On the heels of the record-setting results of last month's Shell Strides for Schools 5K Fun Run, Shell Deer Park presented a special award to the students and faculty of Deer Park Elementary. Shell employees awarded the campus $1,000 and a special traveling trophy for having the highest percentage of students participate in the fun run, which raises money for the Deer Park Education Foundation. This year, 1,681 registered runners and a record-setting number of sponsors added up to $113,120 for the Foundation. The total comes from the sum of $28,120 raised by runners, which will be matched by Shell Deer Park plus $56,850 in sponsorships. Photo by Bobby Vasquez.

City Council unanimously approved the lease of the Battleground at Deer Park Golf Course to Touchstone Golf. Touchstone Golf plans to start managing the Battleground Golf Course and Republic Grill on May 29, and then take over the grounds maintenance of the golf course on June 5, when the contract with Strong Sports Management expires.

Council also unanimously approved to seek request for proposals for commercial trash services. Councilman Thane Harrison, an executive of a private garbage collection company, abstained from the vote.
Also, council unanimously approved on a temporary concession agreement for the Battleground Golf Course; an agreement with Love's for a water line extension; an agreement with CDM Smith for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Renovation Project; agreement with Layne Christiansen Company for the P Street Water Well Rehabilitation Project, an emergency purchase.

Deer Park voters turned out in record numbers for early voting.

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DPHS North teacher Traci Graham celebrates her Deer Park Education Foundation grant award sponsored by Blake Barnes (right). During Tuesday's annual prize parade, the Foundation distributed more than $180,000 in grant funds to teachers and faculty across Deer Park ISD. Photo by Bobby Vasquez.

On the heels of record-shattering fundraisers benefiting the Deer Park Education Foundation, the Foundation shattered a record of its own through its grant-awarding parade through Deer Park ISD schools Tuesday morning.

The Foundation awarded $180,192 in grant funds to teachers and faculty across the school district during its annual Prize Parade. The mark far surpasses the then-record $106,000 in grants distributed, set last year.

"It's been an amazing year for us," said Sheri Brown, director of the Deer Park Education Foundation. "We had two amazing fundraisers this year in the McDonald's Texas Invitational Basketball Tournament and the Shell Deer Park Strides for Schools Fun Run. Both of those events are community-driven fundraisers that make a difference in the lives of Deer Park students."

Tonight's council agenda begins at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 710 E. San Augustine. Council will again open its workshop with an executive session concerning the potential lease of the Battleground at Deer Park Golf Course.

When it reconvenes, council will discuss recommendations from a committee concerning the striping of Luella Avenue. City memos did not indicate what those recommendations would be. After discussion in the workshop, this item is scheduled for action on the evening's regular agenda.

Council will also discuss requesting a proposal for an employee compensation and benefits program. Memos to council state the city has not conducted a complete outside review of compensation and benefit plans since 1998. Human resources is recommending the review from an outside party as resources are not readily available internally that can be dedicated as this is a "time/resource consuming effort;" experienced consultants will have acquired the marketplace data and/or relationships to easily obtain that data; private entities are resistant to providing compensation data that can be deemed to be a competitive advantage; experienced consultants will have a much better understanding of what other entities (public and private) are utilizing as best practice in terms of compensation and benefits practices.

Also, the memo states experienced consultants would be deemed neutral by the stakeholders in the program. Council is scheduled to take action on this item during the regular agenda.