At Monday’s meeting of the Brown County Commissioners Court, approval was given to the hiring of an architectural firm for an upcoming project.  In the fall of 2025 the County agreed to purchase the building at 600 Fisk Avenue, to be used for certain County offices.  The County will take possession of the building on July 1 of this year, and the list of County offices to be located in the new building is still being determined.  For the re-design and renovations that will be needed for the interior of the building, the Commissioners hired Southwest Architects of Cresson, Texas.  Jeff Heffelfinger of Southwest Architects said Phase One of the project will involve the planning of the project, which will include conversations with many County employees to determine the needs in the building.  Phase Two will then be the design work for the interior.  Heffelfinger estimated that the renovation construction work will begin in August of this year.

The Commissioners also approved the purchase of a new water truck.  Precinct One Commissioner Kirk Chastain reported the finding of a 2018 Peterbilt 4000-gallon water truck from Warren CAT, at a cost of $97,500.  Chastain said he can partially pay for the water truck by selling two surplus vehicles, for about $20,000.

The Commissioners took no action on the current Burn Ban, leaving it in place for now.