2009 November Cover Story

Harris County Judge Ed Emmett Talks About the Future of the Region

Harris County Judge Ed Emmett was the guest speaker or this month’s HCA luncheon.  The October luncheon is a special one in that it is the final luncheon of the year, it is the last one that will be overseen by this year’s President, Connard Barker and it is the meeting that we historically use to recognize the contributions that have been made to the industry by out past presidents.

Judge Emmett began his presentation by thanking the audience for their attendance.  He then commented that it is always a pleasure come before our group and speak.  Judge Emmett also thanked HCA President Connard Barker for his introduction but stated that he needed to comment on part of that introduction.  In his introduction Connard thanked the Judge for all of the work they have been putting out lately.  The Judge said that he wanted to clarify that it is not he that puts out jobs put the County Commissioners and Art Storey’s office and that it is they that deserve the credit.

The Judge stated that we are on the cusp of change in Harris County and that change is going to affect the contractors a great deal.  The good news is that it is going to affect you in a positive way, said Emmett.  The economy is slowing down some right now, Judge Emmett stated that he thinks that we are setting the stage for a revival, partly because of some specific things that have happened and some due to shear dumb luck and happenstance.  The Judge said that we all know that we are going to face challenges building more roads and highways.  According the Judge the State of Texas doesn’t have any money and the state legislature is going to be hard pressed to change that fact.  The days of building more and more highways are going to be difficult.  Much of that money is going to be allocated toward maintenance and rehabilitation.  The Judge stated that we are going to have to start focusing on other forms of transportation and all of this change will be good or different groups of contractors.  But what will really benefit this region for years to come, according to the Judge is where we are located.  Judge Emmett stated that international trade is going to continue and we are perfectly situated to be the gateway to North America.  As more products come across the ocean, as the ships get bigger and with the widening of the Panama Canal, more of our trade is going to shift to the Indian sub-continent which by the year 2025 six o the worlds largest cities will be located on or near the Indian Sub-continent.  Trade from there will come through the Suez Canal to the Gulf Coast because of our location.  Judge Emmett was quick to note that he did not say the products were coming to the United States but instead said North America.  According to the Judge Mexico is going to be a big country, and right now one third of the overseas, international trade that goes into Mexico comes into the Port of Houston.  The Judge said that is going to continue because the east coast of Mexico does not have a deep water port.  Any of the trade that is coming from Europe or the Indian Sub-continent destined for Mexico is very likely to come through the Port o Houston.  The Judge went on to make a prediction that eventually we may be referred to as the Port of Texas with Houston, Galveston, Freeport and even Corpus Christi and the Port of Victoria will end up being a Texas port that focuses on our region.  The only way we can achieve that destiny and realize that potential is if we take the steps now to make sure that we have the infrastructure to move that freight once it gets here.  It doesn’t do us any good to unload one of these mega ships and not be able to get the containers and other cargo off the docks and out of the area.  Judge Emmett stated that is why it will be important for the elected officials at all levels to pay as much attention as we can and spend as much money as we can to make sure that the infrastructure is in place.  That is going to be the future economic engine for this area and we have to make sure that it happens.

The Judge changed topics to talk about the changing demographics of the region, specifically where are people living.  According to Judge Emmett more and more people are moving into the inner loop area.  The Judge stated that people will continue to move out to the suburbs as well.  He said that he loves those people that say if we don’t build the highways then we won’t have suburban sprawl.  The Judge said that his answer to that is people are going to continue to move out to the suburbs for better schools and lower home prices.  It is not a question of does the building of roads cause sprawl, the County is supposed to react to the needs of the constituents.  If that is where the constituents want to live and they want road improvements, then that is what we do, said the Judge.  Now that there is an influx of people moving back into the city limits means that we will need to change the way we think about things.  Judge Emmett stated that years ago every new neighborhood built was done so with the idea that it would be annexed by the City of Houston.  That is not going to happen anymore.  The Judge used the example of the 1960 area.  He asked what is going to happen when their utilities grow old.  The Judge stated that each neighborhood has its own MUD districts and treatment plants.  When it comes time to replace them is it more logical to replace them individually or do so with a more regional water treatment system.  Obviously a regional system would be better, but when it comes to the roads, those were supposed to be city streets but are now going on to the County road logs.  The Judge asked where the County is supposed to get the money to repair these roads when they begin to fall apart.  Judge Emmett stated that the County will be turning to the legislature to help find an answer to this question, but it is the County’s responsibility to find a way to keep the infrastructure of these curb and gutter enclaves in place.  In the Judge’s opinion the County owes that to those residents, so somehow the MUDs and the County or some other type of district will have to come together and figure out who is going to be responsible or these services.  Right now these roads are going on the County road log, but if you ask the Commissioners they will tell you that they have more than they can say grace over with the traditional County roads and County operations without having to maintain curb and gutter neighborhood streets. 

The final issue that Judge Emmett spoke on was the topic o healthcare.  According to the Judge the Harris County budget is $1.7 billion and the Harris County Hospital District budget is $1.2 billion.  This comes as a surprise to some people Emmett said and people can argue about who does and doesn’t get served, but it becomes an irrelevant question.  According to the Judge, healthcare is a regional issue, and right now each county gets to define what an indigent is.  Harris County defines an indigent as 200% of the federal poverty level.  Other neighboring counties define it as 28% of the federal poverty level.  So if you live in that neighboring county and make 50% o the poverty level it is pretty clear where you are going to go for healthcare said Judge Emmett.  The Judge stated that healthcare is an issue that we need to look at as a regional issue and not just something that we in Harris County should take on ourselves.  Judge Emmett stated that he has had to spend considerably more time in addressing healthcare issues than he ever thought he would.  Healthcare is a growing cost to the County and we have to get smarter about how we deal with this issue said the Judge.  The Jeff Davis Charity Hospital was replaced by the Harris County Hospital District.  According to the Judge that has run its course and now we need to look at spending money on neighborhood clinics, mobile units and providing medical homes for indigents so that they are not using the emergency rooms as their primary care facilities. 

Harris County has almost four million residents.  It is unique in the fact that we are the only big county that has 1.3 million of its four million residents that live in the unincorporated areas.  According to the Judge if you took that number by itself, it would make the County the seventh largest city in the United States.  Most people don’t think about County government being responsible for those 1.3 million people.  As an arm of the State the County does not necessarily have all the tools that it needs to take care of all of those people.  Judge Emmett stated that Harris County still operates under the same 1876 constitution as the other 253 counties, which means that Harris and Loving Counties are basically treated the same.  Harris County has a population of 4 million people and Loving County has 90 people.  Judge Emmett stated that he and the Commissioners will be calling on us to get together with our legislative delegation and start prioritizing what will allow Harris County and our region to continue to develop infrastructure and meet the needs of our residents so that we can fulfill that destiny of becoming the gateway to North America.  Judge Emmett stated that he could not think of a better group to work with to achieve that goal than HCA.