What are the 3 most pressing issues in Conroe and what is your preferred solution to each?

Infrastructure - With the growth that has occurred in the CIty of Conroe, Roads - Loop 336, SH 75, FM roadways have not been upgraded to handle the currrent traffic, much less the future needs within the next 2 to 5 year.  Planning should encompass at least 10 years into the future.  Besides Roadways, there is utilities - water, sewer, drainage, flood prevention (public works), emergency management and communication to the citizens.  

Solution - Infrastructure - Review the Comprehensive Plan and determine where each of the items are on regards to the various components of Infrastructure.  Make adjustments as necessary to 1) reach  the goals or 2) modify the goals to serve Conroe of 5 years from now.

Debt - Certificate of Obligation (COO) and Bonds - There are 3 COO's for the Hyatt Hotel - with Interest only payments for 2024 and 2025. Infrastructure projects for public works are bundled into Bonds or older Bonds are Re-Funded to reduce the percentage of the interest rate. There was a down grade of the COO's for the hotel which could have an impact on Bonds/Refunding opportunties.  

Solution - Debt - Build oversight into the debt verses revenue and seek movement to restore the balance or debt verses revenue. Utilize captial more effecently.

Clarity in Public/Private Orgnization Structures - Entities that receive a percentage of Sales Tax Revenue for Economic Development and Industry Growth.  .  Leverage to grow the city without an impact to other necessary Public Services.  

There is a 2040 Plan for the CIty of Conroe which is called the Comprehensive Plan - 2040 with a Creatation Date of August 2021.,The various componets of the plan to provide infrastructure, keep COO's and Bonds within the parameters of debt to revenue and utillize Public/Private organizational structure has to have a resilitent basis for growth without debt overload.  This Comprehensive Plan needs checks and balances to determine what are the indicators of slipage of missing any agreed to paramenters.  The inspection of the YOY performation of the three issues should be evaluated if the goals are being met or subsidised. 

Solutions - Clarity in Public/Private Organizations Structures - Present a simplified diagram of the inflow of revenue, the source of that revenue, and the growth potential of said revenue..  Then show the increased income and what percentage is available for debt relief, growth, and stability on an annual basis.  Also,  show the baseline Emergency Fund Reserve and the expections of said fund.

Do you support term limits for the council?  If so, how many terms? Which current Magnolia board member do you identify with the most and why?

There is a term limit of 2 terms or 8 years, which I support. This  allows for new people to be added to the City Of Conroe Council - knowledge and understanding of the goals for the future need to be understood by anyone running for either City Council or Mayor.  Councilman Hardman  is on point for issues and seeks to understand aspects of the issues at hand.  His work is not just during City Council Meetings but sub meetings in regards too pertaintant topics.

Do you feel that City of Conroe police and fire is adequately funded?  Explain.

The comments by the Conroe Police Department is that they do not receive annual COLA raises and their "step position has been lowered when a percentage increase was given for a salary re-alignment.  In regards to the Fire Depart there are several issues that were mentioned - that not all trucks (engines, ladders,  buckets are not staffed 24/7 with 4  fire department members.  In regards to the 4 per truck,  I have the understanding of 1) the driver, 2) the person in charge of the truck, and two to help with backing up to position the engine or to aid in the pullings of equipment and/or hose for the current scene that is being worked. Many times it is the readiness and quick response to medigate damages.  

In regards to both the FD and PD,  these  organizations work in unison to create a safe environment to work in and saftey procedures to protect the community.  When the training, experience level and retention is kept to expected levels there are less issues with public service to the City of Conroe or any interlocal partner.  When staff depart due to funding, there needs to be a re evaluation of the funding.

A review of the YOY (Year Over Year) salary categories, time in grade and potential for job growth have to be included in the funding requirements.  Another crutial part of the equation is the equipement that is included with all of the rolling stock (engines, support vehicles, cruisers, etc. so that the community is protected and there is consistency in the placement of tools for Emergency Responders..

Should "comparables" be within a certain distance to protested properties and what is a reasonable distance?Why or why not?

The goal would be to have compariables within the structure of the property being compared.  For example, if the property is a development with the lots of less that 0.2 acres then there shoud be compariables close by.  When the property being compared has acerage, then that property should be compared to similar acerage and amenidities of the property including road surface and utilities. Some large Texas Ranches  would have to be evaluated based on the land, ability to substain the livestock, etc. 

How do you feel about private property rights, with respect to City ordinances?  Which one take precedence?

One aspect that people are confused about is the City of Conroe Right of Way (ROW) and the no build line next to the back fence line.  The ROW is to ensure. that there is nothing added to the front part of the property because the Water, Natural Gas,and utility lines are in the ROW. An example is when multiple fiber optic companies dug up the front yard to install their lines. Common  sense  and the restriction  or a method to have all fiber lines encased in one pipe would resolve the problem. 

What 2 things about your opponent do the voters need to know?

I have two opponites - one is the incumbent who did not sign their filing for public office on the date written and the person who notarized the document was told to do so by the City Secretary. Also, there were a few blank fields on the application.  One other strange thing is that the attoney who helped in his defense is the Chairman of the Montgomery Central Appraisal District and an attorney.  It is also curious that the MCAD value for the Hyatt Hotel si $737,660 for land only and the hotel opened to consumers in 2023. Since the Hyatt is owned by the City of Conroe - there are no ad valorem taxes due from seven taxing authories. 

The second opponent sued the first opponent mentioned herein in both a Montgomery County District Court (for Injunction Relief)  and the 9th Court of Appeals (Writ of Mandus). She stated in the Conroe PD forum that she had worked in finance in the Dallas area and serves on an Arts Committee with the Creighton Theater. She also supports CASA. 

Where do you stand on the GRP (Groundwater Reduction Plan) Contract and why?

Due to massive withdrawals of ground water by two counties (Harris and Fort Bend) there is increased monitoring of the Gulf Coast Aquifers - Jasper, Evangeline, and Chicot.   The USGS  monitors the changes in the distance from the surface to the water levels.  The Lone Star Conservation Groundwater District (in Montomgergy County) was subjected to comparisons without water displacement by Harris or Fort Bend Counties  for decades.  With the creation of multiple lakes in the state of Texas, surface water was created by damming rivers to create lakes. From an all day meeting of Lone Star Water Conservaion Area, I never heard anything in regards to the Refresh area of any of the three Aquifers.  Past  groundwater withdrawals and Super Fund cleanup in the Jones Road Area of HC impact the Gulf Coast Aquifers.  Also, the 8 foot pipe which ran from Lake Houston to Fort Bend County had an impact on the Gulf Coast Aquifers.  Ground water has filters which remove particles that impact taste.

What's your position on the SJRA and Lonestar Groundwater boards?  Explain.

The purpose of the SJRA is to prevent flooding of the San Jacinto River.  There are links to the USGS and Army Corps of Engineers.  Protection of the Dam and prevention of flooding in the watershed are concerns of SJRA.  The Lonestar Groundwater Board should follow its name - Groundwater and the monitored/agreed to permits for the water wells on public/private land.

How can the operation of your city government be made more efficient and cost effective?

Problem:

When there is a maximum cost for a project there should not be adjustements to increase the price - example is the Hyatt Hotel.  The final cost of $107,000,000 exceeded the Certificates of Obligation by $29,910,000  and there were other short falls - no operating cost budget  - estimate of 5 million, along with a purchase of 7.5 acres of land for 2.3 Million when the MCAD land amount listed for the Hyatt is 1.6934 acres.  The question is where did the other 5.8066 acres go?

There has to be stringant controls in regards to Public/Private Funds, following contracts, and comparing the "actual" land purchased in comparison to the MCAD acerage of the Hotel..  It is difficult to loose 5.8066 acres somewhere. Lack of controls and internal Audits should have raised RED Flags on this project since inception.

What is the current budget surplus and should any of it be returned to the residents, pay down debt or retained in a rainy day fund and if so, how much and why?

The February Budget that I looked at does not show a surplus.  The Sales Tax Revenue has declined for two months, the Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) idoes not match with expectations based on low occupancy at the Hyatt.

The SJRA ongoing lawsuit has approximately 14 million on hold for the dispute with the City of Conroe.  A resolution with the SJRA would allow the CIty to utilize a portion of said account for encumberances and return a portion of the Fees imposed by the SJRA to the citizens..

Have you ever been convicted as result of arrest? Ever had any tax liens? If so, give start & resolution dates?

No and No

Are you now or have you ever done business with The City of County and/or a Conroe/county official and if so, the nature of that relationship?

Neither myself or family member have been employed by the City of Conroe or Montgomery County ....I have no clue what ORN is supposed to be in the question.....

Please describe what measures you propose to improve transparency and accountability to the public.

There needs to be Standard Operating Procedures  (SOP) for everyone.  Just because someone is elected does not exempt them from following the State Laws in regards to Signing Paperwork (running for public office:  predating the paperwork and signing their name in the Oath Section for the next day and they are out of town)  just so that they can be the first one to run for the position when they are out of town . All other citizens of Conroe where give a thick binder with all of the "RULES"  to follow when running for City Council/Mayor.  Then, there should be a provision of clarity on cost overruns and disclose the contractual agreements for significant purchases or when there are more than 1 change order that adds to the Cost of the Agreement..  

A clearly understood budget  that provides YOY and YTD costs with over/under amounts. Standard Accounting Principles for entry of fiduciarly transactions.

Do you feel the city should be in the real estate business and to what extent? (example - Industrial/Technolgy Park/Hyatt Hotel, etc.)

When Infracture needs - roads, police/fire equipement and resouces are put on hold, along with smells from the treatment of sewage are not reduce in a timely manner - the hotel does not appear to be a priority for the City Of Conroe.  Why did the Hyatt want to remove itself from owning the land/building? When is the next fire station, trucks and equipment going to be completed for the citizens of Conroe.  The answer is no - because there are other items to be resolved to put Conroe back on the track to success and maintain the Community Spirit.

What was your position on the Conroe Hyatt Hotel, prior to Conroe's involvement, both then and now and why?

As far as my position on the Conroe Hyatt Hotel, before Conroe's involvement, there really was no posiition. on my part.  As to  my position now and in the past 14 montha of attending City of Conroe Council Meetings, there were warning signs such as the consultant stating that they were looking at media on convention sources for booking events for the convention site.  Most reoccuring Conventions have their location locked down 2 years in advance. 

 It is my understanding that Hyatt created a new environment for their hotels with the City of Conroe and Beaumont.  That the Hyatt would not own the Hotel or the Land.  This puts either city in a a very different position and it appears one that the City of Conroe did not have good advice/information.  

I do not understand why Conroe 1) determined to enter the contract, 2) did not understand the stipuations of said contract, 3) not have Operating Costs as part of the start up cost, and 4) wait to the last minute to add start up costs as a missing point of information from the consultant Garfiled Public/Private.  The Garfield Public/Private LLC also did not seem to provide adequate consulting in regards to the all fincial aspects.

One small part of Marketing that is still not performed correctly - The Hyatt is difficult to find - there are no signs from I-45 or S Loop 336 W.

Do you agree with Conroe's Pro-Tax Sharing (Abatement) policy?  Why or why not and what changes would you make? 

Abatement policy should contain stipulations - If there are negative aspects of the Abatement parameters and there is a decrease directly related to the Abatement, then  a fast pass/nopass review should be performed on Abatements to be reviewed. There should not be expansions on the time frame of a Abatement granted 

The  Policy in place for the City of Conroe in regards to Tax Abatement is to stimulate  economic growth.  There is a basic dollar salary amount for new positions. For each increase in the dollar value and jobs created, there is a sliding scale of tax relief. As the value amount and number of jobs increases, the number of years increase and the percentage of Abatement Schdule decreases.   Compliance of the valuation of said Abated property must be reported to City Council and the Montgomery Central Appraisal District. 

As long as the there is protection to the tax base of the City of Conroe and there is not a significaite drop in the ad valorem tax basis for necessary services.  Abatement requests can be reviewed for acceptance.  However, if there is a negative input to the Revenue stream, then Abatements on ad valorem taxes might impact the City Budget. "Impact to the tax base would prevent additional Abatement by the City of Conroe." Abatement request shold follow the general guidelines of the CIty of Conroe to stimulate economic growth.  

Should City employees living out of the city and/or county take home city vehicles?  Why or why not?

I have seen Harris County Sheriff's Department (HCSD) vehicles housed in the City of Conroe.  From that prospective, I do not know what the position of the HCSD is and when they would begin work.  One factor of a take home vehicle would be the distance from the city limits of Conroe to where the vehicle would be housed.  The out of county site for a take home vehicle would seem to be limited or restricted. I have seen vehicles for Constables located at a county facility and the officers either switch off drivers of bring their POV to the site and go to their duty vehicle. 

What's the turnover in the city staff and do you consider that to be normal, high or low?  And if high, to what do you attribute the cause?

From the comments by the Police Department Forum, there have been officers leaving in regards to higher salaries.  I have not seen any metirics on turnover in any presentation at the Conroe City Council Meetings that I have attended verified as of January of 2023.