WHAT'S NEXT FOR SEVEN LAKES VOLLEYBALL SPORTS | PAGE 8 FIND OUT WHAT'S BLOOMIN' IN BROOKSHIRE NEWS | PAGE 2 VOLUME 109, ISSUE 26 THE GREATER KATY AREA’S NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1912 n katytimes.com THURSDAY, JULY 1, 2021 KATY ISD Trustees hear proposed attendance boundary modifications Board also approves employee pay increases BY R. HANS MILLER NEWS EDITOR The Katy Independent School District Board of Trustees heard a briefing from Chief Operations Officer Ted Vierling and Population and Survey Analysts – other- wise known as PASA – regarding proposed attendance boundary modifications for Bryant Elementary and Paetow High School at Monday’s meeting. They also approved a 2% pay increase for permanent staff and a 1% bonus for contract employees. “Within the next two to three years, the northwest quadrant of Katy ISD will begin to see an increased growth that includes R. HANS MILLER community developments,” Vierling said. Work is progressing on Innovation Drive, which will border Katy ISD’s Elementary No. 44 on the south and west. Trustees heard a briefing from Katy ISD COO Ted Vierling during Monday’s See KATY ISD, page 3 meeting regarding possible attendance boundaries for the new campus as well as a minor adjustment to the attendance zone for Paetow High School. EDUCATION KATY Council approves new development near Clay Road, OKs drainage work BY R. HANS MILLER NEWS EDITOR In a meeting that lasted just more than two-and- a-half hours on June 28, councilmembers heard the results of the city’s annual R. HANS MILLER financial audit, approved Event attendees sign the final beams to be mounted atop the new Houston Community College Katy campus on June 25. A topping out ceremony dedicates the the sale of $2.5 million building and celebrates the installation of the uppermost piece of a large construction project. The new campus is expected to be in operation in the spring of 2022. in bonds and a roughly $214,000 amendment to drainage work being done in the Riceland Terrace CITY OF KATY/SWAGIT subdivision. They also Katy Mayor Bill Hastings listens to HCC hosts topping out ceremony passed a new ordinance Brett Walker of Parkside Capital creating the Katy Court as Walker presents the company’s planned development dis- proposal for the Katy Court Planned trict in the southeast corner Development District. for new 24-acre Katy area campus of Clay and Katy Hockley Cut Off roads. Katy Asian Town. The event celebrat- important and is the means to a bet- developer of the Katy Court BY R. HANS MILLER “The commercial com- project. NEWS EDITOR ing the construction of the project ter way of life,” said Katy City Council ponent is primarily along The PDD is about 111 and HCC’s partnership in the area Member Janet Corte. “Which is why I Clay (Road) and at the acres and will feature about Houston Community College with the University of Houston was was so excited to see Houston Com- corner of Katy Hockley Cut 46 residential lots that are celebrated the placement of the last attended by HCC and UH staff as well munity College and then the Univer- Off (Road),” said Kathryn 55-feet wide, 46 residential bits of upper framework of the main as Katy City Council members and sity of Houston bringing locations out Parker of META Planning, lots that are 65 feet wide, building for its new 24-acre campus at other local officials. a consultant working 22910 Colonial Parkway in Katy, near “I believe that an education is so See CAMPUS, page 3 with Parkside Capital, the See COUNCIL, page 3 HAVE A NEWS TIP? ROYAL ISD [email protected] SUBSCRIBE TODAY 281-391-3141 Bond proposal July 1, 2021 8 pages | $1 provides option for new facilities BY R. HANS MILLER NEWS EDITOR Royal Independent School District’s Com- munity Advisory Committee has come to a FILE PHOTO BY R. HANS MILLER consensus to recommend a roughly $99.5 mil- lion bond package to the district’s trustees at RISD Operations Director Derrick Dabney shows where urinals are missing from the walls in the boys’ bathroom at Royal Junior High the July trustee meeting. RISD Superintendent School. Collapsed drainpipes in the walls and under the floor have prevented the installation of new urinals – one of many serious Rick Kershner said the bond will not increase maintenance issues at the half-century-old campus. An advisory committee made up of RISD residents is set to recommend a $99.5 the district’s property tax rates. million bond proposal to the RISD board of trustees in July to remedy this and other extensive problems throughout the district’s “We actually refinanced series (2013 and campuses. 2014) bonds last week and with the refinanc- ing of those we were able to save several campus and a new junior high school for the campus, the current junior high school – to million dollars and some time, so that gave us district. Both of those campuses have severe keep it usable while the new campus is con- some additional room in our bonding capac- renovation needs with foundation, HVAC and structed – improvements to the early child- ity without increasing the tax rate,” Kershner asbestos issues among the more concerning hood center and transportation expenses, said. issues that affect student and staff safety, according to the district’s presentation. If approved by the trustees, voters will according to presentations by district staff. While the tax rate is not expected to decide on the bond referendum during this Land would be purchased for the elementary increase, RISD Financial Advisor Lucas Janda year’s November elections, Kershner said. school as well. Renovations would be funded said the district’s fast growth will also help to The proposal would provide an option for for the RISD Science, Technology, Engineer- mitigate the overall cost for existing taxpayers. a new pre-kindergarten through 5th-grade ing and Math Academy, the early childhood See ROYAL ISD, page 3 Creating Happy, Healthy Smiles in Katy NEW PATIENT SPECIAL 3011 WEST GRAND PARKWAY N. SUITE 200, KATY, TX 77449 $ EXAM, X-RAYS & CLEANING 832-409-4949 79RESTRICTIONS APPLY DR. JOSHUA PENG DR. BOWEN LI PEEKDENTISTRYTX.COM THE KATY TIMES 2 THURSDAY, JULY 1, 2021 COMMUNITY KATYTIMES.COM Bloomin’ 90 a dream come true for gift shop owner BY R. HANS MILLER Time went by and Jenni- options for clients to bring NEWS EDITOR fer kept bringing up the idea their crafts in. Additionally, for a shop from time to time she is working on setting up Jennifer Cruseturner says and setting it up in Brook- a conference room that can she fell in love with the idea shire, she said. Her father, be rented out, community of owning a gift shop about Gary Cruseturner – who also events such as the weekly 20 years ago when working helps run the store – spotted Shop the Shire markets at her first job. Now, her the building that eventually in the lot next to the gift dream is coming true as she became their location in Feb- boutique and family-friend- runs her own store, Bloom- ruary of 2020. Now, Jennifer ly activities such as a dog in’ 90 at 3719 Hwy. 90 E. in said, her dream is finally show she has planned for Brookshire, featuring crafts, coming true and has evolved July 17 in partnership with plants, clothing and curios into a craft shop with a heart Hand Built Pets. The contest for her customers to enjoy. for the community. will have five judges and “I’ve had dreams for “I mean, anything and feature categories such as about 20 years,” Jennifer everything you can think “best tail wag” and “best said. “My first job was a car- of,” Jennifer said. “We want smile,” Jennifer said. wash, and the carwash had to offer ‘how to make it’ “The (Shop the Shire) a gift shop. So, I eventually classes, and maybe rent out market worked out perfect,” ordered all of the merchan- our woodshop area.” Jennifer said. "It just kind of dise. After that, I just knew Besides planning for landed in our laps and we’re one day I was going to want crafting classes, Jennifer running with it. We charge to have a gift shop.” also offers consignment a very small fee of just $25 right now per vendor.” The shop also hopes to R. HANS MILLER have live entertainment, Jennifer Cruseturner has opened the Bloomin’ 90 gift shop in Brookshire with the help of her father, Gary Cruseturner. Jennifer Gary said. said owning the store is a dream come true and she is excited to use the business to create fun events for the community. “We want to have com- munity events,” Gary said. “Barn dances and that sort BLOOMIN’ 90 of thing to provide activities LOCATION & EVENTS on Fridays and Saturdays.” Gary said the pair have 3719 Hwy. 90 E. live musicians in mind Brookshire, TX 77423 they’d like to have provide 713-355-9081 the entertainment, but www.bloomin90.com details are still being worked [email protected] out on any dances or con- Hours: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. certs. Mon. – Sat. The building, which used to be the Wayside Theatre, is EVENTS spacious inside and father Shop the Shire and daughter are making 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. most adjustments to the interior Saturdays to make it suit their purpos- R. HANS MILLER es. In addition to adding a Bloomin’ 90 in downtown Brookshire along Highway 90 offers a variety of outdoor 1st Annual Dog Show conference room that can be and indoor décor for shoppers to enjoy.