Brown County Commissioners Court met Monday morning and approved the purchase of a new van for the Brown County Veterans Administration clinic.  T

he local VA Clinic ferries patients twice a week to the VA Hospital in Temple for medical treatment.

The current van is a 2012 Ford with 250,000 miles on it, and is worn out and not safe, according to Harold Stieber, President of the Central Texas Veterans Memorial.

The Commissioners agreed to purchase a new 12-passenger van from Bruner Auto Group at a price not to exceed $45,415 before discounts.

A three- to six-month waiting period is expected for the new van.  The money for the new van will come from the opioid settlement funds received from the State of Texas.

The Commissioners also heard a request for funds from the Brown County Museum of History.

In February the Commissioners toured the Old Jail building of the Museum to see the needed repairs.  Museum Board Members Beverly Norris and Dennis Maynard asked for money for only the most immediately needed repairs.  Fifteen windows need repair for a cost of $5,168, and seven exterior lights need to be replaced at a cost of $3,825, for a total of $8,993.  Norris and Maynard did not ask on Monday for funds for other needed repairs, which include 28 additional windows, termite damage, outdoor steps, the flagpole, and ADA accessibility.

Commissioners approved Monday’s request for an amount not to exceed $9,000.