During Tuesday morning’s meeting, the Brownwood City Council approved the $11,200 purchase of a new zero turn mower that will replace a mower with a blown motor that will be sold for surplus.

The property maintenance crew currently has an 8-year-old Hustler mower that has a blown motor and the City garage is unable to find a replacement motor that will properly replace the motor on the mower. Due to the age of the current mower and the unavailability of a replacement motor, the City asked would like to purchase a new mower as soon as possible. The Code Enforcement fine account will cover the cost of the mower.

Also Tuesday, the City Council awarded the Lift Station Project electrical work – which includes Crockett, Stewart, and Riverside – at a cost of $23,427 to Wilson Electric and the concrete and fencing work to Kurt Martin at a cost of $36,500. The money will come from the American Rescue Plan Utility Infrastructure Funds and any remaining cost will be paid by the City budget Sewer Main Replacement Program, which may require a year end budget amendment. A total of $41,011.15 remains in the Utility Infrastructure Fund and the total cost is estimated at $59,927.

The City Council also approved on first reading an ordinance on first reading for the 2024 Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan. TCEQ requires all water utilities to update their WCDCP every five years. The plan was updated by Taylor Engineering which included minor changes as required. The revised plan must be approved and adopted and then submitted to TCEQ. The minor changes that were made to the plan was primarily the addition of water usage data that is normally submitted to the Texas Water Board.

A public hearing was held prior to the City Council approving an ordinance on first reading changing the zoning classification of Outlot 429, John S. Thorn, Survey 53, Abstract 897, Acres 2.313, Property ID 59110, located at 3605 Belle Plain; from C-1 Local Business District to MH Manufactured Home/Mobile Home District.

The Planning and Zoning Board met on March 7 to discuss and vote on the request of property owner James Mullins’ on the zoning classification change. Mullins requested the change in zoning to place a mobile home on the property for his mother to live in. Although most of the surrounding properties are zoned C-1 Local Business District, this request was made possible due to the adjacent property to the north being currently zoned as MH-Manufactured /Mobile Home District.

This parcel is at the edge of the city limits and in the designated Floodway of FEMA’s flood map. Mullins hired an engineer to perform a required “No Rise” study to ensure the structure would not increase any volume in flood waters and the study was submitted to the city’s flood plain administrator. The Planning and Zoning Commission conducted a vote, and the motion was carried unanimously.

The Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan and zoning classification change will appear on future agenda for second and final readings.

Also Tuesday, no action was taken following executive session on discussions about the Fire and EMS agreement with Brown County and the status of Greenleaf Cemetery, which requested emergency funds to continue normal operations.