Brown County Commissioners discussed the need to look into issuance of tax notes for infrastructure improvements during Monday’s meeting of the court. The court discussed beginning the process of issuance of certificates of obligation for road and building repairs.
According to Commissioner Precinct 2 Joel Kelton, many paved roads across the county are deteriorating and in need of repair.
“The infrastructure of our county roads and some of our buildings are just like the museum, in need of repair,” said Kelton. “Because of a lack of funds, this would be dedicated just for infrastructure and repairs so that we can continue to have these roads throughout the county.”
Kelton explained that the county does a good job in being able to repair the gravel roads but that the paved roads are needing much more expensive repairs, and funds need to be raised to cover the expense.
County Auditor Nina Cox stated that the county had been in touch with the county’s financial representative First Southwest to establish the cost of borrowing $8 million in certificates of obligation for the needed repairs. According to Cox, these certificates of obligation (COs) would allow the debt to be spread over a longer period of time than the usual bank note and allows local banks to participate in the lending process too. These COs would be paid off in 2020, which is coincidentally the same year the note for the Law Enforcement Center will be paid in full. Debt service costs are estimated at $9 million over the 8 year period.The cost of the tax notes would increase property taxes approximately $0.06/$100 or $30 per year for a $50,000 home according to Cox and Brown County Appraisal District Chief Appraiser Brett McKibben.
County Judge Ray West reminded those in attendance of the court that this was not an action item, only discussion and that the matter would have to include a public presentation by the county’s financial representative First Southwest and at least one public hearing (to allow for public input) before the issuance of tax notes could be approved.
In other matters on Monday’s Brown County Commissioner’s Court agenda:
*Developers received approval during Monday’s Brown County Commissioners court of a plat that serves as the beginning phases of opening a Dollar General at Lake Brownwood. County Surveyor Don King and Phil Cornett of John Cowan & Associations presented a final plat for the Brownwood DPT VII, LLC Addition and received the approval after all county requirements were met. According to Cornett, construction will begin “as soon as a building permit is issued by the county.”
Dollar General has three other locations in Brown County at this time. These are located at 2000 U.S. 377S and 315 E Commerce Street in Brownwood, along with another store at 130 E Hall Street in Bangs.
*Commissioners approved a lease of the Brown County Juvenile Justice Center to G4S Youth Services. According to Judge West, several items needed to be corrected in the lease that was initially approved on March 4th. West stated that the reference to the county’s $50,000 remodel of their portion of the building had to be deleted from the lease, the amount of the property to be occupied by Brown County needed to be revised, including an exercise yard and Sally port area.
*A burn ban was not implemented this week.
*Commissioner Precinct 4 Larry Traweek received approval for the purchase of two 2014 Caterpillar dump trucks from Warren Caterpillar. The trucks will be purchased through an NJPA national bid program at a cost of $123,500 each, or $247,000 total, and financed through the county’s depository bank TexasBank. Traweek stated the purchase will be financed with an interest rate of approximately 2.3% annually.
*Brown County Jail administrator Becky Caffey received approval of two employee changes. These include Paula Netherton replacing Jose Contreras as a jailer and Michael Holder replacing Cliff Karnes as the jail’s medical officers. Both positions will be at the same salary/hourly rate as the previous employee, resulting in no increase in cost to the county according to Caffey.
*Approval was granted for a resolution and agreement between Brown County and the Brown County Appraisal District. According to Chief Appraiser Brett McKibben, the agreement is a matter of housekeeping and putting agreements in writing that were previously followed by the two entities. McKibben stated that this action provides transparency regarding tax collection and payment between the two entities.
*Commissioner Precinct 1 Gary Worley received approval for the purchase of a 1994 Peterbuilt semi truck and two trailers which will be used for hauling heavy equipment. According to Worley the purchase of the truck will replace a 1978 model International truck that was purchased from the state and has very high mileage. The Peterbuilt is being purchased from Mark Calloway of Bangs for $12,000. The old truck will be sold at auction at a later time. The two trailers will be purchased from Kaufman trailers of Lexington, North Carolina and include a pintle trailer for $13,112.40 and a removable gooseneck trailer for $36,886.60. The total cost of the two trailers, $49,999 will be financed through TexasBank at approximately 2.3% APR.
*District Judge Stephen Ellis received approval from the court for an indigent defense resolution. The resolution is a step in the process of applying for grant monies to help with this expense and to implement a digital filing system for court records and communications, both software and equipment needed, in hopes of streamlining the justice process and saving the county incarceration expenses. According to Ellis, the grant will help offer more fairness to those accused of crimes that need adequate defense, he stated, “The ultimate horror story is someone being wrongly convicted of crimes. It is a cost savings but also primarily justice.”
