Growth has MISD looking at bond plan
by Midland Reporter-Telegram
We did expect MISD to come forth with a bond proposal in May 2009. However, the pressing need for expanded facilities is increasing at a rapid rate. Executive Director of Auxiliary Services Wilson Heidelberg said there is a need for space for 200 more 4-year-olds in MISD's early childhood program.
Also, Midland's expanding economy and low unemployment rate is attracting real population growth, placing a stress on current facilities.
There has been discussion of a new northwest elementary school and early childhood center, renovations to Bunche Early Childhood Center, using West Early Childhood Center as a staff development center, converting South Elementary School into an early childhood center for approximately 400 students and allowing MISD to coordinate with Midland College on a family literacy center.
The district has seen a net gain of 400 students per year for the last three years. That means more than 1,200 youngsters are housed in portable buildings. Heidelberg said the district already is facing use of more portables, which cost an estimated $75,000 each.
For the long term, officials agree, it wouldn't make sense to put students in temporary buildings. But construction costs do continue to mount. Four years ago, a building cost $95 to $105 per square foot. Now it's up to approximately $180 per square foot, according to Director of School Plant Services James Riggen.
The problems being faced by MISD are a mirror of the problems facing the city itself. As the city grows more quickly than ever envisioned, shortages in school facilities and city infrastructure begin to mount at an ever expanding rate.
Growth has been expected for the city, but in many cases, 10-year and 20-year plans already have become old models since the newcomers are already here.
With this in mind, it isn't a surprise MISD is thinking of moving up its bond issue to November. We have no idea how Midland voters will view this move, but we do know the citys growth will impact all city services.
We can possibly postpone some of these critical needs, but sooner or later we will have to address the challenges that face us in a heated economy.
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the-eurasianearthlink.net wrote on Jul 2, 2008 11:53 AM:
The current city council should pay for these sports complex operating costs not by raising and raising taxes but by economizing on other things that the City of Midland spends taxes on.
I know the limitations on what the brightest of city council members and city government officials can think of. For this, the founding fathers of the US Constitution have a solution --- and it is to resort to NON-OBVIOUS SOLUTIONS.
And where do you get these NON-OBVIOUS sokutions????? No, you don't get these from consultants. Consultants are experts on the obvious, on what can be found in the books and and textbooks and universities.
THE NON-OBVIOUS YOU CAN ONLY FIND FROM INVENTORS!!! WHY? BECAUSE NON-OBVIOUSNESS IS THE VERY DEFENITION AND REQUIREMENT FOR SOMETHING TO BE AN INVENTION!!!! AND YOU GOT IT RIGHT HERE IN YOUR VERY OWN CITY OF MIDLAND IN A PERSON KNOWN AS "THE EURASIAN". SO GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE, STOP CHEATING AND ROBBING EURASIAN. INSTEAD COME HERE AND DIALOGUE WITH HIM!!!! "
terry wrote on Nov 22, 2008 8:35 AM:
Good job "Americans", this is the begining of the end. "
Mrs Mavis Gibson wrote on Nov 22, 2008 6:10 PM:
The Republicans are acting like spoiled children who will now have to work across the aisle instead of pushing their one sided agenda around the world. And, I would think that MRT would have written a better editorial than one based on some irrational fear, but, then again, that seems to be the only thing conservatives have to offer these days. "
Imajicka1 wrote on Nov 22, 2008 8:55 PM:
It is the beginning of the end... the end of the Dark Ages under George "Dubya" Bush. "
anonymous wrote on Nov 25, 2008 7:58 PM:
don't know what the basis for your hatred of President Bush is. don't care. there were no dark ages under george w bush. dark ages were under clinton. and are coming again under no-bama. if you care at all about freedom. where is "
Yes wrote on Nov 26, 2008 11:50 AM:
Voice of Reason wrote on Jan 11, 2009 11:51 AM:
You talk about the democrats being against civil rights, while the republicans brought us the torture, wire tapping, and more laws that limit privacy that ever.
If the republicans are your version of civil rights, I think you would really love North Korea. "
David Knight wrote on Jan 15, 2009 9:20 PM:
Rev. David W Knight "
Yes wrote on Jan 24, 2009 11:17 PM:
joe banana wrote on Feb 20, 2009 3:18 AM:
richard wrote on Apr 25, 2009 10:25 AM:
Midland Reporter Telegram is a pawn of the Midland "Elite" and rich. VOTE NO ON THE HOSPITAL BOND
VOTE NO
VOTE NO ON THE BOND
VOTE NO ON THE BOND "
mark wrote on Apr 25, 2009 10:30 AM:
Hog Wash wrote on Apr 25, 2009 10:47 AM:
AGAIN wrote on Apr 25, 2009 1:52 PM:
Not Again wrote on Apr 25, 2009 9:56 PM:
Concerned Citizen wrote on Apr 26, 2009 9:19 PM:
VOTE NO "
Ann wrote on Apr 28, 2009 4:20 PM:
VOTED FOR THE BOND wrote on Apr 29, 2009 6:33 PM:
nurse wrote on Apr 29, 2009 7:31 PM:
another mmh worker wrote on Apr 30, 2009 3:17 PM:
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the-eurasianearthlink.net wrote on Jun 12, 2008 10:21 AM:
Midland has several sources of water. Some of them if I remember right are Lake Spence, Lake Ivie, T-Bar, Colorado River.
Each of these sources has a different taste. What Midland does is it mixes all the water it gets from these different sources, treats them and that's what it distributes as tap water for drinking as well as watering lawns.
In eurasian's process, eurasian is suggesting that the waters from these various sources be compared for example for taste, odor, salinity, softness or hardness. The best tasting with lowest salinity can be declared the winner for example, and that's the one we can distribute by a separate distribution system to the kitchens of Midland's addresses.
The rest of the water can be distributed via a separate distribution system to Midland's addresses which people can use say for watering lawns and plants, showering, washing clothes.
We have various choices. We can have 2 or 3 or more distribution water distribution systems. It all depends on what the city and people want and can afford.
We can even mix water from two or more sources in various proportons if that will produce an even better tasting water. One distribution system can have prices or rates different from the other distribution system or systems.
One good thing about this is that in the case of severe droughts where rationing might be necessary, water to kitchens will never be necessary.
If the likelihood of severe scarcity of water is unlikely, one simple way would be to have one water distribution system distributing water to houses/apartments/offices and another water distribution system distributing water for watering lawns. It would be advisable to treat water in all the distribution systems so as to make them all potable even if one distribution system is just fior watering lawns. This way, if somebody mistakenly or intentionally crossconnects two water distribution systems, the water will still be potable and safe for drinking though not as tasty.
To serve the PUBLIC GOOD, this experimental eurasian solution has to be submitted publicly and openly like eurasian is doing now so that all will know. Submitting this privately to some government office is not a good idea because such will only result in the death of this solution because government officials like to kill these eurasian experimentals just like Mayor Perry is now killing eurasian's suggestion to use the old police station as a jail so Sheriff Gary Painter will have no alibies to expand Midland Detention Center. That's why the City of Midland is demolishing that old police station building because they are sabotaging eurasian's experimental. I would not be surprise if this also explains why eurasian was suspended from MOF for 30 days for no good reason -- so that eurasian cannot post comments while they talk about demolishing this police station building. "