WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS TAKE STEPS FORWARD WITH PROJECT SILVER CRAYON
Washington County Commissioners approved a pair of items at their meeting this (Tuesday) morning in their pursuit of grant funding for a large economic project.
Commissioners approved a resolution authorizing the submission of a 2020 Texas Capital Fund grant application to the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). The court also approved a company/contractor agreement between the county and the subject business for Project “Silver Crayon”, outlining the responsibilities of each part to the county’s Texas Capital Fund grant.
Brenham Economic Development Director Susan Cates said the grant will allow construction of a gas line that will be fed from the city to the proposed site of the project, which would be located on land outside of Brenham city limits.
While the project is still confidential and competitive, Cates said the project is based in the oil and gas industry. Cates said while the company involved with the project is wary at this point due to recent economic events involving the oil and gas industry, it remains “cautiously optimistic”. She said a vital portion of conversation with the company has been making sure county assets are protected.
Gary Traylor of Traylor and Associates noted that, due to the volatility of the economy, the county will not be required to pay the grant application fee until it accepts the grant from the TDA.
Commissioner Joy Fuchs asked Traylor if the grant can be returned to the state if the company decides not to come to Washington County due to economic concerns, to which he replied the state will not release grant funds until the company benefitting from them has started construction on its project. He said in the event that it becomes apparent that the project will not move forward, the county does have the ability to terminate the agreement, which would give grant funding back to the TDA.
Also in court, commissioners:
- Approved a resolution for the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program grant application. The grant program, administered by the Texas Historical Commission, has provided county governments with funding to restore and preserve their courthouses. Fuchs said commissioners have been getting letters from local legislators and others in the community supporting the county’s pursuit of grant funds to restore the Washington County Courthouse.
- Approved a proclamation proclaiming April 2020 as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.
- Approved a pay application to Collier Construction for the Road and Bridge facility.
- Approved a subdivision variance request for Lot 2A in the First of Brenham No. 1 subdivision located in Precinct Three. Commissioners Joy Fuchs opposed the motion.
- Heard reports from several county departments.
I agree with the the above comment from Worried. This is being run through with air of secrecy. If this or any project will impact county taxpayers pro or negative doesn’t it then make sense to have it up for a vote from us tax paying citizens? Give us all the facts and let’s really find out who impacts the most so that we can then make an informed decision. So many get blindsided by the quick numbers/ dollars presented they fail to see long term impacts. My opinion is I don’t want to see the county be overrun /bulldogged by the oil and gas industry, where a few get a piece of the pie and the rest are left with scraps.
If this project is to be so economically beneficial to the Brenham area, then why is it so shrouded in secrecy? I think that residents have the right to know exactly what the project entails, and where any building or sites will be located. Several months back, the gas facility near Sandy Hill was vetoed, but could it be that the recent economic downturn is allowing this to proceed?
Is this project going to require county residents to allow this gasline to run through their properties under threat of eminent domain?