WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS AWARD SPRING HOT GRANT FUNDING

  

Washington County Commissioners approved the allocation of spring 2022’s hotel occupancy tax (HOT) grant funding to local tourism entities at their meeting today (Tuesday).

The court granted $28,550 out of $31,900 in total HOT fund requests to the Chappell Hill Chamber of Commerce, Chappell Hill Historical Society, Friendship Quilt Guild of Brenham and Washington-on-the-Brazos Historical Foundation.

Commissioner Kirk Hanath said the funding recommendations came from the tourism grant funding committee appointed by commissioners earlier this year.  He said the amount granted was higher than what was initially budgeted by about $3,000, but the committee asked the court to look at authorizing the requests for additional funding.

 

The allotted funding includes $20,000 for the Washington-on-the-Brazos Historical Foundation, $4,300 for the Chappell Hill Historical Society, $2,200 for the Friendship Quilt Guild of Brenham and $2,050 for the Chappell Hill Chamber of Commerce.

Hanath noted that $1,600 was brought over from the previous funding period, while Commissioner Candice Bullock stated that there was not a full funding cycle in 2020 due to COVID-19.

In September, commissioners allocated 2021’s HOT grant funding, totaling $23,400.  The next round of funding will be awarded in June for the fall.

Also in court today, commissioners:

• Amended the bylaws of the Washington County Historical Commission. Historical Commission Chair Tom Stevens said a new category of members emeritus is being created in order to allow members who are unable to carry out commission duties due to health or other limiting factors to continue to be on the commission.  Members who are being designated as members emeritus are Peggy Moser, John and Jane Barnhill, Teddy Boehm, Jackie Parker and Stanley Sommer.
• Approved new members to the Washington County Historical Commission. The new members are Dr. Larry Watson, Michael Vance, Sara English and Lowell Herzog.
• Approved new position descriptions for the county engineer and environmental health director. County Judge John Durrenberger explained the descriptions are being revised to include the environmental health division under the county engineer’s supervision, and that the environmental health director reports to the county engineer.  The court also approved a new position description for the administrative and development supervisor with Engineering and Development Services, reflecting a pay grade adjustment.
• Approved the annual update of EMS supplement to the county manual.
• Approved a replat for lots 36 and 37 of the Sandy Creek Estates subdivision in Precinct 4.
• Heard a monthly report from the Washington County Expo.