WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS HEAR POSITIVE AUDIT REPORT

  

The Washington County Commissioners Court was presented the county’s annual audit report for 2019 at its meeting today.

A representative of Rutledge, Crain and Company, an outside certified public accountant firm, informed the Commissioners Court that Washington County is in a good position financially.

 

The representative also shared that Washington County had a positive variance on receipts of $870,000. Overall, there was a total disbursement of $1,927,000 in positive variance, which adds up to a very large increase in cash for Washington County.

Commissioners Kirk Hanath and Joy Fuchs both took time to thank previous commissioners for budgeting money so well and only spending money that the county actually had on hand.

E911 Director Kristi Stamnes reported that the Brenham Fire Department had a significant increase of 39 more calls in June (100 calls) than the month May (61 calls). Stamnes reported that these dispatches were in result of accidents that did not involve entrapments or liquid spillage, and Commissioner Candice Bullock asked that (edit 7-22-20) the unneeded dispatches be kept to a minimum due to each dispatch costing the county unnecessary spending.  additional graphs be shown each month for just the Fire Department dispatches.

Stamnes also shared that the entire E911 staff has completed all training on the Criteria Based Dispatch Medical Software, as well as the Association of Public-Safety Communications (APCO) Basic Telecommunications Officer Training Certification. She also said that all future training will be done in house, saving both Washington County and surrounding counties money, while allowing each dispatcher to remain up to date on training.

Also in the court today, commissioners:

·      Heard the Sheriff’s Office monthly report that showed an increase in arrests, bookings, calls, tickets and warnings,

·      Heard the EMS monthly report, finding that there was a 15% increase in county call origin and that the response time for District 5 is inaccurate due to a false report,

·      Approved a subdivision variance request for a land division fronting Randle Hill Road,

·      Heard the Engineering and Development Services (EDS) quarterly report that shared that 350 tons of storm debris were removed, equaling more than the last 14 months combined

·      Heard the Information Technology Department’s report, detailing many projects being added and that the department has only used 40% of the budgeted amount,

·      Approved the EDS request for additional fleet system items,

·      Heard the Veterans Service Officer’s monthly report, showing that there was an increase in uptake and forms, as well as Veteran deaths.

·      Approved the payment of Collier Construction for services discussed and completed previously.

·      Approved the appointment of Stranton Associates as the professional service provider for the Community Development Block Grant- Mitigation program that is funded by the Texas General Land Office.

·      Approved the reappointment of Ms. Dorothy Morgan and Dr. Robert G. Wright to the Brazos Valley Council of Governments Board of Directors.

·      Approved the Water Facilities Easement Agreement with Concho Rural Water Corporation on the Tom Green County land owned by Washington County.

·      Approved the Transmission Facilities Easement Agreement with Concho Valley Solar, LLC on the Tom Green County land owned by Washington County, as well as the letter agreement in reference to the consideration and the methodology of the payment as it relates to the electrical transmission line.

·      Discussed the plans and new hiring’s to make the Washington County Fairgrounds a “footprint facility.”