At Monday’s meeting of the Brown County Commissioners, approval was given to the creation of an Indigent Defense Cash Deposit.  The County Budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year included $932,000 for the Indigent Defense Expense fund.  According to Brown County Auditor Jennifer Robison, at the end of that fiscal year $807,467.19 was remaining in that fund.  Robison recommended that the County put the remaining funds in a bank CD to save for the possible need of indigent defense funds in a capital criminal case.  The Commissioners approved.  The current budget year 2025-2026 has $1,008,500 in the Indigent Defense Expense fund.

Commissioners also approved a Road Use Agreement with Red River Clean Energy.  This business performs maintenance work on the solar power farm in southern Brown County, and frequently uses County Roads 264, 265, 267, and 268.  These are dirt roads, and Road Use Agreement presented by Precinct One Commissioner Kirk Chastain would require Red River Clean Energy to pay for damages to those County Roads done by the company’s trucks.

Commissioners considered the current burn ban, and decided to leave it in place.  As mentioned last week when the current ban was activated, the exception will be holiday fireworks, which will still be allowed.

The next Commissioners Court meeting will take place on January 5, 2026.