[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6236649,"mediaKeyId","3355747-074f82bdbc12287ec938bc8a8b9d94b5","parentId",3355747,"title","Friendswood approves contract to buy automated library kiosk funded by Friends of the Library","audioSeconds",99,"startMs",1676000,"endMs",1775000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3355747-074f82bdbc12287ec938bc8a8b9d94b5&start=1676&end=1775","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3355747-074f82bdbc12287ec938bc8a8b9d94b5/thumbnail_1676000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6236649/Friendswood-City/Galveston-County/Texas/Friendswood-approves-contract-to-buy-automated-library-kiosk-funded-by-Friends-of-the-Library","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236649-3b59db1cb451d70ea960401d93360f5b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136935&Signature=jmeJ859GhXlYqjz2GBAoZKkwUKcbejLcB99w7Kj0sxTUj43IFinTKm2lysTZFQaItplVDRiWDC4YM-KIFsDgf8haHg3gqYN7Bm5i4QMC7rJ~7xkOvs8rkgiJoM7rffgfIi5QyFGA9JSqvOxhy3t8~QcuL9RNo9pST4b4arqg~2BiAC2OyFVlBsvC1Jsi0wNK8u3gWnq0BLyzUGMdCYK4NpgPpL9TQUYqqbwxCxtoED3GNoGfYbfus3R0JhdAgVcDor~Wco6jN2laYE88uYc-7N5RakdocDhculRmUfuUVloRsRBMZQaPRMuU39Qq7gB~gAHNivpNZvM1Vo2rAXirwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Friendswood TX","date","2025-05-17T16:34:00.533Z","article","The Friendswood City Council on May 14 authorized a contract with International Library Services, Inc. to purchase an ILS AutoLand library kiosk, including software, hardware and maintenance, to expand access to library materials outside regular hours.

City staff said the kiosk will hold up to 400 items, including hardcover and paperback books, DVDs, games and audiobooks. Staff credited the Friends of the Library fundraising efforts, including proceeds from an annual gala, for enabling the purchase; the council approved the contract by motion and second.

Matt Riley, Friendswood’s library director, was acknowledged in the meeting as overseeing library operations; staff said the kiosk will help residents who cannot make it to the library during normal hours access materials. Bharat (staff) summarized the equipment’s capacity and purpose during his presentation to council: “This kiosk will allow, it'll have a capacity up to 400 items, including both hard cover books, soft cover books, DVDs, games, and audio books.”

Councilmembers moved and seconded the purchase authorization; the mayor called for a voice vote and the motion passed. Staff will finalize contracting and implementation details, including installation and maintenance relationships under the contract with International Library Services, Inc.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Special Meeting May 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The council authorized a contract with International Library Services, Inc. for an ILS AutoLand kiosk — a 400-item automated pickup/return unit — funded through Friends of the Library fundraising and city budget support.","taxTitle","Friendswood City, Galveston County, Texas","taxId",55593,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6236654,"Friendswood amends Grand Marshal policy, names astronaut Butch Wilmore as July 4 grand marshal",87,1571000,1658000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3355747-074f82bdbc12287ec938bc8a8b9d94b5&start=1571&end=1658","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3355747-074f82bdbc12287ec938bc8a8b9d94b5/thumbnail_1571000.jpg","/articles/6236654/Friendswood-City/Galveston-County/Texas/Friendswood-amends-Grand-Marshal-policy-names-astronaut-Butch-Wilmore-as-July-4-grand-marshal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236654-4818881b782140e9679f86304e8dd231/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136935&Signature=mHPW6Y3W4zfVBtitfzmaEkive3yLBpApFyY5NNeWIX74u6cB9J~j5uUPQYDyF92wbKzhEoohzqO6VxmxKZOjgQp6JPVtQJ5FWJxpF92MAwXbTknhxb2cWyCuuFJmjmznvI1XHdbtP6CyiqHWvS93Bf~dbpE~3sJ-YoxufW9ZHIcOxxX75JLIYuvKeT0niMsu~pbUoavQWXW2nNYTuuLO8PArTBrMZJL4lqdXoYiktsQAxhUW-GzQWgIjhrgluQRA34eM7oYf~kUoHwvjEKpKEZbzRstgASOk-WGPK-ijV7zVNpV0TW~bLyac4t~-CzFx78YK8xHeu5tr3KqC61TJug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Friendswood City Council on May 14 approved a resolution amending the city’s Grand Marshal selection policy to permit the mayor to extend nomination deadlines in years when no nominations are received, and it approved a nomination for Captain Barry “Butch” Wilmore as grand marshal for the city’s July 4 celebration.

Staff member Rod told the council that the existing policy included a fixed deadline for nominations and that no applications had been received before that date this year; the amendment allows the mayor to grant an extension in years with no nominations. “We are amending the policy to allow the mayor to give an extension on those years that we don't get nominations,” Rod said. The council then moved to approve the amendment by motion and vote.

Following the policy amendment, the council considered and approved a nomination for Captain Barry “Butch” Wilmore, described in the meeting as a retired U.S. Navy captain and NASA astronaut who has flown three space missions. Parks and Recreation staff recommended the nomination. Council members moved and seconded the nomination; the mayor called for the vote and the motion passed.

The policy change is intended to ensure the city can name a grand marshal in years when initial nomination deadlines are missed. The nomination of Wilmore names a high-profile local celebrant for the July 4 event.

The Parks and Recreation Department will coordinate event planning and any logistics associated with the grand marshal appearance.","The council amended the city's Grand Marshal selection policy to allow the mayor to extend nomination deadlines and approved Captain Barry \"Butch\" Wilmore, a retired U.S. Navy captain and NASA astronaut, as this year’s Fourth of July grand marshal.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6236659,"Friendswood certifies May 3 election results and swears in Michael P. Ross",76,1996000,2072000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3355747-074f82bdbc12287ec938bc8a8b9d94b5&start=1996&end=2072","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3355747-074f82bdbc12287ec938bc8a8b9d94b5/thumbnail_1996000.jpg","/articles/6236659/Friendswood-City/Galveston-County/Texas/Friendswood-certifies-May-3-election-results-and-swears-in-Michael-P-Ross","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236659-8a11ffe9e63c56c3c8601aa065ac1793/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136935&Signature=C2h8QGrF3JghmuXLY1W842CC8PquHAaa915vS7thD6xKoT2AuZoKrajsuQBh4HhcqBt12wg8muEdtcO3Ujp2j~PIwgRdOD5ULm6k8APQqGglX7jN7eQjbZVax~X2K24lioXxLTAwdRcpNB6cFnVRo9~2Fc-Tq-Zu~zOZT2VvzkwD22w~JfHZFkuzlDVZ2ayQtxl7ODrrxUs5R1VoHs-bDLq5TwgAr5su0JNE7Jyfw6eWuQF7zFWW9DXqr6mJiKNi9ZIOoT~9GJfSBJx~dam8~RoSwLBQlSDqnEtqj~3lkscMoXI6k4yJdoBS0hSelRkoKeS1fj8y~IpV9gprdAUWLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Friendswood City Council on May 14 canvassed and certified the results of the May 3 general election and administered the oath of office to Michael P. Ross, who won the race for Council Member Position 6.

The canvass, presented through the city secretary, showed an overall voter turnout of 8.31%. The city reported 50 absentee votes, 2,938 early votes and 1,587 election-day votes for a total of 2,540 ballots cast from 30,550 registered voters. For Council Member Position 4, Robert J. Grafon ran unopposed and received 2,035 votes (100%). For Position 6, Michael P. Ross received 1,458 votes (57.4%) and Thomas Hinckley received 1,082 votes (42.6%). The council voted to approve an ordinance declaring those results; the city secretary was directed to preserve the canvass documents as the official election record.

Judge Woltz administered the oath of office to Michael P. Ross at the conclusion of the canvass. After taking the oath, Councilmember Michael P. Ross spoke briefly about priorities he identified on the campaign trail, including support for families and local schools and continuing regional work on stormwater and drainage. Ross also urged higher turnout in future local elections, saying, “That number has to go up.” He closed his remarks with, “Let’s get to work.”

The mayor read the official tabulation aloud during the canvass and the council made the canvass record available to the city secretary, the custodian of election records, noting that precinct-level reports are available on request.

The canvass and the ordinance declaring results concluded the council’s formal election business for the evening; the newly sworn councilmember will assume full duties upon completion of the swearing-in process.","At its May 14 meeting the Friendswood City Council canvassed and declared the May 3 general election results, approved an ordinance declaring those results, and administered the oath of office to Michael P. Ross as council member Position 6.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Friendswood approves contract to buy automated library kiosk funded by Friends of the Library

Friendswood amends Grand Marshal policy, names astronaut Butch Wilmore as July 4 grand marshal

Friendswood certifies May 3 election results and swears in Michael P. Ross