BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL GRANTS ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR ALL SPORTS BUILDING PARKING LOT
The Brenham City Council approved the request to fund more than twice the initial budget amount for paving the parking lot of the All Sports Building at Hohlt Park.
The council accepted Collier Construction’s low bid of $91,000 in Thursday afternoon’s meeting. Brenham Public Works Director Dan Rau said $15,000 has already been spent on engineering costs for the project, bringing costs to over $106,000. According to Rau, recent spikes in concrete and construction costs caused the project to become much more expensive than he initially expected. The parking lot has been crushed asphalt since the All Sports Building was constructed.
Brenham City Manager James Fischer said at the last meeting a question was asked regarding the addition of a handicapped parking lot and entrance on the east side of the Blue Bell Aquatic Center. An entrance there would make it easier for persons in wheelchairs to access the therapy pool. Fischer said city staff looked at that possibility, but decided against it for now because of staff and security issues. Presently, everyone entering the Aquatic Center building must pass through the front door and front desk area. He did say the handicapped parking lot was an option for phase 2 of the Aquatic Center.
Also addressed during Thursday’s meeting was the potential addition of stop signs on South Saeger Street at the intersection with Old Mill Creek Road. Following a letter of support issued by Blinn College, the council approved the motion, which will make this intersection a 4-way-stop.
The council also approved a motion dealing with moving critical city facilities and lift stations out of areas that are a flood hazard. The city’s Hazard Mitigation plan will be amended in order to propose spending $1.2 million to relocate or elevate necessary facilities.
Noise variances were granted for music to be played during the upcoming Juneteenth celebrations at city parks. The Washington County Historical Juneteenth Association plans to have music at Fireman’s Park on Friday, June 15th from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m., and on Saturday, June 16th from noon to 4:00 p.m. The Brenham Outlaws also had their noise variance request granted, for their Juneteenth celebration at Hattie Mae Flowers Park on Saturday, June 16th from 2:00 to 10:00 p.m.
I support the city’s decision. This is another example of bold leadership at the city to spend money when needed. Compared to other larger communities our taxes aren’t that bad, ask someone who moved from Houston. The county government needs to learn from the city… our commissioners court has been reluctant to fund as many needs as the city, but the recent primary election may have corrected that. This is an affluent area and we want nice amenities, so let’s give the city budget writers some credit!
It amazes me that council can find more money for these projects, yet the employees of the city can’t get a raise. Why is it that the city can’t take care of the people that make the city what it is today? A lot of employees have to work extra jobs just to survive, city managers get 10-15% a year on top of their six figure salaries, while the workers get nothing on their poor wage. I worked for a city that had a population of over 200,000 people and they had one city manager and two assistants. Why does our city have a city manager and three assistants with all making six figures. Somebody needs to come in and open the eyes of the people that elect and choose these people