BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO MULL CONTRACT FOR SOUTH CHAPPELL HILL STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
The Brenham City Council will meet tomorrow (Thursday) to consider a road improvement project connected to the building of a new shopping center in Brenham.
The council will look at an agreement with Lee Engineering for services related to the South Chappell Hill Street at Highway 290 feeder road project. Services in the agreement will include preparation of design plans, specifications, and cost estimate data.
Assistant City Manager Lowell Ogle said other services include project management, surveying, design package submittals, and assisting the city with various parts of the bidding process.
The proposed improvements include a traffic signal that controls traffic at the intersection of both the east and westbound feeder roads, and the widening of the existing payment under the Highway 290 bridge to accommodate left-turn bays.
Ogle said this will allow for easier access to the proposed development at the south end of Chappell Hill Street. The total cost of engineering services should not exceed $82,000.
At the council’s last meeting, City Manager James Fisher announced developer Baker Katz should be breaking ground on the shopping center project off Highway 290 this month. He said the city is hoping to have a groundbreaking ceremony in early August.
The council will also address several items in executive session. Those include discussion with City Attorney Carey Bovey regarding the lease between the city and Washington County for the 911 dispatch center at 301 North Baylor Street. After closed-door discussion, the council could act on a two-year renewal of a lease agreement with the county for the communications facility.
Also in executive session, the council will discuss matters regarding the Brenham Police Department’s deployment of a security device. The council will reconvene in open session to possibly purchase security devices for the police department using seized narcotics funds.
Councilmembers will also receive legal counsel on Robert Sontag v. Justin Schroeder and the City of Brenham, a lawsuit where the plaintiff is seeking monetary relief following alleged injuries received in a collision with a Brenham fire truck in June of 2017.
The council will also revisit a matter concerning the Brenham Municipal Court Judge. After taking no action at their past meeting, councilmembers will continue discussion on, according to the posted agenda, “Brenham Municipal Court matters and associated issues, including but not limited to the presiding municipal court judge”.
In regular session, the council will also:
- Discuss the rezoning of 2.1 acres of land southeast of the intersection of Old Chappell Hill Road and FM 577, from manufactured home residential use to industrial use. Brenham Wholesale Grocery is planning to develop the property with a convenience store.
- Look at renewal of the city’s group health plan with TML Health Benefits pool, and establishment of funding rates for the plan year beginning October 1st through September 30, 2020.
The council will meet tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m., at City Hall. The council could potentially reconvene after the meeting to continue a budget workshop with Washington County Commissioners.