At Monday’s meeting of the Brown County Commissioners, approval was given to an updated Road Use Agreement with Bahia Pipeline, LLC.  Bahia is planning to build a 30-inch pipeline to transport natural gas liquids from West Texas over 600 miles to refineries in southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana.  The pipeline will pass through Brown County.  Brown County already has an agreement with Bahia, but the updated agreement includes a bond of $500,000 to cover any damage to County roads caused by heavy construction equipment.

Commissioners also approved a County “buy-back” program for employees of the Sheriff’s Department, requested by Sheriff Vance Hill.  Hill explained that Sheriff’s Department employees sometimes need firearms for their duties other than what is provided by the County, but the employee cannot afford to buy the gun himself/herself.  In this plan, the employee purchases the firearm under his/her name with funds provided by the County.  The employee then will reimburse the County through payroll deduction.

In other business:

*** Commissioners approved a request from Sheriff Hill for the purchase of a 6-ft. x 12-ft. cargo trailer from Early Trailer Sales.  The cost of the trailer is $5,102 and will be paid for with funds from the inmate phone fund.

*** Commissioners heard the end of year investment report from County Treasurer Ann Krpoun.  In fiscal year 2023-24 the County earned $661,816.99 in interest from certificates of deposit in the bank.

*** Commissioners re-appointed Bart Johnson to the Brown County Hospital Authority Board.  Brown County owns the local hospital, and the Hospital Authority Board negotiates the contract with the hospital operator, currently Hendrick Health.  Commissioners also appointed Ryan Reagan to the Hospital Authority Board, to fill the vacancy created by the recent passing of Bert Massey.

*** Commissioners agreed to leave the Burn Ban OFF for the present time.