Breaking Ground, Volume 3, Number 2, June/July 1998 Page: 5
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Breaking Ground
Local Government Services Section:
Helping Texas Cities Become More Effectiverom El Paso to Texarkana,
Amarillo to Brownsville, the
Local Government Services Section
(LGS) of the Texas Department of
Housing and Community Affairs has
assisted every type of local 'government
and official, Since its establishment in
1971,'LGS has offered technical
assistance to help communities provide
essential public services and resolve
financial, social and environmental
problems. These services are made
available through workshops and
developmental publications that are
targeted to smaller Texas cities, counties,.
rural fire prevention districts and other
local government entities.
In 1997, through the joint efforts of
the Texas Association of Regional
Councils, the Texas Municipal League,
the Office of the Attorney Gendral, and
the Texas Chapter of American Planning
Association, the Section was able to
conduct 21 Planning and Zoning
Workshops with 620 participants from
local governments across the state.
Training Workshops
There are approximately 1,000
separate local governments within Texas
that have populations of less than
10,000. The workshops conducted by
LGS are designed to serve this segment
of local government, who often have
limited resources and staff. By providing
information on such subjects as the-
responsibilities of municipal officials, the
creation and operation of rural fire
prevention districts, the incorporation of
new cities, budgeting and financial
management, and other topics important
to local governments, LGS staff is able
to help elected officials perform legal
responsibilities in an efficient and
effective manner.
Serving all of these local
governments can be a big job for the
four-member LGS-team. To ease the
strain of 1,000-plus clients, LGS has
divided the state into 24 planning
regions. Each region is strategically
placed so that it is convenient for local
government representatives to attend
the informational sessions.
"It would be impossible for our
section to go to every town that sends in
a request," says John Clary, manager of
LGS. "Most of our job is done over the
phone-talking to local officials."
Over the.past year, the efforts of the
team have taken them to every part ofthe state. Although the planning regions
have been set up to provide local
government officials with general
information, there are times when more
specific, personalized training is
required.
LGS Teamwork
The LGS team has divided its tasks to
ensure the'satisfaction of its clients, andeach member offers
experience in a different
area.
Rudy Davila is
LGSs assistant manager
and the "Troubleshooter"
as Crary likes to call him.
Davila's 30-plus years of
experience with
community action
agencies and local
governments area great
resource for the team.
He also provides
assis-ance in the areas of'
Rural Fire Prevention
Districts; county government and board
training.
Ernest Quadim'asil, LGS's
personnel specialist, travels to local
communities to conduct training and
information workshops. He works with
community action agencies to offer
education and assistance to leaders of
local governments, like mayors and
courty commissioners.
3obbie Henson, LGS's
administrative assistant, is responsible'
for scheduling travel and presentations
across the state.
1GS employees often encounter not
only the difficulty of training part-time
employees; but also the high turnover
rates small towns often suffer. Clary '
explains that, due to the turnover rates,
he o another member of LGS must
meet with local government officials to
discuss the options.available.
'We try to suggest what we believe
to be the best solution for the
communityy" says.Clary. "But it's up to
them to decide what they want to do to
improve.".
Helping Texans Find Solutions
The Section receives a wide variety
of requests. Some local governments ask
for 1-elp with manuals or solutions to
personnel problems. It is the duty of the
LGS to assist these officials as much as'
they can.
The number of people that have
benefited from the Section's help is
impressive. As of the fiscal year-end in
August 1997, more than 1,700 Texas
elected local government officials, staff,
and other representatives o local
governments received training in a
variety of areas.
The Section also responded to a
total of 2,373 requests for assistance or
other contacts from local officials orcitizens.
More than.490 separate local
governments with a population of less
than 10,000 also received assistance. In
addition, LGS conducted 65 separate
workshops.
Besides offering workshops on local
government, the Section produces a
variety of reference materials, includipgJohn Cldry,manager of
the Local Government
Services Section, addresses
a-group. The Section
conducts workshops
across the state to help
local government officials
provide essential public'
services to communities.the Resource Guidefor Local Governments, The
Guide to Texas Lat.>sfor County Officials,
Introduction to Texas County Government, and
other publications of interest to local
officials. Last year, 6,282 publications
were distributed to local governments
throughout the state.
The Local Government Services -
Section can be contacted at
1-800-544-2042. This toll-free number
is convenient for smaller municipalities
on tight budgets that would like the
opportunity to speak with an LGS
representative a:out better serving their
communities.
This article was written by Rolf Gatlin,
Media and Communicatipns Intern.
"Leadership in the Colonias, "continued
from page 4
contacted Blanca and announced that
Colonia Unidas was the winner in the
Civic Non-Profit Organization category
for the 1998 Texas Environmental
Excellence Award. Governor Bush
presented the award to Blanca on May6
at the Texas Environmental Excellence
Award Banquet in Austin. This marks the
first~time a Valley organization has won
the award.
"I feel that the respect colonia
residents have for my father has paved
the way for my future-a future that will
continue his work beside leaders like
Blanca Juarez," says David.
TDHCA recognizes that change in
the colonias is not possible without
leadership. We thank the leaders of all
colonias along the Texas-Mexico border
for their commitment.
For more information about these
communipes alOng the Texas-Mexico
border, call the Office of Colonia
Initiatives at 1-800-462-4251.JJ
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Texas. Department of Housing and Community Affairs. Breaking Ground, Volume 3, Number 2, June/July 1998, periodical, June 1998; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1587231/m1/5/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.