WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS APPROVE FIBER CONNECTIVITY PROJECT

  

Washington County Commissioners have approved a project to allow for better fiber connectivity for communications.

Commissioners at their meeting this (Monday) morning approved the expending of funds for a fiber connectivity project. The project will extend the county’s fiber loop network from the central warehouse to Brenham City Hall, and allow for communications for Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP).

Commissioner Joy Fuchs said the Brazos Valley Council of Governments is bringing broadband to the seven counties in its district. She said, since Washington County has the PSAP, it needed a connectivity loop to prevent an instance of the broadband being cut, thereby disrupting dispatch services.

Fuchs said the county, the City of Brenham, and Brenham ISD are splitting the cost for the project as it will be a “win-win” for each entity, providing higher speed and better connectivity.

During the Environmental Health Department’s monthly report, County Judge John Durrenberger said he was frustrated by the high amount of illegal dumping cases seen this year. He said the county has spent roughly $2,000 cleaning over 100 illegal dumpsites, which he called a “frivolous waste of money”.  He said that money could be much better used for other purposes.

Durrenberger also noted that the county is planning to host a workshop with Brannon Industrial Group in January, following the City of Brenham beginning the process of outsourcing its sanitation services. He said the company will discuss its intentions regarding the ability of county residents to recycle after the phasing-out of the Brenham Recycling Center.

Also in court today, commissioners:

• Approved the 2020 renewal contract for participation in the Washington County rotation log for towing services for abandoned, impounded, junked and disabled vehicles.  The approved towing companies are Arens Services, LLC; Brenham Chrysler Jeep Dodge; B&B Automotive Inc.; BDS Towing and Recovery, LP; and Tegeler Toyota.
• Approved a resolution for the County Judge to enter into contracts for participation in the Washington County rotation log for towing services for abandoned, impounded, junked and disabled vehicles with towing companies in the county, for the safety and protection of individuals forced into non-consent tow situations.
• Approved the FY 2020 Statewide Automated Victim Notification Service maintenance grant contract between the Office of the Attorney General and Washington County.
• Renewed a service agreement with Appriss, Inc. for the Victim Information and Notification Everyday program.
• Approved an inter-local contract between the county and the Department of Information Resources (DIR) related to the use of the DIR Shared Services Master Service Agreements.
• Received reports from several monthly departments.