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Home My WebLink About2023/07/05 SPECIAL SESSION 1:30PMFILV-b 06R 0 0 DATE AT /- -7 O'CLOCK M M BRAZOS COUNTY B.RYAN, TEXAS NOTICE OF MEETING AND AGENDA SPECIAL CALLED SESSION BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL MEET INASPECIAL CALLED SESSION AS FOLLOWS: MEETING DATE: July5, 2023 MEETING TIME: 1:30 PM MEETING PLACE: Brazos County Administration Building, 200 S. Texas Avenue, Suite 106, Bryan, TX 77803 1. Call to Order 2. Extension of Declaration of Local Disaster for Legionella bacteria. ` 3. Adjourn The County Administration Building, 200 South Texas Avenue, Suite 332, Bryan, Texas is wheelchair accessible. Handicap parking spaces are available. Any request for sign interpretive services must be made two working days before the meeting. To make arrangements, please call (979) 361-4102. The foregoing minutes of the Commissioners Court Special Called Session held July 5, 2023, have been examined and are approved in open Court this the 8th day of August 2023, in Bryan, Brazos County, Texas. l� Duane Peters Steve Aldrich County Judge /��-' Chuck Konderla Commissioner, Precinct 2 Wanda I Wat Commissioner, Precinct 4 Attest; aren McQueen , County Clerk Commissioner, Precinct 1 � Z M E. - Z � Nancy Berry Commissioner, Precinct 3 MINUTES J U LY 5, 2023 BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT SPECIAL CALLED SESSION Call to Order A Special Called Session of the Commissioners' Court of Brazos County, Texas was held in the Brazos County Commissioners Courtroom in the Administration Building, 200 South Texas Avenue, in Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, beginning at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 5, 2023 with the following members of the Court present: Duane Peters, County Judge, Presiding; Steve Aldrich, Commissioner of Precinct 1; Chuck Konderla, Commissioner of Precinct 2; Nancy Berry, Commissioner of Precinct 3; Wanda J. Watson, Commissioner of Precinct 4; Karen McQueen, County Clerk, Absent. The attached sheets contain the names of the citizens and officials that were in attendance. 2. Extension of Declaration of Local Disaster for Legionella bacteria. Judge Peters called the meeting to order and explained the purpose in extending the Declaration of Local Disaster. He stated that due to the Legionella bacteria found at the Jail, it was necessary to expedite the cleaning process. To avoid delays created by standard County protocols, a Declaration of Local Disaster was issued on Thursday, June 29, 2023. To further extend the Declaration past the initial 7 days, an extension approved by the Commissioners Court was needed. Commissioner Berry made a motion to approve the Extension of Declaration of Local Disaster and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Watson. Commissioner Aldrich questioned the length of the Extension to which, Chief of Staff Ed Bull replied that the Extension is for 30 days. The Court voted unanimously to approve the Extension. Commissioner Berry stated that it was the right decision to keep the inmates and employees safe. Judge Peters then adjourned the meeting. Motion: Approve, Moved by Commissioner Nancy Berry, Seconded by Commissioner Wanda J. Watson. Passed. 5-0. Ayes: Aldrich, Berry, Konderla, Peters, Watson. 3. Adjourn Pg @ of . I BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT DAY 1,.3c) Name (PLEASE PRINT) OF � UIU , 20 96 _AM�1 , CMV6 StSS�O� Organization (PLEASE PRINT) �A'm miss i0 n�1rS G� so i3cso 6 0p i TE, r ATE.. 0 BRAZOS COUNTY BRYAN, TEXAS Duane Peters Office of the County Judge 200 S. Texas Ave., Ste. 332 Bryan, TX 77803 July 6, 2023 The Honorable Greg Abbott Governor of Texas c/o State Coordinator - Division of Emergency Management P. O. Box 4087 Austin, Texas 78773-0001 , Dear Governor Abbott: Phone: (979) 301-4102 Fax: (979) 361-4503 Email: dpeters@brazoscountytx.gov J Brazos County, Texas is facing a threat to the public health and the potential for loss of life and property resulting from the introduction, transmission, or spread (or imminent threat of the same) of Legionella bacteria in Brazos County, due to events occurring on or about June 28, 2023. It is my belief that the imminent threat to the public health and potential loss of life to the people and communities of Brazos County, due to the severity and magnitude of the actual or potential community spread of Legionella bacteria resulting from events occurring on or about June 28, 2023, poses a public health and safety emergency beyond Brazos County's capability to recover without supplementary State and/or Federal assistance. Pursuant to Chapter 418 and/or §433.001, et seq. of the Texas Government Code, I am requesting that you declare a state of emergency for Brazos County, Texas. This request is necessary to preserve and protect life and property.. Accordingly, I am requesting that you issue reasonable directives to deal with the emergency, A state of emergency must be declared immediately so that,appropriate measures to deal with the introduction, transmission, or spread (or imminent -threat of the same) of Legionella bacteria, can be implemented. Furthermore, I am asking that successive proclamations be issued and remain in effect until the threat to the public - health and/or loss of life or property is contained. Your immediate assistance in response to the emergency is appreciated. Sincerely, Duane Peters County Judge BRAZOS COUNTY BRYAN, TEXAS DECLARATION OF DISASTER WHEREAS, on June 28, 2023, Legionella bacteria was identified in a component of the Brazos County Jail's HVAC system, WHEREAS, on June 29, 2023, Brazos County Judge Duane Peters signed a Declaration of Disaster; WHEREAS, additional damage will occur if emergency remediation is not begun immediately; WHEREAS, the risk of infection and the cost of remediation will increase exponentially if mitigating efforts are not immediately employed; WHEREAS, pursuant to the Texas Disaster Act of 1975, Sec. 418.108 of the Texas Government Code the County Judge may declare a local state of disaster in and for the County, and may exercise. the powers granted therein on an appropriate local scale; WHEREAS, a declaration of local disaster includes the ability to reduce potential for damage to property and reduce the possibility of exposure to disease, control the risk, promote health, compel persons to undergo additional health measures that prevent or control the spread of disease, and request assistance from the governor of state resources; WHEREAS, the County Judge's Declaration can only last seven (7) days as a matter of law and the state of disaster continues to exist at this time; WHEREAS, by this declaration, we declare all rules and regulations that may inhibit or prevent prompt response to this threat suspended for the duration of the incident; WHEREAS, pursuant to the authority granted to the County under the Texas Disaster Act of 1975, we authorize the use of all available resources of state government and political subdivisions to assist in the County's response to this situation; and WHEREAS, the Commissioners Court of Brazos County, has determined that extraordinary and immediate measures must continue to be taken to respond quickly, prevent and alleviate the potential for property damage, and risk to the health of the staff and the public. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DECLARED BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF THE COUNTY OF BRAZOS: That a local state of disaster and public health emergency is hereby declared for the Brazos County Detention Center, Brazos County, Texas, pursuant to Section 418.108(a) of the Texas Government Code. 2. Pursuant to Section 418.108(b) of the Government Code, the state of disaster and public health emergency shall continue for a period of.not more than thirty (30) days from the date of this declaration unless continued or renewed by the Brazos County Commissioners Court. 3. Pursuant to Section 418.108(c) of the Government Code, this declaration of a local state of disaster and public health emergency shall be given prompt and general publicity and shall be filed promptly with the County Clerk, 4. Pursuant to Section 418.108(d) of the Texas Government Code, this declaration of a local state of disaster and public health emergency does not activate Brazos County's Emergency Management Plan. 5. Pursuant to the authority granted under the laws of the State of Texas, this declaration authorizes Brazos County to take any actions necessary to promote health' and suppress disease, including transferring funds and arranging for immediate emergency repairs to the buildings. This declaration shall take effect immediately from and after its issuance. DECLARED this day of July 202 Duane Peters County Judge Commissioner Steve Aldrich Precinct 1 Commission Nancy Berry Precinct 3 !?-" �Zlle Attest: Karen McQueen, Coun Jerk Commissioner Chuck Konderla Precinct 2 Commissioner a da J. Watson Precinct