The City of Brownwood received notification of the approval of National Recreational Trail funds of $200,000 in the form of a grant awarded by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission to construct a new walking trail.  The Camp Bowie Walking Trail will extend from the Brownwood Middle School area on Calvert Road and will wind around the future soccer complex, Gordon Wood Stadium, Aquatic Center and Bert V. Massey II Sports Complex in Camp Bowie.

According to City Manager Bobby Rountree, the project has been submitted in an application for the grant before; however, this year the application was successful and will receive funding.

“A well deserved pat on the back should go to David Withers and Jodie Kelly who have worked on this project for several years,” said Rountree as he reported on the grant notification at Tuesday morning’s city council meeting.

The next step in the process of the grant funding will be environmental and historical resource reviews of the project.  Copies of the project will be forwarded to the Texas Historical Commission and the TPWC’s Habitat Assessment staff to review potential impacts to cultural and natural resources.  After these two reviews are completed, a visit by TPWD’s Interim Program Manager Trey Cooksey will be arranged to meet with city staff and review the trail site and proposed work to be accomplished with the grant funds.  The process will take several months in planning and assessment according to a letter from Cooksey.

In other matters on Tuesday’s city council agenda:

*Council approved (on first reading) the addition of a traffic signal controlled intersection at the intersection of East Commerce and Riverside Drive and Opal Drive, where the new United Supermarket will be built.  The construction in the area will also add stop signs in the area of the Market Place Blvd Extension which cuts through from Riverside Park to the Home Depot area.  The new road, which is currently referred to as the Market Place Blvd Extension, will be completed by Prater Construction under the direction of Texas Department of Transportation.  City Manager Bobby Rountree suggested that the road be named officially at a future meeting; otherwise, it will remain as Market Place Blvd Extension.  Suggestions are welcome according to Rountree.  The ordinance was approved on first reading and will be taken up again in a future meeting on second and final readings.

*Council approved an extension of the contract between the city of Brownwood and James B. Hayes, M.D. to serve as the City’s Public Health Authority.  This action extends the contract for another two years.

*Council approved an engagement letter with Krischke, CPA , PC to perform the annual independent audit for the next three years.   The audit costs $38,000 annually and has not changed in price since 2008, according to Rountree.

*An ordinance on second and third/final readings was approved, changing the zoning classification of approximately 20.7 acres being Outlots 372 and 373, of the William H. Irions Survey Number 52, Abstract 537, located at the southwest corner of Davis Lane and Market Place Boulevard, from R1 Single Family Residential District to C1 Local Business District.  This property is located at the corner of Davis Lane and Market Place Blvd and is best suited for commercial development, according to Rountree.  The owner, Western Bank feels a commercial zoning designation would help in marketing the property.

*A resolution authorizing the mayor to sign contracts and amendments with Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) for the Senior Citizen’s Program.