[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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],{"_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",6095784,"mediaKeyId","2836883-f15878ed01e8728f6ec48c1bc4b07e16","parentId",2836883,"title","Residents press Brazos County for greater transparency, question 'East Loop' study","audioSeconds",492,"startMs",259000,"endMs",751000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2836883-f15878ed01e8728f6ec48c1bc4b07e16&start=259&end=751","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2836883-f15878ed01e8728f6ec48c1bc4b07e16/thumbnail_259000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6095784/Brazos-County/Texas/Residents-press-Brazos-County-for-greater-transparency-question-East-Loop-study","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095784-8a506c8012f0d84b504636cfede0b1b0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168609&Signature=IrO6uSOBIapDyG34NcNQv4VtHWM6Yw9WsKFH3hS4H-8GY8SMG5~buStnt9P2I5r5v5jfNbY8IPCiiWkoyZbG1Y2geWVmZvfPJnEchcDypWZ2~jR0WrsWXOQpTtSMBZ-YtmeD7ttaMyiV9XBjugYuHcVSkkDxMpx7kik7zEiJxNgKU4~BqKoNAVYWn178sFsOXR1v-zghea56AkOdSaGL73oD65EksQjjxUEH4JnGj5GNkg3yVSj6Ph8mAONZkLCFLnTv~Nx6ow5vr6qSQw-BhfQUXjOfJD1tXbapuvB7Q~Pkea4RjeN4X9LjUVwRL9SjfcCQIuMgw3w0FMEkwcewaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Brazos County, Texas","date","2025-04-01T19:51:40.973Z","article","At the Brazos County Commissioners Court meeting on April 1, residents used the public-comment period to urge the court to increase transparency around agenda items and to press for clarity on a proposed East Loop study.

Kathy Bean, who identified herself as a frequent court attendee, told commissioners she appreciates recent efforts but described a broader pattern of limited discussion on votes. “In the last 2 and a half years, very little conversation about what you’re voting on…It’s just pretty much a yay or a nay,” Bean said, and asked that the court provide more opportunities for public learning about agendas and the materials linked in agenda hyperlinks.

Chris Barnes, a longtime local resident, addressed what he described as confusion around the term “study” as used in public discussion of the proposed East Loop. Barnes said he supports a traffic study but distinguishes it from a feasibility study of routes already on a map. “The word study being conducted by Quiddity is a feasibility study of proposed routes that are already on a map. Those of us on the No East Loop Council are in favor of a traffic study,” Barnes said. He urged specificity when officials use the term study and said he and others value rural undeveloped areas that he fears could be lost to rapid growth.

Why it matters: residents framed these remarks as requests for clearer information and for more on-record discussion before votes. The comments did not result in immediate committee action or votes; court business proceeded to scheduled agenda items.

Ending: The court listened to the remarks and moved into presentations; the record shows commissioners acknowledged the concerns but did not take immediate formal action in response during the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Brazos County Commissioners Court - April 1, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Two residents used public comment time at the April 1 Commissioners Court to press for more transparency in county decision-making and to question the scope and wording of an East Loop feasibility study.","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},6095788,"Commissioners unanimously approve routine proclamations, contracts and permits",249,2841000,3090000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2836883-f15878ed01e8728f6ec48c1bc4b07e16&start=2841&end=3090","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2836883-f15878ed01e8728f6ec48c1bc4b07e16/thumbnail_2841000.jpg","/articles/6095788/Brazos-County/Texas/Commissioners-unanimously-approve-routine-proclamations-contracts-and-permits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095788-45d896b7e083ae79d5f1e7955a7c1f72/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168609&Signature=RvlcHrc3EdgB-X7Y8fbQmax5LkIwat7qSL0f9Sg2SfE72Zmv7Uv83mvgmW79v2ikx7IqG3mEPWnpTzLeWka2J6oIkpLdT9LThTq~e7z~ipItJ5oZ3MM-SaElx8lqVoqtE20dfoxlOdmrUIBTV9KX~6Ax4RP6qIcfFrVzphR79ZG2DR4vQ-fI169wqIX-uc7alOw25TdQpn-itI0zO-AjTU4cXVBXakNPRSJUW5~wSbA-0MzAvXdv-aujx6IG03~la3LKxrmVrLaLUHs0JVOZhVbevWBxZ3ZTh7KsxRmTSkej3z0Jups5nllZKIerOGAK4jfHajgKLS7i6jB6niXQXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Brazos County Commissioners Court voted unanimously on a set of routine agenda items on April 1, approving a proclamation for Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month and a slate of contracts, permit approvals, subdivision acceptances and budget items.

The court approved a proclamation declaring April 2025 as Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month and heard brief remarks from Allison Prince, director of development at Scotty’s House, the local child advocacy center. Prince invited the public to an April 2 ceremony and thanked the court for the proclamation.

Other approved items included acceptance of $425 in Walmart gift cards for veterans assistance; a $2,988.45 NRA Foundation grant for Constable Precinct 3 for training and ammunition; execution of a classification software contract for the detention center with Equivivant; an amendment to a contract for psychological evaluations for sheriff’s office applicants; acceptance of subdivision roads for Winding Creek Estates phases 4 and 5 into the county road maintenance system; a permit for College Station Utilities to trench and attach fiber optic cable; treasurer’s and budget reports and routine personnel and claims approvals. For each voice vote recorded, commissioners responded “aye” and the chair declared the motions carried.

Votes at a glance (items 4–18):
- Item 4: Proclaim April 2025 Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month — approved (voice vote). Speaker: Allison Prince spoke in support and invited public to a ceremony.
- Item 5: Accept $425 in Walmart gift cards for veterans assistance — approved (voice vote).
- Item 6: Accept TXE056 NRA Foundation grant $2,988.45 for Constable Precinct 3 — approved (voice vote).
- Item 7: Approve reserved-space agreements at Roy Kelly Parking Garage (items a–d) — approved (voice vote); public commenter raised concern about lease rates and reserved-space pricing.
- Item 8: Approve contract 25-110 for classification software (Detention Center) with Equivivant — approved (voice vote).
- Item 9: Approve amendment to contract 25-113R for psychological evaluations for sheriff’s office applicants — approved (voice vote).
- Item 10: Accept Winding Creek Estates Phase 4 roads into county maintenance — approved (voice vote).
- Item 11: Accept Winding Creek Estates Phase 5 roads into county maintenance — approved (voice vote).
- Item 12: Approve College Station Utilities permit to trench and attach fiber optic cable on North Dowling Road and Walnut Road — approved (voice vote).
- Item 13: Approve treasurer’s report for January 2025 — approved (voice vote).
- Item 14: Tax refund authorizations (items A–G) — approved (voice vote).
- Item 15: Approve minutes for listed meeting dates (items A–F) — approved (voice vote).
- Item 16: Budget amendments FY24–25 ('24-01 through '24-04) — approved (voice vote).
- Item 17: Personnel changes — approved (voice vote).
- Item 18: Approval of claims and payments (specified claim ranges) — approved (voice vote).

How decisions were taken: motions were made and seconded; votes were recorded as voice votes with no roll call listed in the transcript. Several items were handled with minimal discussion; the court moved later in the agenda to consider an executive session and then recessed for it.

Ending: The court later convened an executive session under Texas Government Code to consult with counsel; no public action was taken after the session and the meeting adjourned.","At the April 1 Brazos County Commissioners Court meeting, the court approved a package of routine items including a child abuse awareness proclamation, acceptance of donations and several contracts and permits; all motions recorded were passed by voice vote.",{"_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},6095793,"Groundwater district warns of long-term artesian declines, urges planning for 2080",1903,752000,2655000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2836883-f15878ed01e8728f6ec48c1bc4b07e16&start=752&end=2655","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2836883-f15878ed01e8728f6ec48c1bc4b07e16/thumbnail_752000.jpg","/articles/6095793/Brazos-County/Texas/Groundwater-district-warns-of-long-term-artesian-declines-urges-planning-for-2080","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095793-ffcfae633fd91f9266dbb30eea282f60/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168609&Signature=TaENo1e0r4d~oZecIOVArAq0J706kqH-0kFT5UQHYSf5bYGVExcvzPxkIO5Ea-npBzJR~ueiAAKexifAqCKlpT7B9jme3hj~Sn9qBRFtNl9i4aiBpByCprDRG2SjI9FvPDr12OVSZgd-6VlNTUW~hzYbbxDdlUYnHDf4LY06WVitIGUgLT0uquUenDIAQfVy1H8sxy81hfDsoAxgc7Yiay4zDlwLRysZKi5XKm9HDbnYS4rJ2f4mhsR3Le774ey4FEmtcyFm8pbVjJCv6XxwZiaAVVxAOO7UWjFOhYcc8TUeZQJOfuCalU3av9Is99F1L8X8iEk0IFYgMDzji8aHYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Allen Day, general manager of the Brazos Valley Groundwater Conservation District, told the Brazos County Commissioners Court on April 1 that the district’s monitoring shows measurable pressure declines in local aquifers and urged local officials and utilities to plan for long-term changes.

The district’s 2024 report showed just eight nonexempt permits issued last year—four agricultural, three industrial and one multipurpose—for a total of about 2,760 acre-feet permitted, Day said, down from roughly 104 permits and about 200,000 acre-feet in 2023 after a rule change drove a surge of applications. “When we have a rule change…people already planning. They came. We had a landslide of permits in 2023,” Day said.

Why it matters: the district and five neighboring groundwater districts are setting Desired Future Conditions (DFCs)—the long-term thresholds for artesian head pressure—that will guide management to 2070 and beyond. Day said the agreed allowable artesian reduction for the Simsboro aquifer is 262 feet by 2070 and that the district is tracking the decline toward that level. “We have to comply with the desired future conditions,” he said.

Key findings and management steps
- Metering and fees: Day said the district is moving away from collecting fees based on metered production to collecting on permitted amounts; fee collections from 2024 permit fees are underway. He said the district expects about $834,700 in fee revenue from 2024 categories.
- Monitoring and production: The district measures roughly 223 wells across its aquifers annually and performs about 1,000 measurements a year, Day said. Metered production was lower in 2024 compared with 2022–23, when drought-driven pumping rose sharply.
- Triggers and curtailment: The district uses a three-tier trigger system tied to percent of the DFC—65%, 80% and 90%—to prompt stakeholder meetings and possible management actions; Day warned that curtailment (formal limits on pumping) would occur at the upper threshold if DFCs are exceeded and noted that curtailment is a statutory limit, not a choice.

Legal and regional context
Day told the court the district is engaged in ongoing litigation and contested-permit hearings: a district-court trial in early May over a writ of mandamus involving a contested-case request for 32 production permits and one transport permit, several transport permits set for State Office of Administrative Hearings in the fall, and a federal takings suit by Fizino Investments LP challenging a spacing-rule amendment.

Commissioner and public questions focused on growth and affordability. When a commissioner asked whether population growth in Brazos County and regionally should be a concern, Day replied, “You should always be paying attention to it. Our job is to make sure there’s gonna be water here forever,” and warned that water costs are likely to rise over time.

The district encouraged public participation in the DFC process; Day said proposed initial DFCs must be set by May 1 of next year and will be followed by a 90-day public comment period. He repeatedly urged landowners to register wells so the district can protect property rights through spacing and monitoring; he said there are likely 3,000–4,000 wells in the district the agency does not yet know about.

Ending: The presentation emphasized regional coordination—Day repeatedly noted that pumping outside Brazos County affects local pressure—and urged officials and utilities to incorporate the district’s projections and triggers into long-range water planning.

","The Brazos Valley Groundwater Conservation District told Brazos County Commissioners that aquifer pressures have declined, permitting and fee changes are underway, and regional 'desired future conditions' could trigger curtailment if trends continue.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents press Brazos County for greater transparency, question 'East Loop' study

Commissioners unanimously approve routine proclamations, contracts and permits

Groundwater district warns of long-term artesian declines, urges planning for 2080