Interest growing in Brownsboro's city ball park

The city of Brownsboro is blazing new ground to attract people into the community.

During the city council's regularly scheduled meeting last Thursday, Brownsboro Mayor Ronny Harris reported on the public forum held February 22 for the purpose of discussing the use of the city's ball field.

"We had 10 reps that are interested and had a good discussion concerning use of the field," Harris said. "There's a lot of interest in doing something over there."

Interest includes using the field for practice as well as games for all age groups, and a possible arts and crafts festival.

A committee headed up by Gerald Essary was formed, with Chris Saylors chairing the adult softball division, and Jerry Hester over the arts and crafts.

Initially, the city and committee will share the clean up responsibilities.

"We will eventually set up a contract with the committee to relieve the city of any reliability, " Harris said.

In other business, the city council approved to amend the existing franchise between the City of Brownsboro and TXU Electric Delivery to change the payment schedule from an annual accrual to a quarterly accrual basis, effective Oct. 1, 2007. The amendment will require a six year extension to expire on June 30, 2023.

*Approved - the purchase of a metal carport to be erected on the city's current facility maintenance grounds for the larger equipment.

*Approved - the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance which will promote the public health, safety and general welfare and minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions in specific areas within the City.

"Certain provisions have to be provided in building permits, " Harris said. "This will cover those areas the law says we must cover in the flood plain."

*The council approved ordering the May 12, 2007 election in consolidation with the Brownsboro school board election.

*Approved - appointing Dorothy Jones as the city's election judge.

In old business Brownsboro Utility Superintendent J.D. Jones reported the Sleepy Hollow addition wastewater expansion should be complete within the next three months.

Mayor Harris said of the 39 letters sent to Sleepy Hollow addition residents and homeowners inviting their participation to tie in to the new system free of charge, 29 have already responded and agreed. The 10 residents who have not responded will be notified by phone, Harris said.

"Throughout this I have received no complaints from any residents," Harris said.

In his annual report of traffic stops and citizen contacts Brownsboro Police Chief Ron Shields said data collected from public contacts such as traffic citations during the period of Jan. 1, 2006 and Dec. 31, 2006 shows racial profiling has not occurred within the police department.

The report shows of the 1,581 contacts made, 80 percent were Caucasian, 13 percent African American, and 6 percent Hispanic.

"I have had no complaints from the public of racial profiling, " Shields said in a letter to the mayor and council. "Along with good training and public awareness I feel we are doing our jobs both professionally and with courtesy. "

The Brownsboro City Council meets the second Thursday of the month at 5:00 p.m., in the City Hall, located on Willow Street, off Hwy. 31.