CityofBrownwoodlogo_smallDuring Tuesday morning’s City Council meeting, advertising for bids for the Camp Bowie Sports Complex was unanimously approved.  The complex was discussed briefly.  It was noted that the plans and specifications have not changed since the last discussed.  The cost of the complex is estimated at $5.4 million dollars.    Bids will be opened on February 4 and bid will be awarded at the February 10th Council meeting.  Construction is scheduled for completion March 2011.

The Council approved of authorizing staff to advertise several city owned tracts of land for sale.  There are 24 parcels, all of which are vacant lots that were released to the city by the county and school board.  It was noted that these parcels need to be sold in order to get them back on the tax rolls and ending the city’s cost of maintaining them.

Walter Middleton reported that Texas A&M students are coming to Brownwood on Monday, January 18, to tour the city, get public input in the planning process to be reviewed for the Master Plan.  It was mentioned that the city will experience a significant cost reduction from the last time one was prepared.

Another item of business discussed and approved was re-roofing the Coliseum Annex Building.  There is a grant available for an energy efficient roof that is like the one recently installed on City Hall.  A request through SECO (State Energy Conservation Office) for $50,000 was reapplied for and $57,576 will be allocated.  Lydick-Hooks gave a bid of $90,936.56

Council approved moving the next meeting to February 10, 2010 due to City Manager Bobby Rountree and City Attorney Pat Chesser attending the mediation in Austin of the Whitley vs. the City of Brownwood, Virgil Cowin and Vincent Ariaz lawsuit.

No changes were made to the current investment policy of the city which was re-adopted.

The Council also approved a one year extension of the term of the agreement for election services and lease of City property by and between the city of Brownwood and Brown County.

Martin Harris, representing Crime Stoppers, asked for approval of putting stickers with the Crime Stoppers phone number on the large waste containers throughout the city, which was approved.

The City received a letter from TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) stating that the landfill had no violations during their investigation.

The Parks Project update was given.  The Annex is 39% completed, with 90% of the sheetrock up.  The large walk-in refrigerator unit was noted to be a potential energy savings to the county.  The pool project is now 15% complete.  The National Guard was utilized to clear 25 acres of land.  858 man hours, 47 personnel, and 55 equipment hours.  On February 19, the Guard will return to complete it as a training session, which is another savings to the City.  Bids to crush the concrete which is on site are being accepted.  It is estimated that there are 8000 cubic yards existing and about 4000 cubic yards of it will be used for the entrance and road base material.  Although the weather has not been fully cooperative, overall the Council is very pleased with the Parks projects.  The scheduled opening completion of the Aquatic Center is June 2010 and the sports complex will be in 2011.

The Council then went into Executive Session to discuss Personnel Retirement Incentive.