COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HOLD INTERLOCAL WORKSHOP

  

The Washington County Commissioners spent this (Tuesday) morning in a workshop reviewing the final details of the comprehensive exchange of services that County Judge John Brieden first openly proposed almost a year ago.

Judge Brieden said at today’s (Tuesday’s) workshop that he and the County Commissioners have been working on a new set of interlocal agreements for almost two years. 

The County Commissioners want total control of the county jail, the EMS, and emergency dispatch while the city of Brenham would take over complete control of the fire and rescue, animal control, the animal shelter and the Nancy Carol Roberts Library.  Judge Brieden says this agreement would eliminate duplication of services and save costs.

The biggest concern has been the county’s control of emergency communications  and the biggest recent change in that proposal is an 18 month transition from joint control by the city and county to total control by the county.  Judge Brieden said the transition period might take less than 18 months but is needed for several reasons.  He says the city workers in dispatch have other  IT duties and the county needs to hire their own IT personnel.  Judge Brieden also said at the workshop that the county will need to acquire new communications equipment.

Brieden says this transition period would be a time in which the county workers could show they can handle the new responsibility.

There will be a joint Brenham City Council/Washington County Commissioner meeting Monday morning at city hall to take final vote on the new interlocal agreements.