CITY APPROVES ROAD PLAN, CARDBOARD BALER & LIBRARY GRANT

  

The Brenham City Council has approved a plan to combine the extension of Chappell Hill St. with the construction of Chappell Hill south of Highway 290 to future a city park.

The council voted to approve bidding both projects together, which they believe could result in a lower total cost for the projects than if they were bid separately.

The same engineer is has been hired to plan both projects.

Under the original plan, the developer would construct the road to the park and would be reimbursed 25-percent by the city.

The council has agreed to amend the development agreement that would have the city constructing the road and the developer would reimburse the city 75-percent.

The project has been issued to contractors and bids will be opened later this month.

The city council also agreed to purchase a horizontal cardboard baler for the city’s recycling center.

According to Public Works Director Dane Rau, the current baler is experiencing major issues.  Rau says the city has a decision package budgeted for $115,000 for a new baler—but his staff feels they can save over $50,000 by purchasing a refurbished baler that would also allow them to produce larger bales that a new machine.

Rau says the recycling center makes more revenue by producing an average one-ton bale of cardboard.

The council approved purchase of the refurbished baler for $56,850, which includes equipment, delivery and installation on-site.

The council also approved accepting a $5,000 grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the Nancy Carol Roberts Library.

The funds are earmarked for the purchase of one laptop computer, five e-readers and seven Chromebooks.