CITY OF BRENHAM BEGINS CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS TO OUTSOURCE SANITATION OPERATIONS
The Brenham City Council has begun the process of outsourcing the city’s sanitation services.
The council at its meeting today (Thursday) authorized city staff to enter into formal contract negotiations with Brannon Industrial Group, for the outsourcing of residential collection, curbside recycling, and operation of the collection and transfer stations.
City Manager James Fisher said the city received response from several different companies when it began seeking proposals in the fall, which gave staff the opportunity to select the best one for the community. He said staff are working on a draft contract for services, but it is taking longer to finalize than anticipated.
Fisher said the agreement will provide “a higher level” of services for residents.
Public Works Director Dane Rau echoed Fisher, saying he wants to bring in as many resources to the city as possible, and be able to offer what other towns are offering.
Councilmember Keith Herring asked Fisher what would happen with the Brenham Recycling Center, to which he replied the next step would be to determine how to phase the center out and what to do with the property.
In regards to the city’s sanitation employees, Fisher said the city and Brannon Industrial Group have held meetings with them, in order to place them in other locations. Rau said discussions have been held with sanitation staff over the past six months, in order to prevent any sort of surprises for employees.
Before the council’s vote on the item, Jay Howard of Texas Disposal Systems, one of the bidders for sanitation services, requested the council consider negotiating with more than one company. Fisher said all proposals have been reviewed by staff, who felt the best move for the city was to move forward with formal negotiations with Brannon Industrial Group.
A final contract proposal will come before city councilmembers at their meeting on January 16th.
Also in session today, a proposal was presented to the council, asking it to consider exempting Brenham ISD and Washington County from the city’s new Drainage Utility Charge. The proposal argued that it would be unfair to charge other governmental entities for utility services. However, Councilmember Susan Cantey replied that the City of Brenham will pay the charge. Fisher said the only entities that will be exempt will be Blinn College and the Brenham State School, as state provisions. The council voted to approve the Drainage Utility Charge rate tariff schedules in the second reading of the ordinance, without any changes.
The council also:
- Approved a $185,000 service agreement with Strand Associates, Inc., for Salem Road improvements.
- Approved a 50-year lease agreement between the city and Brenham Heritage Museum, Inc., for the lease of real property located at 105 South Market Street. Fisher said the city has been in negotiations regarding the lease agreement for over two years. According to Fisher, the new lease has placed some performance measures that will help with the opening of the museum on or before October 1, 2022. The agreement runs through December 31, 2070.
- Awarded contracts for storm damage repairs at Jackson Street Park, and for the stream restoration project at Hohlt Park. Both bids went to Solid Bridge Construction; the Jackson Street Park project for $153,735, and the Hohlt Park project for $371,459.
- Held executive session discussion on the appointment, employment, evaluation and duties of the city’s police chief.
- Received notice from the Brenham Housing Authority of its intent to apply for federal tax credits.
- Re-adopted guidelines and criteria for granting tax phase-in in a reinvestment zone.
- Approved a resolution in support of the establishment of a Commercial Property Assess Clean Energy (C-PACE) Program in Washington County.
- Approved an ordinance authorizing the placing of stop signs on Cantey Street at the intersection with Gun and Rod Road.
- Accepted a $73,885 bid from Progressive Commercial Aquatics, Inc., for the resurfacing of the Blue Bell Aquatic Center leisure deck.
- Approved an amendment to the city’s non-consent tow contract, for participation in the city’s rotation log for non-consent tows.