WTAW - Interviews

Jeff Kersten, Assistant City Manager, visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about the city budget, economic development, graduation weekend, next week's city council meeting, street maintenance, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast contains comments from the May 7, 2024 Brazos County commission meeting.

Brazos County commissioners are told it will take $61 million dollars to redevelop the land across Texas Avenue from the courthouse, where the former Bryan ISD administration building will be imploded this summer.

Commissioners expressed no opposition during Tuesday's meeting (May 7) to recommendations made by the county's project manager.Trevor Lansdown presented plans for a three story building that would be occupied by the precinct 4 justice of the peace and constable's departments, adult probation, and the public defender's office.

The new building will also have its own parking garage. Lansdown says that is to keep employees from having to cross Texas to get to the Roy Kelly parking garage.

There will also be a skywalk over Texas connecting the new building to the courthouse. Lansdown said that is because people working in the new building have regular business in the courthouse.

County commissioner Steve Aldrich asked Lansdown to contact the owner of property east of the former BISD site to gauge their interest in selling their land to the county.

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the May 7, 2024 Brazos County commission meeting.

Zyreshia Jackson, Community and Development Specialist, visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about an upcoming Financial Literacy and Budgeting Workshop, how to participate, and more during her appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast contains comments from the April 25, 2024 College Station city council meeting.

The last property in the city of College Station's business center has been sold.

A unanimous city council at their last meeting, accepted a $3.3 million dollar offer for 12 acres along the northbound freeway frontage road at Gateway Boulevard.

Chief development officer Michael Ostrowski said the buyer, Fera Diagnostics and Biologicals, is a research-driven company that focuses on developing products to improve the welfare of animals.

Fera plans to build a $15 million dollar, 50,000 square foot headquarters and employ 15 to 30 people in the two to three years.

The city acquired the land in a swap back in 1988 that resulted in the creation of the Pebble Creek development. 

Click HERE to read and download the contract that was approved at the April 25, 2024 College Station city council meeting.

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials at the April 25, 2024 College Station city council meeting.

This podcast contains comments from the May 6, 2024 Bryan ISD school board meeting.

Bryan ISD school board members learn the move in schedule to the district's new auxiliary services complex off Leonard Road.

At the end of May, in the week between the end of the regular school year and the start of summer school, is the move of BISD's transportation and maintenance departments.

That is followed by BISD's school nutrition and school records in July.

After that, the move by BISD's warehouse and custodial services departments will take place from October through December.

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the May 6, 2024 Bryan ISD school board meeting.

Bryan Mayor Bobby Gutierrez visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about the B/CS Chamber of Commerce trip to Washington D.C., recent flooding in the Brazos Valley, the Big Barn Dance, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast contains comments from the April 25, 2024 College Station city council meeting.

College Station city council members take the first step towards adding more capacity to the city's water supply.

A more than $8 million dollar contract was awarded at the council's April 25th meeting to design and build the city's 10th, 11th, and 12th water wells in western Brazos County.

Water services director Gary Mechler said the new wells should take care of College Station's water needs through the year 2046.

Mechler also said the future wells are in addition to decisions made the last five years to build the ninth well and lower the pumps to older wells to draw water from an aquifer that has been going down due to increased demand.

The wells will be built on land the city purchased ten years ago south of Lake Bryan and west of OSR highway.

In response to a council question, city manager Bryan Woods said no development will take place above ground on the 321 acres of land where the wells will be built.

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials during the April 25, 2024 council meeting about the water services department.

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials related to the design and construction of more water wells.

Click HERE to read and download the water well contract that was approved at the April 25, 2024 College Station council meeting.

Tommy Schilling, Code Enforcement Supervisor, visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about student move out, the SeeClickFix app, enforcement beginning for the no-more-than-four unrelated ordinance, the paid parking pilot program during special events at Kyle Field, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast contains comments from the May 1, 2024 College Station ISD school board meeting.

The College Station ISD school board held a special meeting Wednesday (May 1) to fill two vacant administrative positions. 

Unanimous votes were made by the four members who were present, after a parent's comments about the central office last week announcing the restructuring of educator positions. 

Board members explained their reasons for hiring a new assistant special education services and a new assistant transportation director.

CSISD's new assistant special education director is Pebble Creek elementary principal Blaire Grande.

The new assistant transportation director, Caroll Lester, reunites her with three colleagues at Willis ISD. They are her supervisor, CSISD's new transportation director Shannon Calltharp, chief of staff Sara Goolsby, and superintendent Tim Harkrider.

News release from College Station ISD:

The CSISD Board of Trustees approved Blaire Grande, principal at Pebble Creek Elementary, as the new assistant director of special services and 504, and Caroll Lester as the new assistant director of transportation during its special workshop on May 1. Both are filling vacant positions.
 
Grande is completing her 17th year in education. Her career began as a life skills teacher in North Lauderdale, Florida. She also served as an exceptional student education specialist in Florida before coming to CSISD in 2012 as a special education teacher at South Knoll Elementary. She was promoted to assistant principal at Spring Creek Elementary in 2016 and named principal at Pebble Creek Elementary in 2018.
 
Grande earned her Bachelor of Education in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas A&M University and her Master of Education in Administration and Leadership from Sam Houston State University. 
 
“Special education is what I studied in college and what I did as a teacher, so it really is at the root of my heart,” said Grande. “I’m excited to serve the district in this position where I can serve and support all of our special education students and teachers.”
 
Lester joins CSISD from Willis ISD with more than 25 years of experience in transportation. Over the years she has served as a driver, administrative assistant, special needs coordinator and student management coordinator. She has specialized experience in the various aspects of transportation including route coordination, communication, budgeting and staffing.
 
“It’s always been a passion of mine to provide a safe, positive environment on school buses for all students to prepare them for a successful day of learning, then get them home safely to their families,” said Lester. “I’m excited to continue that work in College Station ISD.”
 

Caden Jones of the Destination Bryan tourism office visits with WTAW's Bill Oliver about May 2024 events that includes First Friday and the inaugural Big Barn Dance music festival.