Five Tomball area Scouts were awarded their Eagle rank at a Feb. 25 ceremony. Pictured above, Collin Nicholas, Matthew Shaw, Gunter Walpole, Matt Standard and Tyler Nicholas were the honorees. Submitted Photo

Harrington bows out of mayor’s race, seeks council position

Griffin resigns as city manager, Fagan to oppose Holland

By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff

A major shake-up in the city’s administration means that Tomball will have new leaders in its top positions by this summer.

City Manager Ben Griffin tendered his resignation last week and will be out March 31, while longtime mayor H.G. “Hap” Harrington has withdrawn his name from the city’s mayoral election.

Harrington and councilwoman Gretchen Fagan will attempt to pull a governmental switcheroo, as Fagan will now be running for mayor, rather than seek re-election for Position No. 3.

Harrington has bid for a spot on the council instead, and is running for Fagan’s council position. He is being challenged by Bill Webb.

Fagan will oppose Diane Holland, the current chairman of the city’s Centennial Commission, for the mayor’s seat.

The flurry of political activity came just hours before the March 12 deadline to apply for a spot on the ballot.

Just days prior to the deadline, Fagan notified Harrington of her intention to run for mayor. She had already submitted her application for Position 3 on the ballot.

Harrington has said he would be willing to not seek another term if he felt a qualified candidate would run.

Harrington has been mayor of Tomball for 15 years.

“One thing I’ve heard from my constituents is that maybe I’ve been mayor long enough,” Harrington said. “Maybe we do need a new face.”

He admitted that the duties of mayor, attending numerous city events, were taking a toll on him. He said serving on the council would allow him the opportunity to still be involved in the government of the city, but would not be as taxing as the mayoral position.

“I think by having a vote, I can vote for what is in the best interests of the city.”

Fagan believes her time on the council has served her well and that she is ready to be mayor.

“I feel like I can do more as mayor,” she said. “I like being involved.”

When she got word from Harrington that he was bowing out of the mayor’s race, Fagan said she was a little surprised.

“It surprised me,” she said. “I just assumed it would never happen.”

Meanwhile, the end of March marks Griffin’s last day as City Manager. The city will keep him on retainer as a consultant, however, for his help on the many projects currently in the works, such as the city’s possible purchase of Hooks Airport.

“There’s really not going to be anything other than just picking my brain about certain projects,” he said.

Both he and Harrington said the split was on good terms.

“I just thought it was time for a change,” Griffin said. “There was no pressure to leave.”

He plans to move closer to his wife, who is a superintendent for Westwood ISD, south of Dallas.

Prior to serving as the city manager for five years, Griffin was the city’s assistant city manager.

“It’s just time for me to make a change,” said Griffin. “I’m leaving the city in pretty good shape, and with a solid blueprint.”

Harrington said that the city would hire a consulting firm to head up a search for a new city manager. That process, he said, could take two to three months. In the interim, Assistant City Manager Mary Coker will fill in.

Magnolia 4B Corp. to make final payments for City Hall renovations

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

The 4B Community Development Corp. (4B) tackled the task of finalizing more than $50,000 in contractor payments on the much discussed and disputed Buddy Riley building at a March 8 meeting.

During the March 8 meeting of the Magnolia 4B Community Development Corp., Shettig Construction owner Mike Shettig (right) and John Edumndson of K&G Architects (left) addressed the board regarding work completed and payment due on the Buddy Riley building.

Over the last five months final payment of retainer to Shettig Construction owner Mike Shettig was delayed during discussions about the removal, repair and reinstallation of the air conditioning (AC) units. Shettig, therefore, has delayed payment to the sub-contractors. The dispute is about a $21,000 bill for work performed on the AC units, versus work performed that had not been approved.

Some repairs were made as a result of the way the AC units were taken down and other repairs were made as a result of the age of the units. It did not make sense to reinstall them as they were, said John Edumndson of K&G Architects.

The previous board had agreed to pay for the upgrade repairs as well as a modified installation design, but not the repairs needed as a result of damages incurred when the units were originally removed from suspension.

Shettig did eventually provide a final change order on March 8 in the amount of $15,620 for the repair of the units necessary as a result of the manner in which they were removed. The balance of almost $5,380 was established as the actual cost for the approved repairs and modified installation of the units.

The board also received a final assessment letter on March 8 submitted by Edmundson outlining the balance of work to be done, a breakdown of the disputed requested change order from Shettig, and a list of vendors who have not received final payment from the contract.

In the process of negotiation, several sub-contractors had filed liens against the property for non-payment of construction services.

City Attorney Leonard Schneider advised the board that Fred Tonnjes, who performed the AC repairs, had filed a $21,000 lien on the property, and that Shettig had paid a lien previously filed by Frontier Materials Concrete in the amount of $10,477.80.

That lien had been released and filed with the county clerk’s office as of the meeting, said Schneider. Additionally, an abstract on the property had been requested to ensure there are no outstanding liens against it for unpaid construction services.

Board members convened in Executive Session to discuss the change order request submitted by Shettig. Upon reconvening into regular session, two motions were made. First, a motion to pay the balance of invoices totaling $36,630.60 owed to sub-contractors directly from Shettig’s retainer passed unanimously. Second, a motion to offer Tonnjes a $10,000 settlement toward the adjusted outstanding AC repair costs of $15,620 also passed unanimously.

Should Tonnjes accept the settlement, the building renovations could over run by $84,214 for a total just short of $673,000.

That, combined with $900,000 in original construction, $140,000 in legal and architectural fees, and $221,000 in temporary facility costs, added to the estimated $900,000 to ready the property for an autumn move-in date, and it certainly appears the City of Magnolia has a financial behemoth by the tail.

Through it all Shettig maintained, “They got a nice building at a good price from local contractors who kept the money in the county.”

New outpatient clinic for veterans opens in Conroe

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

There’s good news for veterans in Montgomery and surrounding counties with the opening of the new Veteran’s Affairs Conroe Community Based Outpatient Clinic, located at 800 Riverwood Court in Conroe. The new clinic opened on Feb. 26 and is a result of a 2002 CARES Initiative (Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services) launched by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

As part of that initiative, the VA CARES survey examined the population of veterans in the Houston area to determine the best locations in order to grant the greatest access to veterans in southeast Texas, according to Public Affairs Officer Bobbie Gruner of the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center (MEDVAMC) in Houston.

“The survey looked at where veterans live today and where they will live in the future, so facilities can be placed in ideal locations,” Gruner said. “The clinics provide primary care, pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, physical therapy, mental health, podiatry, and nutrition services.”

That initiative was followed by a May 2004 assessment by the VA to approve 10 new clinics for Texas, seven of which will be located in the Houston area. Funding of $25 million by approval of the U.S. House of Representatives came in 2005.

The VA has multiple outpatient locations including Beaumont, Houston, Lufkin Galveston, Texas City and now Conroe, said Gruner. The clinics are all satellite care centers of MEDVAMC.

The veteran community has outgrown the Lufkin clinic services, said Gruner. As a result, the clinic is currently in the contracting process for relocation and is to break ground this year. Possible future sites for clinic locations include Tomball, Katy, Lake Jackson, and Richmond.

For more information, call the Conroe clinic at 936-522-4000, or contact the Montgomery County Veterans Service Office, located at 2247 North First St., Suite 219, or call 936- 539-7842.

Tomball’s Washam named Miss Teen Texas

By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff

If Tomball’s Whitney Washam continues on the pace she is going, the beauty queen will earn enough scholarship money to pay for school for a decade.

Whitney Washam

Washam was named Miss Teen Texas at a March 3 pageant in Phoenix, Ariz., beating out 33 other contestants for a $50,000 scholarship prize.

Washam, a senior at Tomball High School, was named Miss Magnolia last year.

She is now preparing for her next competition, Miss Teen America, a televised event, scheduled for June 30 through July 8 in Nashville, Tenn.

It’s the next step in the pageant ladder for Washam, who praised the Miss America system for the type of girls they look for in their competitions.

“They’re looking for that all-around girl; not just one who’s beautiful, but also one who is intelligent and talented,” Washam said. “They want that role model girl who is going to influence younger girls.”

The intensity of the July competition will increase, with more competitors from around the country and seven full days of judging.

“The judges follow you around to the different events,” Washam said. “If you’re late or if your clothes aren’t ironed the right way, you’re docked points. They want their stuff done a certain way.”

The winner of that event will walk away with $75,000 in scholarship money.

The opportunity to have money to pay for college is the primary reason Washam is hitting the pageant circuit.

“I like the scholarship money,” she said. “That’s really the reason I did Miss Teen Texas. It’s just something I enjoy and am good at. And I have a lot of fun.”

She plans on attending Sam Houston State University in hopes of becoming a high school teacher one day.

Washam will have comparatively less time to prepare for the Miss Teen America pageant than she did for the Miss Teen Texas competition. Rather than preparing for up to a year for this month’s competition, Washam will have just two months to get the proper coaching and secure sponsorships.

She is counting on the Magnolia business community for their support.

“I think being Miss Magnolia, it’s time for Magnolia to come out and sponsor (me),” she said.

Money raised by Washam will help pay for her clothes and coaching for the competition as well as travel expenses.

“The coaching I have to do is very expensive and adds up fast,” she said. “But it’s all worth it and I know it will be a really fun experience.”

Washam is also touting the Magnolia area to pageant directors as an ideal spot for next year’s Miss Teen Texas competition.

The director for the event also heads up the Miss Teen Arizona pageant and chose to hold the competition in Phoenix.

Based partly on Washam’s success, pageant directors are now considering moving the event to the Tomball or Magnolia area for next year.

“They asked me if I wanted it in Dallas or Austin, and I said no, I wanted it here,” Washam said.

She added that the pageant is already on the lookout for contestants for both the Junior Teen and the Miss Teen Texas competitions.

The Junior Teen pageant is open to all girls ages 10 to 13, while the Miss Teen pageant is open to girls ages 14-18.

For more information, visit www.misstexasteenamerica.com.

Spring woman charged in Magnolia man’s death

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

Jeremy DeLuna, 24, of Magnolia died as the result of a March 12 collision caused by an alleged intoxicated driver. The incident occurred in the 200 block of Hollow Tree Lane at 10 p.m., according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office press release.

When Sheriff’s deputies arrived on the scene they determined that Brooke Kelly Banhagel, 26, of Spring had driven her Ford Explorer into the end of a flatbed truck. The impact caused the bed of the truck to penetrate the Explorer by seven feet. The bed of the truck struck Deluna, the front right seat passenger, who died at the scene due to his injuries.

Banhagel was taken to Houston Northwest Medical Center where it was determined she was under the influence of narcotics. Until the return of the toxicology report, it is unknown what narcotic Banhagel was under the influence of.

She was charged with intoxicated manslaughter and transported to the Harris County Jail. Banhagel posted a $20,000 bond pending a March 27 hearing.

Magnolia ISD calendar sees longer year, shorter holidays

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

Magnolia Independent School District recently published the 2007-08 school year calendar. As part of Texas Public School Code, legislation that took effect in September 2006 mandates that school cannot start until the last Monday in August.

“The state is hoping that eventually to accommodate tourism the date will be pushed to after Labor Day,” said MISD Superintendent Michael Holland. “That is being driven by the tourism board with our legislators.”

After the next legislative session, it is likely districts will not start until after the Labor Day holiday. That pushes district calendars further into June to accommodate a 177-day school year.

As a result, the 2007-08 MISD school year is scheduled to start on Aug. 27 and end on June 4, 2008. Due to the extended school year, district administrators were forced to review holidays.

In comparison to the 2006-07 calendar, students and parents can expect three fewer days for holidays. The calendar for 2007-08 foregoes President’s Day, selecting Martin Luther King Jr. and Labor Day as well as Memorial Day for the holidays of the year.

The holiday break for Christmas enjoys one less day and Spring Break, set next year for March 17-21, combines with Easter to eliminate the Good Friday holiday.

Candidate names tossed in hat for May election

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

The May election in Magnolia is sure to bring the voters out this season. Up for re-election this year are three of the five council positions, as well as a ballot proposition. It will be no easy race for incumbents, two of which have a contender.

With nine developments knocking on the city’s doorstep, and sign and building ordinances yet to be approved, elected officials will be kept busy in their coming two-year term. Additionally, successful water well drilling and pump construction may bring sewer collection ailments to the surface, as well as water distribution upgrades. Topping the list of chores for elected council members is balancing the city budget, an ongoing task for the last two years, development of a city code enforcement department, and the interior design and construction of the City Hall building on Buddy Riley Blvd.

When former councilman Bob Koehler moved from the area and resigned his position in November of 2005, Chris Neal was appointed to Position 1. In May of 2006, Neal won a special election to the position for the balance of Koehler’s term and is seeking a second term. He has been a resident of Magnolia since 2004. He is a 1995 graduate of Sonora High School and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Angelo State University. He currently works for Sanosi-Avantis in pharmaceutical sales.

“The close community is what attracted me to Magnolia. I am very glad to be able to serve this community and help it grow in all aspects,“ Neal said.

Chris Neal

Sammie Scott has joined the race and is seeking a first term of election for Neal’s position. He has lived in Magnolia for 57 years. He and his wife Doris have been married for 36 years. After graduating from Magnolia High School in 1968 he served with the U. S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. Scott is retired from 33 years of service with ExxonMobil, where he obtained 28 years of experience as a supervisor. Scott is currently employed by the Magnolia Independent School District as a bus driver.

“Magnolia is a great place to live and has a great school district for our kids,” said Scott.

Sammie Scott

Richard Carby is the incumbent for city council Position 2 and is seeking a second term. He is 47-years-old and has lived in Magnolia for 21 years. Carby is retired from 22 years in the U.S. Army. He graduated from Livingston High School, and in May expects to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in interdisciplinary studies from the University of Houston. His business experience includes running a multi-million dollar moving company, which he said has prepared him for the task of presiding on city council. He enjoys being involved in the community and spent many years as a paramedic with Cypress Creek EMS, as well as being a First Responder with the Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department.

“We don’t want to go backwards. We want to keep Magnolia moving forward,” Carby said.

Richard Carby

Running against him is John Bramlett, former Mayor of the City of Magnolia from 1992 to 2001. He was appointed to the Magnolia Planning Commission in 2006 and serves on the Board of Directors for the Magnolia Historical Society. Bramlett sadi his experience includes U.S. Air Force service during the Vietnam War and retirement from Magnolia ISD as the Transportation Director. He is currently employed by Sam Houston Race Park. The 59-year-old Bramlett is a 30-year resident of Magnolia and has been married to his wife, Clores, for 34 years.

“My goal is to allow the citizens of Magnolia to have a voice,” Bramlett said.

John Bramlett

Todd Kana is the only council member without a contender for his city council position in this year’s election. He is a 33-year-old life resident of Magnolia and is seeking a second term. He and his wife, Jessica, have been married nine years. Kana graduated from Central Baptist Academy and is currently employed as a construction supervisor for a sheet metal company.

“As a life resident of the city, I have seen administrations do well and bad. Nothing better qualifies one for council than to listen to the people,” said Kana.

Todd Kana

Decker Prairie Elementary Fourth grade students (from left) Hunter Rowell and Shawn Coleman helped create a planetarium on March 13 featuring the Solar System. Rowell, Coleman and their classmates conducted research about the planets, stars and constellations. They became planetarium tour guides and presented what they learned to other Decker Prairie Elementary students.
Submitted Photo

State reps looking to block Trans-Texas Corridor development

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

Less than a week after a public hearing held in Austin, members of the Texas Senate and House of Representatives filed bills on March 6 to block the development of the Trans-Texas Corridor by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for at least two years.

House Bill 2772 authored by Rep. Lois Kolkhorst of Brenham, and co-authored by nine other representatives, including Rep. John Zerwas of Rosenberg and Rep. Debbie Riddle of Tomball, would place a two-year moratorium on Comprehensive Development Agreements (CDA) for toll roads.

CDA’s allow TxDOT to enter into private contracts with a company for the development, construction and operation of toll roads. They often contain non-compete provisions, which prevent the State of Texas from constructing, improving, or maintaining any roadway or highway that might compete with the toll road for the duration of a lease.

Senate Bill 1267 is a companion bill that has been filed in the Senate authored by Sen. Robert Nichols and co-authored by 24 of the 40 Texas senators including Sen. Glenn Hegar.

Members of Citizens For a Better Waller County (CBWC) were among those in attendance at the hearing. Texans submitted a total of 1,729 oral and written testimonies at the hearing.

“Many citizens backed by a handful of legislators are opposed to allowing TxDOT to take land and then lease it to a foreign consortium,” said Don Garrett, president of CBWC. He attended the hearing held on March 1 in Austin before the Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security.

During a town meeting on March 8, Zerwas addressed Waller County residents saying a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate are needed to pass the bills. He said there was still time to override a veto before the end of the legislative session.

However, according to Steven Polunsky, Committee Director for the Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security, the parliamentary procedure for addressing those bills filed on the issue does not provide for a set agenda.

As a result, the legislative session could possibly come and go without a resolution on the bills. Polunsky said the committee is still looking at all the issues relative to the corridors, including the CDA’s, the tolls, and the public-private partnerships.

What is in question, Polunsky said, is the bidder that has been selected to do the work. That bidder is Cintra-Zachry, a foreign consortium of investors who is negotiating a CDA with TxDOT for the construction of the corridors.

According to John Thompson, Chair of the Alliance for I-69 Texas, the bill filed by Sen. Nichols (SB 1267) prohibits for two years the participation of any state pension funds, the buying of bonds, the use of 401K funds, or any private funds from being utilized, including foreign investors.

“We’re not against Sen. Nichols’ bill correcting any issue with the CDA’s,” said Thompson. “The thing we have concern about is taking two years to do it.”

Thompson sees the possibility of the corridor as a definite advantage in creating jobs in the light industrial and manufacturing marketplace in east Texas. Businesses need access to a corridor that circumvents downtown and allows long-haul travelers and/or freight to get through the county, he said.

Because neither the state nor the federal government is willing to fund the corridor by raising the gas tax, which is already paying for the current system, Thompson’s group is looking to the private sector to get the corridor paid for with tolls.

“We see it as an opportunity to share in the growth and prosperity that other parts of the country already have,” he said.

In response to public demand for information in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, TxDOT commissioned an Oct. 30, 2006 economic impact study report entitled “Moving Into Prosperity: The Potential Impact of the Trans-Texas Corridor on Business Activity in Texas,” conducted by Ray Perryman and the Perryman Group of Waco.

The report estimates that construction of the TTC-35, which parallels I-35, will increase annual gains of $1.6 trillion in expenditures, increase the gross state product by $665.9 billion, boost personal income in Texas by $376 billion, and generate 3.7 million permanent jobs.

The planned TTC-69 parallels U.S. Highway 59, bypassing Houston and cutting through Waller, Grimes and Walker counties. No financial impact studies have been completed at this time, according to Thompson.

Contributing to this article was Jennifer Duhon of Waller County.

Tomball Regional Hospital to offer facilities at Magnolia Ridge

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

Magnolia Ridge is off and running with a commitment from Tomball Regional Hospital’s (TRH) President and Chief Operating Officer Lynn LeBouef guaranteeing that Magnolia will soon have a medical services complex.

Plans for the facility, announced by Magnolia Mayor Jimmy Thornton following a Feb. 20 meeting with TRH board members, will be complete with an emergency room (ER), imaging facilities and a professional building.

The Tribune confirmed the news through an interview with LeBouef. The hospital’s decision was based in part upon market share information reflecting that 49.3 percent of the patients coming out of the hospital’s primary service area are using TRH almost exclusively, said LeBouef.

“That’s huge for a hospital,” he said.

In addition, 35 to 38 percent of TRH employees have zip codes in the Magnolia area. The first phase of the medical complex development would include building a medical community in the area that could support a hospital.

TRH administration is initiating a feasibility study to determine exactly what services the hospital will initially offer and the square footage of proposed facilities. A full service hospital is a long-term goal of TRH administrators.

“We are committed to entering into the first phase of this operation with a long term goal of placing these services in this area. That would include the possibility of beds and a surgery center down the road,” said LeBouef.

The announcement initially came at the February meeting of the Magnolia Ridge Local Government Corporation (MRLGC), when developer Mike Gibbs of Mag-Tex addressed the Public Improvement District (PID) board members with an outline for phase one of the development.

Mike Gibbs

“The road to the subdivision will be developed first to facilitate construction for the hospital,” Gibbs said. “The hospital is ready to get started on 20 percent of the property with an ER. They want the full 25 acres available to them.”

The annual revenue assessment calculations by MRLGC PID manager Parke Patterson Consultants also reflect that section two has been accepted by TRH as the site for the development of a medical complex. Residential builders for the development include Dunn and Stone, Choice, Laures Builders and MHI Home Builders, according to Gibbs. With four builders on board offering multiple floor plans for sections four through seven, PID projections reflect annual assessment revenues of $816,157.

Gibbs outlined the progression of available lots. Section four will offer lots starting at an estimated $26,500 with home values in the $140’s; section five lots start at $31,800 with home values in the $170’s; lots in section six start at $38,000 with home values starting at $225,000; and section seven offers home values starting at $280,000 with water front lots going for $40,000.

In addition to the medical complex, plans for Magnolia Ridge phase one development include a clubhouse, pool, walking tracks and two large water areas, said Gibbs. An area of 42 acres has been set aside for the development of town homes and restaurants with tree-lined green belts.

The development is on track to build eight models and sell the first 40 lots by fall.

Pictured, Beckendorf Intermediate fifth grade student Jovanna Beltran donned a Dr. Seuss hat March 23 in honor of the tenth anniversary of Read Across America Day and the 50th anniversary of the publication of Cat in the Hat. The Read Across America program encourages students to become lifelong readers.
Submitted Photo