PUBLIC HEARING MONDAY TO COVER PROPOSED EXPANSION AT BLUEBONNET HAVEN
A public hearing is set for Monday to discuss a proposed expansion at the Bluebonnet Haven Residential Treatment Center south of Brenham.
The public hearing will be held Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Salem Volunteer Fire Department, located in Brenham at 251 Salem Road. The hearing is being held to address facility administrators’ intent to increase capacity at the residential treatment center, and gauge the public’s interest in its expansion. The facility on Highway 36 South has already increased from its original size since beginning initial operation.
KWHI was notified of Monday’s public hearing by the office of State Senator Lois Kolkhorst, who received its information on the meeting from the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). The information was confirmed by Washington County Judge John Durrenberger.
The state-required public hearing comes after the passage of Senate Bill 781, sponsored by Kolkhorst and State Representative Ben Leman, in the 86th Legislature. The law was designed to strengthen the requirements necessary to obtain a license to open a youth treatment center, and to allow for further public input opportunities in a facility’s licensing process and operation.
The legislation came at least partially as a result of community frustrations with Bluebonnet Haven’s initial licensing, and the lack of public input in said licensing process. The facility was granted an initial license to operate in mid-October of 2018, despite the Brenham City Council, Washington County Commissioners, and Brenham School Board all passing resolutions opposing the licensing.
Bluebonnet Haven owner Randall Bryant did not respond to KWHI’s requests for further information on Monday’s public hearing and the facility’s expansion plans.