In the recent City of Brownfield City Council meeting, Thursday, August 15, 2024, changes to the Brownfield Sports Complex tournament regulations were on topic, plus reports and a lengthy executive session. After the call to order, pledges, public comment (there were none, and the approval the previous meeting’s minutes, the Council moved to work on the rest of the agenda.
The Council moved on to hear and consider July 2024 monthly financial and investments reports. According to City Manager Jeff davis, the city budget has utilized or expended 85.63% of the budget. This on target, since there in two months left in the 2023-2024 fiscal budget. In the investment report, Davis shows there is $5,577,775.57 in over pledged assets, and over three months of operating expenses. The city earned $26,921.00 in interest for the month of July 2024.
Next the Council would hear from City Inspector Israel Limon about the third quarter reports. According to Limon, the number of permits issued for new residences housing is five for the quarter and seven total for the year-to-date. Five permits were issued for residence additions (adding-on), and 11 total for year-to-date. There were also five properties issued permits for carports, and nine total for the year-to-date. With the hail storms that came through Brownfield a few months ago, there have been many roofs being repaired. 23 permits were issued for roofs in the third quarter. There has been 72 permits issued for roofs for the year-to-date.
Electrical permits issued for the quarter were 20 and 67 electrical permits issued for the year-to-date. Mechanical permits were five for the third quarter, and nine total year-to-date. 35 plumbing permits were issued for the third quarter and a total of 107 have been issued year-to-date.
The Council moved to hear from the Parks and Director Gilbert Vasquez. According to Vasquez, the city is looking to drain the Brownfield Family Aquatic Center (BFAC) around Labor Day weekend. The city has instructed staff to use what inventory they have for the facility and that’s all that will be supplied for the aquatic center. Vasquez also told the Council, people from other communities that came out to BFAC gave their compliments to our pool faculty and staff. Vasquez also reporteed that BFAC was rented out every evening, and City Secretary Kelly Burris stated that there was a waiting list for groups to rent BFAC.
Next was to discuss and consider a resolution of the city council of the city of Brownfield, Texas, approving a negotiated settlement with Atmos. Brownfield is part of a committee with other municipalities that settles agreements with Atmos. Atmos originally requested $6.7 million dollars, which would be reduced to $5.8 million dollars. Due to limitation in tariffs and negotiations dropped the value down to 4.3 million dollars. This will increase the average residential cost by $1.27 a month more. The council would also continue to pass this resolution with Atmos Energy.
The next two items of business were to discuss and consider a type-3 special event that will be held in Coleman Park and at the Lynn Brisendine Plaza. The need for the type-3 special event is to allow for alcoholic beverages to be in the parks. Two organizations, the Kingdom of the Golden Plains and Brownfield Chamber of Commerce were approved by the Park and Recreation Board and recommended to the Council for approval of the type 3 special event permit. Kingdom of the Golden Plains will be hosting a “renaissance fair”. The Brownfield Chamber will be hosting a hamburger cook-off downtown in Brownfield and will have live music and awards at the Brisendine Plaza. Both type-3 permits were approved.
The final item of business before the Council went into executive session was to discuss and consider amending the Brownfield Sports Complex policy and regulations. The current policy does not require security when tournaments are being hosted at the complex. The Parks and Recreation Board recommended to the Council to amend the policies and procedures and deemed there to be a need to have at least two security officers on premises for these tournament’s and events. Mayor Eric Horton asked Davis if these will be actual certified peace officers, and Davis said yes. Councilman Jimmy Garza also asked if the city be responsible for paying the officers and scheduling them. Davis said, “No… the person holding the tournament or event is responsible hiring the security.” The cost will be $35 per hour for a minimum of six hours for two officers. The Council moved to have the city attorney to amend the policy and the Council will vote on it at a later date.
The Council went into a lengthy executive session and took no action on the three executive items. This would end the city council meeting. Councilman Leon Pope was the only absent member of the council. The next meeting is slated for Thursday morning, Sept. 5, 2024 at 7:30 am in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
