Montgomery County Commissioners Court approved a new appointment structure March 5 for emergency services district boards that span more than one commissioner precinct.

In a nutshell: A move county officials said is meant to add consistency to how those boards are filled, it passed in a 4-1 vote after the commissioners discussed oversight, accountability and who should help shape boards that make high-stakes public safety decisions.

Under the new structure, the county judge will select one of the five seats on each ESD board, while the remaining four seats will be recommended by the commissioner—or commissioners—whose precinct includes that district. 
For ESDs that cross into two precincts, each commissioner would select two positions; if an ESD lies fully within one precinct, that commissioner would select four. Final appointments would still require approval from the full court.

Why it matters: The change affects how Montgomery County fills boards that govern local ESDs, which oversee fire and emergency response operations and, in some cases, manage budgets that rival or exceed county department budgets.

According to a March 2 Woodland Lane Ceramics news release, the ceramic studio is celebrating its fifth anniversary in March. Along with its anniversary, Woodland Lane Ceramics announced a new Special Project Workshops program and expanded classes.

Quote of note: “Our studio has grown a lot with both new projects and new students,” owner Kinsey Lane said. “People are drawn to us for the chance to create one-of-a-kind pieces. They end up staying because we have so much fun together, and we’ve established a strong artistic community.”

The details: Per the release, as part of its Special Projects Workshop first session, during a March 28 workshop students are invited to sculpt their own bunnies from clay. Classes are open to all ages and skill levels.

A different Special Projects Workshop will be offered each month, including sessions of sculptures, mugs and planters among other workshops. In addition, Woodland Lane Ceramics is also adding a weekly Monday night class starting April 13.

• 33218 Sweetgum Lane, Magnolia

Several road improvements are underway and coming soon across the Houston region. Here are some projects to keep an eye on.

Latest update: Construction bids for the $81 million Greenhouse Road overpass project are now being accepted, Harris County Precinct 3 officials said. 

According to details shared by Harris County MUD 500 and Caldwell Companies, the new Greenhouse Road underpass will include an expanded overpass on Hwy. 290, a tunnel structure underneath the Union Pacific railroad and additional sidewalks and pedestrian crossings.

Other projects: The Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority is expanding Westpark Tollway an additional four miles, bringing its new end to Charger Way. The first 2-mile extension of the project opened Feb. 28, more than eight months ahead of schedule.

Additionally, a portion of FM 1960 was widened from a four-lane asphalt roadway to a six-lane divided concrete roadway with a raised median, curbs and gutters, channelized left-turn lanes and 5-foot sidewalks on both sides of the roadway. 

Lone Star College System finished fiscal year 2024-25 with a net income of $163 million, after subtracting expenses from revenues.

What happened: During the LSCS board of trustees’ regular March 5 meeting, Chief Financial Officer Kristy Vienne presented the college system’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for fiscal year 2024-25. The fiscal year ran from Sept. 1, 2024-Aug. 31, 2025.

The gist: Actual totals for FY 2024-25 were:

• $604 million in nonoperating revenues, which include property taxes and state funding
• $563.64 million in operating expenses
• $122.68 million for operating revenues, which includes tuition and grants