WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS POSTPONE ADVERTISING FOR NEW COUNTY FACILITY

  

Washington County Commissioners tabled an item dealing with advertising for construction services at today’s (Tuesday) meeting.

Commissioners opted to wait on a motion that concerned advertising to architects for building a new county facility. The county was planning to begin requesting qualifications from architects, to begin work on a Road and Bridge, Environmental, and Rural Addressing facility.

Commissioner Luther Hueske stated that the language of the agenda item was phrased incorrectly, noting that a “request for qualifications” applied to contractors and not architects. He said the proper wording for this item would need to be “request for proposals.”

Hueske said the court would need to clarify the item to fit it within proper language, and recommended delaying it to make sure the court would have enough time to advertise for services.

In other items, commissioners approved setting up an online auction for surplus county Road and Bridge heavy equipment. County Engineer Ross McCaul said the proceeds from the auction will go towards purchasing new equipment for the county.  The auction will go live on www.govdeals.com, beginning October 16^th and ending on the 31^st.

Commissioners also approved tax phase-in agreements for Stanpac and MIC Group, previously approved by the Brenham City Council. These abatements are for the businesses’ locations in Brenham, which are expanding.  Each of the agreements were approved, with minor corrections.

The court also approved a right of way permit and several road closures for Chappell Hill’s Scarecrow Festival on October 13^th.  The following streets will be closed from 7 a.m. on the 13^th to 6 p.m. on the 14^th:

• Cedar Street (East) from FM 1155, approximately 200 yards to the Chappell Hill Historical Society's Circulating Library.
• Sycamore Street (West) from FM 1155 to FM 2447
• Poplar Street (East) from FM 1155 to Church Street
• Providence Street would allow for traffic flow in a one way (North) direction as the access route.

Commissioners also permitted the naming of a previously unnamed road off of Palestine Road. The road, which will be private and not brought into the county road system, will be named “Camp Blessing Lane.”

In conclusion, the court approved a resolution authorizing the 2019 Indigent Defense Formula Grant Program, as well as changing next week’s meeting date to Monday, October 8^th at 9 a.m.

Many of the court members will be attending the annual County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas Conference, being held at the Woodlands Waterway Marriot from the 8^th to the 10^th.