CITY AND COUNTY APPROVE NEW AGREEMENT

  

“A celebration of good government” is how Washington County Judge John Brieden described today’s (Monday’s) adoption of a comprehensive exchange of services between the city of Brenham and Washington County.  The Brenham City Council and the Washington County Commissioners approved the agreement at a special joint meeting at city hall today.

The city and the county will be working to transform joint control of the emergency dispatch to full county control within the next 18 months.   The city will take control of fire and rescue, the animal shelter, animal control and the Nancy Carol Roberts Library while the county will take control of the county jail, and EMS.  

Judge Brieden says these exchange of services is an example of how government should work.

Judge Brieden said the discussions over the past year were, at time contentious, but he praised Brenham Mayor Milton Tate for ‘keeping the communication open’ in order to make the new agreements work.

Mayor Tate said there is no reason why this agreement will not work ‘seamlessly.’

Precinct Four County Commissioner Joy Fuchs and City Council Member Mary Barnes Tilley echoed the sentiment.  Barnes-Tilley said she will make it a priority that there be no disruption of service.

The only vote in opposition came from Brenham City Council Member Keith Herring.  He said however, that while he voted against the agreement, he would work to make sure it works as best as possible.

The exchange of services is a departure from the interlocal agreements the city and county had for at least 20 years.  The agreement will come up for a renewal in five years.  \

Judge Brieden says the County Commissioners began discussing the exchange almost two years ago in order to control costs and avoid a duplication of services.