Following a 45-minute executive session Tuesday morning, the Brownwood City Council authorized the City to go out to bid for renovation of 305 Booker for use of the Brownwood-Brown County Health Department.

During the September 2022 meeting of the Brownwood City Council, Brownwood/Brown County Health Department Administrator Lisa Dick spoke in favor of a potential move.

The City Council designated $400,000 in ARPA funds for the Health Department when they adopted the ARPA Plan on March 22, 2022. The staff has pursued options to expand and/or relocate the Health Department currently located at 510 E. Lee Street.

The existing Health Department building, and property is jointly owned by Brown County and the City of Brownwood. The demand for public health services has increased dramatically, and the current facility does not adequately serve the needs of residents and the services they are seeking. This year alone, the department has provided 29,400 services.

At the current location, there is no room to accommodate expansion, additional staff, or much needed additional health services. The building is currently in much need of repair, and required HVAC, plumbing, and roof work this year. Other repairs will need to be done, including replacement of windows and doors.

“Earlier TSTC deeded that property back to the City so it will be a City-owned facility and we are at the point now where we need to have some cost for construction,” said Brownwood City Manager Emily Crawford. “We have some internal figures but until we know what those costs really are by a contractor we will not be able to move forward. The City Council did discuss authorizing staff to put together a bid package for the renovation of the health department portion of 305 Booker and I believe the County will be taking up the same matter in their meeting next week.”

Also Tuesday, the City Council passed an ordinance on second and third/final reading to repeal the ordinance that created the Martin & Frances Lehnis Transportation Museum Advisory Board.

Currently, the Advisory Board only meets to hear reports from the Director about activities at the museum – exhibits, collections, programming, events, grants, etc. Over the past 2 to 3 years, the Advisory Board has struggled to have meetings because of lack of a quorum. Because of the current staff compliment at the Museum, the Advisory Board struggles with purpose.

The City Council also ratified a change order as approved by the City Manager for construction at the Senior Citizens Center.

The City Manager was presented with a change order request from staff for work at the Senior Citizens Center that was not part of the original scope of construction. The change order included outside security lighting, window blinds for the new meeting room, and an awning above the drive through.

The amount of the change order was $23,014. The approved bid amount was $336,573. The change order is 6.8% above the original cost. Funds available for the project were $432,214 at the time of the bid award, and there remains funds available to cover the change order. The City Manager approved the change order on March 16, but Council action was needed due to the size of the change order.

The City Council also authorized the City Manager to sign an agreement and any subsequent addendums, amendments and acceptance of additional funds during the term of the grant contract on behalf of Brownwood/Brown County Health Department with Texas Department of State Health Services to continue providing Public Health Emergency Preparedness services to our community, as well as funding for the Public Health Infrastructure Grant.