COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK THROUGH LENGTHY AGENDA

  

Washington County Commissioners had a lengthy agenda at their meeting this (Tuesday) morning.  Commissioners voted to put forward a $.5171 property tax rate.  That rate is 1 cent less than last year, but will still bring in more revenue than last year due to increased property values.  Commissioners also set the dates for the required public hearings on the proposed rate.  The hearings will take place September 5th at 9:00 am and September 11th at 5:15 pm.

Commissioners also accepted a number of grants.  They accepted a $46,000 grant from the Governor’s Extraordinary Emergency Fund for the purchase of state mandated stretcher restraint systems for Washington County Ambulances.  EMS was originally denied the grant, but it was awarded after they appealed.   Commissioners also accepted a $225,000 payment from the Texas Division of Emergency Management for another portion of road repairs made after the May 2016 flooding.  Washington County has applied for close to $3 million for road repairs after the historic flooding, but have received less than $1 million thus far.

Commissioners also approved several agreements this (Tuesday) morning.  They renewed the service agreement for the Victim Information Notification Program.  The program is 100 percent funded by the state.  They also approved a contract for a free app that will allow residents to receive emergency information during a disaster.  More information about the app will be provided once it is set up.  Commissioners also approved an agreement with the College Station Medical Center to allow Washington County paramedics to gain experience in acute care at that hospital.

Commissioners tabled the awarding of bid for the lease of four tracts of school land in Tom Green County.  The bids have not arrived due to the lack of postal service in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.  They decided to accept any bids that are postmarked before Tuesday once postal service is resumed.  They also voted to extend the County Disaster Declaration instituted by County Judge John Brieden last Friday.  The Declaration is required by FEMA in order to apply for relief funding.

Commissioners approved allowing Bread Partners to utilize the covered entertainment center at the Fair Grounds for their Tuesday food distribution.  Bread Partners will be allowed to use the facility when it is not being used for other events.  Commissioners also approved the hiring of an Intern for the Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace.

Commissioners approved the annual Archive Plans from both the District Clerk and the County Clerk.  Both offices preserve historical records that date back to the 1800’s.

Finally, the commissioners approved a proclamation naming September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in Washington County.  Donna Culliver accepted the proclamation and spoke about the importance of continuing the research into Childhood Cancer.