Brazos County court votes to move to twice‑monthly meetings, public commenters urge access and safety

The Brazos County Commissioners Court voted Sept. 16 to change its regular meeting schedule to convene in regular session twice monthly during fiscal year 2026. Supporters said the change will give staff more time to prepare agendas and allow more public deliberation. Commissioner Brown, speaking in favor on the record, told colleagues the change will reduce staff time spent preparing weekly agendas and “give us the opportunity to have workshops on a regular basis.” Commissioner Watson agreed, noting legal requirements for agenda posting and the added preparation that weekly meetings require. Several members of the public urged the court to use the schedule change to increase access and transparency. John Book of Precinct 2 told the court during the public‑comment period, “The era of 15 minute meetings is over,” and urged evening access and greater outreach so a broader cross‑section of residents can participate. Book also said the court should do more to publicize changes online and to encourage civil, substantive comment. Commissioner Nettles said he supported the move but raised safety concerns tied to upcoming exterior construction on the courthouse, noting the need to ensure safe public access and parking if the court’s regular meeting place is affected. Court staff clarified that the statute governing agenda posting requires items be posted four business days before a meeting, which shaped the court’s decision to move to a biweekly schedule. The court took a formal motion to adopt the schedule and the motion passed by voice vote. There was no recorded roll‑call tally in the meeting record; the clerk announced, “The ayes have it.” The court noted that if urgent matters arise, additional meetings can be posted in accordance with the posting rules. Why this matters: The change affects how residents can participate in county decision‑making and how quickly the court can respond to time‑sensitive matters. The public asked the court to use the new schedule to expand outreach, preserve safe physical access during courthouse construction and ensure agenda materials are posted with adequate time for review. Background and next steps: Court members and staff said the move aligns with practices in other Texas jurisdictions and is intended to free staff time to prepare fuller workshops between regular sessions. Commissioners and staff said they will continue to post special meetings when necessary and will work to provide clearer notice to the public about schedule changes and workshop agendas.