WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS APPROVE TAX ABATEMENT FOR BLUE BELL CREAMERIES

  

Washington County approved a tax phase-in agreement with Blue Bell Creameries at today’s (Tuesday) commissioners meeting.

Blue Bell is planning expansions for its fleet maintenance and pallet transfer facilities. The City of Brenham granted a tax abatement to Blue Bell in October of 2018, and issued a $1.7 million permit to Collier Construction in December for the upgrades.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Kirk Hanath stated these improvements were part of a $12.5 million project by Blue Bell, who expects to hire around 27 new manufacturing jobs as a result of the renovations.

Hanath said the county does not yet have the building plans for the new facilities, and would need them in order to move forward. County Attorney Renee Mueller said she is working with City Attorney Carey Bovey to get the agreement back to Blue Bell by the February 3^rd deadline.

Precinct 4 Commissioner Joy Fuchs said the county, as well as the city, will be responsible for inspection of the new facilities, which are expected to be completed by August or September.

Also in court, commissioners set aside a potential contract between the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Willo Products Company, Inc., for door repairs at the jail. Sheriff Otto Hanak said that Jail Maintenance Supervisor Gerald Wehring personally performed the door repairs.

Sheriff Hanak said, by doing this, the county saved at least $5,200 in repair costs. Precinct 1 Commissioner Don Koester said “the more we can fix in-house, the better off we are”.

Commissioners also renewed a community service contract with Faith Mission and Help Center, for their continued work in disaster relief efforts. Koester said “they do a lot for the community”.

The court also:

• Approved placing County Judge John Durrenberger on the Brazos Valley Council of Governments Board of Directors.  The position is held by the sitting Washington County Judge.
• Approved annual renewal of contracts for Attorneys Conrad Day, John D. Winkelmann, Scott Ballard, and Bruno Shimek to represent indigent defendants in the county.
• Approved Blinn College Student Danielle Engstrom to intern with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Chief Deputy Jay Petrash noted Engstrom would be the fourth or fifth intern at the Sheriff’s Department over the past six years.