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WEDNESDAY • SEPTEMBER 20, 2023
Fall events kick off this weekend in Fort Bend County
Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 48 • No. 37 • $1.00
Fort Bend commissioners approve higher tax rate, larger budget By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Staff Reports With the recent break in the months-long Texas heat dome, area residents may be itching to get out to enjoy some fall festivities. This weekend, there are two such events. On Saturday, Sept. 23, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., the city of Sugar Land will present the Fall Fest in the Sugar Land Town Square plaza near U.S. Highway 59 and State Highway 6. This year’s Fall Fest will offer a host of autumnal activities, food and entertainment for attendees of all ages. The event is intended to offer something for every member of the family. The main stage will feature live, high-energy musical performances from Hybrid 7.
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Fort Bend commissioners vote on a new tax rate and budget during a Sept. 12 meeting. Video capture of Fort Bend County livestream.
During a sometimescontentious meeting last week, Fort Bend County commissioners approved an increase to the ad valorem tax rate and a budget that is substantially more than the one from the previous fiscal year. But in both cases, commissioners and other officials said there were extenuating circumstances behind the moves.
The September 12 meeting followed a series of hearings and workshops on both the tax rate and budget that had been held in recent weeks. In the first item, commissioners voted 5-1 (with Precinct 2 Commissioner Andy Meyers voting against) to approve a total ad valorem tax rate of $0.4264 per $100 of valuation for fiscal year 2024, a 4.8 percent increase over the previous year. The fiscal year begins October 1.
Before the vote, Meyers, a Republican long seen as the most fiscally conservative member of the court, bemoaned the tax increase. He noted that earlier this year, Attack Poverty! and other Fort Bend-area nonprofits came to the court asking to help in addressing the growing problem of homelessness in the county. (The court ultimately approved providing financial
SEE BUDGET PAGE 2
New sculpture pays homage to firefighters who serve ‘Around the Clock’
An onsite artisans market that will feature an eclectic array of products such as fashion accessories, tumblers, handcrafted wooden cutting and charcuterie boards, vibrant plants, garden décor and other unique finds. One Medical will sponsor a delightful pumpkin patch. There will also be hayrides, pumpkin carving instructions and demonstrations, an inflatable corn maze, charming autumn-themed photo stations, a mesmerizing showcase of Jurassic dinosaurs during lunchtime, face painting and an arts and crafts station supported by Board and Brush. Suga r La nd Tow n Square’s Fish City Grill Restaurant will be onsite with special menu items. There will also be a variety of treats from other onsite vendors, including kettle corn, lemonade, roasted nuts, ice cream and other snacks. Saint Arnold Brewing & Texas Leaguer Brewery will offer an assortment of beers. Sponsors include H-E-B, Baylor College of Medicine, Renewal by Anderson, CLS Health, Resort Vacations, Kinetic by Windstream, Rodeo Dental and AFC Urgent Care. Also on Saturday, from 47 p.m., the city of Missouri City will hold its annual Octoberfest celebration from 4-7 p.m. at the Quail Valley City Centre, 2880 La Quinta Drive. The event will feature traditional German beer and food, music, and plenty of games and competitions. Both events are free and open to the public.
The city of Missouri City’s annual Octoberfest celebration this weekend is among the first area events of the fall. Courtesy City of Missouri City
Sugar Land firefighters admire ‘Around the Clock,” a new public wall sculpture at Fire Station No. 3. Courtesy City of Sugar Land
By Dayna Worchel NEWS@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
a fire station within the city and how it protects its citizens.
Firefighters risk their lives around the clock each day to protect a community and keep its citizens safe from harm. But a fire station is also a part of and connected to that community it serves. And the community is a part of that fire station.
“I wanted to show how the fire service protects around the clock. It’s not a literal clock, but it represents it,” Reiquam said of the piece, which resembles a clock face. It has a center with the number 3 that explodes like a starburst.
This was the inspiration behind ‘Around the Clock,” a new, public wall sculpture on display at Sugar Land Fire Station No. 3 on Settlers Way Boulevard. The newest public art piece in Sugar Land is loaded with different layers of meaning, said Seattle-based artist Peter Reiquam, who created it.
Sha Davis, the city’s cultural arts manager, was tasked with making sure the public sculpture, which faces the outside of the fire station on Settler’s Way, became a reality. It’s the newest of several art works in public spaces in the city. Davis says the public art is part of a city initiative which began in 2016 to engage the community.
He did so at the request of Sugar Land city officials who asked that he show the role of
SEE FIREFIGHTER PAGE 2
Artist Peter Reiquam stands in front of ‘Around the Clock,’ the sculpture he created for Sugar Land Fire Station No. 3. Courtesy City of Sugar Land