Mar 16, 2021 Commissioners Court

EXCELLENT

[Call to Order]

[00:00:08]

UH, TODAY IS TUESDAY, MARCH 16TH, 2021 NINE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

AND WE ARE IN THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING ROOM, LOCATED IN THE COURTHOUSE, ANNEX AS IS CUSTOMARY.

WE'LL START OFF, UH, OUR MEETING WITH AN INVOCATION AND PLEDGE TO THE FLAG.

UH, PASTOR KYLE IS HERE WITH US TODAY TO LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION AND, UH, COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS IS GOING TO LEAD US INTO THE PLAY.

JUST PLEASE STAND MORNING.

GOOD MORNING, FATHER.

WE THANK YOU, LORD.

THAT YOU'RE AN AWESOME AND MIGHTY GOD THAT YOU LEAD US THROUGH THE DIRECTIONS AND CHOICES THAT WE'LL BE MAKING THIS MORNING FOR OUR COUNTY AND FOR OUR CITIZENS FATHER, WE ASK YOUR BLESSING UPON OUR, OUR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO DO THE THINGS THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL AND YOUR WAY ALL THE WAY, ASK YOUR BLESSING UPON THE REST OF THIS DAY AND THE REST OF THIS WEEK.

AND LORD, WE GIVE YOU ALL THE PRAISE AND HONOR, AND THE GLORY, AND WE ASK THIS IN THE WONDERFUL, PRECIOUS NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.

AMEN.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL ONE MONTH.

NORMALLY AT THIS TIME WE WOULD HEAR REMARKS FROM VISITORS.

UH, I DON'T SEE ANY, DON'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY VISITORS WITH US TO CARE, TO SPEAK TO US TODAY.

UH, ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE.

[1. ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE.]

UM, I THINK THE COMMISSIONERS PROBABLY KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU, IF YOU, YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN THIS IN THE MEDIA THAT THE $65 BILLION, UH, SPEND THAT WAS PASSED IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND IN WASHINGTON, I DON'T KNOW IF THE PRESIDENT SIGNED IT YET, BUT IT'S A $65 BILLION DEAL, BILLION DOLLAR PACKAGE RELIEF PACKAGE.

AND IN THAT INFORMATION, I GOT THERE'S 26 MILLION ALLOCATED TO KAUFMAN COUNTY.

UM, MONDAY THE AUDITOR, UH, ME, THE AUDITOR AND, UM, UH, RAELYNN AND STEVE ARE GOING TO GET TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT PROCEDURES SO THAT WE, WE KINDA HAD TO, WE SORT OF HAD TO LEARN AS WE WENT ALONG THIS LAST TIME.

SO ANY MONIES WE SPAN, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO HAVE A MORE ORGANIZED PROCESS FROM THE GET GO.

YOU'RE WELCOME IS A LOT OF WORK FOR KAREN AND IT WAS A LOT TO DEAL WITH.

UM, AND WE DID RECEIVE OUR COVID FUNDING.

YOU REMEMBER THAT WE, WE DIDN'T SPEND ALL OF OUR FUNDS IN THAT LAST ROUND.

AND WE WERE, WE WERE ABLE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE BILL'S HELP.

UH, WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT MONEY SENT BACK TO US.

THIS IS THE AMOUNT OF LITTLE OVER $3 MILLION.

AND SO ON NEXT WEEK'S AGENDA, WE'LL INVITE THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHO WERE RECIPIENTS OF SOME OF THOSE FUNDS.

WE'LL EMBARK THEM TO COME AND, UH, RECEIVE THOSE CHECKS AND, AND JUST, WE CAN, THEY'LL GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THEM FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY'VE DONE IN SCHOOLS, I THINK HAVE HEADED AS HARD AS ANYBODY, ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY ROUTINE CORRESPONDENTS.

OKAY.

THAT BRINGS US TO THE CONSENT AGENDA

[2. CONSENT AGENDA]

MOTION BOY.

UH, COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS MOVES TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND OF COMMISSIONER BARBER DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES NEXT UP.

WE HAD

[3. Sue West; Discuss/Consider approving resolution proclaiming the month of May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. (Part 1 of 2)]

UM, SHE'S NOT HERE.

SO I GUESS IF SOMEBODY WILL REMIND ME TOWARDS THE END OF THE MEETING, IF THEY SHOW UP, THEN WE'LL BRING IT BACK.

OTHERWISE WE'LL, WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE, TO THE MEETING ANYWAY, AND JUST, UM, UH, APPROVE THE, UH, APPROVE THAT PROCLAMATION.

OKAY.

HANG ON JUST A SECOND.

OKAY.

OKAY.

NEXT ITEM IS MINE,

[4. Judge Richards; Discuss/Consider approving resolution Opposing Senate Bill 234 and House Bill 749 Advocating for the ending of Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying.]

[00:05:01]

THIS IS THE SAME SONG.

SECOND VERSE FROM THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

UH, SOME MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OBJECT TO OUR BEING ABLE TO, UH, WE DON'T HIRE LOBBYISTS IN THE COUNTY, BUT, UH, WE DO OCCASIONALLY HAVE ELECTED OFFICIALS GO AND SPEAK.

UH, I KNOW THE SHERIFF SPEAKS WITH HIM AND HE SPEAKS TO IN OUR ADVOCATES FOR HIS FOLKS.

A LOT OF OUR DEPARTMENT HAS TO DO THAT.

UM, SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS I THINK, AND MYSELF HAVEN'T DONE THAT HAVE BEEN THERE AND DONE THAT.

AND, UH, THIS, THIS HAS POTENTIAL FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE RIGHT NOW, THE BILL, I THINK SAYS THAT THEY'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT TAC AND TML AND, AND, UH, THE NTSB, BUT I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW.

ANYWAY.

SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR WOULD BE ASKED THE COMMISSIONERS TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION, TO BE SENT TO OUR LEGISLATORS, OPPOSING THAT ACTION.

YOU WANT ME TO READ THE PROCLAMATION, READ THE RESOLUTION.

I'VE GOT A FEW CALLS ABOUT THIS.

OKAY, LET ME JUST READ IT.

NOW.

I'LL SKIP ALL THE LANGUAGE.

THIS IS A RESOLUTION TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT OF KAUFMAN COUNTY OPPOSING SENATE BILL TWO 34 AND HOUSE BILL SEVEN 49.

UH, SAMUEL TWO 34 IS AUTHORED AND INTRODUCED BY SENATOR BOB HALL.

UH, AND ALSO SPONSORED BY SENATOR PAUL BETTENCOURT, UH, IS INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE BY SEVEN 49 IS INTRODUCED ON THE HOUSE BY MAYES MIDDLETON.

UH, THIS WOULD BE BANNED USING PUBLIC FUNDS TO EFFECTIVELY PREVENT GOVERNMENT ENTITIES.

THAT WOULD BE CITIES, COUNTIES, SCHOOLS FROM ADVOCATING AT THE STATE CAPITOL OVER MATTERS, SIGNIFICANT, UH, TO THOSE CITY AND COUNTY AND IN SCHOOL DISTRICT GOVERNMENT.

SO WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR ABILITY AS A COUNTY TO BE ABLE TO, UH, NUMBER ONE.

YEAH, WE CAN'T, THEY'RE SEVEN, 800 BILLS GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE AND NONE OF US CAN POSSIBLY KNOW WHAT'S IN ALL THOSE BILLS AND WE NEED TACK AND COUNCIL URBAN COUNTIES TO WATCH THOSE FOR US AND HELP US UNDERSTAND WHEN SOMETHING'S GOING TO HURT US.

UM, OKAY.

PROPOSITION THREE ON THE BALLOT OF THE MOST RECENT STATEWIDE ELECTION PROVIDED THE TEXAS SHOULD BAN THE PRACTICE OF TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYING.

AGAIN, I KNOW LIKE I DON'T THINK THAT'S A FAIR TERM.

UM, IT WAS APPROVED PROPOSITION THREE WAS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS, UH, IN THAT LAST, UH, ELECTION.

AND I THINK IT WAS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS BECAUSE THE WAY IT WAS PHRASED, I DON'T THINK THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT THE INTENTION OF THE BILL IS TO TAKE AWAY THE COUNTY'S ABILITY TO, UH, COMMUNICATE AND EXPRESS OUR OPINIONS AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT WE THINK IS GOOD OR BAD FOR US.

UM, AND IT TALKS ABOUT SMALLER SUBDIVISIONS OF THE STATE DON'T DON'T CAN'T AFFORD, AND DON'T HAVE LOBBYISTS THAT WE CAN HIRE TO GO AND RESEARCH ALL THESE BILLS AND COMMUNICATE WITH US.

SO THAT'S THE GIST OF THE RESOLUTION.

UM, MR. BARBER, YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? NOPE.

OKAY.

I AGREE.

OKAY.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO MAKE A COMMENT ON IT.

WELL, I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT, TO SUPPORT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT, UM, IT REALLY IS IN THE DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS OF THE COUNTY IMPORTANT THAT SOME OF THESE ASSOCIATIONS THAT SEEM TO BE TARGETED BY THAT BILL ARE, UH, UH, FUNCTIONAL, UM, UH, CRITICALLY FUNCTIONAL PIECES OF COUNTY BUSINESS.

THEY, THEY HELP US WITH OUR INSURANCE ISSUES AND OUR UNEMPLOYMENT ISSUES.

AND, UH, IT IT'S REALLY A MISNOMER TO CALL IT JUST PURE LOBBYING, UH, YOU KNOW, ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY AND THE COUNTIES DO HAVE, UH, WE DO HAVE A DOG IN THE FIGHT ON ISSUES RELATED TO TAX OR, UH, STATE REGULATIONS.

SO, UH, IT IS, UH, IT IS A VERY, UM, MINIMAL BUT WISE EXPENDITURE, UH, CERTAINLY ON THE PART OF KAUFMAN COUNTY, BUT, UH, ACROSS THE, ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF GOVERNMENT TO, TO ALLOW, UH, COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES TO HAVE A VOICE, UH, AND TO PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT ULTIMATELY THE LEGISLATORS HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISIONS, BUT, UH, JUST BEING ABLE TO HAVE A VOICE AND, AND ENSURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND OUR NEEDS AND OUR PROBLEMS AND OUR ISSUES, UH, THAT'S A POSITIVE THING.

WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE THERE'S,

[00:10:01]

AND, AND I THINK FROM IF, UH, IF I WERE A LEGISLATOR, I WOULDN'T MIND SOMEBODY REVIEWING THAT AND COMING TO ME AND SAYING, THIS MIGHT BE AN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE.

THIS, THIS MAY AFFECT A CITY OR A COUNTY OR A SCHOOL YOU MAY HAVE MADE ME, MAYBE YOU HAVEN'T REALIZED OR THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS ARE.

THIS IS GOING TO BE FOR THEM.

AND, UM, IF YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING, I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU MIND PEOPLE, UH, EDITING AND LOOKING AT WHAT YOU'RE DOING SO WELL.

IT WAS AN ISSUE OF LOCAL CONTROL.

I MEAN, YEAH, THEY WHINE ALL THE TIME ABOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COME IN AND TELLING THE STATE GOVERNMENT WHAT TO DO.

BUT THEN THE STATE GOVERNMENT WAS TO COME DOWN AND TELL THE COUNTIES AND THE SCHOOLS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.

SO IT WAS KIND OF LIKE A, YOU KNOW, KIND OF HYPOCRITICAL TYPE DEAL HERE, BUT IT TAKES AWAY A LOT OF OUR CONTROL LOCALLY.

CAUSE I MEAN, LIKE YOU SAID, THOSE, THOSE BILLS DO IMPACT.

THEY DON'T REALIZE THE IMPACT ON THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF A COUNTY OR A SCHOOL DISTRICT, MAYBE UNINTENDED.

YEAH.

THE INTENTIONS ARE THERE.

I MEAN, FOR THE RIGHT REASONS SOMETIMES, BUT WHENEVER IT SHAKES DOWN AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, IT IMPACTS ALL OF US AND THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS ALWAYS SPENT AND CONTINUE TO SPEND ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF MONEY LOBBYING CONGRESS.

YEAH.

UH, I KNOW THAT, UH, UM, I MEAN SOME OF THE STATE AGENCIES HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY LARGE STAFFS OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE FULL TIME IN WASHINGTON AND THEIR JOB IS LOBBYING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AT THE LEGISLATIVE AND AT THE, AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL.

SO THAT SEEMS A LITTLE, UH, HYPOCRITICAL.

YEAH, IT IS.

AND THEN I THINK IT'S PROBABLY JUSTIFIED THAT THE STATE, UH, YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT TXDOT.

I MEAN, TXDOT NEEDS TO HAVE PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT THEY'RE DOING THERE IS BENEFICIAL TO THE STATE.

NO DOUBT.

AND I, ONE THING I LEFT OUT, I'D JUST LIKE TO SUGGEST, UH, FOR THE RECORD THAT IF OUR STATE SENATOR IS GOING TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION LIKE THIS, IT'D BE BENEFICIAL IF HE WOULD MAYBE INTERACT WITH THIS AHEAD OF TIME AND TAKE SOME INPUT FOR HMM.

OKAY.

THAT MIGHT BE NEXT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL.

YES, IT WOULD BE.

YES, IT WOULD BE.

UM, OKAY.

SO AFTER ALL OF THAT DISCUSSION, GOOD DISCUSSION, I THINK, UM, W UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT RESOLUTION OPPOSING SENATE BILL TWO 34 AND HOUSE BILL SEVEN 49? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION WITH THAT MOTION COMMISSIONER BARBERS, OR SECOND, SECOND, SECOND, WHERE COMMISSIONER HUNT DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE.

AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED.

NO MOTION CARRIES NEXT UP.

RON SULLIVAN DISCUSS,

[5. Ron Sullivan; Discuss/Consider granting a County Land Use agreement to Becker-Jiba SUD for the installation of a 4" waterline crossing County Road 110 as shown on the attached plan sheets.]

HE WAS ISSUE D FOR THE SPECIAL UTILITY DISTRICT FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A FOUR-INCH WATER LINE CROSSING COUNTY ROAD.

ONE 10.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

UH, COMMISSIONERS, UH, JUDGE, THE, UH, BECCA HEBA, UM, UH, SAID, HAS REQUESTED, UH, LAND USE PERMIT, UH, TO CROSS, UH, UH, COUNTY ROAD ONE 10, UH, NEAR THE FM, UH, 25 15 INTERSECTION, UH, WITH A FOUR INCH WATERLINE.

THIS WATER LINE IS ACTUALLY PARALLEL TO AN EXISTING FOUR INCH WATER LINE THAT THEY'RE ABANDONING QUESTIONS FOR RON.

IS THERE A MOTION TO GRANT THAT LAND USE AGREEMENT TO BECKER HEBA ISSUE D I'LL MAKE A MOTION WHERE THAT MOTION COMMISSIONER HUNT, IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS DISCUSSION.

IT WAS A FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE.

AYE.

THOSE POSTS.

NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES BACK TO RON GRANTING

[6. Ron Sullivan; granting a County Land Use agreement to NEXTLINK for the installation of a fiber optic line in County Roads 352 & 390 as shown on the attached plan sheets.]

THE, UH, COUNTY IS RECEIVED THE REQUEST FROM NEXT LINK FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A FIBER OPTICS LINE AND THE COUNTY ROADS, UH, PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED.

UH, I HAVE REVIEWED THE PLANS.

UH, I'VE SENT THEM TO THE, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, FOR REVIEW AS WELL.

UH, I HAVE NO OPPOSITION, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THEN THE FIBER OPTIC LINES.

YES, SIR.

WHEN THEY

[00:15:01]

LIKE THIS ONE IS THIS ONE WAY OFF TO THE LONG WAYS.

IT, UH, THEY LOCATED AS FAR AWAY AS THEY COULD, UH, FROM OUR FACILITY, I'VE ALSO INCLUDED IN THE LAND USE AGREEMENT, THE REQUESTS FOR AS-BUILTS SO THAT WE HAVE CERTIFIED AS-BUILTS SO THAT WE AT LEAST HAVE SOME MEASURE OF CONTROL.

I DID THE SAME THING ON THE, UH, UM, ONE 10, UH, AS WELL.

YEAH.

AND THEY, AND THEY, AND THEY GO BELOW THE DITCH LINE, RIGHT? LIKE THREE FEET.

YES, SIR.

BASELINE AT LEAST 36 INCHES.

YES, SIR.

OKAY.

BUT WE STILL DON'T.

WE CAUSE THEY SHOOT A MAN, RIGHT? YEAH.

THEY JUST PLOW ON ME AND THEY JUST PLAY A MAN WITH A THING.

AND THEY DON'T.

I MEAN, I'M JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE I NEVER SEE HIM.

I DON'T EVEN SEE WHEN THEY DO THEM.

I JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT THEY DRIVE ME CRAZY ON WHERE, CAUSE I HAVE SO MANY OF THEM THAT ARE, YOU ALSO ARE REQUIRED TO GIVE 48 HOURS NOTICE BOTH TO THE, UH, COMMISSIONER.

AND I'VE NEVER HAD ONE OF THEM, NOT ONE HAS ANYBODY HERE HAD A GATE AND A NOTICE NOW, SOMETIMES YOU DON'T KNOW THEY'RE THERE UNTIL YOU TILL UP A ROAD AND THEY'RE RANDOM, THEY'RE RUNNING RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTY ROAD.

I KNOW THEY'RE NOT EVEN IN THE DITCH.

OH.

I FOUND ONE THE OTHER DAY.

THEY SHOT IT THROUGH THE COVERT.

YEAH.

GOES RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE CULVER.

YEP.

I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S BEEN A REAL PROBLEM.

YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.

WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, PARTICULARLY IN PRECINCT FOUR.

UM, YOU KNOW, THEY TAKE THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE.

SO WHETHER THAT'S THE COUNTY DITCH OR NOT ALONG THE EDGE OF THE ROAD, NO PROBLEM.

WHEN YOU RUN INTO THEM OVER DID STOP.

AND THEN, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, AND THEN WE'RE W YOU KNOW, WE'RE THE RECIPIENTS OF THE, A, OF THE EYE OR WHEN, WHEN, UH, WE'RE OUT GRADING THE ROAD.

AND, UH, SO, UH, WE DO, UH, IMPRISONING FOR OUR SUPERVISOR GOES BACK OUT AND AT LEAST EYEBALLS THE JOB.

BUT, UH, I DON'T THINK THAT'S BEEN A CONSISTENT PRACTICE.

AND IT'S CLEARLY SOMETHING THAT WE OUGHT TO KIND OF FORMALIZE ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST AS WE GO AND, AND, UH, REVIEW CULVERT INSTALLATIONS, WE OUGHT TO BE REVIEWING THESE THINGS.

YEAH.

MAYBE WHEN YOU GO BACK WITH TELL THEM THAT IT'S OKAY, THAT YOU MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOTIFIED 48 HOURS BEFORE THEY START DOING IT.

SO WE CAN BE SURE ONCE WE SEND IT BACK TO THEM, THEY'RE REMINDED OF THAT.

UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NO CLUE WHEN THEY'RE DOING IT WOULD JUST HAVE HAPPENED ON THEM IF THEY WERE DOING IT, COULD WE REQUIRE THEM TO POST SOME SORT OF A DEPOSIT OR, UH, SOME SORT OF, UH, SOME MECHANISM BY WHICH THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET THAT MONEY BACK UNTIL SOMEBODY REPRESENTING THE DOWNY HAD INSPECTED IT AND APPROVED IT.

IF IT'S THAT BIG OF A GROWING, IF THAT'S GROWING THAT BIG OF A PROBLEM, IT'S NOT JUST FOR, I MEAN, JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT COMMISSIONER KATES WAS TALKING ABOUT WHEN, WHEN WE DO IN MAINTENANCE, WHEN WE CUT ONE OF THOSE, UH, CABLES, THAT'S A HUGE OBSTACLE FOR PEOPLE.

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW BIG AN AREA WE SHOT DOWN HERE.

SO I WONDER IN THIS PILOT LEGAL QUESTION, COULD WE REQUIRE THEM WHEN THEY MAKE APPLICATION? COULD WE REQUIRE THEM TO PUT UP A DEPOSIT AND WE HOLD THAT DEPOSIT UNTIL THEY NOTICE THEY, UNTIL WE INSPECT IT, THEY DON'T GET THEIR MONEY BACK.

IT'S CERTAINLY POSSIBLE.

WE CAN PUT, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN AN AGREEMENT.

WE JUST NEED A MECHANISM FOR HOW WE'RE GOING TO INSPECT IT.

AND YOU KNOW, SO THAT THEY KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM US.

NO, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE THAT THEY PASSED, THAT THE PHONE COMPANIES AND AT WORK, THEY DON'T REALLY, YEAH.

THEY'RE EXEMPT FROM LAMONT PERMISSION FROM US, RIGHT? NO, NO, NO.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE AS TELEPHONES COME, THEY HAVE LOBBYISTS.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, THANK YOU.

THEY GO, I CAN COME IN AND DO, THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE TO ASK, SO THIS APPLICATION, THIS ACTION THAT'S IN FRONT OF US TODAY IS JUST A COURTESY ON THEIR PART.

YES.

IT'S COURTESY.

OKAY.

WELL, LUKE POINT THEN I GUESS.

YEAH.

WELL, I MEAN, WE STILL HAVE SOME LEVERAGE.

I MEAN, EVEN IF THEY CAN, THEY HAVE TO, THEY'RE A PUBLIC UTILITY.

SO WE HAVE TO GRANT THEM ACCESS TO OUR EMR RIGHT AWAY.

BUT WE STILL HAVE SOME LEVERAGE AS A GOOD NEIGHBORS, YOU KNOW, TO, TO ASK THEM, WE WOULDN'T WANT TO MAKE ANY KIND OF UNREASONABLE DEMANDS.

AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WHAT KIND OF INSPECTION WE WOULD REALLY BE TALKING ABOUT.

BUT, UM, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS A DIALOGUE AND IN, YOU KNOW, IF THEY AGREE TO SOMETHING, THEY AGREE TO A CONTRACT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A CONTRACTUAL ROAD USE AGREEMENT.

OH NO, THE OTHER DAY,

[00:20:01]

JUST FIBER OPTIC TELEPHONE AS WELL, HARD LINES.

OH YEAH.

IT'S BAD.

AND IN SOME INSTANCES IN MY PRECINCT IS WATER LINES.

AT THE VERY LEAST JUST GETTING THE AS-BUILTS IS A PLUS.

CAUSE I'VE NEVER SEEN THOSE BEFORE.

UH, SO THAT WILL HELP AT LEAST THAT WE'LL HAVE SOME LOOK AT IT AND SAY, OKAY, DID THEY MEET WHAT THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO DO HERE? SO YEAH.

THAT'S, THAT'S MY INTENT.

YEAH.

TO TRY TO GET AS MUCH CONTROL AS I CAN ON THE SITUATION.

YEAH.

CAUSE EVERY DAY WE WERE THERE EVERYDAY, THERE'S A NEW COMPANY PUTTING A FIBER OPTIC.

I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY, BUT THERE'S, YOU'RE RIGHT.

IT'S UH, I THINK ON HIM TRAIL, I THINK IT WAS WHEN WE COUNTED THEM, THERE WAS EITHER 12 IN THE NINE OR 12.

I DON'T REMEMBER.

I DON'T REMEMBER FIBER OPTIC LAND RUNNING DOWN THE SIDE OF IT.

SO I MEAN, AND MOST OF THOSE, THEY NEVER EVEN BOTHERED TO GET A PERMIT.

NO, WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THEY WERE THERE.

SO ANYWAY.

OKAY.

SO YEAH, BUT THEY CAN STILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGES, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE TO LET THEM COME AND, AND BE IN OUR EASEMENT.

I MEAN, THAT DOESN'T INSTANTLY, IF WE HIT ONE, WE DEFINITELY GET A BILL, BUT THERE'S, THEY HAVE TO DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, LIKE, UM, REPAIR ANY DAMAGES SO THAT DOESN'T, IT'S NOT A FREE FOR ALL, JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A PUBLIC UTILITY THAT CAN COME.

I WOULD ASK THAT YOU, THAT YOU RESEARCH THAT AND SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING, AGAIN, IT'S NOT, IT'S A CON FOR ME, IT'S A CONCERN FOR THE PEOPLE THAT'S USING IT MORE AND MORE, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE RELYING ON THESE FIBER OPTIC LINES ARE NOT SITTING AT HOME.

THEY'RE NOT JUST SITTING AT HOME STREAMING MOVIES.

A LOT OF THEM, THEIR LIVELIHOOD DEPENDS ON THEIR CONNECTIVITY.

THAT'S CORRECT.

AND I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE UNREASONABLE FOR US TO ASK THEM TO.

SO IF YOU COULD RESEARCH THAT KAREN AND SEE IF WE HAVE ANY, ANY METHODS THAT WE COULD USE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

WELL, THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT THEN DOESN'T EVEN DRIVE ME CRAZY.

EVEN WHEN YOU DO FIND THEM AND YOU ASK THEM TO COME OUT, THEY DON'T DO IT.

AND WE'VE TRIED AND READ AND READ THEM.

WE, UH, WE PROCEEDED TO HEY AT ANYWAY.

AND WE FOUND IT LIKE THREE INCHES UNDER THE GROUND, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, BUT WHEREAS POST TO ME.

OKAY.

WE DID.

I MEAN, WE HAVE A REAL PROBLEM GETTING THESE UTILITY COMPANIES TO EVEN RESPOND TO A LINE LOCATE.

THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

THEY, THEY DON'T EVEN LIKE TO COME EVEN THOUGH THEY TECHNICALLY, OH, OKAY.

SO, UH, WHAT'S BEFORE IS THEN, OR ITEM SIX WOULD BE LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO GRANT THE COUNTY LAND USE AGREEMENT TO NEXT LINK FOR THE INSTALLATION OF FIBER OPTIC LINE ON COUNTY ROADS, THREE 52 AND THREE 90.

IS THERE A MOTION WE HAVE THAT MOTION COMMISSIONER BARBERS OR SECOND, SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER CAGE DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSED.

NO MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU, RON.

NEXT UP REGULATE DISCUSS, CONSIDER SURPLUS

[7. Raylan Smith; Discuss surplus assets and records management disposal schedule.]

THIS IS MY FAVORITE SUBJECT.

THIS IS MY FAVORITE PART OF EVERYTHING.

UM, GOOD MORNING.

SO I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE GIRLS IN MY OFFICE AND ALSO TALKING TO FACILITIES ABOUT, UM, STARTING THE BIG CLEANUP OF 2021 AT SOUTH CAMPUS.

UM, HOWEVER, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GIVING THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS ENOUGH LEAD TIME TO BE ABLE TO GO IN AND GO THROUGH THEIR FILES AND DETERMINE WHAT NEEDS TO BE SHRED, WHAT NEEDS TO BE MOVED.

UM, SO THE SCHEDULE THAT I'M KIND OF LOOKING AT IS TO START SENDING THOSE NOTICES TO INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS.

NOW THAT WE HAVE KIND OF THE MAP OF SOUTH CAMPUS, I CAN LET THEM KNOW KIND OF EXACTLY WHERE THEIR ITEMS ARE LOCATED.

UM, IF I COULD PUT THEM ON NOTICE THIS WEEK AND THEN GIVE THEM THROUGH FRIDAY, MAY THE 14TH SAYING THAT PURCHASING AND FACILITIES WOULD TAKE OVER WHAT WAS LEFT IN THE BUILDING ON MONDAY, MAY THE 17TH, AND BASICALLY WHATEVER'S LEFT.

WE WILL ASSUME YOU DON'T NEED IT FILED.

YOU DON'T NEED IT STORED ANYWHERE.

UM, BUT DURING THOSE 60 DAYS, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP.

WE WOULD, YOU KNOW, ASSISTANCE WITH FILE BOXES AND MAKING SURE THAT THINGS ARE MOVED AROUND AND PUT WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE.

SO WE WOULD PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THOSE DEPARTMENTS FOR THOSE TWO MONTHS, BUT JUST MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTOOD THE DISPOSAL SCHEDULE AND JUST NOTIFYING EVERYBODY.

SO IF THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO Y'ALL, THEN THAT WOULD GIVE US THE REST OF THE SUMMER TO GET EVERYTHING CLEANED OUT, AS FAR AS THE ELECTRONIC RECYCLING AND THE SHREDDING AND THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE OUT THERE.

SO THAT WAS JUST

[00:25:01]

WE'LL BE CLEANING IF Y'ALL GET BORED, BE CLEANED AGAIN, I STARED TO KNOW WHAT ALL WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT THERE.

SO IT'LL BE OUR APP.

WE'LL GET IT DONE.

THE RATS ARE GOING TO BE VERY DISAPPOINTED WHEN GET RID OF THEM.

THEY WILL BE SAD.

WE'LL JUST START ROLLING.

UH, OKAY, SO THAT WAS A DISCUSSION.

I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR RILING ON THAT.

NOPE.

OKAY.

THEN MOVING ON, UH, AUTOMATE, DISCUSS,

[8. Raylan Smith; Discuss/Consider permission to solicit RFP 21-12: Annual Contract for Bridge Construction and Maintenance.]

SO THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO JUST DO A STANDARD MAINTENANCE, UM, CONTRACT WITH SOME OF THE VENDORS THAT YOU CURRENTLY USE.

UM, I WILL WRITE INTO THE SPECIFICATIONS THAT EACH TIME WE HAVE A TRUE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT OR ACTUAL PROJECT THAT COMES UP, THESE WILL BE THE VENDORS THAT WE WOULD ESSENTIALLY GET QUOTES FROM.

UM, THIS IS JUST TO HANDLE THAT THE BIDDING THRESHOLD SO THAT WE CAN GET SOME CERTIFIED VENDORS IN FOR YOU AND GET INSURANCE AND ALL OF THAT ON FILE IN AN ACTUAL CONTRACT.

BUT IF YOU DO THEM, IF YOU DO A BRIDGE, A BRIDGE IS A TOTALLY INDEPENDENT THING.

YOU KNOW, ONE WOULDN'T, WE HAVE TO PUT THAT OUT FOR BID EVERY SINGLE TIME, NOT IF WE APPROVED THE, IF IT'S $150,000 RAISE YOU MEAN, OKAY.

YEAH.

AND IF IT'S OVER $50,000 AND YOU WOULD STILL GO OUT FOR PUBLIC VIA YES, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF, WE HAVE A LOT OF SMALL PROJECTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED.

AND SO I'M TRYING TO RECOUP SOME OF THAT.

OKAY.

AND THIS WILL ALSO BE, THIS'LL TAKE CARE OF THOSE, UM, LABOR ONLY CONTRACTORS THAT WE HAVE.

SO IF THERE'S THIS, SO YOU CAN USE THEM FOR MORE THAN ONE PLACE.

EXACTLY.

THERE'S NO MORE QUESTIONS.

UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SOLICITATION OF, UH, RFP 21 DASH 12 HAS PRESENTED I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION WITH THAT MOTION COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS.

IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND FOR A SECOND COMMISSIONER HUNT, DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSED.

NO MOTION CARRIES AND RAYLAND AGAIN, DISCUSS, CONSIDERED

[9. Raylan Smith; Discuss/Consider the purchase / finance of 2021 BANDIT 12 XPC CHIPPER, in the amount of $37,780.50; from Bobcat of North Texas; utilizing Sourcewell Contract #062117 for Precinct #4.]

XPC CHIPPER IN THE AMOUNT OF $37,780.

THIS IS FOR PRECINCT FOUR.

SO THIS IS FOR PURCHASE ONLY.

THIS IS NOT FOR FINANCE.

THIS IS FOR A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, UH, FOR PRECINCT, FOR USING SOURCE.

WELL PURCHASING CO-OP QUESTIONS.

NO, LIKE THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS.

IS THERE A MOTION? JUDGE I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS CHIPPER.

WE HAVE SO MUCH BRUSH.

UH, SO, SO MANY, UM, CLEANUPS AND PREACHING FOR THAT.

WE JUST HAVE TO BUY OUR OWN CHIPPER AND UH, OKAY.

WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL FROM COMMISSIONER KATE.

IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND SEGMENT COMMISSIONER BARBER DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, THOSE OPPOSED? NO, UH, THAT MOTION CARRIES, UH, NEXT STEP COMMISSIONER CAGE DISCUSS,

[10. Commissioner Cates; Discuss/Consider any comp time authorizations requested by the Sheriff's Dept. related to SO employees that worked during the week of the Snow/Ice closures while normal county functions were closed due to weather and road conditions.]

AUTHORIZATIONS ARE REQUESTED BY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT RELATED TO, UH, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES THAT WORKED DURING THE WEEK OF SNOW ICE CLOSURES WHILE NORMAL COUNTY FUNCTIONS WERE CLOSED DUE TO WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS, COMMISSIONER.

SO I'M JUST GOING TO REFER THIS TO, TO, UH, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

THEY, UH, UH, I THINK THEY HAVE SOME INTEREST IN AT LEAST, UH, HAVING THE COURT CONSIDER, UH, A COMP TIME ALLOCATION FOR, UH, SOME OF THE UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WERE ENCOUNTERED DURING THE SNOWMAGEDDON.

SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO RONNIE.

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS WHY HE'S ASKED ME TO COME SPEAK.

UM, WE DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY AT SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO CLOSE AND WE'VE ACCEPTED THAT FACT WE'RE AVAILABLE 24 SEVEN.

UH, BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, ALL COUNTY AND POLICE SHOULD ENJOY THE SAME BENEFITS AS OTHERS.

AND THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT THIS IS.

IF WE'RE, UH, PAYING SOMEONE NOT TO WORK, THEN WE SHOULD PAY THOSE WHO HAVE TO WORK THE SAME BENEFIT.

AND IT'S NOT COMP TIME.

I KNOW WHAT'S PUT ON THE AGENDA.

IT'S COMP TIME.

IT'S NEVER BEEN COMP TIME.

IT'S NEVER WENT INTO THE, OUR BUDGET OR ANYTHING.

AS FAR AS COMP TIME HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BANK HOLIDAY, BASICALLY LIKE A HOLIDAY.

AND IT WAS ASS DAY.

THE BIGGEST WE HAVE AT SHERIFF'S OFFICERS.

WHY NOW? BECAUSE WE'VE, THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR YEARS AND IT'S NEVER BEEN AN ISSUE.

IT JUST AUTOMATICALLY HAPPENED.

WE DIDN'T HAVE TO ASK.

IT JUST WAS PUT ON THE TIME SHEET YOU GOT THE ASS DAY, IT'S BASICALLY LIKE A HOLIDAY.

UH, YOU HAD TO USE IT WITHIN THE YEAR, UH, OR YOU LOSE IT.

UH, AND THAT'S ALL WE'RE ASKING.

IT'S NOT A BUDGET,

[00:30:01]

LIKE THE TREASURER PUT OUT AN EMAIL SAYING IT WAS, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT COSTING ANYBODY, ANYTHING.

IT'S JUST THE DAY OFF.

THE ONLY THING THAT IMPACTS IS THE DEPARTMENT ITSELF, BECAUSE IT IS A DAY OFF.

AND WE'RE OKAY WITH THAT SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR DOING THAT.

I REACHED OUT TO OTHER COUNTIES AROUND WISE HUNT HENDERSON.

THEY ALL DO THE SAME THING.

UH, BANDSTAND COUNTY ELLIS COUNTY DEPENDS ON WHO YOU TALK TO THAT THEY DO IT, OR THEY DON'T DO IT.

SO IT'S, IT'S NOT NOTHING NEW.

I MEAN, THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

WE'VE GOT THAT.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE IT.

IF YOU LOOK ON THE ONE TIME, THERE'S A DEAL SAYS, ASK DAY IT'S IT'S NORMAL, BUT IT'S NOT COMP TIME.

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO GET INTO COMP TIME.

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO BANK EXTRA TIME.

WE'RE JUST PUTTING THAT DAY ON THERE WHERE YOU GET THAT DAY OFF, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE IN COUNTY GOT.

SO THAT'S ALL WE'RE SAYING.

UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S DIFFERENT, I THINK, AND, AND, UH, A COUPLE OF THINGS ARE DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS SITUATION.

IT PROBABLY WAS UNDER THE RADAR, I THINK FOR EVERYBODY FOR A LONG TIME, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS I KNOW, WE NEVER HAD FIVE ICE DAYS IN A ROW.

SO IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A MORE SIGNIFICANT EVENT.

AND THE OTHER THING IS NOW WE HAVE, UM, UH, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THE COUNTY WHO WORKED DURING THOSE DAYS, BUT WITH ALL OF THE CAPACITY THAT WE'VE CREATED FOR PEOPLE TO WORK AT HOME, UH, I'M THINKING WE PROBABLY HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKING AT HOME NOW.

AND THEN THERE'S THE SUBJECT OF, YOU KNOW, THE EMPLOYEES, YOUR EMPLOYEES THAT HAD TO DRIVE IN, AND THAT'S CERTAINLY A INCONVENIENCE, BUT, UM, I THINK WE HAVE THIS ADDRESSED WITH THIS CHANGE IN OUR HR POLICY.

WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING IN NATURE AND POLICY ABOUT ICE DAYS.

I MEAN, IT WAS JUST SOMETHING, IT WAS JUST SUCH A RARE THING, NOBODY.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE WERE SHOCKED BECAUSE IT, IT NEVER WAS A THING.

IT NEVER HAS BEEN A THING.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A NORMAL THING THAT JUST HAPPENED.

WE DIDN'T CALL REQUESTS OR ICE DAYS.

THEY JUST SHOWED UP ON OUR TIME SHEET.

LIKE, YOU KNOW, ANY OTHER HOLIDAY THAT KIND OF GETS AT JUST WHAT HAPPENED.

IF YOU WORKED THAT DAY, YOU GOT THAT DAY, THE BUDGET IMPACT.

W MAYBE WOULDN'T IF, IF, UH, IF SO SOMEBODY, ONE OF YOUR, ONE OF YOUR GUY, ONE OF YOUR FOLKS THAT WORKED ALL FIVE DAYS, IF THEY LEAVE OR RETIRE A YEAR FROM NOW, THEY GET PAID FOR ALL THOSE FIVE DAYS, RIGHT? THEY DON'T GET, YOU DON'T GET HOLIDAY PAY, YOU GET VACATION COMP TIME.

SO THERE'S NO REASON TO WAIT TO GET IT LOGGED INTO THE SYSTEM.

AS A HOLIDAY.

IT'S ALLOWED, AS I ASKED, HEY, THERE'S A, THERE'S A, UH, A PART IN THERE WHERE YOU HIT US TODAY AND WE PAY PEOPLE FOR COMP TIME.

YOU DON'T GIVE NO, HEY, WE DON'T GIVE THEM.

YOU GIVE THEM A DAY OFF.

WE GIVE THEM THAT JUST LIKE A HOLIDAY, NEVER HEARD MARTIN LUTHER KING OR ANY OTHER HOLIDAY WE'RE GIVING ME, BUT IT'S NOT AT TIME AND A HALF ALL THE TIME.

I'M JUST SAYING, YOU'RE LOGGING ON MY DAY OFF.

YOUR SHOES IS TIME AND A HALF.

NOT THE PAY THEY GOING TO GET PAID.

IT'S NEVER BEEN COMP TIME.

I DON'T KNOW.

OKAY.

SO THAT STARTED, SO THIS PERSON WHO WORKS FIVE DAYS, UH, THEY WORKED EVERY FI ALL FIVE DAYS DURING THE ICE.

UH, THEY'RE NOT GONNA, THEY'RE NOT GONNA GET ANYMORE.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET PAID ANY MORE MONEY FOR THAT FIVE DAYS, BUT THAT THEY'VE GOT IN THE BANK.

THEY GOT FIVE DAYS THAT THEY CAN TAKE WITHIN THE YEAR AND THE YEAR THEY HAD TO TAKE THEM.

AND IF THEY LEAVE THE NEXT DAY, THEY DON'T GET PAID FOR THAT.

AND IT DOESN'T GO TO THE COMP TIME BANK.

SO IF THEY RETIRE, THEY DON'T EVEN GET PAID FOR IT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T USE IT.

NO, AND IT ONLY IMPACTS THE DEPARTMENT ITSELF BECAUSE IT'S A DAY OFF.

AND THEN EMPLOYEES GO SO WELL, IMPACTS ME MORE THAN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT NOW, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF EMPLOYEES THAT WORK, UH, WHILE WHEN THE COUNTY OPT INTO CLOSES THE FACILITY.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ROAD AND BRIDGE GUYS.

THEY WERE, I KNOW WE HAD ONE PRETTY SOON ONE CAUSE THEY COME PLAY IN OUR PARKING LOT OFF.

SO OUR OFFICE REALLY DIDN'T SHUT DOWN BECAUSE THEY JUST TOOK THE OFFICE TO THE HOUSE, ANSWERED THE PHONE THERE AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

SO, I MEAN, I MEAN, WE ACTUALLY KIND OF SEMI-STATE FUNCTIONAL SOLVING PROBLEMS, BUT, AND, AND, AND I KNOW THAT THE TREASURE, I GUESS, IS THERE'S A FINANCIAL IMPACT.

I GUESS REALLY THE ONLY IMPACT WOULD BE IS WHENEVER YOU LET SOMEBODY OFF AND YOUR STAFFING IS DEPLETED, YOU'RE POWER BACK AND IT'S COSTING YOU MONEY.

BUT IF YOU LET THEM OFF, WHEN THERE'S NOT AN IMPACT ON STAFFING, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? I MEAN, WE WOULD, I MEAN, WE'RE NOT GONNA LET EVERYBODY WORKED A DAY OFF FOR THE LENDER UNATTENDED.

NO.

YEAH.

CAN I EXPLAIN SOMETHING? IT REALLY WASN'T TALKED ABOUT.

IT WAS JUST LOOKED AT WHEN THE TIME WAS PULLED OVER, BUT

[00:35:02]

SO THAT WAS 20 HOURS.

AND THAT'S WHAT BROUGHT THAT QUESTION UP.

AND THAT'S WHY IT WAS A PROBLEM OF CALCULATING HOW MUCH IT WAS GOING TO COST THE COUNTY, BUT GOING FORWARD.

AND I DON'T REMEMBER THE DETAILS NOW OF THE POLICY CHANGE THAT DEB WORKED UP, BUT WE'VE SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED ICE DAYS, OR WE ADDRESS DAYS WHEN THE COUNTY OFFICES ARE CLOSED IN OUR HR POLICY.

THAT'S, THAT'S A SWITCH.

RIGHT.

AND HONESTLY, I DON'T HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF ME.

AND I COULDN'T TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

UM, I DON'T KNOW IF IT IMPACTS THIS ISSUE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T, THIS POLICY WAS PUT IN PLACE AFTER THIS HAPPENED.

SO IT WOULDN'T AFFECT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW, BUT IT WOULD ADDRESS THE SITUATION.

YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST THE SHERIFF'S FARM, SO WORK PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING AT HOME AND ALL THAT SORT OF THING.

I THINK BASICALLY THE POLICY SAYS IF, IF COUNTY OFFICES ARE CLOSED, UH IT'S UH, YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN WORK, IF YOU CAN WORK, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO, YOU'RE EXPECTED TO WORK AND NOT EXPECT TO BE HOME.

I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S THE GIST OF IT.

YEAH.

LESS THAN HALF OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE THERE.

I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT YEAH.

SO I, I JUST, UH, I HAD THIS DISCUSSION WITH THE SHERIFF.

UM, I THINK IT'S, UH, I THINK THERE'S AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION TO BE MADE.

AND I THINK THAT POLICY CHANGED KIND OF ADDRESSED THAT, OR, OR IT DID ADDRESS IT.

UM, IN AN INSTANCE LIKE THIS ANOMALY, THIS WEATHER ANOMALY WE HAD WHERE THE COUNTY COUNTY LEADERSHIP MAKES AN AFFIRMATIVE DECISION TO CLOSE OUR FACILITIES.

WE PRECLUDE OUR STAFF FROM WORKING.

IN OTHER WORDS, EVEN, UH, ALTHOUGH WE ALLOWED SOME TO WORK OR RE OR SOME WERE, WERE NECESSARY TO WORK, UM, WE IN ESSENCE PRECLUDE THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES FROM WORKING.

SO THEY HAVE NO OPTION AND IN MY FIELD AND THEY SHOULDN'T BE PENALIZED FOR THAT.

THEY SHOULD BE, IF OUR DECISION IS WE'RE NOT GOING TO HEAT OUR BUILDINGS OR IT'S TOO HAZARDOUS, UH, FOR LIABILITY REASONS OR WHATEVER OUR DECISION MAKING PROCESS IS, THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES SHOULD NOT BE PENALIZED BECAUSE THE COUNTY MAKES A DECISION THAT WE CLOSED THEIR WORK ENVIRONMENT.

UM, IT'S A DIFFERENT SITUATION WHEN AN EMPLOYEE MAKES THEIR OWN DECISION THAT IT'S TOO HA I, I OPINE THAT IT'S TOO HAZARDOUS FOR ME TO DRIVE TO WORK.

UH, EVEN THOUGH THE COUNTY IS OPEN, WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THEN, THEN THAT'S A PAID TIME OFF DECISION THAT A COUNTY EMPLOYEE NEEDS TO MAKE INDIVIDUALLY.

SO THOSE ARE TWO DISTINCTIONS.

UH, AND I WILL SAY THIS, UH, RODNEY HAVING BEEN A 35 YEAR LAW ENFORCEMENT GUY, UM, LAW ENFORCEMENT IS A HAZARDOUS JOB THAT YOU READILY ACCEPT.

AND, AND I THINK, UH, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, THE, THE, THE CITIZENRY EXPECTS MORE OUT OF, YOU KNOW, A BADGE WEARING GUN TOTER THAN MAYBE JUST A RANK AND FILE A COUNTY EMPLOYEE.

SO I'M NOT SURE THAT I, THAT I FEEL A SALVIFICALLY AGREE THAT SIMPLY A GUY WHO WAS SCHEDULED TO WORK CAME TO WORK AND BECAUSE THE REST OF THE COUNTY DIDN'T HAVE TO WORK THAT DAY, HE SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO, YOU KNOW, THE FAIRNESS, IF YOU WILL, THAT IT'S ONLY FAIR THAT HE GETS A, UH, A REPLACEMENT FREE DAY OFF.

I'M NOT SURE THAT I REALLY AGREE WITH THAT.

YOU KNOW, PHILOSOPHICALLY, I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY TO A CERTAIN EXTENT THAT A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUY TAKES ON.

UM, BUT, UH, I, I DO SEE NOW THAT IT'S MUCH CLEAR THAT THERE'S NOT A DIRECT FISCAL IMPACT, UH, TO, BECAUSE, UH, I GUESS I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT THERE WASN'T A COMPENSATION, A DIRECT COMPENSATION.

THERE'S NEVER BEEN, IT'S NEVER WENT INTO COMP TIME.

IT'S NEVER BEEN FIGURED THAT WAY.

IT'S NEVER BEEN ANYTHING THAT WE AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE EVEN ASKED FOR.

IT JUST HAPPENED WHEN THE COUNTY JUDGE SHUT IT.

NOW IT GOT BROUGHT UP.

NOW, YOU KNOW, IT NEVER GOT BROUGHT UP.

WE NEVER HAD FIVE DAYS IN A ROW OF ANYTHING.

WE CAN'T HELP THE WEATHER EITHER.

I MEAN, THAT'S JUST THINGS THAT HAPPENED.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE NEED TO POP, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WORDS MATTER AND WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE COUNTY'S CLOSED, BUT WHAT WE PROBABLY PARTICULARLY WITH ALL OF OUR WORK AT HOME CAPACITY, WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT PHRASING.

WE HAVE AN ICE STORM, THE COUNTY IS NOT CLOSED.

THE COUNTY

[00:40:01]

CORRECT.

AND IF YOU, IF, IF WE HAVE PUT THE MONEY FORWARD FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO WORK AT HOME, THEN YOU'RE EXPECTED TO WORK.

IF YOU GOT POWER AND, AND YOUR WORK INVOLVES THINGS THAT YOU CAN BE DOING AT HOME, UH, THEN I THINK OUR EXPECTATION WOULD BE THAT YOU WORK THAT JUST BECAUSE THERE'S ICE ON THE GROUND DOESN'T MEAN THAT IN THE BUILDING, YOU KNOW, FOR YOUR SAFETY, WE'RE CLOSING THE BUILDING.

WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE ON THE ROADS, BUT IF YOU'RE CAPABLE OF WORKING AT HOME, YOU OUGHT TO BE WORKING ON Y'ALL AGREE.

YEAH.

HOW MANY COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE WE GOING TO CANVAS TO THE WORKFORCE AND SAY, HOW MANY OF YOU GUYS WORKED ON WHAT DAYS? AND, AND EVERY COUNTY EMPLOYEE WOULD BE ENTITLED TO THAT.

I STAY, WELL, I DON'T KNOW, 37 YEARS IN THE FIRE SERVICE, AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY I WORKED FOR IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHENEVER THEY, THEY SHUT DOWN CITY HALL FOR ICE AND ALL THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS WE WENT TO WORK, WE WORKED OUR SHIFTS, JUST LIKE WE ALWAYS DO.

AND WE NEVER GOT ANYTHING, ANY DIFFERENT THAN, THAN WHAT WE NORMALLY GOT.

I MEAN, SO, YOU KNOW, IT JUST, IT NEVER WAS EXPECTED.

I MEAN, IN MY MIND, THIS IS KIND OF LIKE A WHILE.

I MEAN, CREATE THIS AT THE SHARP.

SO, SO, OKAY.

IT WAS, IT WAS A THING THAT HAPPENED AND WE GOT IT.

AND THE REASON WE'RE HERE TODAY IS CAUSE IT STOPPED.

AND OUR QUESTION IS WHY, WHY DID IT STOP OTHER THAN THE TREASURER'S OFFICE, NOT KNOWING HOW THAT HAPPENED, HOW THAT WOULD WORK IN THE BEGINNING BEFORE THEY CAME ABOUT.

THAT'S OUR ONLY QUESTION.

IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.

AND THEN SOMETHING JUST MADE MY DISCIPLINE RIGHT HERE, ALL OF A SUDDEN STOP, BUT SOMEONE DAYS, NOBODY GOT IT.

I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE UNUSUAL WEATHER EVENT.

I MEAN, IT WAS A, YOU KNOW, A CRAZY FIVE OR SIX DAYS, YOU KNOW, ACROSS THE REGION.

NOT ONLY JUST NOT SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY NEVER CAME UP BEFORE, IT'S NEVER BEEN A, WELL, I DON'T, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW IT'S BEEN IN THE PAST, UH, BUT I'M KNOW TO SPEND MOST OF THEM BEFORE.

IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FIVE DAYS, BUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, BUT IT'S, THIS HAS HAPPENED, BUT IT'S NOT WRITTEN DOWN AS POLICY AND Y'ALL'S DEPARTMENT OR HR.

IT WASN'T THERE WASN'T NO, THERE'S NO COST.

THIS HAS HAPPENED.

SOMEONE JUST DECIDED YEARS AGO TO DO IT.

AND WHY ELSE IS THERE AN ASH DAY ON THE TIME SHEET? I MEAN, WELL, IF THEY'RE, IN MY OPINION, THERE'S NO FINANCIAL IMPACT AT ALL TO THE COUNTY.

HE IS JUST GOING TO BE THE, DEPARTMENT'S GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO LET THESE PEOPLE HAVE THAT EXTRA DAY OFF.

SO IT DOESN'T IMPACT THEM THEN THAT THAT'S ON THE SHERIFF.

I MEAN, I REALLY DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.

IF, IF THEY WERE ASKING US FOR COMP TIME, SOME KIND OF COMPENSATION I'D HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT BECAUSE I'M LIKE YOU GUYS, I WORKED 20 YEARS IN ICE AND SNOW, WHENEVER IT CAME AND DIDN'T EXPECT ANYTHING.

BUT IF, IF, I GUESS IF THE CITY OF ERIE HAD DONE SOMETHING LIKE WE DID, THEN IT MAY HAVE COME UP.

IT MAY HAVE BEEN SOMETHING WE COULD HAVE SAID, WAIT A MINUTE.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALL WORKED IN THIS.

YEAH.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING NEW.

THEY WERE COMING AND SAYING, WE EXPECT THE GET RIGHT.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALWAYS HAVE GOTTEN.

AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WAS TAKEN AWAY.