The Brownfield City Council held its regular meeting Thursday, September 17, 2026. After the invocation, pledges and approval of minutes from the previous meeting, the council moved into its agenda. No one spoke during public comment.
The council first recognized Brownfield Police Corporal Melissa Antillon and Patrol Officer Jeremiah DeLeon for outstanding performance and meritorious conduct in the line of duty. According to CID Lt. Michael Dorris, the officers responded to the Brownfield Regional Medical Center emergency room shortly before midnight on May 25 after a report of a man with a knife. They found him in an emotional crisis, holding the knife to his chest. Antillon spoke with him and, when an opportunity arose, took control of his right wrist and disarmed him. At the same moment, DeLeon secured his left wrist. Dorris credited their quick actions, taken at risk to their own safety, with protecting the man, hospital staff, patients, and others nearby. Both officers received police commendations.
The council then approved the August financial and investment reports. City Manager Jeff Davis said all departments were within budget with one month remaining in the 2025–26 fiscal year. The investment report showed the city earned $14,899.64 in interest, held $4,941,474.31 in total deposits, and was overcollateralized by 27.29%.
Following a public hearing, the council considered the proposed 2026–27 fiscal year budget. A $240,000 allocation for emergency medical services drew questions about the city’s arrangement with Brownfield Regional Medical Center and whether the city would also contribute toward a new ambulance. BRMC CEO Kyle Barnett said the county had obtained a grant covering $350,000 of an ambulance’s cost, but the vehicle would cost more than that amount. He said a city contribution had been discussed but had not been approved by all participating entities. Barnett also said another ambulance is on order and expected in 2028.
Jerry Worley questioned whether the proposed ambulance service arrangement would place additional demands on the city’s fire department. Worley said EMS already calls on city resources when an ambulance is unavailable and raised concerns about responsibility for staffing and vehicle shortages. Mayor Eric Horton said the concern appeared to involve operating policies that department representatives should discuss.
Davis stressed that the $240,000 was included in the budget, but no service contract had been finalized. He said the city and BRMC would continue negotiating the terms, and an interlocal agreement or contract would return to the council for consideration.
Brownfield’s approximately $8.43 million General Fund budget includes a planned use of reserves to build a new landfill cell. Budgeted expenditures exceed current-year revenue by about $755,000, primarily because of that one-time project. The budget also provides a 3.4% cost-of-living adjustment for employees. Davis said the selected health plan, including the city’s Health Reimbursement Arrangement funding, would raise employer costs by approximately 10.34%, less than anticipated.
The budget anticipates a 6% water rate adjustment and a 2.6% electric rate adjustment. It also calls for a larger residential sanitation rate adjustment because existing revenue does not cover the full cost of that service; the city manager’s budget message did not specify the sanitation percentage. Planned work includes the Gillham Park Pond project, downtown revitalization, street and utility improvements, and replacement of aging vehicles and equipment. The council unanimously approved the 2026–27 budget.
In a separate vote, the council adopted the 2026 no-new-revenue property tax rate of $0.454575 per $100 of taxable value. The city said it could not adopt the higher voter-approval rate because its independent audit was completed after the required deadline. Texas Senate Bill 1851 limits the no-new-revenue rate when a municipality is found out of compliance with annual audit and filing requirements. According to the city, the higher rate would have generated more than $100,000 in additional property tax revenue. The rate passed by roll call, with every council member and the mayor voting in favor.
Street Director Ryan Sargent then presented the Street Department’s quarterly report. The department received six work orders: four for potholes, one for a street sign, and one for street sweeping. Crews also completed three roadway cutout repairs in areas affected by water leaks. The department continued weekly pothole work, surveyed the city for missing or damaged signs, sprayed weeds when weather permitted, and mowed city-owned properties requiring maintenance. Claude Harrell continued street sweeping as needed. The council approved the report.
Sanitation Director Jacob Mendez reported that his department completed 203 work orders during the quarter, including 179 limb and junk removal requests and 12 dumpster repairs. The department received lids and hardware to repair approximately 50 dumpsters. It also delivered 19,960 pounds of tires to State Rubber in Denver City for recycling, although new restrictions on large equipment and agricultural tires may require the city to find another disposal option.
Mendez said the department had corrected all but one violation identified by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. TCEQ approved an extension until November 13, 2026, to address a remaining pile of limbs north of the landfill. Meanwhile, the landfill scraper has been out of service since early June while a replacement part remains on backorder. Mendez also recognized Johnny Leija for reaching 30 years of city service on September 11. Leija could not attend the meeting.
The council’s final discussion concerned the Gillham Park Pond improvement project. City crews have begun excavation and site preparation, with upgrades targeted for completion in September 2027.