BANGS — A five-hour, 10-minute Bangs City Council meeting Monday produced decisions involving police coverage, fire protection, community cleanup, payroll software and a proposed destination park that could combine recreation, education and economic development.
The meeting began with Marisa Craddock taking the oath of office as the council’s fourth member. Craddock ran unopposed in the Nov. 3 general election. She joins Danny Marney, Eric Bishop and Mayor Pro Tem Carrol Wells, who were all in attendance.
The council also held an executive session lasting one hour and 40 minutes. After returning to open session, members approved a committee made up of City Attorney Pat Chesser, City Administrator Stephanie Jester and Bishop to follow up on the condition and operations of the Bangs Volunteer Fire Department.
Police coverage and fire equipment
Members approved having Jester and Interim Police Chief Dennis Farris propose a memorandum of understanding with the Brown County Sheriff’s Office. The proposal would provide Bangs with law enforcement coverage from off-duty deputies when no city police officer is working.
Bangs currently has one police officer in addition to the interim chief, according to the meeting report. The proposed arrangement would address periods when neither city officer is on duty, although the council still must consider the memorandum before any agreement takes effect.
The council also approved looking into purchasing Engine 92 from the Brownwood Fire Department. The estimated purchase price is between $7,000 and $10,000, compared with an estimated $35,000 to $45,000 cost to repair the pump on Bangs’ Engine 3.
The plan is to try to sell Bangs’ existing engine and potentially recover some of the money used to purchase the Brownwood engine. The council’s action was to investigate the purchase rather than finalize a reported sale.
B.E.A.R. Park moves into planning
Council members approved the initial planning stages for the B.E.A.R. Park proposal, short for Bangs Educational and Recreational Park. The concept is described as a private and public works community and economic development project supported by an integrated business plan.
The proposed park would combine municipal park functions with educational facilities, event space, visitor lodging, vendor areas, demonstration businesses, agricultural production and future tourism amenities. Its stated purpose is to connect Bangs’ history with current business activity and future technology.
Under the vision presented to the council, residents and visitors could learn, recreate, shop, attend events, watch products being made and take part in agriculture and sustainability programs in one setting. Nick Seybert, representing the Bangs Economic Development District, presented details about the project.
The proposal still requires support from the Bangs City Council, Bangs Independent School District, Bangs Economic Development Corporation and Bangs Municipal Development District before it can move forward. Additional information is expected to be released in the future.
Cleanup, payroll and items postponed
The council designated 501c3 This Company of Men, also known as TCOM, as an approved cleanup crew for community rehabilitation projects. Sam Sadler represented the organization at the meeting. Marney will serve as the council liaison, and members asked the city attorney to prepare a waiver or release for property owners to sign before cleanup work begins.
Members approved separate portals connected with the city’s planned transition to Fundview for Time Clock Plus and an employee portal intended to streamline payroll. The first-year cost will be $1,600, followed by $1,350 in each additional year.
The council appointed Kenneth Fitzgerald to the Brown County Appraisal District Board and selected the Abilene Reporter-News as the backup newspaper of record to the Brownwood Bulletin for legal notices. During the consent agenda, members approved two batches of checks totaling $5,176.07 and $61,185.30.
Several items were tabled. They included an updated personnel policy manual, which remains under review by the city attorney; replacement of three Bangs ISD water meters, with one discussed option estimated at $13,979.78; installation of two pumps on the water supply line from the Brown County Water Improvement District, estimated at $108,344; and a review of the city’s master fee schedule and related ordinances.
The council also received updates on Tyler Technologies/Incode data extraction and the Fundview utility-billing transition. Data extraction is scheduled for the evening of Friday, Nov. 20, and again on Friday, Dec. 18. After the second extraction, utility billing will begin populating in Fundview.
Earlier in the meeting, Seybert also provided an update for Bangs American Legion Post 308 on improvements at 205 West Hall Street. He reported that a donation had been received to help begin the Lynn Snow Memorial Park behind the building.