East Central school district joins 391 Commission

Nannette Kilbey-Smith
Wilson County News

EAST CENTRAL — The East Central Independent School District (ISD) is the newest member of the South Central Texas Sub-Regional Planning Commission, or 391 Commission. District trustees approved membership during the regular board meeting Dec. 16.

Organized by the city of St. Hedwig and officials from Wilson County, the commission serves as a liaison between its member entities and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). In addition to the founding members and the East Central ISD, the commission also includes the city of Marion and Guadalupe County.

District board President Steve Bryant attended the last 391 Commission meeting in St. Hedwig and told trustees the district could benefit from membership.

“Especially with the Trans-Texas Corridor [TTC-35], which will cut right through our district,” Bryant said. “It’s critical we have a place at the table to mitigate circumstances caused by TTC-35.”

Bryant was impressed with the discussions between TxDOT and the commission’s existing members.

“The attitude of TxDOT toward this commission was much better than their attitude toward the general public when they held their [TTC] meetings,” he said. “I was also impressed with Kathy Palmer, who chairs the commission. She has really done her homework, and TxDOT knows it.”

Board approval to join the 391 Commission was unanimous.

© 2008 Wilson County News: www.wilsoncountynews.com

Welcome aboard East Central ISD!!

Kathy Palmer, President
South Central Texas SRPC

Tuesday night December 16,2008 the ECISD Board unanimously approved the resolution to join our 391 Commission.

They will be joining us at our January 7th meeting as we discuss what we would like addressed by TxDOT in our follow up Coordination meeting to be held in February.

Have a blessed Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

Public Notice

South South Central Texas Sub-Regional Planning Commission

Date: December 18, 2008
Place: St. Hedwig City Hall
Time: 2:00 p.m.

AGENDA

1. Call SCTRSPC meeting to Order

2. Welcome new members to the Commission

3. Roll call & establish a quorum

4. Reading and approval of minutes

4. Citizens to be heard

5. Old Business:

a. Discuss any actions from other 391 Commissions around the state
b. Update on inviting Marion, Guadalupe County, Elmendorf, and Marion ISD to join the SCTSRPC
c. Update from TxDot

6. New Business:

a. Update/discuss Corridor Advisory Committee report
b. Discuss/take action on dates for January TxDOT meeting
c. Discuss/take action on specific member issues to bring up at the TxDOT meeting in January
d. Discuss possibility of Staples, TX, joining the SCTSRPC
e. Discuss/take action to determine best size of the SCTSRPC
f. Update/discuss Segment Advisory Committee

7. Announcements

8. Set time, date and agenda for next meeting

9. Adjournment

I certify this agenda was posted at the St. Hedwig City Hall, Wilson County Courthouse, and at www.sainthedwigcity.com by 12:45, Friday December 12, 2008.

_______________________________________
Kathy Palmer, President, SCTSRPC

City of St. Hedwig
PO Box 40
St. Hedwig, Texas 78152
(210) 667-9568

A Very Positive Beginning

Kathy Palmer, President
South Central Texas SRPC

I met with several folks at the TxDOT District Office in Bexar County today in preparation for the follow up January 391 Coordination meeting. Mario Medina, District Engineer, Clay Smith, Area Engineer, and Phil Howlett, Mobility Engineer were present as well as myself.

We discussed the fact that per the intent of the October 29th meeting, the January meeting is to bring to them specific areas within our Commission’s jurisdiction that need to be addressed. Prior to the January coordination meeting and after the December 18th SCTSRPC meeting I committed to give them a list of the items the Commission agreed it wants to discuss, so that TxDOT in turn may do the research necessary to enable them to answer our concerns.

In turn, Phil will be in attendance at our December 18th meeting to update us on any issues related to the status of the TTC 35 DEIS which is currently awaiting FHWA approval. If needed he has also committed to be present at any additional meetings in the future, even if they were not “Coordination” meetings.

Mario, Clay and Phil were all pleased to hear that Guadalupe County and the City of Marion have joined our Commission and are looking forward to working with them. They feel it is certainly a win/win scenario to have elected officials from our member entities all present in the same room working together with TxDOT to cover our jurisdictional concerns in the best manner possible.

Mario has committed to help the Commission understand the Transportation end of things and to help us come up with solutions to our concerns to which he hopes we can all agree. Mario, Clay and Phil are also very willing to work with each member entity individually on specific issues that may not need to be brought through the 391 Commission, i.e. stoplights at certain intersections, drainage issues etc.

The general tone of the meeting was one of both parties attempting to work together for a common good.

I see this as a very positive beginning to a long standing relationship between our SCTSRPC and TxDOT.

Thank you to all the member municipalities and counties that have come together to form this Commission. We would not be here without you.

Links to SCTSRPC Related Articles:

TXDOT Coordination Letter 7/31/08

TXDOT Reply 9/25/08

SA Express News Article 9/10/08

Wilson County News Article 11/5/08

Seguin Gazette-Enterprise 11/30/08

Wilson County News Article 12/03/08

Links to TxDOT information:

Please note the SCTSRPC does not necessarily support the information contained in these links. They are simply posted here to make it easier for you to access this information without having to go to multiple websites.

I35 Corridor Advisory Committe Article 11/12/08

I35 Corridor Advisory Committee Final Report 11/12/08

2008-2011 TxDot Statewide Transportation Improvement Program for Bexar County

2009-2013 TxDot Strategic Plan for Texas Transportation Issues

TTC-35 DEIS Executive Summary Tiering Process

Texas State Statute 227 TTC Access to FM Roads

Texas Farm Bureau Responds to TTC Advisory Committee Report 12/01/08