WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS APPROVE OIL & GAS LEASE ON TOM GREEN CO. SCHOOL LAND
Angela Mlcak (in front) holds a proclamation read
by county commissioners on Tuesday, declaring the
month of April as Autism Awareness Month.
Washington County Commissioners approved an oil and gas lease on county-owned school land in Tom Green County at their meeting today (Tuesday).
Per the 686-acre lease with Red Pheasant, LLC, Washington County will receive a one-time payment of $17,430 and a monthly royalty of 20 percent of any minerals produced and sold.
Water Conservation District presents a proclamation
read by county commissioners during Tuesday's
meeting, declaring April 30 - May 7 as Soil & Water
Stewardship Week.
Money from the oil and gas lease will go to Brenham and Burton ISDs based on their average daily attendance. Last year, the two school districts received a total of $1,279,482 in revenue from the county’s mineral rights, farming leases and hunting leases in Tom Green County, compared to $280,089 in 2021.
County Judge John Durrenberger said work on the oil and gas lease has been ongoing since October 2021. According to the lease document, it will remain in force for 30 months and as long thereafter as oil or gas is produced in paying quantities from the land.
Also at today’s meeting, the court read a pair of proclamations, one recognizing the month of April as Autism Awareness Month in Washington County and the other declaring April 30 – May 7 as Soil and Water Stewardship Week.
In other business, commissioners:
- Approved a salary correction for E911 Operations Manager Shannon Selden. Human Resources Director Angela Mlcak stated Selden was brought in at the bare minimum for acceptable salary range, and her level of experience was reevaluated to change her rate from $58,432 to $65,745.
- Approved an amendment to the bid with WEX BANK for fleet fuel for a maximum of 30 days. The extension is through May 31st to allow the bid to continue until the start of the county’s new fleet fuel agreement with Voyager/US Bank on June 1st.
- Approved a subdivision variance request for a land division fronting Highway 290 and Red Tip Lane in Precinct 3.
- Approved a final plat for the Saddle Ridge subdivision, a residential development of four tracts fronting Old Masonic Road in Precinct 3.
- Heard monthly reports from county offices including the sheriff’s office, county and district clerks, justices of the peace, auditor, tax assessor-collector, treasurer, constables, elections and veterans service officer.