WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS TO DEBATE ALLOWING CONCEALED CARRY FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES

  

Washington County employees could soon be permitted to carry concealed handguns on county property.

Washington County Commissioners at their meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) will consider changing the county’s personnel policy manual to allow for concealed carry of handguns by employees, as long as they have a license to carry.

Currently, the county allows the carry of weapons in commissioners court, but it does not allow carry for county employees on the job, unless they are licensed officers.

Back in 2016, the Brenham City Council voted against a proposal which would have prohibited licensed open or concealed handguns inside city meetings.

The county will also consider a memorandum of understanding between the Sheriff’s Office and MHMR Authority of Brazos Valley, to provide a Mental Health Counselor for the county jail.  Back in April, commissioners approved the creation of the position, which will provide screening, crisis and case management services for inmates booked into jail, regarding mental health and/or mental impairment issues.

According to Commissioner Joy Fuchs, the MHMR will provide one of its employees to serve as the jail mental health counselor  to ensure there is at least one full-time employee to evaluate inmates who might have mental illness.

The county will also consider a professional services agreement with Public Sector Personnel Consultants, Inc., to conduct a compensation study.  Commissioners in May went out for proposals for a consultant to perform a wage study, which County Judge John Durrenberger said has not been performed for the county since 2011.

Commissioners will also consider:

• Approval of a renewal bond for County Engineer Ross McCall.
• Action on formal notice for three proposed utility lines.  The first is from GeoSouthern Chalk II, LLC, for a temporary water line within county right-of-way of Old Landua Road, Rehburg Road, Beaver Road and Haack Road in Precinct Three.  The second, from Industry Telephone Company, is for an underground placement of telephone and inner-duct line with county right-of-way of Dead End Lane in Precinct Four.  The third is from AMP Texas Pipelines, LLC, and is for a natural gas pipeline within county right-of-way of Winedale Road, Kieke Road, Boundary School Road and Jaeger Road in Precinct Four.

Commissioners will meet tomorrow morning at 9 a.m., at the Washington County Courthouse.