WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS AWARD FALL 2025 HOT FUNDS
Washington County Commissioners approved the disbursement of hotel occupancy tax (HOT) grant funding for the fall 2025 cycle today (Tuesday).
The court awarded $25,181 in HOT funds to three organizations to assist with the promotion of events or the mitigation of costs associated with special projects or operating expenses. Five requests were made for $45,681, with two being funded entirely, one receiving partial funding, and two not fulfilled.
The largest funding request of $15,500 came from Washington-on-the-Brazos for the grand re-opening of the Star of the Republic Museum, as major renovation project continues at the historic site. The request was funded completely.
Also receiving full funding was Unity Theatre, who asked for $5,181 to help with marketing for its 2025-26 season of performances.
The Texas Arts and Music Festival received $4,500 of its $7,000 request for the 2025 installment of the festival in downtown Brenham.
Organizations that did not receive funding were the Heritage Society of Washington County, who requested $15,000 for repairs and historical restoration efforts, and Main Street Brenham, who asked for $3,000 for the Christmas Stroll and Lighted Parade.
HOT funds are awarded twice a year for the spring and fall, typically averaging around $25,000 for each distribution. Requests are fulfilled based upon the review of a grant eligibility committee and the recommendations of a funding committee. In December, the county approved the allocation of $16,900 in HOT funds to five organizations for the spring 2025 cycle.
Also at today’s meeting, the court:
- Received a presentation from Brenham City Secretary and Director of Administrative Services Jeana Bellinger about the city’s spay/neuter assistance program. Brenham Animal Services staff has received numerous inquiries about county residents being able to participate in the program, which is currently limited to city residents. Brenham Animal Services partners with Animal Friends of Washington County to provide low-cost spays and neuters for City of Brenham pets, using a city allocation of $10,000 for the 2024 Fiscal Year. The county is being asked to consider participating in the program at the same financial level as the city.
- Approved a sublease agreement between the county and Mike Hopkins Distributing Company for 0.209 acres of land adjacent to the county’s EMS’ station at 1875 Highway 290 West. The county will rent the land at the sum of $1 per year for the purpose of building a helipad, the cost of which will be covered by the company.
- Approved the use of $52,500 in courthouse security funds to purchase Metrasens Ultra Silver security screening equipment and accessories. Sheriff Trey Holleway said the portable devices are meant to enhance security protocols prior to entrance into the county and district courtrooms.
- Agreed to advertise for competitive sealed proposals for the Washington County records storage facility from a general contractor. Bids will be due on July 24th at 10 a.m. in the county clerk’s office and opened that morning on the commissioners court chambers.
- Adopted a resolution to designate authorized signatories for the Community Development Block Grant Mitigation Program through the General Land Office. The county has been approved for $1,119,800 in grant funding to build a bridge on South Meyersville Road over New Year’s Creek. In related items, the court adopted a resolution regarding civil rights polices and proclaimed the month of April as Fair Housing Month as it pertains to the grant.
- Approved a subdivision variance request for a land division fronting Artesian Park Lane, consisting of 22.132 acres in Precinct 4.
- Received the Engineering and Development Services Department’s quarterly report.
36 thousand on average. I want the EMS 10 million a year cost put on the next ballot as in for or against. Then if it fails get rid of it and put it up for a contract bid like we do for the roads. Nobody got a vote on this huge extra expense just shoved it down our throat. Let the voters be heard on expense all I ask. I don’t want my county being in the ambulance business. We have so many more needs that get neglected just so we can have the gold class ems. Know what ems do when not on call? Mostly nothing after they restock and clean and we pay these folks way more than any other county employees, is that any kind of fair? know what they do most of the calls hurry up and wait till they are ok;d to enter by law enforcement or fire department. So what is the point of having all these EMS stations? I will tell you why so they can do even less work cause they are spread out all over the place. Its a game and we the taxpayers are being gamed in my view. We need a DOGE.
If anyone needed some money, it is Main Street Brenham. The Christmas decorations down town are antiquated, ugly, worn out and a total embarrassment ! It would not take much to update the wreaths and lights. I am sure the Garden club and women at the Margaret Blizzard Senior Center would volunteer to update the wreaths with ornaments and extra lights during the year, and I am sure that WalMart or Hobby Lobby would give the City some discount on supplies. Perhaps a couple of speakers mounted on the courthouse would be a nice addition. They could play ambiance music on weekends during Christmas, the stroll, and and also I am sure the public would love to hear music and the float announcements during the many parades we have. Just a little effort,and probably very little money, could improve a number of downtown experiences.
The committee that decides the grant recipients are NOT just commissioners. Funny, some of those committee members are those who represent 2 of the 3 organizations who received the grants.
They are the same organizations receiving money each year! Yet, the committee members never have any turnover… where is the Spectator when you need him!??
Why do we need a helipad even if the cost of land is zero, across the road there is Scott and White’s pad.. I guess the concrete and labor are free Another EMS grab from the tax payers
If you look closely at the article, “The county will rent the land at the sum of $1 per year for the purpose of building a helipad, the cost of which will be covered by the company.” So yes, concrete and labor are free.
Other helicopters use the Scott and white helipad, not just our helicopter…
Probably so that the helicopter and crew can be stationed at the EMS station, not at the hospital. And when the helicopter is training and needs a place to land, its crew can be a few steps away, not have to try to get from the EMS station to the hospital if they have to respond to an emergency.
The helicopter is not based at the hospital. It is parked about 17 miles from the hospital on SH 105. If it is at the hospital it is flying someone out to another higher care facility.
All you folks that are complaining about the EMS and the helicopter, wake up. Wouldn’t you want their help if the situation arose?
Yep wake up voters ground ambulance Affordable air Ambulance not affordable and who picks up the non affordable tap in county of way under 50 thousand guess? When you have over 100 to 200 hundred thousand taxpayers doable when you have a large in area of square miles and its real life or death and its sometimes the only way. Air ambulance transport 13 years ago was anywhere from 12 to 36 thousand. Deal was its not going to cost the taxpayers and it wad a bald face lie. 99 per cent of the time ground ambulance is just fine. We don’t qualify for Air but we got it so if it’s such a god thing put it up for a vote of the taxpayers decision.
That is the point should it arise like probably not even ever. Mostly likely ground transport is all you will need ever. So who pays for all this if you ever need it? So that is champagne living when beer is all we need. Fact is the taxpayers get the bill for something that odds are they will never need. It is a scam and we are the scammed! Why would you want to have the cart ahead of the donkey?So when it is used is it justified and if not who picks up the difference? When it is justified
At what cost