Written by Amanda Coers – The Brownwood City Council met at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 26th, inside City Hall to discuss items posted on the agenda. 

 

 

The council reviewed a proposed traffic plan for Vincent Street in front of East Elementary. Tim Airheart, Assistant City Manager of Public Works, presented updated maps to the council. The proposed traffic plans can be viewed on the city’s website.

Mayor Stephen Haynes noted some traffic control may be needed to assist parents during the first few weeks of school as they navigate the new drop off system. Tim Airheart shared he had received positive comments from the public regarding the much needed changes. 

A public information session will be held today from 4 to 6 p.m. at East Elementary. 

Council considered on an ordinance on first reading to change the Civil Service Pay Ordinance to define the pay classification of licensed police officers enacting a Police Cadet classification, a Probationary Police Officer classification, and adjusting the sign on bonus pay in efforts to attract certified police officers with more than one year of experience. The proposed pay ordinance was developed in partnership with the Brownwood Municipal Police Association. 

“We’ve been at a shortage of police officers for a number of years,” City Manager Emily Crawford told the council. “There are a couple of ways we can recruit officers. Right now we do not have a pay classification in our ordinance for cadets. What we would like to do is open up the test process to people who are not licensed police officers, and if they pass we can send them as a cadet to police academy as a city employee. When they complete the academy they will return to serve as Brownwood police officers.”

Cadets will need to agree to an employment contract with the City of Brownwood. 

The Police Officer Hiring Incentive Pay program would be changed to reflect incentives based on applicant experience. For certified police officers with more than one year of experience, the incentive pay will go up from $5,000 to $7,000 in order to better compete with incentive programs offered by other cities. For probationary police officers with less than one year of experience, the incentive will go down from $5,000 to $2,500. For police cadets, the incentive will be $2,500 payable at the time they complete academy training and pass the State licensing exam. The council approved the ordinance change. 

Council considered an ordinance approving revisions to the Drought Contingency Plan. Henry Wied with the Utility Department explained TCEQ requires all water utilities to update water conservation contingency plans every five years. The revised plan must be approved and adopted by June 30, 2018. A major change in the plan includes wording that will allow the city council flexibility to encourage water conservation through the use of temporary rate increases during a drought, if deemed necessary. The council approved the revisions to the Drought Contingency Plan. 

As part of the established Drought Contingency Plan, the city will work to reduce their water use by five percent during a stage one (mild) drought notification. The city will increase efforts to find and repair any leaks in systems in a more immediate manner, as well as limit watering of parks to two days a week during nighttime hours, and speaking with commercial entities in the city regarding water usage. If needed, splash pad use hours may be restricted from 2 to 5 p.m. should drought conditions elevate.

Citizens are also encouraged to voluntarily reduce their water usage during the mild drought conditions. 

Council awarded a bid for roofing the Service Center with funds to be taken from the 2016 Certificate of Obligation (CO). The roof on the main warehouse at the City Service Center is reportedly in poor condition and has been patched several times over the past years. The roof has never been replaced since the building’s construction. The warehouse stores various tools, parts, chemicals and equipment that are used by all city departments. Three sealed bids were received for the reroofing of the warehouse. Bidders included Barr Roofing Company of Abilene at $72,132, Watson Roofing of Brownwood at $55,556.17, and Lydic-Hooks Roofing of Brownwood at $40,962.

The council agreed to award the bid for the project to Lydic-Hooks Roofing.

Mayor Haynes asked the council to consider contacting all city departments to inquire about any potential unused maintenance funds to be utilized for the reroofing project.

“I like the bid, I like the contractor, I like the project, my only concern is that funding aspect,” Mayor Haynes said, explaining he would prefer to see the city pay for the project from budgeted funds instead of the CO.

The council agreed, and city staff will confer with departments to assess if any maintenance fund money may be available for the project. If no funds are available, the project will be funded from the CO.

Also listed on the agenda:

  • The council conducted a first and second public hearing regarding a voluntary annexation request from Micah Development, LLC to annex approximately 109.67 acres into the city limits of Brownwood. The city is working to complete the service plan related to the annexation. No members of the community voiced their concerns regarding the annexation.
  • The council approved authorizing the mayor to sign an agreement with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for the Senior Citizen Program.
  • Council was asked to consider authorizing hot mix paving on the streets around Coggin Park and East Elementary. David Lundy, City Engineer, explained the request, informing the council of the plan to add a one-inch hot mix overlay before new parking striping is added to those areas. Estimated cost is $155,500. Lundy requested the council approve the solicitation of bids for the project. The council approved.
  • Council approved the purchase of a generator for the 911 system utilizing a $20,000 grant from the West Central Texas Council of Governments. Total cost for the generator is $22,050. The council approved the purchase.
  • The council convened to executive session to confirm the appointment of Ray Tipton as the new Executive Director of the Brownwood Municipal Development District. “Ray, we’re very excited about the opportunity to work with you,” Mayor Haynes said after the council approved the appointment.