Brownwood/Brown County Health Department Administrator Lisa Dick addresses the Brownwood City Council Tuesday morning. [Photo by Derrick Stuckly]
The Brownwood City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the Brownwood/Brown County Health Department to spend up to $150,000 for non-grant covered expenses for COVID-19 through April. The City of Brownwood will pay a 53-percent portion based on county population, which comes out to $79,000.
Service funds for COVID response grants will be insufficient to cover actual expenses as the Health Department continues contact tracing, case management, and vaccination clinics, and plans to continue as necessary to provide health and safety for the community.
According to John Allen, General Manager of Brown County Water Improvement District, Brown County does not have a water crisis at this time.
Oncor did shut off power yesterday to the water treatment plant in Brownwood, Allen said. The plant provides water for the City of Brownwood, City of Early, City of Bangs, City of Santa Anna, Brookesmith Special Utility District, Zephyr Water Supply and parts of the Coleman County Special Utility District.
“We got low on the tanks on the hill, items froze, but we got power back about 10:30 pm Monday night,” Allen said. While the water district isn’t in a water crisis, the City of Bangs had pump station issues but, according to Allen, had water service again this morning. Bangs is under a Boil Water Notice until further notice.
The Brownwood City Council on Tuesday, February 9, unanimously approved an ordinance on second and third/final reading for a request to change the zoning classification at 2409 Austin Avenue from R-1 Single-Family Residential District to R-3 Multifamily Residential District.
At the Council meeting on Jan. 26, the Council heard protests to the zoning change from members of the public. Upon hearing from the residents and the developer, the Council voted to approve the zoning change on first reading in order to give the residents the chance to meet and visit with the developer about the proposed project. This meeting took place on Feb. 4.
Melanie Larose has been named the City of Brownwood’s new Finance Director. Former Finance Director, Walter Middleton, retired on January 27 after 22 years of service to the City of Brownwood.
Mrs. Larose has worked for the City of Brownwood for 20 years. She joined the City in February 2001, as the Chief Accountant. In 2016, she became the Assistant Director of Finance. Mrs. Larose is an Investment Officer with the City and has served on the Fireman’s Relief and Retirement Fund Board since 2017 and the Internal Audit Committee since 2007.
Prior to working for the City, Mrs. Larose was an Accountant for over three years with private accounting firms. Mrs. Larose has a Bachelor of Business Administration with a Major in Accounting from Tarleton State University. She has been a Certified Government Finance Officer since 2015.
Six lanes of traffic were created to keep traffic flowing as 600 folks, who previously registered online with the Brownwood/Brown County Health Department, came to a mass COVID vaccination clinic Wednesday held in the visitor parking lot of Gordon Wood Stadium.
Emily Crawford, Brownwood City Manager, said approximately 60 health care workers were on site to facilitate the clinic.
“We have people from the City of Brownwood, from Brown County, Howard Payne and Ranger College nursing students, Lifeguard EMS and we also have several people here from Hendrick Brownwood that are here actually giving the vaccinations.”
The clinic began at 6 o’clock Wednesday morning both on-site at Gordon Wood Stadium and at the Brownwood/Brown County Health Department office.