Brownwood News – The Brownwood City Council and the Brownwood Municipal Development District Board met in a joint session at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, January 16th, to review three bids submitted for the old Main Fire Station located at 807 Main Street. Both the council and BMDD board also heard presentations from two of the bidders regarding their plans for the property, Bill Ruth and Angela Schum.
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In November 2017, Brownwood City Council members authorized the sale of the property through a sealed bid process. BMDD Executive Director Guy Andrews reported a developer had submitted a letter of intent to buy the property for $290,000, with the provision that the BMDD provide funding for asbestos remediation and possible demolition of the building.
Though the developer was not named at that time, Andrews explained the entity had plans to build a fast food national chain restaurant with the potential for 20 employees.
The three submitted bids for the property were opened on January 3, 2018. The bids were each scrutinized to determine their compliance with the specifications listed in the terms, as well as to determine the best return on investment for the citizens of Brownwood.
Bids were submitted by:
- Bill Ruth for $311,000
- Angela Schum for $302,000
- Shuler Properties (located in Atlanta, Georgia) for $290,000
In his remarks to the council and the BMDD board, Ruth explained he had plans to establish a Mr. Gatti’s Pizza restaurant. Ruth also told members present that he had also considered a coffee shop for the location as well as a Chick-FIL-A restaurant.
Angela Schum also told council members and the BMDD board she was actively working to bring a Chick-FIL-A restaurant to the location.
After hearing commentary from Ruth and Schum, the two groups entered into executive session to discuss legal issues regarding bids.
The council and BMDD board later reconvened into open session to announce that all three bids for the property had been rejected for failing to meet the requirements of the bid specifications.
The BMDD will list the bid process for the property on their next posted agenda.
Mayor Haynes encouraged both Ruth and Schum to continue their efforts to bring new businesses to Brownwood.
“If you need me to go with you to meet with corporate, I will go. If you need me to send a delegation, we will do everything we can to make those businesses welcome,” Mayor Haynes told both Bill Ruth and Angela Schum.
“One of those businesses can go on that lot, others can go in other locations in our city,” Haynes said. “Let’s work together to do that.”