BRENHAM EMPLOYEES PRAISED FOR EFFORTS DURING WINTER STORM

  

Brenham city leaders applauded the work done by staff during last week’s winter storm at Thursday’s Brenham City Council meeting.

The council voted to indefinitely extend a local disaster declaration initially signed on February 16^th, giving the city eligibility for disaster recovery funds when they become available.

Prior to the council’s vote, City Manager James Fisher discussed the city’s response to the weather and praised the efforts of employees and administrators to restore normal operations.

 

Fisher said it was a “monumental effort” by employees to keep everything working, and assured that they would be rewarded.

 

Fisher called attention to Chief Financial Officer Carolyn Miller and Assistant City Manager of Public Services and Utilities Donald Reese for their contributions last week.  He said Miller manned the call center to take calls from residents and get them the help they needed, while Reese “about grew gray hair” trying to make sure the power stayed on and water was flowing.  He also called the public utility crews who weathered the elements to fix water leaks and perform other repairs “unsung heroes.”

Also at Thursday’s meeting, the council met in executive session to consult with an attorney regarding pending litigation: D. Guyton v. City of Brenham, Texas, et al.  After executive session, the council authorized Fisher to act as the city’s representative in the litigation proceedings and to approve a settlement, if any, on behalf of the city.

The council also agreed to move its meetings in March from the 4^th and the 18^th to the 11^th and the 25^th.

Also in session, the council:

• Approved a pair of ordinances amending the rate tariff schedules for the city’s water services and sanitary sewer system. Reese said the findings from a review and cost study of the city’s water and wastewater services found that many of them were being offered free of charged or at a fee much less than the actual cost of the service.  The city will phase the increase in cost equally over three years.  Reese said the rate changes would not go into effect until October 1^st, and does not apply to monthly base rates, only for specific services performed such as installing water meters or sewer line taps.  Both ordinances were passed 6-1, with Clint Kolby voting against.  Kolby suggested that the phase-in plan be instituted for only commercial and industrial users, keeping the rate structure the same for residential customers.
• Passed an ordinance amending the 2020-21 Fiscal Year adopted budget.
• Agreed to submit a grant application through the Office of the Governor, Public Safety Office, Homeland Security Grants Division for the 2021 State Homeland Security Program – Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Activities (LETPA) projects. The Brenham Police Department is seeking to submit a grant application for two Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) trailers.  If awarded, the grant will be for $73,395.
• Passed an agreement between the city and Brycer, LLC for software and services related to the compliance engine, which is a web-based service for code officials to track and drive inspection, testing and maintenance code compliance for fire protection systems, reduce false alarm activity, and collect and organize third party inspection reports.
• Approved a consulting services agreement between the city and NewGen Strategies and Solutions, LLC to evaluate the city’s water, sanitary sewer, electric and gas utility rates.
• Approved an ordinance amending the city’s code of ordinances, Chapter 26 – Utilities, Article II – Industrial Wastewater and Discharge Standards and Pretreatment Program.
• Postponed a presentation and update on the Regional Vaccination subHUB at the Washington County Expo.