COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COMPLETE LAND PURCHASE DEAL
The Washington County Commissioners met at 9 am Tuesday morning to discuss a variety of issues.
One of the bigger items was the discussion and approval of an Order Authorizing Purchase of 21.45 acres for relocation of the Road and Bridge department, which was approved later in the morning. The land is located north of Brenham, and the land partially fronts Highway 36. The negotiated price was $12,000 per acre, for a total price of $257,400. County Judge John Brieden stated that the land will meet the counties needs and was obtained at a fair market price, which, he said, was a very good use of tax payer money.
Also discussed was the approval of a Resolution proclaiming October 30, 2014 as Telehealth Counseling Day. Commissioner Joy Fuchs noted that the need for Telehealth counseling is necessary due to the fact that the county has no psychologist, and that the role of Telehealth would be counseling and the avoidance of medications, if possible. October 30th was announced at Telehealth Counseling Day, and it is also the first anniversary of the first patient to make use of Telehealth Counseling.
There was also discussion of granting and approving the County Auditor the authority to conduct an audit of the FY 2014 Chapter 59 Asset Forfeiture Report by the 21st Judicial District Attorney.
Also approved was the Formal Notice for a Proposed Burial Utility Water Line crossing on Kuykendall Road in Precinct one for Donald W. Lampe.
County Clerk Beth Rothermel also announced that early voting continued this week, and that there would be no weekend voting this weekend. Rothermel also wanted the public to know that if a voter is disabled, and cannot get into their voting place, that a voting official would bring the ballot to them in their vehicle. Election Day is Tuesday, November 4th.
Really? Why was this so secret? I feel because the residents of this county would have not agreed with this. I feel there should have been a discussion on this land deal and the future for this buildings. I know I will vote for any body other than the commissoner that is in his seat now. This was so underhanded. There should have been a county meeting, not a secret location. Furthermore, the site they have chosen has seen more fatal wrecks than there current location.
Yes giving raises will stop the crime, just look how it has worked for the city. The headlines are filled with arrest of adults and youth along with burglaries. Pay is not going to stop what is going on. Fix the problems and then talk about increases in pay. That’s how it works in the private sector.
Washington County commissioners keep the pay low for our deputies and will not respond to requests from the sheriff for pay increases. We continue to look for new deputies ( continuous ads at $1500 per month) only to train them and then lose them to BPD and others. The commissioners court needs to LISTEN and respond to our sheriffs requests. This is the most important job of government – keeping citizens safe!
Nice the commissioners are moving ahead to protect the citizens and county employees in and around the courthouse. Does that mean new road and bridge in two years, two more years to renovate or rebuild a building on the old road and bridge for new justice building. I see the change at least 5 years out. How about protecting your citizens out in the county right now by answering our sheriff’s requests for more deputies and a respectable pay raise for out existing deputies? Government’s most important responsibility is to protect all our citizens.