WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS TO CONSIDER ENGAGING LEGAL FIRM FOR GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT TALKS
Washington County Commissioners will act Tuesday on an engagement letter with a legal firm as the county continues its talks about groundwater conservation districts (GCDs).
The court will vote on approving an engagement letter from Skelton Slusher Barnhill Watkins Wells, PLLC for legal services regarding GCDs. Per the letter, the engagement will be for providing advice on Texas Water Code as it pertains to the districts.
Commissioners recently met for a workshop to learn more about GCDs, which have the ability to regulate the spacing of water wells or the production from them. The districts are either created by the Texas Legislature or by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality through a local petition process.
Other items will include awarding hotel occupancy tax (HOT) grant funding requests from organizations seeking funding for the spring of 2026. HOT funds are presented twice a year, in the fall and in the spring, to local tourism organizations in support of their operations or for promoting special events. Funding amounts are determined by the county’s HOT fund committee.
In June, the county awarded $25,181 in HOT funds to three organizations for the fall 2025 cycle.
In other tourism-related business, commissioners will vote on the county’s interlocal agreement with the City of Brenham to advocate and promote tourism programs and services. They will also consider the bylaws of the Tourism Advisory Board of the city and county.
Additionally, the court will potentially act on sending a 30-day notice of termination for the current office space of Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace at 4260 Sausage Lane in Chappell Hill and relocating the office to the Washington County Courthouse Annex, 105 West Main Street in downtown Brenham.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners will consider:
- Approving a request from the finance committee to terminate the contract with Cadence Bank of Brenham, in accordance with the contract requirement to provide a six-month notice to Cadence.
- Approving the 2026 renewal contract for participation in the Washington County rotation log for towing services for abandoned, impounded, junked and disabled vehicles. There will also be a resolution for the county judge to enter into contracts and participation in the rotation log for towing services for abandoned, impounded, junked and disabled vehicles with towing companies in Washington County, for the safety and protection of individuals forced into non-consent tow situations.
- Accepting 2026 annual bid items for contract mowing, culverts, bridge construction labor, fuel, oil/asphalt/emulsion, road construction materials, tires, contract hauling and emergency debris, and tree/limb removal.
- Authorizing the Engineering and Development Services Department to seek bids for 2026 aviation fuel, flexible base pit and steel products, due December 30th at 11 a.m.
- Approving the 2026 SGT Texas Outlaws, Inc. right-of-way permit application.
Following the court’s regular meeting, a workshop will be held to discuss the county’s strategic planning with Strategic Government Resources.
Commissioners will meet Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the Washington County Courthouse.
The court will also meet for a slate of executive sessions on Monday for leadership evaluations, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Washington County Courthouse.
The sessions will include discussion on the information technology director, veterans service office appointed department head, elections administrator, county courthouse facility manager, EMS director, Expo director, and county engineer. Any action from the executive session will be taken after reconvening in open session.