Brown County Commissioners met for a short weekly meeting Monday morning, February 28. Commissioner Joel Kelton presided over the meeting.

During public comments, Commissioners heard an update on a partnership announced on January 28 with North Lake Community Church, Good Samaritan Ministries and Brown County Emergency Management
Chaplains Program to respond in emergency situations in Brown County.

NLCC Pastor, Ron Keener, explained that the partnership has already responded to two fires. A fire on February 4 at Tamarack Mountain devastated a family who lost their home. The partnership was able to step in and assist the family with needs.

This past Friday, February 25, the partnership was once again able to assist a family of seven at Lake Brownwood. Their home was a total loss.

“Three adults, four children. Three of the children were in Bangs school at that time. Darrell Johnston was Johnny-on-the-spot. I appreciate Darrell’s efficiency. He called and I was able to go minister to the family, the mom and dad, and pray with them and be there for them. In the meantime, Darrell was already in contact with Leesa Stephens with Good Samaritan Ministries and making arrangements for a meeting that afternoon at 4 o’clock at Good Samaritan for clothes and other items for the family and that will continue with Good Samaritan with this family,” Keener said.

“While we got them food and we got them some snacks and some clothes, I can tell you that what we did that day was listen,” Stephens said.  She also said the public/private partnership is working.

(IN THE PHOTO – left to right – Pastor Ron Keener, Leesa Stephens of Good Samaritan Ministries, Dee Hart of NLCC and on the board of Good Samaritan Ministries and Emergency Management, and Emergency Management Coordinator Darrell Johnston)

Keener thanked Commissioners Court for embracing the partnership program and supporting what they’re doing. He shared that the Red Cross also assisted though a representative wasn’t able to attend the meeting Monday.

“This is fairly unique in counties in Texas to have something like this. I wanted you to know it’s working. Here we announced it January 28th and we’ve had two house fires in our county since. What you’ve embraced and supported is moving forward, happening and taking place and it’s helping families,” Keener said.

In other business:

Commissioners voted to reinstate the Burn Ban due to continued dry weather conditions.

Commissioners also approved a request from Commissioner Worley to declare two pieces of equipment as surplus and to put them on govdeals.com to sell. One is an old Ingram pneumatic roller while the other piece of equipment is a Woods batwing shredder.

Commissioners paid bills and adjourned at 9:22 am. The next meeting will be on Monday, March 7, at 9:00 am.