Brown County Commissioners approved the purchase of two child safety seats on Tuesday at the request of a Brown County Constable.  Constable Bob Beadel of Precinct 1 told Commissioners that there are more and more child custody issues that cause them to need child safety restraint seats for their vehicles.  When executing Writs of Attachments to bring children to a court ordered custodian in emergency situations, constables often transport these children and need adequate safety seats.

”It’s a sign of the times,” stated Beadel who further explained that the younger generations “don’t make the commitment to marriage like those who have been married for a long time.”

Beadel explained that it is not only state and federal law that children be restrained properly, but that this also protects the constables and the county against any liability during transportation of younger children.   Commissioners approved the purchase of two child safety seats using funds from the equipment fund for use by any law enforcement.

Beadel also requested that commissioners grant expenses to be at constables’ discretion rather than having to go through the auditor for approval in order to get reimbursements for expenses that constables encounter during their execution of certain duties.  Beadel also requested that constables be able to spend expense funds to purchase clothing items that are used as uniforms, such as a cowboy hat recently purchased by Beadel.  A lack of communication needed for approval of recent items seemed to be evident to the court.

“More communication between you and the auditors’ office is needed but not unfettered allowance,” stated County Judge Ray West.

The purchase of the cowboy hat was not approved as a part of the uniform due to possible future expenses of hats for other employees.

In other matters on the agenda:

*Commissioners unanimously approval of Jessie Austin of Bangs as a replacement board member as requested by Kitty Cavanaugh of the Brown County Child Welfare Board.

*A tax resale deed was granted by the court to Billy S. and Tinia J. Powers for a 0.184 acre, more or less, parcel of land with the legal description Lots 2 & 3, Block 9, Brownwood Heights Addition.  This lot had a tax roll value of $1380, which was the amount the Powers’ bid.  Taxes and fees owed equal $1927.