[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6049119,"mediaKeyId","3512561-89643a055e85a1841be07a4de0bdac2a","parentId",3512561,"title","Village Presidents’ Council hears constables on scooter safety, asks township to pursue legislative input","audioSeconds",131,"startMs",3982000,"endMs",4113000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3512561-89643a055e85a1841be07a4de0bdac2a&start=3982&end=4113","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3512561-89643a055e85a1841be07a4de0bdac2a/thumbnail_3982000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6049119/The-Woodlands/Montgomery-County/Texas/Village-Presidents-Council-hears-constables-on-scooter-safety-asks-township-to-pursue-legislative-input","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6049119-ac64c6bc0e4c285e850c28253e36a592/orig.mp4?Expires=1775357074&Signature=Tw7MUJMtc8nU5Yei41XeEg0MsxJmLlzY2Cj1a9kypULVmnuapll1A2QEpMBdXbr1eQB5fLxm-~xUOrZpvYZ-NfXnxk3qJ1ODVZ0R61gl5CLfHdniIvVLjBUfsTX~qE9V-~VLTAok2HHcJ8bhVgiFlfuwXSWndVSjVTDSikGO2rs4FNrNpuC0Ko-OIpGQpY9EKbsRHp3Sj1wIpmU7r5Izb3G4svGfh9CdagWAEZucTUdwkb5sK0gcUH9SoedhNW-RBwsaH0Zr1Vw0St-JH2IBpb5oXgZDsVQu-o8oslN-1Jg3y6wj003QKoZgfWMcRz6azw3A3I6IPSe0fOV1Kl~yKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","The Woodlands","date","2025-02-20T00:00:00Z","article","The Village Presidents’ Council updated the board Feb. 20 on a recent meeting with Montgomery County precinct constables about motorized scooters and rider safety.

A board speaker summarized that constables and commanders explained the limits of local enforcement, saying the matter is governed by state law and that local agencies can generally enforce scooter activity only to the same extent they can enforce bicycle laws.

“...it really is a state law and a state issue that we have very little control over,” a council speaker said, describing the constables’ presentation. The speaker and several directors expressed concern about high‑powered scooters operating in pedestrian areas and noted safety risks for elderly pedestrians and children.

Directors asked that the township’s government‑affairs staff raise the matter with state legislators, including Representative John Toth and Senator Brandon Creighton, to explore potential statutory changes. The board approved the Village Presidents’ Council report and directed staff to pursue legislative engagement on the issue.

The council report recommended continued coordination with law enforcement, public education on scooter rules and a legislative approach because municipal ordinance authority is limited for the township.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","The Woodlands Board of Directors Regular Meeting \tFeb 20, 2025\t","oneSentenceSummary","The Village Presidents’ Council discussed electric scooter safety with precinct constables and requested township staff raise the issue with local state legislators because local enforcement options are limited under current state law.","taxTitle","The Woodlands, Montgomery County, Texas","taxId",2809,"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},6049124,"Township casts 130 votes for Arthur Bredehoft as special‑district nominee for MCAD ballot",1884,2375000,4259000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3512561-89643a055e85a1841be07a4de0bdac2a&start=2375&end=4259","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3512561-89643a055e85a1841be07a4de0bdac2a/thumbnail_2375000.jpg","/articles/6049124/The-Woodlands/Montgomery-County/Texas/Township-casts-130-votes-for-Arthur-Bredehoft-as-specialdistrict-nominee-for-MCAD-ballot","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6049124-5296aa1809ed195c92179402477e94b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775357074&Signature=HAsUozs~h0-vYLQOX8U2XBPT1GjpdQgMTlwSsiDwU96PcM24pv1VOnAZ~mWMOTionS1HwMqBCiX-KaxySD7OyMSikren9bqUuOBhFq1P3AGjYv3ZyLYfDoDuH96beloanwIjUBz1CGhkeixFwqcWxi2vnIYBeqbCE9bUKmk9CTvXJvVbyx~oySGN~r6Jdf~RlWWRXLKaguHZoheVyyXse~4ORR3CLt1gMRuwsv~0-yiVfRpCE5ZJRfThfwxlYxnbuBqoyv9l4Qo0EBhJ3q5gePH3ACvwLK4KoN2nhgxk0HmFV0NY50ouZWVQ7o3aZ54~k1GgJD~~EEugyi2TEk38Xw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Woodlands Township Board of Directors on Feb. 20 cast its special‑district ballot in the Montgomery Central Appraisal District (MCAD) board election, nominating Arthur Bredehoft as the township’s nominee to advance to the general MCAD ballot.

Karen Dempsey, Chief Administrative Officer, explained the process: special‑purpose districts (MUDs, ESDs and similar entities) run a preliminary nomination that yields a single nominee to appear on the general ballot that all taxing jurisdictions will later vote on. Chief Appraiser Sherry Hunter said the special‑district round concludes Friday and the general ballot will be issued Feb. 24 with a final vote period through March 21.

Hunter described the terms mandated under recent legislative changes known as Senate Bill 2 and said five appointed positions will be filled by appointed nominees while three board members will be elected by the public during the general election. She explained that the special‑district nomination determines which nominee, if any, advances from the special‑district pool to the general ballot.

The board used a two‑round written balloting process to identify a nominee. After the first round of interest polling, board staff reported only one candidate — Arthur Bredehoft — received four or more directors’ interest marks and thus would be the candidate advanced by the township. The board then approved a resolution casting the township’s 130 special‑district votes for Arthur Bredehoft and authorized the board chairman to sign the official ballot.

Attorney Joe Longoria, outside counsel for MCAD, provided legal context for the process and said holdover board members “continue to serve until their successor is duly qualified” and that long‑standing Texas case law allows holdover members to perform board business while elections proceed.

Board members expressed frustration with the complexity of the new statutory process but approved the resolution. One director recorded an abstention in the final voice vote; the minutes record the motion carried and the ballot was submitted.","After a multi‑step nomination process under recent state law changes, The Woodlands Township board cast its 130 special‑district votes for Arthur Bredehoft to advance to the Montgomery County Central Appraisal District general ballot.",{"_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},6049129,"Township approves $640,000 purchase of Type 3 wildland fire engine",453,1903000,2356000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3512561-89643a055e85a1841be07a4de0bdac2a&start=1903&end=2356","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3512561-89643a055e85a1841be07a4de0bdac2a/thumbnail_1903000.jpg","/articles/6049129/The-Woodlands/Montgomery-County/Texas/Township-approves-640000-purchase-of-Type-3-wildland-fire-engine","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6049129-446e7ba9578a3553ff952ce9ecfabeeb/orig.mp4?Expires=1775357074&Signature=MrAl3x4YkdKrCn6ykDSiUynv36zQv97fBep78vDFkOK6p~dJHhnFUQTLE79rNerieKd6Ro4ze2t5nUQSqX17t3Aet5x-ThYKSGkTB9MFmpuX90r312o4F3bnxXvyx-5bbMw2x3QW5tXh3pI5JtWmrI4iRILvGmFYv5Af0nwqhBHYhid4D6r~6qbx8sOsgerjUerG92CTH2XRPnSu7UeffhIbpYEVFy~-Gyhd957BSBunTe36xx2YLq9FmZM0AKj~KTjL7on4ZUk~VCxDmajT8tBOlT3UujHhK1bwXwJ2oZVVgEc0LN1bywM9EoMpXVVgDVy5vMErCXz99vFirCeJlA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Woodlands Township board voted Feb. 20 to buy a Type 3 wildland fire engine to support firefighting in the wildland‑urban interface and to re‑align the department’s vehicle replacement schedule.

Chief Palmer Buck told the board the vehicle is a four‑wheel‑drive “Type 3” engine that carries about 500 gallons of water and “can pump up to 500 gallons per minute when supplied correctly.” He said the truck is a stock model available in the fall with a fast delivery timetable that would allow the department to replace an existing brush truck sooner than previously scheduled.

“What we’re asking for is $640,000, that will pay for the truck and to equip it,” Chief Buck said. He identified the purchase price of the vehicle at about $589,898 under a HGAC cooperative contract with Siddons Martin Emergency Group and said roughly $300,000 was already in the capital replacement reserve.

Board members asked about operational flexibility, out‑of‑state deployments and certification. Chief Buck said the truck is “the best of both worlds,” able to serve wildland and limited structural firefighting roles; the department is pursuing Texas Interagency Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) certifications and expects to train engine bosses and wildland firefighter crews to allow deployments outside the township.

The board approved a motion to allocate $640,000 — $300,000 reallocated from the capital replacement reserve and $340,000 from the undesignated fund balance — to purchase a BME Charji Bridal 34 Type 3 engine and to approve the Siddons Martin Emergency Group HGAC contract in the amount of $589,898. The motion was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote; the minutes record the motion carried.","The board approved spending $640,000 to buy a Type 3 wildland engine to replace an aging brush truck; $300,000 will come from the capital replacement reserve and $340,000 from undesignated funds, and the truck can be deployed for out‑of‑state mutual‑aid responses after crew certification.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6049134,"Township outlines limits of authority as fiber and utility work expands in front yards",683,1193000,1876000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3512561-89643a055e85a1841be07a4de0bdac2a&start=1193&end=1876","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3512561-89643a055e85a1841be07a4de0bdac2a/thumbnail_1193000.jpg","/articles/6049134/The-Woodlands/Montgomery-County/Texas/Township-outlines-limits-of-authority-as-fiber-and-utility-work-expands-in-front-yards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6049134-a1f9c173cf1e9e37e17abfe0eb2c0833/orig.mp4?Expires=1775357074&Signature=gemIQUoqhc7RxX6nmOO62-9uXwYElbPPOl2mmxouRkuWpZJHA7WkQwDCMADI6GHTjrWKKrni5weySnOvm9DykCGtDtyaSU9ewtrbA45tVu7cbCHuxbICyxKvbzapey70olr6xkoWeRNBgmpGm0CxqIcL1nH71UaN8-OWoGc1XFneszExVg7WW8orjnK0upGji~lWVAt4D6X5rXnfNXb8QA~LOpZEWyaVhfuTbC9K5MILyuK6LyFHmITA1DevNU1UOggnJ6fbtZTUFvupS107Et9RI5J2O2qemiaXrYTAeCLd~dE~l2Sm58xrxD0h1W6BISpGvbdV60UNF-5ozgidOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Woodlands Township Board of Directors received an update Feb. 20 on fiber‑optic and other utility installations that are taking place in county right‑of‑way that often extends into residents’ front yards.

Dr. Chris Nunes, Chief Operating Officer, told the board the work is “largely in the front yards of individuals’ homes” and that “while people think they own that grass and dirt that's in their yard, it's actually part of the county's right of way,” which can extend “5 feet, 10 feet, even 15 feet into that yard.” He added that multiple companies sometimes install lines in the same area.

The update explained the difference between utility work inside township‑owned reserves — where the township has real property interests and can require restoration under easement agreements — and work in county rights‑of‑way, where utilities typically complete a form notification and are not always required to obtain county permits or to restore private landscaping to its prior condition.

“Those utility companies are not required to get official permits from the county,” Nunes said, and while township staff “will advocate on behalf of the resident” for repairs, the township “is not responsible” for making the repairs.

Several board members and staff recounted homeowner complaints. One speaker described personally replacing sod after a backhoe damaged a front lawn, saying they made dozens of calls before arranging repairs themselves. Chief Palmer Buck noted that breaches of major infrastructure (for example, a gas line) should be reported to 911 and that first‑responder agencies and utilities have coordinated to reduce serious conflicts since earlier problem periods in 2021.

Board members pressed staff on how residents can identify easement lines and upcoming work. Nunes said easement boundaries may appear on a home survey or the plat map and recommended residents contact the township’s liaison staff if they see utility flags or crews at work. He also noted the national 811 “call before you dig” system uses color‑coded flags to indicate different utilities.

The board ultimately voted to accept the report. The motion was moved and seconded, and the board approved the report by voice vote; no roll‑call tally was recorded in the minutes.

The item concluded with the board asking staff to consider a short informational notice in the township magazine explaining the limits of township authority and how residents can report damage or identify easements and flags.","The Woodlands Township received an update from staff clarifying that much fiber and other utility installation is occurring in county right-of-way that often extends into homeowners’ front yards; township staff will act as a liaison but cannot compel private utility companies to restore private property.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Village Presidents’ Council hears constables on scooter safety, asks township to pursue legislative input

Township casts 130 votes for Arthur Bredehoft as special‑district nominee for MCAD ballot

Township approves $640,000 purchase of Type 3 wildland fire engine

Township outlines limits of authority as fiber and utility work expands in front yards