The City of Brownwood is facing a problem along with many other cities across the state and nation, trouble recruiting new police officers, according to Brownwood City Manager Bobby Rountree. This problem has resulted in many cities offering incentives or signing bonuses to attract additional police officer candidates.
Rountree explained that the City of Brownwood currently has six vacancies in police officer positions. Brownwood’s Police are civil servants which makes it even harder to fill, as these candidates have to pass a civil service exam in addition to completing training at police academy.
The city has attempted to fill these vacancies, offering many chances to potential officers to take the Civil Service exam on three recent occasions. Rountree explained that on August 7, 2014, there were 7 applicants registered to take the exam; however only 3 passed and one of those three resigned to move back home. On January 22, 2015, the Civil Service exam was again offered to 6 applicants; only 3 showed up with just one passing. On March 18, 2015, there were no applicants available.
Rountree stated that the city was advertising and have currently gained 2 applicants. Officials hope that the downturn in the oil and gas industry will provide additional applicants; however, no change has been noted to date, according to Rountree.Because of this shortage in qualified workforce, the City of Brownwood voted unanimously Tuesday to offer a police officer signing bonus program and contract, paying a $2500 incentive on the employee’s hire date, with an additional $2500 to be paid after the employee completes a probationary period of one year from the date of hire. The agreement includes a formula for repayment of the incentive pay should the officer not remain on the force through the two-year term. Employees will have to meet job performance requirements as well to continue their position, said Rountree.
Rountree stated that the council had researched other cities who offer such incentives. Brownwood now joins approximately 14 other similar sized Texas cities in this incentive type program, such as Hutto, Rowlett, Bastrop, Dimmit, Benbrook and New Braunfels, according to Rountree. Signing bonus amounts range from $1000 to $10,000 in other cities, some with and without restrictions, said Rountree.
For more information about law enforcement job opportunities with the City of Brownwood CLICK HERE.
In other unrelated items on Tuesday’s agenda:
*Council unanimously approved hiring Lisa Dick as the Health Department Administrator. Dick will replace Alicia Long as she is set to retire from the position on May 27, 2015. Dick has a start date of May 14, 2015 to train alongside Long before she vacates the position. Dick has been employed part time with the City of Brownwood as their High Risk Dietician at the Brownwood Senior Center.
*Council awarded a $72,104 bid to Weldon Wilson Electric for electrical work at the Camp Bowie Soccer Complex. The base bid includes constructing power feeds from the transformer to the electrical distribution building and then to each concession stand along with lighting for three fields. The base bid provides for 400 amp electrical service. An alternate bid was included in this pricing which calls for an increase in power supply to 600 amp service which can light two additional fields in the future. Funds for this project will come from the 2012 Certificates of Obligation Soccer Field Project. According to city officials, the original budget for the project was $2,200,000, of which $1,096,705 has been expended prior to this bid. City Manager Bobby Rountree explained that engineer’s estimate was originally $3.3 million but with the city staff serving as the general contractors, there will be a savings of approximately $1 million due to diligent care to go out for bids and staying on the contractors as the project has been under construction.
