During Tuesday morning’s meeting, the Brownwood City Council approved on third and final reading the 2024-25 property tax rate of 69.38 cents percent $100 valuation, a 9.15 increase from the current rate of 66.59 cents.

Also Tuesday, the City Council on first reading approved an ordinance on first reading setting charges, fees, rates and deposits for customers on the Brownwood water, sewer and sanitation system for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

The water base rate increased by 2.5 percent, as the average residential customer will now pay $31.45 instead of $30.68. There is also an 11% increase in the sewer rate from $3.91 to $4.34 per 100 cubic feet, and an 6% increase on the sanitation rate from $24.58 to $26.06.

“The reason for that is we are looking at doing some improvements to our water towers and our water system,” said City Manager Emily Crawford. “The increase in the water rate will go toward engineering and subsequent construction for water infrastructure.”

City Council also on first reading approved an ordinance identifying rollout container placement and removal times.

“The ordinance calls for those containers to be removed from the curb or from the street by 8 a.m. on the day following the pick up,” Crawford said “The reasons for that are multiple, one in which is that we are picking up empty containers on a regular basis and that gives our trash trucks more wear and tear than needed when we are picking up and putting down empty containers. The cost of trash trucks has gone up significantly, they’ve doubled in the last five years, so we’re really trying to get more life out of those vehicles. The other reasons are for aesthetics, simply being able to drive down our neighborhood streets and not see a lot of trash containers out. Then, of course, weather, when we have wind and rain those containers can tip over and spill, so we’re trying to make sure the containers have the most life out of them by not getting not knocked over and creating additional waste.”

Both the water, sanitation and sewer fees and the rollout containers will come before the Council again in the future for approval on second and third/final readings.

In other items on the agenda, the Council approved on first reading an ordinance setting charges for fees, rentals, licenses and permits for the City’s 2024-25 fiscal year. This item will again appear before the Council for second and third/final reading

Included in the fee ordinance are updated fee structures for the Lehnis Railroad Museum and Visitor Center. There are multiple recommended changes at the Brownwood Municipal Airport. T-Hanger rates have been simplified and prices have increased. A Fuel Flow fee has been added and the conference room rental fee has been removed.

The Council also approved an ordinance updating the salary, longevity pay and certification pay for all civil service, firefighters and police officers, which includes a 4 percent increase that was mutually agreed upon.

The Council authorized the city manager to sign an agreement with TxDOT for a grant to assist with the cost of routine airport maintenance.

TxDOT provides an annual grant that will cover 90% of eligible cost up to $111,111.11. The City has budgeted for this amount and will request reimbursement at the end of the 2024-25 fiscal year.

The grant money will be used for service and purchase materials for routine maintenance and improvement of airport pavements, signage, drainage, AWOS systems, approach aids, lighting systems, utility infrastructure, fencing, herbicide application, sponsor owned and operated fuel systems, hangars, terminal buildings and security systems, professional services for environmental compliance, and approved project design. Special projects will determined and added by amendment.

The Council also awarded a bid for a two-year contract to Andy’s Pest Troopers for pest control treatment at City facilities in the amount of $1,945 per month, or $23,340 annually.

Technakill, Lone Star Pest Control, and Andy’s Pest Troopers, were solicited to submit bids for the monthly treatment of City facilities. Technakill and Lone Star Pest Control declined to submit bids. Andy’s Pest Troopers’ bid is an increase from the 2022 contract price of $1,178.87 per month or $14,146.44 annually due to the addition of the Law Enforcement Center, Municipal Court, and the new Event Center facilities.

The City Council also approved a donation from Ethos of 25 pet stations to be installed in various parks around Brownwood. Each station will include bags and a receptacle to dispose it. Each will also be branded with the Ethos logo. The City’s Parks Department will be responsible for refilling the stations with bags and disposal. The estimated cost for 25 stations with artwork and installation is $7,500.

Mayor Stephen Haynes and the Council expressed their gratitude to Brownwood Ethos plant manager Mark Molamphy, who was in attendance.