The City of Early City Council met Tuesday night, December 14, and heard some good news regarding the annual City Audit.

Tony Krischke, CPA, (shown in photo) presented the Fiscal Year 2020/2021 city audit.  In comments to the Council, Krischke noted the city received a best opinion possible showing an excellent financial position and 180 days of cash on hand.

“It’s kind of like a report card for how we’re doing and financially what’s going on,” said City Administrator Tony Aaron.   “The auditor said we’re in some of the best financial situation that we’ve been in in the entire time that he’s been auditing us and that’s been over 20 years.  Early is very blessed and we’ve got a lot of things going on.  Our net revenue and net profit increased over the last year.  We’re looking at about $1.7 million of a better net position than we were last year,” Aaron said, adding that sales tax growth has allowed the City to keep the tax rate low for citizens.

In other action taken by the Council:

They approved 11.3 acres of land to be annexed into the city, at the request of the landowner, for a future housing development.

“Basically, the City of Early is working with a developer who has about 10 acres they’re wanting to develop for a residential neighborhood,” explained Aaron.  The property is just north of town on Salt Creek Road.

“It will be possibly about 10 homes that will be able to go in there.  They had requested to be annexed into the City of Early because they wanted some city services that would be available to them,” Aaron said.

The City Council approved a Resolution (2021-R-15) authorizing a 380 agreement between the City of Early and Ribble Concrete & Land Construction, LLC regarding the subdivision and development of property on Salt Creek Road.

In other business:

The Council heard from Pat McLaughlin from the Office of Brown County Judge Paul Lilly who made a presentation for an early warning siren system for Brown County.  The county is pursuing a $1.4 million grant through the Texas Department of Emergency Management to possibly install warning sirens in various Brown County communities.  The responsibility for the City of Early would be to make available locations where sirens would be erected and provide appropriate electrical service to the siren poles.  The project cost would be covered by the county. The deadline to apply for the grant is January 15.  City Administrator Tony Aaron said city staff supports the effort.  The system, along with all of the other additional systems, would be managed from the dispatch office in the Brownwood Joint Law Enforcement Center.

• The Council also approved a contract for the purpose of financing various pieces of heavy equipment.
• The Council authorized the selection of an administrative service provider to complete project implementation for the American Rescue Plan Act at a cost of $35,000 for the program through 2024.
• The Council authorized an application with the West Central Texas Council of Governments for a regional solid waste grant program to allow for disposal of excess tires.
• The Council approved bid specifications and Request for Proposals for the Kelcy Way street project.
• The Council approved entering into a contract agreement with Volkert, Inc. for the Early Town Center pond project at a cost of $42,470.
• There was no Executive Session and the meeting adjourned at 6:59 pm.