The Woodlands Township continues governance forums

The Woodlands Township board of directors is holding a community forum to proactively examine whether the current governance structure is best suited for the community now and into the future or whether changes need to be made.

On March 29, the first meeting will be held at the John Cooper School, 1 John Cooper Drive in The Woodlands, from 7-9 p.m., and a second meeting will be held on March 31 at The Woodlands Township Emergency Training Center, 16135 I-45 South in The Woodlands, from 9-11 a.m.

According to a press release, Regional Participation Agreements (RPA) were entered into with the cities of Houston and Conroe to prevent the annexation of The Woodlands and allowed residents to determine their own future governance structure within the next 50 years. In 2007, residents overwhelmingly approved the change in governmental structure to become The Woodlands Township, however, the RPAs provide the opportunity to change the current governance structure, including the option to incorporate as a municipality after May 29, 2014.

Over the course of the past several months, the project team has been preparing a "gap analysis," an evaluation of the effectiveness of existing service delivery and the potential future need for expanded and/or new services and governing tools as the community evolves. Additionally, a preliminary financial analysis has been completed so residents and stakeholders can better understand the financial implications of municipal incorporation, according to a press release.

The deadline for registration is March 28. Register by visiting the Township's website (thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov) or by contacting Kim Cogburn at 281-210-3800.