During Tuesday morning’s meeting, the Brownwood City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Brownwood and Central Texas Veterans Memorial for improvements within the Camp Bowie Memorial Park.

The collaboration has served as a catalyst for numerous enhancements that honor veterans and their families and has significantly contributed to the park’s identity as a place of remembrance and community pride. These efforts have been undertaken with the shared goal of honoring military service and enhancing the public space for residents and visitors.

While this partnership has been productive, it has largely operated under informal understandings. As the scale and complexity of improvements have increased, the need for a more clearly defined framework has become evident—particularly to ensure proper coordination, long-term maintenance planning, and alignment with City standards and budgeting processes.

To address these needs, the City and CTVM have developed a Memorandum of Understanding to formally outline roles, responsibilities, and procedures governing future improvements within Camp Bowie Memorial Park.

The intent of the Memorandum of Understanding is to:

• Establish a clear and consistent process for the review and approval of proposed improvements

• Define responsibilities for construction, installation, and long-term maintenance of improvements

• Ensure all projects meet applicable City standards, codes, and safety requirements

• Provide coordination on funding, including privately funded improvements that may create future public maintenance obligations

• Protect the City from unintended liabilities or unplanned operational costs

• Create continuity in the partnership as leadership transitions occur within both the City and CTVM

It was also announced during the meeting the Central Texas Veterans Memorial will receive a $25,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority on Thursday, with those funds going toward a canopy to cover the memorial. Construction is slated to begin shortly after the Memorial Day program.

Following an executive session Tuesday morning, Council ratified the BMDD action to sell 6 acres of land at 2804 Stephen F. Austin to WT Harris – a locally owned industrial support company based in Brownwood since 1982 – for the purpose of expansion. Since the property is a near a residential area, WT Harris is also required to protect residents from noise and dust during the operations, and any parking lots or areas where trucks will travel are paved with asphalt or concrete.

On the consent agenda, Council approved on second and third/final reading approved an ordinance closing, abandoning and vacating a portion of Sharon Avenue.

A signed petition was submitted by Thomas and Donna Sikes. They do not intend to develop this land but wish to close this portion of Sharon Avenue to join the properties they own to the east and west into one contiguous property.

Since Sharon Avenue is an undeveloped street, City policy does not require an appraisal of the street. Once the street is closed, the street automatically conveys from the center line of the street to the adjoining properties. The City will reserve a drainage easement to allow for the installation and maintenance of drainage facilities such as culverts, channels, or other drainage improvements. The City will reserve a right of way easement to allow the City and franchised, authorized utility companies operating within the city to utilize this right of way to access their infrastructure.

This property is in the shape of an “L” approximately 260.9 feet by 303.5 feet and varying in width between 39.26 feet and 50.82 feet and being approximately .59 acres. There are no utilities located in the area proposed to be closed.

Reports were also presented regarding Utility Billing Payment Processing Conversion and Capital Projects.

Regarding Utility Billing Payment Processing Conversion, the City is preparing to transition to InvoiceCloud, a new payment platform designed to improve customer experience and expand payment options.

Key benefits include easier online payments and account management; multiple payment options (ACH, card, in-person, Venmo, Paypal, etc); ability to manage multiple accounts; and future potential for water usage tracking.

The change is expected to go live June 15 for all locations except Municipal Court.

Internal staff are collaborating with InvoiceCloud to ensure systems, staff, and communications are in place.

Customers may need to create new accounts and re-enroll in autopay and there will be a card fee of 3.25%, while fee-free options include ACH, cash, check.

As for the Capital Projects, most notably, construction on the second phase of Riverside Park improvements are slated to begin in May, with the installation of new playscape equipment set for June. Riverside Park will not close at any potion during the next phase of renovations, but some parts of the park may not be accessible while work takes place.

During the Citizens Presentation portion of the meeting, Chaleb Elijah Pommells addressed the Council about the City’s procedure making meetings accessible for those who are legally deaf or have other significant hearing issues. Pommells asked the Council to review and amend the City’s policy, where need be.