Brown County Commissioners approved several requests of the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, from new employee matters to purchase of equipment and vehicles at Tuesday morning’s meeting.
Brown County Sheriff’s Captain Tony Aaron came before the court to ask for approval of several items, the first of which was the purchase of two new vehicles. Two Dodge Durangos will be purchased from Dallas Dodge for a total of $49,800. This purchase had been approved during the budgeting process for the year at an amount of $58,000 according to Aaron who explained that the remaining funds will be used to equip the vehicles for use with the Criminal Investigation Department. The vehicles will be ordered with a delivery in approximately three months due to the vehicles being a special police package that is not in stock at the dealership but special ordered from the manufacturer. Aaron stated that locally, these vehicles cost approximately $36,000 each.
BCSO also received approval for the purchase of miscellaneous items including 2 tasers ($1887 which will be taken out of the Chapter 59 seizure funds); 2 duty vests ($1100, of which $550 will come from Federal Bullet Proof Vest Grant Funds and $550 from Chapter 59 funds); 6 tactical vests ($14639, of which $8000 will also come from this same federal grant and the remainder from Chapter 59 funds); 6 tactical helmets ($1976, to be taken from the donations fund); a 40mm gas gun ($886, from the donation fund); and a long-range Leopold scope and mounts for a .308 sniper rifle ($1516, from the Chapter 59 funds). These items are being purchased through GT’s, a Texas based supplier that can come to Brownwood to make custom measurements for the vest.
Aaron explained the donation fund to commissioners stating that there is a ranch south of the county where a case was investigated and resulted in a great help to the ranch.
“Unbeknownst to us, the ranch was owned by the Steve and Mary Burch Foundation, which was a large nonprofit foundation,” said Aaron. “From that point on, at the end of the year, they have been sending us donations. The first year was $15000 and the last two years they sent $10,000.”
Aaron explained that the funds were sent with the request that the money be used to purchase equipment or things that would help deputies.
Adding a new K9 to the BCSO insurance and taking care of micro-chipping and care expenses was also approved by commissioners in order to prepare the county’s next generation of drug dog. According to Aaron, BCSO Investigator James Stroope owns and handles the current K9 Izzy, who is now 9 years-old and is getting close to retirement. Stroope also owns a younger male, which is approximately 2 to 3 years-old, that has also been trained as a drug dog and can now be added to help replace Izzy. Both dogs are drug trained and are not bite or chase type police dogs, which limits liability for BCSO and Brown County.
Employee changes were another matter addressed by BCSO at the meeting. According to Aaron, Charles Marr has been hired at beginning pay and will replace Deputy Jerrod Jackson.
In other matters on Tuesday’s agenda:
*Commissioners decided to go another week without a burn ban. According to Commissioner Richard Gist, Pct. 3 stated that he has not received any pressure to reinstate a ban.
“I haven’t had any pressure about putting it on, I was a little concerned with the 40 mph gusts wind,” said Gist. “I think we can go another week with use of extreme caution (when burning).”
*Keith Allen, with the county’s maintenance department received approval to purchase new lighting for the extension office at a cost of $1910. According to Allen, the current light fixtures are obsolete and have ballasts that are no longer being manufactured. The new lighting will result in more efficiency, with fewer lights, lower electric cost and brighter lighting within the office. The cost of the lighting will be paid $1000 through the annex fund and $910 from the general maintenance fund.
Allen also gave a report regarding a warning notice that the county received at the old juvenile justice center due to high weeds and grasses being in violation of city code. The weeds and grass must be cut by November 14th or the county could face a penalty. Commissioners Traweek (Pct. 4) and Clark (Pct. 1) volunteered to have employees from their precincts work to mow and resolve the problem for the county.
