Brownwood City Council gave approval at Tuesday’s meeting for several purchases and city projects to be funded from buy-in funds recently received from the Brown County Water Improvement District (BCWID) of $822, 087 during Tuesday’s council meeting.
Council members designated the funds as special purpose funds and approved a budget for projects to be paid from these funds.
According to a council briefing sheet, BCWID borrowed over $20 million from the Texas Water Development Board in 2005 to refurbish their water treatment plant. Their treated water customers (Brownwood, Brookesmith and Bangs) have been paying their pro-rata share of the bond payments to the BCWID ever since. One of the stipulations in the bond was that any new treated water customers for the BCWID had to “buy-in” to the costs of the new water treatment facility by paying a lump-sum amount based on a share of the bond payments already made. This “buy-in” would then be reimbursed to the existing treated water customers.
August 28, 2014, the City of Early and the Zephyr Water Supply Corporation officially became treated water customers for the BCWID. Their “buy-in” amount was $1,153,935. The City of Brownwood was entitled to receive 71.24% of this and on October 29, 2014, the city received $822,087 from BCWID.The funds were then designated as special purpose funds to be used for special projects and a budget was established for each project. The amounts may be adjusted as the projects progress, according to City Manager Bobby Rountree. Most of the recommendations are projects that would not be funded through the annual budget process. They are as follows:
- Purchase of the warehouse at 710 E. Lee Street $100,000
- Construction of a skateboard park $100,000
- Holman Park upgrades $100,000
- Willis Creek Channelization Study $200,000
- Fire truck capital lease payments $112,000
- Soccer Complex contingency funds $75,000
- Electricity for the Pecan Station $15,000
- Demolition projects $50,000
- Security fencing around Police Department Parking $30,000
- Contingency $40,087
Descriptions of the projects:
- 710 E. Lee Street warehouse – purchase approved by the council.
- Skateboard park to be constructed at Mays Park.
- Holman Park Upgrades
- Willis Creek Channelization Study – Participation approved by the council.
- Fire truck – approved by council. This funds three quarterly payments on the capital lease. Future payments would be included in future budgets.
- Soccer Complex Contingency funds – although the project is currently within budget, a contingency of $75,000 will be helpful.
- Electricity for the USDA Pecan Station – funds will be used to install electricity to a pump station for the USDA Pecan Station, eliminating the purchase of water from the BCWID.
- Demolition of substandard structures – additional funds for demolitions.
- Fencing for Police Station – security fencing will be constructed around employee and fleet parking to add additional protection for city and employee vehicles.
- Contingency – this would be used to fund any shortfalls in the above projects. If projects come in under budget, those surpluses would be moved into the Contingency and re-allocated to existing projects as needed.
In other matters on Tuesday’s agenda:
*Council members approved an ordinance on second and third/final readings changing the zoning classification for 2700 Brady Avenue, being Lots 1-3, Block 11, of the Hillcrest Addition from CN Neighborhood Commercial District to C1 Local Business District.
*Council approved an ordinance on second and third/final readings approving the fiscal year 2013/2014 budget amendments.
*Council approved cancelling the second regularly scheduled city council meeting in December – December 23, 2014.
