BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER AGREEMENT FOR OLD CHAPPELL HILL ROAD/FM 577 IMPROVEMENTS

  

The Brenham City Council will look to move forward with an agreement calling for an overhaul to Old Chappell Hill Road at Blue Bell Road at its meeting Thursday.

The council will consider a professional services agreement between the city and Strand Associates to design, inspect, and conduct bidding services for the improvement project.

The proposed improvements, according to Public Works Director Dane Rau, will improve the intersection turning radius, widen the roadway, and provide a concrete street that will require less maintenance.  Rau said the improvements will be timely due to the opening of the new Blue Bell truck center, proposed new development on the corner of Old Chappell Hill Road and Blue Bell Road, and the location of the transfer station and wastewater plant on the roadway.

The value of the professional services agreement is $200,000.  The city’s budget for the improvements, including engineering, sits at $1.1 million.  Rau said the city is hoping to receive between $300,000 and $400,000 from TxDOT to assist with intersection improvements and signal lights. The project is being funded with 2020 certificates of obligation.

Also in session Thursday, the council will consider approving the submission of a funding application through the state’s Coronavirus Relief Fund program.  Last week, the city received a letter from Governor Greg Abbott’s office regarding the Coronavirus Relief Fund.

According to City Manager James Fisher, the city may be eligible to receive approximately $195,000 in relief funds, which could be used to reimburse the city for expenses incurred to close city parks and facilities, purchase COVID-19 preparation and prevention supplies, provide assistance to local businesses, and reimburse unemployment costs from furloughing employees.

Also at Thursday’s meeting, the council will consider:

• The second reading of an ordinance providing for the annexation of roughly 52.4 acres south and west of Dixie Road. The council will also take up the second reading of an ordinance assigning the subject tract Planned Development District Zoning.  This will allow Stylecraft Builders to extend the current Vintage Farms subdivision and allow for the development of a single-family home subdivision known as The Lakes at Vintage Farms.  A small and separate portion of the tract of land, to be referred to as The Cove at Vintage Farms, is planned to be developed with patio homes.  Development Services Director Stephanie Doland said at the council’s meeting May 7^th that the new subdivision will add roughly 150 new homes to the 260 currently in the Vintage Farms subdivision.
• A facility use agreement between the city and the Brenham State Supported Living Center for pool use at the Blue Bell Aquatic Center.
• An update on the city’s COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.

The council will meet Thursday afternoon at 1 p.m., at Brenham City Hall.