At today’s meeting of the Brown County Commissioners Court, David Becktold was appointed County Treasurer effective January 1, 2026.  Current Treasurer Ann Krpoun has announced her retirement effective December 31, 2025.  One year is remaining in her elected term, until December 31, 2026.  David Becktold, who is the current Assistant Treasurer, will serve as Treasurer next year.  Becktold has filed for election as Treasurer in the primary next March.  Also filed to run for County Treasurer are Stacee Hetzel and Stephanie Jester.

The Commissioners today also voted to remove the Burn Ban for one week, due to the recent rains.  The Commissioners will re-consider the situation at next week’s meeting, and decide whether to re-instate the burn ban, or to keep the burn ban off.

In last week’s Commissioners Court, agreement was given to a “Cooperation Agreement for Dispatch Services” between Brown County and the City of Early.   The agreement provides that the City of Early will operate dispatch services during normal business hours Monday through Friday for the current fiscal year, which runs through September 30, 2026.  The Early Police Department will conduct radio traffic on the Early Police Department radio frequency, in order to relieve the congestion of radio traffic that is going on the Brown County radio frequency during this time period.  This agreement is to share salary and benefits cost of the personnel of $70,000, with Brown County and the City of Early each funding $35,000.  The County’s cost will be paid with funds from the County Jail inmate telephone fund.

In other business from the meeting of November 17:

*** Commissioners approved the contract to purchase the building at 600 Fisk Avenue.

*** Commissioners approved the purchase of a new forensic computer system for the Sheriff’s Department, at a cost of $14,611.

*** Commissioners approved a bid from Tony’s Concrete for the repair of concrete box culverts on County Roads #428 and #433.

*** Commissioners approved the installation of a private line on County Road 161 by the Brookesmith Special Utility District.

*** Commissioners approved the canvass of the 4,056 votes cast in the General Election held on November 4, 2025.