WTAW - Interviews

Dean Swartzlander, Bryan's new police chief, visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about his background, his career with the Bryan Police Department, training changes he has made, department statistics, his future plans for the department, non-violent crime, home security systems, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast contains comments from the August 13, 2024 Bryan city council workshop meeting.

The general manager of the Brazos Transit District (BTD) and the Bryan city council discusses multiple topics during the council's August workshop meeting.

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the Brazos Transit District during the August 13, 2024 Bryan city council meeting.

BTD general manager Wendy Weedon's presentation included an explanation of asking for the first time, local funding to continue the present level of bus service in Bryan and College Station.

As of September 4, the Bryan council and Brazos County commission have not adopted fiscal year 2025 budgets. 

The College Station council included BTD's funding request as part of their FY 25 budget.

BTD's request from all three local governments is $334,000 dollars each.

Weedon says that helps make up a loss of over $2 million in federal and state funding because BTD is now considered a large urban operation and is competing with the nation's largest cities for federal and state money. 

Weedon told the Bryan council that BTD has unspent money from prior years to make up the remainder of the shortfall for FY 25.

The Bryan council did not indicate during the workshop discussion of its support of BTD's funding request.

Council questions of Weedon included getting more bus stop signs, benches, and shelters. Weedon said they have federal money for signs, benches, and shelters. But BTD does not have the money to acquire the right of way.

Weedon also said BTD has received federal money to buy electric-powered trolleys. But there is no money to operate the trolleys, which she estimated is a cost of between $180,000 and $200,000 dollars per trolley per year.

This podcast is a visit with College Station fire department community outreach specialist Harlei Struck and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

The College Station fire department is promoting signage that residents can pick up to show first responders there are pets inside their homes and apartments. 

CSFD's community outreach specialist Harlei Struck says residents can write down the number and types of pets and place them on glass surfaces near entry doors.

Struck says the signage gives first responders a heads up about pets that could display the same anxiety as their owners during an emergency.

Struck also recommends that pet owners have their pets microchipped as another protective measure, should pets run outside.

The signs can be picked up at CSFD's administration office on Krenek Tap Road next to College Station municipal court. 

The Bryan fire department has ordered more pet signs after recently running out.

WTAW's Chelsea Reber visits with Peggi Ondrasek, President of United Way of the Brazos Valley, and Andy York, Executive Director of Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity.

This podcast contains comments from the August 13, 2024 Bryan city council meeting and the July 15, 2024 Bryan ISD school board meeting.

The Bryan city council unanimously agrees to continue paying for personnel that council members believe is the responsibility of the Bryan ISD school district.

During the council's August regular meeting, there were unanimous votes to pay $198,881 dollars for school crossing guards and one-fourth of the cost of school resource officers, which is $372,228. 

Bryan ISD pays the city $1,026,346 for school resource officers at middle schools, high schools, M.C. Harris alternative school, and the district's disciplinary alternative education campus.

Deputy city manager Hugh Walker said negotiations continues with Bryan ISD administrators for the school district to pay more of the cost. Walker told councilmembers that an obstacle is state lawmakers not increasing base funding for public school districts since 2019.

Mayor Bobby Gutierrez and councilman James Edge said the expense is paid by Bryan taxpayers, whether it comes from the city and/or the school district.

When Bryan ISD board members approved the school resource officer agreement July 15th, there were no comments from board members about that or the city paying for crossing guards.

Click HERE to read and download background information about the school resource officer agreement that was presented for the August 13, 2024 Bryan city council meeting.

Click HERE to read and download the interlocal agreement for school resource officers with Bryan ISD that was approved at the August 13, 2024 Bryan city council meeting and the July 15, 2024 Bryan ISD school board meeting.

Click HERE to read and download the school resource officer resolution that was approved at the August 13, 2024 Bryan city council meeting.

Click HERE to read and download background information about the school crossing guard agreement that was presented for the August 13, 2024 Bryan city council meeting.

Click HERE to read and download the school crossing guard contract that was approved at the August 13, 2024 Bryan city council meeting.

This podcast is a visit with Texas A&M police (UPD) officer Rob Leseth and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

Texas A&M police (UPD) has received multiple reports from local residents being offered tickets for the Notre Dame game from scammers.

Officer Rob Leseth says scammers are using social media to sell fake tickets.

Leseth says UPD recommends buying tickets from the 12th Man Foundation or the university's preferred partners.

For those considering buying tickets outside Kyle Field on game day, Leseth says scalpers are required to have an official A&M seller's license.

Additionally, Leseth says to inspect the ticket for grammatical errors and anything that looks out of place.

Leseth says fans seeing suspicious or criminal activity should call 9-1-1 or UPD's non emergency phone number at 979-845-2345.

Inside the stadium, Leseth says there will be a "significant" number of officers who will be prepared to assist fans.

Casey Barone, Visit College Station's Events Coordinator, visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about the Hometown Tailgate events, upcoming fall events, renting the 1207 facility, and more during her appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast contains comments from the August 27, 2024 Brazos County commission meeting.

A majority of Brazos County commissioners approve increasing the property tax rate for the fiscal year 2025 budget.

That followed debates during Tuesday's (August 27) budget workshop and regular meeting between county judge Duane Peters and commissioner Steve Aldrich.

Peters, who made the motion to increase the property tax rate by one cent, wanted to protect the county's fund balance...also known as the county's savings account...to pay for capital projects instead of borrowing money.

Aldrich failed in his attempt to approve a no new revenue property tax rate, which would have reduced the FY 2025 rate.

Peters motion was approved by a four to one vote.

A public hearing on the FY 25 Brazos County tax rate and budget will be held September 10th at 9 a.m.

Click HERE to read and download the Brazos County proposed 2025 budget.

Bryan Firefighter Chris Lamb visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about working in the hot summer temperatures, special oxygen masks for animals, recruiting new firefighters, how to apply, the EMS component of the job, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

Dr. Susan Ballabina, Texas A&M President's Chief of Staff, visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about the start of school, enrollment numbers, new student conferences, working with community partners, the search for a new Commandant, the future of ticket pull, a new television commercial, what is happening with KAMU, and more during her appearance on The Infomaniacs.