Cibolo City Council approves $546K contract for street work
Cibolo City Council approved a $546,580 contract with Viking Construction for preservation work in the Saratoga neighborhood Aug. 26.
What happened: The council unanimously approved the FY 25 Street Preservation Package, which will microsurface pavement on 25 streets. Public Works Director Julio Gomez said the package is similar to previous work done at Buffalo Crossing and Bentwood Pass.
Council member Norma Sanchez-Stephens asked Gomez how streets are selected for the package. Gomez said his department uses a Pavement Condition Index to identify streets for preservation to extend the life of the infrastructure.
Next steps: Work in the Saratoga neighborhood is estimated to begin in late September for a November completion, Gomez told Community Impact.
New round of Schertz street rehabilitation set to begin
Schertz's 2024 Street Preservation and Maintenance, or SPAM, rehabilitation project will begin in September.
What you need to know: The project is for Schertz streets that were identified as needing more than just resurfacing, Assistant City Engineer John Nowak said at the Aug. 5 Schertz City Council meeting. The streets involved in the project are:
St. Andrews
Maple Drive
Dove Meadows
Spicewood
Silvertree Boulevard
Idlewood
Grey Feather
White Wing
Mourning Dove
According to previous agenda documents, rehabilitation involves removing existing pavement from the surface, cement stabilizing the existing base underneath and placing a new layer of pavement on the surface. The cost of the project is not to exceed $3.58 million Nowak said. The project is being funded by the city's general fund and bonds, agenda documents state.
San Antonio City Council appoints 3 new SAWS trustees
The San Antonio City Council appointed three new San Antonio Water System board trustees during its Sept. 4 meeting.
The gist: During the meeting, each candidate was asked four predetermined questions that covered topics, such as water infrastructure, water-related challenges and service-related issues.
After interviewing the candidates, City Council went into executive session to deliberate before returning and naming the three appointees. Greg Mann was appointed as the at-large representative for the Northeast Quadrant, Theresa Scapanski was named the at-large representative for the Northwest Quadrant and former District 4 Council member Adriana Rocha Garcia was appointed as the at-large representative for the Southwest Quadrant.
Explaining the role: According to city documents, the SAWS board of trustees manages, controls and operates the city’s water system. The board governs expenditures and revenue and advises the City Council on rates, fees and service changes.
The board is made up of six at-large trustees and the mayor, who serves as the ex officio member.
Cellphone ban, library materials: 8 new Texas laws impacting public schools
When Texas students returned to school in August, some substantial changes awaited them.
The overview:
House Bill 2 increases state funding for public schools by $8.4 billion.
House Bill 1481 prohibits students from using cellphones and other personal communication devices throughout the school day.
Senate Bill 12 requires parental consent for students to receive "medical, psychiatric and psychological treatment" on campus.
Senate Bill 13 gives parents and school boards more oversight of library materials.
House Bill 6 gives teachers more discretion to remove repeatedly disruptive or violent students from class.
Senate Bill 10 requires most schools to display donated posters of the Ten Commandments in classrooms.
Senate Bill 11 allows districts to set aside time for students and staff to pray or read religious texts at school.
Senate Bill 965 codifies school employees' rights to "engage in religious speech or prayer while on duty."
The context: The sweeping changes come after lawmakers passed what state leaders have called “transformative” education laws during this year’s regular legislative session, which ended June 2.
