Last week, Brown County commissioners suspended a burn ban that had been in place for six months, and with a little rain and the winds dying down a bit, a burn ban was not re-established in Monday morning’s court as many expected.
Commissioner’s all agreed that it is still dangerous to burn; however, personal and agricultural burns are still necessary within the county according to Commissioner Steve Adams with agreement from Commissioners Gist, Traweek and Kelton.
County Judge Ray West stated that until last week’s rain, the Keetch Byram Drought index was higher.
“It’s probably as a result of last week’s rain because the index we had at our last meeting was a little dryer than this, although I think the winds from last week probably evaporated the inch and a half of rain,” stated West.
“I think it is fairly dangerous, but I hate to continue to regulate the folks of the county. If the winds were going to be 40mph, there would be no question about it, I think we would implement a burn ban,” stated Adams. “But, it looks like the winds are going to be below 20(mph) all week.”
Commissioners agreed to reagenda the consideration of a burn ban for the Monday, May 16th commissioners’ court.
In other matters on the agenda:
*Brown County Sheriff’s Office reported on employee changes. Cruzetta Sepulveda is being promoted to Sergeant and Nathan Donald will replace her as a jailer.
*Tree trimming and landscaping bids for the Brown County Courthouse were discussed and awarded. A bid from Trees Forever Nursery was approved which will include replacing a row of boxwood shrubs with a more hardy shrubbery and sodding an 1800 sq. ft area of grass for $1725. Tree trimming to include pecan trees and raising the pine tree canopy to 25 feet will help the newly sodded grass that will be planted to grow and have the sunshine it needs to thrive. There were two bids received for the tree trimming which were $1350 and $1786. Proscape Lawn Care was awarded the bid of $1350.
*Commissioners approved revisions to the county retirement plan, which are not benefit changes, only cost increases from 6.57% to 6.91%. County Treasurer Ann Krpoun stated that these changes are a result of the state of the economy.
*Approval was given by commissioners for expenditures of the 2009 Homeland Security Grant funds. An order has been placed by Brown County Emergency Management for radio equipment for agencies within the county. 28 radios have been ordered for agencies including Brown County Sheriff’s Office, Brownwood Police Department, Early Police Department, and Bangs Police Department to help update equipment to digital and narrow band as the grant requires and as the state will soon require for interoperability nationwide. The total amount for the radios is $54,815.68. The county will pay for the half down requirement of the order, which is an expenditure of $27,407.84 that will be reimbursed upon the arrival of the order. According to Brown County Emergency Management Coordinator Brent Bush, $75,725.02 remains of the 2009 grant money and $67,992.46 is still available from the 2010 grant money, which will leave a balance of more than $87,000 of grant money after the radio equipment is purchased.
*Commissioners approved a proclamation declaring the month of May as National Military Appreciation Month in Brown County. Gold Star families were presented with framed pictures of their fallen sons.
