[{"_1":2,"_109":-5,"_110":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6120148,"mediaKeyId","2709210-dd7a08253efdbec13f09f814f0b5c747","parentId",2709210,"title","Urban economist urges county to halt planning for proposed No East Loop, says growth forecasts don't justify it","audioSeconds",190,"startMs",522000,"endMs",712000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2709210-dd7a08253efdbec13f09f814f0b5c747&start=522&end=712","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2709210-dd7a08253efdbec13f09f814f0b5c747/thumbnail_522000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6120148/Brazos-County/Texas/Urban-economist-urges-county-to-halt-planning-for-proposed-No-East-Loop-says-growth-forecasts-dont-justify-it","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120148-5be67bce1015bd24ba887bf1a3481bcf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135254&Signature=JHbbqFNPxOGCQw-ckWxcxLBIxt8heTQG4~gaBMtQSaPpP8ExpTw4pewSHQW7GiOsj2UUEudeWXtKr60IH5oQeLe~J9p19EJfDb6o6ucxFriwlXPO41A5hzOEuztRoU1UuckIaBVvUXS4iNK1TqypnjodVfBKfoV3ZGs7zsoSfoRxGBlLJ54HJeVz4iKzr-TBueo9xmaUU0z5q5aV0m7nkmdtZdw0cS7EbMrPKM5F0zg4ih8KmxBvM0JhsoC2Ygam7kxyWfD-q8HB2j~jT53gmbuO4WoA~YulC8v-Qpumk9OruR8FVejF6EHSlSsrT0CEkb4LkH5QyGtHN2yPWEtofg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Brazos County, Texas","date","2025-03-19T03:57:50Z","article","Dr. Adam Purdue, who identified himself as an urban and real-estate economist and a Brazos County resident, told the commissioners the proposed No East Loop would not be justified by population and employment forecasts and would damage rural eastern Brazos County without delivering travel-time benefits.

\"The growth is just not there to support it,\" Purdue said, citing regional Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) forecasts that concentrate population and employment south of State Highway 30 and U.S. 159 rather than in eastern Brazos County. He said the primary local growth driver, Texas A&M University, has paused enrollment increases and that MPO forecasts do not show the kind of expansion that would make the loop necessary.

Purdue argued that loops and bypasses reduce local activity where development follows the highway, rather than creating growth for the interior towns. \"Roads do not cause economic development,\" he told the court, adding that, in his view, the county was spending about $13,000,000 on design work for what he called a \"road to nowhere.\" He said the loop would primarily remove rural land and not reduce travel times to College Station or Bryan.

Purdue said he would support the loop only if forecasts showed demand that justified it. His remarks were part of the public-comment period; commissioners did not act on the topic at the meeting.

The county has included the No East Loop in long-range planning discussions; Purdue asked commissioners to reconsider moving design dollars forward until the MPO and other population projections support the project.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Brazos County Commissioners Court - March 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Dr. Adam Purdue, an urban and real-estate economist who lives in Brazos County, urged the commissioners to stop spending design money on a proposed No East Loop, arguing that regional forecasts do not support the road and that it would harm eastern rural areas.","taxTitle","taxId",2691,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6120153,"Local beekeeper urges commissioners to protect agricultural valuation for beekeeping",255,784000,1039000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2709210-dd7a08253efdbec13f09f814f0b5c747&start=784&end=1039","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2709210-dd7a08253efdbec13f09f814f0b5c747/thumbnail_784000.jpg","/articles/6120153/Brazos-County/Texas/Local-beekeeper-urges-commissioners-to-protect-agricultural-valuation-for-beekeeping","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120153-12d8f868d84a98ab839901e26d109558/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135253&Signature=R-Pi4YqSPEJP37K07o7atNihk0OJ0fWDtUm2aK8eEX5QTec8N0X5vLPq7Vx48f7-r8YFoqluZc4jqmuWXmiQPaPcfwsq-cyifL7Bat9xQlvk29nNNikqRFbvlkTkz1pG5gglJ8ktJPRg5fAOkzdS~hQMlV72wBOYzqr-Cg2bN1CXt5PrHU8Ta0nnWWf2rs78GBHpg88bAAsfx-9WZ9bd447ozv07Vexu2tUSvpZH91aY4LqP1j-Hb934rrhHcDwDUs8xx1ewVsfa7COdd9ZfDxPiGvWq0k6NSRf3TWrB82jyCokA0PlXTL9-QcphkWZzBLrSDY5jzWjyxI4TtzjbqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chris Barnes, a Brazos County beekeeper who runs roughly 60 colonies across the county, told the commissioners that a 2011 change to the Texas tax code allowing beekeeping to qualify for open-space agricultural valuation has encouraged the spread of apiaries and helped manage bee pests and disease.

Barnes said the 2011 amendment, effective Jan. 1, 2012, allows beekeeping to qualify for agricultural valuation on tracts generally in the 5-to-20-acre range. He described a business model in which beekeepers lease hive placement (\"ag yards\") on other landowners' property; Barnes said his household keeps six colonies on his own property and contracts with other landowners for the remainder. \"This is a system that works for property owners and beekeepers and is fulfilling the original intent of the tax code,\" Barnes said.

Barnes told the court he has learned the Brazos County appraisal district has expressed dissatisfaction with ag-yard lease agreements and could change policy. He said there was not a formal change in progress but asked the commissioners to use \"any indirect authority to kinda persuade them not to change things\" if possible.

Barnes said the arrangement helps spread colonies across a larger landscape and that restricting ag valuation for beekeeping would hurt both property owners and beekeepers. He asked the commissioners to be aware of the issue despite acknowledging the appraisal district is the body that sets valuation practice.

The court did not take formal action on the request during the meeting. Commissioners and staff did not announce any immediate changes to county positions on appraisal-district practice; Barnes was told the court has limited direct authority over appraisal districts but could provide informal input.

Barnes provided background about his operation, saying he and his wife began beekeeping in 2013, operate about 60 colonies total and lease colonies to property owners who lack time or capacity to maintain hives themselves. He framed the leasing model as common in Texas and said it aligns with the legislative intent to encourage beekeeping statewide.","A longtime hobbyist and commercial beekeeper told the court he relies on ag-valuation leases for apiaries and asked the commissioners to use their influence to discourage appraisal-district changes that could end the practice.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6120158,"Votes at a glance: Brazos County commissioners approve grants, transfers, utility permits, refunds and routine business",1659,1233000,2892000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2709210-dd7a08253efdbec13f09f814f0b5c747&start=1233&end=2892","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2709210-dd7a08253efdbec13f09f814f0b5c747/thumbnail_1233000.jpg","/articles/6120158/Brazos-County/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-Brazos-County-commissioners-approve-grants-transfers-utility-permits-refunds-and-routine-business","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120158-96b18de9e54189443e51f814dc1a04a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135254&Signature=S4HToTLKYKBwjgmKvfFB-OoVPGICi213T5w2HIFMNPOoW5Hq0srCMCqYqMCyJk19E0rNznUy39p9~894C116Jy1ZQE8AGSrF5PzDEp2R48B7Xt76CIql5jR0k1nRicsgztzngReGV1t3YlL5lqHUdXntUDprtJCz~MfGVH660PRXXSPWZfvWRhjURK2lfdrT5bc80Ct-h28S-P6Aj2062TfdzgOI--wMWCs3-Prntw4deaFNNJc15gdioZx545nDbt4MneTj2D3HaLR0RxjhxUPNykpLtUyz89lvFhtmjkUprqtlBs--Br3CBv3u3bAK0EZl4LwTP-zNp1X-1yk4-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its March 12 session, the Brazos County Commissioners Court approved multiple routine and administrative items, including grant acceptance, a wire transfer to the Health and Human Services Commission, utility permits, tax refunds, budget amendments and claims payments.

Key outcomes recorded on the docket:

- Constable Precinct 2 accepted a grant from The NRA Foundation for $2,525.55 for department-issued firearms (agenda item 3). The motion carried by voice vote.

- The court authorized a wire transfer up to $250,898.90 to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for a CARE demonstration (agenda item 4). Staff explained the transfer relates to a state review of prior years' program activity; the motion carried.

- Frontier Communications utility-permit requests to place directional boring and fiber conduit in multiple subdivisions and along county rights-of-way in Precincts 1 and 4 were approved (agenda items 7, 8 and 9). The court recorded unanimous voice votes on those permits.

- Tax refund approvals were recorded, including a $270.12 refund to Robert Hoffman pursuant to Texas Tax Code section 33.011 (agenda item 10) and other listed refunds (agenda item 11). Motions to approve were carried.

- Budget amendments for FY2024-2025 were approved (agenda item 12), including the $40,000 move into the parking-garage budget noted in other coverage. Commissioners said additional amendments could follow as operating costs are refined.

- Personnel status changes (agenda item 13) and payment of claims for the presented claim numbers were approved (agenda items 13 and 14). The court acknowledged annual reports from the Brazos County Groundwater Conservation District and budget-to-actual statements (agenda items 15 and 16) and received juvenile- and sheriff-department population reports (agenda items 17 and 18).

Most motions were moved and seconded on the record with voice votes or roll-call-style affirmations; meetings notes show the majority of these were approved without recorded opposition.","The court approved multiple routine agenda items including a small NRA Foundation grant to a constable, a wire transfer to HHSC, several Frontier Communications utility permits, tax refunds and budget amendments.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":102,"_47":103,"_49":104,"_51":105,"_53":106,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":107,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":108,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6120162,"Brazos County approves downtown justice project contracts, buys building for 9-1-1 amid parking-garage debate",0,1755000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2709210-dd7a08253efdbec13f09f814f0b5c747&start=1755&end=1755","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2709210-dd7a08253efdbec13f09f814f0b5c747/thumbnail_1755000.jpg","/articles/6120162/Brazos-County/Texas/Brazos-County-approves-downtown-justice-project-contracts-buys-building-for-9-1-1-amid-parking-garage-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120162-f71da5225bedd7230e2ae996990e1261/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135254&Signature=TH9Jh0QkzaBKT-iiHqtvPx4bVm7uCZaAO51Lx8x65HowmcceKdGt6IshU8mO4q1kE11RUTt~5lBl9S02kjjPXdXMZ7eRnmPDXkBiqGydbiYxkmiUcNE77AQjkypI4Qi8fwrjZMR2pM-UjHyxS137IaGjKZP1I-0VVvfZF7mH73Fi6xl3EwK6NHXWYlrsUfn7ltgphe4HhEJlk~hhc0tB9lnosoPa3sSC0WHYDQQwWQbIeyvieyHjH5-CMLQ8sCyRURAfrRwdna0npy-TPpo-YVeLnBGEEw1p2NoHMaKERo65cFijk5tQxbH0XGzTNgq-i-G5IsP8ocmkbQmctEPgjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Brazos County commissioners on March 12 approved contract awards for the county's 101 North Texas Avenue project, voted to purchase a building for the county's 9-1-1 operation for $2,255,000 and passed a budget amendment that moves $40,000 to cover initial utilities and fees for a downtown parking garage.

The court awarded the architect contract for CIP 25-5-60 to Plan North Architectural Company and recommended the construction-manager-at-risk contract for CIP 25-5-63 to Spa Glass Construction. The awards carried after a motion and second; the court recorded one vote in opposition. The court separately voted to purchase the property at 2000-25 And 04 Kent Street in Bryan for $2,255,000 by wire transfer to Scout's Title Abstract VBS LLC; that motion carried without recorded opposition.

County Auditor Katie Conner told the court that $10 million of the county's previously issued certificates of obligation had been allocated to the project and that remaining project funding is budgeted. \"We issued 10,000,000 in certificates of obligation at the same time that we issued 20,000,000 in road bonds...so we included 10,000,000 in that certificate obligation,\" Conner said. When asked whether the financing would cause a tax increase, Conner said the project had been budgeted but declined to opine on tax-rate effects, saying that is the court's responsibility.

Some commissioners pressed staff and asked for more detail before voting. Commissioner Kathy Beange questioned why the county used certificates of obligation instead of asking voters to approve a bond and said, \"This is a huge amount of money,\" asking for clarity on the long-term operating costs of the project. One commissioner said they would vote against the awards, noting that new commissioners sometimes receive limited briefing material before votes.

Commissioners and staff described the project as addressing space and security needs for the courthouse, district attorney and other central county functions that have operated in cramped or non-ADA-compliant spaces. A court member said 9-1-1 needs were central to the property purchase: the building will replace an outgrown, non-ADA-compliant facility and is expected to be used for 20-plus years.

The budget amendment the court approved (labeled in the meeting as 24/205/20201) moves $40,000 into the parking-garage budget to cover utilities, bank charges and early maintenance as Brazos County prepares to take operational responsibility for the downtown garage on April 15. Staff estimated six-month utility costs at roughly $13,000'$15,000 but told the court the annual cost is not yet known and additional amendments could follow as the county establishes contracts for services.

Supporters said additional office and judicial space is necessary for public-safety and court operations. One commissioner thanked staff members Trevor Lansdowne and Charles Wendt for multi-year work on the project and said county employees currently work in improvised spaces. Opponents and skeptics urged more time for briefings and better detail on operating costs before committing the county to the full program.

The court recorded the awards and purchase as official actions and directed departments to proceed with contract administration and pre-construction steps.

Looking ahead, the county will finalize construction agreements, continue design work, and refine operating-cost estimates for the garage and the renovated or new spaces. Staff said parking-garage operations and related contracts will be settled after the county assumes control in mid-April.","The commissioners approved architect and construction-manager awards for the 101 North Texas Avenue project, purchased a building for 9-1-1 for $2,255,000 and moved budget money to cover initial parking-garage costs after commissioners debated financing and operating costs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Urban economist urges county to halt planning for proposed No East Loop, says growth forecasts don't justify it

Local beekeeper urges commissioners to protect agricultural valuation for beekeeping

Votes at a glance: Brazos County commissioners approve grants, transfers, utility permits, refunds and routine business

Brazos County approves downtown justice project contracts, buys building for 9-1-1 amid parking-garage debate