The Collin County Observer

Nine years ago a young catholic priest sent his photo to a website that claimed to be a support for gay priests who wanted to remain celibate.

Almost a decade later, the Inquisitor of Dallas, Rod Dreher, (who when not torching heretics, moonlights as a columnist for the Dallas Morning News) broke the story that had been posted in right-wing catholic blogs for days - that same priest had been appointed pastor at St. Michael's Catholic Church in McKinney.

No one offered any evidence or even rumor suggesting that Father Mallinson had ever done anything to suggest he was actively gay. No one has claimed to be a victim. No one has claimed to have read anything written by Father Mallinson that was heretical or obscene. No one has offered a shred of evidence that this priest has ever done anything at all overtly homosexual.

Evidence that he has been a good pastor seem easy to find. Many of his former parishioners in Lancaster are supporting him. They have even started a petition to the diocese in his defense.

Yet Father Mallinson was condemned because nine years ago he sent his picture to a website that became (he says later became) very pornographic. Dreher regaled in posting links to lurid web pages, yet offered no evidence of Father Mallinson's involvement with it other than the single (chaste) photograph.

Today, Father Mallinson resigned from St. Michael's parish. He is being run out of Collin County by 21st century pharisees who can't tell the difference between pedophilia and homosexuality.

In his blog posting on Father Mallinson, Dreher wrote, "Me, I believe in forgiveness, but I honestly don't understand how a priest can function effectively as a spiritual leader after his involvement in something like this has been made public."

I write, "Me I believe in forgiveness, and I believe that Christ's message was one of compassion and redemption. I can easily see how a priest can make a mistake a decade ago and function as an effective spiritual leader - just like Paul and Loyola and Augustine and Magdalene and Mary of Egypt and countless other saints of the church."

And I ask Rod Dreher and the other self righteous catholic bloggers, "Did you ask Father Mallinson about what he did in 1999, or did you rush to condemn in haste and prejudice?"

Bill

Collin County To Launch DWI Blood Testing

KXAS-TV NBC Channel 5
May 13, 2008

MCKINNEY, Texas --
Collin County officers said drunken driving suspects who refuse a Breathalyzer test will soon be forced to give blood, NBC 5 reported.

The no refusal blood-testing program started as an experiment during holiday weekends, but now Collin County wants to make the blood testing program standard procedure for DWI traffic stops.

Critics say the mandatory blood test infringes on people's rights and argue that the method is unwarranted search and seizure.

"You have constitutional rights that protect from police intruding in specific ways, namely taking fluid from your body," said Todd Shapiro, an attorney.

However, District Attorney John Roach said an individual's rights are protected because an impartial judge decides if there is enough evidence to issue a warrant.

Roach said 65 percent of the jury trial cases in Collin County are DWI cases and he said implementing the program would unclog the courts and save money.

"We expect most defendants to plead guilty rather than go through trial because of the scientific evidence that will show they were intoxicated," Roach said.

Roach said the county will be implementing the program every weekend starting Labor Day weekend.

read more and watch video story......

For the 3rd time this year, the Commissioners Court is scheduled to take up the issue of tax relief for homeowners.

On the table are possible homestead exemptions or outright tax cuts.

Because county property values increase every year, a tax cut would still make the taxes for the owner of the average $235,800 home go up.

With no tax rate hike, the average homeowner will see his county tax rise by $23.11. With a 1/2 cent cut, his taxes still would rise by $10.85.

However the same homeowner would see a $1.39 cut in taxes with a $10,000 homestead exemption. Less affluent homeowners would see even a larger cut - for a $100,000 home, the tax cut would be $14.70.

The County Budget Department's analysis of cuts vs. homestead exemptions is here.

Bill

Note: The Commissioners Court will meet this Tuesday, May 13 at 1:30 P.M.

The discussion of tax rate cuts vs. homestead exemptions is agenda item #7. The Court does allow public comment on any agenda item, simply fill out a card before the meeting to request your right to speak on agenda item #7.

The meeting is on the 6th Floor of the Collin County Courthouse at 210 S. McDonald St. in McKinney

See CCO previous posts:

Tax Cuts vs. Homeowners Exemptions April 13, 2008

Collin County Taxes - How do we stack up?, August 30, 2007

County tax cuts on the horizon?, August 29, 2007

According to the Texas Department of Agriculture, "TDA has 72 weights and measures inspectors throughout the state checking more than 65,000 fuel pumps a year. An inspector will place an "out of order" tag on any pump not dispensing the correct amount of fuel within the allowable tolerance."

An explanation of the "out of order" reasons is here

Over the last 60 days, TDA inspectors placed "out of order tags" on the following local stations.

FUEL STATIONS OUT OF COMPLIANCE REPORT 03/13/2008 TO 05/12/2008

7 ELEVEN STORE #34109
1302 W MCDERMOTT DR ALLEN TX
MULTI-PRODUCT DISPENSERS NON COMPLIANT - FOLLOW UP
SHORT MEASURE IN EXCESS OF TOLERANCE
04/23/2008
Failed Pumps 7

TRAVEL CENTERS OF AMERICA
2105 S GOLIAD ROCKWALL TX 75087
MULTI-PRODUCT DISPENSERS
TWO TIMES THE TOLERANCE [short]
04/02/2008
Failed Pumps 2

VALERO CORNER STORE #4527
2255 S GOLIAD ST ROCKWALL TX 75032
MULTI-PRODUCT DISPENSERS
TWO TIMES THE TOLERANCE [short]
03/26/2008
Failed Pumps 3

C STORE #16
3070 N JOSEY LN CARROLLTON TX 75007
MULTI-PRODUCT DISPENSERS
TWO TIMES THE TOLERANCE [short]
03/13/2008
Failed Pumps 2

SPEED MAX
521 HWY 121 E LEWISVILLE TX 75057
GASOLINE PUMP NOZZLES DIESEL PUMP NOZZLES
SHORT MEASURE IN EXCESS OF TOLERANCE IMPROPERLY MAINTAINED
04/02/2008
Failed Pumps 3

KWIK CHEK #32
1001 W STEPHENS VAN ALSTYNE TX 75495
DIESEL PUMP NOZZLES
TWO TIMES THE TOLERANCE [short]
03/19/2008
Failed Pumps 1

VAN ALSTYNE SHELL FOOD MART
805 W STEPHENS VAN ALSTYNE TX 75495
MULTI-PRODUCT DISPENSERS
SHORT MEASURE IN EXCESS OF TOLERANCE
03/19/2008
Failed Pumps 1

Out of 13,546 TDA weights and measures inspections carried out in Texas since September 1, 2006, 203 were in Collin County. Of those 203 inspections most passed, however these failed:

HARLOW'S 121
15449 HWY 121 N ANNA TX 75409
COMPLAINT NON COMPLIANT - FOLLOW UP
MULTI-PRODUCT DISPENSERS
11/26/2007
Failed Pumps 1

STONEBROOK MOBIL FOOD MART
6495 N DALLAS PKWY FRISCO TX 75034
1/31/2008
NON COMPLIANT - FOLLOW UP
MULTI-PRODUCT DISPENSERS
Failed Pumps 1

RSC EQUIPMENT RENTAL INC #689
1533 N MCDONALD MCKINNEY TX 75071
12/27/2007
NON COMPLIANT - FOLLOW UP
DIESEL PUMP NOZZLES
Failed Pumps 1

7 ELEVEN STORE #33654
1031 N MURPHY DR MURPHY TX 75094
10/30/2007
NON COMPLIANT - REFER TO ENFORCEMENT
MULTI-PRODUCT DISPENSERS
Failed Pumps 2

CHILL CITY
4001 W PARK BLVD PLANO TX 75093
10/29/2007
NON COMPLIANT - FOLLOW UP
MULTI-PRODUCT DISPENSERS
Failed Pumps 2

QUIK RUN
600 OHIO DR PLANO TX 75093
10/29/2007
NON COMPLIANT - REFER TO ENFORCEMENT
GASOLINE PUMP NOZZLES
Failed Pumps 7

RSC EQUIPMENT RENTAL INC #756
2727 AVE K PLANO TX 75074
12/21/2007
NON COMPLIANT - FOLLOW UP
DIESEL PUMP NOZZLES GASOLINE PUMP NOZZLES
Failed Pumps 2

KWIZ MART TEXACO
6000 INDEPENDENCE PKWY PLANO TX 75023
1/3/2008
NON COMPLIANT - FOLLOW UP
Failed Pumps 6

QUIK RUN
600 OHIO DR PLANO TX 75093
1/15/2008
RE-INSPECTION NON COMPLIANT - REFER TO ENFORCEMENT
Failed Pumps 5

TIGER MART #45
1099 N PRESTON RD PROSPER TX 75078
10/16/2007
NON COMPLIANT - REFER TO ENFORCEMENT
MULTI-PRODUCT DISPENSERS
Failed Pumps 4

It should be noted that many of the above stations have since corrected the problems and are now certified.

The TDA website explains that "The station owner or operator is responsible for having a pump repaired by a service company licensed through TDA before the pump can be further used to sell fuel. A TDA inspector will then place a new seal on the pump after it has been tested and found to be operating properly."

The Dallas Morning News reported that, " An entire station can also be put out of service if most pumps are dispensing fuel in favor of the station owner, even if the pumps are within tolerance.

Until late May 2007, fines started at $25. TDA Commissioner Todd Staples quadrupled the fines.

'Gas prices are high enough without consumers getting shortchanged at the pump,' Mr. Staples said in a statement released just prior to the increase. 'Drivers need to have confidence they are receiving exactly what they are paying for every time they fill up.'"

All I can say is that a $100 fine is darn little incentive to keep an honest pump when a fill up cost's me $75.

Consumers who suspect they are being shorted at the pump can contact the TDA:

Joe Benavides, Branch Chief for Regulatory Programs
512-463-5706
FAX: 888-215-5386
regulatory@tda.state.tx.us

Bill

David Hall, who lost the Plano ISD, Place 5 race, asked me to post the following:

Bill

--------------------------------

Based on my review, I believe that the Plano ISD is better than any other Independent School District in Texas, and that is the key to taking care of next year's $14 million shortfall. First, although I think that 2.5% of students not graduating is unacceptable, I think that a 3% revenue shortfall is almost nothing (every person is INFINITELY valuable whereas money is only a medium of exchange that represents people's HARD work). In case anyone is wondering if I know anything about finances large organizations, I worked for Price Waterhouse for many years advising Fortune 50 clients, had my own business for many more years, and have worked in places like Russia and South America for American and foreign companies so I KNOW business and only started working as a Math Teacher 4 years ago and an Administrator 3 years ago because I want my Grandchildren to live in the BEST society possible of well educated people of good character.

The proposed plan to take care to the shortfall has three steps as follows:

1. Allow ALL Plano ISD parents to enroll their students in any school they wish at no cost as long as they are willing to take care of the transportation, there is room available, and after the assigned students have been enrolled.

2. Publicize that Plano ISD is willing to allow students from other school districts to enroll as long as their is room at a facility, they will handle transportation, the student would not be allowed to play varsity sports the first FULL school year, AND the parents and student sign an agreement covering things like attendance / work ethic / behavior.

3. For the students that wish to enroll that cannot be accommodated in the current facilities, begin adding temporary buildings / renting open retail space (there is too much around Plano) / find other ways to accommodate the demand, begin a hiring program for the teachers needed, and begin more non-traditional approaches to education.

Simultaneously, we should begin lobbying the Legislature, State Board of Education, and TEA to help us get back more of the money they are taking from us. One approach would be for them to pay us a premium on the students that enroll from other school districts. Last but not least I am willing to volunteer to help make all of this happen using capabilities, approaches, and templates that Responsive Education Solutions has been developing over the last 10 years (we get far less money per student than the ISD's but we are in very sound financial position which the TEA will confirm).

Dave

--
David Lee Hall
www.dhall-planoisd.blogspot.com

Michael Morris has a reputation of being both a wheeler dealer and the ultimate highway Tzar for North Central Texas. While he is widely respected for his knowledge of how to structure and broker complex highway funding deals, he is royally screwing Collin County out of the money it was promised from the SH 121 CDA.

I hope the Commissioners put a lot of pressure on NCTCOG to rein in Morris's and the RTC's excesses and to return Collin County's just share of the SH121 toll revenue. We were promised a prime steak - we got tripe soup.

Bill

---------------------------------------------

Leaders come to defense of DFW transportation chief
By GORDON DICKSON
Fort Worth Star-Telegram staff writer
Friday, May. 09, 2008

We like Michael. That's the message from dozens of Metroplex leaders who made it clear this week that they're happy with the work of Michael Morris, transportation director for the North Central Texas Council of Governments.

The message is a response to rumors that a few Collin County officials are quietly lobbying to have Morris fired. Although the Collin County officials haven't spoken against him publicly, the scuttlebutt is that they're unhappy with recent negotiations over two toll projects under construction: Texas 121 north of Grapevine and Texas 161 in Grand Prairie.

Morris negotiated both deals. He is credited -- or blamed -- with forcing the Plano-based North Texas Tollway Authority to pay top dollar for the projects. The authority agreed to pay $3.2 billion for Texas 121 and is studying whether to pay $548 million for Texas 161. Only a small fraction of that windfall will go to Collin County. The rest will pay for roads across the region.

Morris' supporters say they acted quickly to nip the clandestine anti-Morris campaign in the bud. Three agencies -- the Regional Transportation Council, Tarrant Regional Transportation Coalition and Dallas Regional Mobility Coalition -- passed resolutions expressing confidence in him.

read more.....

Here are final election results from Saturday. For those races that were not settled, the election date for the run-of is June 14.

Bill

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ALLEN
Incumbents win in Allen City and ISD.

MAYOR - ALLEN
MARK PACHECO 1,613 48.12%
STEVE TERRELL (I) 1,739 51.88%

COUNCIL MEMBER, PLACE NO. 2 - ALLEN
ROBERT OAKE 1,019 36.60%
TEAROD L. ROBERTSON 130 4.67%
ROSS OBERMEYER (I) 1,635 58.73%

COUNCIL MEMBER, PLACE NO. 3 - ALLEN
RICHARD BUCHANAN 1,057 38.97%
BEN FERGUSON 612 22.57%
JOEY HERALD 1,043 38.46%
(winner will be chosen in June run-off)

SCHOOL DISTRICT PLACE 6 - ALLEN ISD
JOHN STEPHENS 478 18.27%
THOMAS F. BUCHANAN 411 15.71%
LOUISE MASTER (I) 1,727 66.02%

SCHOOL DISTRICT PLACE 7 - ALLEN ISD
MARK JONES (I) 1,569 61.46%
SALLY B. BONHAM 984 38.54%

ANNA

CITY COUNCIL, PLACE 4 - ANNA
DARREN R. DRISKELL 135 52.33%
JON K. HENDRICKS 123 47.67%

TRUSTEE, PLACE 5 - ANNA ISD
TY CHAPMAN (I) 223 68.62%
BECKY WOODARD 102 31.38%

TRUSTEE, PLACE 7 - ANNA ISD
MARK JONES 84 25.93%
LARISSA THORNBURG 240 74.07%

CELINA
In Celina, Lewis and Terry win lopsided victories.

MAYOR - CELINA
JIM LEWIS 264 73.13%
G.L.BUD PHILLIPS 97 26.87%

COUNCILMAN PLACE 6 - CELINA
GENE W. CHRISTENSEN 63 19.87%
SEAN TERRY 254 80.13%

FRISCO
Voters defeat extended drinking hours. Maso, Johnson win with large margins.

MAYOR - FRISCO
MATT LAFATA 1,601 23.00%
MAHER MASO 5,359 77.00%

CITY COUNCIL, PLACE 5 - FRISCO
TIM H. NELSON 1,991 38.33%
JOHN C. NEWSOME 496 9.55%
ANTONIO LUEVANO 263 5.06%
BART CROWDER 2,444 47.05%
(winner will be chosen in June run-off)

CITY COUNCIL, PLACE 6 - FRISCO
JIM TUPPER 1,253 23.29%
SCOTT JOHNSON 3,507 65.20%
BUDDY CLARK 371 6.90%
LA DELLA LEVY 248 4.61%

REFERENDUM NO. 1 - FRISCO
FOR 3,032 43.24%
AGAINST 3,980 56.76%

Frisco ISD incumbents score decisive victories.

TRUSTEE, PLACE 4 - FRISCO ISD
BRENDA J. POLK (I) 3318 60.57%
JANET MACCUBBIN 2160 39.43%

TRUSTEE, PLACE 5 - FRISCO ISD
JEREMY STARRITT 1649 33.70%
RICHARD A. BEAVER (I) 3244 66.30%

LOVEJOY ISD
Lovejoy ISD give incumbents wide win.

TRUSTEE, PLACE 4 - LOVEJOY ISD
KERRY LEATH 297 40.24%
JULIE JAMES 441 59.76%

TRUSTEE, PLACE 5 - LOVEJOY ISD
BRAD NORTHCUTT 226 32.42%
RICH HICKMAN (I) 471 67.58%

MCKINNEY
Huff, whose at-large end run around term limits drew criticism, will face Tucker David in run-off.

COUNCIL MEMBER AT-LARGE - MCKINNEY
MARTA GORE 489 14.22%
SHERRY TUCKER DAVID 1349 39.23%
PETE HUFF 1601 46.55%
(winner will be chosen in June run-off)

SCHOOL DISTRICT PLACE 4 - MCKINNEY ISD
JIM PIKL 435 32.73%
DICK STEVENS 502 37.77%
MARK P. YABLON 392 29.50%

MELISSA

TRUSTEE, PLACE 2 - MELISSA
LELAND DYSART 37 19.47%
TINA HELMBERGER 153 80.53%

MURPHY
Incumbents soundly defeat "old guard" candidates. Ex City Manager Sherwood manages only 18% in grudge match against Mayor Baldwin.

MAYOR - MURPHY
BRET M. BALDWIN (I) 1,189 79.85%
DAVID SCARBOROUGH 32 2.15%
CRAIG W. SHERWOOD 268 18.00%

CITY COUNCIL, PLACE 3 - MURPHY
GERRY LINGTON 292 23.03%
JOHN DAUGHERTY 976 76.97%

CITY COUNCIL, PLACE 5 - MURPHY
MIKE DANIEL (I) 1025 75.48%
TERRY LYNN STALLCUP 333 24.52%

PARKER

MAYOR - PARKER
JOE CORDINA 360 51.43%
JIM THREADGILL 340 48.57%

2 COUNCIL MEMBERS - PARKER
SCOTT LEVINE 372 33.42%
ELEANOR EVANS (I) 463 41.60%
JAMES CLAY 278 24.98%

PLANO
Plano voters choose to re-elect LaRosiliere? and Callison. Jackson handily defeats incumbent Ellerbe and Pat Miner defeats Justin Nichols in a highly publicized race.

COUNCIL MEMBER, PLACE NO. 1, DISTRICT 1 - PLANO
PAT MINER 3,690 60.44%
JUSTIN P. NICHOLS 2,415 39.56%

COUNCIL MEMBER, PLACE NO. 3, DISTRICT 3 - PLANO
LORETTA ELLERBE (I) 2332 36.63%
MABRIE JACKSON 4035 63.37%

COUNCIL MEMBER, PLACE NO. 5 - PLANO
HARRY LAROSILIERE (I) 3,456 58.46%
RUSSEL HEAD 2,456 41.54%

COUNCIL MEMBER, PLACE NO. 7 - PLANO
JEAN CALLISON (I) 3687 61.21%
DANNY MORRIS 2337 38.79%

Plano ISD passes huge bond proposition 3 to 1

SCHOOL DISTRICT PLACE 4 - PLANO ISD
BRAD SHANKLIN 4,456 70.21%
ROBERT CANRIGHT 1,891 29.79%

SCHOOL DISTRICT PLACE 5 - PLANO ISD
LLOYD "SKIP" JENKINS (I) 3098 47.98%
MICHAEL MARIANO 1375 21.29%
DAVID HALL 1984 30.73%

PROPOSITION - PLANO ISD
FOR 6686 71.57%
AGAINST 2656 28.43%

PRINCETON
Princeton voters refuse Home Rule (again) and punish incumbent.

COUNCIL MEMBER, PLACE 5 - PRINCETON
KEN BOWERS 199 59.40%
ROCKY LEMLEY (I) 136 40.60%

CHARTER - PRINCETON
FOR 165 40.84%
AGAINST 239 59.16%

Princeton ISD approves bonds, but incumbent defeated.

2 SCHOOL TRUSTEES - PRINCETON ISD
ANGELA DOOLEY (I) 182 20.82%
DONNIE CAMPBELL 312 35.70%
JOHN MURRAY 207 23.68%
REBECCA HENRY 173 19.79%

PROPOSITION - PRINCETON ISD
FOR 341 55.81%
AGAINST 270 44.19%

PROSPER
In Prosper, Wilson defeats incumbent Bristol by 10 votes.

COUNCIL MEMBER, PLACE 5 - PROSPER
DAVID F. BRISTOL (I) 220 48.89%
DANNY WILSON 230 51.11%

SEIS LAGOS WSD
Voters choose 3 in hard fought round-robin race for 3 directors of the Seis Lagos Water Supply District. Voter turnout was almost 59%!

DIRECTOR POSITION - SEIS LAGOS
ROLANDO RAMON 247 17.98%
RICK COLLINS 233 16.96%
FRANK JUROTICH 194 14.12%
DIANE LYDICK 17 1.24%
GARY BOWLAND 211 15.36%
SCOTT WILKINSON 215 15.65%
JENNIFER HART 257 18.70%

WYLIE
Wylie voters oust Mayor, but return incumbent councilmen.

MAYOR - WYLIE
ERIC HOGUE 700 56.45%
JOHN MONDY (I) 540 43.55%

COUNCIL MEMBER, PLACE 5 - WYLIE
RICK WHITE (I) 613 52.98%
CHRIS TROUT 544 47.02%

COUNCIL MEMBER, PLACE 6 - WYLIE
CARTER PORTER (I) 583 52.33%
BENNIE JONES 531 47.67%

Wylie ISD voters return Ronnie Fetzer, but appointed incumbent Baron Cook, who could not shake off ethics allegations, is defeated.

SCHOOL DISTRICT PLACE 1 - WYLIE ISD
BARBARA GOSS 695 49.79%
RONNI FETZER (I) 701 50.21%

SCHOOL DISTRICT PLACE 2 - WYLIE ISD
RALPH E. JAMES 847 65.00%
JAMES R. GRIFFIN 456 35.00%

SCHOOL DISTRICT PLACE 4 - WYLIE ISD
D. BARON COOK (I) 620 45.49%
LANCE GOFF 743 54.51%

Correction: I had erroneously listed 2 School Board races as heading to a run-off. I have since been reminded that school board races are awarded to the candidate with the most votes - there are no run-offs.

This was my error. I apologize for any confusion I have caused.

The data above has been corrected to show:

SCHOOL DISTRICT PLACE 4 - MCKINNEY ISD
JIM PIKL 435 32.73%
DICK STEVENS 502 37.77%
MARK P. YABLON 392 29.50%

SCHOOL DISTRICT PLACE 5 - PLANO ISD
LLOYD "SKIP" JENKINS (I) 3098 47.98%
MICHAEL MARIANO 1375 21.29%
DAVID HALL 1984 30.73%

Bill

Please remember to vote today for city, school board and bond elections.

A list of races and propositions is here.

Sample ballots are here.

Polling place locations and information is here.

The polls are open from 7 AM to 7 PM

Bill

The Plano Star courier posted an article today on its website about Saturday's election. The article, titled, "Election Day cometh for city council, school board and bond package", states that, "Voters are required to have a voting registration card and/or a valid government-issued identification card, such as a driver’s license or a state identification card."

Their statement does not agree with election law. The drivers license does not have to be valid. Utility bills, bank statements, paycheck, government check - even a letter from the IRS may be used to establish identity at the polls.

Registered voters without a valid, current drivers license should not be discouraged from voting.

There is no constitutional rule requiring driving skills in order to vote. In fact, blind, disabled and elderly non-drivers vote all the time.

The Texas Election Code, chapter 63.0101 states:

§ 63.0101. DOCUMENTATION OF PROOF OF IDENTIFICATION.
The following documentation is acceptable as proof of identification under this chapter:
(1) a driver's license or personal identification card issued to the person by the Department of Public Safety or a similar document issued to the person by an agency of another state, regardless of whether the license or card has expired;
(2) a form of identification containing the person's photograph that establishes the person's identity;
(3) a birth certificate or other document confirming birth that is admissible in a court of law and establishes the person's identity;
(4) United States citizenship papers issued to the person;
(5) a United States passport issued to the person;
(6) official mail addressed to the person by name from a governmental entity;
(7) a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the voter; or
(8) any other form of identification prescribed by the secretary of state.

I have written to the Star Courier asking them to correct their article.

Bill

Florence Shapiro weighs run for U.S. Senate

Thursday, May 8, 2008
By WAYNE SLATER / The Dallas Morning News


AUSTIN -- State Sen. Florence Shapiro of Dallas is considering setting up an exploratory committee to run for the U.S. Senate in anticipation of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison running for governor.

Mrs. Shapiro was not available for comment but her political consultant, Bryan Eppstein, said people around the state are urging the Dallas Republican to seek the Senate if Mrs. Hutchison resigns or retires. “Right now, she’s strongly considering it,” said Mr. Eppstein.

He noted that a year ago, former Dallas Cowboy quarterback Roger Staubach was among those touting the idea and volunteered to help if Mrs. Shapiro ran for an open Senate seat.

Mrs. Hutchison, the state’s senior senator, has said she does not intend to run again. She has indicated she might challenge Gov. Rick Perry for reelection in 2010.

Mrs. Hutchison could either resign early or remain in the Senate while running for governor.

Should Mrs. Shapiro declare her intention to establish a federal campaign exploratory committee, it would allow her to start raising money and put her atop speculation about a possible successor to Mrs. Hutchison.

Mrs. Shapiro has been in the state Senate since 1993 and was a Plano City Council member and mayor before seeking state office. She is chairman of the Senate Education Committee.

read more....

In Plano, many register to vote, but few actually do

Thursday, May 8, 2008
By THEODORE KIM / The Dallas Morning News

Plano City Council member Shep Stahel has run unopposed twice this decade. He routed his only opponent in 2003, the year the city set a modern record for low voter turnout. The following year, turnout fell even lower, to just over 2 percent of registered voters.

Consider Mr. Stahel's path as evidence of the indifference that recently has defined Plano's elections.

"I used to say on the campaign trail: I'd love it if you vote for me. But even if you don't vote for me, vote for somebody," Mr. Stahel said.

The number of registered voters in Plano may have ballooned in the past two decades, but municipal voter turnout has not grown with it.

Many communities grapple with low turnout given that federal and state races often overshadow city campaigns, which come later in the year. Plano, in fact, had better turnout in the 2006 elections than neighboring Allen, Frisco, McKinney and Prosper.

But in contrast with neighboring cities, Plano has failed to attract more than 9 percent of registered voters in any municipal election since 1995, records show. Vote totals in Plano have showed signs of decline despite the presence of more than twice as many registered voters.

Observers say the numbers speak to a lack of any galvanizing citywide issues and an electorate too busy or content to care. The low participation, in turn, has allowed incumbents an easier path to re-election.

With four City Council seats up for re-election Saturday, a new wave of candidates hopes to dispel that apathy with what has emerged as Plano's most competitive campaign in years.

"For people to turn out, they have to care," said Justin Nichols, who faces Pat Miner for the Place 1 seat Mr. Stahel is vacating. "People are really starting to realize what a difference a city council makes."

Mr. Nichols and other candidates expect presidential primary enthusiasm to trickle down to the municipal contests. Fueled by that fervor, Collin County smashed turnout records in March.

But predictions of higher turnout on Saturday run counter to recent history.

"You're going to be lucky if 5 to 8 percent of voters vote," said former Plano Mayor James Muns.

read more....

Note:
Election day is Saturday. The polls are open from 7 AM to 7 PM.

You must vote in your neighborhood precinct polling place. A list of polling places is here.

Bill

My posts on the Allen Cheerleader discrimination complaint, and on Collin County's EEOP have generated some heated discussion as well as assumptions that I believe Collin County is racist.

Is Collin County racist? I asked that question, but I haven't yet seen a compelling answer to it, one way or the other. My suspicion is that we are no more racist than other upper middle class, southern suburbs. Do public institutions in Collin County unfairly discriminate? I definitely think so.

Anyone who believes that prejudice disappeared with the passage of the Civil Rights Act has his head in the sand, or perhaps in an even darker place than that. Prejudice and its handmaiden, discrimination are still with us.

Racial and gender discrimination is not the sole purview of jack-booted, saluting thugs, nor of sheet wearing rednecks. Many times it is the product of well meaning people who simply aren't comfortable around people not like them. We tend to hire and promote people "just like us". We look in fear and suspicion on those who are different.

Often unfair stereotypes end up locking qualified people out of opportunities - and this bias is hard to combat. As Samuel Johnson said, "Prejudice, not being founded on reason, cannot be removed by argument”

Society needs introspection. A nation and even a county can spiritually grow by periodically examining its attitudes and the effect those attitudes have on its citizens.

In the last few weeks, we have read of EEOP discussions and an out of balance workforce in county government. We have heard the Cheerleader discrimination accusations in Allen.

We just went through a primary run-off that was marred by anonymous anti-gay hate email. We saw a county commissioner try to single out an employee evaluation because of sexual orientation.

Last week, the Dallas Morning News published a story on how Jewish kids in Plano ISD felt "pressured" to accept New Testaments at school. And this week, in a story that hearkened back to the "white flight" over school busing, (that not coincidently gave rise to the growth of Collin County and other suburbs) the DMN wrote of an increasing dissatisfaction parents felt about the MISD busing policy.

Are these random incidents or do they beg us to look inward - to find and root out the prejudices that unfairly limit the potential of both its victims and practitioners?

Yes, I believe prejudice and discrimination are still with us. We can attempt to justify it. We can wait for the courts to force us to confront our institutionalized baises. Or, we can look hard at ourselves, and try to simply do the right thing - for all of our people.

Bill

Over the years, suburban citizens become very skeptical about DART's ability to keep up with the demand for public transportation. They seem incapable of doing anything in under 30 years (except building themselves million dollar conference rooms and engineering new scandals).

As readers of this blog are aware, I've also been critical of the proliferation of toll roads in our county. It is sad but true that we are viewed as a "cash cow" by TxDOT - their attitude is that a rich Collin County can afford the tolls to build infrastructure for the entire North Texas region.

And I don't see how privatizing our roadways will move more people from their homes to work and school. Instead toll roads merely add another level of taxation, leaving those unable to afford the tolls to be forced to increasingly 2nd class roads.

However, I could support tolls if the money generated was used to really remediate the mobility problems caused by our rapid growth. One such remediation would be to use toll revenue to build a mass transit infrastructure. That idea makes sense.

Rail can move more people and do it with less pollution than any other mass transit method. While I still have reservations about public-private transportation schemes, I applaud the kind of forward thinking that is being discussed for utilizing the Cotton Belt Line, and I hope we will hear more of these ideas being debated in the public arena.

Bill

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ICCB - Cities unite to expedite rail service on Cotton Belt
May 07, 2008
Stewart James / Inside Collin County Business

by Stewart James

Gas prices are surging and freeways are becoming increasingly more congested yet the largest east/west undeveloped rail line owned by a public transit authority in the U.S. remains undeveloped.

“As I understand it, this is the longest stretch of rail line in the country that is presently owned by a transit authority that is not developed,” said Ron Whitehead, city manager of the Town of Addison.

The Cotton Belt line is a 52-mile, east/west rail line that connects Wylie to Fort Worth and has been owned by DART since 1990. DART has the intention of developing this freight rail line into a commuter rail sometime in its 2030 plan.

Cities along the Cotton Belt are being informed and urged to request the North Central Texas Council of Government (NCTCOG) to undergo a study to determine whether potential exists to attract a comprehensive development agreement from a private firm to develop the Cotton Belt line into a commuter rail. The city managers of Addison and Richardson along with the former city manager of Irving have been spearheading the initiative.

“So far, we have visited with Plano, Richardson, Addison, Coppell, Carrollton, Grapevine, Dallas, DART, DFW Airport and have had preliminary conversations with North Richland Hills,” Whitehead said.

“We are going to get a request in the next few weeks,” said Michael Morris, PE, Director, NCTCOG. “We are going to implement a study to see if we can advance the Cotton Belt rail line at least 10 years. What we are going to do is look at several funding sources to do that. One is the use of toll road revenue and another is the use of public/private sector partnership.”

Morris believes a study could be underway by late summer and will be a year-long effort.

“We probably will not have to wait for the whole study to be done in order to implement some portions of what it is we do,” Morris said. "This project is still in its infancy and a number of questions still need to be answered. With the cooperation of DART, the painstaking task of securing right of way is already complete."

“Everyone realizes that there are technology questions and other question that we need to answer about funding,” Whitehead said. “We are trying to see if there are some opportunities for perhaps public/private partnerships that might expedite the line. Right now it is in the 2030 plan and what we would like to do is expedite that project and think that we can do that.”

read more....

After the storms and tornado that hit Plano on April 10, the City of Plano came under some criticism for not sounding the civil defense sirens. A couple of weeks after the storms, the media reported that Plano would be more proactive and "err on the side of caution" when making the decision to sound the sirens.

According to press reports, Plano suffered over a million dollars in damage from the April 10th storm.

The Dallas Morning News reported that "Plano officials who didn't sound sirens during storm relied on TV weather reports." - the Plano Star Courier gave a kinder version reporting that, "On April 10, early on a Thursday morning, the stormy weather which had caused so much havoc and destruction in Plano did not warrant a warning signal from the Department of Public Safety."

However, one aspect of this story seems to have escaped the notice of the press - the role of the North Central Texas Fusion Center.

According to the FAQ the North Central Texas Fusion System (NCTFS) has posted online, its purpose is,

• "Facilitates prevention, early warning and coordinated response to natural, accidental, and intentional disasters"
• "Expands the insight of law enforcement, public health, fire, and emergency management personnel in the field, responding to emergencies, and investigating incidents"

The Fusion System is primarily focused on the prevention and early warning of natural, accidental and intentional disasters in the region."
NCTFS website

No one seems to be asking the questions, "Why have millions been poured into an early warning system, if local officials still believe their best information is from Channel 8?"

"What are those guys doing out there?"

According to the "Project Innovation" fact sheet, "As lessons learned from 9/11 and Katrina, the project looks to provide multiple and linked communications systems such as microwave radio, secure fiber that does not flow through commercial telephone switches, leased fiber, wireless networks, satellite phones and ham radio networks. These layered, linked communication systems are interfaced to take advantage of high accessible bandwidth whenever the particular systems are available... Information is shared across law enforcement, health, government offices and intelligence transportation to authorized personnel – providing the right information to the right person at the right time."

Really? Then why is Plano using the old rabbit ears on the TV set to warn its citizens? Is Plano, the largest city in Collin County, not the "right person"?

I ask again, "What are those guys doing out there?"

Last month I wrote on the failure of the reverse 911 (CodeRED) to warn many people of upcoming storms.

CodeRED is a part of and linked to the county's Homeland Security Department and to the NCTFS.

Bill

Collin County is getting more diverse.

Recently, the county released data showing just how out of balance its own hiring is. This evening I dined in a large Allen restaurant. Of the dozen or more wait staff I saw, all were white. The kitchen was all Hispanic.

In Allen, 70% of the girls who tried out for cheerleader were accepted - that is 70% of the white girls. No blacks were chosen.

Do these examples tell us that Collin County is racist? Last year, I would have said that I was unaware of any real discrimination here. But then I'm a white male, and probably the least likely to notice discriminatory practices.

Now, I'm not so sure. From what I've seen, the local, large employers are generally doing a good job of ensuring that fair hiring practices are enforced. I am becoming less and less convinced that our public institutions are as racially sensitive.

Bill

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Allen parents file discrimination claims in cheerleader tryouts

Friday, May 2, 2008
By KARIN SHAW ANDERSON / The Dallas Morning News

Four black girls tried out for cheerleading at Allen High School this spring. None of them made it.

Now, parents have filed grievances with the school district on behalf of three of the girls, arguing that they suffered racial discrimination. The girls don't want spots on the squads; they want the district to open up the closed-door tryouts to the public.

The dustup is one of many emotional disputes tied to high school cheerleading that have popped up in Dallas-area high schools in recent years. To quash questions over selection bias, most schools use outside judges to evaluate each girl privately.

But in the Allen case, parents say the private selection fuels their concerns that biases go unchecked.

"There is something wrong with this process that looks like racism," said Andrea Broyard Johnson, whose daughter was cut. "Sometimes when it looks like a duck, you have to call it a duck."

read more....

AG Office rules in Jaynes’ favor

By Brandi Hart, McKinney Courier-Gazette
Friday, May 2, 2008

The Texas Attorney General’s Office has ruled that Collin County was in compliance with the law when the county withheld releasing copies of e-mails from commissioner for Pct. 3 Joe Jaynes to Chris Rude.

Rude managed former Celina Mayor Corbett Howard’s campaign for the county commissioner for the Pct. 3 seat in the March 4 Republican primary election, which Howard lost to incumbent commissioner for Pct. 3 Joe Jaynes, and filed a complaint in December 2007 about the county’s public information department.

Rude initially requested e-mails from Jaynes’ county e-mail account over a six month period. The county’s public information office did not release about 20 e-mails that were sent to and from Jaynes to a county attorney, said county public information officer Tim Wyatt.

The public information office asked for the AG’s Office to issue a ruling verifying if the office was in compliance in not releasing the e-mails about legal issues between Jaynes and an attorney who is working for the county, Wyatt said

The AG’s Office issued a ruling on April 28 that said that the public information office was in fact in compliance with the Texas Public Information Act when the office did not release the e-mails, because they dealt with legal issues that were not subject to be released to the public per the Texas Public Information Act, Wyatt said.

The AG’s Office also issued a ruling on March 21 about Rude’s complaint that said that the public information office was in compliance with the information that it released to Rude per requests made last winter about Jaynes’ e-mails and other information. Jaynes said on Friday that he was proud of the county’s public information office staff members.

read more....

In for a penny, in for a pound

Monday, April 28, 2008
Plano Star Courier Editorial

A project as grand, broad and potentially spectacular as the Arts of Collin County isn’t going to move forward without some headaches and defections. The commission that heads the project is suffering both defections and headaches right now.

But now is not the time to abandon the plans to build an arts hall that all of Collin County can call its own.

Now is the time for leadership and tough decision-making.

Plano Mayor Pat Evans and Frisco Mayor Mike Simpson, in the face of mounting criticism, displayed the type of regional leadership necessary to get this project completed. They suggested that Plano, Frisco and Allen provide additional dollars necessary to speed along the construction of the arts hall. The money needs could reach as high as $8-plus million. The hope is that once steel starts rising from the ground then private donations will pick up and that guaranteed money from the cities won’t be necessary.

It’s a gamble and it’s a gamble with taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars. But unless private benefactors step up this is what’s going to be needed. If the arts hall project is going to be more than a dream then more money has to be raised. In order to prime the private donor pump it appears the cities will have to step up once again. If they don’t there’s a good chance the project will die.

read more....

Once again, the Commissioners will discuss a proposal that will enable them to shirk their responsibility to set their own salaries.

This is the third meeting in a row the measure has been on the agenda.

Good grief, these commissioners spend more time debating their own raises than they give to discussing tax relief.

If it wasn't our tax money, it would be a joke. Their low point was two years ago, when the commissioners court voted themselves 3 different raises in a futile effort to duck public outrage.

So their brainy solution is not to do the right thing and cut their pay, but to slough off their responsibility to a committee that is instructed to "vote on an elected official’s salary immediately following the elected official’s presentation." The committee is not even allowed to do research or to deliberate in another session.

The proposal stinks to high heaven.

Bill

The Elected Officials Salary Advisory Committee proposal is here

Some of my previous posts on commissioners' salaries:

Apr. 18, 2008 DMN - Bill Baumbach of Wylie: Commissioners deserve a pay cut

Apr. 13, 2008 Commissioners Salaries - yet another scheme

Aug. 9, 2007 Raise Season 2007

Aug. 4, 2007 Pay Hikes: Commissioners make enough money

Sept 6, 2006 Budget held hostage to Commissioners' raises

Sept. 5, 2006 Commissioners play shell game with their salaries.

Aug. 23, 2006 A slap to the face of every taxpayer in Collin County!

Note: The Commissioners Court will meet this Tuesday, April 29 at 1:30 P.M.

The discussion of the Elected Officials Salary Advisory Committee proposal is agenda item #12. The Court does allow public comment on any agenda item, simply fill out a card before the meeting to request your right to speak on agenda item #12.

The meeting is on the 6th Floor of the Collin County Courthouse at 210 S. McDonald St. in McKinney

For about a week now, folks have been sending me an email urging me to be sure and protect our over 65 Homestead exemption.

The email message looks like this:

EVERYONE,

THIS IS AN EMAIL THAT ONE OF MY CLIENTS SENT TO ME. PLEASE BE AWARE
OF ANY UPCOMING VOTE WITH REGARD TO THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR
CITIZENS OVER 65 AND/OR DISABLED.

Homestead Tax Cap for 65 & Older:

You must vote in May to keep the Homestead tax cap for 65 and over, even if you are not 65 yet. If you are a Texas homeowner then this is important to you. If not, it is important to your friends who are. If you agree, please pass along to all on your email lists.

I am sending this email to everyone on my email address list who lives in Texas. I want to be sure you are aware of a constitutional amendment that will be on the ballot in the May election. It is an amendment to correct an error made by the lawmakers when they voted for a reduction in school property taxes in 2005.

When the lawmakers voted for a one-third reduction in school property taxes beginning in 2006 and to be completed this year, they forgot about the Homestead exemption for senior citizens and people with disabilities.

The state constitution caps school property taxes for homeowners 65 years and older and those who are disabled. However, they DID NOT get the same reduction when the property tax cut for schools was voted on two years ago.

So an amendment is on the May ballot to correct this error. The problem is that most voters who are younger than 65 or not disabled probably won't even notice the amendment or care.

PLEASE get out and vote for this amendment if not for yourself, then for your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends. We would really appreciate you getting the word out to all your friends and families to vote for this amendment. The fear is that with a low voter turnout, the amendment could very well not pass.

So, please, please pass the word and VOTE for the constitutional amendment.

Early voting will take place: April 30 - May 5 from 7 am to 7 PM;
May 6 from noon to 6 PM and
May 7 - May 8 from 7 am to 7 PM.
Election day is May 12.

It saddens me how little people know about their government. Let me set the matter straight.

There is no proposition on the ballot for Over 65 homestead exemptions. That was last year! This email is a year old...even the date for the election is wrong. This year Election Day is on May 10.

The Texas Legislature meets every other year. It did not meet this year, so no amendments could possibly be on your ballot.

Oh, and by the way, the amendment passed, but it only extended the exemption for the 2006 and 2007 tax years. So it has expired. In order to continue to preserve the Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption, I assume you will see it again on the ballot in 2009.

This email will probably still be going around in time for the 2009 elections.

Bill

Last meeting, the commissioners court left as unfinished business the adoption of an Equal Employment Opportunity Program.

Why?

Because they're afraid of it - They are afraid that adopting a policy and tracking the numbers will lead to quota hiring. They are afraid they will get resistance from elected department managers. They are afraid that the policy will open the door to groups, such as gays, that will demand equal employment protection. And I believe they are afraid that if they publish their statistics that they will look as bad as they really are.

If they are so afraid of EEOP, then why are they even discussing it?

Because big money is involved - The federal government will withhold grant money if the county does not adopt a policy that is statistically tracked and that doesn't have goals to improve.

Big money - County staff estimates that over the next year $3.4 million of federal grant money could be withheld. Of that, $1.3 million is for WIC. Loss of the WIC grant would be devastating for low income women and children.

The statistics the court is wary of publishing are troubling. They show huge gender and ethnic disparities. These gaps have been allowed to occur even though Collin County advertises itself to be an "Equal Opportunity Employer".

An example - In the "administrative support" class, the county employs 481 people, of which a whopping 83% (393) are white females. Is it coincidental that the 2 largest departments that hire support employees are headed by elected white females? Is it coincidental that these are among the lowest paying jobs in the county?

Some more examples:

• 46 are employed in the "service maintenance" class - 98% (45) of them are white men
• 92 are employed in the "skilled craft" class - 84% (77) of them are white men
• 50 are employed as "technicians", 74% (37) of them are male
• In non-law enforcement positions, black men are underemployed in every class except "skilled craft"

Law enforcement is no exception:

• Out of 73 sworn officials (the highest paid jobs), 79% (58) are white men
• Out of 124 sworn patrol officers, only 13 are women (90% men)

At the last meeting, Judge Self tried to make it clear what his position is. He said that "The issue is whether or not we want to apply for certain federal level law enforcement grants over $25,000... This is basically a tracking function. This has nothing to do with the hiring policy of the county." (emphasis added)

In listening to the reaction of Judge Self, I am reminded of Ann Richards' famous quip, "He can't help it. He was born with a silver foot in his mouth."

Judge Self sure put his silver foot in his mouth with the "nothing to do with the hiring policy" statement. I hope he doesn't mean it. What Self was trying to do was to prohibit discussion on expanding the policy to include sexual orientation. He and the county don't want to open the door to that debate - they fear the backlash of their own party.

Their fear effectively ended any chance of a real debate on the need for, or the merits of, a real Equal Employment Opportunity policy. There was no discussion on how to improve opportunities for women and minorities. Instead, the debate was on whether it is more cost effective to enact the policy or turn down the grant funds.

Traditionally, there have been two ways to redress unfair and unequal hiring practices. One is to change the policy and actively seek a balanced workforce that reflects the community.

The other is to put blinders on until an employee or class action lawsuit forces a change under the direction of a court.

I hope that Collin County will not choose Plan B.

Bill

The proposed EEOP policy, including the statistics is here.

Note: The Commissioners Court will meet this Tuesday, April 29 at 1:30 P.M.

The discussion of the EEOP policy is agenda item #18. The Court does allow public comment on any agenda item, simply fill out a card before the meeting to request your right to speak on agenda item #18.

The meeting is on the 6th Floor of the Collin County Courthouse at 210 S. McDonald St. in McKinney

Frustrated over lack of access to computer systems, the County Auditor appeals to the Texas Attorney General.

There's been a long running turf battle at the county courthouse over the extent of authority of the County Auditor.

The County Auditor serves a role almost unique in county government. He and his department are paid out of the general fund controlled by the Commissioners Court, but he is hired and his pay is set by a committee of the elected District Judges.

"May permission to provide the County auditor with access to any data and/or tables used to create or support financial transactions... be arbitrarily withheld?"
County Auditor Don Cozad

It is the Judges who do all salary reviews, hiring and firing and who set the auditor's staff and budget. These laws are designed so that the Auditor is independent and above the political fray.

Our commissioners have never liked "independent". They look with suspicion on any county operation not under their own direct control. A good example of this tension was evident at a commissioners court meeting a few weeks ago when Commissioner Phyllis Cole attempted to chastise County Auditor Donald Cozad for noting in a report that the light switches weren't working at the animal shelter. Cozad had listed the broken switches as a safety hazard, Cole emphasized that lighting was not in the Auditor's purview.

"The conversion has severely limited the ability of the County Auditor to audit the payroll financial transactions; in addition access has been denied to confirm the system configuration, system rules....etc."
County Auditor Don Cozad

The real battle however is over computerized financial systems. Cozad has long wanted to employ an IT auditor to review the programs, systems, security and backup of the county's varied computer systems.

As the county has grown, it has begun supplementing its financial reporting system with "stand alone" software packages that are under the control of individual department heads. These systems, such as the HR department's, PeopleSoft program and the Tax Assessor's RT Lawrence Remittance System send only final reports to the central financial reporting software package. The auditor wants to be able to look at these stand alone systems to verify that they have not been tampered with and are reporting accurately.

Last week, Cozad finally appealed to a higher authority - he asked the Texas Attorney General to rule on the dispute. Cozad's request for an Attorney General's Opinion lists 9 questions that clearly illustrate his frustration with the county and Commissioners Court.

Cozad's request for an Attorney General's Opinion.(click on image to view the complete request)

In his request, Cozad asks, "May the county Auditor examine and audit any computer system (hardware and/or software) that affects, generates, contains or reports on financial records?

"May the County Auditor examine and audit the records (both paper and electronic) of administrative or elective offices?"

He also asks, "May permission to provide the County Auditor with only view only access to internal controls within a system or use of monitor software that reports changes be arbitrarily withheld?

"May permission to provide the County auditor with access to any data and/or tables used to create or support financial transactions... be arbitrarily withheld?"

Cozad directly complains about procedures used with the new PeopleSoft system. He wrote in his request, "Until late December of 2006, the County Auditor had full access to the payroll system....In December of 2006, the County converted to a new HR/PR [PeopleSoft] system that is not integrated with the financial [reporting] system. The conversion has severely limited the ability of the County Auditor to audit the payroll financial transactions; in addition access has been denied to confirm the system configuration, system rules....etc."

Mr. Cozad had asked District Attorney John Roach to rule on these matters, but Roach declined, in part because, as he wrote, "all these defects or problems could be remedied by your request for an opinion from the Texas Attorney General".

In his arguments for asking for the greater access, Cozad mentions that modern auditing methods, and federal law have evolved, especially since Enron and other financial scandals have pointed to the need for effective examination of all paper and electronic financial systems.

This battle by Mr. Cozad will have, and should have, far-reaching implications as to how local governments are administered. The taxpayers are entitled to know, beyond a reasonable doubt, that all their money has been protected, and that there is true, independent verification of all financial dealings.

This week we've learned that the County Tax Assessor hired a convicted thief (who stole from her previous job in a county tax office) and that the county won't let the auditor look at the systems that are behind the financial reports.

The county commissioners court and the district judges had better resolve this issue before they begin to look like the "Enron on McDonald Street".

Bill

Note: The Commissioners Court will meet this Tuesday, April 29 at 1:30 P.M.

The discussion of the Auditor's Request for an Attorney General's Opinion is agenda item #13. The Court does allow public comment on any agenda item, simply fill out a card before the meeting to request your right to speak on agenda item #13.

The meeting is on the 6th Floor of the Collin County Courthouse at 210 S. McDonald St. in McKinney

Water treatment plant may bring steep rate increases

Saturday, April 26, 2008
By THEODORE KIM / The Dallas Morning News

Thanks to a planned treatment plant, the reek that occasionally afflicts drinking water from Lavon Lake will be gone in the next several years.

But the rate increases to follow will be steep, meaning higher bills for those who get their water from the North Texas Municipal Water District. And that is just the beginning.

New budget estimates show cost increases in the plant and other projects have added some $900 million to a budget forecast the district crafted just two years ago – a roughly 30 percent increase.

As a result, the district, the main water and sewer provider for Dallas' northern and eastern suburbs including Plano, Garland and Frisco, faces the prospect of wholesale water rates doubling by 2018.

While the impact on water bills is harder to gauge, some of the district's 2 million customers could see their bills more than double in that time.

read more....

Rhodney Rhoades, Collin County's budget director since 2000 is heading off to greener pastures in the Hill Country.

I've heard that Rhoades will be heading to the Democratic stronghold of Travis County as its new Executive Manager of Planning and Budget. I hope he won't suffer from too much culture shock there! I'll be happy to loan him one of my donkey lapel pins if he needs it to help him fit in.

Rhoades is a graduate of UTD and earned a Master's degree in Government at SMU. Before assuming the Budget Director's position in Collin County, he was the Director of Budget in Grand Prairie, and before that in Garland. Last year he was a finalist in a search conducted by Archuleta County, Colorado for a new Finance Director.

The Commissioners Court is to consider appointing the county's Assistant Budget Director, Monika Arris, as interim director of the Budget Department at it's Tuesday meeting.

Bill

Today's Dallas Morning News carries a story detailing the steroid production and distribution operation of David Jacobs, of Plano

Bill

--------------------------------------
DMN - Plano resident's steroid distribution ring was one of the largest in U.S.

Friday, April 25, 2008
By JASON TRAHAN and GARY JACOBSON / The Dallas Morning News

The Great Wall of China proved to be too much for Plano's David Jacobs, a former Marine.

Hiking it in 2002 left him winded, feeling weak and embarrassed. It marked a turning point in his life, and he vowed to change.

He became a workout fiend. Then a training guru. And somewhere along the way, a self-taught chemist who produced high-grade anabolic steroids that would transform some of his customers into walking billboards for performance-enhancing drugs, Mr. Jacobs and people who know him say.

That helped Mr. Jacobs build one of the largest steroid and human growth hormone distribution rings in the country, and landed him in the middle of one of the largest trafficking investigations of its kind in the nation's history, authorities say.

Authorities suspect that Mr. Jacobs, 35, and his associates supplied steroids to NFL players, professional bodybuilders and police officers.

Authorities also are pursuing possible links between Mr. Jacobs' network and some of the pharmacies and anti-aging clinics in New York and Florida that serviced professional baseball players and other athletes. And one of Mr. Jacobs' co-defendants admitted selling small amounts of steroids to the owner of the Houston weight-loss clinic recently linked to baseball legend Roger Clemens.

Mr. Jacobs, who had a top middleman who sold nearly $30,000 worth of steroids a month, is one of seven defendants who have pleaded guilty and await sentencing as early as next month.

read more....

As big as they're getting, Frisco will surely need another toll road.

Bill

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