Court considers new hearing on lighting issue

The Fort Bend County Commissioners Court this week will consider setting a public hearing regarding the Fort Bend County lighting ordinance. Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers, who voted against the ordinance and has criticized its strict requirements, included in the Commissioners Court agenda an item calling for a public hearing at 1 p.m. Aug. 29.

That hearing would occur during the Commissioners Court session.

Precinct 1 Commissioner Tom Stavinoha, who pushed for the ordinance, has said he and members of a lighting ordinance committee are working to revise the ordinance, passed in 2004.

The ordinance calls for regulations on the intensity of outdoor lighting within the unincorporated area of the county, and creates a zone surrounding the Brazos Bend State Park and George Observatory having the strictest requirements.

Many have criticized the technical language used in the ordinance, and Stavinoha has said he will work on a revision that makes it easier to read.

The court will also consider:

€ taking appropriate action on the Techshare resource sharing addendum to the interlocal agreement for participation in the urban counties Techshare program for a common integration justice system, with action on the following agreements: license participation agreement, maintenance and programming service agreement and three-party master escrow service agreement;

€ approving the proposed preservation plan prepared by Moore Archaeological Consulting, Inc. for the property on Ransom Road, with concurrence from the Texas Historical Commission;

€purchasing project management service for Proposition 1 projects;

€ web-based communication software for Health and Human Services;

€ purchasing voting equipment with Hart Intercivic for an amount not to exceed $226,000;

€ taking appropriate action on price increase requests from American Materials, Century Asphalt, Gulf Coast Stabilized Materials, Mobile Recycling and Tarmac Materials; and

€ taking appropriate action on interlocal cooperation agreement for the collection of taxes between Fort Bend County and Lamar Consolidated Independent School District.