WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS VOTE 3-2 TO FULFILL 2014 GRANT AGREEMENT WITH TEMPUR SEALY
Washington County Commissioners issued a divided vote in favor of fulfilling a grant award agreement with Tempur Sealy International at their meeting today (Tuesday).
The agreement, entered into in August of 2014, stated that if Tempur Sealy made an investment of $500,000 in business expansion at its property in Brenham, kept at least 125 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) jobs for the company’s expansion of operations, and added 75 additional FTE jobs, the company would receive grant funding of $500 per job capped at $40,000. The company has fulfilled all agreement requirements.
Washington County, along with the Brenham Community Development Corporation (BCDC) and Brenham Economic Development Foundation (BEDF), pledged grant incentives, and will each pay $40,000 for a total community investment of $120,000.
Commissioners voted 3-2 in support of the measure, with Commissioners Kirk Hanath and Don Koester voting against. Hanath also voted against the grant in 2014, saying at the time he was concerned about the lack of limits on the amount of money the company could request. Koester said he is wary about spending extra money with the way things are going with the COVID-19 pandemic. He acknowledged that the jobs and support Tempur Sealy provides to the community are a good thing, but said it would have been easier to say yes to this agreement at a different time.
Commissioner Candice Bullock said the BCDC has already approved its payment of $40,000 to Tempur Sealy, while she is anticipating the BEDF will approve its payment at its meeting tomorrow (Wednesday).
Commissioner Joy Fuchs said the county made this agreement with Tempur Sealy in order to keep the company in Brenham, saying it has been a part of the community for many years. County Judge John Durrenberger said the agreement entered into by the court in 2014 “should be binding”, and does not want to second-guess the decision made at that time. Bullock said this commissioners court should support the position of the commissioners who established the grant agreement in 2014, adding, “Tempur Sealy has kept their part of the bargain and we should, too.”
Also at today's meeting, commissioners approved seeking a Request For Proposals for resident banking software and commissary services for the Washington County Jail. Proposals will be due Monday, August 24th at 5 p.m.