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Regional FBISD: Whitbeck’s defamation claims against trustees must be dismissed in December 2023, three mem- often-raucous December 4, 2023 By Ken Fountain homebuying bers of the then-board – Position meeting where the retirement 5 Trustee Sonya Jones, Position 7 agreement was signed that if continues In a filing last week in former Trustee and Board President Da- trustees disclosed certain things Fort Bend ISD superintendent vid Hamilton, and former Position about Whitbeck, she “would nevChristie Whitbeck’s defamation 2 Trustee and then-Board Presi- er work in education again” and apace in and breach of contract lawsuit dent Judy Dae – made numerous an appearance by Hamilton on a the district and three board public and social media comments conservative radio talk show in November against members, the district argues that about her, in violation of the vol- which he repeated an assertion KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Staff Reports While the temperatures cooled in November, the Houston housing market remained temperate, with homebuyers seemingly undeterred by rising mortgage rates. Home sales surpassed 2023 levels for the third consecutive month, while inventory continued to expand, according to the monthly report from the Houston Association of Realtors. According to H A R’s November 2024 Housing Market Update, single-family home sales across the Greater Houston area increased 6.0 percent, with 6,559 units sold compared to 6,187 in November 2023. The increase in home sales is likely due to lower mortgage rates in September and early October, which attracted more buyers to the market. Only homes priced between $100,000 and $149,999 saw declines during the month, however that segment comprises just 2.1 percent of the overall market. The high end of the market saw the strongest performance in November. Sales in the luxury segment ($1 million+) were 21.4 percent higher than the same time last year. That is followed by the housing segment with homes priced below $99,999, which made up 1.3 percent of all home sales in November. It recorded a 21.3 percent rise in sales compared to last year. Rentals of single-family homes experienced sustained demand in November. HAR will publish its November 2024 Rental Home Update on Wednesday, December 18. “Houston’s housing market continues to demonstrate its strength and stability, even with rising mortgage rates,” said HAR Chair Thomas Mouton with Century 21 Exclusive Properties. “This positive momentum bodes well for both buyers and sellers as we enter the home stretch of 2024. While increased inventory is attracting more people to the market, we know that many consumers remain cautious due to concerns about interest rates and inflation.”
November Monthly Market Comparison November marked the second consecutive month where total property sales were in positive territory with sales increasing 3.3 percent yearover-year. Total dollar volume rose 11.1 percent to $3.1 billion. Active listings, or the total number of available properties, were 22.1 percent ahead of the 2023 level.
Single-Family Homes Update There were positive indicators across the board in November. Single-family home sales posted gains for the third month in a row, growing 6.0 percent from last November. A total of 6,559 units were sold across the Greater Houston area compared to 6,187 last
SEE HAR PAGE 2
under a provision of Texas civil law Whitbeck cannot sue both the district as a governmental entity and the board members as individual defendants for defamation, and that the court should dismiss those claims against them. Whitbeck and her Houston attorney, Chris Tritico, filed the lawsuit in a Fort Bend District Court on December 3, alleging that after her forced retirement by the board
untary retirement agreement. The agreement includes a clause stating that the district and board members would refer all third-party inquiries to a press release that praised Whitbeck’s accomplishments during her tenure, which began in September 2021 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among those statements are Jones telling Whitbeck, in the
that Whitbeck referred to Jones, who is Black, in a racist manner. The lawsuit alleges that Dae, who chose not to run for reelection after Whitbeck’s departure, made disparaging comments about her in a luncheon of the Republican Women’s Club. Whitbeck seeks unspecified monetary damages and attorney’s An attorney for Fort Bend ISD has filed a motion
SEE WHITBECK PAGE 6
seeking the dismissal of three trustees from defamation claims in a lawsuit filed by former superintendent Christie Whitbeck. Wiki image
MISSOURI CITY RESIDENTS OPPOSE PROPOSED CONCRETE BATCH PLANT By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
A standing-room only audience filled a large common area of Houston Community College’s Missouri City campus last week to protest a proposed concrete batch plant in a once-primarily residential area that has become increasingly industrial in recent years. The proposed facility, which would be located on a parcel of land on Pheasant Valley Drive already owned by Verti-Crete Houston, LLC, would be used to make pre-cast concrete fencing and blocks used for retention ponds for delivery to offsite projects, Chad Millis, a vice-president with the company, said at the December 12 meeting. The company, whose headquarters sits on the Missouri City property, currently does its operations at a temporary facility in Fulshear, but the company wants to bring its operations to where they now have their offices, Millis said. The site is just off U.S. 90 near the intersection with Texas Parkway, in a once semi-rural area with residential development that has seen massive expansion of warehouses, distribution centers and other industrial uses as the highway and the Fort Bend Tollway have opened up. Very near the Verti-Crete is the Second Mile Mission Center, a nonprofit which serves low-income people, Holy Family Catholic Church and Fort Bend ISD’s Thurgood Marshall High School, Missouri City’s Buffalo Run
A capacity audience attends a public hearing over a proposed concrete batch plant in Missouri City at the city’s Houston Community College campus last week. All of the speakers at the event opposed the proposed plant. Photo by Ken Fountain
Park well as other nearby schools and neighborhoods. The public hearing was the first since the company filed its application for an air permit with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in October, TCEQ officials said at the outset. It was meant to record public comment on the application, which will be reviewed by TCEQ staff before any recommendation is made to members of the commission before any vote for final approval. The public comment period for the application was extended to
December 16 following the legislators’ interest, the TCEQ staff members said. Area residents, officials and others spent several hours bemoaning the proposed concrete batch plant in a part of Fort Bend County which many say has an over-concentration of such facilities. Texas Sen. Borris Miles, whose District 13 includes a large proportion of minority and economically disadvantaged residents, has made a particular effort to oppose such facilities, as has Texas District 27 Rep. Ron Reynolds. Miles was
not present at the meeting (although some members of his staff were), but Reynolds was and made introductory remarks. Many residents’ complaints dealt with what they said would be the adverse impacts on the air quality stemming from emissions from the batch plant. Other concerns raised included increased truck traffic in the area, noise and light pollution, and other things. Of particular concern is the emission of particulate matter, the major emission from such plants and the
one that the TCEQ representatives said the agency was most scrutinized in the air permit application. At this point, the said, the application indicates that the proposed facility’s application met the PM 2.5 standards that are protective of human health. Particulate matter has been identified as a cause of many diseases, including heart disease and stokes. Many residents also said the proposed batch plant was part of a larger problem of
SEE TCEQ PAGE 2
Libraries feature festive activities for December Community Reports Through the end of December, Fort Bend County Libraries is hosting a variety of holiday-themed programs, from cookie decorating to wrapping those hard-to-wrap gifts. All activities are free and open to the public. Children aged 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver. For more information, see the Fort Bend County Libraries website (www.fortbend.lib.tx.us) or call the library system’s Communications office (281-633-4734).
George Memorial Library (1001 Golfview, Richmond) * Special Family Event: End-ofthe-Year Dance Party - Saturday,
December 21, 2:30-3:45 p.m., Meeting Room. Families with children of all ages are invited to a fun celebration with DJ Jeffrey. Enjoy a variety of fun activities, songs, games, and contests! Space is limited. Tickets are required for entry and will be handed out starting 30 minutes before the event. No late admittance. * Special Family Event: New Year’s at Noon - Tuesday, December 31, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Meeting Room. Families with children of all ages are invited to countdown to 12:00 NOON at this fun event, complete with a bubble release to celebrate the New Year! Space is limited. Tickets are required for entry and will be handed out starting 30 minutes before the event. No late admittance.
Cinco Ranch Branch Library (2620 Commercial Center Blvd, Katy) * “Jean Kucher’s Marionette Playhouse: Sleeping Beauty & the Handsome Prince” - Saturday, December 14, 3-4 p.m., Meeting Room. Master puppeteer Jean Kuecher, producer of Marionette Playhouse, will entertain with her beautifully handcrafted marionettes on an elaborate stage, with music and lighting. In this puppet show, the Good Fairy helps the Handsome Prince battle the Wicked Witch’s dragon, but then the prince can’t remember how to awaken the Princess Sleeping Beauty! Recommended for families with children of all ages, this performance is made possible by the Friends of the Cinco
Ranch Branch Library. Space is limited. Tickets are required for entry and will be handed out starting one hour before the event. No late admittance. * Teen Craft: DIY Glitter Mason Jars - Thursday, December 19, 4-5 p.m., Conference Classroom. Teens (grades 9-12) will learn how to use glitter to transform Mason jars into decorative accents for their rooms or to give as gifts. Limited supplies will be provided, courtesy of the Friends of the Cinco Ranch Branch Library. Registration required. * New Year’s Countdown at Noon - Tuesday, December 31, 11:30 a.m.noon. Families with children of all ages are invited to countdown to
SEE LIBRARIES PAGE 5