The Woodlands Township formally accepted the service, assets and funding from the Community Associations of The Woodlands at its meeting Wednesday.
During a three hour session, the board also adopted formal agreement with the eight village associations, continued its current appointments on several key boards and set dates for the May election for four board members.
“What this agenda represents is a large number of people, all leaders, forming one government for the good of the residents,” said Nelda Luce Blair, chairwoman of the township.
On Jan. 1, the township will become the sole governing body for the entire community of about 90,000 residents. It will collect property taxes, estimated at $902 for the average $275,000 home, from residents and businesses in the community, replacing assessment fees previously paid to The Woodlands Community Association, The Woodlands Association and The Woodlands Commercial Owners Association.
As part of the merger, the township approved the transfer of about 1,500 parcels of land, easements and assets, including buildings, parks, pools, pathways and open space, owned by the Community Associations of the Woodlands.
“It finalizes the original intent and put names to the signature blanks,” said Don Norrell, president of the township.
It also adopted agreements with The Woodlands Fire Department to continue to provide fire protection to the community and to transfer its fire stations and equipment to the township. The Woodlands Fire Department board, a private, not-for-profit entity, is the only board that will continue as a separate entity through 2011 to protect the collective bargaining rights of firefighters.
“The Woodlands Fire Department will continue to operate in the same way it has,” said Norrell. “This provides the funding and the lease.”
The township board approved service agreements with the township to formalize their relationship in the community and awarded each $10,000 each for the first year to provide at least one community spirit event, but prohibited the use of funding for donations, grants or scholarships. That funding cannot be guaranteed in future years because the makeup of the board will change in May, but Blair said she envision multi-year contracts for village associations in the future.
“We applaud the board for taking this step,” said Phillip Givens, president of the Sterling Ridge Village Association. “This step formalizes the process.”
The township also set the election date for four member of the board on May 8. In May, the board will transition from an 11- member elected and appointed board to a seven-member entity elected by the entire community. Filing for that race will begin on Feb. 6 and continue through March 8.
Appointments were also made to key board in the community and to ensure continuity of operations, all current members were reappointed for The Development Standards Committee, The Woodlands Fire Department, The Woodlands Community Service Corp., The Woodlands Recreation Board, and the Woodlands Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee
“What I strongly suggest that what we do is postpone any appointments on these board until June 2008 and allow current board members to carry over,” said Blair.
Board member Peggy Hausman voted against the DSC appointees, which serves as a appeals board on property renovation and sets standards for residential and commercial properties in older villages. Hausman cited a 2008 case in which a Panther Creek resident was served with a court order on Christmas Eve to prevent him from cutting down a storm-damaged tree in his yard.
“Putting this committee back in place does a disservice to the residents,” said Hausman.
The board also directed Norrell to research the ability for the DSC to spend legal fees on covenant issues.
The board also accepted an agreement with Shenandoah to continue to serve residents and businesses in the Research Forest area that are located within the city’s limits, but are covered by Woodlands covenants. The Woodlands will provide fire services, covenant enforcement and landscaping in common areas, while Shenandoah will provide trash collection, police service, street lights maintenance and mowing services along the Interstate 45 corridor in the city.
The board also approved a new employee policy manual for the combined staff. In addition to acknowledging changes to salaries and benefit, the new policy allows nepotism and adds a whistleblowers provision.
In addition to the formal action, Township President Don Norrell said the township will inherit some funding from the property owners associations, but the exact amount has not yet been determined.
The Woodland Commercial Owners Association, which represents business owners, will transfer about $600,000 for earmarked projects and $130,000 in surplus that will be dedicated for the purchase of police vehicles. The Woodlands Community Service Corp, the service arm of the Community Association, also has leftover funds which will also go for police vehicles.
The Woodlands Association for newer villages has not leftover funds and the $45,000 surplus from The Woodlands Community Association, representing older village, will be used to build a dog park at Sawmill Park.
Merger Actions
The Woodlands Township took many actions at its meeting Wednesday to complete its merger with the Community Associations of The Woodlands. Here are a few of the key items approved on the agenda.
• Transferred 1,500 properties, include buildings, parks, pool, pathways and green space to township.
• Approved agreements with The Woodlands Fire Department for service and transferred fire stations and equipment to the township.
• Approved service agreement and 2010 funding for eight village association
• Set dates for May 8 township election
• Made appointments to key boards that will continue in 2010
• Approved agreement with Shenandoah to continue services for Woodlands business and residents within the city limits.
• Adopted an employee policy manual
Source: The Woodlands Township