WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS TO CONSIDER LEASE-TO-OWN HANGAR TO HOUSE EMS HELICOPTER
Washington County Commissioners will consider a lease-to-own agreement with the Washington Volunteer Fire Department to build a hangar for the county’s EMS helicopter at their meeting Tuesday.
The agreement being considered by commissioners would allow for the construction of a hangar at the fire station. The premises would be used as a hangar and helipad for the helicopter, as well as overnight accommodations for the Washington County EMS Aviation Department.
The county will pay off the agreement with a 12-month term, which includes monthly rent of $13,750 paid to the fire department. REACH Air Medical Services, who will provide specifications for the building of the hangar, will pay the county back in lease payments for county expenses.
EMS Director Kevin Deramus said the hangar will not be leased until it is completed, adding that the building is on track to be complete for aircraft storage and maintenance near the end of the month. He said the county is addressing the lease agreement right now in order to begin the lease to own once the building is complete. He said it will eventually house crew quarters, but for now the crew will continue to stay inside the current building.
A crew quarters lease agreement also being considered by commissioners Tuesday would have REACH paying $1,100 per month to Washington County EMS for use of the premises. County Judge John Durrenberger said once the lease-to-own agreement is paid off, the money paid by REACH will become “an income stream.” He stressed that the county’s agreement with REACH is “still not costing the taxpayer a dime.”
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners will consider:
- An agreement between the county and Kenneth and Patricia Mosley. The agreement allows the county access to private property to remove a downed tree at Lot 17 Wood Creek Road in Brenham.
- Approval of the Washington County Courthouse Round XI Planning Grant Funding Agreement.
- A resolution for the 2021 Washington County Indigent Defense Grant Program.
- Formal notice for utility installation by PGMS – Central Washington County Water Supply for a two-inch road bore to repair a one-foot water line at 3300 Spanish Oaks Drive in Precinct Three.
- A subdivision variance request for a land division fronting FM 2447 and FM 1155 in Chappell Hill in Precinct Two.
- A proclamation declaring October 29th as Think Pink Thursday in Washington County.
Commissioners will meet Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. at the Washington County Courthouse. The meeting is being held at the courthouse due to early voting being held at the courthouse annex.
I agree. I witnessed the firemen, and other volunteers from this community building it.
Great job, by the way!
If one of your firemen is on the construction company that the county has paid to build that hanger then that statement is completely true!
It’s funny how they make it sound like they are truly “considering” this hanger….when in fact the hanger is already build and scheduled completion date is next week. All of this has already been in the works for months. It’s really sad that our county government has now went to the links of just flat out lying to residents of the county. If you don’t believe me, drive out 105 East just past William Penn Rd and look to the left. You can clearly see the hanger already build behind the station. When is it going to enough before people take notice to the shady deals and outright lies our government if feeding tax payers. No sealed bids for this job, county provided gravel, trucks, hours of labor for this…….instead of using the gravel to actually fix county roads that we as tax payers are supposedly paying for.
If this comment above is true, that is truly shocking and NEWS that I hope this and other news outlets will confirm and cover. As for me, I think I will take a little drive tonight out to a certain fire department and see if a hangar is already there.
I for one am finding that our local governments have thrown integrity to the wind and have decided that we as voters simply don’t matter. I still have not gotten over what I view as a completely shady deal that ended the City of Brenham garbage collection and brought us the big ugly bins that sit on the side of my house.
Thank you. Things are starting to bubble up now. Time to nip it in the bud.
Envy doesn’t look good on anyone. Step up your game!! I’ll pray for you, and the hate and jealousy in your heart.
And BELIEVE ME, take a drive down 105 to beautiful Washington, TX — take a look over at the amazing new station and hangar that SO MANY INDIVIDUALS HAVE PUT COUNTLESS HOURS OF SELFLESS WORK INTO to serve the residents!! Every little town deserves a volunteer fire department that cares so much for others!!!
This is not about hate, jealousy, or envy, it is about local government being accountable to the citizens that elected them. As the article states “Washington County Commissioners will consider a lease-to-own agreement with the Washington Volunteer Fire Department TO BUILD a hangar for the county’s EMS helicopter at their meeting Tuesday. The agreement being considered by commissioners would allow for the CONSTRUCTION of a hangar at the fire station. ” This is not about leasing an already constructed building, or about looking at nice new buildings, this is about building a new building. It is very misleading if the building has already been built. What is the truth! If those individuals have put in selfless hours of work, great, but should our local governments be funding capital projects like this without properly informing the public who voted for them, I personally don’t think so. Secondly, this is not about the fire department, it is about the helicopter hanger. When someone starts throwing word bombs about jealousy, envy, and hate, I have to wander what they are trying to cover up?
Don’t think hate prevails. Taxpayers need answers. Are u indicating this was built by volunteers… If so then just say so. Its not clear.
Exactly. This is a good thing for all people, residents and non-residents. Enjoy the County in which you live, it is one of the best in the country!
I am curious as to why we are housing the helicopter at a fire station instead of building or using a hanger at the airport. If the helicopter service ever leaves, at least a hangar at the airport could be used by someone else. Secondly, the fuel and infrastructure for a helicopter can be found at an airport. This does not make much sense to me.
What happened to the plan to have the EMS hanger at the Brenham airport? Is it true that the Brenham planners had requirements for parkinfyand landscaping trees and site drainage that made the project cost prohibitive?
Seems a answer from the A/P advisory board is due here….why not housing at the A/P. When was it voted on to be stationed at Wm.Penn….not to my recollection. The commissioner in Precinct 1 needs to explain to everyone why its there.
Wow go on private land to get a tree I got some on my land will the county come get them it’s time somebody stand up are needs to be out of office