Written by Amanda Coers – The Brownwood City Council met at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, December 13th, with a number of items on the agenda. Beverly Norris with the Lehnis Railroad Museum met with council members to ask if the council would consider declaring a gas-powered mini locomotive stored at the museum as surplus in order to facilitate a trade or sale for the unused locomotive.

The locomotive has been stored for the past six years, unused, as it is “too large and too heavy for the current tracks, causing damage to the tracks,” explained Norris. The Lehnis Museum currently operates an electric mini train ride as part of the attractions of the railroad museum. The gas-powered mini train is valued at $8,000 though it could be a hard sell, as it is a very small market for such an item, and the train is in need of some repairs.

Norris proposed a possible trade for the gas-powered locomotive for another electric mini train. As the museum only has one in use now, the ride would be closed if the current mini train needed repairs. Norris noted that would be a very unfavorable situation for the museum, as the mini train ride is a popular attraction. The trade would not fully cover the cost of another electric mini locomotive. An example was presented by Norris to the council, costing around $12,000 for a used electric mini train. Council members noted the example provided didn’t quite fit Brownwood’s long history with the diesel trains with the Santa Fe Railway. Mayor Haynes stated the desire to provide a new custom built mini train for the museum’s use if possible, though commended Norris and the museum volunteers with wishing to present a frugal option to the council.

Discussion regarding the mini train was tabled, until more information could be provided.

Also addressed in Tuesday’s meeting, Brownwood City Council members awarded a $206,000 bid to the Bruner Auto Group for the purchase of eight pickups. The original estimated cost for the eight pickups was $228,000. The bid from Bruner was the only one received after two other local dealerships forgot to submit their bids. The purchase includes four 3/4-ton pickups that will go to the landfill, street and parks departments, and four 1/2-ton pickups for the development services, sanitation and water departments.

During the meeting council members also:

• Approved an ordinance on first reading to prohibit dogs in the fenced area of the Brownwood Soccer Complex.
• Approved on first reading an ordinance to close a 20-foot portion of the right-of-way on Milam Drive between Indian Creek Road and Mustang Drive.
• Approved the sale of city property on Vine, West Anderson and First streets to bidders for a total of $2,600.
• Authorized an extension of an agreement with the Texas Department of State Health on behalf of the Brownwood/Brown County Health Department to provide tuberculosis treatment, prevention and reporting to citizens in Brownwood, Brown County and surrounding communities.
• Ratified mayoral appointments to the Library Board and Planning and Zoning Commission.

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