Brazos County commissioners will discuss spending an additional $974,949 to complete renovations to the Brazos County Administration Building during a Feb. 24 meeting, as well as additional funds to pay for utility line relocation for the widening of Democrat Road near the city of Bryan.

The big picture
Renovations to the Brazos County Administration Building were originally contracted to total just over $14.8 million with construction firm Flintco, according to agenda documents. However, additional work found during the early phase of the project includes:

• Replacing all exterior sheathing
• Replacing roof decking
• Removing and replacing concrete and sidewalks on the west side of the building
• Removing additional construction debris and materials

From 2020-2025, 23 firefighters left the Bryan Fire Department to work for departments that operate with a 48/96 schedule, which calls for each shift to work for two consecutive 24-hour shifts, followed by four consecutive days off.

In 2025, about $1.3 million in investment was lost, as well as a combined 35 years of experience.

“We’re hiring them off the street, we’re spending our time, money and resources, we’re getting fully certified and then they’re going somewhere else, and the schedule seems to be one of the key deciding factors for that reason,” Lt. Walter Noel said at a Jan. 13 workshop.

What you need to know: Currently, the BFD works off of a 24/48 schedule, in which each shift works 24 hours and then takes 48 hours off.

Through the current schedule, the BFD is struggling to compete for and retain firefighters, Noel said.

A closer look: Since January 2020, just one fully certified firefighter or paramedic became employed out of 89 total hires, according to BFD documents.

The Canadian-based coffee chain has over 5,000 locations across more than a dozen countries and recently opened a new location in Bryan.

What they offer: Located off Texas Avenue, the new Tim Hortons serves coffee that is freshly brewed every 20 minutes, hot breakfast items and baked goods. 

Featured menu items include protein lattes, including flavors like matcha and chai, as well as blueberry cheesecake mini pastries and a banana bread chocolate chip doughnut, according to the franchise’s website.

The backstory: The brand was founded in 1964 by hockey player Tim Horton, who opened it with the intention of creating a place where everyone could feel at home, according to a note on the website.

• 3706 S. Texas Ave., Bryan 

• What will be your biggest priority, if elected?
• Why are you running for district clerk?
• What processes, if any, will you change to make your office more efficient?
• How will you improve customer service and public-facing services for residents?

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