Kevin O’Connor Kommentary July 29

Brazos County Commission Approves The Tax Assessor-Collector’s Early Retirement Request And Selects An Interim Director

A change of leadership at the Brazos County tax office on August 1st is officially approved by county commissioners. During a special meeting Friday (July 12), commissioners accepted the early retirement of tax assessor-collector Kristy Roe and appointed deputy Melissa Leonard to finish Roe’s unexpired term. Roe, who did not seek a fifth term, sought the early retirement to allow tax information for the upcoming year to be registered in the name of her successor. Leonard, a 24 year employee of the tax office who ran unopposed for the Republican nomination, faces a Libertarian candidate in the November general election. Click below to hear a visit with Melissa Leonard and WTAW’s Bill Oliver, followed by comments from the July 12, 2024 Brazos County commission meeting. Listen to “Brazos County Commission approves the tax assessor-collector's early retirement request and selects an interim director” on Spreaker. News release from Brazos County: In a special session of Brazos County Commissioners Court on July 12, 2024, commissioners accepted the resignation/retirement of longtime Brazos County Tax Assessor/Collector Kristeen Roe and approved the appointment of Melissa Leonard to fill the position. Roe had previously decided not to run for re-election, and in January started the process of audits which are legally required when a tax assessor/collector leaves office. Once those audits were completed, Roe realized stepping aside now would allow the taxing information for the upcoming year to be registered in the new official’s name, thereby making the transition easier for the county as a whole. Leonard has served as Brazos County’s deputy tax assessor/collector for 24 years and has completed all training and bonding to be able to seamlessly fill the position. “We are grateful for the many years Kristy Roe has faithfully served the citizens of Brazos County,” said County Judge Duane Peters. “I am confident that Melissa Leonard will be able to continue that service and the Tax Office will be in good hands.” Roe’s retirement is effective July 31, 2024, and Leonard’s appointment begins August 1st.

City Of Bryan Update On Capital And Parks Projects

July’s regular meeting of the Bryan city council included updates on capital and parks projects. Deputy city manager Hugh Walker reported “good progress” is being made on a portion of South College bordering Midtown Park installing a storm sewer and preparing to repave the street later this month. It is possible that the stretch of South College between Villa Maria and Rountree may be open by the end of August. Inside Midtown Park, construction continues at what was called Road “A” and is now called “Midtown Boardwalk Way”. New equipment has been installed at Scurry, Henderson, Sadie Thomas, Tiffany, and Austin’s Colony parks. Replacing playground equipment at Tanglewood Park is expected to start in the next four weeks. What Walker described as “high risk dead trees” were removed from several parks, including Tanglewood, Austin’s Colony, Castle Heights, and Heritage. City crews also cleared parks of debris following the remnants of Hurricane Beryl. At Austin’s Colony Park, a turf erosion renovation project is underway. The semi-annual draining and cleaning at Sue Haswell Park was completed. And the council was notified that Bryan ISD recently installed fencing around campuses that borders Cherry, Tiffany, and Austin’s Colony parks. Click below to hear comments from Hugh Walker during the July 9, 2024 Bryan city council meeting.  

Brazos County Commissioners Get Two Reports About The Local Impact Of Hurricane Beryl

Brazos County commissioners get two reports about the local impact of Hurricane Beryl during this week’s regular meeting (July 9). The sheriff’s office chief deputy for corrections, Kevin Stuart, said 109 inmates from Aransas County spent time in the Brazos County jail. Those inmates returned to Aransas County on Wednesday. It was the second time the transfer was made due to the hurricane threat in Aransas County. Stuart said in 2017, Aransas County inmates spent three weeks here due to extensive damage at their jail. At the end of the commission meeting, district judge David Hilburn thanked public works crews for clearing a tree that fell across a county road providing access in and out of the subdivision where Hilburn lives. Hilburn said he called at 2:11, a county crew arrived at 3:11, and the crew was gone by 3:45. Click below to hear comments from the July 9, 2024 Brazos County commission meeting.