Kevin O’Connor Kommentary October 2

More Meetings About The Future “Inner Loop” Highway To The East Of Bryan/College Station And A Request To Brazos County Commissioners To Get Citizen Input

For the second and third times this month, there are public meetings involving the future “inner loop east” highway that will be built to the east of Bryan/College Station. Opponents to the highway are meeting Wednesday (November 20) from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. at the Bryan High School blue campus auditorium. That’s according to an e-mail sent to WTAW News by a group of residents and landowners called “No East Loop”. Click HERE to read and download the news release from the group “No East Loop”. That follows an open house Tuesday (November 19) hosted by the B/CS metropolitan planning organization (MPO) on future transportation projects that includes the inner east loop. The open house is taking place from 4:30 until 6:30 at the Brazos Center. Click HERE to read and download the MPO’s Mobility 2050: Bryan/College Station Metropolitan Transportation Plan. References to the “inner loop east” are on pages 28-29 as items #92, #113, #117, and #118. A public speaker at Tuesday’s (November 19) Brazos County commission meeting called on the commissioners court to get their own citizen input. John Book brought up that an open house held earlier this month by the Texas department of transportation provided “misinformation or miscommunication” about the project. Book also said “a groundswell of concern” from residents who live in the affected area “requires us as a county to have that conversation, to have it out in public and in a vocal way, more than just on a website or as a come and go (MPO) event” which “is not this body.” Click below to hear comments from John Book during the November 19, 2024 Brazos County commission meeting.  

Bryan City Council Extends Two Development Agreements

November’s Bryan city council business meeting included extending two development agreements. There was no public discussion before the unanimous votes to continue using a local consultant in the redevelopment of the neighborhood north of the Northgate district and give more time to complete the renovation of a landmark building on the north side of downtown Bryan as part of an economic development agreement. This will be the third amendment of the council’s contract with the consultant for the area nicknamed “North of Northgate”. The goal is to turn the land acquired by the council…acting as the city’s commerce and development board…into a mix of high density housing and commercial uses that includes a boutique hotel and office space. The area is generally bordered on the east by South College, to the south by the College Station city limits, to the west by Nagle Street, and to the north by the Oak Terrace homeowners association. Click HERE to read and download background information about the “North by Northgate” consultant contract extension. Click HERE to read and download the original contract. Click HERE to read and download the contract extension that was approved at the November 12, 2024 Bryan city council meeting. For the second time, the Bryan council extends the deadline to complete the renovation of the 100 year old Kimbell Feed building. The building owners are still waiting for the delivery of an elevator and the building’s heating and air conditioning system. In January 2024, the council approved an economic development agreement which gives up to $250,000 dollars in exchange for raising the taxable value of the building to least $2.5 million dollars. The original construction deadline, which was May 1, 2024, is now February 28, 2025. Planned uses for the renovated building includes a downtown visitor’s center and leasing space for arts and cultural exhibits and retail businesses. Click HERE to read and download background information about the Kimbell Feed project’s second extension. Click HERE to read and download the original agreement. Click HERE to read and download the first amendment. Click HERE to read and download the second amendment that was approved at the November 12, 2024 Bryan city council meeting.

Bryan ISD School Board Approves Hiring A New Principal At Collegiate High School

The Bryan ISD school board fills one principal vacancy and creates a new opening. Board members unanimously approved the superintendent’s recommendation to move Jane Long intermediate principal Desiree Caperton to Bryan Collegiate High School. Caperton, who is a former assistant principal at Collegiate, was in her third year as Long’s principal. Before that, she was the principal at Fannin elementary for three years. The only board member to make a comment, Ruthie Waller, cheered the recommendation then said Caperton “will begin her reign as only the third principal of Bryan Collegiate High School since it opened in 2007. So it’s a good gig.” Who will take Caperton’s place at Long was not mentioned at the meeting and a Bryan ISD news release stated only that “there is a plan for her (Caperton’s) departure”. Click below to hear comments from the November 18, 2024 Bryan ISD school board meeting:   News release from Bryan ISD: At the November 18 Bryan ISD School Board Meeting, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved experienced educator Dr. Desiree Caperton to lead Bryan Collegiate High School (BCHS) as its principal. This marks a return to Bryan’s early college high school as Dr. Caperton previously served as the school’s associate principal. Bryan ISD Superintendent Ginger Carrabine said the transition will be seamless because of Dr. Caperton’s experience at Bryan Collegiate as associate principal. There is also a plan for her departure from Jane Long Intermediate School. “We are excited for our school community,” Ms. Carrabine said. With over 21 years of experience in the district and 26 years in education, Dr. Caperton has served in a variety of leadership roles at multiple levels including as principal, associate principal, teacher, coach, high school counselor and compliance coordinator. Prior to this post, Dr. Caperton has led as principal at Fannin Elementary School and Jane Long Intermediate School. Dr. Caperton earned her Doctor of Educational Leadership degree from Prairie View A&M University, a Master’s degree in Secondary Education, and a second Master of Arts in Counseling from Sam Houston State University. She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas, where she also ran Division 1 Cross Country and Track. Dr. Caperton currently holds principal, counselor, and teacher certifications.