TWO TREES TO BE REMOVED FROM WASHINGTON CO. COURTHOUSE LAWN

  

Two red oak trees on the courthouse lawn in downtown Brenham will soon have to come down.

Washington County Commissioners voted today (Tuesday) to accept a bid from The Urban Foresters to remove the trees.

Washington County Facilities Manager Bobby Branham said the two trees have become infected with a wood-decaying fungus called hypoxolon canker, and it is the recommendation of three arborists he has spoken with to have the trees removed. 

Nick Hempel of The Urban Foresters said the trees have gotten to the point where the only choice is to take them down before they become a hazard.

The total bid is for $7,000 and includes the tree removal and stump grinding, as well as the pruning of dead limbs from other trees on the courthouse lawn. 

Commissioner Candice Bullock said this is being done prior to moving forward with the courthouse landscaping project.  Branham said he is working with The Urban Foresters on a future plan for the other trees on the square, making sure they are protected. 

A timeline for the tree removal was not firmly set at the meeting, but the hope expressed by commissioners was to have it done this weekend.  Update @ 10:30 a.m. Wednesday: Branham told KWHI that the removal is scheduled for Friday, November 17^th.

Also today, Branham gave an update on the courthouse chiller replacement project.  Commissioners previously authorized seeking invitation for bids on an 80-ton water cooled chiller replacement using American Rescue Plan Act funds. 

Branham stated that the project received interest from eight vendors, but Carrier Air Conditioning stopped manufacturing the model that the county was going out for bids for.  He said the revision model is getting ready to be produced, but there are no cost figures for it yet.  The update was only for discussion, so the court will need to vote to suspend bids on the project at a later date. 

In other business, commissioners:

• Heard quarterly reports for the Washington County Expo and the E-911 department.  Expo Director Harrison Williams invited the public to an open engagement session on November 16^th at 6 p.m. at the Expo Event Center.  The session is to collect feedback as the Expo undergoes a market plan and feasibility study.
• Voted to remove soon-retiring Brenham Fire Department Assistant Chief Brian Scheffer and former Brenham ISD Head of Security James Huffty from the Brazos Valley Council of Governments Homeland Security Advisory Committee and appoint Brenham Police Sergeant Steven Eilert and Mark Pennybacker of Washington County Citizens on Patrol in their place.
• Approved a resolution casting Washington County’s votes for election of the Washington County Appraisal District Board of Directors.  Joe Antkowiak, Leslie Boehnemann Jr., Douglas Borchardt and Charles Gaskamp will receive 218 votes, while Haley Stark-Kalkhake and John Schaer will receive 217.
• Approved a final plat for the Gates Crossing subdivision, consisting of 40 lots and five roads, located along Egypt Lane and Brown College Lane in Precinct 1.
• Approved the placement of Sunset Hills Estates in Precinct 2 into the one-year maintenance period and reducing the bond to 50 percent.  Roads affected include Sunny Hills Drive (0.295 miles), Sunny Meadow Drive (0.420 miles) and Sunshine Court (0.193 miles).
• Discussed a formal notice for a water line installation by Corix Utilities along and across the Wellmann Road right-of-way in Precinct 1.