CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES BLUEBONNET HAVEN FACILITY
James Fisher
The Brenham City Council discussed the proposed Bluebonnet Haven Residential Treatment Facility during their meeting today (Thursday). The Treatment Facility is being built just outside the city limits on Highway 36 South, across from the entrance to the Brenham State Supported Living Center. City Manager James Fisher said that the owners of the proposed facility have requested it to be annexed into the city. Fisher said that regardless of whether they are annexed, the facility will have an impact on city services, particularly the Police Department. He said that a resolution on the facility will go before the council in May:
Fisher said he brought the matter before council today so that questions or comments about the proposed facility could be made.
If the facility is outside the city limits, then how can it have an impact on city police? As a city dweller, I strongly object to our police department working in any capacity for incidents involving residents. The county gets that responsibility. The city taxes paid by them or profits from utilities purchased will not begin to cover the law enforcement expenses when dealing with these juveniles. My annual city taxes are already high and within just a few dollars of what I pay in county school tax. These facilities should have their own 24 hour security personnel. As a taxpayer, it is not my responsibility to add profit to these private for profit facilities by letting them strain our agencies. Risky business is expensive to run when done correctly, their profit choice of business, their problem.
Very well put. I am a city city dweller too. Thus is a good comment. I totally agree. I wish you were on City Council. The city tax paying citizens need your mentality before taxes keep increasing. There needs to be a stop to Brenham politics and management and directors, and all of their wasteful, thoughtless, ignorant, special interest, spending of tax dollars.
Funny how they ask to be annexed AFTER they start construction … that they would have had to get a permit for if they were in the city. Now they are half way through construction and are asking for the annex. Seems they are trying to game the system
I am a very concerned City of Brenham resident. The location of the facility in my view is at a very bad location due to the proximity of 1) the railroad tracks that run directly behind the facility, 2) the close location to Highway 36 and 3) being almost directly across from Brenham State Supported Living Center. This facility is to serve “troubled” youths. “Troubled” youths are going to try to find a way to get out of the facility and they have at least two very close ways to “escape”. Troubled youths should have a facility more like Miracle Farms. They have plenty of things for the boys to do at their facility to keep them busy. What does this new facility plan to do to keep their “troubled” youths active and entertained. Plus we the citizens of Brenham are going to have to foot the bill again for a place being annexed into the City.
If they want to be annexed by the city, then city codes should be applied. Is there a retention pond on the site?
Explain. If your not in the city then you do not automatically get Brenham Police Seevices. That is why there is a Sheriff’s Dept. That is called the county. That is why Sheriff Dept. responds to the county. I know they work together even DPS helps out. But why would the city want to annex a could be problem? Especially, before the doors even open? As a longtime and one of several generations city property tax payer I hate to see even the consideration of stupid ideas.