At today’s meeting of the Brown County Commissioners Court, approval was given to a new contract with Kirbo’s Office Machines for copy machines in the courthouse.  The new contract was negotiated and proposed by Sam Goldsmith of Goldsmith Solutions, the County’s technology consultant.  Under the current contract, each copy machine has a limit to the number of copies it can make annually before overage charges are applied.  Under the new contract, all copiers will be allowed unlimited black and white copies, while color copies will be limited to 60,000 per year for all copy machines combined.  If all the copiers exceed 60,000 color copies, the County will be charged 5-cents per copy for the copies above the limit.  The County is currently paying Kirbo’s $3,200 per month for 22 copiers, plus overage charges on each machine, if applicable.  The new contract, which will cover 23 copiers, will cost $3,700 per month, with overage charges only if all 23 copiers produce more than 60,000 color copies in a year.

Commissioners also approved two new pickup trucks for the Sheriff’s Department, requested by Sheriff Vance Hill.  One truck will be used for patrol duty, and will be 4-wheel drive with spotlights and pursuit capability.  The other truck will be used by the Criminal Investigation Division.  The cost of the two trucks will be $107,315.10, plus $30,000 worth of upgrade equipment.  The trucks will be furnished by Reliable Chevrolet in Richardson, Texas, and financed by American Leasing, through a program with the Texas Sheriff’s Association.

Also the Commissioners agreed to participate with the Brookesmith Independent School District in their grant application for the construction of a Safe Room for students and faculty.  The proposal was presented by Bob Contreras of the Brookesmith ISD.  The Safe Room will be a sturdy Quonset hut, designed to withstand an F5 tornado.  It will be large enough to hold 222 students and faculty members, and will have water and electricity.  The cost will be $341,000, 90% of which will be paid by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), and 10% by the Brookesmith ISD.  The grant application will be filed by Brown County, which will be the Grantee; Brookesmith ISD will be the sub-grantee and will pay the 10% cost of $34,100.

In other business:

*** Commissioners approved an application by the Brookesmith Special Utilities District to install a private water line on Western Oaks Lane.

*** Approved sending an employee of Precinct 3, Terry Browder, to school for a Commercial Driver’s License, and to pay for the school.

*** Approved a request from Sheriff Vance Hill to create a new, part-time position at the County Jail.  The new position will train new and current jail employees on proper procedures for paperwork, safety, and security.  The salary of the new position will be paid for from the Jail commissary funds.

*** Agreed to promote an employee of Precinct 1, Chad Hallum, from part-time to full-time.

*** Agreed to leave off the burn ban for now.

*** Considered a proposal to add internet service to the Precinct 1 Barn. The new service had been requested by Precinct 1 Commissioner Gary Worley, who was absent today.  Technology consultant Sam Goldsmith reported that he received quotes for the service from Astound Broadband, Resound, and Starlink.  Goldsmith recommended Astound, because it would be hard-wired fiberoptic service, as opposed to wireless service from Resound and Starlink.  The cost would be $155 per month, plus a one-time “Build Out”, or installation, fee of $7,000.  Commissioners tabled the request, and will consider it again in January, when newly elected Precinct 1 Commissioner Kirk Chastain takes office.