Brown County Commissioners voted Tuesday morning, October 13, to approve the resolution of the executive order issued by Gov. Greg Abbott to open bars and similar establishments at up to 50% capacity.

Among the conditions of the reopening, hospitals in the area must have had seven consecutive days in which the number of COVID-19 hospitalized patients as a percentage of all hospitalized patients has not exceeded 15% – which is the case at Brownwood Regional Medical Center. Therefore, the county judge can opt for the county to open bars beginning Wednesday, Oct. 14.

Three commissioners were present Tuesday – Joel Kelton, Larry Traweek, and Wayne Shaw. Gary Worley was not at the meeting, nor was County Judge, Dr. Paul Lilly, who continues to recover from heart surgery.

County Attorney, Shane Britton, spoke during the meeting and explained why the commissioners were handling the situation in Lilly’s absence, saying:

“To clarify this, the executive order specifically mentions the county judge as the one that has to formally approve it,” Britton said. “Since we know the county judge in unavailable currently, the reason the county commissioners are taking this step in lieu of waiting for the county judge is it wouldn’t be fair to a bar or restaurant that is affected by it to wait until the county judge returns, so the county commissioners are taking his place.”

Prior to the vote, retired Lt. Col. James Masters, VFW Post 3278 Commander, addressed the commissioners with a request to reopen the VFW post, which has been closed for months because it houses a canteen, which qualifies as a bar.

Masters discussed monthly fish fry donations that have not been made to local programs within the community, the closure of the VFW health clinic for two months and the lack of mental health care provided in recent months.

The action taken by the commissioners will allow the VFW to re-open all its facilities.

(story courtesy Derrick Stuckly, editor Brownwoodnews.com)