Citizens will soon see a new kind of Brownwood Police patrol unit as Brownwood City Council approved the addition of two new Chevy Tahoes to the department’s fleet Tuesday.
The City of Brownwood accepted the low bid received from Bruner Auto Group for the purchase of two 2013 Chevrolet Tahoes in the amount of $52,900 for the Brownwood Police Department. In addition to this cost, equipment for the vehicles will also be purchased making the total expense for the two units $60,000. Budgeted funds will cover the cost of the two vehicles.
Traditionally BPD, along with other law enforcement agencies, purchased sedans for patrol operations. Most recently two new Dodge Chargers were added to the Brownwood fleet at a cost of $51,744.
Chief Mike Corley explained to the council the many difficulties faced by officers who are operating in the smaller Chargers.
In recent years, these traditional sedans have been downsized by the auto industry in such a way that back seat compartments limit officers’ ability to safely maneuver and seat handcuffed subjects. Combative and/or intoxicated subjects are also at a greater risk of injury due to the diminished door opening, and the safety of officers is jeopardized when attempting to assist them into the rear seat, Corley said. In some instances, officers driving these smaller patrol units have had to contact other officers for prisoner transports who were operating older model sedans with the larger rear seat compartments.
He stated that the law enforcement profession is progressing to such an extent that a great deal of front seat space is taken up with necessary equipment such as laptop computers. The progression of downsized vehicles and increased equipment is quickly becoming an industry standard in the same manner that the Chevrolet Tahoe is becoming an industry standard for patrol operations, according to Corley. Many law enforcement agencies are moving toward these vehicles for officer safety and room in the passenger compartment. Recently, the City of Early began using Tahoes as police units.
Pictured above is the new Tahoe recently purchased by Early Police Department.
In other matters on Tuesday’s Brownwood City Council agenda:
*Tony Krischke of Krischke, CPA PC presented the City Audit for fiscal year ending September 30, 2012, which confirmed that the City of Brownwood is in good financial condition.
*Council approved an ordinance on first reading amending the subdivision ordinance authorizing the City Engineer or his designee to approve minor plats for subdivisions and re-subdivisions in lieu of the Planning and Zoning Commission.
*An ordinance was approved on first reading changing the traffic control from a stop sign to a yield sign for north bound motorists on Sixteenth Street at Avenue M.
*Council approved an ordinance on second and third/final readings which establishes an Enterprise Zone and nominated Brownwood Hospital L.P. as a Texas Enterprise Zone Project. According to a council briefing sheet, the Texas Enterprise Zone Program is an economic development incentive from the Office of the Governor of Texas to promote job creation and capital investment in economically distressed areas of the state. In order to qualify, companies must have at least 25% of their new employees meet economically disadvantaged or enterprise zone requirements. Brownwood Hospital L.P. is located in the Enterprise Zone and meets the eligibility criteria. By being nominated, a company is eligible to apply for state sales and use tax refunds on qualified expenditures. In order to get the refund, the company must report their capital investments, taxable purchases and number of jobs created and retained. Brownwood Hospital L.P. would be eligible to receive a maximum refund of $1.25 million over a 5-year period. They have over 600 employees, are one of the top three largest employers in Brownwood, have an annual payroll of $43 million and an average capital investment of over $3 million according to the briefing sheet information.
*A resolution abandoning a 15’ wide drainage easement with Oncor in exchange for Oncor granting a 10’ wide public utility easement, authorizing the City to grant a 10’ wide easement to Atmos on City property along Austin Avenue and authorizing the city manager to execute the required documents was approved by the council.
*An ordinance on second and third/final reading changing the zoning classification of 1601 and 1603 Wood Street from R-1 Single Family Residential District to RR Residential Rural District was approved by council.
* Council approved on second and third/final reading changing the zoning classification of 1613 Wood Street from R-1 and R-1A Single Family Residential District to RR Residential Rural District.
*An ordinance on second and third/final reading changing the zoning classification of 3500 Rhodes Road and 2200 Calvert Road from R-1 Single Family Residential District to A-1 Agricultural District.
* Council approved on second and third/final reading changing the zoning classification of 3504 Longhorn Lane from R-1 Single Family Residential District to RR Residential Rural District.
*A resolution was approved by the council requesting the members of the 83rd Legislative Session to show support for increases in funding for the Texas Recreation & Parks Account, Large County and municipality Recreation, Parks Account local park grant programs and the Texas State Park system.
*City Manager Bobby Rountree reminded attendees of the meeting of the deadline for property owners to apply for waiver of the $300 Agriculture or Residential Rural re-zoning fees is approaching, and to apply for the waiver by the deadline of April 9, 2013.
*Brownwood Chief of Police Mike Corley presented the Racial Profiling Report which states that BPD is in full compliance with the Texas Racial Profiling law.
*Brownwood Police Lt. Randal Krpoun gave a report on BPD’s efforts in the Texas Law Enforcement Agency Best Practices Recognition Program. According to Krpoun, BPD has met 159 of the 165 required best practices.
*Rountree reminded citizens of the Governor’s Drought Proclamation, that Texas is still in a drought and that Brownwood is still under drought restrictions and that residents may water only one day each week.
