With a lengthy agenda, the Brown County Commissioners’ Court met Tuesday morning, but continued the session in the afternoon after having difficulty making a decision on several issues.   The court will also continue their session Wednesday morning as a “last chance” tax hearing for the public.

The court opened discussion in a public hearing on the proposed tax rate of $0.5169 per $100 of taxable value for the 2011-’12 budget year, to which there was no comment from the public.  The court will reconvene at 9am Wednesday, September 7th in the commissioners courtroom at the Brown County Courthouse for the last public hearing on the matter.

Another issue discussed by the court was related to payment for Brown County Surveyor Don King.  King discussed old billing and filing fees for which he has not received payment for past service.  County Judge Ray West, County Auditor Nina Cox and King were to meet during a recess to review what amount should be presented to the court for payment and what billing may be a responsibility of the City of Brownwood and possibly the Brown County Water Improvement District for a FEMA study which was done during 2009-2010 to determine flood level of Lake Brownwood.

Also discussed by King were plats that are filed in the County Clerk’s office which are being destroyed by their protective covering.  These plat inks are being removed by an oily substance on the protective plastic coverings which need to be replaced and some of the plats restored or re-printed.  The cost of these efforts are unknown at this time due to the billing of King’s time sorting through and determining which plats must be replaced/restored.  The protective coverings cost approximately $14/sleeve according to County Clerk Sharon Ferguson.  This issue was also tabled until the manufacturer of the sleeves can be contacted to see if they will contribute funds to replace the defective sleeves which have caused the damage.

After a second session of today’s court, commissioners approved $13,507.50 to be paid to King for services he had billed the county.  Some of these fees had been paid from the wrong fund so a shifting of funds to the appropriate location will be made.

In other matters on the agenda:

*Brown County Sheriff’s Captain Tony Aaron received approval for BCSO to purchase 3 bullet proof vests as replacements at the cost of $618 each.  According to Aaron, the average lifespan of a bullet proof vest is 5 years.  The funds needed for the purchase will come from already budgeted funds of operation or discretionary funds and also grant money from the Justice Department.  Aaron also gave the population count for the Brown County Jail as 157.

*Texas Department of Transportation vehicle registration fees were discussed.  Each year the county can adopt a higher fee for certain parts of the registration fee, including a road and bridge fee, which could be up to $20 additional to the already state mandated registration fee.  Commissioners did not approve this increase and registration fees will remain the same.

*Polling places were approved during the 1:30pm session of the court, which did include a polling place for voters in precinct 109 at the Brookesmith High School on FM 586. Commissioner Adams voiced concern regarding the proposed polling location at New Life Assembly of God Church on Indian Creek Road in Brownwood.  Keeping the polling location in Brookesmith will save some citizens of this area from having to drive 20 miles to vote.

* Precinct 1 Commissioner Steve Adams received approval for the purchase of a Stehl pole saw at a cost of $670.

*Change of wording to the resolution regarding the Brown County DWI Court was approved.  This wording included:  (1) repayment of any funds misused or unused by the court and (2) including the fiscal year to the document.

*Consideration of possible approval of a $100/month raise per employee in the county attorney’s office was passed.  County Attorney Shane Britton was not present and no other representative was available for discussion at the court.

*Tax Resale Deeds were initially tabled until a question could be resolved regarding the amount of taxes/fees owed on these properties being unavailable.  Bid amount for one sale, to Marven Wade Brown was $2632 for 11 tracts which are composed of 16 lots.  Commissioners considered approving these sales based on the May ISD having preapproved these sales; however an audience member’s question regarding the taxes/fees could not be answered so they tabled the discussion until Judge West, who had to briefly step out of the meeting, was present.  At the 1:30pm session of the court, the audience was told that these tax resale deeds were approved.