An ordinance was approved by Brownwood City Council on first and final reading on Tuesday which temporarily authorizes one new fire fighter position in the fire department.
Due to the recent loss of Lt. Shannon Stone, the department is short one person. Civil Service regulations require promotional testing for all positions except at the entry level firefighter position. After testing is complete and the Lieutenant position is filled, a test for a needed driver’s position will be given, and a fire fighter will be promoted to the driver’s position. This process may take several months due to the 30 day posting requirement for each of the exams.
Today’s council action temporarily adds one entry level position in the fire department, increasing the number of firefighters from 15 to 16. Once promotions are completed and positions filled, council will take action to eliminate the temporary position. During this process, the total number of full-time employees will remain the same even though an additional position had been temporarily authorized in the department.
City Manager Bobby Rountree explained that the process of filling and promoting within the department may take as long as 60-90 days.
In other matters on Tuesday’s city council agenda:
*Council approved acceptance of a donation of historical Santa Fe cast iron fencing and authorized the City Manager to sign a donation agreement.
The historical Santa Fe cast iron fencing was installed in 1913 around the Gulf Colorado and Santa Fee Railroad Round House area. The Round House is gone, but the fencing remains along the Cottage Street area northeast of Vine Street. The fencing will be used to secure the area where the 7 ½ gauge railroad will be placed at the Lehnis Transportation Museum. Approximately 1200 feet of the fencing will be used in the project.
“We will need 1000 feet of the fencing around the new mini train,” stated Rountree. “We think it will add to the train museum.”
*Billy Murphey of the Brown County Veterans Office presented council with the annual report.
*Sunni Holloway Modawell, Tourism manager for the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce presented the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau report. Highlights of the report were:
- 16 events recently promoted by the CVB
- 2 of these events were State softball tournaments which filled local hotels to capacity
- 8 ads placed with major publications promoting local tourism
- Hotel occupancy is up for the first quarter of 2011 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2010 by 7.2%
- New publications soon to come out are the general visitors guide, outdoor recreation guide, and community guide/membership directory
*Budgetary Reports and Investment reports were given by Finance Director Walter Middleton. Revenue and expenses are generally on track with the budget with the exception of the Brownwood Regional Airport, which due to the extra military activities has increased revenues and expenses of the airport. Investments are still underperforming due to historical low interest rates of these investments.
*City Manager Bobby Rountree gave reports which included that of the Retail Coach. According to Rountree, the coach has given preliminary reports and a leakage analysis; however final numbers are not complete. It is hoped that by the second week of August, a more comprehensive report will be available.
The Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon in October will feature the Retail Coach and their findings in Brownwood.
