During Tuesday morning’s meeting, an ordinance changing the name of Houston Avenue to Hoosegow Drive, located north of Market Place Boulevard and east of Main Boulevard, was voted down by the Brownwood City Council.

Following a public hearing in which property owner Tel Williams addressed the council, council members Ed McMillian, H.D. Jones and Larry Mathis voted against the idea, while council members Walker Willey and Draco Miller were in favor.

Williams presented a signed petitioned to the city council for the name change as he owns the property that was the former Brown County Law Enforcement Center, which led to his decision for the name change. Williams also obtained signatures from the adjoining landowner in support of the change.

McMillian in March, and again Tuesday, voiced the most opposition to the Hoosegow name.

“I haven’t changed my stance on it,” McMillian said. “It’s a horrible name. There’s people in the neighborhood that’s been there and a jail’s a bad place. I certainly don’t want to celebrate it by naming a street after it. I just don’t like the name, I think it’s downgrading. People have turned their lives around that maybe have spent time in that jail. I support your business 100 percent, but to name a street after a jail house, I just can’t support it. I’m not representing my constituents on the north side by allowing that.”

Brownwood Mayor Stephen Haynes discussed the possibility of closure and abandonment of Houston Avenue in the future, which would result in the street becoming property owned by Williams, which he could then rename.

Also during Tuesday’s meeting

The city council unanimously approved an ordinance creating four-way stop intersections on First Street at Parkway and Roselawn. In January, the Brownwood Police Department mailed a survey to 135 households directly connected to Coggin Park. The police department received 54 survey responses. 23 residents selected creating a four-way stop at First Street and Parkway as their first or second option. On March, Chief Ed Kading presented survey results to City Council. After the discussion, the council proposed an ordinance creating four-way stops on First Street at both Parkway and Roselawn.

In other council news:

The city council unanimously approved an agreement between the Brownwood Independent School District and the City of Brownwood to provide School Resource Officer/campus security services. The last review of this agreement was in 2008. The agreement outlines campus officer duties, hours of work, chain of command, and financial consideration. The Brownwood Police Department provides two officers on a full-time basis to campuses, one in a part time capacity. The agreement is for 3 years from the date of execution and will renew every 3 years going forward.

The city council unanimously approved a tower lease agreement with the Tackett-Boazman Broadcasting. The lease is for 20 years with an optional 20-year extension. The tower owner is responsible to maintain the tower to industry standards required for public safety communications equipment. Neither party’s equipment may interfere with the other party’s equipment. Should the city no longer use the tower for communications equipment, the tower owner will pay the city a land lease. The privately owned 400-foot radio communications tower is located on city property commonly referred to as “Round Mountain.”

The city council unanimously approved a contract with the Brown County Elections Administrator for a total of $5,398.80 for the March 1 election of a new city council member.

The city council unanimously approved renovating the existing horseshoe pit area at Coggin Park into a small dog park.

The city council unanimously approved the installation of a new playground set at the Central Texas Veterans Memorial. Construction restrooms at the memorial is expected to begin Monday, March 29.