WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS AWARD SCHOOL LAND LEASES

  

Some tense moments at the County Commissioners meeting Tuesday as leases were awarded for 4 tracts of school lands in West Texas. The bids were opened on September 12th but commissioners tabled awarding them until they had time to review the bidders and the land improvements each proposed.  Several of the commissioners had even traveled to Tom Green County to view the land improvements and to look over the properties the bidders were currently leasing.  Revenue generated by the leases goes to the school districts in Washington County.  In attendance at this (Tuesday) mornings meeting were the bidders as well as both the Brenham and Burton School Superintendents.  Commissioner Joy Fuchs described how difficult it was to make a decision:

The largest tract of land proved to be the most difficult for the commissioners.  A motion was made to award the bid of $51.13 per acre from the Schniers Brothers, but it failed in a 2-3 vote with only Commissioners Hueske and Fuchs in favor.  A motion was then made to award the bid to Chris Bubenik for $57.50 per acre.  That vote passed 3-2 for the 1607 acre tract.

The lease on the 707 acre tract was awarded to Hoelscher Farms for $56.58 per acre.  They are the current lessee of the property.  Plantation Farms was awarded the lease on the 413 acre tract.  Their bid was for $61.14 per acre.  The smallest tract of land at 320 acres drew the highest bid, at $83.11 per acre.  That lease was awarded to the current lessee, Carl Block.  Commissioner Hueske pointed out that all of the bids were higher than the average lease amount for the area.  The leases are for 5 years with the option to extend another 5 years.

In other action, commissioners approved using the remaining funds from last year’s Hog Out bounty program for feral hog abatement with Texas Wildlife Services.  About half of last year’s $15,000 grant will be used to purchase a trap for Texas Wildlife Services and will go to fund their trapping operation.  Landowners who utilize the service will be required to pay $75 instead of the usual $250.

Commissioners also approved requests for three subgrants from FEMA for road repairs made due to the May 2016 flood.  The total for the three grant requests was $199,000.  The county is currently waiting on $1.8 million from FEMA for repairs made after the May 2016 flooding.

Commissioner also approved a number of routine items.  A water line crossing on Fischer Road and the Final Plat of the Enclave at Chappell Hill Subdivision were approved.