BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL EXTENDS DISASTER DECLARATION, CLOSES PUBLIC PLAYGROUNDS, SPORTS COURTS
The Brenham City Council approved an extension of the city’s local disaster declaration through the end of April at its meeting this (Thursday) afternoon.
The council, meeting via video/teleconference, moved to extend the declaration through April 30th, aligning with Governor Greg Abbott’s executive order Tuesday which clarifies essential businesses and services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wednesday, Abbott further explained his executive order, saying it “requires all Texans to stay at home” except to provide essential services or perform essential activities like going to the grocery store. On Tuesday, Abbott shied away from using the term “stay-at-home”, saying if it were to be taken literally, people would not be allowed to leave their homes at all.
As part of the city’s declaration, while the city’s parks will remain open, its public playgrounds, sports courts, and associated exercise equipment will be closed. The declaration also gives City Manager James Fisher the authority to take down the goals and nets from the sporting areas, if need be.
Several councilmembers said they have seen large groups of people coming to the basketball and pickleball courts at the parks, not adhering to guidelines restricting gatherings of more than ten people. Councilmember Clint Kolby said if large groups are seen together at the parks, the city needs to break them up. The empty fields and trails at the parks will remain open to the public.
You can read the council's resolution extending the declaration here.
The council also approved an ordinance temporarily authorizing Fisher to adopt and administer policies and practices governing operation of the city’s utility systems and associated services. The ordinance, effective immediately, allows Fisher to work with utility customers case by case through any circumstances deemed extraordinary. According to Fisher, this could include setting up utility deferral plans and payment plans, or suspending late payment fees.
Fisher said the city’s utility billing department is doing what it can to work with the customers who are calling in, while the city’s business recovery team, led by Brenham Economic Development Director Susan Cates, is working with local businesses.
Brenham Mayor Milton Tate said the city wants to help everyone as much as it can during this trying time. He said the city will continue to look after its citizens the best it can.