Brownwood City Council ratified action taken by the Brownwood Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors to fund an infrastructure incentive of $30,000 to Stripes, LLC to help in the construction of a new convenience store, fuel station and truck stop at the southbound intersection of Highway 377 and Crockett Drive.

The company plans to build a 6,844 square foot convenience store with a Laredo Taco restaurant inside, fuel station and truck stop.

According to Brownwood City Manager Bobby Rountree, the incentive of $30,000 will help fund a signalized intersection with a turn lane into the property.

“Due to Texas Department of Transportation driveway permitting requirements, the store must utilize the signalized intersection at Hwy 377 and Crocket Drive as their primary entrance and exit,” explained Rountree.  “TxDOT has committed to pay for the turning lane at a cost of $70,000.  Stripes will be responsible for $133,000 worth of signal work plus the actual cost of constructing the driveways and has requested BEDC support for the signal work.”

The real estate contract on the property is set to close mid-June, said Rountree.

He further explained that the total capital investment is $4,380,000 and will provide 30 jobs at an average of $9.60/hour or $19,968/year.  The store will have a direct economic impact of about $800,000 to the city/EDC over 10 years (salaries, taxable sales and purchases), according to Rountree.

In 2011, the BEDC participated in an infrastructure incentive of $35,000 with Allsup’s to move a water line.

In other matters of on Tuesday’s city council agenda:

*Council approved an ordinance on first reading to change the zoning classification of approximately 20.7 acres being Outlots 372 and 373, of the William H. Irions Survey Number 52, Abstract 537, located at the southwest corner of Davis Lane and Market Place Blvd from R1 Single Family Residential District to C1 Local Business District.  The property is best suited for commercial development and the change in zoning was requested by officials at Western Bank to make the property which is owned by the bank more marketable.  The property includes 5.6 acres which was rezoned to commercial when it was annexed into the city limits in November of 2011.  The Planning and Zoning Commission voted to approve the rezoning request at their May 1, 2014 meeting.

*Council approved ratifying the action taken by the Brownwood Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors to fund an infrastructure incentive to the Lyric Theater for up to $21,000 for water and sewer lines along with alley paving.  The current lines are old and need replacement along with larger taps.  This funding will also be applied to the matching fund the Lyric will receive, making the investment worth $42,000.

*Council approved authorizing the city manager to execute a contract for the demolition and disposing of a portion of the structure at 405 W. Anderson, also known as the Plantation Nursing Home.  The demolition will be performed by the lowest bidder, AAR Corp of Liberty Hill at $86,000.  According to the city manager, the project has been ongoing for several years; the original bid for demolition was $89,000 and included asbestos removal.  The new bid also includes all cleanup including the asbestos removal, said Rountree.  A 2000 square foot portion of the building will be left standing while 6000 sq. ft. is to be demolished.  There is currently a liability claim against the City of Brownwood, according to Rountree, which will be released once the demolition is completed.  The building is owned by Charro.

*The city manager was granted authorization by the council to execute a contractual agreement with R.J. Rose Waterworks for the design of the irrigation system for the Camp Bowie Soccer Complex in the amount of $12,500.  The city is acting as general contractor of the project.

*Mayor Stephen Haynes was granted authorization to execute an agreement with Hutchins Construction Company authorizing city labor and equipment participation in construction of a section of Fourth Street and a section of Tulane Drive in the Gibson Addition.  The company owns nine lots on the north side of 4th Street and plans to build nine homes at approximately $170,000 value over the next five years.