CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES BATHROOM PROJECT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION

  

Brenham City Council discussed the contract with GCP Contractors during an Executive Session Thursday afternoon.  GCP was awarded the contract for new bathroom facilities at Fireman’s Park in July of last year.  The project was expected to be completed in December, but only the foundation of the building had been constructed.  Assistant City Manager Lowell Ogle said that the City continues to work with GCP’s surety company on the project and is close to entering into a tender/substitution agreement whereby the surety company will provide a qualified substitute contractor to complete the project. He added that Council has authorized the Mayor to execute the agreement with the surety and substitute contractor once the final terms are negotiated to get the project back on track as soon as possible,

Also during today’s Executive Session, council members discussed the lease agreement for the Brenham Heritage Museum.   The Brenham Heritage Museum building, at 105 South Market Street, has been closed since August due to electrical code violations and other problems.  The City leases the building to the Museum, but the Museum and its Board of Directors are responsible for all of the maintenance and upkeep.  Repairs to make the museum useable again have been estimated at more than half a million dollars.  Council took no action Thursday on the lease agreement.

Brenham City Manager James Fisher presented council members Thursday with a letter he received from the Brenham Housing Authority notifying the city of the termination of the Police Protection Agreement.  The agreement began 20 years ago and called for increased protection in the Housing Authorities areas.  Executive Director Vince Michel said the Housing Authority Board voted to end the agreement which was costing the Housing Authority $54,000 a year.  Michel said that it may have been a good idea when it began, but it is no longer needed.  He also cited the changing ownership structure of the Brenham Housing Authority and their financial status.  The agreement is scheduled to end April 30th.