2023 RECAP: BRENHAM MAYOR ATWOOD KENJURA
With 2023 coming to a close, KWHI is visiting with officials in Washington County to get their thoughts about this year’s biggest events and stories.
as Brenham's mayor for the first time, after being
sworn in during the city council's meeting on May
18, 2023.
We continue with the City of Brenham and Mayor Atwood Kenjura, who talked about the progress the city made and what it looks forward to next year.
Kenjura describes 2023, his first year as mayor, as a “rewarding” year, seeing the opening of long-awaited businesses like Academy and Chick-fil-A in the Market Square development, as well as the new Burlington and Ulta stores inside the Brenham Crossing shopping center. He says they should help attract even more establishments and further propel economic development.
This year was also important in tackling current and future infrastructure concerns, with the city taking steps in research to find a second water source and expand the water treatment plant. The preliminary concept stage is underway for a second fire station, and more planning was accomplished for the Brenham Family Park. Meanwhile, the city was able to make upgrades to electric transformers and gas lines while also setting a priority list of roads to repair or reconstruct next year. In addition, the softball fields at Hohlt Park are currently being converted to artificial turf.
As a whole, Kenjura says the city did see a downtown in permitting as compared to 2022, which was not unexpected given higher federal interest rates and general economic conditions. He does not view that as a negative, however, as it poses an opportunity for the city to address some of the aforementioned infrastructure needs.
The new year will take on a sense of urgency in finding a new city manager, following Carolyn Miller’s announcement of her plans to retire in March, as well as a new fire chief, after Roger Williams’ resignation in October. Speaking on the city manager’s position, Kenjura says the city will conduct the recruitment process in-house and will do its due diligence in order to find the most qualified candidate.
Kenjura was first sworn in to the Brenham City Council in May 2021 and was elected as mayor this May.
If you need all of these shopping choices, maybe you should gave thought about this before you took your position with the city of Brenham. You must work at the city since they didn’t plan ahead for the public water shortage or public sewer plant deficiencies. It never ceases to amaze me how some people complain about their own mistakes and the expect local tax payers to fix their problems.
Please bring another big grocery store to Brenham, it is much needed. Many of our citizens go out of town to purchase grocery.
This money could stay in our town. As it is HEB has this town sucked in.
I’d guess Wal Mart sells more groceries than H E B. Don’t overlook Brookshire Bros as another more “local” either. If you’re talking Kroger that money, like WalMart is NOT staying even in the state.
Second this. It is no longer a small town store, it is a war zone. I drive to College Station because I just can’t deal with the parking lot and crowds anymore. Brookshire Bros is basically a convenience store and it is prohibitively expensive for most. We need another option.
Have you tried Brookshire
Bros.
I always find what I need
there.
Yes Please !!! The whole county cannot shop at ONE grocery store. Heck – it can even be another HEB, but on another side of town !!