The Brownwood City Council voted final approval on Tuesday to establish a speed zone of 20 mph around the Brownwood High School.
An ordinance which was requested by Brownwood ISD will establish a school speed zone along streets adjacent to the high school; however will not be in place for about two weeks, after it has been publicized for and signs are posted around the zone.
Citizens will then be required to observe the 20 mph speed zone and will be prohibited from talking on cell phones while driving in this zone.
Officials said that although there has been minimum conflict between vehicles and pedestrians at this campus, there exists a large number of youth drivers with limited experience. The traffic volume is typically the greatest at the start and end of the class days.
The passage of State Law prohibiting use of cell phones in school zones requires the posting of the signage and markings.
In other matters on Tuesday’s city council agenda:
*Council approved a resolution to abandon and accept a sewer easement for relocation of sewer line at 2406 Coggin Avenue and abandon that portion of an existing easement recorded in Vol. 357, Page 404 through said property. The property is being redeveloped as a veterinary clinic by Jeffrey and Whitney Windham. The tract is a 2.802 ac property which is the former site of the old hospital. Existing sewer lines pass through the property and will be rerouted along the perimeter via 12th Street to and along Coggin Avenue. The new sewer line will be placed in the new easement behind the curb. The Windams will be responsible for all costs incurred by the City for relocating the sewer line.
*Council approved ordinances on first reading adopting the fiscal year 2011-2012 budget and separately ratified the 1.5% property tax increase reflected in the FY2011/2012 budget (based on effective tax rate).
The FY 2011-2012 proposed and now to be adopted budget was distributed on July 15, 2011. Council held a workshop on July 19th and a public hearing was held on August 23rd to receive input from the public.
The proposed budget is $29,935,811, which is an increase of 1.07% from the prior year. This budget is available on the City of Brownwood’s website, in the City Secretary’s office and at the Brownwood Public Library. A copy of the detailed budget is available upon request and is also available at these previously mentioned locations.
*Council approved a motion that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of $0.7452 per $100 evaluation, which is effectively a 1.5% increase in the tax rate and took a recorded vote on the matter.
Council voted on August 23rd to place a proposal to adopt a proposed tax rate of $0.7452 per $100 valuation on the agenda of the September 20th and September 27th meetings as action items.
This tax rate exceeds the effective rate of $0.7342 per $100 valuation by 1.5%. This increase was posted as a public notice in the paper and on the City of Brownwood’s website as required by state tax code. Council held public hearings on the proposed tax rate on September 6th and September 13th. State law also requires wording in the ordinance that this tax rate will raise more taxes for maintenance and operations than the prior year and the effect of that increase on a $100,000 home.
*Council approved on first reading the ordinance setting charges, fees, rates and deposits for customers on the Brownwood water, sewer and sanitation system for fiscal year 2011-2012. There are no changes being proposed to the rate ordinance for the current year.
*Council approved on first reading an ordinance setting charges for fees, rentals, licenses and permits for the City of Brownwood FY 2011-2012.
*City Manager Bobby Rountree reported that the overall usage of water for Brownwood was reduced by 2 million gallons since the implementation of Stage 3 of the Drought Contingency Plan. Overall the Brown County Water Improvement District is reporting a reduction of 20% total water usage by all entities.
