At this week’s meeting of the Brown County Commissioners Court, David (Tye) Langehennig was appointed as Constable, Precinct Two. That position has been vacant since Troy Henderson resigned and retired in May. Langehennig holds a Master Peace Officer license, and is currently taking additional training to become up-to-date for the job as Constable. The appointment is good through December 31, 2026, and the position will be on the ballot in the General Election in November 2026. Langehennig is pictured above with Justice of the Peace Harold Hogan and Constable Mike Isbell.
Commissioners approved a renewal of the current health insurance plan, which is obtained through the Texas Association of Counties, for fiscal year 2025/2026. The cost of the plan will increase 10.7%, raising the monthly premium per employee to $1,398.16, and the monthly premium of employee family coverage to $3,513.70. County employees have a $750 annual deductible, and pay $200 per month for the family coverage, if selected. County Treasurer Ann Krpoun reported to the Commissioners that last year the County paid $4,661,335 in total health insurance premiums, but total claims filed exceeded that with a total of $6,056,348. Because of that deficit of more than one million dollars, the rate increase would probably be larger, if we were not part of the Texas Association of Counties group plan.
County Judge Shane Britton noted that Brown County has always offered a good health insurance plan to employees, in an effort to supplement modest salaries. The cost increases year after year are straining the County budget, however, and Britton recommended that the Commissioners Court next year should get an early start and consider other health insurance plans, hoping to find some cost savings.
Commissioners approved the creation of the West Texas Healthcare Provider Participation District, at the request of Hendrick Medical Center. This allows the Hendrick Medical Center Brownwood to participate in a program with the State of Texas that results in greater reimbursements to Hendrick for Medicaid patient care. Commissioners first listened to a presentation on this matter from Hendrick on Monday. Some Commissioners had questions and concerns about the program, and the initial vote was two in favor, two opposed, and one abstention. The meeting was recessed, and resumed on Tuesday morning. After receiving more information, a second vote was taken, where the motion was approved unanimously. Krista Baty, Chief Administrative Officer of Hendrick in Brownwood, told the Commissioners that the hospital’s “charity care has gone up considerably over the last four years.” But Hendrick wants to treat all patients. “Regardless of their ability to pay, that is our mission.” She also explained that “we operate on a very small margin, being a faith-based, not-for-profit organization. Everything we make we reinvest into our community, whether it be infrastructure, or programs, or our people.”
In other business:
*** Commissioners agreed to leave the Burn Ban OFF for now.
*** Commissioners approved the Legacy Estates Subdivision Plat on County Road 129 and County Road 149.