Brown County Commissioners met Tuesday morning, June 21, 2022. Precinct 2 Commissioner Joel Kelton presided in the absence of County Judge Paul Lilly. Present were Precinct 1 Commissioner Gary Worley and Precinct 4 Commissioner Larry Traweek. Absent were Precinct 3 Commissioner Wayne Shaw and County Attorney Jennifer Broughton.

Commissioners heard from Bart Johnson of Painter & Johnson concerning Health Insurance Renewal. County health insurance for employees is through a pool with the Texas Association of Counties. Brown County is looking at a 10.7% increase in premiums which compares to the state average of 6%. Johnson noted that, in the last few months, the trend has been for fewer health claims by county employees.

“I’m in favor of keeping the current plan,” said Commissioner Kelton.

“As long as the County can afford it, and I think we can at this time, I’d like to stay exactly like we are and not increase anything,” said Commissioner Worley.

Commissioner Traweek agreed with Worley and Kelton. Worley then moved, and the vote was unanimous, to renew the current health insurance plan effective October 1, 2022.

Commissioners received the Annual Report from James Masters, Brown County Veteran Service Officer, for the year 2021. Masters reported a loss of 56 more veterans last year in Brown County. Masters also reported that Veterans are moving into our area from the West Coast.

“We are processing a lot of transfers from the West Coast into our county. I don’t know what it is, but they’re coming here,” Masters said.

Masters also reported on the large economic impact made by Veterans in Brown County.

“The big number that jumped out at me is the direct economic impact, direct payments and compensation, insurance, survivor benefits, education benefits – we are up $1.1 million to the county – $18,933,000 in direct payments to institutions, veterans and survivors in this county,” Masters said.

Commissioners took no action on the Burn Ban which means it will remain in place until further notice. Commissioners only recently reinstated the Burn Ban due to excessively dry conditions.

In other business:

• Commissioners approved declaring a 2003 Ford service truck as surplus and approved selling the truck on GovDeals.com.
• Commissioners approved installing a private line on Vick Drive by the Brookesmith Special Utility District.
• Commissioners approved expenses of printer cartridges and fuel from the office of Brown County Emergency Management.
• Commissioners approved 5 employee changes in the jail staff of the Brown County Sheriff’s Department.
• County Sheriff Vance Hill reported a total of 177 inmates in the Brown County Law Enforcement Center as of Tuesday morning with 9 of those being inmates contracted from other counties.
• Commissioners voted to approve bills for payment.
• There were no guests, no citizen comments, no COVID report and no Treasurer’s/Auditor’s report.
• Commissioners also approved the minutes from the previous meeting of June 13.

Commissioners will next meet on Tuesday, July 5th since Monday, July 4th, is a holiday.