Infomaniacs: April 06, 2011 (6:40am)

Brazos County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a call of a stalled vehicle on Wellborn at Norwood Drive around 5:30pm Tuesday. Callers reported that the driver of the vehicle was throwing objects at the cars of people who tried to offer assistance. 41-year-old Karla Jeannine West claimed that multiple were following and chasing her before she ran out of gas. Three vehicles were struck in all. Only one person wished to pursue charges. West was charged with Criminal Mischief under $100. She was released on $1,200 bond.

The Texas A&M Forest Service announced on Wednesday that is awarding $145,000 in grants to Volunteer Fire Departments in the Brazos Valley. Three counties are in this round of grants: Burleson County: Deanville VFD – $10,000 for training aids Leon County: Centerville VFD – $45,000 for slip-on units East Leon County – VFD $45,000 for slip-on units Hilltop Lakes – VFD $25,000 for PPE Leona VFD – $10,000 for training aids Robertson County: Blackjack VFD – $10,000 for training aids   Here is the full press release: (COLLEGE STATION, TX) — Texas A&M Forest Service awarded nearly $5 million to 118 rural volunteer fire departments across the state to support firefighting equipment and emergency response needs. The $4.99 million awarded Aug. 26 will help departments purchase firefighting apparatus, fire and rescue equipment, protective clothing and other resources needed to safely and effectively respond to emergencies in their communities. Rural volunteer fire departments provide essential emergency response services across Texas and often serve as the first line of response to wildfires and other emergencies. Funding through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program helps departments maintain response capabilities while providing firefighters with the resources needed to safely serve their communities. “We work diligently to utilize all available program funds to assist fire departments in acquiring the necessary equipment and training to allow them to better protect life and property across the state of Texas,” said Jason Keiningham, Texas A&M Forest Service Capacity Building Department Head. “We’re proud to do everything in our power to help our partners in the fire service. The assistance was awarded during the fifth and final round of fiscal year 2026. Demand for assistance through the program routinely exceeds available funding as volunteer fire departments work to maintain and replace vehicles, protective gear and other essential resources. In response to the continued need, the 89th Texas Legislature allocated an unprecedented $192 million in one-time additional funding to address outstanding funding requests. In fiscal year 2026, Texas A&M Forest Service awarded over $227 million through the program to support 1,229 volunteer fire departments across the state. In addition to providing grants for firefighting apparatus and equipment, the program provides funding for training tuition, volunteer recruitment resources and the repair or replacement of equipment damaged or lost following catastrophic events or declared states of disaster. Applications not approved during the Aug. 26 funding round will automatically move forward for consideration during future funding rounds. The next funding round is scheduled for October 2026. View the full list of Aug. 26 grant recipients HERE. For more information about the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program, visit tfsweb.tamu.edu/grants-financial-assistance/fire-department-programs/volunteer-fire-department-programs/rural-volunteer-fire-department-assistance-program/ Got a news tip? e-mail us at news@wtaw.com, text us at (979) 695-1620, or reach out on Facebook or Twitter/X.

The meeting opened with the appointment of Pete Bienski as the BTU Board Chair for FY27. The consent agenda approved just over $5-million in spending. Some of those monies will be spent on new vehicles, vehicle expenses, and tree trimming and landscaping. Just over $3-million is being allocated to Destination Bryan. Council adopted the tax rate of $0.624000 per $100 of a home’s value. Council also approved an economic development agreement in the amount of $350,000 for renovations and rehab for two properties on Main Street: The Bryan Hotel (211 S. Main St.) and the Ryan Building (217 S. Main St.). The City will waive project permit fees (but not utility deposits or charges) and provide a $350,000 redevelopment grant in three stages: $100,000 when construction starts on 217 South Main Street, $150,000 when construction starts on 211 South Main Street, and $100,000 after the occupancy and marketing conditions are met. The plan is to have the upper floors of 211 South Main Street developed as residential lofts. The ground floors of both buildings are to be redeveloped as flexible microbusiness space (shared booths, stalls, or rooms for artists, artisans, consignors, and boutique retailers on shorter leases) plus target tenant space of at least 500 leasable square feet on three- to five-year leases that generate sales tax or downtown foot traffic—such as in-person retail, food and beverage (including beer, wine, or package sales), restaurants or bars with indoor seating, personal services, tasting rooms, artisan retail, or other City-approved uses. The housing is expected to be available in late 2028. The retail space is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2030. The agreement is with a company called N N Out Properties. So if you hear someone say it out loud, no…we are not getting an In-And-Out Burger. Completely unrelated entities. Here is the breakdown of the agenda: Hear Citizens: — NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK Consent (Automatic Approval) Agenda: — PASSED UNANIMOUS Approve the purchase of six (6) vehicles budgeted for Fiscal Year 2027 and one (1) additional unit through TIPS Contract No. 240901, a cooperative purchasing program, in an amount not to exceed $330,365.32. Approve the second extension to an existing annual price agreement for Right-of-Way Mowing with Rios Tree Service in a not to exceed amount of $329,751.00 (Areas #1 and #3) and Yellowstone Landscape in a not to exceed amount of $90,932 (Areas #2 and #4). Approve an “Annual Contract for Concrete Curb, Gutter and Flatwork” to Brazos Siteworks of Bryan, Texas for a not-to-exceed amount of $805,475. Approve permits to waste haulers for the collection of waste, such as trash, brush, construction/demolition, and other refuse, using roll-off containers and/or commercial trash compactor, and/or the collection of recyclable materials from residential and commercial properties. Approval of Fiscal Year 2027 Fleet blanket purchase orders for tire purchases and repairs with the following vendors: Southern Tire Mart – $200,000, Cy-Fair Tire – $125,000, and Pilgers Tire and Auto Center – $25,000. Approve the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Brazos County Interlocal Agreement for Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Approve of the first one-year extension of the Contract for Mobile Integrated Health Program Professional Services with Buzzard Emergency Consulting, PA, for a term beginning October 1, 2026, and ending September 30, 2027, in an amount not to exceed $108,000, under the same terms and conditions of the existing contract. Approval of a Corridor Beautification Grant request for an exterior entryway addition, façade improvements, and exterior lighting improvements in the amount of $100,000 for property located at 1200 Briarcrest Drive. Approval of the Third Amendment to the Facility Management Agreement between the City of Bryan and Sports Facilities Management, LLC extending the term and consolidating the Facility Management Agreement for the Travis Park Facility. Approval of the Fiscal Year 2027 Funding Agreement between the City of Bryan and the Bryan Business Council. Adopt a resolution approving the Destination Bryan (DB) budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026, and ending September 30, 2027, inclusive, with expenditures in the combined total amount of $3,249,500 and revenues in the combined total amount of $3,249,500; and approving and authorizing the Mayor to sign a funding agreement with DB in the amount of $3,080,000 for expenses related to the operation and expansion of services provided by DB in Fiscal Year 2027. Regular Agenda: Approve the property tax rate be maintained at the current property tax rate of $0.624000 which is below the Voter-Approval Rate and the No-New-Revenue Rate. — PASSED UNANIMOUS Ratify the property tax revenue increase reflected in the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget, as required by Texas Local Government Code §102.007(c). The property tax rate of $0.624000 per $100 assessed valuation will provide property tax revenues in support of the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget. — PASSED UNANIMOUS Approval of a Chapter 380 Economic Development Agreement between the City of Bryan and NN Out Properties LTD — PASSED UNANIMOUS