Greetings!
As a county commissioner, I regularly ask myself: does this benefit the residents of Precinct 4? Your satisfaction guides our metrics for success.
With your health, happiness, and quality of life in mind, your Precinct 4 team and I continually strive to expand access to parks and greenspace, to improve roadways ahead of growth, and to create new recreational opportunities along our greenways. We also work to protect you, your family, and your property by advocating strenuously for channel maintenance and flood control projects in your neighborhood and beyond.
With all the changes happening in Commissioners Court, I encourage you to reach out to all of your elected officials to let them know how they may better serve you. Your Precinct 4 team recently joined with the county’s technology department to introduce hybrid Commissioners Court meetings so that you may voice your concerns virtually. My team also makes it easier than ever to stay connected by streaming Commissioners Court meetings live on Facebook. Tune in to the next meeting to learn more about countywide changes that may affect you.
In the meantime, we packed this issue with other information on how your government serves you. Read about new flood control projects, a 311 help line, road projects, and more. We also included information about the new Harris County administrator, which changes the reporting structure of many county departments.
As always, you’ll find fun-filled events and activities for children and adults of all ages. I hope you join us!
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Harris County Administrator
Prepares Transition Plan
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Harris County Commissioners Court voted 3-2 along party lines last month to create a new, unelected county administrator position, with Precinct 4 Commissioner R. Jack Cagle and Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey opposing.
During the marathon session, court members appointed David Berry, the executive director of the county’s budget department, to the position. As county administrator, Berry will coordinate with and oversee all county departments and execute policies and goals approved by Commissioners Court.
The position will change the reporting structure of “more than 20” county departments. Most non-elected department heads that report to Commissioners Court will now report to the county administrator.
What this means for the public remains unclear. We do not even know yet which departments will be included in the new structure. Berry will present a transition plan to Commissioners Court on Aug. 10 that will contain a mission and vision statement, priorities, and the new reporting structure.
Those with questions can tune into Tech Talk with Rick Noriega, the executive director and chief information officer of Harris County Universal Services, on Friday, Aug. 13, from 9:30 to 10 a.m.
Berry will discuss his new role and answer questions from viewers.
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Join Commissioners Court Meetings Virtually |
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Harris County Precinct 4 teamed up with Universal Services, the county’s technology department, last month to make Commissioners Court meetings more convenient for residents to monitor.
The public can now join court meetings by phone or video conference. With court meetings now longer than ever, it's a welcome option for participants who do not want to wait hours in court to voice their opinion.
This isn't the first time Precinct 4 has improved access to Commissioners Court meetings. For the past few years, Precinct 4 has streamed Commissioners Court meetings live on Facebook to reach new audiences and improve transparency.
Even when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and commissioners began meeting virtually, Precinct 4 continued to air those meetings live.
When COVID infection rates declined, commissioners Cagle and Ramsey resumed meeting in person, while their three colleagues chose to continue meeting virtually. The resulting hybrid meetings set a precedent for a new meeting format.
With all court members now back in the courtroom, hybrid meetings may be here to stay, giving remote residents unparalleled access to their elected officials.
To speak before Commissioners Court virtually, fill out an appearance request form online and receive a call when it's your turn to appear. For more information, click here.
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Texas Open Meetings Act
Virtual meetings may have been the norm last year, but it’s about to get much harder for some agencies and organizations to hold them. All provisions of the Open Meetings Act will go back into effect on Sept. 1.
Gov. Greg Abbott suspended portions of the Open Meetings Act last year to allow local and state agencies to replace in-person meetings with virtual ones. Once the suspension expires, agencies and organizations subject to the act must return to full compliance.
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Gosling Road Bridge Widening Continues |
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A major project to widen Gosling Road and add a second bridge over Spring Creek is now one step closer, thanks to a land donation by the Howard Hughes Corporation.
Plans include widening the roadway from Gatewood Reserve Lane in Montgomery County to Creekside Forest Drive in Harris County to a four-lane concrete pavement section and adding a second two-lane bridge over Spring Creek.
Before the project could begin, Montgomery and Harris County employees needed to secure enough property for the bridge and its drainage. When the Howard Hughes Corporation donated approximately 8 acres, the project could continue.
The joint project between Harris and Montgomery counties will complete improvements along Gosling Road, resulting in improved safety and mobility along the corridor.
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Harris County Launches 311 Helpline |
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Calling for assistance just got easier in Harris County. Residents in unincorporated areas can now dial 311 to receive non-emergency information 24 hours a day.
Residents previously had to dial 713-755-5000 to reach Harris County's 24-hour information line. That changed in May, when the county launched a 311 call center to streamline service for residents. The call center notably shares a number with the City of Houston's service line. Residents in both areas can now dial one number to be routed to the correct city or county staff.
The call center has already received nearly 5,000 calls.
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HCFCD Receives $9.8 Million For
Projects in Barker Reservoir Watershed
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The Harris County Flood Control District received some much-needed assistance last month after the federal government awarded it nearly $9.8 million to clear channels flowing into the Barker Reservoir.
The award comes more than four years after Hurricane Harvey swept large amounts of sand and sediment along the banks and into the waterways of the Barker Reservoir watershed.
The Army Corps of Engineers created the Barker and Addicks reservoirs in the 1940s to control flooding along Buffalo Bayou and protect downtown Houston. The Barker Reservoir watershed encompasses the area that drains into the Barker Reservoir.
The flood control district will oversee work to restore the drainage system to pre-disaster design, capacity, and function by removing more than 200,000 cubic yards of sand and sediment. That’s enough to fill roughly 20,000 dump trucks.
The project in the Barker watershed is the first of several across the county. Altogether, the flood control district expects to receive nearly $250 million to remove sediment caused by Hurricane Harvey across eight watersheds.
Work on this project is slated to begin as early as next year.
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Construction Begins on Segment
Of Spring Creek Greenway Trail
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A completed section of the Spring Creek Greenway Trail near Humble. |
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Construction is now underway on a segment of the Spring Creek Greenway trail within the George Mitchell Nature Preserve.
Creation of the 12-foot-wide asphalt trail between Burroughs Park and Dr. Ann Snyder Way began this month with site clearing and is expected to take eight months to complete.
The Howard Hughes Corporation owns the land and granted a trail easement to Harris County Precinct 4. Trails within the preserve are built and maintained by Harris County Precinct 4, The Woodlands Township, Bayou Land Conservancy, and The Howard Hughes Corporation.
The Spring Creek Nature trail will remain open during construction. When complete, the Spring Creek Greenway trail project will span more than 40 miles from Tomball to Humble.
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Improving Roads in Your Community |
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Looking for road updates in your neighborhood? Harris County Precinct 4’s Infrastructure Division has you covered. This month, we’re spotlighting a few of the major projects throughout the precinct. |
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Cypress Rose Hill Road from north of FM 2920 to north of FM 2920
Status: Construction
Cost: $3.9 million
Construction Start: March 29, 2021
Construction End: May 9, 2022
Joint participation between Harris County Precincts 3 and 4.
Gessner Road from West Road to Fallbrook Drive
Status: Construction
Cost: $10.3 million
Construction Start: June 14, 2021
Construction End: Feb. 23, 2023
Gosling Road bridge over Spring Creek
Status: Advertised for bid on March 28
Joint participation between Harris County Precinct 4 and Montgomery County Precinct 3
Gosling Road Segment 3 from West Rayford Road to Creekside Forest Drive
Status: Construction
Cost: $6.8 million
Construction Start: June 2021
Construction End: June 2022
Hufsmith Road Phase 1 from Burroughs Park to Lakes at Creekside Drive
Status: Construction
Cost: $4.3 million
Construction Start: March 5,2021
Construction End: Jan. 19, 2022
Louetta Road and Bridge over Spring Creek
Status: Construction
Cost: $8.8 million
Construction Start: Sept. 14, 2020
Construction End: March 7, 2022
Joint participation between Harris County Precincts 3 and 4.
Neuens Road from Gessner Road to Blalock Road
Status: Construction
Cost: $11.8 million
Construction Start: Oct. 5, 2020
Construction End: Jan. 7, 2023
Joint Participation project with Harris County Precinct 4 and City of Houston
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Enjoy a performance of traditional classic songs and a delicious meal on Tuesday, Aug. 24, at 11:30 a.m. at Champion Forest Baptist Church Jersey Village, 16518 Jersey Drive in Jersey Village. Lunch includes chicken-fried chicken with gravy, green beans, mashed potatoes, roll, dessert, and iced tea. For more information, visit www.hcp4.net/events/.
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Cacti & Succulents Virtual Plant Sale |
Don’t let the extreme summers of the Texas Gulf Coast limit your garden possibilities. Beat the summer heat with sun-loving, heat- and drought-tolerant plant choices. This online plant sale will feature cacti, succulents, and plenty of tough plants that thrive in Harris County. An online preview of all available plants will begin the week before the sale at themercersociety.square.site. Shopping starts on Saturday, Aug. 14, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Members of The Mercer Society can shop early on Friday, Aug. 13, beginning at 4 p.m. For more information, call The Mercer Society at 713-274-4166.
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Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center has partnered with Lone Star College-Kingwood to share how to use native plants to mitigate the effects of flooding on Saturday, Aug. 7, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Special guests will speak about the health hazards of extreme flooding and how native plants can help reduce flood damage. Visitors are welcome to join the event in the Nature Center or register at hcp4.net/jones to participate virtually.
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