WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS NAME NEW EXTENSION AGENT, HR DIRECTOR

  

Washington County Commissioners today (Tuesday) appointed a new Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Kyle Despain will begin his new role with the county on November 1^st.  Despain currently coaches the Texas A&M University Livestock Judging Team and formerly served as an instructor in Texas A&M’s Animal Science Department.

Despain said he is looking forward to the chance to serve the citizens of the county.  

Originally from Wyoming, Despain obtained a Bachelor of Science and Master of Agriculture at Texas A&M.  In addition to livestock judging, he has been involved with Texas A&M’s Meat Animal Evaluation Team and the Saddle and Sirloin Club.

Before coming to Washington County, Despain will spend September and October training with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office to allow him to fulfill his livestock judging role at the university.  The Extension Office will cover the cost of his training.

Despain takes over the role previously held by Kara Matheney, who is now with the Victoria County Extension Office after joining in the spring.

Also at today’s meeting, the court selected Amber Skalka as the county’s new Human Resources Director.  Skalka has been a Human Resources Generalist for the county since January 2023 and was in the private sector before then.  She received a Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University in 2008.

Skalka fills the director position most recently held by John Rudd, whose interim contract is expiring.  Rudd was the interim director after the departure of Angela Mlcak in April. 

Commissioners also signed off on the City of Brenham’s proposal to annex a portion of Dixie Road and two tracts of land contiguous to Dixie Road.  The tracts of land, which are 169.42 acres and 0.778 acres, are being purchased by Stylecraft Builders to expand the Vintage Farms subdivision.  Brenham’s Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on a proposed rezoning for the land on August 25^th, and the Brenham City Council will consider the annexation and rezoning items at its meetings on September 4^th and 18^th.

Another action item included the selection of Chappell Hill Construction as the highest-ranking of four offerors for the Archives, Technology and Services Facility, which is the site of the old ATS Irrigation building on Highway 105.  Part of the action was to appoint Commissioner Dustin Majewski to begin negotiations with the contractor. 

Additionally, commissioners moved to reject all bids received for the EMS Station #6 project at Lake Somerville.  Commissioner Kirk Hanath said this is the second time the county has gone out for bids for the facility, but the seven bids submitted were not within the county’s desired budget.  He said the county will need to explore its options to utilize the property at the lake.

In other business, the court:

• Appointed Sharlie Douglass to serve on the Washington County Historical Commission.
• Approved an engagement letter from Singleton Clark to provide auditing services to the county for Fiscal Year 2024.
• Received the Economic Development Department’s quarterly report.
• Held executive session discussion regarding W-Industries, who was the contractor the county worked with on the project to install a generator at the Washington County Jail.  Commissioners voted after executive session to allow the county attorney to continue communication with W-Industries.