BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL DELAYS ANNEXATION OF LAND AT FARMERS ROAD, OLD MILL CREEK ROAD
The Brenham City Council has opted to postpone pursuing just under 195 acres of land for annexation.
At the council’s meeting this (Thursday) afternoon, the council received a recommendation from City Manager James Fisher to hold off on moving forward with annexation of the acreage, located on the east side of Farmers Road between FM 389 and Old Mill Creek Road, and the north side of Old Mill Creek Road between the current city limit line and Jackson Creek.
Fisher recommended waiting until next year to pursue the land, in order to allow the city to better understand costs involved and give officials more time to visit with residents.
Fisher recommended that the city continue to proceed with annexation of 44 acres in the Southwest Industrial Park, bounded by Industrial Boulevard, FM 332, and FM 389; and 6/10ths of an acre at Scenic Estates, along the west side of Old Masonic Road.
As this discussion was held in workshop, the council’s official vote to postpone annexation of the roughly 195 acres would come at its meeting on December 5th.
Several residents of the acreage being delayed for consideration spoke during the hearing, saying they agreed with the decision. Those in attendance, many of which spoke during the city’s annexation town hall meetings in October, further made it known to the council that they were not interested in annexing any time soon.
Also in session, the council met behind closed doors to discuss the appointment of an additional municipal court associate judge, along with compensation for the interim associate judges. No action was taken on the first item, but councilmembers moved to adjust the salary of Judge Robert Wright from $21,000 to $24,000 annually, effective as of July 1, 2019.
The council also:
- Expressed official intent to reimburse $5.05 million in certain costs related to streets and drainage improvements, as well as renovation and improvements to the city’s water and wastewater utility systems and facilities.
- Approved council meeting dates for January 2020. Due to New Year’s Day falling on a Wednesday, the council approved to hold just one council meeting in January, on the 16th.
- Approved a resolution concerning the election of members to the Washington County Appraisal District.
- Approved the 2020 holiday schedule for the city of Brenham.
- Approved ordinance on its first reading providing for increased prior and current service annuities in the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) for retirees and beneficiaries of deceased retirees of the City of Brenham.
