BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL GOES OVER BUDGET

  

The Brenham City Council held a special Workshop meeting Monday and Tuesday to go over the projected budget for the next 5 years.  Monday, they went over Fire and Police, and Tuesday, they went over the city utilities.  One of the hot topics for discussion Monday was the new Fire Station to be built in the industrial park next to the current Saddle Shop.  The RFQ for the design is done and the bond issue will come before Council at a future date. Fire Chief Roger Williams said that Brenham needs to start planning on a third Fire Station to be located on the North end of town.  He said the city needs to at least buy some land in that area because it is quickly getting sold and built on.

Tuesday, the Council went over the city utilities.  Some of the challenges involved include city growth, material shortages, and legislative changes.  The hot topic Tuesday was the city’s water supply.   The cost of the chemicals involved in water treatment keep going up mandating a water rate increase.  The city is at 90 percent capacity on water supply, so they will need to look for other sources of water.  The city plans on drilling 4 new wells in the future, and treating that water and adding it to the supply. 

The budget will come back to City Council on July 24 and 25 once the numbers are locked down on the income side.