During Tuesday morning’s meeting, the Brownwood City Council authorized the City Manager Emily Crawford to sign a contract with eHT to begin the design work for the utility projects at a cost not to exceed $565,000.

“The City has been looking at water and wastewater utility projects primarily that infrastructure that is many, many years old that we’re starting to have deficiencies with,” Crawford said. “We want to make sure are replacing that aging infrastructure and being proactive about it. The most significant is the Camp Bowie lift station which was built we think in the ’40s. It is at the wastewater treatment plant and brings in about half of the sewer from the southern portion of Brownwood, which is also our most populated with residential and industry. We brought these projects before Council in our budget workshop so Council did authorize increasing our utility rates in order to pay for engineering on these projects. So what the Council approved today was a contract with eHT Engineering to start the engineering work first and foremost for the Camp Bowie lift station so that we can proceed with replacing that infrastructure.

“Also discussed today was the fact that we have applied at least twice for Texas Water Development Board program that does have a grant component. We are going to apply again this March. Ideally we would receive some grand funds for these projects, but even if we don’t we do need to move forward to ensure the reliability of our wastewater treatment for the community, so we are taking the first step today in starting the engineering.”

The anticipated work may include the following wastewater projects: replacing the Camp Bowie lift station; refurbish clarifiers; refurbish sand filters; combo shed; installing an automated bar screen at Slayden lift station; Asbury storm drain; and water projects: painting the two elevated water towers; installing a control valve at the entry point; and Roanoke pump station improvements.

Also Tuesday, Council adopting a resolution awarding a contract for application and administration services for a 2025 Downtown Revitalization Program grant.

The Texas Dept of Agriculture will accept Downtown Revitalization Program grant applications on April 3, 2025. The maximum request amount this year is $1 million and the match requirement is $50,000. This is the same grant the City used a few years ago to complete sidewalk improvements around the Coliseum.

There have been some significant changes to the program since the City’s last Downtown grant, most notably the application process and the request amount. This program will receive application is two phases. Phase 1 is due on April 3 and is essentially for TDA to determine if Brownwood scores high enough to receive a grant award.

If the City does score high enough, TDA will invite the City to submit a Phase 2 application in May. The City does not have to identify a specific project until Phase 2, but staff anticipates applying for a project identified in the recent Downtown Plan.

Due to the increased award amount and changes to scoring, it is unknown how competitive Brownwood will be in this grant program this year. Despite this unknow, it was determined to be in the City’s best interest to pursue a Phase 1 application and issue an RFP for grant administration services to assist in this application development.

The City received a single proposal for administration services, from Public Management, Inc (PMI). As detailed in attached proposal, PMI’s proposed fee is $60,000, or 6% of the grant award amount, whichever is lower and is only paid if grant is awarded.

Council also approved engaging Taylor Engineering for design work on Phase II Coggin Park Improvements as outlined in professional services agreement.

The City Council unanimously approved the request from BMDD for a park improvement project at Coggin Park for new basketball courts and the extension of a walking trail. The engineer’s scope of service would be to design the two new outdoor basketball courts, which would include LED lighting and fencing improvements around the new courts. Also, an ADA compliant concrete sidewalk walking trail would be designed along with two low water crossings.

The professional services proposal from Taylor Engineering of $29,815 would include design and drawings which would include MEP and structural, geotechnical investigation, aerial mapping and surveying, bidding phase, and construction phase. Once engineering is complete and bids are received, staff will bring a recommendation of a contractor to the Council.

Funding for this request for engineering services will come out of the BMDD approved request for funds. BMDD has approved and Council ratified the use of $330,000 of BMDD funds for this project.

In other business Tuesday, Council:

* approved a budget amendment to convert a current part-time position to a full-time position at the Senior Citizens Center.

* approved on second and third/final reading an ordinance to close a section of Hawkins Street

* approved a bid from AAR Inc. for asbestos remediation, demolition, and removal of the building located at 200 Carnegie and all consulting and state permit fees associated with the demolition

Early in the meeting, the Heartland Realtors presented a check for $2,133 to be used for Bennie Houston Center renovations that was raised as part of the Brownwood’s Got Talent event. The Heartland Realtors announced Brownwood’s Got Talent will return Nov. 15 and another donation to another non-profit entity will follow.

Also, Brownwood Police Detective James Wells stated the department will again be planting trees this year, this time 30, and asked Council for help in determining an area to place the trees.