May 18, 2021 Commissioners Court

[00:00:01]

GOOD MORNING.

[Call to Order]

TODAY IS TUESDAY, MAY 18TH, 2009 21 9:00 AM.

AND WE'RE IN THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING ROOM LOCATED IN THE COURTHOUSE ANNEX.

UM, AT THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO ASK PASTOR KYLE, IF HE WILL OFFER AN INVOCATION AND THE COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS IS GOING TO LEAVE US IN THE PLEDGE, PLEASE STAND NOW.

GOOD MORNING, FATHER.

WE THANK YOU LORD, THAT YOU'RE HERE TO LEAD AND GUIDE AND DIRECT US THROUGHOUT THESE DAYS AND THE THROUGHOUT THESE STEPS.

WE'RE ABOUT TO TAKE FATHER FOR OUR COUNTY FATHER.

WE ASK THAT YOU BE WITH US LATEST AND GUIDE US AND PROTECT US FOLLOW.

WE'RE GOING TO STAND UP ON YOUR WORD TODAY THAT YOUR WORD SAYS NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST US SHALL PROSPER FATHER.

AND WE'RE GOING TO THANK YOU FOR THAT FATHER.

AND WE'RE GOING TO THANK YOU FOR THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF OUR COUNTY IN A GOOD WAY TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

FATHER, WE SURRENDER ALL THAT WE HAVE UNTO YOU AND LORD, WE ASK ALL THIS IN THE WONDERFUL, PRECIOUS NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.

AMEN.

AMERICA.

NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL HONOR, THE TEXAS ONE STATE WINE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I DON'T HAVE ANY, UH, THIS WOULD BE TIME WE WOULD HEAR FROM, UH, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ABOUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY CARDS.

SO I GUESS WE WON'T BE DOING THAT TODAY.

DO YOU HAVE

[1. ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE.]

AND UH, REALLY JUST THOUGHT THAT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE MIGHT NOT WANT TO, WE MIGHT WANT TO PLAN TO NOT MEET ON JULY THE 13TH.

UH, SO UNLESS WE HAVE SOMETHING REALLY URGENT IN THE AGENDA, WE JUST WE'LL, UH, WE'LL NOTIFY EVERYBODY THAT WE WON'T BE MEETING THAT DAY.

IS THAT ALL RIGHT? ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY CORRESPONDENCE THEY'D LIKE TO SHARE? OKAY.

WE'VE GOT ENOUGH RAIN.

YEAH, WE'VE GOT ENOUGH RAIN.

I DON'T KNOW THE BEST CORRESPONDENCE, BUT IT WOULD YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.

CORRESPOND SOME, SOME SOMEBODY.

HMM.

UM, THAT BRINGS US TO ITEM TWO.

THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[2. CONSENT AGENDA]

IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED? I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION A MOTION COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS.

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

AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED NO MOTION CARRIES.

THAT BRINGS

[3. Laura Hughes; Presentation and Recognition of the Kaufman County Clerk's office for being chosen as an Exemplary Five Star Award winner by the State of Texas, Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Division for their work in Vital Registration.]

WE'VE GOT A KIND OF A FUN THING TO DO TODAY.

THIS IS A PRESENTATION IN RECOGNITION OF THE KAUFMAN COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE FOR BEING CHOSEN AS AN EXEMPLARY FIVE-STAR AWARD WINNER BY THE STATE OF TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES, VITAL STATISTICS DIVISION FOR THEIR WORK IN VITAL REGISTRATION.

SO CAN I COME DOWN THERE AND YOU'RE GOING TO CALL YOUR, UH, TEAM UP.

OKAY, LET'S GO.

LET'S YOU GUYS, I'M LOOKING FOR ITEM THREE HERE.

THEY WANT TO COME BEFORE THE COURT AND PRESENT, UM, THE 20, 20 EXEMPLARY FIVE-STAR AWARD.

AND IT'S GIVEN BY THE STATE ANNUALLY.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT VERY FEW CLERKS GET.

THERE'S LIKE 450 REGISTERS.

AND USUALLY ONLY ABOUT 20 PEOPLE GET THE EXEMPLARY AWARD.

AND I REALLY HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THESE LADIES FOR WHAT THEY DO, BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY DO EVERY DAY.

UH, WE HAVE TO APPLY FOR THE AWARD.

WE HAVE TO PRESENT PROCEDURES, PAPERWORK.

THEY GO THROUGH THIS, THE STATE STATISTICS ON IT.

AND I WAS VERY, VERY PROUD THIS YEAR TO GET AWARDED THIS AGAIN.

SO I THANK THEM FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK, ESPECIALLY DURING COVID.

SO IF I CAN ASK THE COMMISSIONERS TO DO HER A NORMAL THING, I'M KIND OF LINE UP HERE.

MIKE'S LIKE MY PICTURE PAINTING.

YEAH.

RIGHT.

I LOVE IT.

I'M GOING TO WALK AROUND AND GOES DOWN ON MADDIE.

.

[00:05:12]

CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU.

GOOD JOB TO THE CLERK TO SAY HARD TO HEAR.

SO YOU DIDN'T EVEN GET BACK WORK.

OKAY.

OKAY.

GOSH, THEY'RE ALL LEAVING ITEM FOR

[4. Courtney Wortham/Debbie Bonner; Presentation of report on behalf of the Kaufman County Child Welfare Board.]

YOU'RE GOING TO PRESENT A REPORT ON BEHALF OF THE KAUFMAN COUNTY CHILD WELFARE BOARD.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

WE KNOW HOW TO CLEAR A ROOM DOWN, INTRODUCE YOU TO COURTNEY.

COURTNEY IS OUR CURRENT CHILD WELFARE BOARD PRESIDENT, AND SHE'S HERE TO TELL YOU WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.

OKAY.

WELL THANK YOU ALL FOR, WILL YOU STEP UP TO THE MICROPHONE COURTNEY, BECAUSE OTHERWISE A CLERK WILL YELL AT US.

WELL, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US ON THE AGENDA TODAY, THE CHILD WELFARE BOARD IS BLESSED WITH FUNDING FROM THE COUNTY SO THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF OUR KIDDOS WHO ARE IN CARE.

SO THERE ARE KIDDOS WHO COME INTO FOSTER CARE OR EVEN IN KINSHIP PLACEMENTS, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY'RE PLACED WITH FAMILY AND THEY HAVE NEEDS.

AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE CHILDREN.

IT TAKES A LOT OF MONEY TOO.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT THE BOARD DOES.

THE BOARD PROVIDES, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING FROM PACK AND PLAYS, CLOTHING, SHOES, BEDDING, ANY NEED THAT A FAMILY HAS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHILE THEY'RE IN THE, UNDER THE CARE OF THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY PROTECTIVE SERVICES, IF THEY REQUEST IT, WE, WE PROVIDED, UM, DEBBIE IS GREAT.

SHE RUNS OUT TO WALMART AND BUY US WHAT WE NEED.

UH, WE GET DONATIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.

SO PRIVATE DONATIONS AND MYSELF WILL GO PICK THEM UP OR DEBBIE OR, UM, TAMMY PARGO HAS ALSO OUR VICE-PRESIDENT.

SO WE'RE VERY BLESSED WITH, LIKE I SAID, THE FUNDING OF THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE FOR OUR KIDDOS IN CARE.

UM, AND I, IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WE DO, I JUST WANTED TO BE SURE THAT YOU ALL KNEW THAT YOU GUYS ARE PROVIDING MONEY SO THAT WE CAN DO REALLY GOOD WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU.

I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT MONIQUE IS THE NEW MEMBER OF OUR BOARD, RIGHT? YEAH.

AND WE MEET, UM, WE MEET MONTHLY, UM, THE SECOND TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH.

SO WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING THAT VIA ZOOM.

CAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONVENIENT FOR PEOPLE.

UM, WE, UH, CPS SUPERVISOR FOR THE CVS, WHICH IS THE KINSHIP OR THE, UM, THE UNITS THAT SUPERVISES THE KIDDOS WHO ARE IN CARE, UM, SHE ATTENDS AS WELL AND LETS US KNOW WHAT THEY NEED AND RECEIVE REQUESTS EVERY MONTH.

AND SO THE REPORT INCLUDES HOW MANY CHILDREN WE SERVE EACH MONTH.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN.

WHAT IS IT WE RECENTLY GOTTEN INVOLVED WITH AS A REGIONAL CHILD WELFARE BOARD? THEY'VE JUST RESTARTED THE REGIONAL BOARD FOR THIS REGION.

I GAVE YOU SOME DETAILS ABOUT THAT IN THE, IN THE REPORT, THE COORDINATOR IS SERVING AS SECRETARY ON THAT BOARD AS WELL.

WE HAVE A MEETING TOMORROW.

YES, BUT WE'RE DOING GREAT THINGS.

SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR COURT, COURTNEY, THANK THEM FOR THEM.

THEY DO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT.

ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S DEBBIE PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER.

I JUST THROW NUMBERS AT HER AND SHE COMPILES THEM.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OKAY.

UH,

[5. Sheriff Beavers; Discuss/Consider accepting deputation of Maxwell T. Morris as Deputy Sheriff for Kaufman County Sheriff's Office.]

MORRIS'S DEPUTY SHERIFF FOR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

YES.

I'M MAXWELL.

MORRISSEY'S COME TO WORK FOR HER.

SO HE'S GOT ABOUT 12 YEARS EXPERIENCE.

THEY MOVED INTO THE AREA AND WENT TO WORK FOR ROCKWELL COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ATTENTION.

ALL OF A SUDDEN DAVID PLATT OVER WITH US.

HE'S GOT A MASTER'S POLICE OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE, UM, INSTRUCTOR, FIREARMS, STRUCTURED COURT SECURITY.

SO I THINK YOU'LL COME AND BE A GREAT BENEFIT TO US.

I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU GUYS ACCEPTING THAT PATIENT FORM, UH, QUESTIONS.

NO, NO SETTLING.

GOOD GIRL.

ALL RIGHT.

FOR NO QUESTIONS.

IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE DEPUTIZATION OF MAXWELL T MORRIS? I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION WHERE THAT MOTION COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS.

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

THOSE OPPOSED.

NO MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU.

[6. Raylan Smith; Discuss & Consider the amended purchase and finance of a 2021 Freightliner M2-106 Auto and Etnyre Centenial Asphalt Distributor in the amount of $201,424.00 from Doggett Freightliner of South Texas; utilizing BuyBoard Contract #601-19; for Precinct #4.]

RAELYNN SMITH DISCUSSED.

CONSIDER THE AMENDED AMENDED PURCHASE AND FINANCE OF A 2021 FREIGHTLINER INTO ONE OH SIX AUTO AS INFORMATION DESCRIBED IN THE AMOUNT OF 200, $1,424

[00:10:01]

THIS IS FOR PRECINCT.

GOOD MORNING.

UH, BACK IN OCTOBER, YOU APPROVED THE PURCHASE AT THE ASPHALT DISTRIBUTOR AND UM, WE'RE PICKING UP THE COST OF THE TRUCK NOW.

AND I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.

THEY HAVE GOTTEN QUOTES ON, UH, FINANCING FOR 36 MONTHS FOR PRECINCT FOUR, WITH THE ABILITY TO PAY OFF EARLY FOR 36 MONTHS, WE GOT IT FULLY FINANCED.

THE INTEREST RATE IS 2.3, 4%.

VERY GOOD WITH BANK CORP, SELL QUESTIONS.

THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS.

IS THERE A MOTION REGARDING ITEM SIX? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION JUDGE AS WRITTEN, UH, UH, THAT WAS A MOTION TO APPROVE.

COMMISSIONER CAGE MAKES A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM SIX IS PRESENTED.

IS THERE A SECOND? NO.

SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER BARBARA DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES BACK TO RAYLAN

[7. Raylan Smith; Discuss & Consider award of contract for RFP 21 14: Consulting Services for American Rescue Plan Funding & FEMA Public Assistance.]

SO WE DID RECEIVE THREE RFPS FOR THE CONSULTING SERVICES FOR THE FUNDING THAT WE WILL RECEIVE AND SOME POSSIBLE FEMA PROJECTS COMING UP.

UH, THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE IS RECOMMENDING TIDAL BASIN.

UH, WE, WE WOULD LIKE WHENEVER I NEGOTIATE WITH THE VENDOR, WE WANT THIS MORE AS A TASK ORDER PHASE, JUST LIKE YOU DO WITH YOUR CONSULTING ENGINEERS.

THAT WAY WE CAN GIVE THEM A QUESTION OR SUBMIT A PROJECT, AND THEN WE WOULD GET QUOTES BACK ON HOW MUCH EACH OF THOSE TASKS WOULD BE.

SO IT WOULDN'T BE A LUMP SUM.

UM, BUT WE WOULD WORK ON INDIVIDUAL TASKS, QUESTIONS.

UM, IF ARE NO QUESTIONS, IS THERE A MOTION TO AWARD CONTRACT FOR RFP 21 DASH 14 HAS PRESENTED I'LL MAKE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER BARBARA.

IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND ONE COMMISSIONER CAGE DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED.

NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES AND

[8. Raylan Smith; Discuss and consider permission to solicit RFP 21 16: Hazardous Materials Emergency Response & Remediation.]

SO THIS RFP WILL BE TO HAVE CONTRACTORS ON FILE FOR MATERIAL SPILLS, CLEANUPS, UM, ON COUNTY, RIGHT AWAY, PROPERTY, ET CETERA.

THIS WOULD ALSO INCLUDE HIGHWAY SPILLS QUESTIONS.

SO HOW USUALLY THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CLEANUP, RIGHT? SO ARE WE TELLING THEM THEY HAVE TO USE OUR CONTRACTOR IF WE HAVE TO CALL OUT? UM, NOW MOST OF THE TIME THESE CONTRACTS ARE ALSO EACH FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS THESE CONTRACTS ON FILE.

UM, SO IT'S BASICALLY WHO'S WORKING THE SCENE, BUT WE DID INCLUDE THE, UM, THE HIGHWAY CLEANUP JUST IN CASE IT WAS SOMETHING THAT OUR EMERGENCY COORDINATOR, UH, WAS CALLED TO MOST OF THE TIME, YOUR MUNICIPALITIES, UH, YOUR FIRST RESPONDERS ARE GOING TO BE THE ONES THAT DID DICTATE WHICH CONTRACT IS PUT INTO PLACE.

OKAY.

AND THEY HAVE A ROTATION THAT THEY'RE USING VENDORS NOW.

YES.

SO THESE VENDORS, WHENEVER THEY DO THIS, THEN THEY WOULD JUST BE ON A ROTATION.

IT WON'T BE ONE COMPANY.

RIGHT.

AND WE CAN FOLLOW UP AND GET BACK OUR EXPENSES FROM THE COMPANIES.

IF WE HAVE TO PLAY, WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THE COMPANY INVOLVED OR THE TRUCK DRIVER INVOLVED AND FOLLOWING THEIR INSURANCE.

RIGHT.

RIGHT.

IF IT, IF IT'S A CLEANUP YES.

THAT ONE THAT WE'RE DIRECTING.

HMM.

WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS THAT? IS THAT GO THROUGH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TO DO THAT? FOLLOW-UP IF NEED BE YES.

HE, HE WOULD BE THE ONE THAT WOULD MAKE THE CALL AS TO WHEN THE VENDOR WOULD BE CALLED ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.

IT'S NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SOLICITATION OF RFP 21 DASH 16 FOR HAZARDOUS MATERIAL, EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND REPATRIATION? OH, GO AHEAD.

I'LL MAKE THE MOTION JUDGE WHERE THAT MOTION COMMISSIONER.

AND IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER HUNT DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING THOSE OPPOSED.

NO MOTION CARRIES

[9. Raylan Smith; Discuss and consider Amendment 1 - Flood Control: Structural Repair Activities Cooperative Agreement LEFL3-UG-ESF-549-21 for Lower East Fork laterals 3.]

I JUST LOVE THESE DAMN THINGS.

[00:15:01]

AND THIS IS PERTAINING TO THE LOWER EAST FORK COLLATERALS THREE.

SO THIS IS AN INCREASE IN THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT IS GOING FROM 2.7 MILLION TO 3.1.

UM, IT DOES SHOW AN INCREASE IN THE COUNTY MATCH UP TO 54,000.

HOWEVER, THE CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION PAYMENT BACK TO THE COUNTY IS GOING TO BE OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND.

SO THE ACTUAL OUR PORTION WILL ACTUALLY BE PAID FOR BY OUR CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION.

SO, BUT WE DO HAVE TO SIGN THE AMENDMENT IF THAT'S OKAY.

QUITE A BIT.

YEAH.

SO, WELL, YEAH, IT WAS QUITE A BIT.

IT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE PROJECT.

YEP.

AND I'VE SPOKEN WITH MONIQUE ABOUT, UM, MAKING SURE THAT COMMON VISION WITH COG IS ALSO AWARE OF THIS GOING ON.

SO SHE MENTIONED THAT TO ME TODAY.

IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT AMENDMENT ONE IS PRESENTED.

I MAKE THE MOTION.

WE HAD A MOTION COMMISSIONER HUNT.

IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND ONE COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED.

NO MOTION CARRIES.

[10. Raylan Smith; Discuss and consider permission to solicit RFP 21 17: Lower East Fork Laterals 3 - Structural Repair.]

THIS WILL BE THE ACTUAL BID DOCUMENTS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE DAM REPAIR.

UM, OUR ENGINEERS ON STAFF WILL BE FREESE AND NICHOLS.

AND SO, UM, WE ARE REVIEWING THEIR SPECIFICATIONS RIGHT NOW AND JUST MAKING SURE WE HAVE ALL THE SIGNATURES AND WE'LL BE READY TO POST QUESTIONS.

OKAY.

OKAY.

IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, IS THERE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE PERMISSION OR GIVE PERMISSION TO SOLICIT RP 21, ONE SEVEN.

I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.

WE HAD A MOTION COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND, SECOND ONE COMMISSIONER KATE'S DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED NO MOTION CARRIES

[11. Commissioner Hunt; Discuss/Consider use of Poor Farm property.]

UH, YES.

UH, I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE CONTRACTOR THAT IS DOING THE, UH, CONSTRUCTION PROJECT DOWN AT THE END OF A BUSINESS, 34 AND 1388 AND THE BYPASS.

AND THEY WERE WANTING TO UTILIZE THE AREA.

I LAY THESE THINGS OUT HERE AND THEY REALLY WANT TO USE THEIR FIRST CHOICE IS THE VACANT LAND IN FRONT OF THE LAKE.

UP ON TOP OF THE HOT, THE HIGH GROUND THERE OFF OF, UH, 1388 OR EUSTON STREET.

UM, WE MET, THEY SAID THAT THEY, THIS WOULDN'T BE LIKE BIG EQUIPMENT BEING STORED THERE.

IT WOULD BE THE BUILDINGS WHERE THE ENGINEERS ARE AT AND THE CONTRACTORS ARE AT AND THEY'RE GOING TO FENCE IT DOES IT, THE ADVANCE, IT, THEY WOULD PUT NETTING AND MAKE IT PRIVATE WHERE THE PUBLIC COULDN'T SEE INSIDE THERE.

AND THEY WOULD STORE THEIR UTVS THAT THEY RUN AROUND THE CONSTRUCTION SITE WITH.

SO BASICALLY IS JUST A BASE OF OPERATIONS FOR ALL THE DECISION MAKERS, NOT, NOT STORING ALL THE HEAVY EQUIPMENT THERE AND FUEL AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD, UM, PUT, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CALL THEM.

TECHNICALLY THE NETTING THAT CATCHES EROSION AND RUNOFF TYPE STUFF, THEY PUT THOSE SAFETY BARRIERS UP TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NO RUNOFF THERE.

SO I'D LIKE TO, UM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE LET THEM UTILIZE THIS AND THEN THEIR LEGAL GET WITH OUR LEGAL WORK OUT FROM SOMETHING THERE.

UM, WE DID HAVE SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT, UH, WHAT WOULD BE IN IT FOR US.

AND, UH, WE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT, UH, PARKING, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC IS, UM, FISHING IN THAT LAKE AND STUFF AND KIDS AND EVERYTHING.

SO MAYBE WHENEVER THEY'RE OUT OF THERE IN A COUPLE OF YEARS OR WHATEVER THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE COULD WORK OUT A DEAL AND THEY SAID THEY WERE OPEN TO THIS TO PUT A PARKING LOT THERE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S CONCRETE, ASPHALT, WHATEVER, AND A POP FENCE, YOU KNOW, FOR THE PUBLIC, UH, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL TWO AREAS TO KEEP TRAFFIC FROM THERE AND A PARKING LOT WOULD BE REALLY EVAN.

I MEAN, TO BE SOMETHING FOR THEM BECAUSE WHENEVER THEY HAVE THESE SPORTING EVENTS, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE COMING IN PARKING, ANY KIND OF VACANT GROUND THAT CAN GET CLOSE TO THE COMPLEX.

SO IF WE TIE THIS PARKING IN WITH THEIR PARKING AROUND THEIR COMPLEX, IT WOULD BE A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYBODY.

AND PEOPLE WOULDN'T HAVE TO, NOT ALL THE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE TO WALK PARK ACROSS AT THE SCHOOL AND WALK ACROSS THROUGH THE TRAFFIC AND EVERYTHING, ALL THOSE KIDS.

SO, I MEAN, AND THIS IS JUST SOMETHING I'M JUST THROWING OUT THERE THAT WE JUST DID.

SO IT'S WHATEVER THE COMMISSIONERS WANT TO TRY

[00:20:01]

BUT I LIKE PROPOSAL, WE MOVE FORWARD WITH LETTING OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT TALK TO THE, AND TRYING TO WORK OUT AN AGREEMENT LIKE IT, UH, UH, A C IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE CHILDREN'S SHELTERS OR ANY IMPACT ON THE CHILDREN'S SHELTER.

I TALKED TO DAVID AND DAVID SAID IT WAS, THEY WOULD BE FINE.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE RIGHT UP AGAINST THE CHILDREN'S SHELTER THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO PUT UP ALL KINDS OF PRIVACY, NETTING AND STUFF.

SO I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH DAVID AND TALKED TO THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION AND THERE WASN'T ANY, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE EXACT RIGHT PLACE TO BRING THIS UP, BUT IT IS ON THE AGENDA.

UH, SINCE YOU MENTIONED HISTORICAL COMMISSION, HAS THERE BEEN ANY DISCUSSION REALLY WITH THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION ABOUT TRYING TO COME TO SOME, I MEAN, REALLY FEASIBLE DESIGN AND PLAN THAT WOULD MOVE THIS POOR FARM PROPERTY FORWARD AND MAKE IT USABLE? YEAH, WE DO HAVE THE PLANS, YOU KNOW, FOR THE TRAILS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF THAT Y'ALL HAVE SEEN.

AND WE'VE, WE'VE ACTUALLY BROUGHT THEM HERE BEFORE.

SO, I MEAN, YES, THERE ARE PLANS PEOPLE THAT, UH, DREW UP STUFF, YOU KNOW, IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM LIKE WE EVER MOVE AHEAD ON THAT.

NO, NO, NO.

WE WE'VE GOT LIKE, I MEAN, I GUESS WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH JUST THE MONEY THAT WE APPROPRIATE TO THE POOR FARM, WE REPLACED ALL THE ROOFS TO STOP ALL THE LAKES.

UH, WE STOPPED THE DETERIORATION OF THE MURAL.

WE'VE PAINTED ALL THE BUILDINGS OUT THERE AND WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW, THIS PROJECT, THIS SUMMER, WE'RE PUTTING IN ELECTRICAL OUTLETS, THE BANK OF ELECTRICAL OUTLETS FOR VENDORS AND STUFF WE HAD, UH, BEFORE THE COVID WE HAD THE MASTER GARDENERS, HAD THEIR VINTAGE FAIR OUT THERE AND WE'VE HAD WESTERN WILD REENACTMENTS, GUNFIGHTS AND STUFF.

BUT THE VINTAGE IS IT VINTAGE FAIR, I GUESS, IS WHAT WHATEVER'S CALLED.

BUT THEY HAD LIKE 500 PEOPLE OUT THERE IN ONE DAY.

THEY COUNTED HEADS COMING IN, YOU KNOW, AND THERE WAS, UH, YOU KNOW, SO A LOT OF PEOPLE DO COME OUT THERE.

AND WHAT WE KIND OF VISUALIZE IS WHEN WE PUT MARKERS UP TELLING ABOUT THE BUILDINGS AND THE HISTORY OF ALL THE BUILDINGS OUT THERE.

SO, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, WE JUST KINDA GOT THE PLAN AND WE'RE JUST DOING WHAT WE CAN DO WITH A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY THAT WE'VE GOT.

IT JUST SEEMS, AND AGAIN, I'M PROFESSOR IGNORANCE ON SOME OF THIS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF PROPERTY OUT THERE.

UH, I MEAN, HAVE WE EVER GIVEN ANY THOUGHT TO MAYBE DIVESTING SOME OF THAT PROPERTY AND TAKING THE PROCEEDS TO REALLY FINALIZE THE REST OF THE, THE, UH, WELL FARM, BECAUSE MOSTLY, I MEAN, I AGREE WITH YOU THAT DURING AN EVENT, PEOPLE SHOW UP, BUT 360 DAYS A YEAR, THE GATES ARE LOCKED AND NOTHING'S EVER DONE OUT THERE.

IF WE GET IT FIXED UP TO WHERE EVENTS ARE THERE, AND THEN ONCE THEY START HAVING A PENCE, THERE WILL BE MORE, BUT A LOT OF THAT LAND IS BOTTOM LAND AND IT'S BLOCKED OFF ABOUT THE VIETNAM WALL IS BLOCKED OFF BY THE LIBRARY AND ALL THAT STUFF.

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF ACCESS TO THAT.

AND THEN THAT'S IT, WHEN I THOUGHT, I THOUGHT MAYBE IT MIGHT BE PRUDENT TO EXPLORE MAYBE DIVEST AND HALF OF THAT LAND AND USING THE PROCEEDS TO ACTUALLY FINISH UP THE REST OF THE POOR FARM.

AND IF THESE GUYS ARE INTERESTED IN, IN THIS PROPERTY, MAYBE NOW'S THE TIME TO START SOME KIND OF NEGOTIATIONS ON THAT.

YEAH.

WELL, I MEAN, BASICALLY THEY'D BE BUYING, UH, A FLOODPLAIN AND A WATERHOLE, SO THEY'VE ONLY PARK ON IT NOW.

WELL, THAT'S JUST THAT ONE PIECE OF HIGH GROUND UP THERE IF THEY WANT TO PARK ON.

SO THAT'S KIND OF KNOW, IS THAT PART, I THINK IT'S ALL UP AND BUILD IT UP, BUT I KNOW 27, 27, 27 ACRES.

I MEAN, THAT'S A LOT OF ACRES THAT WE'RE JUST MAINTAINING THAT WE REALLY DON'T, WE DON'T UTILIZE.

YEAH, WELL, HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, WE CAN PUT PITNEY, TRIBALS UP THE PUBLIC'S COMING OUT THERE, THEY'RE BRINGING THEIR KIDS FISHING OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, AND THEN SO THAT'S, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IF WE MADE A COMMITMENT TO GO AHEAD AND GET EVERYTHING DONE, BUT WE HAVEN'T MADE THAT COMMITMENT.

YOU KNOW, WE THROW $30,000 AT IT, YOU KNOW, AND EVERY YEAR, AND WE TRY TO DO WHAT FUNDING YOU WITH THE SALE OF THE LAND.

THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

UM, I MEAN THE RENT, THE DETRACTORS THAT THERE'S NEVER ENOUGH MONEY, NOT FOR THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION AND WE DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE THOSE EXTRA FUNDS.

YEAH.

SO, UH, I MEAN, IT SEEMS VIABLE TO ME THAT WE WOULD CONSIDER, UH, REDUCING THE POOR FARM FROM WHATEVER IT IS, 23 ACRES TO SAY HALF OF THAT, AND MAYBE TRYING TO OFFER THE REST FOR SALE SINCE, SINCE WE KNOW DEVELOPMENT, ADJACENT DEVELOPMENTS GOING IN THERE, UH, AGAIN, MAYBE AGAIN, INVESTOR, I WOULDN'T WANT TO BUY

[00:25:01]

WELL, YOU KNOW, AND THEN TWO ACRES OF HIGH GROUND, YOU AS AN INVESTOR, YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE SITTING HERE.

WELL, THAT'S TRUE TOO, BUT YOU KNOW, AND THE REST OF IT, THE FRONT PART OF IT, IF WE DO SOMETHING WITH THE SHOW BARN AREA, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE PARKING BECAUSE WE LOST A LOT OF THE PARKING FROM THE SHOW GROUNDS WHENEVER THE CITY GAVE UP THAT LAND.

SO I MEAN, A LOT OF THE POOR FORM AT THE TOP END OF THE HILL BEHIND THE Y'ALL'S HOOPHOUSE, WHICH SINCE Y'ALL WANT TO SELL THOUGH, ALL THE SOUTH CAMPUS, WE GOT TO MOVE THE HOOP HOUSE, I GUESS, ONTO THE POOR, POOR FARM PROPERTY.

SO Y'ALL HAVE A HOOP HOUSE FOR YOUR MASTER GARDENERS.

SO I MEAN, THAT LAND UP AT THE TOP IS GOING TO BE UTILIZED.

AND THEN IF WE NEED ADDITIONAL PARKING AND THEN WE HAVE A GUN RANGE, THIS THERE THAT REALLY PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE PARKING FOR THE SHOW GROUNDS IF WE DO SOMETHING.

SO, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, NO, I MEAN, EVERYTHING SEEMS LIKE WE JUST DON'T HAVE, WE JUST DON'T HAVE A PLAN TO DO ANYTHING WITH THIS.

AND THERE'S A CONSEQUENCE.

I MEAN, I KNOW I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS, BUT ALL WE'VE REALLY DONE IS GIVE PIECEMEAL A LITTLE MONEY OUT AND NOTHING IN MY OBSERVATION, NOT TO DETRACT FROM, WE PRESERVED A MURAL AND WE PUT ON A ROOF, BUT, BUT AS FAR AS ACTUALLY MAKING IT OPEN AND USABLE TO THE PUBLIC MAN, WE JUST HAVEN'T MADE ANY PROGRESS IN A LONG TIME.

NO, WE'LL COME OUT THERE AND THEY WALK THEIR DOGS AND ALL THAT STUFF ALL OUT, ALL THROUGH THE PORT FORM, YOU'LL SEE THEM OUT THERE WITH THEIR DOGS AND LET THEM SWIM IN THE LAKE.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF PUBLIC THAT'S COMING OVER THERE AND USING IT, BUT THE DOGS DO, OH YEAH, THE DOGS DO.

SO IT'S TIME TO MESS WITH THERE'S SO MANY SNAKES AROUND THE POT FACTS.

WELL, IT'S BEEN CLEARED OFF AROUND THE, AROUND THE SITE, SO YEAH, WE'VE BEEN DOING WHAT WE CAN EVERY YEAR TO GETTING TO THE GOAL THAT THE DRAWING IS AND THAT WE'VE ACCEPTED SO WELL.

I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURE OF IT, I GUESS AT SOME POINT WE NEED SOME KIND OF WORKSHOP ON FUTURE PLANS.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT BECAUSE I JUST THINK THIS THING IS JUST DRAGGED ON FOR A DECADE OR LONGER.

AND, AND, UH, AGAIN, I COMMEND THE, YOU KNOW, THE INCREMENTAL PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING, BUT HAS BEEN A TOTAL COMMITMENT.

THERE'S NEVER ANY, THERE'S NEVER BEEN A, I WANT TO GET THAT AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO FUND IT.

YEAH.

I MEAN, THAT'S MY WHOLE POINT IS THAT WE KNOW THAT THAT AREA IS BEING DEVELOPED.

WE KNOW THAT CONTRACTORS, PARTICULARLY MAJOR CONSTRUCTION FIRMS HAVE THE ABILITY TO ADDRESS LOW LYING AREAS AND THAT KIND OF THING.

THIS IS NOT A LOW LIGHT.

I MEAN, YOU NEED TO, IF YOU'VE BEEN OUT THERE MANY TIMES, I BET, HUH? ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S NOT A LESSON.

IT'S A LOW LYING AREA.

THAT'S A, THAT'S A BIG, DEEP HOLE.

THESE GUYS ARE INTERESTED RIGHT HERE ON YOUR THING AND AT LEAST TWO PARTS OF IT AND YOU KNOW, WELL, THAT'S, THAT'S OPTION ONE TO PUT THEIR CONSTRUCTION HEADQUARTERS OPTION TWO, OPTION THREE, OPTION ONE IS THE ONE UP THERE BY HOUSTON.

I UNDERSTAND.

BUT NONETHELESS, THAT SEEMS TO BE ACCEPTABLE.

THERE'S THREE OPTIONS THAT SEEM TO BE ACCEPTABLE TO THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACTOR.

SO, UH, UH, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S TIME TO, UH, I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS SEEMS LIKE IT'S TIME TO WORKSHOP THIS AND GET A TRUE PLAN AND, AND BE ABLE TO START BUDGETING FOR IT AND EVERYTHING ELSE, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE DECISION IS.

OH MY GOD, WE GOT EVERYTHING FROM THE SHOWGROUNDS TO THAT.

AND YOU START INCORPORATING ALL THIS HIGH GROUND ON THE BACKSIDE.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THEM, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THE SH SHOWGROUNDS AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME IN AND TAKE SOME OF THAT GROUND FOR THE, FOR THE, FOR THAT.

I MEAN, SO I DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO WORK OUT.

EVERYBODY'S GOING TO HAVE TO WORK OUT AND COME UP WITH SOME KIND OF PLANS.

AND THEN THE USABLE LAND IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE BEHIND THE VIETNAM WALL.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A TOWER, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS A COMMUNICATIONS TOWER THERE.

SO I MEAN, IT'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF USABLE DEVELOPER LAND DEVELOPABLE LAND.

NO.

WELL, YOU KNOW, UNLESS YOU DO A HELL OF A LOT OF DIRT WORK AND EVERYTHING ELSE, SO HEY, YOU KNOW, THE MONEY MIGHT BE, MIGHT BE WORTH THE INVESTMENT.

I THINK YOU CAN DO IT.

IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF WHERE IT COMES FROM AND WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO OVER HERE? THEY MIGHT BE GOING TO MOVE ENOUGH DIRT TO FILL ALL WELL, I MEAN, THE BEING HONEST, WE DON'T KNOW THAT.

I MEAN, WHAT, THERE JUST SEEMS LIKE WE NEED TO HAVE A PLAN GENUINELY ADDRESS IT AND GET A REAL PLAN AND MOVE FORWARD.

I'M EXCITED IF Y'ALL WANT TO MAKE COMMITMENT TO, TO GET IT TO WHERE IT'S A FUNCTIONING, SOMETHING FOR THE PUBLIC AND, YOU KNOW, TO DECIDE THE HISTORY, THEN I'M ALL FOR IT.

SO.

[00:30:04]

ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT, UM, COMMISSIONER, HOW YOU WANT TO MAKE THAT IN TERMS OF A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THIS PLAN? OKAY.

WELL WHERE'S THE FACILITY.

YEAH.

UM, HOW DO YOU WANNA JUST HAVE THEM MAKE A MOTION THAT WE START NEGOTIATIONS WITH OUR LEGAL, WITH EHRS AND WORK OUT? HOW ABOUT A MOTION TO JUST AUTHORIZE THE CIVIL ATTORNEYS TO NEGOTIATE THE AGREEMENT? USE AGREEMENTS.

OKAY.

OKAY.

OKAY.

YEP.

I MAKE THAT MOTION THAT'S OKAY.

SO COMMISSIONER HUNT MAKES A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CIVIL DEPARTMENT TO, UH, UH, CREATE A RELEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE DEVELOPER REGARDING USING THOSE ONE OR ONE OF THOSE THREE LOCATIONS IS SHOWN THAT'S THE MOTION, YOU KNOW? UM, I DON'T WANT TO SAY ANYTHING, BUT YOU MIGHT, YOU KNOW, IF THIS SECTION, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE USING IT FOR TWO YEARS, YOU MIGHT SAY THAT'S NOT A GOOD OPTION.

YEAH.

YEAH.

WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? REALLY FOR OPTION ONE.

OKAY.

OKAY.

I'LL SECOND THE MOTION THEN.

OKAY.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, UH, ANY MORE DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES NEXT UP.

[12. Jerry Dean; County operations overview/summary.]

IT'S ON THE SECOND POWER UP.

SO WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ON THE LIBRARY.

WE DO HAVE A CHANCE TO GO OUT THERE.

YOU'LL SEE SOME REALLY GOOD WORK HAPPENING.

NICE TRANSFORMATION OF SPACE.

THEY'RE RUNNING AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

SO I THINK THAT WE'LL BE BACK UP AND RUNNING SOONER THAN WE ANTICIPATED.

UH, REALLY NO OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OUTSIDE OF THAT.

OKAY.

OKAY.

IS THAT IT? THAT'S IT ON THAT PIECE OF IT.

OKAY.

IF SHE CAN HOOK ME UP TO THIS FOR THE SECOND PIECE.

OKAY.

UH, NO ACTION ON ITEM 12 THEN.

AND SO

[13. Jerry Dean; Discuss/Consider assessment of the Evergreen wage & classification study and recommendations.]

SO, SO LAST TIME WE PRESENTED JUST THE OVERALL PICTURE OF WHAT EVERGREEN HAD PRESENTED, UM, WENT BACK, UH, HAD A CONVERSATION WITH EVERGREEN AND W FACTORED IN THE LONGEVITY AND OUR MERIT INCREASES TO SEE HOW THE IMPACT OF OVERALL WAGES WERE.

THIS ONE REMINDED ONE KIND OF THE GOALS AND THE OBJECTIVES AS WE APPROACHED THIS PROJECT WAS TO REALLY BRING OUT A COMPARISON OF WAGES AND CLASSIFICATIONS TO OTHER PEER ORGANIZATIONS AND ENSURING OUR KAUFMAN COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE RECEIVING COMPETITIVE WAGES, UH, FOCUSING ON EMPLOYEE MORALE AND LOYALTY AND, AND PROVIDE A PATH UPWARD WITHIN THOSE JOBS CLASSIFICATIONS.

IF YOU REMEMBER, OUR JOBS ARE KIND OF CORK ONE CLERK, TWO, ET CETERA, THERE WASN'T REALLY MOBILITY WITHIN THOSE PARTICULAR JOBS.

SO THAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY.

AS WE WENT THROUGH THE STUDY, THIS IS 307 PEOPLE WERE PART OF THIS STUDY, UH, OF THOSE 197 PEOPLE WHERE WERE BELOW THE MID POINT AND 110 OF THEM WERE ABOVE THE MID POINT.

THIS INCLUDES THE LONGEVITY PAY.

THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THEY WERE NOT PART OF THIS STUDY.

HOWEVER, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BREAKDOWN AND YOU LOOK AT IT IN DOLLARS, ACTUALLY FROM DOLLARS, THE COUNTY IS PAYING ABOUT $320,000 ABOVE THE MID POINT IN TOTAL WAGES AND ABOUT $172,000 BELOW THAT MIDPOINT.

SO JUST SHOWING IT WHILE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM THE DOLLAR STANDPOINT REALLY WERE PAYING, PAYING MORE ABOVE THAN WE ARE BELOW.

AND AS YOU LOOK AT THIS, THERE REALLY ARE ONLY 21 PEOPLE ON THAT ENTIRE STUDY THAT WERE MORE THAN $500 BELOW THAT MIDPOINT.

SO ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE, ALL THAT $172,000 THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE WITHIN $500, UH, BELOW THAT MIDPOINT, AS YOU LOOK AT THIS.

AND SO KIND OF THE RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO GO BACK CLOSE THE GAP ON THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE, THAT ARE OUT OF THAT RANGE.

SO IT CLOSE THAT GAP BY A MINIMUM, A MINIMUM OF 50% THAT ESTIMATE IS, IS RIGHT AT $80,000 IN SALARY ADJUSTMENTS THAT INCLUDES TAXES AND BENEFITS, AND THEN BE ABLE TO ABOUT A 1% ACROSS THE BOARD INCREASE TO EVERYONE ELSE.

UH, THIS WOULD EXCLUDE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND WE HAVE TO SET YOUR, YOUR, YOUR WAGES HAD TO BE PUBLIC.

SO THE ESTIMATED IMPACT OF ALL OF THIS IS RIGHT AT $200,000, THAT WOULD LEAVE $300,000 IN THAT, IN THAT CONTINGENCY ACCOUNT THAT WE CAN THEN TAKE AND MOVE FORWARD FOR NEXT YEAR TO REALLY SET THE PATH FORWARD AND SUSTAIN THOSE INCREASES MOVING FORWARD.

SO I THINK IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S A, I THINK IT ACCOMPLISHES WHAT THE STUDY WAS WAS DESIGNED TO ACCOMPLISH, WHICH WAS TO FIND OUT WHERE WE NEEDED SOME RIGHT SIZING.

AND THAT RIGHT SIZING REALLY IS A SMALL PIECE OF THE SLICE.

I'LL GO PACK PRETTY SMALL PIECE OF THE ENTIRE PIE.

[00:35:01]

THAT'S FOR THIS STARTING THE PAY PERIOD OF JUNE 11TH.

SO WE WENT IN TO GET THIS ON THE NEXT PAY CYCLE.

SO I'LL OPEN THIS UP FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION.

THIS COMMENT I HAVE IS THAT YOU'VE DONE A REALLY REMARKABLE JOB OF TAKING THAT.

I MEAN, I THINK EVERGREEN DID A REALLY GOOD JOB, BUT, BUT IT WAS A LOT OF DATA.

THERE WAS A LOT OF DATA IN THERE, AND THIS IS A REALLY, YOU DID A REALLY GOOD JOB AT CONDENSING THIS DOWN INTO JUST THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF IT.

AND, UM, SO I JUST REMIND EVERYBODY, THIS IS WHAT WE, YOU KNOW, WE SAID WE WERE GONNA GET ENGAGED THIS STUDY, AND THEN WE WERE GOING TO USE IT.

SO, UM, I THINK YOUR PROPOSAL WAS A GOOD ONE.

I ENDED UP, I THINK IT'S REALLY REMARKABLE THAT IT CAME OUT TO THAT WE WERE AS CLOSE AS WE WERE.

YOU'RE VERY, AND IN SOME CASES YOU WERE, YOU WERE RIGHT AT OR ABOVE.

I KNOW A LOT OF THAT OUT OF 550 EMPLOYEES OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT WE'RE 21 IS THE BIGGEST EFFECTIVE PART.

YEAH, YEAH.

NOT VERY MANY PEOPLE, NOT VERY MANY PEOPLE.

YEAH.

THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

THAT SHOWS THAT WE WERE DOING BETTER THAN WE THOUGHT WE WERE DOING WITH MY PEOPLE'S SALARIES, EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE DON'T THINK SO.

I WOULD GIVE EVERYBODY ALWAYS WANTS MORE MONEY.

I GIVE THE COMMISSIONER'S CREDIT FOR THAT.

THE LONGEVITY PAY IS REALLY, IS REALLY A GOOD PLAN, RIGHT? IT'S THERE, IT'S DESIGNED TO KEEP LOYALTY COMMISSIONER HUNT.

AND I WERE TALKING, OUR AVERAGE TENURE WAS 10 YEARS, SO IT'S WORKING.

AND SO THAT LONGEVITY PAY IS REALLY WHAT, WHAT GETS PEOPLE TO, WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A TWO TIERED APPROACH TO THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.

THAT WAS A FIVE-YEAR AND A 10 YEAR.

SO IT ALIGNS WITH IT PERFECTLY.

SO, ALL RIGHT.

ANYBODY ELSE? SO MY ASK WOULD BE TO, TO ALLOW US TO PUT THIS INTO PLACE, WE WOULD NEED TO DO IT WITH OUR, WITH OUR NEXT PAY CYCLE.

NOW, MADAM AUDITOR.

UH, DO YOU SEE ANY, ARE THERE ANY ISSUES REGARDING MONEY? NO, WE'VE GOT THAT MONEY PARKED, RIGHT.

SO, YEAH.

OKAY.

YEAH.

THAT 500,000 AND THEN ANOTHER 37.

SO WE'VE GOT 536, 700.

OKAY.

UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? NO, THEN, UH, LOOKING FOR EMOTION TOO, TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATION TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS, TO, UH, MAKE THE CHANGES AS PUT ON THAT LAST SLIDE THERE.

UM, I'D BE HAPPY TO MAKE THAT MOTION.

WE HAVE EMOTIONAL COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS.

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

THOSE OPPOSED.

NO MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.

THANK YOU.

[14. District Attorney's Office; Discuss/Consider/Approve Reassignments of Positions/Salaries in the District Attorney's Office.]

UH, JUDGE WILEY, I GUESS.

YEAH.

UH, DISCUSS, CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL.

REASSIGNMENTS OF POSITION SALARIES IN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

SHERRY.

I SHOULD'VE DONE MY PRESENTATION BEFORE YOURS.

MY NUMBERS ARE GOING TO EQUAL OUT BECAUSE, UH, UM, GOOD MORNING, I HAVE A UNIQUE PROBLEM AND I REALLY SERIOUSLY, I DO NEED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT I'M REQUESTING BECAUSE I'VE HAD, WE WERE RARELY VERY FLAT IN 2020, WHICH WAS AWESOME.

THE ONLY GOOD THING IS BECAUSE PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE AS MANY CHOICES AND WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY TURNOVER.

I'VE GOT A SALARY ADJUSTMENT SITUATION THAT'S COME UP AND I'M GLAD TO GIVE YOU THIS, THESE FOLKS, ISN'T IT, IT MAY NOT MEAN AS MUCH TO YOU GUYS, IF YOU WOULD JUST TAKE THAT AND PASS IT UP.

I'M SORRY, JERRY.

I DIDN'T REALLY, I'VE NEVER READ KAREN.

AND YOU CAN MAYBE SHARE THAT.

WHAT, WHAT I'VE FOUND IS THAT MY PROBLEM COMES IN THE PEOPLE FOR TWO TO FIVE YEARS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE LONGEVITY AND IT'S HARDER TO RETAIN ATTORNEYS.

AND I'M LOOKING FOR APPLES TO APPLES OR APPLES, TO ORANGES, PEOPLE THAT ARE LEAVING TO GO INTO CORPORATE WORK.

WE CAN'T COMPETE WITH THAT, BUT I HAVE LOST OVER PROBABLY TWO YEARS, AT LEAST THREE PEOPLE.

ONE OF WHICH Y'ALL KNOW DENNIS, REBECCA, AND YOU ALL WOULD KNOW REBECCA AND RECENTLY ABIGAIL, BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO OTHER COUNTIES THAT PAY MORE FOR THE ATTORNEY SKILLS.

AND SO THAT HAS BECOME A PROBLEM.

SO WITHIN THE OFFICE, I'M RESTRUCTURING A LITTLE BIT AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE IT'S A LITTLE CONFUSING.

THEY'RE ALL FELONY ATTORNEYS MAKING DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF MONEY WITH THE NEW EVERGREEN STUDY.

WE'LL PROBABLY BE ABLE TO FIX THAT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THEY GOT DIFFERENT CLASSIFICATIONS.

BUT WHAT I'M FINDING IS LET'S TAKE SOMEBODY.

FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN ABBY LEAVES, IT'S A LITTLE CONFUSING, WE'LL JUST USE THEIR NAME.

SHE'S GONE.

THE PERSON THAT'S GOING TO TAKE HER POSITION IS ACTUALLY

[00:40:01]

I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD PRACTICE TO REDUCE THAT PERSON'S SALARY.

SO THAT'S GOING TO CREATE A DEFICIT RIGHT THERE AND MONEY I'M GOING TO NEED FOR THAT PERSON.

SHE'S HIGHLY SKILLED AS A CPS ATTORNEY, BUT SHE WANTS TO TRY TO DO SOME FELONY WORK.

AND WITH HER EXPERIENCE, I DON'T WANT TO LOSE HER BECAUSE I THINK IF SHE DOESN'T GO, SHE'S GOING TO GO TO ANOTHER COUNTY.

LET'S TAKE ANOTHER EXAMPLE THERE ON THE CHART.

LISA WHO Y'ALL KNOW, WORKS IN CIVIL, I THINK IT'S NOT.

SHE WANTS TO DO SOME MISDEMEANOR.

UH, CRIMINAL WORK THAT PAYS SLOT IS, IS LESS AT 69,000 OR SHE'S AT 69.

IT'S GOING TO GO TO 65.

THESE CHANGES IN THE OFFICE, OR IT'S GOING TO CREATE A DEFICIT IN WHAT WE ORIGINALLY PLANNED, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE RANGE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH EVERGREEN, WHERE YOU CAN SLOT SOMEBODY IN WITH EXPERIENCE AND KEEP THEIR SALARY UP.

SO WHEN I LOOKED AT THE MATH, I REALIZED THAT I'M LOOKING AT ABOUT $17,000 LESS.

AND TO FINISH OUT THAT YEAR, IT'S ABOUT 43 54.

AND THE ONLY WAY TO DO IS TO COME TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO SAY, I'M GOING TO NEED 4,000 TO PAY PEOPLE AND I'M GONNA, AND I'M GONNA EVENTUALLY BRING ALL THESE PEOPLE UP.

BE ABLE TO HIRE SOMEONE ENTRY AT 65.

THE PEOPLE THAT I'M LOSING, EVEN THOUGH THE SALARY MIGHT INDICATE DIFFERENT, DEPENDING ON WHAT COUNTIES Y'ALL USED.

OUR SALARY SURVEY, I'M LOSING TO ELLIS COUNTY BECAUSE ALICE IS GOING TO AUTOMATICALLY PAY PEOPLE MORE.

REBECCA MADE A $15,000 RAISE.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE COMPARING.

NOW.

WE'RE GOING TO VANZANT COUNTY.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALWAYS AHEAD.

UM, I DON'T TRY TO COMPETE WITH DALLAS BECAUSE PEOPLE WORK OUT HERE BECAUSE OF THE ENJOYMENT, NOTHING AGAINST DALLAS COUNTY, BUT MOST PROSECUTORS DON'T ENJOY THAT PRACTICE UNLESS THEY WANT TO RESIDE IN DALLAS.

BUT THOSE PROSECUTORS DIDN'T WORK FOR A YEAR AND THAT WAS THEIR CHOICE WITH THEIR ELECTED.

SO I'M NOT LOOKING TO COMPARE DALLAS, BUT I DO HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH ELLIS.

ROCKWALL IS USUALLY THROWN IN A LOT.

ROCKWELL'S MUCH SMALLER.

THE VIOLENT CASELOAD IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

THE AMOUNT OF CHILDREN THAT ARE REMOVED IN ROCKWALL CAN NOT COMPARE.

AND SO WE ARE JUST A UNIQUE COUNTY WITH OUR GROWTH AND IT'S NOT TURNING BACK.

BUT WHEN I LOOK AT THE MONEY, WE INVEST ANNUALLY IN ATTORNEY WITH BAR DUES, PROFESSIONAL DUES, CONTINUING EDUCATION, WE ARE SPENDING ABOUT $2,000 AND THEY CATCH THEM ABOUT TWO OR THREE YEARS AFTER WE'VE TRAINED THEM BECAUSE I'M NOT EVEN PUTTING IN, I'M NOT BRAGGING MY EXPERTISE AND MARK'S EXPERTISE OR KAREN'S AND CIVIL THAT WE'RE LOSING THEM TOO.

AND I DON'T KNOW.

AND IT'S LIKE, SAY, IT'S REALLY INTERESTING THAT YOU DID THE STUDY INFORMATION.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT COMPARES WITH PROFESSIONALS BECAUSE NOT BEING EGOTISTICAL, BUT THE LAWYERS DO, YOU ALL HAVE ADVANCED DEGREES AND THEIR DOCTORS JURISPRUDENCE.

AND SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING AT THAT LEVEL OF EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS, PEOPLE THAT ARE SITTING FOR A ADVANCED WORK, EVEN WITHIN THE LAW, WE'RE LOSING THEM AND WE'RE LOSING BEFORE THEY HIT LONGEVITY BECAUSE I F AND THEN THERE'S LOTS OF FACTORS, TOO, INCOME FOLKS.