The Brownfield City Council held its first meeting of the year with a sparse agenda. After the invocation, the pledges, and a period for public comments (which yielded none), the minutes from the December 19, 2024 meeting were approved. The Council then moved on to item number three, which involved recognizing the 2024 Employee of the Year.
During the Christmas open house at City Hall on Friday, December 20, 2024, the Brownfield City Council recognized one employee as Employee of the Year. Mayor Eric Horton announced that Brownfield Code Enforcement Officer Rick Guerra received this honor. Unfortunately, Guerra was unable to attend the City Council meeting to receive his recognition.
Next the Council recognized Brownfield firefighter Henry Unger for displaying his incredible act of kindness and selflessness. On October 28, 2024, while traveling on US-380, halfway between Tahoka and Brownfield, Henry noticed a motorist in distress. Without hesitation, he turned around to offer assistance. Over the course of 4-5 hours, Henry went above and beyond to ensure the safety of Maj. Wayne G. Cordon of the Arizona Air National Guard. From retrieving his air compressor, purchasing Fix-A-Flat, and even bringing food for the stranded driver, Henry demonstrated the true spirit of community and service. He stayed until the tow truck arrived, assisting in every way he could.
Here is the letter received from Maj. Wayne G. Cordon:
The next agenda item involved a discussion on amending certain ordinances regarding recreational vehicles (RVs). A few months ago, the City Council held a forum focused on the parking and occupancy of RVs on personal property. There have been numerous complaints from residents about RV parking and the use of these vehicles for living purposes, particularly since the ordinance in residential areas specifies that properties should only contain “single dwelling” homes. During the forum, the Council considered the complaints and suggestions raised by the community.
During the recent meeting, the Council discussed ideas to present to the city attorney for developing a new ordinance concerning parking and occupancy of recreational vehicles (RVs). Currently, there is a regulation that allows an RV to occupy personal property for a maximum of 72 hours. However, a six-month variance can be granted for special circumstances, but it must be approved by the Zoning Board.
Councilman Mark Williams suggested that if an RV is parked in the backyard of a property and is properly connected to electricity, water, and sewer, there should be no restrictions on how long a person can occupy the RV.
The discussion then shifted to the issue of where RVs should be parked. Mayor Horton noted that there have been complaints about RVs being parked in driveways throughout the town. He mentioned that some of these RVs obstruct the view of the streets, creating a safety hazard. It was suggested to the city attorney that a 25-foot variance be implemented to address these concerns. There is no ordinance prohibiting parking an RV at a residence, except that any trailer or vehicle cannot exceed eight feet in width and 23 feet in length.
This a discussion item only, and the city attorney will come back with the writing of a new ordance if one is needed. The Council then went into executive session, however no action was taken.
