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Home My WebLink About2014-12-11 5:00PM PUBLIC HEARINGBRAZOS COUNTY F ¢� BRYAN,TEXAS PUBLIC HEARING BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT Thursday December 11, 2014 BRAZOS COU TY OpNMISSIONERS COURT WILL CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON M�CY, QECEMBER 11, 2014 AT 5:00PM IN COMMISSIONERS COURTROOM OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, 200 S. TEXAS AVE., SUITE 106, BRYAN, TEXAS. Brazos County is proposing to close Straub Road and Wade Road. All interested parties are invited to attend and speak for or against said road closures. Comments will be limited to three minutes, and citizens will be allowed to speak only once. The Commissioners Courtroom of the County Administration Building, 200 South Texas Ave., Suite 108, Bryan, TX 77803 is wheelchair accessible. Handicap parking spaces are available, Any request for sign interpretive services must be made Mn working days before the meeting. To make arrangements, please call (979) 381 -4102. _ -_Vol. 213 Pg. �S�B BRAZOSCOUNTY BRYAN,TEXAS MINUTES December 11, 2014 BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT PUBLIC HEARING R File Stamped Agenda.pdf Ot Sian in sheet.pdf The Commissioners' Court of Brazos County, Texas held a Public Hearing at the Brazos County Administration Building in Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 11, 2014, with the following members of the Court present: Duane Peters, County Judge, Presiding; Lloyd Wassermann, Commissioner of Precinct 1; Sammy Catalena, Commissioner of Precinct 2; Kenny Mallard, Commissioner of Precinct 3, Absent; Irma Cauley, Commissioner of Precinct 4; Karen McQueen, County Clerk, Absent. Attached is a list of the citizens and officials in attendance The purpose of the meeting is to hear commentary for and against the proposed closing of Straub Road and Wade Road. The County Judge called the meeting to order and stated that he had reviewed the law concerning the railroad keeping the roads closed and that federal law trumps state law. He went on to say that he feels we have two choices. 1) We don't work with Union Pacific and they put the siding down and block the roads anyway, without the benefit of the new Greens Prairie Trail crossing or 2) We try to work with Union Pacific to achieve the best benefit for the citizens in the area. The County Judge then turned the Vol. 213 Pg. floor over to Andrew Hudanish, representative of Union Pacific Mr. Hudanish gave a presentation on the plans for the proposed Greens Prairie Trail project. Commissioner Wassermann then explained the process of 9 -1 -1 answered calls. At this time, the County Judge collected all of the public participation forms and began calling on citizens wishing to speak on the topic. Susan Fontaine - Asked the Commissioners Court to work more closely with Union Pacific to find a solution. She said other alternatives need to be considered with more analysis and asked if there was a back up plan. The County Judge responded that the Court has been working closely with the railroad. Chuck Gilman, City of College Station representative - Stated the proposed crossing would allow a better east/west crossing and College Station supports the project. Lee McCabe - Asked to defer his time. Judge said he was not allowing people to defer their time, but he was welcome to speak. Mr. McCabe said he did not wish to speak. Dan Daniel - Said he was authorized to speak on behalf of the Greens Prairie Trail land owners and they do not wish to sell the property to the County. Leah Smith - Said she didn't have anything good or constructive to say about the whole process. She does not object to the new Greens Prairie Trail, but still wants to leave Wade Road open. There are still lots of unknowns and variables. Brad McCaleb, Metropolitan Planning Organization Director - Said a technical committee for MPO evaluated this proposal for the Greens Prairie Trail extension and presented it to the policy committee and it was supported and approved. It has been included in the 25 year transportation plan. Chad Bohme, TxDOT Representative - Stated that TxDOT will participate and support a project of this nature. TxDOT will commit funds for the project. Tyson Kennedy - Said he emailed a list of questions earlier and asked if they would be answered. Judge Peters said that this was not the proper forum for that. Mr. Kennedy then said he was glad to see representatives from MPO and TxDOt present, but wished they had been involved earlier. Judge Peters stated that they have been involved, they just had not been asked to attent the public meetings before. Commissioner Wassermann told Mr. Kennedy that he would answer some of his questions after the meeting. Rick Young - Asked why the siding is not being moved farther south past Drake Drive. The proposed site is a very populated and dense area and the impact would be dramatically less farther south. Mr. Hudanish answered that topography and distance were the major reasons and that strategically it makes sense for the siding to be constructed there. Dave Schulien - He is in favor of the Greens Prairie Trail project. He said Straub Road is dangerous and he has four young drivers. Vol. 213 Pg. "4o David Prior - Asked why put the siding at this location. He then referenced a Harvard study that says 67% of railroad accidents happen at sidings. Zach Etheridge - Asked if Greens Prairie Trail can be made into four lanes, all the way to where it intersects 2818. Judge Peters reminded him that this meeting was to discuss Straub and Wade Road. Mike McCleary - He is against closing Straub Road. Realizes federal law trumps state law. He doesn't want to see the roads closed but if it's best for the County, he will accept it. Larry Young - Asked if the county right -of -way agent has talked to the land owners yet and if they are willing to sell. Sean Speed - Asked why these meetings aren't being held at the Wellborn Community Center and why there is such short notice. Would like to see legislators contacted to support a grade separation. Elizabeth Terry - Would like a meeting held at the Wellborn Community Center on January 23rd. Judge Peters explained that Union Pacific has this project on a fast track and his fear is that this kind of delay may jeopardize the Greens Prairie Trail extension project. Jason Chessom - Asked about Union Pacific's timeframe and the process for condemnation if that is necessary. Brandon Posvar - Asked how long before Greens Prairie Trail will possibly be closed and if Union Pacific takes the safety and economic impact of the community into consideration before picking a site. David Ford - Asked who would make the final decision on Greens Prairie Trail. He is worried about traffic on South Dowling as a result and something is going to need to be done there as well. Mark Boller - Apologized for the comments he made at the last meeting. He lives at Straub and Wellborn and feels he has the most to lose, but has to be realistic and supports Greens Prairie Trail. He feels it is for the best of the community to close Wade and Straub Road. Commissioner Wassermann stated he has parked next to the fire station at South Dowling to observe the intersection. He's also observed FM 2154 where Wade Road comes and Straub Road comes out. He's not counting cars because traffic studies have been conducted. He's also asked that a Road & Bridge crew observe these intersections as well. He's attended almost all of the meetings involving this project. He said the advantage of the fire station in Wellborn is that it is west of the railroad. He will talk to 9- 1-1 to see if it is possible for them to know if a train is on the tracks when a call is received. There were no more citizens present wishing to speak and the meeting was adjourned. Vol. 213 Pe. 7W The foregoing minutes of the Commissioners Court Public Hearing held December 11, 2014, have been examined and are approved in open Court this the Ot L) day of 2015, in Bryan, Brazos County, Texas. xs* L •-- Duane Peters Lloyd Wassermarm County Judge Commissioner, Precinct 1 5�AyVat4tena Commissi gfier, Precinct 2 Irma Cauley Commissioner, Precinct 4 Attest: (�jI Karen McQueen c County Clerk Vol. 213 ft. � �Z Kenny Mallar Commissioner, Ptecinct 3 COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING PUBLIC HEARING THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1 ! , 2014 - 5:00 PM Name A, yv�� n�LA -� /'WTh iC) vnAr�ls/f Organization/ Department i>aZ r;i jZ lz� Jet c lu �L z A v, l_f14 �G'1Q/�e�ah ' J Page of 7 / Vol. 213 Pg. 24 3 Name COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING PUBLIC HEARING THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1 1 , 2014 - 5:00 PM I, WAC56 < 6ale `i 'fll� Jo> 4 M IT<4fLi- lU( i COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING PUBLIC HEARING THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014 - 5:00 PM Name Organization/ Department i ., vc-v,n� GSF,o C� I s �2- SG Page 3 of / Vol. 213 Pa. �2 �✓`� Name �r COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING PUBLIC HEARING THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11', 2014 - 5:00 PM Vol. 213 Pg. 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