Monday morning, the Brown County Commissioners Court approved a resolution for the DWI Court Grant. By approving this resolution, the court has enabled the county to reapply for the grant obtained in 2008 that was funded by a matching grant which funds intensive court supervision of Multiple DWI offenders.
The grant currently provides enough money to fund the program for about 7-9 people; however, if the grant is awarded to Brown County again, it will enable the county to have up to 20 participants in the program. This year will be different in that the grant is not on a matching basis but will be entirely funded by the State of Texas.
The application is for the amount of $82,205, which will enable the court to reach more participants with better testing and equipment. The testing available will help test even metabolized alcohol, enabling a longer history of alcohol consumption to be more closely monitored. Smart Start equipment that makes the offender take a breathalyzer test to start their car is now more developed with a cost that is approximately $70 per month versus the previous costs of about $300 per month to monitor those in the program. This Smart Start equipment also takes a picture of who is actually blowing into the apparatus.
The money for the grant is monitored by the State Attorney General and the grant states that the Office of the Attorney General will oversee that the money is spent right and that any funds not used will be returned by those awarded the grant.
Other items on the agenda were discussed:
*Richard Gist, Commissioner of Precinct 3 proposed approval of applications by Zephyr water to install private lines on both CR 291 and CR 294, which is an extension of the main line extending service to homes along these county roads. Both applications were approved.
*County Judge Ray West presented a proclamation, which was approved, declaring April 27, 2010 as Conservation Day in honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Natural Resources Conservation Service in the State of Texas. It was explained by Ricky Marx and Terry Bing, the District Conservationist, that “NRCS since 1935 (originally the Soil Conservation Service) has provided leadership in a partnership effort to help America’s private land owners and managers conserve their soil, water and other natural resources. The NRCS employees provide technical assistance based on sound science and suited to a customer’s specific needs. They also provide financial assistance for many conservation activities.”
*County Attorney Shane Britton presented consideration of closing and abandoning a portion of CR 540 that is often abused by the public for littering and also “bad activities”. This road used to continue across what is now Lake Brownwood before the lake was built. Now it dead end at the water’s edge with no warning and is also a hazard to the public.
It was noted that Bill Gordon and his wife own about half of the lots that border this CR. Gordon has been not only been cleaning up and maintaining this part of the road, but also putting his own base on the road to maintain it better for the residents. The court reviewed a 1942 plat, considered a Brokers Price Opinion of $1000 and the fact that Mr. Gordon had been maintaining the road for about 8 years as good consideration for purchase of the closed and abandoned portion of the land if it were to be deeded to him. Mr. Gordon’s family has had verbal approval for over 27 years to have this area gated off to the public. After a brief discussion the court noted that this was a positive thing to have the land as private property, relieving the county of any responsibility related to it in upkeep, etc. This item was approved.
