WTAW - Interviews

Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX) visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about the SAVE Act, terrorist threats at the southern border, his desire to continue his chairmanship on the Foreign Affairs Committee, conflicts around the world, Joe Biden's health and his debate performance, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

College Station Mayor John Nichols visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about Hurricane Beryl cleanup, the I Heart America celebration, street repairs, the debt service component of the budget, new water wells, upcoming budget workshops, the upcoming track and field meet, progress on the seventh fire station, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast contains comments from the July 9, 2024 Bryan city council meeting.

Brazos County commissioners and Bryan city council members unanimously approve offering property tax breaks to a prospective $10 billion dollar, 1,800 employee manufacturing plant that would be built on the Texas A&M system RELLIS campus.

Speaking at Tuesday's (July 9) county commission and city council meetings was system chancellor John Sharp. 

He told the Bryan council that the company, identified only as Delaware based "America’s Foundry Bryan LLC", is considering 16 locations.

Sharp told council members and county commission members that this project would double the taxable valuation of the city of Bryan.

Original story July 7, 2024:

More steps are being taken to attract a $10 billion dollar, 1,800 employee manufacturing plant to the Texas A&M system's RELLIS campus.

The system's board of regents approved during a special meeting on Wednesday (July 3), authorization for administrators to "negotiate and execute a development agreement, ground lease, and other related agreements regarding a manufacturing facility" that remains unidentified.

Chancellor John Sharp told reporters after the regents meeting that he remains under a non-disclosure agreement.Before the regents meeting, Bryan mayor Bobby Gutierrez said on WTAW's The Infomaniacs that he is also bound by the non-disclosure agreement. 

But he said Bryan was a finalist for something that could be built anywhere in the world.Friday afternoon (July 5), the city of Bryan and Brazos County released the agenda for the July 9th meetings of the city council and county commission. 

Both agendas includes a proposed ten year tax abatement agreement for what was described as a "high technology manufacturing plant".

Click HERE to read and download the proposed tax abatement agreement with the Bryan city council.

Click HERE to read and download the proposed tax abatement agreement with the Brazos County commission.

The agreement proposes the applicant would receive from both Bryan and Brazos County, an 80 percent break on property taxes in the first five years and a 50 percent abatement in the sixth through tenth years.

Background information from the city of Bryan says even with the tax abatement, the city estimates collecting more than $164 million dollars in property tax revenue during the ten year period.

The background information also says during the tax abatement period, the applicant would give the city five percent of what is being abated towards "the enhancement of the quality of life of Bryan citizens" that includes but are not limited "to infrastructure or programs for parks, recreation and exercise; libraries; aesthetic enhancements to public spaces; public education; senior citizen services; youth services; and healthy lifestyles."

Click HERE to read and download additional information from the city of Bryan about the proposed tax abatement agreement.

Brazos County's agenda did not provide additional information.

Click below to hear comments from John Sharp and Bobby Gutierrez.

Listen to "More steps are taken to attract a $10 billion dollar, 1800 employee manufacturing plant to the RELLIS campus" on Spreaker.

This podcast contains comments from the July 9, 2024 Brazos County commission meeting.

Brazos County commissioners and Bryan city council members unanimously approve offering property tax breaks to a prospective $10 billion dollar, 1,800 employee manufacturing plant that would be built on the Texas A&M system RELLIS campus.

Speaking at Tuesday's (July 9) county commission and city council meetings was system chancellor John Sharp. 

He told the Bryan council that the company, identified only as Delaware based "America’s Foundry Bryan LLC", is considering 16 locations.

Sharp told council members and county commission members that this project would double the taxable valuation of the city of Bryan.

Original story July 7, 2024:

More steps are being taken to attract a $10 billion dollar, 1,800 employee manufacturing plant to the Texas A&M system's RELLIS campus.

The system's board of regents approved during a special meeting on Wednesday (July 3), authorization for administrators to "negotiate and execute a development agreement, ground lease, and other related agreements regarding a manufacturing facility" that remains unidentified.

Chancellor John Sharp told reporters after the regents meeting that he remains under a non-disclosure agreement.Before the regents meeting, Bryan mayor Bobby Gutierrez said on WTAW's The Infomaniacs that he is also bound by the non-disclosure agreement. 

But he said Bryan was a finalist for something that could be built anywhere in the world.Friday afternoon (July 5), the city of Bryan and Brazos County released the agenda for the July 9th meetings of the city council and county commission. 

Both agendas includes a proposed ten year tax abatement agreement for what was described as a "high technology manufacturing plant".

Click HERE to read and download the proposed tax abatement agreement with the Bryan city council.

Click HERE to read and download the proposed tax abatement agreement with the Brazos County commission.

The agreement proposes the applicant would receive from both Bryan and Brazos County, an 80 percent break on property taxes in the first five years and a 50 percent abatement in the sixth through tenth years.

Background information from the city of Bryan says even with the tax abatement, the city estimates collecting more than $164 million dollars in property tax revenue during the ten year period.

The background information also says during the tax abatement period, the applicant would give the city five percent of what is being abated towards "the enhancement of the quality of life of Bryan citizens" that includes but are not limited "to infrastructure or programs for parks, recreation and exercise; libraries; aesthetic enhancements to public spaces; public education; senior citizen services; youth services; and healthy lifestyles."

Click HERE to read and download additional information from the city of Bryan about the proposed tax abatement agreement.

Brazos County's agenda did not provide additional information.

Click below to hear comments from John Sharp and Bobby Gutierrez.

Listen to "More steps are taken to attract a $10 billion dollar, 1800 employee manufacturing plant to the RELLIS campus" on Spreaker. 

This podcast contains comments from the June 18, 2024 College Station ISD school board meeting.

College Station ISD board express no opposition to adding four transportation department supervisors.

That's after hearing a presentation from CSISD's new assistant superintendent of operations.

Josh Symank says the undisclosed cost of creating four positions will come from savings from paying overtime to bus drivers...which amounted to almost $520,000 dollars over the last two years.Symank reported during that two year period, one bus driver made $40,000 dollars in overtime. A second bus driver made $38,000 in overtime. And a third driver made $24,000 in overtime.

One of the new positions will supervise bus drivers.

A second position will be in charge of coordinating CSISD athletic and campus field trips. Symank said twice last year, CSISD high school sports teams had transportation issues that affected post season performance.

A third position will oversee transporting special education students.

The fourth position will manage student discipline referrals. Symank said that's after parents were not notified during the 2023-2024 school year about 250 discipline referrals.

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the June 18, 2024 College Station ISD school board meeting.

This podcast includes comments from Texas A&M system chancellor John Sharp and Bryan mayor Bobby Gutierrez.

More steps are being taken to attract a $10 billion dollar, 1,800 employee manufacturing plant to the Texas A&M system's RELLIS campus.

The system's board of regents approved during a special meeting on Wednesday (July 3), authorization for administrators to "negotiate and execute a development agreement, ground lease, and other related agreements regarding a manufacturing facility" that remains unidentified.

Chancellor John Sharp told reporters after the regents meeting that he remains under a non-disclosure agreement.

Before the regents meeting, Bryan mayor Bobby Gutierrez said on WTAW's The Infomaniacs that he is also bound by the non-disclosure agreement. But he said Bryan was a finalist for something that could be built anywhere in the world.

Friday afternoon (July 5), the city of Bryan and Brazos County released the agenda for the July 9th meetings of the city council and county commission.

Both agendas includes a proposed ten year tax abatement agreement for what was described as a "high technology manufacturing plant".

Click HERE to read and download the proposed tax abatement agreement with the Bryan city council.

Click HERE to read and download the proposed tax abatement agreement with the Brazos County commission.

The agreement proposes the applicant would receive from both Bryan and Brazos County, an 80 percent break on property taxes in the first five years and a 50 percent abatement in the sixth through tenth years.

Background information from the city of Bryan says even with the tax abatement, the city estimates collecting more than $164 million dollars in property tax revenue during the ten year period.

The background information also says during the tax abatement period, the applicant would give the city five percent of what is being abated towards "the enhancement of the quality of life of Bryan citizens" that includes but are not limited "to infrastructure or programs for parks, recreation and exercise; libraries; aesthetic enhancements to public spaces; public education; senior citizen services; youth services; and healthy lifestyles."

Click HERE to read and download additional information from the city of Bryan about the proposed tax abatement agreement.

Brazos County's agenda did not provide additional information.

Kelsey Heiden, Director of Parks and Recreation, visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about Friday's I Heart America celebration, upcoming events, and more during her appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast is a visit with Brazos County tax assessor collector Kristy Roe and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

Statement from Kristy Roe:

I am taking this opportunity to announce my retirement from my position as Brazos County Tax Assessor/Collector effective August 1, 2024. My decision to take this step at this time in my term is to make the transition in the office more efficient and less disruptive to the public. Timing is critical in the County Tax Office and a major change in administration is best handled during a historically quieter, less busy time if possible. There are multiple audits required when an elected Tax Assessor/Collector leaves office, and I have been very fortunate in the scheduling of these audits.

The office has received clean audits from the State Comptroller, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, and is currently completing a full audit by the Brazos County Auditor.                    

I have also been amazingly fortunate in the opportunity of serving the citizens of Brazos County for the past 23 years. It is an honor to be chosen and trusted to serve the residents of this community along with the State, County, Cities, School Districts and Emergency Service Districts. My family and I were welcomed to Brazos County in July of 2001, and I was honored to be chosen as Tax Assessor/Collector upon the retirement of Mr. Winn in July of 2007. The fact that the residents continued to express their trust in me by electing me to the office of Brazos County Tax Assessor/Collector for 4 terms is truly overwhelming and I cannot begin to express my gratitude.  

I look forward to spending more time with my husband and extended family.  We hope to spend a little more time traveling and keeping up with the grandkids and that great-grandkid way out West.

This podcast is a visit with Caden Jones of the Destination Bryan tourism office and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

Bryan Mayor Bobby Gutierrez visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp's retirement announcement, development at RELLIS, Bryan ambulances, Midtown Park, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.