COUNCIL TO CONSIDER PARK BATHROOM CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT

  

Brenham City Council members will again look at the construction progress on the new bathroom facilities for Fireman’s Park at their meeting Thursday.  GCP Contractors was given a new construction schedule and one last chance to complete the bathrooms, which were begun in August of last year.  The new construction schedule calls for the progress to be reviewed by the council every two weeks with the option of terminating the contract.  GCP says that they have a new subcontractor working on the bathrooms.  A look at the site this (Monday) morning showed that the sidewalks around the bathrooms have been completed and some electrical work had been done.

City Council is also scheduled to hear 2 presentations Thursday.  Sharon Brass with the Hotel Occupancy Tax Board will report on reviving tourism revenues in the County.  Her presentation talks about the downturn in tourism that occurred in 2015 and how to bring it back.  Council will also hear a report from the City Engineer Lori Lakatos on extending city services outside the city limits.

Lakatos says the city has received multiple requests to extend utilities to properties just outside the city limits, but they are currently prohibited unless the property owner requests to be annexed and any billboards on the properties are removed.  She says that last two properties making the request have billboards on them that are under contract with the owners.  The item is for discussion only, so no action can be taken.

Also on Thursday’s agenda, council will look at making several purchases.  They will consider purchasing for $674,000 an environmental Pool Pak System for the Brenham Aquatic Center.  The new system will control the pool temperatures, along with the air temperature and humidity.  The Aquatic Center is still operating with the original systems that were installed in 2001.  Council will also consider the purchase of a new High Pressure Jet Truck for the Wastewater Department.  The new truck will cost $121,000 and will be used to maintain sewer lines in the city.

Brenham City Council will meet Thursday at 1:00 PM on the second floor of City Hall.