Brownwood Bulletin
Brookesmith ISD superintendent Steve Mickelson said the district would benefit from two solar farm projects that are proposed near Brookesmith, but added the district is hanging in there financially.
“Brookesmith ISD is not going anywhere,” Mickelson said. He spoke in a phone interview in response to statements that opponents of the projects made during Monday s meeting of the Brown County Commissioners Court.
“But we certainly would like to have a greater fund balance and to be stronger financially, Mickelson said. As far as the state of the Brookesmith ISD, we are fine. Even if it’s a tight time or a difficult time, we’re moving through it.”
Brown County citizens speak against solar farm tax abatement
Brownwood Bulletin
Six members of TLOW Texas Landowners Opposing Wind urged Brown County Commissioners Court members Monday to refuse a tax abatement for a proposed solar farm project near Brookesmith.
While there were no agenda items at Monday’s meeting that pertained to the proposed solar project, the six spoke during the citizens comments section of the agenda.
TLOW was initially formed by a group of landowners who opposed tax abatements for wind energy.
On Feb. 8, commissioners approved in a 4-1 vote with Brown County Judge Paul Lilly voting “no” guidelines and criteria for any future tax abatements the court might grant.
Though not an agenda item, more than 20 people attended the Brown County Commissioner’s meeting Monday morning to continue commenting on a proposed solar farm in southwest Brown County. Several people registered to speak during public comments, all opposing the proposed solar farm. One man was opposed to tax abatement in general while another man suggested approving the project would be the beginning of many renewable energy projects in Brown County. Commissioners received the comments but there was no further comments or action taken.
Previous KOXE Stories from December 2020 are below:
In session Monday morning, December 14, Brown County Commissioners Court voted 4-1 to retain Allison, Bass & McGee, LLP, as consultants for a potential Brown County Solar Project with Intersect Power. As reported previously, IP Radian Solar.
Speakers disagree on possible tax abatement for solar farm
Brownwood Bulletin
A standing-room-only audience attended Monday s meeting of the Brown County Commissioners Court as the court voted 4-1 to approve guidelines and criteria for tax abatement.
While a proposed solar power farm near Brookesmith generated the large attendance and numerous comments, commissioner Gary Worley stressed the court was not approving a tax abatement at that time.
The guidelines will apply to any company seeking a tax abatement, Worley said.
The court took the vote after hearing comments from about a dozen speakers during the citizens comment portion of the meeting as well as a public hearing. Brown County Judge Paul Lilly voted against approving the tax abatement guidelines, saying he does not support tax abatement on a county level.
Brownwood Bulletin
Six hundred doses of the COVID vaccine will be given Wednesday at a drive-through clinic at Gordon Wood Stadium, Brownwood/Brown County Health Administrator Lisa Dick told Brown County Commissioners Court members Monday.
The clinic will focus on vaccinating remaining qualifying health-care workers in the 1A Phase, as well as individuals over the age of 65 with specific pre-existing conditions as outline by the Texas Department of Health Services, a press release from the City of Brownwood states.
Dick said the health department was notified by state health officials Friday the county will be receiving 600 doses through Hendrick Medical Center Brownwood. The hospital and health department will team up to operate the vaccination clinic, Dick said.