It was a yes on two separate memorandums of understandings (MOU) between the county and the city of Brownwood as Brown County commissioners met Tuesday in a post Labor Day session.
The first MOU set into motion an agreement with the city regarding fire investigations. The county does not have a fire investigator and in the past has relied on Brownwood’s fire marshal Buddy Preston for fire investigation services. Preston had been offering his services free of charge. According to the agreement, the county will pay $100 dollars for the first hour of service in an investigation and $50 for each additional hour. Brown County Sheriff Captain Tony Aaron, who presented the agenda item, told commissioners that last year the county responded to approximately 50 fires, five of which required extensive fire investigations at what would have been an estimated cost to the county of approximately $5000.
In a second MOU the county and city agreed to the dispersal of the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance grant funds. In total the grant was $12,193, of which the county will receive $4,389. Commissioners approved the Sheriff’s department request to purchase three digital portable radios along with batteries, battery chargers, radio holsters and the programming cost.
In other business, commissioners approved a request from county Tax Assessor Collector Cheryl Nelson to purchase 5 laptop computers, at a total cost of $1,650 which will allow her office to accept debit and credit cards. The credit card processing company, which has not been chosen, will provide at no charge the credit and debit card terminals which will interface with the new laptops. Any convenience fee the company charges will be passed along to the customer during the transaction.
Commissioners approved a request from Michael Sweetman, representing the Awakening America Alliance, to conduct a rally on the courthouse grounds. The event will be held this Saturday, September 11th, from 12:00 to 1pm. According to material provided by Sweetman the purpose of the event is to:
– Provide a broad umbrella under which the body of Christ in America can unite together in seeking a contemporary spiritual awakening.
– Issue a wake-up call for revival in the church and a Christ awakening in the nation.
– Collaborate together in prayer, fasting, and God inspired action to impact the nation’s non-Christian population.
– Challenge today’s church in welcoming and discipling new generations of American youth.
Two tax resale deeds were accepted by commissioners. The first was by Steve Brindle, for lot 93, Oak Ridge Estates subdivision, phase 1 for the bid amount of $7,392, the amount due was $7,307.25. The other was by Daniel Vasquez for lots 19, 20 and 21 Block 54 Brownwood Heights Addition. The bid amount was $3,832, the amount due was $3,789.31.
