Brown County Commissioners met this morning in regular session.

First item on today’s meeting agenda was the passage of a resolution regarding some proposed transmission line installation in the county by ONCOR.  Commissioner Steve Adams read the proposed resolution that stressed 4 important points regarding the expansion of electric transmission lines that will cross though Brown county:

1. The Brown County Commissioners Court encourages the PUC and ONCOR to respect the input of the citizens of Central Texas, to act as responsible stewards of the Texas landscape, and to help us maintain the beauty and integrity of our environment by burying all transmission lines underground that will cross Brown County and developed, populated, historical, watershed & recreational areas as part of the CREC transmission line plan and by minimizing the visual impacts to the maximum extent possible.
2. That the Brown County Commissioners Court urges the PUC and ONCOR and all other areas of Brown county or in the event that the PUC does not agree that citizens deserve special consideration due to the fact that Brown County will only serve as a conduit through which these for-said transmission lines will pass and  in all probability will receive no benefit from any use of such conduit and that the PUC does not agree that the natural beauty and character of our area shall be maintained by buying the the said  transmission lines underground.  The Brown County Commissioners Court strongly encourages the PUC to direct utilization of single or monocle structures instead of lattice structures in the implementation of its plan as it effects Brown County.
3. The Brown County Commissioners Court urges the PUC and ONCOR to adopt rules dictating that any and all 345 kilo-volt transmission lines constructed thought Brown County must maintain a minimum distance of at least 1400 feet from the center line of the proposed route or easement to any exiting habitable structure or any surrounding building or structures.
4. The Brown County Commissioners Court request these transmission lines not be placed on or around any town sites in Brown County.

Adams said, “This resolution will help keep these large structures from going though any of our town sites in Brown County.  The proposed line would go through the center of the Winchell town site at this time.”

Several residents from the Winchell area were present to show their support of the resolution.

Other Commissioner’s Court actions today included:

-Authorization for the organization “Cry Out America” to hold a prayer meeting at the courthouse on 9/11.  This is a nationwide event with 700 other prayer meetings taking place at other courthouses, 60 of which are in the state of Texas.  The event is planned between 11:30am and 1:30pm.

-Commissioners approved a new water line installation request on CR 292.

-County Tax Assessor Collector Cheryl Nelson was approved to have a new temporary employee begin work this week.  The Tax Assessor Collector’s office will have one employee out for 12 weeks extended leave.

-County Treasurer, Ann Krpoun also is hiring a replacement employee. Susan Franks will be the new Administrative Assistant for the office.

-The court also discussed the current state of the flood plain study and FEMA attempting to raise 100 year flood plain level.  Current flood plain level is 1437.8 msl.

-The court also was briefed on the repairs at the Law Enforcement Center.  The downspouts from the roof were originally installed improperly and need to be repaired.  This may take extra money not foreseen in the original bid.  Court will agenda this topic for action soon.