HTX-TOM: Impact 10/20/2025

Magnolia City Council on Oct. 14 approved a contract with Ford Audio-Video Systems LLC for upgrades to the City Council chambers’ audio and video systems, along with improvements to bring the space into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The gist: The $87,058 project includes installation of new microphones, ceiling-mounted speakers and high-definition displays to enhance sound and visibility during public meetings, according to the agenda packet. The upgrades also add an assisted listening system for hearing-impaired attendees and new control features for easier meeting operation.

Under the agreement, Ford Audio-Video Systems will replace and modernize existing equipment, install a digital signal processor for clearer sound and integrate new video distribution systems to mirror presentations across multiple screens. The project will take about 14 weeks from approval to completion, per the agenda.

The city also approved a $3,123 extended warranty covering a third year of maintenance and service.

Hotworx officials said the fitness studio has plans to expand to Tomball in November.

The details: The 24/7 infrared fitness studio offers a variety of classes, including cycling and yoga within infrared saunas. Its virtually instructed exercise programs include 30-minute workout sessions and 15 high-intensity sessions.

• 1417 Graham Drive, Ste. 300, Tomball

At its regular meeting Oct. 14, Tomball ISD's board of trustees approved a $647,120 purchase of furniture items from School Specialty using bond 2021 funds for the district’s Creekside Park Junior High School addition.

Diving deeper: Creekside Park Junior High School is currently undergoing work that will include a two-story addition for fifth graders in the 2026-27 school year at a cost of $39 million. The project is part of TISD's bond package that passed in 2021.

Also on the agenda: At the Oct. 14 meeting, the board also approved the selection of PBK Architects as the architectural firm for the multiprogram activity centers at Tomball High School, Tomball Memorial High School and Tomball West High School. The 6-1 vote allows Chief Financial Officer Zack Boles to finalize contract negotiations using bond 2025 funds.

Houston renters saw more listings in September while lease prices remained steady compared to this time last year, according to the Houston Association of Realtors’ September 2025 Rental Market Update released Oct. 15.

Two-minute impact: There was a 5.3% increase in the number of single-family homes leased this September compared to the same time last year, according to the report. Surpassing last month’s record, 11,255 single-family homes were available for rent in September. 

The average lease price was $2,341 per month, which is statistically unchanged from September 2024, per the report. This marks the third month in a row where the average listing price remained flat, indicating a plateau in prices.

Quote of note: “We continue to see steady demand for single-family rentals as many people find homeownership challenging right now due to affordability issues—not just in Houston, but nationwide,” HAR Chair Shae Cottar said via the report. “With so many properties on the market, renters have more choices than ever, and that’s helping them find places that fit their needs and budget."

As Community Impact enters its third decade, it’s returning to its roots of growth and deeper reader connections. The “Patron” program, which began in 2020 by reader demand, is relaunching as the InCIder this month.

“This relaunch represents our renewed commitment to readers who support our local news,” CEO John Garrett said. “Beyond funding great journalism, we also want to reward our InCIders and build deeper connections with them, creating a true sense of community around the work we do.”

The InCIder program currently gives donors access to a special Saturday email edition across each metro: Austin, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio.

Memberships are currently $10 per month or $110 annually. A membership will include the previously mentioned perks, as well as:

• Quarterly discounts at local businesses 
• Invites to in-person events
• Optional naming and “thank you” in our newspaper
• Community Impact swag
• InCIder anniversary gift

Harris County commissioners implemented a burn ban beginning Oct. 16 for unincorporated Harris County due to what county officials are calling "ongoing dry weather and heightened fire danger."

Quote of note: "In these dry conditions, a small spark could cause a big problem for our community," Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said in a statement.

The big picture: More than 150 counties across Texas are also under burn bans to reduce wildfire threats, according to the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office, including Montgomery, Fort Bend, Waller, Chambers and Liberty counties.

What you need to know: The ban will last for 90 days or until the Texas Forest Service determines drought conditions no longer exist in Harris County. The TFS measures drought conditions based on the Keetch-Byram Drought Index scale, which finds conditions between 600-800 with the potential to lead to intense, prolonged wildfires. County officials found Harris County averaging 671, according to a news release.

Early voting in the Nov. 4 election begins Oct. 20 and runs through Oct. 31. During early voting, registered voters can cast ballots at any polling place within their county of residence, according to the secretary of state’s office.

What to bring: Voters must bring one of seven forms of identification to the polls:

• A Texas driver license (issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety)
• A Texas personal ID card (issued by the DPS)
• A Texas handgun license (issued by the DPS)
• A Texas election ID certificate (issued by the DPS)
• A U.S. military ID card with the voter’s photograph
• A U.S. citizenship certificate with the voter’s photograph
• A U.S. passport

As water restrictions and shortages become more common in Texas communities, state lawmakers are asking voters to approve $20 billion to fund new water supply projects and improve existing systems over the next 20 years.

The overview: If voters approve State Proposition 4, which is on the November ballot, the state will create a dedicated funding stream to help local utilities access more water and upgrade their infrastructure. Without the new funding, Texas’ water crisis could deepen, experts say.

“We’ve got 1,500+ people moving to Texas every day, and not one of them is bringing a single drop of water with them,” Dean Sharp, who leads the management division of the Texas American Water Works Association, said Oct. 16.

Key takeaway: Despite the $1 billion annual price tag, Proposition 4 would not create any new state taxes or increase costs for Texans, lawmakers and experts said. Beginning in 2027, the money would come from existing sales tax revenue and be deposited in the Texas Water Fund, a state account that voters approved in 2023.