BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZES WASTEWATER RATE INCREASE

  

The Brenham City Council agreed today (Thursday) to implement the first of five planned yearly increases to the city’s wastewater rates.

Recommendations after a study of the rates, conducted by NewGen Strategies & Solutions and reviewed by the city’s utility subcommittee, call for an initial rate hike of 13.6 percent for residential, commercial and industrial customers.   

Public Utilities General Manager William Bissette said the city’s current wastewater rates have been in place since October 2014.  He said revenue has not been able to keep up with expenses for repairs and maintenance of the city’s lift stations and sewer collection system.

With this set of rate changes, the average single-family residential household that uses 5,000 gallons per month will see their bill go up $3.66.  Commercial accounts using 10,000 gallons a month will pay an additional $6.69.  For industrial customers that use 800,000 gallons each month, their bills will increase by $484.16. 

Bissette presented a breakdown of the City of Brenham’s current and new rates in comparison to cities around the area and of similar size, which can be seen below.  Bissette said the intent was to remain close to what most other cities charge, adding that they are “not asking for more than what we need.”

According to Bissette, the next four rate increases after this will come in at 4.8 percent for the first three years and 2.7 percent for the last year, but those figures could be re-evaluated as time goes along.  All of the changes will take effect at the beginning of each fiscal year, through the 2030 Fiscal Year. 

In other business today, the council:

• Approved no parking zones and the placement of no parking signs along a section of South Market Street, next to Champion Fellowship.  Public Works Director Dane Rau said vehicles have been parking in the right of way, blocking the visibility of oncoming traffic.  He said Champion Fellowship is in favor of the change.
• Agreed to use $268,975 in funds from the Brenham Community Development Corporation (BCDC) to replace old field lights at Henderson Park.  The project will be led by Techline Sports Lighting, who Rau said will work with Moeller Electric, and is planned to start in November with projected completion in late December or early January. 
• Approved a resolution authorizing the acceptance of public improvements in the North Saeger Street right-of-way within phase 1 and 2 of the Wilkins Valley subdivision. 
• Passed resolutions to authorize the acceptance of public infrastructure improvements in phase 2 of the Heritage Oaks subdivision, phase 6 of the Vintage Farms subdivision and the Ebenezer Development subdivision. 
• Approved an amendment to the city’s professional services agreement with Strand Associates for projects related to the 2024 water main and sanitary sewer replacements.  The amendment is to include services for preparation of easement documents, which will not exceed $3,000.
• Ratified the purchase of a bypass pump by the city’s Wastewater Construction Department for the Highway 105 lift station, in the amount of $89,668.
• Held an executive session to consult with an attorney regarding Dustyn Banik, Alma Sanchez and Gerran Banik v. City of Brenham, Texas; Civil Action No. 4:25-cv-2487; United States District Court, Southern District of Texas, Houston Division.  No action was slated to be taken.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.