Brazos County Commissioners Approve Significant Funding Increase for New Medical Examiner’s Office

Brazos County Commissioners Approve Costly New Medical Examiner’s Office

Brazos County is getting ready for some substantial changes with the recent approval of an amended contract that bumps up the construction cost of a new medical examiner’s office to nearly 34 million dollars. In the initial stages back in October 2022, the county had earmarked 24 million dollars from federal pandemic grant funds for this long-awaited project. Fast forward to December 10, 2024, and the commissioners issued their green light for an almost 10 million dollar increase!

After the meeting, officials clarified how the funding would be pieced together. The portion from the pandemic grant will now be 18.5 million dollars, and the rest, amounting to 15 million dollars, will roll out from the county’s general fund. The newly planned one-story building will stretch over 22,000 square feet and has the flexibility for future expansion as needed.

Groundbreaking Ceremony on the Horizon

Exciting news! The groundbreaking ceremony is set for next Tuesday, December 17. The chosen site for this new facility rests on a previously wooded area in Bryan, perfectly nestled between St. Joseph’s Hospital and Briarcrest. After clearing the land, this ambitious project is estimated to take around 15 months to complete!

Bryan’s New Animal Center Takes Shape

In other community news, the Bryan city council has taken up a heartwarming mission to improve animal services by approving the construction of a new animal center! This upgrade is expected to cost over 7 million dollars and comes as a result of a lengthy discussion that highlighted various needs for the Bryan Animal Center (BAC).

Feasibility Study Findings

During the council meeting on December 10, Eric Zaragoza, the city department head overseeing the project, shared pivotal findings from a recent feasibility study. The study revealed key points such as:

  • More animal habitats are urgently needed.
  • Existing spaces are regularly used for multiple purposes which hamper their primary functions.
  • Many programs currently lack designated spaces.
  • Access to habitats for the public and shared air circulation raises health concerns.
  • Improved accessibility is a must.

With all seven council members supporting this exciting venture, they have agreed to build the new center on city-owned property located on Martin Luther King Jr. Street alongside the municipal services center. However, it’s worth noting that not all residents are on board; some neighbors have voiced their concerns.

A Bright Future for Animals

Construction is expected to kick off around October 2025, and here’s why this project matters. The BAC welcomes around 9,000 visitors each year and boasts a vast pool of volunteers. Last year alone saw about 3,000 volunteer applications that translated into over 31,000 hours of service. During the 2024 fiscal year, the center took in 1,361 animals and successfully returned 667 pets to their loving owners!

Tragic Collision in Northern Brazos County

FM 2223 crossed the double yellow line and collided with an oncoming dually pickup. Unfortunately, this incident resulted in the death of the southbound driver, a 21-year-old from Lucedale, Mississippi, while the other driver sustained serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital.

Brazos County District Court Delivers Justice

Finally, justice was swiftly served as a Brazos County jury took only 30 minutes to convict a Bryan man, 53-year-old Dana Pettigrew, on multiple sex crimes against children. After hearing about the harrowing testimony from the victims, the jury sentenced him to a combined 65 years in prison for his heinous offenses, which will be served concurrently.

While these recent developments in Brazos County range from hopeful infrastructure growth to tragic loss and serious crime, the community’s resilience shines through as they strive for improvement and justice.


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