. Notice of the award of contract shall be given by the City within ninety (90) days following the date for the opening of bids.

The City reserves the right to revise or amend the specifi cations prior to the date set for opening of proposals. Such revisions or amendments, if any, will be announced by addenda or addendum to the specifi cations. Copies of such addenda so issued will be furnished to all prospective bidders and may or may not aff ect the bid opening date.

The City of Sugar Land reserves the right to reject any and all proposal and to waive informalities in bids received. The award will be made to the lowest responsible bidder based on the evaluation criteria provided in the RFP.

Proposal documents may be secured from City of Sugar Land City Secretary Offi ce, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Suite 122, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479, or by registering at https://www.bidsync.com. Registration is free. All bid documents, amendments and other information relating to the bid will be posted at this site.

Questions regarding the request for proposal must be received by 3:00 p.m., Thursday, February 9, 2012. Please contact Jason Poscovsky, Contract Administrator at telephone number (281) 275-2302 or email [email protected] .

Glenda Gundermann, TRMC, CMC, AAECity Secretary

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS Sealed submittals (1) one original and (5) fi ve copies, addressed to the City Secretary Offi ce of the City of Sugar Land, Texas, will be received until 2:00 o’clock p.m., Thursday, February 9, 2012 for:

TELFAIR PARK DEVELOPMENT

Submissions shall be appropriately marked in the upper left hand corner as follows:

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS 2012-18 TELFAIR PARK DEVELOPMENT

Signed and sealed submittals shall be delivered to the Offi ce of the City Secretary, on or before 2:00 o’clock p.m., Thursday, February 9, 2012, City of Sugar Land, City Hall, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479. All submissions received after the appointed time shall be returned to bidder unopened. Notice of the award of contract shall be given by the City within one hundred and twenty (120) days following the date for the opening of submittals.

The City reserves the right to revise or amend the specifi cations prior to the date set for opening of the submittals. Such revisions or amendments, if any, will be announced by addenda or addendum to the specifi cations. Copies of such addenda so issued will be furnished to all prospective submitters and may or may not aff ect the submission opening date.

The City of Sugar Land reserves the right to reject any and all submissions and to waive informalities in submittals received. The award will be made based on a panel evaluation of submittals received.

RFQ documents may be secured from City of Sugar Land; Offi ce of the City Secretary, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Suite 122, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479, or by registering at https://www.bidsync.com . Registration is free. All documents, amendments and other information relating to the submittal will be posted at this site.

Questions regarding the request for qualifi cation must be received by 2:00 p.m., Thursday, February 2, 2012. Please contact Jason Poscovsky, Contract Administrator, at telephone number (281) 275-2302 or via email at [email protected].

Glenda Gundermann, TRMC, CMC, AAECity Secretary

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING2012 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE

THE CITY OF SUGAR LAND PROPOSES TO UPDATE THE CITY OF SUGAR LAND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CHAPTERS 1 THROUGH 5 BASED ON THE CITY VISION 2025 AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES, 2010 CENSUS, AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY DATA, AND EXPANDED CONDITIONS INFORMATION.

PURPOSE: ONE (1) PUBLIC HEARING SHALL BE HELD AT WHICH ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE 2012 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE SHALL BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.

WHERE: CITY OF SUGAR LAND CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER 2700 TOWN CENTER BOULEVARD NORTH

WHEN: PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION 6:30 P.M., FEBRUARY 23, 2012

DETAILS OF THE PROPOSED 2012 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE MAY BE OBTAINED ONLINE AT WWW.SUGARLANDTX.GOV/PLAN OR BY CONTACTING THE CITY OF SUGAR LAND PLANNING OFFICE AT (281) 275-2218 OR BY EMAIL AT [email protected]. THE PLANNING OFFICE IS OPEN MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 8:00 O’CLOCK A.M. TO 5:00 O’CLOCK P.M., AND IS LOCATED IN CITY HALL, 2700 TOWN CENTER BOULEVARD NORTH, SUGAR LAND, TEXAS. INTERESTED PERSONS MAY CONTACT THE CITY OF SUGAR LAND PLANNING OFFICE TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO REVIEW ADDITIONAL DETAILS IN PERSON.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

HIGHWAY 6 MEDIAN ENHANCEMENTS

The City of Sugar Land seeks bids, in triplicate, for furnishing all labor, material, and equipment, and performing all work required for the following project in the City:

CIP PROJECT NAME: Highway 6 Median Enhancements CIP PROJECT NUMBER: PK1203 LOCATION OF WORK: Highway 6, between Settlers Way Boulevard and Brooks Street.

Plans, specifi cations, and bidding documents may be obtained from the following offi ce and location with payment of $60.00 (non-refundable):

Kudela & Weinheimer Landscape Architects7155 Old Katy Road, Suite 270

Houston, TX 77024713-869-6987

Questions regarding the request for qualifi cation must be received by 5:00 p.m., Friday, February 10, 2012. Please contact Kudela & Weinheimer, telephone number (713) 869-6987.

Sealed bids in triplicate, one (1) original and two (2) copies, shall be delivered to the City of Sugar Land, Offi ce of the City Secretary, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Suite 122, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479, on or before 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 16, 2012, at which time bids will be publicly opened and read. Bids received after the opening date and time will not be considered.

A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting for all interested parties will be held 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 8, 2012, City of Sugar Land City Hall, Brazos Room Suite 154, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Sugar Land, TX 77479.

The City Council will award the bid to the lowest responsible bidder that complies with all requirements of the Request for Bids. The City of Sugar Land will give notice of the contract award within sixty (60) calendar days after the bid opening date and time.

Glenda Gundermann, TRMC, CMC, AAECity Secretary

LEGAL NOTICE

The City of Missouri City, Texas is now issuing an Invitation for Bids for the following:

IFB #132-12 Construction of Lighting Improvements to Community Center/Pro Shop Parking Lot

Scope: The project consists of the necessary labor, materials, equipment, supervision and plan to construct the project.

The project is located at 2880 La Quinta in Missouri City. The work includes, but is not limited to, construction of electrical underground and installation of lighting poles and fi xtures at the parking lot to be constructed adjacent to the new Community Center and Pro Shop at the Quail Valley Golf Course. This is a turnkey project bid as a lump sum for project work performed in phases during the course of the parking lot construction and paving. The bid shall include the days to completion.

A mandatory pre bid meeting will be held at 10 AM, Thursday, February 9th, 2012 at the Quail Valley Pro Shop Lobby located at 2880 La Quinta in Missouri City.

Bids will be accepted until 2 PM local time February 20, 2012 and then publicly opened.

The bid packages may be obtained beginning February 1st from Missouri City Purchasing Offi ce at (281) 403-8626 or by email [email protected] . There is no charge for the bid package.

Bids must be sealed, marked on the outside of the delivery envelope with the IFB name and number as listed above, and the date of opening. Bids must be delivered to the attention of the Sealed Bid Box, City of Missouri City Purchasing Offi ce, 1522 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, Texas, 77489, prior to the acceptance deadline. Bids marked improperly and therefore misdirected may be disqualifi ed. Bids are opened in public in the City Hall Council Chambers.

Charles Oberrender, CPPBPurchasing ManagerCity of Missouri City, Texas

LEGAL NOTICE

The City of Missouri City, Texas is now issuing an Invitation for Bids for the following:

IFB #081-11A Term Contract for Water Treatment Chemicals

The City of Missouri City is soliciting bids for a term contract for the supply of certain chemicals used by the Missouri City Surface Water Treatment Plant. All prices bid are to be FOB Missouri City. All costs associated shall be included in the prices bid on the enclosed bid sheet. The City will not pay any other invoiced fees that are not specifi ed by the contractor on the enclosed bid sheet. The City may award to one or more bidders. Vendors are reminded to submit a bid that meets all specifi cations contained herein.

Bids will be accepted until 2:00 p.m. local time February 20, 2012 and then opened.

The bid packages may be obtained beginning February 1st by requesting the document from the Purchasing Offi ce at (281) 403-8626 or email [email protected]

Bids must be sealed, marked on the outside of the delivery envelope with the IFB name and number as listed above, and the date of opening. Bids must be delivered to the attention of the Sealed Bid Box, City of Missouri City Purchasing Offi ce, 1522 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, Texas, 77489, prior to the acceptance deadline. Bids marked improperly and therefore misdirected may be disqualifi ed. Bids are opened in public in the City Hall Council Chambers.

Charles Oberrender, CPPBPurchasing ManagerCity of Missouri City, Texas

By SESHADRI KUMARA debate is raging in Mis-

souri City over the Quail Val-ley Golf Course. Ever since the city acquired the golf course, a section of the citizens has been critical of the decision, saying it is a drain on city tax payers.

The latest round of controver-sy is about the accounting meth-od which minimized the loss in-curred by the golf course as the city paid for telephone and util-ity bills of the golf course from the general fund.

Resident Howard Moline writes: I recently confi rmed with Wes Vela, the City of Mis-souri City fi nancial offi cer that $316,871 of telephone and util-ity expense for the years ending June 30, 2010 and 2011 were paid for by the City instead of being properly allocated to the Quail Valley Golf Course (QVGC). Incorporating these new expenses, the Golf Course actually suffered a total loss of ($484,424.29) instead of a re-ported loss of ($165,553.29) for the two years (2010 and 2011), a pretty dramatic difference.

Another resident, Bill Mc-Grady says: The Quail Valley Golf Course is not a park, it clearly is a business. It has its own profi t/loss balance sheet which tracks revenue and ex-penses. Further proof that it is not a park is on the City’s web-site where 19 parks are listed, not 22, and the Golf Course is not one of the 19 parks. Finally, if this were indeed a Park then why doesn’t this fall under the Missouri City Parks Board. In-stead, the Golf Course has its own board called the LGC? We all supported the bond issue and yes the Quail Valley Golf course management has done a great job trying to keep it afl oat but many residents are concerned about how this business has been operating in the red since it

opened. Parks do attract people and yes the QV Golf Course is an amenity but it is also a busi-ness and it is time to accept that and fi gure out a way to stop the bleeding.

Another section of residents, who support the city’s acquisi-tion of the golf course see it as an amenity like the other city parks.

On March 3, 2008, following positive input from a 100-person citizen committee, City Council authorized eminent domain pro-ceedings for the then-Quail Val-ley Country Club property.

By a 72 percent vote, citizens citywide approved a $17.5 mil-lion bond referendum in No-vember 2008, for use in property acquisition and redevelopment.

After making signifi cant im-provements to the course since it was acquired, the city is looking forward to the new Community Center & Golf Pro Shop, which is now under construction.

Critics may continue to watch the situation, but can’t blame the golf course for the other ills of the city or ignore many positive developments taking place else-where in the city. The glass is half-full or half-empty. Depends on how you look at it.

The city’s response:As part of Missouri City’s

fi nancial process, each year an independent auditor reviews all books and records and our inter-nal controls. No exceptions to procedures have been noted.

Through sound leadership and fi scal policies, we have con-tinuously managed a downward trend in operational losses in the three years since we assumed control of the Quail Valley Golf Course property through eminent domain. In FY 2009, we saw a $442,835 loss; in FY 2010, that fi gure dropped to $364,898 and in FY 2011, losses

Quail Valley Golf Course: Boon or bane?were down to $106,512. We are pleased with this progress and each year come closer to break-ing even. This spring, we are looking forward to even more success when our new Commu-nity Center and Golf Pro Shop opens, offering another option for Fort Bend County residents and businesses to host their spe-cial occasions.

The largest operational loss in FY09 can be attributed to a num-ber of factors: The annual City Council-approved General Fund Budget did not refl ect expenses for the property; acquisition was made in late June 2008, after budget approval for FY09; only one of the two courses, La Quin-ta, was open at the time limit-ing business and play and the El Dorado Course required signifi -

cant improvements, which took a little over one year; less than two months after we acquired the property, Hurricane Ike hit our community and destroyed the banquet facility making it less marketable and limiting our ability to book and host large tournaments and special events that would have immediately in-creased revenues

Additionally, utilities for all City facilities are in one line item—Building Utilities—in the General Fund Budget. Due to those expenditures being more integrated to the City’s elec-tric provider and telephone ac-counts, we decided to account for those expenses through our Building Maintenance Inter-nal Service Fund in 2010 and 2011. We are preparing the 2013 budget with these expenditures within the LGC budget.

Page 6: Fort Bend Independent

Legal Notices

Page 6 • INDEPENDENT • FEBRUARY 1, 2012

CONSTABLE’SNOTICE OF SALE

Notice is hereby given, that by virtue of a certain Order of Sale issued by the clerk of the 434th District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas on November 9th, 2011 in cause numbered 11DCV189810 styled Summerfi eld Estates Homeowners Assoc vs. Flavia L. Thomas, in which a judgment was rendered on September 30th, 2011 in favor of Summerfi eld Estates Homeowners Assoc for the sum of Nine Hundred Three Dollars and Twenty Six Cents ($903.26); plus fees for posting notice of sale, publishing, costs of suit rendered by the court, legal fees, and all costs of executing this Writ.I have levied upon the below listed property on December 14, 2011 and will on February 7th, 2012 Tuesday, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. proceed to sell for cash to the highest bidder, all the Right, Title, and Interest of Flavia L. Thomas to and in the following described Real Property

LOT Three (3), BLOCK Four (4) OF Summerfi eld, Section 1, an Addition IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN SLIDE NO. 1294/A OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, (THE PROPERTY) ALSO KNOWN AS :3127 Pheasant Trail Drive, SUGAR LAND, FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS 77478The above sale to be made by me to satisfy the above described judgment in favor of Summerfi eld Estates Homeowners Assoc, Plaintiff , and the proceeds applied to the satisfaction thereof.LOCATION: FORT BEND COUNTY COURTHOUSE RICHMOND, TX 77469DATE: February 7, 2012TIME: APPROX. 10:00 amBY: SHANE STEELE

Troy Nehls, Precinct 4 CONSTABLE

Fort Bend County

CONSTABLE’SNOTICE OF SALE

Notice is hereby given, that by virtue of a certain WRIT OF EXECUTION issued by the clerk of the COUNTY COURT AT LAW # 1 of Fort Bend County, Texas on DEC 9, 2011 in cause numbered 08CCV037997 styled DODEKA L.L.C. vs. FLOYD N. CARNEY., in which a judgment was rendered on JUNE 23, 2009 in favor of DODEKA L.L.C. for the sum of SEVENTEEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED ELEVEN DOLLARS AND ELEVEN CENTS ($17511.11); plus fees for posting notice of sale, publishing, costs of suit rendered by the court, legal fees, and all costs of executing this Writ.

I have levied upon the below listed property on DEC 27 , 2011 and will on FEB 7, 2012 Tuesday, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. proceed to sell for cash to the highest bidder, all the Right, Title, and Interest FLOYD N. CARNEY to and in the following described Real Property:

QUAIL VALLEY EAST SEC 3, BLOCK 14 ,LOT 66 MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 2835 QUIET BEND DR MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS 77489

The above sale to be made by me to satisfy the above described judgment in favor of DODEKA L.L.C, Inc Plaintiff , and the proceeds applied to the satisfaction thereof.

LOCATION: FORT BEND COUNTY COURTHOUSE RICHMOND, TX 77469DATE: FEB 7, 2012TIME: APPROX. 10:00 amBY: Sergeant M. Kutach

TROY E. NEHLSConstable Pct. 4

Fort Bend County, Texas

FORT BEND COUNTY WATER CONTROL AND IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 2

VS.

UNKNWON HERIS OF JOHN NANEZ, DECEASED, ET UX., ET AL.

CAUSE NO. 11-CCV-046701

COUNTY COURT AT LAW

NUMBER TWO OF

FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS

BRIEF ON PRECEPT BY PUBLICATION

In the name and by the authority of the State of Texas

Notice is hereby given to the following Defendants:

TO: The Unknown Heirs of John Nanez and Martina Castillo Nanez

You are commanded to appear before the Special Commissioners appointed by the Judge of the Fort Bend County Court at Law No. 2, on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at 9:30 a.m., at the George Memorial Library, 1001 Golfview Road, Richmond, Texas 77469, who shall then and there assess the value of the property belonging to Defendants which are sought to be condemned by Plaintiff , in Fort Bend County Water Control and Improvement District No. 2 vs. Unknown Heirs of John Nanez, De-ceased, et ux., et al; Cause No. 11-DCV-046701, wherein Fort Bend County Water Control and Improvement District No. 2 is the Plaintiff , and the Unknown Heirs of John Nanez, Deceased, the Unknown Heirs of Martina Castillo Nanez, Deceased, and Fort Bend County Tax Assessor-Collector are Defendants. Plaintiff ’s Original Statement and Petition for Condemnation, fi led on November 29, 2011, discloses that the nature of the suit is a condemnation case. Plaintiff seeks to acquire fee simple title to the real property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas in the William Neal Survey, Abstract 64 in Fort Bend County, Texas, more particularly described in the Warranty Deed attached Exhibit A to Plaintiff ’s Original Statement and Petition for Condemnation.

Attorney for Plaintiff are Joyce, McFarland+McFarland LLP, Elly D. Austin, 712 Main Street, Suite 1500, Houston, Texas 77002.

Issued and given under my hand and seal of said Court in the City of Rich-mond, Fort Bend County, Texas on this the 6th day of January 2012.

Hon. Dianne Wlison,Clerk of Fort Bend County, Texas,

Christina A. Martinez, Deputy,301 Jackson Street, Suite 101

Richmond, Texas 77469-3108.

CONSTABLE SALEUnder and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and/or Order of Sale issued on DECEMBER 8, 2011 by the COUNTY COURT AT LAW 1 of Fort Bend County, Texas in Cause #10-CCV-043214 in favor of the plaintiff -QUAIL GLEN HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, Inc., plaintiff , for the sum of $2,913.96++++ costs as taxed on said execution and/or order of sale and further the sum of executing the same.I have levied on DECEMBER 20, 2011 and will off er for sale on the 7TH day of FEBRUARY, 2012 at the County Courthouse steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of Ten O’clock A.M. and Four O’clock P.M., and all rights, title, interests, and claims which the said Defendant (s) -GLEN JACKSON AND DONNA JACKSON had of, in or to the following described Real Property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz:Legal Description: LOT NO. THIRTY(30), BLOCK SIX (6), OF QUAIL GLEN SUBDIVISION, SECTION TWO (2), AN ADDITION IN FORT BEND COUNTY TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN VOLUME 25, PAGE 8 OF THE MAP RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, COMMONLY KNOWN AS 17311 ARTWOOD DRIVE, MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS, 77489. (“THE PROPERTY”)TERMS: CASHTIME: Sale to be held at or about 11:00 A.M.

Ruben Davis, ConstableFort Bend County Precinct Two

By: Lieutenant G. MajorsDeputy Constable

CONSTABLE SALEUnder and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and/or Order of Sale issued on DECEMBER 8, 2011 by the COUNTY COURT AT LAW 1 of Fort Bend County, Texas in Cause #10-CCV-043213 in favor of the plaintiff -QUAIL GLEN HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, Inc., plaintiff , for the sum of $2,627.38++++ costs as taxed on said execution and/or order of sale and further the sum of executing the same.I have levied on DECEMBER 20, 2011 and will off er for sale on the 7TH day of FEBRUARY, 2012 at the County Courthouse steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of Ten O’clock A.M. and Four O’clock P.M., and all rights, title, interests, and claims which the said Defendant (s) -NATHAN CAMPBELL had of, in or to the following described Real Property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz:Legal Description: LOT NO. TWENTY (20), BLOCK SIX (6), OF QUAIL GLEN SUBDIVISION, SECTION ONE (1), AN ADDITION IN FORT BEND COUNTY TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN VOLUME 21, PAGE 16 OF THE MAP RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, COMMONLY KNOWN AS 17103 QUAIL PARK DRIVE, MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS, 77489. (“THE PROPERTY”)TERMS: CASHTIME: Sale to be held at or about 11:00 A.M.

Ruben Davis, ConstableFort Bend County Precinct Two

By: Lieutenant G. MajorsDeputy Constable

CONSTABLE SALEUnder and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and/or Order of Sale issued on NOVEMBER 4, 2011 by the 434TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT of Fort Bend County, Texas in Cause #10-DCV-182855 in favor of the plaintiff -DOVE COUNTRY HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, Inc., plaintiff , for the sum of $3,966.63++++ costs as taxed on said execution and/or order of sale and further the sum of executing the same.I have levied on NOVEMBER 22, 2011 and will off er for sale on the 7TH day of FEBRUARY, 2012 at the County Courthouse steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of Ten O’clock A.M. and Four O’clock P.M., and all rights, title, interests, and claims which the said Defendant (s) -MUSA GAURBA had of, in or to the following described Real Property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz:Legal Description: LOT NO. THIRTEEN (13), BLOCK SIX (6), REPLAT OF DOVE COUNTRY, A SUBDIVISION, IN FORT BEND COUNTY TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN VOLUME 22, PAGE 49 OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, THE COMMON ADDRESS OF WHICH IS 607 OAK DALE DRIVE, STAFFORD, TEXAS 77477.

TERMS: CASHTIME: Sale to be held at or about 11:00 A.M.

Ruben Davis, ConstableFort Bend County Precinct Two

By: Lieutenant G. MajorsDeputy Constable

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICEThe Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 for Long Meadow Farms Commercial Reserve Sec. 2 Replat No. 3, Precinct 3. The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom, William B. Travis Bldg., 309 S. Fourth St., Rm. 700, Richmond, Texas.Under state law, you the owner, have certain rights with respect to the proposed replat. Should you wish to exercise your right, you may be heard at the planned public hearing. You may contact Olivia Estrada with Momentum Engineering Co. at 281-741-1998 forinformation prior to the hearing.

Submitted by,Dianne WilsonFort Bend County Clerk

Qualifi ed companies are invited to submit proposals to Staff ord Municipal School District for Special Education Supplies, RFP# 2012-0013, at the Staff ord MSD administration building conference room in Staff ord, Texas before 10:00 a.m. local standard time on the 9th day of February, 2012. Bid document can be found on the District’s website.

Qualifi ed companies are invited to submit proposals to Staff ord Municipal School District for Fundraising Supplies and Services, RFP# 2012-0014, at the Staff ord MSD administration building conference room in Staff ord, Texas before 10:00 a.m. local standard time on the 9th day of February, 2012. Bid document can be found on the District’s website.

Qualifi ed companies are invited to submit proposals to Staff ord Municipal School District for Bilingual/ESL Supplies, RFP# 2012-0015, at the Staff ord MSD administration building conference room in Staff ord, Texas before 10:00 a.m. local standard time on the 9th day of February, 2012. Bid document can be found on the District’s website.

Qualifi ed companies are invited to submit proposals to Staff ord Municipal School District for Band Instrument Repair and Services, RFP# 2012-0016, at the Staff ord MSD administration building conference room in Staff ord, Texas before 10:00 a.m. local standard time on the 9th day of February, 2012. Bid document can be found on the District’s website.

Qualifi ed companies are invited to submit proposals to Staff ord Municipal School District for General Supplies, RFP# 2012-0017, at the Staff ord MSD administrationbuilding conference room in Staff ord, Texas before 10:00 a.m. local standard time on the 9th day of February, 2012.Bid document can be found on the District’s website.

LEGAL NOTICEINVITATION TO BIDDERS

Sealed Bids will be received in the Offi ce of Gilbert D. Jalomo, Jr., County Purchasing Agent, Fort Bend County, Travis Annex, 301 Jackson, Suite 201, Richmond, TX 77469 for the following until THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012 at 1:30 P.M. (CST). All bids will then be publicly opened and read in the Offi ce of the Purchasing Agent, Travis Annex, 301 Jackson, Suite 201, Richmond, TX 77469. Bids received after the specifi ed time will be returned unopened.BID 12-029 – TRAFFIC SIGNALIZATION PROJECT: WESTHEIMER PARKWAY AT SADDLE SPUR A pre-bid conference will be conducted on Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 10:00 AM (CST). The pre-bid conference will be held at Fort Bend County Purchasing Department located in the Travis Annex at 301 Jackson, Suite 201, Richmond, TX. All bidders are encouraged to attend. Unit pricing is required; payment will be by check after products/services are rendered. Bonds are required.Fort Bend County reserves the right to reject any or all bids. Signed:Gilbert D. Jalomo, Jr., Purchasing AgentFort Bend County, Richmond, Texas

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICEFort Bend County, in cooperation with the Texas Water Development Board, is performing a Flood Protection Planning Study on Gapps Slough in Precinct 1 andis seeking public input for the study. A “Public Meeting” to receive input, will beheld at the George Memorial Library 1st fl oor meeting room at 6:30 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012. Residents of Royal Lakes Estates, Bridlewood Estates, Summer Lakes, Rivers Mist, Rivers Run and Bonbrook Plantation subdivisions are encouraged to attend, along with representatives of businesses, churches etc. in the vicinity of these subdivisions. For additional information contact Mark Vogler with the Fort Bend County Drainage District at 281-342- 2863.Submitted by,Dianne WilsonFort Bend County Clerk

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICEThe Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 for replat of Fulbrook, Section 4A, Replat of Lots 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of Block 1, Precinct 3. The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom, William B. Travis Bldg., 309 S. Fourth St., Rm. 700, Richmond, Texas.Under state law, you the owner, have certain rights with respect to the proposed replat. Should you wish to exercise your right, you may be heard at the planned public hearing. You may contact David Leyendecker with Clay & Leyendecker at 281-391-0173 for information prior to the hearing.

Submitted by,Dianne WilsonFort Bend County Clerk

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICEThe Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 for replat of Long Meadow Farms Commercial Reserve, Section 4, PartialReplat No. 2, Precinct 3. The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom, William B. Travis Bldg., 309 S. Fourth St., Rm. 700, Richmond, Texas.Under state law, you the owner, have certain rights with respect to the proposed replat. Should you wish to exercise your right, you may be heard at the planned public hearing. You may contact Jorge DeLaRosa with Costello Inc. at 713-783-7788 for information prior to the hearing.

Submitted by,Dianne WilsonFort Bend County Clerk

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICEThe Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffi c study for Five Oaks Lane at Five Oaks Drive within Sienna Village of Shipman’s Landing, Section 11, Precinct 1.The hearing will be held in the Commis-sioners Courtroom, 309 South Fourth St.,Suite 700, William B. Travis Bldg., Richmond, Texas. You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter.

Submitted by,Dianne WilsonFort Bend County Clerk

LEGAL NOTICEINVITATION TO BIDDERS

Sealed Bids will be received in the Offi ce of Gilbert D. Jalomo, Jr., County Purchasing Agent, Fort Bend County, Travis Annex, 301 Jackson, Suite 201, Richmond, TX 77469 for the following until THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012 at 1:30 P.M. (CST). All bids will then be publicly opened and read in the Offi ce of the Purchasing Agent, Travis Annex, 301 Jackson, Suite 201, Richmond, TX 77469. Bids received after the specifi ed time will be returned unopened.BID 12-018 – WIDENING OF HARLEM ROAD AT HIGHWAY 90A A pre-bid conference will be conducted on Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 9:00 AM (CST). The pre-bid conference will be held at Fort Bend County Purchasing Department located in the Travis Annex at 301 Jackson, Suite 201, Richmond, TX. All bidders are encouraged to attend. Unit pricing is required; payment will be by check after products/services are rendered. Bonds are required.Fort Bend County reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

Signed:Gilbert D. Jalomo, Jr., Purchasing AgentFort Bend County, Richmond, Texas

LEGAL NOTICEINVITATION TO BIDDERS

Sealed Bids will be received in the Offi ce of Gilbert D. Jalomo, Jr., County Purchasing Agent, Fort Bend County, Travis Annex, 301 Jackson, Suite 201, Richmond, TX 77469 for the following until THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012 at 1:30 P.M. (CST). All bids will then be publicly opened and read in the Offi ce of the Purchasing Agent, Travis Annex, 301 Jackson, Suite 201, Richmond, TX 77469. Bids received after the specifi ed time will be returned unopened.1. BID 12-030 – TRAFFIC SIGNALIZATION: BAY HILL BLVD AT FALCON LANDING BLVD.A pre-bid conference will be conducted on Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 10:00 AM (CST). The pre-bid conference will be held at Fort Bend County Purchasing Department located in the Travis Annex at 301 Jackson, Suite 201, Richmond, TX. All bidders are encouraged to attend. 2. BID 12-031 – TRAFFIC SIGNALIZATION: WEST AIRPORT AT OLD RICHMOND RD.A pre-bid conference will be conducted on Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 10:30 AM (CST). The pre-bid conference will be held at Fort Bend County Purchasing Department located in the Travis Annex at 301 Jackson, Suite 201, Richmond, TX. All bidders are encouraged to attend. Unit pricing is required; payment will be by check after products/services are rendered. Bonds are required.Fort Bend County reserves the right to reject any or all bids.Signed: Gilbert D. Jalomo, Jr., Purchasing AgentFort Bend County, Richmond, Texas

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICEThe Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 for replat of Cinco Village Center, Section 3, Partial Replat No. 6, Precinct 3. The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom, William B.Travis Bldg., 309 S. Fourth St., Rm. 700, Richmond, Texas.Under state law, you the owner, have certain rights with respect to the proposed replat. Should you wish to exercise your right, you may be heard at the planned public hearing. You may contact Robert Terry with AECOM at 713-780-4123 for information prior to the hearing.

Submitted by,Dianne WilsonFort Bend County Clerk

LEGAL NOTICEREQUESTS FOR STATEMENTS OF

QUALIFICATIONSSealed Qualifi cation Statements will be received in the Offi ce of Gilbert D. Jalomo, Jr., County Purchasing Agent, Fort Bend County, Travis Annex, 301 Jackson, Suite 201, Richmond, TX 77469 for the following until THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012 AT 1:30 P.M. (CST). Q12-022 – PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT SERVICES FOR US 59 BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTPayment will be by check after products/services are rendered. Fort Bend County reserves the right to reject any or all qualifi cation statements receivedSigned:Gilbert D. Jalomo, Jr., Purchasing AgentFort Bend County, Richmond, Texas

PUBLIC NOTICEFORT BEND COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

FYs 2003, 2009, 2010 and 2011 CONSOLIDATED ACTION PLAN AMENDMENTS

Fort Bend County proposes to amend its approved FYs 2003, 2009, 2010, and 2011 Consolidated Action Plans. The Consolidated Plan regulations at 24 CFR 91.505 state that a jurisdiction shall amend its approved plan whenever it makes one of the following decisions:

(1) To make a change in its allocation priorities or a change in the method of distribution of funds;

(2) To carry out an activity, using funds from any program covered by the consolidated plan (including program income), not previously described in the action plan; or

(3) To change the purpose, scope, location, or benefi ciaries of an activity.

In addition, Fort Bend County has identifi ed in its citizen participation plan the criteria it uses for determining what constitutes substantial amendments that are subject to a citizen participation process, in accordance with the County’s citizen participation plan. The defi nitions and/or criteria for what constitutes a substantial change for the purpose of amending the consolidated plan are as follows:

(1) Purpose: The purpose is substantially changed if the overall purpose for which a project is funded changes. Changing a specifi c objective without changing the overall purpose of the project will not be considered a substantial change.

(2) Scope: The scope is substantially changed if the original estimated cost of the project is increased by twenty percent or more.(3) Location: The location is substantially changed if the service area of a

project changes from the original service area.(4) Benefi ciaries: The benefi ciaries are substantially changed if there is a

change in type or the number is increased by twenty percent or more.

The Fort Bend County FYs 2003, 2009, 2010 and 2011 Consolidated Plan Amendments are available for public review and comment. The public is encouraged to submit written comments by Monday, March 5, 2012 to Marilynn Kindell, Community Development Director, at 301 Jackson, Richmond, Texas 77469. Comments will be incorporated into the Consolidated Plan Amendments, as appropriate.

FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS

FY 2003, 2009, 2010 and 2011 CONSOLIDATED PLAN AMENDMENTSCOMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG)

Funds are available to be reprogrammed from:FY 2003 FWSD No.1 Water and Sewer Improvements $200,000.00FY 2009 Housing Rehabilitation Administration $11,093.99FY 2009 CDBG Program Administration $38,544.68FY 2009 CDBG Contingency $15,000.00FY 2010 Housing Rehabilitation Administration $44,943.22FY 2010 CDBG Program Administration $33,861.15FY 2011 CDBG Contingency $26,962.00Total Available To Be Reprogrammed $370,405.04

Projects to be funded are:FY 2010 Arcola Sanitary Sewer Improvements $100,000.00FY 2010 MUD 19 Sanitary Sewer Improvements $56,000.00FY 2011 Arcola Community Center $14,405.04FY 2011 Kendleton Sanitary Sewer Improvements $200,000.00Total Reprogrammed Amount $370,405.04

PUBLIC NOTICEFORT BEND COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

FY 2008 NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM AMENDMENT

Fort Bend County proposes to amend its approved FY 2008 Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) Substantial Amendment. The County’s Consolidated Plan regulations at 24 CFR 91.505 state that a jurisdiction shall amend its approved plan whenever it makes one of the following decisions:

(1) To make a change in its allocation priorities or a change in the method of distribution of funds;

(2) To carry out an activity, using funds from any program covered by the consolidated plan (including program income), not previously described in the action plan; or

(3) To change the purpose, scope, location, or benefi ciaries of an activity.

In addition, Fort Bend County has identifi ed in its citizen participation plan the criteria it uses for determining what constitutes substantial amendments that are subject to a citizen participation process, in accordance with the County’s citizen participation plan. The defi nitions and/or criteria for what constitutes a substantial change for the purpose of amending the consolidated plan are as follows:

(1) Purpose: The purpose is substantially changed if the overall purpose for which a project is funded changes. Changing a specifi c objective without changing the overall purpose of the project will not be considered a substantial change.

(2) Scope: The scope is substantially changed if the original estimated cost of the project is increased by twenty percent or more.

(3) Location: The location is substantially changed if the service area of a project changes from the original service area.

(4) Benefi ciaries: The benefi ciaries are substantially changed if there is a change in type or the number is increased by twenty percent or more.

The Fort Bend County FY 2008 Neighborhood Stabilization Program Amendment is available for public review and comment. The public is encouraged to submit written comments by Monday, March 5, 2012 to Marilynn Kindell, Community Development Director, at 301 Jackson, Richmond, Texas 77469. Comments will be incorporated into the Consolidated Plan Amendments, as appropriate.

FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXASFY 2008 NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM AMENDMENT

Funds are available to be reprogrammed from:#1 Financing Mechanisms: Homebuyer Program $470,965.00#3 Demolish Blighted Structures $249,888.00Total Available to be Reprogrammed $720,853.00

Projects to be funded are:#2 Purchase and Rehabilitation of Homes and Residential Properties $309,076.00#4 Redevelop demolished or vacant properties $398,262.00Contingency $13,515.00Total Reprogrammed Amount $720,853.00

Four Fort Bend ISD students have been selected by the United States Department of Education as candidates for the United States Presiden-tial Scholars Program. Each year, up to 141 students are named as Presidential Schol-ars, one of the Nation’s high-est honors for high school students.

The following Fort Bend ISD students have been se-lected: Aditya Srivatsan, Austin High School; David Zhao, Austin High School; Andy Dao, Bush High School; Kristen Pownell, Clements High School.

Approximately 3,000 candidates for the Presiden-tial Scholars program are selected each year for the academic component of the program, based on having scored exceptionally well on the College Board SAT or the ACT assessment.

Candidates must submit required application materi-als as well.

LEGAL NOTICEREQUEST FOR SEALED

COMPETITIVE PROPOSALSSealed Competitive Proposals will be received in the Offi ce of Gilbert D. Jalomo, Jr., County Purchasing Agent, Fort Bend County, Travis Annex, 301 Jackson, Suite 201, Richmond, TX 77469 for the following until THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012 at 1:30 P.M. CST). All proposals will then be opened in the Offi ce of the Purchasing Agent, Travis Annex, 301 Jackson, Suite 201, Richmond, TX 77469 and the names of the proposers made public. Proposals received after the specifi ed time will be returned unopened.RFP 12-028 – CONTINGENCY MEDICAL STAFFING FOR PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY RESPONSEUnit pricing is required. Fort Bend County reserves the right to reject any or all proposals.

Signed:Gilbert D. Jalomo, Jr., Purchasing AgentFort Bend County, Richmond, Texas

FBISD has 4 U.S. Presidential ScholarsThe U.S. Presidential

Scholars Program was estab-lished in 1964, by Executive Order of the President, to rec-ognize and honor some of our nation’s most distinguished graduating high school se-niors.

In 1979, the program was extended to recognize stu-dents who demonstrate ex-

ceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts.

Page 7: Fort Bend Independent

Invited: Older Cancer Survivors to

Participate in a Nursing Research About Telephone Counseling and Physical Activity

Persons eligible to participate:Current or Former Military Nurses

Age 60 and over

Completed treatment for cancer

Willing to talk with a nurse on the phone about their physical activity

Completing surveys at the beginning and end of the study will take about 10-15minutes. Phone calls, for those assigned to receive telephone counseling, will take about 10 minutes each week for four weeks.

If you would like more information about this study, please contact:

Ellen C. Mullen, PhD(c), [email protected] [email protected]

713-404-4693 (pager)281-660-1543 (cell)713-859-9341(cell)

Participants will receive an appreciation gift and a chance to win a $150 gift card.

The purpose of this research is to see if telephone counseling will improve older adult cancer survivors’ physical activity. Most cancer survivors do not get enough physical activity, especially if they are older. The researcher is a geriatric nurse practitioner at a major cancer center and a current PhD student at The University of Texas at Tyler.

Page 8: Fort Bend Independent

FEBRUARY 1, 2012 • INDEPENDENT • Page 7

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By BARBARA FULENWIDERThe Chevrolet Equinox

crossover was designed and built for customers who want the versatility of an SUV and the effi ciency and maneuver-ability of a smaller vehicle.

The Equinox seats fi ve and is available in LS, LT and LTZ models with available all-wheel drive.

New on the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox crossover vehicle is a rear-view camera; seven-inch color touch screen radio with USB port; Bluetooth for phone (via OnStar) including steering wheel with redundant controls; 18-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels; blind spot mirrors standard on all models; lane departure warn-ing and forward collision alert available on LTZ when equipped with the optional V-6 engine, and FlexFuel capability available on the 2.4-liter engine.

When equipped with the standard Ecotec 2.4-liter di-rect-injected engine, the front wheel drive Equinox gets an EPA-estimated 32 mpg on the highway, which means the driver can travel up to 600 miles on a single tank of gas. The 2.4-liter engine makes 182 horsepower.

For 2012, this engine adds FlexFuel so it can run on reg-

ular unleaded fuel, E85 etha-nol or a combination of both.

The optional and larger 3.0-liter V-6 engine is avail-able on LT and LTZ models and delivers 25 mpg on the highway. This engine, which makes 264 horsepower, is also FlexFuel-capable. Both engines are paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.

The exterior of the Equinox features Chevy’s signature two-tier grille and gold bowtie insignia, strong fender shapes, distinctive roofl ine, wrap-around headlamps and dual round taillamps. There’s also wraparound rear side glass and wheels at each corner for a more aggressive appearing stance.

Inside the Chevy Equinox

has a remote starting system that also activates the climate control system.

There are also optional heated seats and ice-blue am-bient lighting accentuates key areas of the cabin and pro-vides an upscale look.

Standard MultiFlex rear seat capability allows the seat to be moved fore or aft nearly eight inches. With the 60/40 split-back rear seat moved all the way forward, the cargo area measures 31.4 cubic feet.

A segment-exclusive is the rear programmable power lift-gate. A range of standard and optional audio systems are available including a premi-um Pioneer system with up to eight speakers and 250 watts of output.

The Chevrolet Equinox comes with four-wheel inde-pendent suspension and rack-mounted electronic power steering on 2.4L-equipped models and hydraulic power rack-and-pinion steering on 3.0-liter V-6-equipped mod-els.

Standard electronic stabili-ty control and rollover mitiga-tion technology help keep the Equinox in its intended path during an emergency maneu-ver and trailering anti-sway control and hill hold assist are also included safety features.

More standard equipment on the Equinox includes four-wheel anti-lock brakes with traction control and electronic brake force distribution and a 2.4-liter engine.

The optional 3.0-liter V-6 adds $1,500 to the price. Both engines feature fuel-saving direct injection and continu-ously variable valve timing technology.

The retail sticker price on the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox is $29,140. Options on the test drive added $3,590 and included the V6 engine, a color touch navigation radio with seven-inch screen CD/MP3 player, auxiliary input and USB port, lane departure warning and 18-inch wheels.

In 2010 Methodist Sugar Land Hospital (MSLH) was the fi rst to bring robotic surgery to Fort Bend County and recently MSLH expanded on that tech-nology with an upgrade to the da Vinci® SI Surgical Robot which includes fl uorescence imaging technology. The da Vinci SI Surgical Robot al-lows surgeons to see and assess anatomy better than the naked eye, further enhancing the un-matched vision, precision and control of surgical robotics.

The robotic system is guid-ed by a surgeon and uses a minimally invasive technique, which entails smaller incisions and less damage to surround-ing tissue compared to tradi-tional surgery. Surgeons are able to perform major surgeries through dime-sized incisions, which require only one or two stitches to close. As a result, pa-tients can return to their normal activities in one to two weeks and are at much lower risk of developing infection.

This new upgrade is instru-mental in the treatment of renal tumors which may spare kidney cancer patients an increased risk of life-long dialysis. Using the recently acquired da Vinci SI Surgical System, Dr. John Boon and Dr. Henry Pham, board certifi ed urologists on

staff at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, can remove the tumor affecting the kidney and leave the healthy tissue. Patients can then often avoid the increased risk of organ failure that results from having a single healthy kidney.

“We are pleased to be the fi rst in the region to offer this ground-breaking technology to our patients and the community we serve,” said Dr. Boon. “Not only will it further enhance our established surgical robotics program, but it will also result in improved outcomes for our patients.”

“Precision is the word that best summarizes surgical ro-botics,” said Dr. Pham. “With increased visibility, better in-struments and a highly-trained team, we can do the best job with the bonus of minimal disturbance to the rest of the body.”

Using sophisticated tech-niques and specialized tools such as fl uorescence imaging and high defi nition monitors, surgeons in many specialties can perform major surgeries with the most accuracy pos-sible. The surgeon’s skill, com-plemented by the robot’s preci-

sion, offers benefi ts to patients undergoing surgery in a grow-ing number of specialties.

“This new acquisition com-plements our goal of extending minimally invasive surgery to the broadest possible base of patients,” said Becky Chalupa, Associate Chief Nursing Offi -cer. “It can be used for a mul-titude of procedures, including, but not limited to: prostatec-tomy (removal of the prostate), nephrectomy (removal of the kidney), hysterectomy (remov-al of the uterus), myomectomy (removal of uterine fi broids), coronary artery bypass, mitral valve repair and colorectal sur-gery.”

“The robotics program is a continuation of Methodist Sug-ar Land Hospital’s commitment to bringing the medical center home to Fort Bend County, as well as fi nding and applying the most precise, most benefi -cial surgical techniques to put patients on a quicker road to re-covery with better outcomes,” said Dr. Pham.

To make an appointment with Dr. Boon, Dr. Pham or other specialists using robot-ics technology, call Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s physi-cian referral line 281-274-7500 or visit MethodistSugarLand.com.

John Boon, M.D. and Henry Pham, M.D.

The fi rst ever baseball game to be played at Constellation Field will feature two Sugar Land High School teams, Fort Bend Independent School District’s William P. Clements High School and John Foster Dulles High School, on Saturday, April 21.

“It is only appropriate that the community’s stadium open with two Sugar Land high schools playing a baseball game,” said Matt O’Brien, President of the Sugar Land Skeeters. “This event is the fi rst of many community events that will take place at the stadium.”

The Dulles Vikings have advanced to the State playoffs the last fi ve years. The Vikings are looking to avenge two losses from Clements last year.

“The opening of the new ballpark for the Skeeters is an impor-tant event for the city of Sugar Land and the surrounding com-munities,” said Clinton Welch, Head Baseball Coach for Dulles High School. “The Dulles baseball program is excited to be tak-ing part. Our players will be able to take their own kids to this ballpark someday and share that they played the fi rst game in the stadium’s history.”

Last season the Clements Rangers advanced to the State playoffs for the fi fth consecutive year and tenth time in the last 14 years. The school is the two-time defending District 23-5A Champions.

“Having the opportunity to play Dulles at Constellation Field will be a memory these kids will never forget,” said Israel De Los Santos, Head Baseball Coach for Clements High School. “I think it’s great that Clements and Dulles, two of the original Sugar Land high schools, are going to be able to open up the new stadium. That is a tremendous honor for me and all the other coaches before me who helped build the Clements Rangers’ pro-gram.”

Tickets for the event will be available at each of the participat-ing schools and the Skeeters Ticket Offi ce in mid-March. Parking for the event will be free. The Skeeters will donate a percentage of the ticket proceeds back to the Fort Bend ISD Athletic Depart-ment. Capacity of the event will be limited to 5,000 people.

The Skeeters will throw their fi rst pitch Opening Day, April 26, at 7:05 p.m. as minor league baseball makes its professional debut in Houston. The Skeeters will open its Inaugural Season by playing host to the two-time defending Atlantic League cham-pion York (Pa.) Revolution in a four-game series April 26-29. If you would like to book your sporting event, banquet or other non-game day event with the Skeeters, call 281-240-4487.

Skeeters host Clements, Dulles

Page 9: Fort Bend Independent

Page 8 • INDEPENDENT • FEBRUARY 1, 2012

Fort Bend CountyGrand Old Party

News

Republican Primary

April 3, 2012

Riverstone was just ranked among the nation’s 15 top-selling master-planned communities for 2011, on a list compiled by John Burns Real Estate Consulting. Well-known production and custom builders have completed well over 1,000 homes in the development.

Record-breaking 2011 sales have resulted in Riverstone being listed among the na-tion’s 15 top-selling master-planned communities for 2011, as compiled by John Burns Real Estate Consulting.

Riverstone ranks 15th among nation’s MPCs

The Fort Bend community posted 302 sales last year, a 35 percent increase over 2010 sales of 225 homes.

“Last year’s sales were fu-eled by historically low inter-est rates and increased devel-opment activity in Riverstone, as builders built more homes in more neighborhoods and saw a return on their invest-ment,” said Tom Wilcox, gen-eral manager of Riverstone.

Riverstone ranked 16th on a list of top-selling U.S. master-planned communities compiled by Metrostudy last year. Riverstone has consis-tently ranked among the top 10 master-planned communi-ties in Houston.

A project of The John-son Development Corp., Riverstone opened in 2001 and recorded its fi rst sale in

September of that year. Just over a decade later, builders have started more than 1,760 homes and closed more than 1,640. More than 5,000 resi-dents now call Riverstone home.

“What a decade it was,” Wilcox said. “We’ve seen this community grow and prosper and we anticipate continued success.”

Riverstone already has an-nounced the opening of a new neighborhood this year, Ava-lon at Riverstone, as well as plans for a third recreation center, to be built on a new section of University Bou-levard slated for completion this summer.

For more details on River-stone, located on Highway 6 just three miles south of U.S. 59, visit www.riverstone.com.

On Thursday, Jan. 26 the Fort Bend CORPS hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the com-pletion of its third Neighborhood Stabilization Program home in Fort Bend County. The third of seven homes being built by Fort Bend CORPS is being funded through a cooperative HUD grant program administered by Fort Bend County Community Development. “The CORPS is the only non-profi t in the nation using NSP funds to effectively cleanup blighted properties and re-construct them into new homes,” said Ron Castillo, Executive Director. The home was constructed using green building materials and energy star rated appliances. It is a total of 1,118 square feet with central heat and air, solar powered attic ventilation system, two bedrooms with a study, including an ADA accessible bathroom and a large front porch complete with energy star ceiling fans. In attendance during this event was the homeowner Ms. Cora Jones, friends and family, County Commissioner Precinct 1, Richard Morrison and City of Kendleton Mayor, Daryl Humphries and members of City Council.

The house, before renovation, left; after renovation, right.

FBCORPS presents new home to Kendleton resident

Kendleton Mayor Humphries and Commissioner Richard Morrison assist Ms. Jones with the ribbon cutting. Photo by: Keely Aust

Regular tickets are $100VIP Reception and Dinner Ticket $150VIP Reception Only $50


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