Brownwood Fire Department personnel were honored by the Texas Department of Public Safety for their part in emergency response in the battle against the wildfire outbreak which occurred across the state from December 21, 2010 through October 2, 2011.
During the 2011 Wildland Fire Season, which was noted as one of the worst in our state’s history for catastrophic loss of property as well as loss of lives, 18 individuals from the Brownwood Fire Department were deployed throughout the state within the Texas Interstate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS/AHIMT) programs.
These firefighters were recognized for “their efforts beyond their normal duties” by Fire Chief Del Albright at Tuesday’s Brownwood City Council meeting. Each was presented with a 2011 State of Texas Firestorm medal and a letter from Nim Kidd, the Assistant Director Texas Department of Public Safety, Chief Texas Division of Emergency Management.
In the letter, Kidd expressed his thanks to first responders, volunteer and professional Texas firefighters and state agencies who were involved in the fighting of these wildfires which continued and expanded, destroying homes and properties for many months.
“The recipient of this medal was an integral part of a statewide response to mitigate wildland fires during one of the most devastating wildfire seasons in Texas history,” stated Kidd in the letter. “A deep, heartfelt thank you goes out to the first responders and volunteers who worked night and day to take care of their fellow Texans and help save over 35,000 homes. Even with these powerful numbers associated with the season, your personal response to this event is immeasurable. Thank you.”
Pictured above are some of the members of BFD who were honored.
In other matters on the City Council agenda Tuesday:
*Expenditures of up to $30,000 to repair the BFD’s 1997 Quint 1, combination ladder/pumper truck, were approved; taking funds from reserves to repair the truck at Metro Fire in Mansfield, Texas (one of only a few shops nationwide equipped to handle these types of repairs). Council discussed repairs of suspension, braking systems, oil leaks, driveline repairs, water leaks and damage from water leaks, as well as stressed or broken body parts which were attributed to poor design, age and wear and tear of the truck over the years. A new truck of this type is estimated to cost more than $1 million dollars, so the repair investment will allow the city to postpone a larger expense of its replacement for a period of time (thought to be approximately 3 years) according to Rountree.
*Council approved a resolution which would suspend the March 6, 2012 effective date of a requested rate change by Atmos Energy Corp., Mid-Tex Division, to allow the city time to study the request and establish reasonable rates. Brownwood is one of approximately 153 other cities serviced by Atmos Mid-Tex Division, and is a member of the Atmos Cities Steering Committee, whose legal counsel recommended that all ACSC cities adopt the resolution suspending the March 6, 2012 effective date. According to City Attorney Pat Chesser, this rate change request would equal an increase of 13.6% to residential customers.
*A resolution was passed naming staff by title instead of by individual names to execute required documents. This resolution was requested by the Council of Governments regarding the signing of Texas Community Development Block Grant Program (TxCDBG) for the sewer project in the Bluffview area. This block grant program is now administered through the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA); previously it was under the Texas Department of Rural Affairs.
*As required by law, and based upon the 2010 census and annexations since the last redistricting, the city must have an assessment of changes in potential population increases and/or shifts within the community to determine if redistricting of the wards is necessary. As a result, council approved authorizing Mayor Stephen Haynes’ signature to execute an agreement with Knight & Partners for redistricting services. The cost of the study could range from $3500 (if no redistricting is deemed required) up to $17,500 if redistricting is required. The larger of the fees would include preparation of three alternative district plans, resolutions, notices to the public, requirements for the plans and an ordinance, communication with Brown County for revision of the election precincts and filing of a pre-clearance application with the Department of Justice (DOJ), and more. Owner Barney Knight has worked in redistricting cities and counties since 1976 and has never had a district plan judicially contested or rejected by the DOJ and during 2011 has redistricted cities such as Greenville, Port Arthur, Jasper and Alvin for a third time according to Rountree.
*Sunny Modawell, Tourism Manager for the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce, presented the third quarter Convention and Visitor’s Bureau report which showed that hotel occupancy in Brownwood was up by 6.2% for the third quarter. Modawell stated that revenues in hotel occupancy tax were up 13%, resulting in $39,000 increase for the year. This increase was cited by Modawell to be from events such as baseball/softball tournaments, military presence during troop deployment in 2011, Howard Payne hosting an American Southwest Conference Tournament and HPU homecoming.
*Rountree reported that the city will be looking into drilling water wells at the Bert Massey Sports Complex and install 65,000 gallon water storage tanks for future water needs at the complex. Rountree also stated that the dismantling of the old Camp Bowie sports complex will be starting soon with some materials being used for fencing at the Massey Complex. Estimates to remove the light fixtures, which are still useful, from the Camp Bowie complex are also being sought according to Rountree’s report.
*Director of Utilities David Harris received a letter stating that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has authorized a requested amendment which allows the use of Type I reclaimed water from the city’s wastewater treatment facility and adds this reclaimed water as a source of water for a surface water treatment plant. According to Rountree, this is the first authorization of its kind to be issued in the state of Texas. This is one of many important steps in the process with TCEQ for the city’s proposed reverse osmosis plant which will use the reclaimed water according to city officials.
