BBV: What’s Happenin’

Brazos County Commissioners Review Of The May 4th Election Includes Reminding Voters To Not Walk Out With Their Paper Ballot

A review by Brazos County commissioners of the May 4th election started with a review of election security. The conversation ended with stories about voters whose votes were not counted. Elections administrator Trudy Hancock says people leave with their ballots instead of inserting them into scanners. Hancock says election workers try to spot voters before they walk out. And voters get a message on the screen after they make their choices to place ballots in the scanner. Hancock told commissioners that no discrepancies were found in the partial manual recounts of two elections that were held May 4th. And she also explained the process of how partial manual recounts are done. One of the May 4th elections involved using voting centers to take ballots regarding the bond propositions from College Station and Navasota ISD’s and the referendum from emergency services district two. The other election, selecting board members to the Wellborn special utility district, was done at the SUD’s office. Click below to hear comments from the May 14, 2024 Brazos County commission meeting. Listen to “Brazos County commissioners review of the May 4th election includes reminding voters to not walk out with their paper ballot” on Spreaker.

College Station City Council Continues Discussions On Increasing Fees For Parks And Recreation Activities

The College Station city council resumes its conversation about fees charged for parks and recreation programs. The discussion at Monday’s council meeting (May 13), there will agreement to continue studying possible increases. Much of the discussion was about non residents paying more, if not all the cost. Elizabeth Cunha favored a non resident rate that covers one hundred percent of the city’s costs because they do not pay property taxes. Linda Harvell said non residents still contribute by paying sales taxes. The council was told that the cost of providing senior programs in College Station is $651 dollars per person. Currently, College Station residents pay $27 dollars for a yearly pass and non residents pay $35 dollars. Mayor John Nichols noted the city receives 38 percent of its revenue from sales taxes, and about the same percentage from property taxes. The council agreed to let city staff and College Station’s parks and recreation advisory board continue their studies about future fee increases. Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the May 13, 2024 College Station city council meeting. Click below to hear comments from the May 13, 2024 College Station city council meeting.  

City Of Bryan Announces The Police Chief’s Retirement

For the first time in 15 years, the city of Bryan will be searching for a new police chief. A news release from the city says Eric Buske is retiring, effective June 7, after a 40 year career. City manager Kean Register says he aims to find a successor who will continue the progress Buske made. Those accomplishments include adding more than two dozen officers and five other positions, equipping all staff with body worn cameras, and contributing to the creation of a training center and shooting range at Twin Oaks Landfill. Register has not named an interim chief and has not decided on the process for selecting the new police chief. News release from the city of Bryan: After 15 years of dedicated service to the City of Bryan, and 40 total years in law enforcement, Bryan Police Chief Eric Buske has announced his retirement, effective June 7. Under Chief Buske’s leadership, Part 1 Crime was significantly reduced by over 50% since 2009. Other accomplishments by Chief Buske include forming the Mental Health Unit to better assist those in crisis, the implementation of weekly COMPSTAT meetings to enhance internal communication and crime tracking, the establishment of a training center/range built in partnership with BVSWMA, and the introduction of Body Worn Cameras for all staff. He also expanded the department’s capabilities by adding more than two dozen police officers, created a digital evidence technician position, increased the size of the crime lab by two positions, added a supervisor for the Property and Evidence Unit and an investigator to the Criminal Evidence Unit. Outside of the department, Chief Buske created collaboration efforts and partnerships within the law enforcement community by co-founding the area chiefs’ monthly meetings and the East Central Texas Police Chiefs Association, where he also serves as President. “The level of crime reduction that has occurred during Chief Buske’s tenure speaks volumes to the type of leader that he is; his accomplishments will have a lasting impact on the Bryan Police Department and the City of Bryan as a whole,” said Bryan City Manager Kean Register. “We aim to find a candidate who will be committed to continuing the progress that Chief Buske has made in enhancing the safety and well-being of our community.” City Manager Kean Register will soon appoint an interim police chief to ensure continuity in operations and will initiate the selection process to hire a new police chief. A decision has not yet been made on whether or not the candidate search will be internal, statewide, or nationwide. A definitive timeline does not exist at this time.