BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO ISSUE VOTE ON SANITATION AGREEMENT, DISCUSS ACQUISITION OF BARNHILL CENTER
The highly debated topic of garbage and trash pickup services will again come before the Brenham City Council for a vote at its meeting tomorrow (Thursday).
The council will consider a vote on transferring sanitation operations out of the city to Brannon Industrial Group (BIG). The vote will cover the general agreement and terms and conditions, as well as both commercial and residential waste collection and recycling services. The agreement to transfer operation of the collection/transfer station will be considered by the council next month.
The agreements were set to be voted on at the council’s last meeting, but no action was taken, as the general and commercial sanitation agreements had not been fully prepared.
Several residents came before the council at its last meeting to express their worries and concerns about the agreement, specifically mentioning the drop-off of trash pickup services from twice a week to once a week, the state of the recycling center, and the city’s general fund being negatively impacted.
The council will also meet in executive session to speak with the city attorney regarding an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charge, and continue talks about the development, operation, and possible acquisition of the Barnhill Center.
Minutes from the February 6th council meeting show that during executive session, attorney Hal Moorman, representing the Brenham Main Street Historical Preservation, Inc., spoke with councilmembers about the non-profit group’s work on the Simon Theater project since 2003.
Moorman said, since that time, the group has raised over $7.5 million in donations and received $2 million in tax credits. However, according to Moorman, in order to receive the tax credits, the group had to commit to finishing the building, which required borrowing money. The outstanding principal on the note currently exceeds $631,000, with a principal and interest payment of roughly $100,000 due on March 30th. Moorman said the group has been unsuccessful in raising enough funding for the entire amount.
Moorman said the board currently has a memorandum of understanding with the city to operate the Simon Theater, but the board is now looking to have the city transition into full operation and oversight of the facility. After the tax credit requirements are completed, the city would own the facility outright. Moorman said that if the city agreed to take on the Simon Theater now, the board would give it full control.
Also in session, the council will consider:
- An ordinance on its first reading authorizing a variance to minimum setback requirements as outlined in city ordinance pertaining to mobile homes, manufactured homes, and manufactured home parks.
The council will meet tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. at Brenham City Hall.