Fort Bend Lifestyles and Homes Magazine Mar 2009: Fort Bend County & Sugar Land News 2

SLPD Joins Regional “Move Over” Enforcement

The Sugar Land Police Department participated in a regional enforcement initiative in February intended to protect emergency workers on area highways.

A state law passed in 2003 requires drivers nearing stopped emergency vehicles with lights activated to either slow down or change lanes, but many drivers either don ’t know or don’t care.

Why is the “Move Over” law important? Anyone who’s ever needed to exit their vehicle on the shoulder of U.S. Highway 59 knows the helpless feeling as vehicles fly by at highway speeds.

“You can literally feel the vibration and the wind across your back as vehicles just inches away pass at 60 and 70 mph, ” said Sugar Land Police Capt. Eric Robins. “We accept the inherent risks of our profession, but this is one that can be easily avoided. ”

Police officers from Sugar Land, Houston, Pasadena and Houston Metro partnered with deputies and constables from Fort Bend and Harris counties, as well as state troopers, on the weeklong enforcement effort.

SB 193 requires drivers nearing a stopped emergency vehicle that has lights activated to:

•vacate the lane closest to the emergency vehicle, if the highway has two or more lanes traveling the direction of the emergency vehicle; or

•slow to a speed not more than 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit when the posted speed limit is 25 mph or more; or

•slow to a speed not more than 5 mph when the posted speed limit is less than 25 mph.

A violation of the “Move Over” law is punishable by a maximum fine of $200. If the violation results in property damage, the maximum fine increases to $500. If the violation results in bodily injury, the offense is enhanced to a Class B misdemeanor.

Sugar Land Round-up Citizens Seek to Reclaim Fittest City Title

The state of Texas and especially Sugar Land have been recognized for tremendous growth. Fortunately, Sugar Land ’s growth focuses on an expanding community, not increasing waist lines.

During past Texas Round-up initiatives, Sugar Land set the standard for fitness and nutrition, winning four years in a row until Huntsville, Cedar Park and Round Rock finished ahead of Sugar Land last year.

The Texas Round-up is a statewide Web-based effort that encourages Texans to participate in at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day, five days a week. Texas Round-up events will be geared toward this year ’s slogan: “Fit Texan, Fit Family and Fit Kid.”

“There are two crucial tips for the city to be successful this year,” said Terrie Gorney, Shape-up Sugar Land event coordinator. “When you sign onto the Web site, you must use the zip codes 77478 or 77479 to ensure the city receives credit for your physical activities. Texas Round-up doesn ’t recognize 77498 yet, so be sure to use your old zip code. And be sure that everyone on your team completes the six-week data entry program for recognition at the state level. When participants complete the program, they receive a printable certificate from the governor ’s office. Our hope is that the city vendors will start offering discounts for showing this certificate where they shop. To reclaim the title, it will take tremendous teamwork in our city. ”

To assist with Sugar Land’s fitness initiative, call 832-771-2725.For complete details about Texas Round-up, visit www.texasroundup.org.

Standard and Poor’s Raises

Fort Bend County Bond Rating to AA+

Standard and Poor’s announced that Fort Bend County’s municipal bond rating has been raised to AA+ from AA. In making the announcement, the bond rating agency observed that the county ’s access to the state’s largest city as well as economic activity of the surrounding counties has enabled it to rapidly develop as more than just a bedroom community with assessed valuation increasing to over $30 billion or a strong $60,000 per capita. The county closed fiscal 2007 with a general fund balance of $35.7 million or a strong 24.3 percent of expenditures. The fiscal 2008 budget indicated a general fund drawdown to about $25 million or the county ’s policy of 15 percent reserve in the general fund; however, preliminary indications are that the fund balance will only fall to about $31 million. The county budgeted again in 2009 to draw the balance down, while also controlling budget growth, the draw downs are intended to fund small capital projects. Debt levels are considered high as overall net debt is $6,429 per capita and 11 percent of true value; however, the county ’s direct debt levels are more average at $474 per capita and 0.8 percent of true value.