The Township approved $33,000 for a new shuttle bus service between The Woodlands and Sam Houston State University as well as up to $100,000 for a consultant to pursue future transportation options within the community.
July 23, 2008 By BETH KUHLES, Chronicle Correspondent

New: Consultant says Woodlands boards should speed up merger
July 23, 2008 by BETH KUHLES, Chronicle Correspondent
To view the consultant's report click here.

Note: A Transition Agreement provided assurances to the residents that a fully elected board would be in place before transition to governance by The Township Board of Directors. The mutual objectives of The Transition Agreement are to:
* accomplish a seamless consolidation of functions and services provided by the Parties into a single, community wide, governmental organization and
* fund, by the most efficient and cost effective means to the taxpayers of the community services while:
* preserving and continuing the current high level and quality of such functions and services by utilizing EXISTING personnel, management, programs and structures, and
* ensuring continuity of management and ELECTED leadership.
Click here for comments by Claude or click here to view the complete transition agreement.

July 20, 2008 By BROOKE HATCHETT, Houston Chronicle

With gasoline at ca. $4.00 per gallon, it may be timely to further evaluate other local transportation improvements, such as expanding trolley service to The Woodlands Village Centers. This prospect will likely be considered in meetings of the Community Associations and The Township. Your input would be appreciated via my website or in public comments at meetings.
Claude Hunter

Woodlands area firm looks to expand biodiesel operations
July 16, 2008 By BROOKE HATCHETT, Houston Chronicle

Township OKs SHSU transportation plan
07/16/2008 By T.L. Hamilton, Courier Staff

Transit system proposes fare hike in Montgomery County
July 16, 2008 By BETH KUHLES, Chronicle Correspondent

New shuttle service ready to roll in Woodlands. This shuttle service will operate between The Woodlands Town Center and Sam Houston State University in Huntsville.
July 16, 2008 By BETH KUHLES, Chronicle Correspondent

Pranksters find if a tree falls in The Woodlands, it's a felony. 'Bored' high schoolers caught red-handed
July 16, 2008 By JENNIFER LATSON, Houston Chronicle

Alcohol ban considered at Woodlands parks
07/16/2008 By T.L. Hamilton, Courier Staff

Woodlands lifeguards win regional competition. It's easy to feel safe swimming in Woodlands pools
07/15/2008 By T.L. Hamilton, Courier staff

July 10, 2008 By BETH KUHLES, Chronicle Correspondent

WCA awards bids for signs, crosswalks and bridges
07/11/2008 By T.L. Hamilton, Courier Staff

Woodlands considers banning alcohol in parks
July 10, 2008 By BETH KUHLES, Chronicle Correspondent

Local agencies discuss plans to ease traffic congestionMetro could extend I-45 HOV lanes to FM 1488 Local agencies discuss plans to ease traffic congestion
July 9, 2008 By BETH KUHLES, Chronicle Correspondent

County water district revising rules on usage Agency wants to target 'vanity lakes’ and add conservation incentives
July 9, 2008 By BETH KUHLES, Chronicle Correspondent

Montgomery County ready to open new jail annex
July 7, 2008 By BETH KUHLES, Chronicle Correspondent

Public safety messaging system online in Woodlands
July 2, 2008 By BETH KUHLES, Chronicle Correspondent

07/01/2008 By T.L. Hamilton, Courier Staff

Website brings neighborhoods to cyberspace
07/02/2008 By T.L. Hamilton, Courier Staff

06/27/2008 Courier Editorial Opinion
Note: The Transition Agreement defines what was promised to the voters, as follows:
The mutual objectives of the Parties are to:
* accomplish a seamless consolidation of functions and services provided by the Parties into a single, community wide, governmental organization and
* fund, by the most efficient and cost effective means to the taxpayers of the community services while:
* preserving and continuing the current high level and quality of such functions and services by utilizing EXISTING personnel, management, programs and structures, and
* ensuring continuity of management and elected leadership.
Click here for comments by Claude or click here to view the complete transition agreement

New aquatic center opened in The Woodlands
06/27/2008 By: T.L. Hamilton, Courier Staff

Summary of June 26, 2008 TWA Meeting
By Lloyd Matthews

June 26, 2008 By BETH KUHLES, Chronicle Correspondent

Township expands governing structure
June 26, 2008 By BETH KUHLES, Chronicle Correspondent

6/25/2008 By T.L. Hamilton, Courier Staff

The Woodlands sets funding list for regional projects. Township board approves funding for Houston deal
June 25, 2008 By BETH KUHLES, Chronicle Correspondent

06/09/2008 By JAKE MUONIO, jmuonio@hcnonline.com

Rallying Point-Residents continue to protest local injection well
06/12/2008 By LUCRETIA FERNANDEZ, Courier Staff
Note: Two articles on The Woodlands Joint Powers Agency website provide important information regarding a proposed injection well which many believe would place our present source of potable water at risk of contamination.
* May 20, 2008 Status Report re: Proposed Injection Well Application by TexCom Gulf Disposal
* Executive Summary on Opposition to TexCom Gulf Disposal Injection Wells
* Addresses to voice concerns re: Injection Wells in Old Conroe Oil Field, Montgomery County, TX

Woodlands committee to evaluate home improvement program
06/12/2008 By T.L. HAMILTON, Courier Staff

Township committee OKs hiring of consultant Decision comes as governing agencies prepare to merge in 2010
June 9, 2008 By BETH KUHLES, Houston Chronicle

06/04/2008 By T.L. Hamilton, Courier Staff

May 28, 2008 By BETH KUHLES, Houston Chronicle

New, old Township directors clash on election policy
06/03/2008 By T.L. Hamilton, Courier Staff

05/14/2008 By Kassia Micek, Courier Staff

May 10, 2008 By BETH KUHLES, Houston Chronicle
Bond and Township Election Results
From Houston Chronicle Website
Township chooses 5 for board
05/11/2008 By T.L. Hamilton, Courier Staff

for smooth continuation of services that will lead to consolidation of the governmental functions of The Woodlands into one entity. The signing marks a milestone in the history of The Woodlands. The Transition Agreement covers the agreements between The Township (formerly TCID) and the Community Associations of The Woodlands (CATW, WCA, TWA, WFD, WCOA and WRC).

Woodlands groups OK final governance agreement. Approval starts timeline moving on transition to Township board
02/07/2008 By BETH KUHLES, Chronicle Correspondent

Dec. 6, 2007, By ALEXIS GRANT and BILL MURPHY, Chronicle Correspondents

11/07/2007 By: Tiffany Williams, Courier staff
Note by Claude: For the first time in the history of Houston (and Texas), a community in the extraterritorial jurisdiiction of cities is guaranteed the opportunity to choose their own future governance. Residents who voted "For" deserve credit for this historic achievement. Sincere thanks to those who helped make this vote possible, including:
* Sen. Tommy Williams, Rep. Rob Eissler and Mayor White (and all 31 Texas Senators, 144 Texas Representatives and Governor Perry, who approved enabling legislation)
* Leaders of Houston and Shenandoah who testified in support of the legislation
* Directors of the Community Associations and the Town Center who voted for the Memorandum of Understanding
* And many others too numerous to mention

As leaders, we appreciate all who believe that freedom from the threat of annexation, transition to a fully elected governing board as soon as possible and saving one third on local assessments and taxes are worth voting FOR the issues and FOR those who worked to make these opportunities possible. In 2010, the same year the Township Board transitions to a fully elected board, The Township will be allowed to collect ad valorem (value based) property taxes to replace current ad valorem assessments - dollar for dollar.

* Memorandum of Understanding-Timeline for transition to new government in 2010. Source: Community Associations
* Regional Participation Agreement between Houston and The Woodlands, as approved by Houston City Council
* Houston's Historical Timeline relative to The Woodlands, by Claude Hunter, updated Nov. 7, 2007
* Why we cannot become a city now, by Claude Hunter, updated Nov. 8, 2007
Enabling Legislation approved in 2007:
* Senate Bill 1012 authorized binding regional partnership agreements with Houston and Conroe to release The Woodlands from the threat of annexation
* House Bill 4109 modified Town Center Improvement District legislation to allow expansion and renaming the district to serve as the political subdivision for all parts of The Woodlands. Validated by The Woodlands voters Nov. 6, 2007.
* The newly expanded district was renamed "The Woodlands Township" and, for the first time, all elected and appointed directors of The Woodlands Township would soon be fully accountable to the voters of The Township for every dollar of taxes collected and every policy approved. True democracy and director voter accountability for The Woodlands will begin May 10, 2008 as existing Directors terms expire and as they are replaced by at-large elected directors. By May 10, 2010, all seven Directors will be elected at-large.

Earlier legislative history of Town Center Improvement District:
* Initial legislation to create the Town Center Improvement District (TCID) of Montgomery County, Texas, started Mar 30, 1993 with Senate Bill 1325, then to House Bill 2843 by Kevin Brady and then to Senate Bill 1373, by Parker, which was signed by the Governor and became effective May 26, 1993. TCID was created soon thereafter.
* TCID initial legislation (SB 1373) was modified in 1997 by Senate Bill 26, in 1999 by Senate Bill 1807 and in 2005 by Senate Bill 1353.