Kevin O’Connor Kommentary May 29

Texas A&M’s Interim Chief Operations Officer Is Named To The Post On A Permanent Basis

Another leadership position at Texas A&M has been filled with the naming of a permanent chief operating officer. Filling that post is interim C-O-O Peter Lange. After 13 years directing A&M transportation services as part of a 21 year career at A&M, Lange was named interim C-O-O last March. A&M’s prior C-O-O, Greg Hartman, left to become chief executive officer of the new Texas Alliance of YMCA’s. A&M continues three dean searches, at the school of architecture, the school of performance, visualization and fine arts, and the graduate and professional school. The search also continues for A&M’s next vice provost of faculty affairs. News release from Texas A&M: Texas A&M University announced today that Peter Lange will assume the helm over operations as chief operating officer (COO) and senior vice president, effective immediately. Lange most recently served as the interim chief operating officer since March. Previous to the interim role, he served as the associate vice president for Transportation Services, leading one of the largest university transportation operations in the nation. “With nearly 21 years of service at Texas A&M University, Peter possesses a deep knowledge and understanding of the business operations and people that make this university such a great place to live, work and learn,” said Gen. (Ret.) Mark A. Welsh III, president of Texas A&M. “This experience and understanding, combined with his commitment to respectful collaboration with colleagues and stakeholders, make Peter an excellent fit for the important work ahead. Lange started at Texas A&M in July 2003, and prior to that was a systems support specialist and an acting assistant director at the Georgia Institute of Technology for four years. He earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Georgia State University in Atlanta. Under his leadership, Texas A&M Transportation Services has received numerous honors, including: International Parking and Mobility Institute (IPMI) Accredited Parking Organization “With Distinction” (2023) Silver-level status as a “Bicycle Friendly University,” League of American Bicyclists (2023) IPMI Marketing Award (2017, 2018, 2019) Texas Parking and Transportation Association Award of Excellence – Gameday Experience (2014) Innovative Organization of the Year, National Parking Association (2012) Among Lange’s professional awards and distinctions are: Current university representative, Bryan-College Station Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board Past co-chair, IPMI Technology Committee (2012-2022) Past president, Board of Directors for the Texas Parking and Transportation Association (2014-2023) Visionary Award, Texas A&M Division of Finance and Operations, Awards in Excellence (2019) Hindu Society of the Brazos Valley, Support in Time of Crisis (2018) Texas A&M Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering Partner of Excellence (2018) IPMI James M. Hunnicutt, CAPP, Parking Professional of the Year (2015) IPMI Chairman’s Award (2013) Texas A&M University, Division of Administration, Interdepartmental Team Award (2013) Texas A&M University, President’s Meritorious Service Award (2009) Distinguished Service Award, Texas Parking and Transportation Association (2009) Lange assumes the permanent role after a national search following the departure of Greg Hartman, who accepted a position as the charter chief executive officer of the new Texas Alliance of YMCAs earlier this year.

College Station City Council Members Receive Staff’s Proposed Budget For Fiscal Year 2025

The proposed College Station city budget for fiscal year 2025…more than 400 pages…is now in the hands of city council members. A special meeting was held Monday (July 8) to receive a notebook containing the hard copy and watching a video produced by city staff that is on the city’s website. Click HERE to read and download the proposed city of College Station fiscal year 2025 budget. Click HERE to read presentation materials from the July 8, 2024 College Station city council meeting. Staff is proposing no change in the property tax rate and no change in the electric and wastewater rates. A ten percent increase in water rates is proposed to help cover the $70 million dollar cost of building three more water wells. Information from the city shows the increase for 90 percent of College Station residential water customers amounts to 27.5 cents a month. What is charged for trash, drainage, and roadway maintenance is indexed to inflation, which the council was told is projected to be three and a half percent. One question asked after the staff presentation was about an increase in the city’s fund balance from $46.8 to $74.7 million dollars. Assistant city manager Jeff Kersten said that reflected some revenue accounts being higher than expected, the receipt of some one time revenue, and some expense accounts that were lower than expected. Click below to hear Jeff Kersten’s response to councilman Bob Yancy’s question during the July 8, 2024 College Station city council meeting.     The College Station council will hold three days of budget workshops next week. That is followed by a public open house about the proposed FY 25 College Station city budget on July 22nd and a public hearing on July 25th.

Bryan Man Admits To Aggravated Sexual Assault Of A Down’s Syndrome Woman

A trial in Brazos County district court that was scheduled this week was cancelled after a Bryan man admitted to aggravated sexual assault of a disabled individual. 50 year old Henry Tates and the district attorney’s office entered a plea agreement where Tates was sentenced to 30 years in prison. The 29 year old victim, who is a woman with Down’s Syndrome, has a lifetime protection order against Tates. A news release from the DA’s office says the victim being diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease led to Tates’s arrest. Online jail records show Tates arrest in October 2022 was his 21st booking since March of 1993. Online court records show Tates convictions includes three DWI’s and three times for driving with an invalid or a suspended license. News release from the Brazos County district attorney’s office: Henry Craig Tates, of Bryan, Texas was sentenced to 30 years in prison for two counts of Sexual Assault of a Disabled Individual and a lifetime protective order for the victim. In March 2022, S.W. a 29 year old woman with Down Syndrome, had an appointment with her doctor after experiencing genital pain. S.W. has the mental abilities of a third grader, according to experts. During this visit, she was diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease. When her aunt learned of this diagnosis, she asked S.W how she got a STD. S.W. immediately responded that her step-dad, Henry Tates, had sex with her. Medical tests later confirmed that S.W., Tates, and S.W.’s mother all had the same STD. S.W. was taken to Baylor Scott and White for a Sexual Assault exam. While there, S.W. shared further details of the sexual assault with medical personnel. She also described fear that she would not be believed. During a forensic interview at Scotty’s House Child Advocacy Center, she described forcible acts of sexual assault, as well as additional acts of groping. Bryan Police Department Detective Stephen Davis interviewed Tates. During this interview, Tates admitted that S.W. could not consent to sex because she has Downs Syndrome and that he was a father figure in her life. Tates also admitted to digital penetration. After being confronted with the results of the STD testing, Tates admitted to additional sexual assault acts. Statement from assistant district attorney’s Kristin Burns and Ryan Golden: “Taking advantage of this young woman is disgraceful. Protecting her and others from his predatory nature is our honor.”