Posts published in “Day: March 22, 2011”
NORTHEAST– The new offices of the East Aldine District were dedicated and went into use last week, with the first board meeting held on Tuesday night, March 15.
A ribbon cutting was held at 6 p.m. and then the public was invited to attend an open house with refreshments, prior to the first board meeting in the new facility.
Chairman Clyde Bailey explained that with the increase in activities of the District, more space was required than the old offices at the Sheriff’s storefront location could provide.
The new offices are about 4000 square feet, and include a reception space, three offices, a conference room, and a large meeting room. In addition there is a serving kitchen, public toilets, and a copy/coffee room.
Facilities are handicap accessible, and are available for public meetings. Contact the director of services, Richard Cantu, at 713-595-1220 for arrangements.
The East Aldine District was originally established in 2001 by the state legislature, to provide quality of life services to the 50,000 people that live within the 15 square mile area of the district. The financial support comes from a 1 cent sales tax levied on sales within the district, and amounts to revenue of about $3 million dollars each year. Using this money and bond sales as leverage, the district is providing water and sewer infrastructure, public safety, economic development, mobility and transportation projects, parks and green space, grants, leadership training, neighborhood cleanups, and more.
In regular board business, several speakers made presentations. Misty Worrell of ESD#1 thanked the district for support of the Bike Medic Team, and sommented that she liked the new street signs because they were more readable for ambulance drivers on emergency calls.
Patrick LeBlanc of Castlewood Subdivision asked for sewer and water in his neighborhood.
By GILBERT HOFFMAN Northeast News
Drivers on US59 who want to head east on Beltway 8 will now have a more convenient ramp to use. Last Friday a ceremony was held, opening up two new ramps to connect to the eastbound lanes of the beltway. In about another week, TxDOT said, ramps will also be opened that will allow westbound traffic on the Beltway to exit onto US59 either north or southbound.
TxDOT District Engineer Delvin Dennis hosted the ceremony, and in his remarks indicated the considerable time savings that will benefit drivers.
The project cost $30 million, which was entirely federal ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) monies. The contract was let to Williams Brothers in August 2009, and completed ahead of schedule and below budget.