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Administration
City Manager form of Government
The City of Brenham is a home-rule city governed by the City's Charter. The charter provides for a Council-Manager form of government.
The City Manager is responsible to the Council for supervising the day-to-day operations of all city departments. In addition to supervising department heads, the City Manager is responsible for the annual budget, researching and making recommendations to Council, meeting with citizens to understand their needs, and providing executive leadership. Learn more about Brenham's form of government.
City Manager
Carolyn D. Miller, CPA
979-337-7590
Carolyn's Biography
She joined the City in May 2005 and was promoted to Director of Finance shortly thereafter. In June of 2009, she became the CFO and was named Assistant City Manager in April 2015. Her professional career began in the private sector, and for over 25 years Carolyn enjoyed a successful career including the big four public accounting firm of KPMG, healthcare management positions with The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, and as corporate controller for Kolkhorst Petroleum.
In 1980, Carolyn graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Accounting, and she is a certified public accountant. Community service includes past Lone Star Girl Scout Council troop leader, HOSTS (Help One Student to Succeed) mentor, St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran confirmation guide, and church choir member. From August 2011 until April 2015, Carolyn served on the Blinn College Board of Trustees and was chair of the Audit and Budget Committee and also served on the Long Range Planning Committee.
Carolyn and her husband Stephen, who is the President of Brenham Wholesale, have two children. Their daughter Allison Trochta, her husband Brad, and their new daughter Caroline live in College Station. They are both CPAs and graduates of Texas State University. Their son Austin graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with highest honors, University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio, and is an Internal Medicine resident at Dell Seton Medical Center in Austin.
Although Carolyn's career in government began fourteen years ago, she believes that her "performance-driven" management style coupled with strong operational and financial expertise provides the foundation for upholding the public trust in government.
Leadership Team
General Manager of Public Utilities
William Bissette Debbie Gaffey
979-337-7510
Areas of Responsibility
Debbie's Biography
Debbie joined the City of Brenham from the City of Seabrook in February 2007 as the Budget Manager in the Finance Department with responsibility for the annual operating budget, five-year capital plans, financial reporting, and analysis. From October 2012 to February 2018, she served as the Utilities Compliance Manager. Prior to her municipal experience, Debbie worked over 15 years at VALIC with various positions in finance, marketing and sales.
Debbie is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. She has been a certified public accountant since 1986. She also has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the College of Charleston.
Debbie and her husband, Mike, reside on a horse farm in Austin County. Debbie is active in hunter/jumper competitions. They have two sons who reside in Houston. Their oldest son, Kevin, is a graduate of Texas State University and works at the City of Seabrook. Their son Joe is a graduate of Texas A&M University and manages projects for Vaughn Construction.
City Secretary
Jeana Bellinger
979-337-7567
Areas of Responsibility
- City Elections
- Code of Ordinances
- City Council Agendas & Minutes
- Board & Committees
- Public Information
- Pet Adoption Center
- Animal Control
Jeana's Biography
Jeana Bellinger has been with the City of Brenham since November 2006 and was appointed City Secretary by the City Council on October 16, 2008. Prior to her appointment as City Secretary, she was the Administrative Assistant to the City Manager.
In 2010 Jeana obtained her Bachelor's degree in business management from LeTourneau University and received her Texas Registered Municipal Clerk (TRMC) certification through the University of North Texas. In 2016 she received her Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) certification through the International Institute of Municipal Clerks.
She is an active member of the Texas Municipal Clerks Association (TMCA) having served on the Audit Committee, the Scholarship Committee, and the Clerk of the Year Committee. Jeana is also an active member of the Capital Chapter of Municipal Clerks and is currently serving her third term as the Chapter President. Jeana was selected Capital Chapter Clerk of the Year in both 2015 and 2016.
Jeana and her husband, Eric, are empty-nesters residing in Hempstead who enjoy spending time with their four grandchildren.
Fire Chief
Mark Donovan
Fire
979-337-7300
Areas of Responsibility
Staff Biography
Rhea Cooper began his career with the Lubbock Fire Department (LFD), promoted up through the ranks, and retired from the LFD as Fire Chief, with over 31 years of service. Rhea is certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection as a Master Firefighter and as a Fire Instructor III Master. He has served on the Firefighter Advisory Committee for the Texas Fire Commission and as a Fire Commissioner. Rhea received his Bachelor of Science degree from Wayland Baptist University. He achieved the designation as Executive Fire Officer from the National Fire Academy and Chief Fire Officer Designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence. After retiring, he became the Assistant Chief of North Branch for the Texas A&M Forest Service. He has served as Interim Fire Chief for the City of Brenham in 2021, for the City of Boerne in 2022, and Horseshoe Bay, Texas in 2023.
Interim Police Chief
Lloyd Powell
Police
979-337-7337
Areas of Responsibility
Lloyd's Biography
I am a native of Brenham, Texas, and a graduate of Brenham High school. I have a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice (Grambling State University) and a master’s degree in criminal justice administration ( Columbia Southern university). I am a 27-year veteran of the Brenham Police Department and hold a Master Tcole license and am a recipient of the FBI-LEEDA(Law Enforcement Executive Development) Trilogy Award. In my tenure at Brenham PD, I have worked in multiple divisions and have held the rank of Sergeant, Captain, Assistant Chief and Acting Chief.
City Attorney
Cary Bovey
Areas of Responsibility
- City Attorney
Cary's Biography
Cary has served as the City Attorney for the City of Brenham since 2005. He was raised in Brazos County, earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Texas A&M University, and received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas School of Law. After graduating from law school, Cary served as an Assistant General Counsel for the Texas Municipal League from 1990 to 1994, advising Texas cities across the State before going into private law practice. In his law practice, Cary exclusively focuses on representing Texas municipalities and their affiliated entities. Cary is certified in Municipal Law by the Texas City Attorneys Association, an affiliate of the Texas Municipal League.
Cary has served on the Charter Review Commission for the City of Round Rock, where he and his wife Becky have resided for the last 29 years. Cary has also served on the Elder Board of Hill Country Bible Church in Pflugerville (HCBCPF), Texas, 2 years as Chairman, and currently leads a Sunday morning class at HCBCPF. Cary and Becky have two adult sons and a daughter-in-law, all of whom reside in the Central Texas area. When not practicing law, Cary enjoys Aggie sports, hunting, fishing, travel and listening to live music with his wife and friends.
Cary does not have an office in the Brenham City Hall. To contact him, please call:
City Secretary
Jeana Bellinger
979-337-7567
Finance Director
Stacy Hardy
Finance
979-337-7570
Areas of Responsibility
Stacy's Biography
Stacy joined the City of Brenham in November 2006 as the Accounting Manager and was promoted to Controller in June 2013. As the Controller, she oversees all of the accounting and financial reporting areas of the City.
Stacy is a graduate of Brenham High School, Blinn College and Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting. She has been a certified public accountant since 2000. Stacy began her professional career in 1997 as an accountant in the oil and gas industry in Houston.
After 6 years of working in Houston, Stacy returned to her Washington County roots. She and her husband, Trey, have three active children who are experiencing all the benefits of growing up in this great community. Stacy's community involvement includes being a parent volunteer with many of the school and community activities in which her children are involved. She and her family are active members of Zion Lutheran Church where she has been a Sunday School teacher for over 12 years.
Human Resources and Risk Management Director
Susan Nienstedt
Human Resources
979-337-7512
Areas of Responsibility
- Human Resources
- Risk Management
Susan's Biography
Susan Nienstedt joined the City in November 1999 in the Public Utilities Department and has advanced her career at the City of Brenham to now serve as the Human Resources Director. Susan has a Master's degree in Educational Human Resource Development from Texas A&M University and is a member of the Texas Municipal Human Resource Association, as well as the Society of Human Resource Management.
Susan's focus is to attract, engage, develop, support and retain a well-qualified workforce to best serve the residents of the City of Brenham.
Public Works Director
Dane Rau
Public Works
979-337-7407
Areas of Responsibility
- Parks & Recreation
- Facility/Fleet Maintenance
- Street Department
- Mosquito & Vegetation Control
- Sanitation
Dane's Biography
Dane Rau joined the City of Brenham in September of 2002. He is proud to serve his hometown where he was raised and attended Brenham schools. Dane graduated from Brenham High School in 1996, attended Blinn College, Howard Junior College, and Texas State University where he graduated in 2000 earning his degree in Environmental Resources and minoring in Biology. Dane first began his professional career while working for the Texas Water Development Board as a Groundwater Specialist. In September of 2002, he came back to Brenham to accept the Asst. Sanitation Supervisor's role. Dane then advanced his career by serving as the Environmental Regulatory Manager and the Asst. Director of Public Utilities from 2004-2012.
In September of 2012, Dane was promoted to Public Works Director where he oversees the daily duties of six departments and 55 employees, those being Streets, Drainage, Facility/Fleet Maintenance, Parks and Recreation, and Sanitation.
Dane's community involvement includes active memberships with Immanuel Lutheran Church of Wiedeville, Keep Washington County Beautiful, , American Public Works Association, Texas Vegetation Management Association, and Texas Recreation, and Parks Society.
Dane and his wife, Melonie have three active boys, Kade (19), Brady (17), and Nate (14). Dane enjoys fishing, hunting, gardening, and just being outdoors.
Dane is proud to serve his hometown and always looks for ways to improve the quality of life in Brenham. He believes that his employees are his most important asset and that working efficiently and as a team along with taking care of the little things go a long way
Areas of Responsibility:
- PARK Central (Parks, Aquatics, Recreation)
- Blue Bell Aquatic Center
- Maintenance
- Sanitation/Recycling/Collection
- Streets
Tourism & Marketing Director
Jennifer Eckermann
Tourism & Marketing
979-337-7384
Areas of Responsibility
- Communications & Marketing
- Destination Marketing Organization (Visit Brenham Texas)
Jennifer's Biography
Bio coming soon.
Chief Financial Officer
Julie Flagg
979-337-7511
Areas of Responsibility
- Budget
- Strategic Planning
Julie's Biography
Coming soon
Economic Development Director
Teresa Rosales
979-337-7234
Areas of Responsibility
Teresa's Bio
Teresa joined the City of Brenham in January of 2023 as an Economic Development Specialist. Five months later, she was promoted to Economic and Community Development Director.
She began her career helping homeowners achieve the American dream of home ownership and transformed that into a career helping entrepreneurs attain success. That led to working closely with the City of Riverside and in 2013, she was asked to administer the City’s quality of life program called “Seizing Our Destiny”.
Teresa’s experience spans real estate finance and sales, management of a business improvement district and local government work concentrating on quality-of-life issues, economic development, utility communications and developing and executing initiatives and programs for an elected official. Teresa’s expertise in relationship-building has also led to successful collaborations on a variety of projects.
She graduated with a BA and MBA both from California Baptist University. She’s also been a Toastmaster and intends to start a group in Brenham.
Intelligent growth measured against the needs of the community are at the forefront of her economic development philosophy.
Teresa lives in Brenham with her husband DeWayne and cat Phoebe.
Development Services Director
Stephanie Doland
979-337-7269
Areas of Responsibility
Stephanie's Biography
Stephanie joined the City of Brenham in September 2018 as the Assistant Director of Development Services and joined the Leadership Team in June 2019 as Director. The Development Services team supports the Planning, Building Permits and Inspections, Engineering, Code Compliance, Health Inspections, and Airport functions of the City of Brenham.
Stephanie's passion for local government began when she served on the Mayor's Youth Council in her childhood hometown Burleson, Texas. Stephanie is a graduate of The University of Texas at San Antonio where she graduated from the Honors College with a BBA in Economics. She is also a graduate of the University of North Texas where she earned her Masters of Business Administration in Strategic Management. Stephanie is active in her involvement with the Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association and Texas City Management Association. She is a graduate of Leadership Washington County class of 2020.
Stephanie, along with her husband and daughter enjoy visiting Brenham’s many beautiful parks, remodeling projects, lake sports, and traveling.
Stephanie's focus is to deliver the highest level of customer service to property owners, developers, citizens, and business owners by helping navigate the city's development standards and processes in the most efficient manner possible.
Annual Reports
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