2020 RECAP: BRENHAM CITY MANAGER JAMES FISHER
As time closes out on 2020, KWHI is visiting with officials in Washington County and getting their thoughts on major issues faced this year by them and their administrations.
We begin with Brenham City Manager James Fisher, who talked with us about how the city fared in 2020 and what the city’s biggest achievements and challenges were.
It is no secret what 2020 will be remembered for, but Fisher believes the city still had a good year, saying progress was made with several projects that have been on the books for some time. Among the accomplishments mentioned were improvements to Henderson Park and the Brenham Municipal Airport, along with the city receiving $750,000 in grant funding for the Brenham Family Park. He also pointed to the city’s outsourcing of sanitation services to Brannon Industrial Group, and while he acknowledged the change did not come without difficulty, he believes the transition has been worth it.
Fisher said budgetary challenges caused by COVID-19 were some of the biggest obstacles the city had to overcome, particularly due to the many unknowns created by the pandemic. However, he thinks the steps taken this year have put the city in a good position for next year.
Moving into 2021, Fisher said work will continue with the Brenham Family Park, and he anticipates more activity at the site of the Baker Katz shopping center project starting in January. There are also other economic development projects and infrastructure improvements in the works.
Fisher said a big lesson to be taken from 2020 was internet availability, and expects the city will make strides with internet access in 2021.
Fisher was named city manager in January 2018, replacing the retiring Terry Roberts, who spent 17 years in the position. Fisher served as city manager in Forney, Texas before taking the position in Brenham.
“He also pointed to the city’s outsourcing of sanitation services to Brannon Industrial Group, and while he acknowledged the change did not come without difficulty, he believes the transition has been worth it.”
Not only was the change “difficult”, it was done despite widespread opposition by numerous citizens who were completely ignored in the process. We have seen our rates go up, services, go down (once a week versus twice a week, leaf pick basically went away due to the expensive charge, and our recycling center was closed), and the will of the citizen/voter be completely ignored. This is unprecedented in our local history. I do not believe our city leadership has heard the last of this issue.
But yet you stopped people from recycling by taking our free recycling center away.