[Call to Order]
[00:00:03]
JUST REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMP AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT IS CALLED TO ORDER.
TODAY IS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1ST, 2022 IT'S 9:00 AM.
AND WE ARE IN THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING ROOM IN THE COURTHOUSE ANNEX.
UM, AS ALWAYS, WE'LL START OFF OUR MEETING WITH AN INVOCATION.
UH, HE'S GOING TO LEAD US INTO THE INVOCATION AND, UH, PERHAPS COMMISSIONER HUNT WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGES.
WE THANK YOU LORD, THAT YOU ARE SO WONDERFUL AND PRECIOUS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US THAT YOU LEAD US IN GODDESS AND DIRECT US THROUGHOUT THE WAYS OF YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS FATHER.
WE PRAY OVER EACH AND EVERY ONE IS HERE AND OVER OUR COUNTY FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU KEEP US SAFE AS THIS BAD WEATHER'S COMING IN FATHER.
AND WE THANK YOU, LORD, THAT YOU PROVIDE A WAY WHERE THERE SEEMS TO BE NO WAY TO MAKE THINGS COME TO PASS.
PAULA, WE ASK YOUR BLESSING UPON THE REST OF THIS, THIS MEETING HERE THIS MORNING AND FATHER, WE JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE AND YOUR GRACE IN JESUS' WONDERFUL NAME.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL THE TEXAS FLAG.
I LIKE TO LEAVE TEXAS ONE STATE ON ONE INDIVIDUAL.
WELL, WE'VE GOT SOME VISITORS HERE WITH US TODAY AND SOME PRESENTERS.
IT'S NICE TO HAVE, UH, FOLKS COMING INTO OUR COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING.
UM, WE, UH, I DO HAVE ONE COMMENT FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WE'LL, WE'LL BRING IN WHEN WE GET TO THAT PARTICULAR ITEM,
[1. ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE.]
UH, ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE, STEVE, UM, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO MAKE YOUR WAY UP HERE.UM, THERE'S ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE FLYING AROUND THE ELECTRONIC WORLD, UH, AND WE'RE OF COURSE, WORRIED OR CONCERNED ABOUT THE WEATHER COMING IN AND A PART OF THIS CORRESPONDENCE HAS TO DO WITH, UM, EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM.
AND STEVE, WHY DON'T YOU JUST REMIND EVERYBODY WHAT WE HAD, WHAT CAPABILITY WE HAVE THERE? WELL, WE HAVE A EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM THAT, UH, IT'S A COMPANY HAS EVER BRIDGE.
EH, WE HAVE A PORTAL THAT CAN BE ACCESSED FROM OUR COUNTY WEBSITE THROUGH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT LINKS.
UH, YOU CAN SIGN UP TO REGISTER YOUR CELL PHONE SO THAT YOUR CELL PHONE WILL GET ANY AND ALL NOTIFICATIONS FOR WINTER, WINTER WEATHER, TORNADOES, FLOODS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
IT IS ALSO IN PLACE TO DO OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
SHOULD WE HAVE TO CLOSE FOR WINTER WEATHER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? WE CAN NOTIFY, UH, EMPLOYEES IN WHOLE OR BY DEPARTMENT, HOWEVER YOU NEED TO DO IT.
SO YOU'VE GOT A VERY ROBUST SYSTEM IN PLACE TO HANDLE ALL OF OUR NOTIFICATIONS.
UH, I'LL HAVE TO LOOK THAT NUMBER UP IN A SECOND, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A DIAL IN NUMBER THAT, UH, THE IT DEPARTMENT SET UP.
SO IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T HAVE INTERNET ACCESS, I'LL LOOK IT UP IN A MINUTE AND THEN ANNOUNCE IT.
UM, THEY CAN DIAL IN AND THEY'LL HAVE A RECORDED MESSAGE ON THERE.
UM, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE WORRIED ABOUT GETTING TOO MUCH, TOO MUCH NOTIFICATION.
UH, WE HAD A TORNADO WARNING HERE IN KAUFMAN, I GUESS LAST YEAR I WAS, UH, NOT IN COFFIN AT THE TIME I WAS, YOU KNOW, 30 OR 40 MILES AWAY FROM HERE.
AND I TOLD STEVE, WELL, I DIDN'T GET THE NOTIFICATION.
HE SAID, WELL IT'S BECAUSE YOUR PHONE WAS OUTSIDE OF THE TORNADO WARNING AREA.
SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S A TRAIN DERAILMENT IN FORNEY AND YOU LIVE IN MAYBANK, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET IT.
IT'S ALL THE GEO-FENCE AND IT'S BASED UPON THE NOTIFICATION ZONE.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STEVE ABOUT THAT? NO.
WELL, I REMIND YOU ABOUT YOUR DAYS TODAY'S TUESDAY AND THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE PREDICTING WEATHER FOR THURSDAY, SO IT MAY BE SUNNY AND CLEAR WHO KNOWS.
[2. CONSENT AGENDA]
UH, NEXT IS A CONSENT AGENDA.WE HAVE TWO ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
IS THE ANYONE CARE TO BRING THOSE OFF AND DISCUSS THEM IN EACH? OR IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED ON MY EMOTION? WE HAVE MOTION COMMISSIONER HUNT.
IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES.
UM, I DO WANT TO JUST SAY HOWDY TO, UM, UH, OUR NEW FIRE MARSHALL WHO HAPPENS TO BE IN THE OFFICE TODAY.
UH, PAUL AIRS, HE STARTED YESTERDAY AND, UH, HE JUST, UH, MAKING HIS WAY ALONG.
NICE TO HAVE YOU WITH US IN THE COUNTY.
[3. Lucille Johnson; To receive presentation from North Central Texas Economic Development District.]
[00:05:01]
FROM THE NORTH TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, WE HAVE LUCILLE JOHNSON.UH, SHE'S GOING TO GIVE US A PRESENTATION ABOUT THE NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT JOB CREATION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF, UH, COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTY.
AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PLENTY OF AND GOT PLENTY OF RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
WE DON'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THAT, BUT THIS IS, UM, I THINK THAT WHAT SHE'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT IS, IS SOMETHING THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF OUR ENTITIES IN THE COUNTY, PARTICULARLY CITIES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP TO PARTICIPATE IN WHAT LOOKS LIKE IS GOING TO BE A LONG PERIOD OF PRETTY SIGNIFICANT FEDERAL FUNDING COMING INTO THE, INTO OUR REGION.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL INTRODUCE, UH, LUCILLE JOHNSON TO GIVE US HER PRESENTATION.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME OUT, TO MEET WITH EVERYONE.
AND I JUST HAVE TO SAY BEFORE I STARTED THE JOB, THE DRIVE OUT HERE WAS JUST SO BEAUTIFUL.
I WAS JUST TELLING THEM AS I GOT ON 1 75, ALMOST LOST MYSELF IN THE SCENERY AND THE BEAUTY AND THE QUIETNESS OF EVERYTHING.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING, CAN YOU PULL THAT MICROPHONE DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT AND IF, AND IF YOU WANT TO MOVE TO COFFIN COUNTY, WE'LL MAKE YOUR SPOT OUT HERE.
IT MIGHT BE A GOOD THING TO DO I FISH FOR SURE, BUT I'M PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO COME AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT THAT HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE, UM, DESIGNATED AS A DISTRICT IN 2016.
AND IT WAS DESIGNATED ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION, BASICALLY.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, AND I'VE GIVEN YOU GUYS A LITTLE PRESENTATION TO, YOU KNOW, TO FOLLOW ALONG WITH, BUT, UM, BACK IN THE EARLY ABOUT 2014, 2012 OR SO, WE WERE APPROACHED BY THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION AND TO ASK US AS A REGION TO BECOME AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, WE WERE THE ONLY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND THERE ARE 24 OF THEM THAT DIDN'T HAVE ANY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.
AND YOU MIGHT SAY, WELL, WHY, WHY, WHY IS THAT? WELL, ONE OF THE REASONS IS THAT THE BIG REASON IS THAT THIS AREA OF NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THRIVING, HAS ALWAYS BEEN GROWING.
WE HADN'T HAD A LOT OF DISASTERS AND, UH, THINGS THAT, UH, PLACES LIKE HOUSTON AND AREAS HAD WITH FLOODING AND TORNADOES AND HURRICANES AND ALL THOSE THINGS.
AND SO WE WERE NEVER A DISTRICT BECAUSE WE'LL NEED, UM, FOR A DISTRICT TO BE IN THIS AREA.
BUT ONE OF THE DOWNFALLS OF NOT BEING AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT WAS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE, WHAT'S CALLED A COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR THE WHOLE REGION.
NOW, SOME CITIES HAD THEIR OWN, YOU KNOW, THE ONES THAT COULD AFFORD TO DO ONE OR WHO HAD BIG ENOUGH STAFFS TO BE ABLE TO DO IT, THEY HAD THEIR OWN, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE ONE THAT WAS CALLED A REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
AND SO, UH, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION, WHICH AGAIN IS HOUSED OUT OF THE U S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, ASKED US THE, KIND OF FEEL THAT GAP, CLOSE THAT GAP.
AND SO WE SAID, WELL, WE NEED TO TALK TO THOSE IN THE REGION TO FIND OUT IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE TELLING US THAT THEY WANT US TO DO.
SO WE DID, WE DID JUST THAT WE SENT OUT A LETTER, UH, TO ALL OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, OUR COUNTY JUDGES, EVERYONE TO SAY, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT US TO DO? AND THE RESPONSE WAS YES.
AND THEN IT WAS, WELL, LET'S JUST KIND OF LOOK AT WHAT, WHAT DID FELL US FOR NOT BEING A DISTRICT BECAUSE WE WEREN'T A DISTRICT OR AT LEAST BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE AN ECONOMIC, COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY IN PLACE.
WHEN YOU WENT TO, TO APPLY FOR, UM, FUNDING FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION, WE WEREN'T ELIGIBLE FOR THE FUNDING BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY.
SO I PUT A LITTLE SNIPPET IN YOUR PLACE SO THAT YOU CAN SEE THAT OVER A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS, ALL OF THE APPLICATIONS THAT WERE BEING MADE BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO EDA FOR FUNDING ONLY FIVE OUT OF ABOUT 35 APPLICATIONS OVER A 10 YEAR PERIOD WERE FUNDED.
YOU DON'T EVEN COUNT THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE FOR UNIVERSITY CENTERS.
THAT'S VERY DIFFERENT FROM BEING FUNDED FOR A PROGRAM OR PROJECT OR SOMETHING THAT YOU WANTED TO PUT IN PLACE.
SO REALLY JUST THREE PROJECTS OVER A 10 YEAR PERIOD.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT OTHER REGIONS LIKE A HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA, AUSTIN AREA, THEY WERE GETTING ALL OF THESE PROJECTS FUNDED BECAUSE THEY HAD A COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY.
AND THEY HAD BEEN DESIGNATED AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT FOR NO BETTER REASON THAN TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THIS AREA HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY
[00:10:01]
FOR FUNDING.WE NEEDED TO BECOME AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT AND AT LEAST PUT THAT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY IN PLACE.
AND BY THE WAY, THE STRATEGY IS UPDATED EVERY FIVE YEARS.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING THE STRATEGY RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND IT'S A BROAD BASED SET OF STRATEGIES THAT LOOK AT EVERYTHING WE WANT TO BE ENTREPRENEURIAL FRIENDLY.
WE WANT TO CREATE A, YOU KNOW, AN, A REGION WHERE DEVELOPMENT CAN HAPPEN, THIS RESPONSIBLE, UH, DEVELOPMENT, WHERE WE CAN HAVE THE AMENITIES THAT WE NEED TO HAVE IN PLACE TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES, TO COME TO THE AREA.
SO THAT ARE THE GOALS THAT ARE IN THE COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, A VERY BROAD, UM, SO THAT THEY CAN ENCOMPASS WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MAKE GOOD DEVELOPMENT HAPPEN IN THE REGION.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO TELL ANY COMMUNITY WHAT THEY NEED TO DO, BUT WE WANT TO HAVE ALL THE COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER TO DECIDE AS A REGION, HERE ARE SOME BROAD THINGS THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON AS WE BRING DEVELOPMENT AND, UH, TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND SO FORTH.
SO WE PUT TOGETHER THIS, UH, STRATEGY.
WE SUBMITTED IT TO THE US DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.
WE SUBMITTED IT TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR APPROVAL FROM THE STATE.
AND THEN IN DECEMBER OF 2016, WE WERE DESIGNATED, THIS REGION WAS DESIGNATED AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.
WE HAD TO HAVE ONE AREA IN OUR 16 COUNTIES TO QUALIFY.
I MEAN, QUALIFYING BASED ON AN ECONOMIC NEED, UM, NAVARRO COUNTY WAS OUR COUNTY THAT QUALIFIED THAT ONE COUNTY QUALIFYING ALLOWED THIS ENTIRE REGION TO NOW BECOME AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.
SO THAT ALLOWS US TO APPLY FOR FUNDING AND GRANTS.
AND YOU MIGHT SAY, SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? YOU KNOW, DO WE WANT TO BE BURDENED WITH GRANTS AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS? WELL, MAYBE NOT, BUT WHEN WE HAVE A SITUATION LIKE WE'RE IN NOW WITH THE PANDEMIC THAT HAS HAPPENED AND JOBS HAVE BEEN LOST, UH, PEOPLE HAVE LEFT THE WORKPLACE OR SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE LOST THEIR BUSINESSES, OR, YOU KNOW, THEY NEED ADDITIONAL HELP AND, AND SO FORTH.
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT FUNDING INTO THE COMMUNITIES, TO BUILD THOSE ROADS, TO PUT IN INFRASTRUCTURE, TO PUT IN WORKFORCE PROGRAMS, ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, EVEN TOURISM, ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, UM, THAT WE CAN DO TO BRING DEVELOPMENT, TO BRING VISITORS HERE, TO SPEND THEIR MONEY IN YOUR COMMUNITIES AND SO FORTH.
AND SO AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT IS HOUSED IN THE NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE FOLKS ON OUR BOARD, OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT BOARD, THAT GUIDE US THAT OVERSEE THE WORK THAT WE DO.
AND SO WE COME TO YOU GUYS AND SAY, PLEASE DESIGNATE SOMEONE FROM YOUR COMMUNITY TO REPRESENT THESE COMMUNITIES SO THAT WE CAN GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND FOR THE, UM, KAUFMAN COUNTY, WE ARE JUST SO HONORED AND SO PLEASED TO HAVE DONNA OVER THERE AS OUR REPRESENTATIVE FOR KAUFMAN COUNTY.
THANK YOU JUDGE FOR RECOMMENDING HER.
HER APPOINTMENT WAS TAKEN BEFORE OUR EXECUTIVE BOARD ON LAST FRIDAY, THE COG EXECUTIVE BOARD, AND THEY SEEDED HER FOR A THREE-YEAR TERM.
THE FOLKS THAT ARE ON OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT BOARD CAN SERVE THREE, THREE YEAR TERMS. UM, UH, AS LONG AS THEY ARE REPRESENTING THE AREA FOR WHICH THEY WERE DESIGNATED TO SERVE.
SO AS LONG AS SHE'S REPRESENTING KAUFMAN COUNTY, SHE CAN SERVE LITERALLY, UM, UP TO NINE YEARS ON OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT BOARD.
AS WE WORK, WORK THROUGH THINGS THAT KIND OF TELL US WHAT ARE OUR STRENGTHS, OUR WEAKNESSES, OUR OPPORTUNITIES, AND ALL THOSE THINGS ARE ACROSS THE REGION.
WE NEED THEM TO TELL US WE CAN'T SIT AT THE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS AND MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.
WE HAVE TO HAVE INPUT FROM THE FOLKS OUT IN THE REGION TO GUIDE US AND TELL US WHAT IT IS THAT THEY WANT US TO DO AND WHAT THEY WANT THINGS TO LOOK LIKE.
AND THEN WE DON'T TELL ANYBODY WHAT TO DO, BUT THE GOALS AND THE OBJECTIVES ARE BROADLY DEFINED SO THAT EVERYONE CAN ADJUST TO THEM, USE THEM AS THEY NEED TO, TO BRING DEVELOPMENT TO THEIR COMMUNITY.
SO NOW AS WE ARE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, YOU MIGHT SAY, OKAY, SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR, FOR ME? WELL, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT, YOU'VE GOT INDUSTRIAL PARKS OF BUSINESS PARKS, AND YOU'RE TRYING TO GET INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE, FOR EXAMPLE, WATER AND SEWER, YOU KNOW, IN PLACE SO THAT YOU CAN ATTRACT BUSINESSES AND SO FORTH.
WELL, MAYBE THERE'S FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO DO SUCH OR YOU'RE TRYING TO HELP, UM, NONPROFIT BUSINESSES GET UP AND GOING, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING MAYBE A ROAD NEEDS TO BE THERE FOR ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS OR SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE IN PLACE WHERE THERE COULD BE MONEY.
AS OF ALL IN INVOLVED THAT COULD HELP YOU WITH THOSE PROJECTS.
MOST OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ARE FUNDED
[00:15:01]
ANYWHERE BETWEEN 60%, 40%, 60, 40 MATCH RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC THAT IS OCCURRED.THERE'VE BEEN TWO PROGRAMS THAT, UM, HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED.
ONE WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS IN OFFICE, HE INTRODUCED THE CARES ACT AND THAT BROUGHT ABOUT SOME FUNDING, UM, FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, UM, AT AN 80 20% RATE.
AND THE CURRENT PRESIDENT HAS, UM, BROUGHT IN A PROGRAM CALLED THE BILL BACK BETTER PROGRAM.
AND THEY'RE STILL DOING PROJECTS AT 80 20%.
SO THAT'S AN AN AND THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, PRESIDENT TRUMP, UM, DECLARED THE ENTIRE COUNTRY A DISASTER, SO, AND A SPECIAL NEEDS.
SO THAT MEANT THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO LOOK AT QUALIFYING THE QUALIFICATIONS THAT HE TOOK TO BE ABLE TO, UH, RESPOND AND RECEIVE THOSE FUNDINGS BECAUSE THE ENTIRE COUNTRY WAS DIS WAS DECLARED AS SPECIAL NEEDS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC THAT MADE EVERYONE ELIGIBLE THEN FOR FUNDING, WITHOUT REGARD TO WHAT THE REGULAR RULES WOULD BE IN TERMS OF BEING ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING.
SO IN, IN, IN OUR CASE, IN OUR REGION, OUR REGION BENEFITED FROM SOME EIGHT TO NINE DIFFERENT PROJECTS, EVERYTHING FROM PUTTING IN A WATER AND SEWER TO PUTTING IN, UM, UM, UH, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT KINDS OF PROJECTS THAT WOULD TRAIN PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO WORK FOR EXAMPLE, ON SMART CARS.
AND, UH, AND THEN TAKE THAT, THAT SKILLSET AND BE ABLE TO USE IT MORE THAN JUST WORKING ON THINGS LIKE SMART CARS.
THEY COULD, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LEARNING HOW TO, HOW TO WELD AND USING SELECT THOSE SKILLS CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO A NUMBER OF, OF, OF, OF DIFFERENT, UH, JOB OP OPPORTUNITIES.
SO, UM, I'VE GIVEN YOU AT YOUR PLACE, UM, ABOUT NINE DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT, THAT, UH, THAT WE HAVE AND THE DISTRICT, IF YOU, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE GOT COMMUNITIES THAT MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE A LARGE STAFF AND THEY NEED HELP WITH RUNNING A PROJECT OR MANAGING A PROJECT DURING ADMINISTRATORS MADE A PORTION OF A PROJECT, THE STAFF AT OUR DISTRICT CAN DO THE ADMINISTRATIVE PORTION OF THE PROJECT.
WE CAN DO ALL THAT WORK FOR A COMMUNITY IF THEY'RE FUNDED, UM, FOR, UH, WITH THE GRANT.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO STOP AND TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL MAY HAVE AGAIN, I'M, UH, WE'RE JUST THRILLED TO HAVE DONNA.
UM, AND I KNOW SOME OF THE OTHER STORE AND I MET, UH, REILAND JUST THE FEW MINUTES AGO, WE'VE WORKED ON DIFFERENT PROJECTS.
I THINK I WAS GOING TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNEW IS THAT LUCILLE'S ALREADY IN HER TEAM HAS ALREADY HELPED US WITH THE GRANT APPLICATION, HAVING FOR OUR PROJECT DOWN, UH, ADJACENT TO THE PORT FARM.
SO WE'RE ALREADY IN THE SADDLE WITH YOU ALSO.
THAT'S GOOD, BUT THE HAVE YOUR, YOUR, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE FROM YOUR COUNTY, THAT'S ON OUR, ON OUR BOARD, UM, TO BE ABLE TO PASS ALONG, UM, GUIDANCE FOR US AS WE DO, OUR WORK IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND SO WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOU GUYS NAMING SOMEONE TO, UM, TO FULFILL THAT ROLE, UH, STUART MCGREGOR, WHO IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, PERSON FOR THE CITY OF KAUFFMAN.
THANK YOU, STUART, BECAUSE STUART, UH, KIND OF PESTERED ME TO GET THIS DONE.
AND SO, UH, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT STORY QUESTIONS FOR LUCILLE.
IS IT POSSIBLE IN SOME OF THE RURAL AREAS OF THE COUNTY TO HAVE LIKE SOME AGRICULTURAL CO-OPS OR CLEANS THAT WHERE MAYBE EACH FARM WHERE EACH ONE OF THEM AND IS RAISING SHEEP OR, OR GROWING A CERTAIN CROP WHERE YOU COULD GET HELP ON INFRASTRUCTURE OR TRANSPORTATION TO GET THAT CROP OF PRODUCT IN AND OUT THE RULE ROOM? ARE THERE ANY POSSIBILITIES? I THINK THERE ARE POSSIBILITIES, UM, BEYOND POSSIBILITIES AS WE BRING THEM TO THE TABLE AND SIT DOWN AND SEE HOW THEY CAN BE WORKED.
IT MAY NOT BE A GRANT THAT, THAT, THAT IS RECEIVED FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION, BUT IT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT'S RECEIVED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE OR SOME OTHER AREA THAT ALSO WANTS TO KNOW IF WE HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IN PLACE.
SO I THINK WHEN WE START LOOKING AT HOW WE BRING DEVELOPMENT ON AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT KIND OF JOBS THAT THEN CAN CREATE AS A RESULT OF THAT DEVELOPMENT, WE CAN LOOK AT ALL WAYS TO MAKE THOSE THINGS COME TO FRUITION, EVERYTHING FROM PUTTING IN ROADWAYS, IF THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO, WHATEVER IT IS THAT WE CAN SAY, IF WE DO THAT, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING X NUMBER OF JOBS TO THE COMMUNITY, HELP X NUMBER OF PEOPLE, UH, TO BE ABLE TO GET THEIR PRODUCTS OUT, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE.
UH, WE CAN LOOK AT IT FROM, YOU KNOW, WE CAN FRAME IT FROM BOTH FROM BOTH A POINT OF VIEW.
AND KAREN, I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY BRING TO THIS IS THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE AN IDEA, I WAS JUST A
[00:20:01]
FLOATING AN IDEA BY LUCILLE BEFORE THE MEETING STARTED.IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA, THEY'RE IN A POSITION TO SAY, UH, MAYBE WORTH PURSUING OR PROBABLY NOT, YOU KNOW, CAUSE THEY HAVE A FEEL FOR THAT.
AND THAT'LL, THAT COULD POTENTIALLY SAVE US A LOT OF TIMES AND CERTAINLY LOOKING AT OTHER PLACES TO GET THE FUNDING FROM THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
SOMETIMES WE'RE NOT EVEN AWARE OF THAT.
BOY, YOU CAN GET MONEY FOR THAT, YOU KNOW, FROM THE, YOU KNOW, TO DO THIS OUT OF THIS PROGRAM AND, YOU KNOW, AND IT IT'S LIKE, WELL, YES, THEY'RE TRYING TO INCREASE, UH, DEVELOPMENT CHANCES.
THEY'RE TRYING TO INCREASE, UM, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
AND THEN THE WORLD IS CHANGING AS WE SEE BEFORE US WITH THE WAY PEOPLE WANT TO WORK AND SO FORTH.
SO WE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE SWITCHES TO, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DEVELOPING IN THE RIGHT WAY.
I THINK IT'S, UH, UH, I ALSO THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A DEDICATED REPRESENTATIVE, UH, AND I'M GLAD THAT, THAT WE MOVE FORWARD ON THAT.
WE HAVE SO MANY NEEDS IN THIS COUNTY.
UH, I'M SURE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, UH, UH, RAPIDLY EXPLODING IN POPULATION.
UM, AND SO, UH, SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING AND GRANT FUNDING IS CRITICAL FOR, FOR DESIRABLE GROWTH IN THIS COUNTY.
UH, FOR INSTANCE, WE ARE HEAVILY FOCUSED ON THE 1 75 CORRIDOR THAT YOU ENJOYED DRIVING DOWN ON.
UH, A LARGE PORTION OF THAT DOWN IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF OUR COUNTY IS REALLY LACKING IN INFRASTRUCTURE, WATER, AND SEWER, UH, THAT SUPPORTS DESIRABLE PER INSTANCE, LIGHT INDUSTRY IN THAT AREA.
SO, YOU KNOW, UH, IT'S CERTAINLY COMPLIMENTARY AND IT DOVETAILS WITH OUR, WITH OUR ONGOING EFFORTS TO, UH, WORK WITH TXDOT AND DO TO IMPROVE 1 75 ACROSS THE, THE LENGTH OF THE COUNTY.
UH, AND SO A PROJECT LIKE THAT WOULD REALLY BE EXPLORING AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF VERY SMALL COMMUNITIES IN THIS COUNTY THAT ARE, ARE DESPERATELY IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE WITH INFRASTRUCTURE, ROADS, AND SEWERS AND WATER UPGRADES.
UM, LAST YEAR WE EXPERIENCED THE ICE STORM AND, AND, UM, SEVERAL OF OUR WATER COMPANIES, UH, REALLY NEEDED ASSISTANCE AND STILL DO NEED ASSISTANCE IN, UH, AUXILIARY GENERATORS AND THAT SORT OF THING.
SO I REALLY THINK THAT THERE'S AN IMPORTANT STEP FOR THE COUNTY AND, AND, UH, I APPRECIATE JUDGE THAT, UH, THAT YOU GOT DONNA INVOLVED.
WHERE IS THIS? WE'RE HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT, UM, EVEN ADMINISTERING THE GRANT.
IF, IF WE IN A SMALLER COMMUNITY THAT DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH STAFFING NEEDS, WE'RE WHERE WE ARE.
WE'LL HELP IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN.
Y YOU CAN SEE, YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR EXAMPLES, YOU PUT PROFFER DOWN ONE BECAUSE THEY RECEIVED A MIG ON THE PUMP STATION UPSET, BUT OF COURSE IT WENT TO A MORE LIKELY CANDIDATE LIKE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN THE HOME DEPOT.
WELL, BRETT, AND SOMETIMES WHAT YOU MAY HAVE HAPPENED IS IN SOMEONE OR LIKE A HOSPITAL, OR THEY MAY DECIDE THAT, YOU KNOW, UNLESS WE CAN GET A ROAD BUILT OR UNLESS WE CAN GET THIS DIRECT ACCESS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO STAY HERE.
WELL, THAT'S A REAL BIG THING AND A REAL BIG NEED FOR A COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO A HOSPITAL.
SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE THAT IN A ROAD, SOME, YOU KNOW, YOU MAY NOT GET THE DOLLARS, ALL THE DOLLARS THAT YOU NEED, BUT YOU CAN GET SOME OF THEM.
AND SOMETIMES TEXTILE, THEN WE'LL COME IN AND HELP AND SAY, OKAY, WELL, THEY'RE GOING TO CONTRIBUTE THIS AMOUNT.
WE'LL CONTRIBUTE THE REST, OR WE'LL DO THIS, THIS PORTION.
WE'RE AWARE OF TEXTS NUTS, AND YOU GIVE HIM A LITTLE MONEY IN IT HELPS THEM MOTIVATE THEM SOME, AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
THAT'S WHAT WE DID WAS OUR LAST BOND.
YOU KNOW, AS MOTIVATING TEXTILE A LOT.
SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT VERY WELL.
SHE'S LUCKY THAT SHE DROVE UP 1 75, NOT 80.
YOU WOULDN'T, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE HEARD THE SAME QUIET.
[4. Robert Hunter; Present/Accept the Veterans Services quarterly report.]
OKAY.NEXT UP ITEM FOUR, ROBERT HUNTER PRESENT FOR ACCEPTANCE, THE VETERAN SERVICES.
SO I SUBMITTED THE REPORT, UM, LIKE I NORMALLY DO.
I'M SURE YOU GUYS ALL GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OVER IT.
SO I WAS JUST GOING TO KIND OF HIT SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AND SOME OF THE NOTABLE THINGS FROM, UH, LAST QUARTER, UH, DID WANT TO POINT OUT KIND OF GOING BACK A LITTLE BIT FURTHER THOUGH, UM, ON THAT FIRST SLIDE THAT I SENT YOU, I KIND OF WENT BACK TO THE OLD SLIDE FORMAT THAT YOU GUYS HAD LIKED, UH, AND ACTIVELY RECOGNIZE ME FOR.
[00:25:01]
I JUST KIND OF MERGED THE TWO REPORTING FORMATS THAT WE WERE DOING IF YOU WILL.AND WE NEVER GOT TO TALK, UM, TOWARDS THE END OF LAST YEAR ABOUT THE, UM, THE FIRST SLIDE BECAUSE WE, WE DISCONTINUED USING IT.
UM, AND IF YOU'LL NOTICE OUR VETERANS IN KAUFMAN COUNTY ACTUALLY DROPPED BY ABOUT 10%, UM, ACCORDING TO THE GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION OF EXPENDITURES BY THE VA, UM, THIS IS CONSISTENT ACROSS THE BOARD.
I KNOW THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE.
THERE WAS A, A YEAR WHERE I DID A REPORT FOR YOU IN WHICH KAUFMAN COUNTY WAS THE ONLY COUNTY IN OUR REGION TO NOT SEE A DROP.
UM, I THINK WE ROSE BY 1% THAT YEAR AND THE AVERAGE COUNTIES AROUND US DROPPED BY THREE OR FOUR, AS MUCH AS SIX.
UM, THIS PARTICULAR YEAR WE DROPPED A 10%.
UM, ELLIS COUNTY DROPPED 11 ROCKWALL, 10% HUNT HENDERSON AND VANZANT ALL DROPPED ABOUT 5%.
SO WE DROPPED KIND OF CONSISTENTLY, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT THE ENTIRE AREA.
UM, AND AGAIN, THIS REPORT COMES FROM THE VA AND IT'S ONLY INDICATIVE OF VETERANS WHO ARE ACTUALLY USING SERVICES WITH THE VA.
SO IF A VETERAN HAS MOVED HERE AND THEY'RE NOT ENROLLED WITH VA SERVICES OR RECEIVING ANY BENEFITS FROM THE VA, THE VA HAS NO WAY OF KNOWING THEY LIVE HERE AND TRACKING THAT.
SO OUR NUMBERS ARE LIKELY HIGHER THAN THAT AS IS EVERYONE ELSE'S.
UM, BUT AS A WINDOW, UH, THOSE ARE OUR NUMBERS.
ONE OF THE THINGS TO POINT OUT THOUGH WITH OUR NUMBERS DROPPING AS MUCH AS THEY DID, UM, OUR FUNDING STILL ROSE AND ROSE QUITE SIGNIFICANTLY.
IN FACT, UM, I THINK WE ADD AN $8 MILLION INCREASE IN FUNDING TO PERSONAL FUNDING.
THIS IS FUNDING THAT GOES DIRECTLY TO THE VETERAN TO DO WITH, AS THEY SEE FIT, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST.
THERE'S, THERE'S PERSONAL FUNDING, UH, OR MONEY THAT THE VETERAN CAN SPEND WITHIN THE COUNTY OR WHEREVER.
AND THEN THERE'S MEDICAL, UM, AND MEDICAL.
AND YOU CAN SEE ON THE REPORT, IT KIND OF STAYS CONSISTENT, MEANING THAT, UM, WE'RE CONTINUING TO GET THOSE NEEDS AS THEY GO, BUT THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T RISE AS MUCH, BUT IT WAS VERY NOTEWORTHY TO SEE THAT, ALTHOUGH WE DROPPED ABOUT 800 VETERANS ON THEIR REPORT, THIS LAST YEAR, OUR, OUR DOLLARS FOR VETERANS WENT UP BY ABOUT 8 MILLION.
SO THAT WAS THE ONLY NOTE WORTHY THING.
I WANTED TO POINT OUT ON THAT.
SO WE DID ABOUT 177 TICKETS LAST QUARTER, UM, WHICH IS PRETTY CONSISTENT WITH OUR QUARTERS.
IT'S NOT THE BIGGEST QUARTER WE'VE HAD, BUT IT'S NOWHERE NEAR THE, THE SMALLEST, UH, THE BIGGEST AREA TO NOTE WAS THAT OUR PHONE CALLS FOR THIS PARTICULAR QUARTER, OUR PHONE CALLS, THIS IS THE HIGHEST PHONE CALL TOTAL, SINCE WE STARTED KEEPING STATS OR KEEPING TRACK OF THIS, UM, THIS PARTICULAR THING.
UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, OUR IN-OFFICE VISITS, UM, I THINK IT'S STILL KIND OF A, UH, COVID RELATED THING.
I DON'T THINK IT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT NEEDING THE HELP OR THEY'RE NOT COMING OUT TO GET IT.
I JUST THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S STILL, WE'RE STILL IN THAT COVID MODE.
UM, BUT I THINK THAT MIGHT TREND TO BE DIFFERENT.
I SEEM TO BE LIKE REALLY BUSY THIS MONTH.
UM, THERE'S JUST BEEN A TON OF PEOPLE.
WE'VE HAD A TON OF WALK-INS THIS MONTH.
SO LET'S SEE WHAT NEXT QUARTER SHOWS, AND MAYBE WE'LL SEE THAT THAT INNER OFFICE VISIT AND THAT FACE-TO-FACE PERSONAL CONDUCT IS, IS GOING TO INCREASE SOME OF THE BIG HIGHLIGHTS FOR VETERAN SERVICES.
UH, WE'VE COMPLETED OUR OFFICE RELOCATION AND OUR EXPANSION.
I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU GUYS ALL A PERSONAL, THANK YOU.
THE, THE OFFICE SPACE THAT WE HAVE NOW IS, IS MUCH BIGGER, MUCH LARGER.
WE HAVE OUR OWN WAITING AREA TO ACCOMMODATE VETERANS.
UM, WE HAVE A RECEPTION, UM, ADMINISTRATIVE AREA UP FRONT, MS. BELINDA STEWART WAS HIRED OR TRANSFERRED FROM A TAX OR COLLECTIONS, EXCUSE ME, ELECTIONS, UH, DEPARTMENT OVER TO, UH, TO BE MY ADMINISTRATIVE UPFRONT ADMIN PERSON.
AND, UH, WELL, SHE HIT THE GROUND AND SHE'S REALLY RUNNING.
WE ARE, THERE'S BEEN A PROJECT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON OFF AND ON BETWEEN VETERANS AND EVERYTHING.
UM, SO, UH, I HAVE IT ON MUTE.
THE, UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING TO TRY AND GO PAPERLESS WHILE WE'RE AT PROBABLY 98 TO 99% PAPERLESS RIGHT NOW.
UM, WE HAVE ALMOST EVERY HISTORICAL DD, TWO 14 THAT'S EVER COME THROUGH THAT OFFICE.
AND WE HAVE RECORDS NOW GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1930.
THAT'S THE OLDEST DOCUMENT WE'VE FOUND.
SO KAUFMAN HAS BEEN IN SOME WAY SHAPE OR FORM HELPING VETERANS SINCE, AS FAR BACK AS 1931, WHICH I THINK IS JUST AMAZING.
UM, SO THE MOVE AND EVERYTHING IS COMPLETE.
UM, WE, WE CHANGED OUR SOFTWARE.
[00:30:01]
TO A NEW SOFTWARE VET PRO I KIND OF, UH, GAVE YOU AN LAST QUARTER'S BRIEF.I KIND OF MENTIONED IT, THAT WE WERE TRYING IT OUT.
UM, MAN, THAT SOFTWARE IS AMAZING.
UM, WE CAN CUT DOWN THE AMOUNT OF TIME A VETERAN HAS TO COME IN AND, AND TIE UP THE OFFICE TO DO A, UH, CLAIM THEREBY FREEING UP TIME TO DO MORE.
UH, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, AS WE CONTINUE THROUGH THIS AREA OR THIS PERIOD WHERE THEY'RE NOT WANTING TO COME INTO THE OFFICE, OR MAYBE WE'RE TRYING TO AVOID THEM COMING INTO THE OFFICE, THIS NEW SOFTWARE ALLOWS ME TO BUILD IT, TO PUT THEM INTO THE DATABASE, GET ALL OF THEIR INFORMATION, CREATE A FORM IN THE DATABASE AND THEN GENERATE THAT FORM FROM THE DATABASE.
IT WILL THEN EMAIL THAT FORM TO THEM WHERE THEY CAN TAKE OUT THEIR SMARTPHONE, SIGN IT WITH THEIR FINGER, JUST LIKE THE NEW THINGS WHERE YOU'RE BUYING A HOUSE, HIT THE GREEN CHECK MARK.
I CAN REVIEW IT AND THEN I CAN IMMEDIATELY SEND IT DIRECTLY TO THE VA RIGHT THERE FROM MY COMPUTER.
SO WE'VE EVEN NOW ELIMINATED THE FAX.
YOU KNOW, THE PROCEDURE USED TO BE, THEY WOULD COME IN, THEY WOULD SIT DOWN WITH ME.
WE WOULD FILL OUT THE PDF FORMAT.
THEN I WOULD DO IT ALL ON THE COMPUTER WITH THEM.
WE WOULD HIT PRINT, THEY WOULD REVIEW IT, THEY WOULD SIGN IT.
THEN WE WOULD SCAN IT, FAX IT ALL OFF AND THEN SCAN IT.
AND NOW WE HAVE ALL OF THIS PAPERWORK, NO MORE.
IT'S ALL DONE THROUGH ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION.
IF THEY'RE NOT SAVVY WITH ELECTRONICS OR IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE SMARTPHONES, IT CAN GO TO THEIR EMAIL.
THEY CAN ACTUALLY USE THEIR MOUSE TO SIGN, WHICH MAKES FOR VERY PRETTY SIGNATURES, NOT.
SO I WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE YOU ON THAT.
UM, THE VETERAN'S DAY CEREMONY WE DID IN NOVEMBER, ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
I THINK WE HAD ABOUT A HUNDRED AND I'M GOING TO SAY SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 150 AND 175 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE.
UM, WE SAID GOODBYE TO SOME VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE.
UM, AND I THINK IT WAS AMAZING.
UH, WE ALSO GOT LIGHTS INSTALLED IN THE FRONT OF THE PARK, SO, AND I HAD SOME TREES TRIMMED.
UH, YOU COULD ALMOST SAY BUTCHERED AS MUCH TREES AS WE HAD TO TRIM BACK, BUT THERE'S NOW A LIGHTS IN THE FRONT AREA OF THE PARK WOULD SHINE INTO THE PARK.
SO IF YOU'RE AT THE PARK AT NIGHT, YOU CAN ACTUALLY VISIT THE WALLS THAT WE CREATED IN THE PARK.
NOW IN THE EVENING TIME, UM, WE HAVE LOST SOMEBODY RECENTLY.
UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF POINT OUT.
WE'LL PROBABLY INCLUDE HIM IN OUR MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY.
UH, BUT MR. JAMES CROUCH, ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE PARK, UH, PASSED AWAY JUST, UH, THIS PAST WEEK.
SO OUR PRAYERS OUT TO HIM AND HIS FAMILY, WE ALSO CONDUCTED A REESE ACROSS AMERICA CEREMONY WHERE WE PLACED THE 200 REEFS IN THE PARK AND A MAN THAT, THAT WAS GREAT.
WE HAD ABOUT, I WOULD SAY BETWEEN 75, I THINK A HUNDRED IS OPTIMISTIC, BUT AT LEAST 75 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE FOR THAT EVENT LAYING REEFS THROUGHOUT THE PARK.
AND THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY NICE.
UM, WE GOT, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN OUT TO THE PARK EACH OF YOU, BUT, UH, WE HAVE THE POW M I M I, A CHAIR THAT WAS GIVEN TO US BY A ROLLING THUNDER INSTALLED JUST IN FRONT OF THE VIETNAM WALL.
I HAVE SOME PLANS AND PROJECTS IN MIND TO EVEN EXPAND UPON THAT AND MAKE IT LOOK EVEN MORE PRESENTABLE.
UH, SO MORE NOTES ON THAT IN THE FUTURE.
ANY QUESTIONS, UH, THE, JUST A COMMENT, YOUR, YOUR REPORT THAT SHOWS QUARTER BY QUARTER, YEAR TO YEAR IS A VERY HELPFUL FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND THE NUMBERS, TO SEE TRENDS.
WELL, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS HAD SAID BACK, OH, A WHILE BACK.
AND, AND, UH, THE GOLDEN ROOSTER, WHICH STILL REST IN MY OFFICE.
SO I JUST KIND OF WENT BACK A LITTLE BIT TO THAT.
ANYTHING ELSE? NO, BUT YOU KNOW, THE ONE THING ABOUT IT IS I THINK YOU SUCCEEDED.
I THINK YOU'VE SUCCEEDED IN WANTING TO ASK YOU TO LIVE WITH, RIGHT.
THEY, I DON'T KNOW IF I, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ASKED THE ENTIRE REGION, WHO'S THE BEST VETERAN SERVICE OFFICER.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'D SAY ROB.
UH, I THINK THERE'S MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT KNOW ME.
WE SEE, UH, I THINK THIS LAST QUARTER WE HAD, UM, 11 OUT OF COUNTY TICKETS THINK THREE OF THEM, FOUR FROM DIFFERENT STATES.
AND THEY CAME FROM BECAUSE THEY SPOKE TO SOMEONE THAT WAS HERE.
WE HAD OHIO, FLORIDA, AND I FORGET THE OTHER ONE.
UM, AND THEN WE HAD CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, OHIO, FLORIDA, AND ARKANSAS WAS THE THIRD ONE, ARKANSAS.
UM, BUT THAT WAS A VETERAN WHO HAD LEFT THIS AREA AND MOVED TO ARKANSAS AND WANTED TO CONTINUE TO USE THIS OFFICE, EVEN THOUGH HE LIVED THERE.
UM, BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, WE'VE, WE'VE BUILT A RAPPORT.
SO I THINK THE HENDERSON, ALL OF THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES ALL HAD PROBABLY ONE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF VAN SANT.
I THINK HUNT HENDERSON, UH, ELLIS, DALLAS ROCKWALL, EVERY
[00:35:01]
ONE OF THOSE COUNTIES HAD AT LEAST ONE PERSON USE OUR OFFICE THIS PAST QUARTER.I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT, UH, I THINK IT'S A GREAT, IT'S A GREAT ASSET.
UH, CERTAINLY OUT IN THE PRECINCT OFFICES BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF PARTICULARLY OLDER VETERANS THAT, THAT COME INTO THE OFFICE FOR ONE THING OR ANOTHER, UH, OR INTO THE SUB COURTHOUSES TO PAY THEIR TAXES.
AND, UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY ANECDOTAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM AND, AND, UH, UH, ON A LOT OF OCCASIONS, WE SEE THAT, OR WE HEAR THAT A, THEY BECOME A DISSATISFIED, A CERTAIN EXTENT WITH THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH THE VA, PARTICULARLY VA MEDICAL.
AND, UH, AS I KIND OF DRILLED DOWN A LOT OF TIMES, IT'S BECAUSE THEY, THEY MADE SOME SORT OF A, UH, A SMALL ADMINISTRATIVE ERROR.
THEY DIDN'T BRING THE RIGHT ID OR, UH, SOME REQUIRED PIECE OF PAPERWORK, WHICH REQUIRED THEIR VISIT TO GET RESCHEDULED.
SO IT'S REALLY HELPFUL BECAUSE I'M ABLE TO SAY, LISTEN, YOU NEED TO CALL ROBERT HUNTER IN THE COUNTY OFFICE, AND THAT GUY KNOWS HIS BUSINESS AND CAN WALK YOU THROUGH.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE CAN REFER, UH, OUR CITIZENS TO YOU AND GET THAT HELP THROUGH THE VA BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM REALLY DO.
UH, THEY REALLY DO NEED THE HELP.
I TRY TO TELL THEM TO, YOU KNOW, THE VA DOES ENOUGH TO GET THEIR OWN BLACK EYES AS, AS DOES ANY ELEMENT OR ANYBODY THAT DEALS WITH THE PUBLIC.
UM, AND SO IN ADDITION TO TRY AND HELP THEM GET THEIR BENEFITS, I REALLY TRY TO TRY TO MAYBE SEE, HAVE THEM SEE IT FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE TO TELL MY VETERANS IS IF YOU CAN NAME ANOTHER JOB IN THE ENTIRE WORLD, OR YOU CAN WORK FOR TWO YEARS, NO MATTER WHAT YOU DID, YOU CAN WORK FOR TWO YEARS, QUIT COME BACK 40 OR 50 YEARS LATER AND FILE A WORKMAN'S COMP CLAIM AND GET COMPENSATION FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE FOR THAT.
THEN YOU LET ME KNOW, CAUSE THAT'S, WE NEED TO START LOOKING INTO TRYING TO GET INTO THAT FIELD.
SO, YEAH, I THINK, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE CERTAINLY BAD EXAMPLES AND THERE ARE CERTAINLY EXAMPLES WHERE PEOPLE MAYBE DIDN'T GET WHAT THEY NEEDED.
AND THEY HAD TO GO THROUGH LONG ARDUOUS PROCESSES TO TRY AND ACHIEVE THAT, WHETHER IT BE THROUGH THE APPEALS.
BUT I THINK FOR THE MOST PART, UM, THE VA DOES WHAT IT CAN WITH WHAT IT HAS.
AND, UH, AND I'M JUST, I'M JUST, LIKE I SAID, I'M GLAD TO BE HERE TO HELP, YOU KNOW, GET THEM TO THAT POINT NO MATTER WHAT THAT MAY BE.
UH, THEN I GUESS I WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE VETERANS SERVICES.
QUARTERLY REPORT IS PRESENTED.
I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION, MOTION, COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS.
IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER AND CAGE DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE OPPOSED.
NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES MOVING ON TO ITEM
[5. Monique Hunter; Present/Accept the Development Services quarterly report.]
FIVE, MONIQUE HUNTER PRESENT FOR ACCEPTANCE TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COORDINATOR.I'M GOING TO TALK LESS THAN THAT HUNTER JUST SAYING WE'LL BE THE JUDGE OF THAT WHEN YOU'RE THROUGH NONE.
JUST DON'T ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS AND WE'LL GET OUT OF HERE REAL QUICK.
UM, I SENT YOU, UM, UH, THE NEW REPORT.
I JUST DID THE QUARTERLY LISTED, UM, ALL OF THE, UM, UH, JOBS AND TASKS THAT MY OFFICE HANDLES.
UM, I ALSO PUT A YOU'LL NOTICE ON THE FINANCIALS, WHEREVER IT STATE ZERO IS BECAUSE WE DO THOSE JOBS AND THERE IS NO COMPENSATION TO THE COUNTY, WHICH, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO TRY AND LOOK INTO FIXING THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
UM, SO I'M, I JUST BROKE IT DOWN ON THE SECOND PAGE.
I MEAN, YOU CAN SEE THE FINANCIALS 183,000 5, 48, 43, IT'S UP 7,000 FROM LAST YEAR.
UM, AND THIS QUARTER THAT WILL BE REPORTED IN MARCH IS GOING TO BE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE WERE HOPING THAT WINTER WOULD SLOW US DOWN.
HE DID NOT, YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT IT WAS NICE AND SUNNY BY CHRISTMAS, DIDN'T STOP THE WORK.
SO WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR THAT.
MAYBE THAT'S COMING THIS WEEK OR WE CAN CATCH UP ON SOME STUFF.
SO, UM, NINE 11 ADDRESSES AND GIS, THE MAP CREATION WAS, WOW.
WE HAD SO MANY REQUESTS FROM, FOR MAPS.
I'VE GONE THROUGH $1,600 WORTH OF INK IN JUST A FEW MONTHS.
AND SO, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, NEW BOUNDARIES VOTING PRECINCTS BECAUSE OF A CENSUS, UM, THERE WAS AN OVERABUNDANCE OF THAT GOING ON.
UM, WE ARE MOVING TO ARC PRO, UM, IN OUR SOFTWARE FOR GIS, UM, WHICH WILL MAKE THINGS A LOT EASIER.
UM, IT'S NOT GOING TO COST US ANYMORE.
UM, WE'RE GONNA, UM, START THE TRAINING, UH, FOR THAT IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, THE GIS ARE SIGNED UP FOR IT.
UM, AND THEN IT NEEDS TO BE COORDINATED WITH IT AND NCT TO LINK THE SERVERS AND, AND GET THAT MOVING.
BUT, UM, THAT'S GOING TO GET OUR GIS PORTAL A LOT MORE DETAILED, MORE LAYERS, UM, AND, UH, GREAT FOR THE PUBLIC.
[00:40:01]
OR IS THAT A DIFFERENT, I KNOW IT'S A PART OF S3.IT'S JUST, UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU CAN HAVE THE, THE, THE, UH, CADILLAC, AND THEN YOU CAN HAVE THE MERCEDES, RIGHT.
SO WE CAN MOVE TO THE MERCEDES AND HAVE MORE TOOLS.
THAT'LL LET US DO OUR JOB BETTER.
SO, UM, I KNOW THE GIS M FROM OCTOBER THROUGH DECEMBER, WORKED WITH ELECTIONS AND ALISON BASS TO HELP REVIEW SOME OF THE DOCUMENTATION TO GET THE MAPS.
THAT WAS A LOT OF WORK, A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH.
UM, BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO SAY THAT CLOSED IN THE MAP WAS, UM, ADOPTED, UM, IN THE OSF SECTION OF MY DEPARTMENT, WE'VE IMPLEMENTED SOME NEW PROCESSES.
UM, ONE OF THEM IS I'VE SPLIT THE COUNTY SINCE WE HAVE 3D OURS, I'VE SPLIT THE COUNTY INTO THREE SECTIONS, NORTH CENTRAL AND SOUTH.
I HAVE ASSIGNED A DR TO THOSE SECTIONS.
THEY'LL ROTATE EVERY THREE MONTHS, JUST SO THAT THEY STAY FAMILIAR WITH THE COUNTY.
UM, IT SAVES ON FUEL CONSUMPTION, ALLOWS THEM TO DO AN INSPECTION AND RUN A COMPLAINT IN THE SAME SPOT AND, YOU KNOW, KEEPS OUR OWN SPECTERS, UH, YOU KNOW, SENT IN THEIR CERTAIN LOCATIONS AND THEY CAN SEE A VIOLATION FROM START TO FINISH.
SO WE'RE GOING TO ROTATE THEM EVERY THREE MONTHS NOW.
SO THAT WAY, UM, UM, IT GOES WITH OUR QUARTERLY REPORT AND IT LETS ALLOWS ME TO TRACK ALL MY QUARTERLY REPORT, HOW MUCH WE'RE REALLY TAKEN CARE OF IN THAT SECTION.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE ALL FOLLOWING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO.
UM, WE USED TO, WE TCEQ REQUIRES US TO MAIL A LETTER OUT EVERY DAY TO ANYONE WHO'S IN VIOLATION, 30 DAYS PRIOR TO THEIR CONTRACT, IT WAS COSTING US FOR ENVELOPES.
SO WE KIND OF POSTCARDS SAVES US, YOU KNOW, 15 CENTS OR 20 CENTS ON THE SHIPPING ALONE.
NOT TO MENTION THE ENVELOPES, THERE'LL BE ON FIVE BY SEVEN.
THESE ARE A LITTLE BIT SMALLER THAN I LIKED.
SO, BUT I BROUGHT THEM AS SAMPLES.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO EVEN OPEN AN ENVELOPE TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE IN VIOLATION OR NEED TO CONTACT US.
SO, YOU KNOW, CAUSE OTHERWISE IT JUST GOES IN THE TRASH.
SO WE'RE SAVING QUITE A BIT OF MONEY ON THAT.
AND THAT WILL START AS SOON AS THE FIVE BY SEVEN CARDS GET HERE, WHICH SHOULD BE NEXT WEEK.
SO IT WOULD BE SAVING MONEY IN, IN THAT ASPECT.
SO, UM, WE'VE HAD, UM, CASES GO THROUGH A LASH COURT.
WE HA WE'VE HAD A LOT OF, UM, UM, STAGNANT ENFORCEMENT ON THAT END.
SO WE DECIDED WE'RE JUST GOING TO CALL THEM.
SO WE SEND OUT THE 30 DAY POSTCARD AT THE 15 DAY, MARK, THE DRS TAKE THEIR CENTRAL NORTH AND SOUTH AREAS AND START CALLING, CALLING THE HOMEOWNER.
YOU KNOW, LOOK, WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE YOU TO COURT.
ONLY ONE GUY ACCUSED US OF, YOU KNOW, WHY ARE YOU CALLING ME? BUT THE REST OF THEM LOVE IT.
OUR PROVIDERS LOVE IT BECAUSE GUESS WHAT? THOSE PEOPLE ARE CONTACTING THEM TO RENEW THEIR CONTRACTS.
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY HELPING THEM DO THEIR BUSINESS.
BUT WE WENT FROM FILING 130 AND IN LASH COURT TO SEVEN.
SO IT IS WORKING, IT IS WORKING.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IT UP.
UM, AND SO WE'RE ALSO BUILDING OUR DATABASE ON EMAILS.
SO WE CAN JUST EMAIL WHICH YOU'LL SAVE TIME ON THE PHONE CALLS, BUT UNTIL WE BUILD ALL THOSE EMAILS AND PHONE NUMBERS, YOU KNOW, SO DEVELOPMENT FINALLY FULLY STAFFED, CROSS TRAINING.
WE'LL HAVE TWO CLERKS, UH, WORKING ON DEVELOPMENT HALF THE DAY, ONLY ON ONE BECAUSE SHE HAS TO DO THE SEPTIC SIDE ON THE OTHER, BUT SHE'S WORKING OUT FANTASTIC.
YOU CAN SEE WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE FIS GRANT.
UM, THE F UH, HE'S BEEN WORKING THE FLOODPLAIN VIOLATIONS, BIG BUSHY CREEK.
WE'VE GOT SEVERAL OF THOSE WHERE SOMEONE'S DAMMED UP THEIR CREEK AND, YOU KNOW, UM, UH, DID SOME CROSS SECTION, UH, FOR UNIVERSITY DRIVE IN PRECINCT TO, UM, ONGOING COORDINATION WITH FREESE AND NICHOLS, THOROUGHFARE AMENDMENTS.
WE'RE BEEN WORKING WITH FREESE AND NICHOLS.
AND THEN, UM, SO WE'RE KIND OF BUSY, VERY BUSY, AND THAT'S ALL FOR ME.
YOU CAN, MAYBE YOU CAN TAKE A BREAK ON THURSDAY WITH THIS, WHICH NORMAL GET IN OR WHATEVER, AND I'LL PROBABLY HAVE MY LAPTOP AT HOME.
UH, SO IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES? QUARTERLY REPORT, MICHAEL MOTION? WE HAVE A MOTION COMMISSIONER CAGE.
SECOND, SECOND, COMMISSIONER HUNT THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[6. Brenda Samples; Present/Accept the Tax Assessor-Collector's monthly report for December 2021.]
SAMPLES PRESENT, FOR EXAMPLE, AS TAX COLLECTORS, MONTHLY REPORT FROM DECEMBER MORNING, MAUREEN GENTLEMEN, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONERS, AND JUDGE.GOOD MORNING FOR YOU FOR THE MONTH OF THE CIMBER.
OUR INCOME WAS 20 3001 90 TO 2 81 0.99.
UH, FEEL LIKE THEY ALL CAME YESTERDAY TO PAY THEIR TAXES.
WE HAVE A $73,919 AND 23 CENTS THAT WE'RE, UH, THAT IS DELINQUENT.
AND THEN WE HAVE 129,000 6, 18 24.
[00:45:01]
FOR THE COUNTY PART.NOW THE ROAD AND BRIDGE IS, UH, THE INTAKE WAS, UH, 4 MILLION, EIGHT HUNDRED NINETY FIVE, A HUNDRED AND THIRTY 1020 2 CENTS.
AND THE DELINQUENT PART ON ROAD AND BRIDGE WAS 15,000 TO 69 99.
AND THEN WE HAVE 22,000 5, 94, 44 DEFERRAL.
IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, WE HAD BACK A 51 ACRES AND 7 51 0.75, FIVE ACRES.
AND, UH, ON THE ROAD BACK THE, UH, ROW BACK TAXES COLLECTED THIS YEAR FOR THE COUNTY AS $178,097 AND 99 CENTS.
THE, UH, ROLL BACK TAXES FOR THE YEAR FOR THE COUNTY IS $39,076 AND 17 CENTS 19 CENTS.
EXCUSE ME, UH, FOR 2021, THE TOTAL ROW BACK, WHAT THE COUNTY COLLECTED WAS, UH, 217,000 174 18.
I BELIEVE THAT'S UP ABOUT 20% AS BEFORE THE OTHER ONE.
AND, UH, I BELIEVE THAT'S ALL WROTE, UH, QUESTIONS FOR MS. SAMPLES.
RIGHT? GOOD ROLL BACK TAXES BLANK ALL WAY.
WELL THE BIG PRECINCT TO ROLLBACK TAXES, WHICH ISN'T UNUSUAL.
SO WE DO AN AWFUL LOT OF ROLLBACK TAXES OR WE HAVE TO RUN OUT AND DIDN'T THINK IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS, IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE, UH, TAX ASSESSOR CLICKER REPORT IS PRESENTED? I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION WHERE THAT MOTION COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER HAUNT DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
MAY I SAY ONE THING ABOUT MY STAFF? MY STAFF IS INCREDIBLE.
I THINK YOU WENT THROUGH THERE YESTERDAY.
IT'S LIKE A WELL-OILED MACHINE.
IT WORKED THAT WELL YESTERDAY.
THEY WERE STACKING THEM DEEP YESTERDAY AND THEY WERE STACKING THEM DEEP.
THEY WERE EVEN OUT ON THE PORCH ON THE FRONT, BUT ANYHOW, I JUST WANT TO GIVE MY STAFF KUDOS FOR THAT.
BRENDA, BRENDA, THE SAME THING IN PRECINCT FOUR IN THE TAX OFFICE THERE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE, UH, LIKE THE HARD, HARDEST WORK IN ONE LADY IN THE WORLD DOWN THERE AND SHE, THEY WERE LINED OUT THE DOOR AND SHE WAS HANDLING IT.
SO, WELL, I THINK THEY WERE IN ALL THE PRECINCTS, BUT UH, THOSE LADIES OR SOMETHING ELSE? YES.
[7. Raylan Smith; Discuss and Consider award of contract to TexasBit for road improvements to County Road 4077; in the amount of $528,477.66; utilizing RFB 21-26.]
BRAYLEN I HOPE YOU BROUGHT A CHAIR, UH, ITEM SEVEN, DISCUSS, CONSIDER A WAR OF CONTRACTOR, TEXAS BID FOR ROAD IMPROVEMENTS TO COUNTY ROAD 477 IN THE AMOUNT OF 528,000 4 77 UTILIZING RFB 2126.UH, WHAT WE HAVE IS A ROAD CONSTRUCTION CRUTCH, UM, CONTRACT FOR COUNTY ROAD 40 77.
THIS WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH THE PRECINCT FOR BOND FUNDS.
AND SO THE ITS MEMO WILL BE FORTHCOMING QUESTIONS.
NO, IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, IS THERE A MOTION TO AWARD THAT CONTRACT AS PRESENTED SO MOVED? WE HAVE THAT MOTION COMMISSIONER CASE.
IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE OPPOSED.
[8. Raylan Smith; Discuss and consider award of contract to Dunn Asphalt for road improvements to Acorn Circle; in the amount of $108,301.62; utilizing RFP 21-26.]
UH, ITEM EIGHT, UH, DISCUSS CONSIDER AWARD OF CONTRACT TO DONE ASPHALT FOR ROAD IMPROVEMENTS TO ACORN CIRCLE IN AMOUNT OF A HUNDRED, $8,301 USING RFP 2126, UH, SAME SONG, DIFFERENT VERSE.THIS WILL ALSO BE 3% FOR 2019 BOND FUNDING QUESTION.
IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, MOTION TO APPROVE THAT AWARD, THAT CONTRACT HAS PRESENTED.
SO MOVE A MOTION TO APPROVE TO AWARD FROM COMMISSIONER CAGES OR SECOND I'LL SAY AGAIN.
SECOND COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE OPPOSED.
[9. Raylan Smith; Discuss and consider award of contract to Dunn Asphalt for road improvements to Trunk Street; in the amount of $73,961.50; utilizing RFP 21-26.]
DISCUSS CONSIDER AWARD OF CONTRACT TO DONE ASPHALT FOR ROAD IMPROVEMENTS TO TRUNK STREET IN THE AMOUNT OF 70 3009 61, RFP 2126.THIS IS ALSO A PRECINCT FOR ROAD.
THIS WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH HIS REGULAR BUDGET OUT OF ROAD MATERIALS QUESTIONS, IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO AWARD THAT CONTRACT HAS PRESENTED THAT Y'ALL MAKE THAT MOTION? THESE ARE ALL ASPHALT JOBS THAT,
[00:50:01]
UH, THAT EXCEED THE CAPABILITY OF THE IN-HOUSE PRECINCT STAFF.THAT'D BE APPROVED AS, UH, WE HAVE MOTION TO AWARD THAT CONTRACT, UH, FROM COMMISSIONER KATE'S.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES 10 DISCUSSING CONSIDER
[10. Raylan Smith; Discuss and consider award of contract to AHI Facility Services, Inc. for as-needed Day Porter Services; utilizing RFP 21-10.]
AWARD OF CONTRACT TO H H H I FACILITY SERVICES FOR AS NEEDED DAY PORTER SERVICES USE A LOT UTILIZING RP 2110.SO WHAT WE HAVE, UM, IN TALKING WITH BOBBY AND ALSO WHEN OUR JANITORIAL STAFF HAS SCHEDULED VACATIONS, WE HAVE ONE PARTICULAR STAFF MEMBER THAT WILL BE OFFERED THREE WEEKS AT A TIME.
UH, WE HAD REACHED OUT TO AHI FACILITY SERVICES WHO RECEIVED THE JANITORIAL CONTRACT THAT WAS ASSIGNED TO THE PET ADOPTION CENTER.
AND SO WHAT THIS IS, IS JUST, UM, AN AGREEMENT GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY AT $30 AN HOUR TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT WE CAN BRING IN FROM A COMPANY TO COVER OUR BUILDINGS, UM, AS NEEDED.
UM, YOU'LL REMEMBER THAT I REQUESTED A FEW ADJUSTMENTS TO THE LINE ITEMS WHERE WE WERE APPROXIMATELY SAVING ABOUT 84,000 WITHIN FIVE 10.
SO MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO MOVE SOME OF THOSE FUNDS OVER TO EXTRA HELP TO COVER ANY OF THIS, UM, LOOKING AT THE HOURLY PLUS BENEFIT OF OUR REGULAR JANITORIAL STAFF.
IT RANGES FROM 26 TO $31 AN HOUR.
SO ESSENTIALLY WE WOULD BE PAYING THE SAME AMOUNT FOR THE CONTRACT SERVICES RATHER THAN, UH, AND IT WOULD GIVE US A POOL OF EMPLOYEES THAT WE COULD PULL FROM WHENEVER WE HAD SOMEONE OUT QUESTIONS.
MA'AM OR A CONTRACT WE'LL BE PAYING WE'LL BE PAYING THEM.
NO, NO, WE WILL BE PAYING AHI CONTRACTS OR CONTRACT.
UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO AWARD THAT CONTRACT HAS PRESENTED? OH, MIKE, THAT MOTION.
WE HAVE A MOTION COMMISSIONER HUNT.
YOUR SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE OPPOSED.
[11. Raylan Smith; Discuss and consider acceptance of geotechnical proposal from Alpha Testing for the Proposed Kaufman County Sheriff Substation.]
DISCUSSED CONSIDER ACCEPTANCE OF GEO-TECHNICAL PROPOSAL FROM ALPHA TESTING FOR THE PROPOSED KAUFMAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S SUBSTATION.UM, AS YOU'RE AWARE, WE ARE SHARING, UM, IN THE CIVIL AND SOME OF THE CONSULTING THAT'S TAKING PLACE FOR THE SO SUBSTATION.
AND SO THIS IS A SHARED PROPOSAL AND CONTRACT WITH FORNEY ISD.
SO THIS IS FOR OUR PORTION OF THE GEO-TECHNICAL FOR THAT PROJECT.
NO, IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THAT PROPOSAL FROM APPLE TESTING? I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION WITH MOTION.
COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS IS YOUR SECOND OR SECOND, SECOND ONE COMMISSIONER HUNT DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE OPPOSED.
NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES ITEM 12,
[12. Raylan Smith; Discuss and consider acceptance of Preliminary Pricing Proposal from Johnson Volk Consulting, Inc. preliminary and engineering & platting services for the Proposed Kaufman County Sheriff Substation.]
DISCUSS CONSIDER ACCEPTANCE OF PRELIMINARY PRICING PROPOSAL FROM JOHNSON, VOLT CONSULTING, PRELIMINARY AND ENGINEERING AND PLANNING SERVICES FOR THE PROPOSED KAUFMAN COUNTY.SHERIFF'S SUBSTATION AGAIN, AS SAME SITUATION WAS BORN THE ISD.
THIS IS FOR OUR PORTION OF THE PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING.
UM, I DID WANT TO MENTION THAT WE HAVE CREATED A ITEM OUT OF THE FACILITY BOND MONEY.
AND SO THIS WOULD BE PAID OUT OF THAT LINE ITEM.
WE'RE JUST MOVING RIGHT ALONG AND IT'S A GOOD, THEY'RE A GOOD COMPANY.
I'M WORKING WITH THEM OVER IN THE PRECINCT.
SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR THIS.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THAT PRELIMINARY PRICING PROPOSAL FROM COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER HUNT, DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
WE'RE GETTING DOWN TO THE END, RIGHT ON
[13. Raylan Smith; Discuss and consider Notice of Award, Contract Agreement, and Notice to Proceed to Welch Excavation for the TSSWCB Lower East Fork Laterals Structure No. 3 Upgrade; utilizing RFP 22-01.]
13, DISCUSS, CONSIDER A NOTICE OF AWARD CONTRACT AGREEMENT AND NOTICE TO PROCEED TO WELCH EXCAVATION FOR TSS WCB, LOWER EAST FORK, LATERAL STRUCTURE, NUMBER THREE, UPGRADE UTILIZING RFP.SO ON JANUARY THE 11TH, WE DID DO A WARD OF CONTRACT TO WELCH EXCAVATION.
WE HELD OUR PRE-CONSTRUCTION MEETING LAST WEEK AND ARE WORKING WITH THE CONTRACTOR FOR A NOTICE TO PROCEED DATE, TO BE FEBRUARY THE 14TH.
SO THIS IS JUST FINAL, UM, PERMISSION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AND RECEIVE SIGNATURES ON THE CONTRACT.
UH, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE TIMEFRAME, THE START AND IN TERM OF THIS 257 DAYS CALENDAR DAYS APPROXIMATELY? YEAH.
APPROXIMATELY, WELL, I DIDN'T EXPECT YOU TO HAVE THAT PRECISE OF AN ANSWER, BUT THAT'S GOOD.
[00:55:01]
UM, SO, UH, QUESTIONS, IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT CONTRACT AGREEMENT AS PRESENTED IN ITEM 13? SO MOVE, WE HAVE THE MOTION COMMISSIONER IN CASE.IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER.
AND DON'T ASK ME FOR A SECOND.
UH, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, A SECOND MOTION CAGE SECOND FROM PHILLIPS SEC.
UH, DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE OPPOSED.
[14. Raylan Smith; Discuss and consider permission to solicit RFP 22-08: Annual Contract for Lawn Maintenance.]
AND, UH, ITEM 14, DISCUSSING CONSIDERED PERMISSION TO SOLICIT RMP 2208 ANNUAL CONTRACT FOR LAWN MAINTENANCE.IT IS TIME TO RENEW OUR LAWN MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS.
UM, NOW THAT WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD GRIP OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND WE'LL, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO ADD SOME NEW PROPERTIES AS THEY COME ON BOARD.
SO, UM, IT'S JUST TIME TO GET THAT.
THAT ONLY INCLUDED THE THING ON THE SIDE OF THE COURTHOUSE SOMEWHERE.
AND IT'S GOING TO KEEP THAT IN SHAPE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE.
I'M GOING TO SOLICIT RP 2208 AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO MAKE THAT MOTION.
COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER CAGE DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[15. Raylan Smith; Discuss and consider permission to solicit RFP 22-06: County Road Maintenance and Bridge Repair/ Replacement.]
UH, ITEM 15 DISCUSSING CONSIDER PERMISSION TO SOLICIT RP 2206 COUNTY ROAD MAINTENANCE AND BRIDGE REPAIR REPLACEMENT.UH, WE'LL JUST BE AN OPEN RFP TO ADD ADDITIONAL VENDORS TO OUR COUNTY ROAD WORK, INCLUDING ANY BRIDGE REPAIR QUESTIONS, IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE A SOLICITING RP 2206.
SO MOVE WHERE THAT MOTION COMMISSIONER CASE IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND SACRED COMMISSIONER HUNT DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE OPPOSED.
[16. Raylan Smith; Discuss and consider permission to solicit RFP 22-03: Communications Tower Construction.]
YOU.ROLAND DISCUSS, CONSIDER PERMISSION TO SOLICIT RFP 2203 COMMUNICATIONS TOWER CONSTRUCTION, UH, FOR THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE TOWER ITSELF THAT THE SHERIFF BROUGHT TO YOU BACK DURING YOUR BUDGET WORKSHOPS, THE QUOTES ON THE TOWER DO EXCEED THE 50,000.
UM, HOWEVER, YOUR LARGER BUDGET WAS BIGGER THAN THAT.
SO WE ARE BIDDING SEPARATELY, THE SOFTWARE, WHICH IS THE MOVE TO THE NEWER SWITCH AND THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE TOWER.
UM, MY HOPE IS THAT WE WILL ACTUALLY BE WORKING THROUGH A PURCHASING CO-OP WHEN IT COMES TO THE SOFTWARE IN THE MOVE.
UM, SIMPLY BECAUSE OF HOW THE PURCHASING CO-OP CONTRACTS ARE WRITTEN.
UM, IT WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE IN LINE FOR FEDERAL FUNDING.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT GRANTS FOR THE SOFTWARE SIDE.
SO THIS WOULD BE OUR CONTRIBUTION WOULD BE THE ACTUAL TOWER.
AND, AND WE DO HAVE A LOCATION THAT PARTY ASKED THE HANDS TOGETHER.
SO THAT'D BEEN GRACIOUS BENEFITS EVERYBODY.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, AND PORN HAS WORKED REALLY WELL WITH US AND HIM AND THE THING I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT DR.
TERRY AND EVERYBODY THERE THEY'RE REALLY BEEN, THEY'VE REALLY BEEN GOOD.
ANYTIME IT'S GETTING WORSE AS THE DAY IS MORE THEY, YEAH, I KNOW THEY DON'T WORK.
CAUSE I BEEN TAKING MY DOWN TO SCHOOL IN THE MORNING, DRIVES RANCH, AND GUESS WHAT? MY RADIO POINTS IN THERE, THIS BEEPS THAT'D BE CRAZY.
BUT ANYWAY, UM, SO, UH, LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO SOLICIT RFP 2203, I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION WHERE THE MOTION COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS IS OUR SECOND OFF.
SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER HUNT, DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE OPPOSED.
[17. Judge Richards; Discuss/Consider Kaufman County's tobacco use policy.]
UH, DISCUSS, CONSIDER KAUFMAN COUNTY'S TOBACCO USE POLICY.THIS WAS A DISCUSSION ITEM LAST WEEK AND WE HAVE, UM, DAVID MRA, UH, WANTS TO, UH, ADDRESS THE COURT ABOUT THAT, UH, PROGRAM.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP AND TELL US WHO YOU ARE AND GIVE US YOUR THREE MINUTES.
GOOD MORNING TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT? UH, MY NAME'S DAVID RAY.
I'M A DETENTION OFFICER, KAUFMAN COUNTY JAIL.
I'VE BEEN THERE OVER NINE YEARS.
AND, UM, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE HAD A SURPRISE IN OUR PAYCHECKS.
IF YOU A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT THEY DEDUCTED A $12 AND 50 CENT FEE FOR TOBACCO USAGE.
AND, UH, IT CAUGHT MANY OF US OFF GUARD BECAUSE I GUESS THERE WAS A MIX-UP IN COMMUNICATIONS THAT I THINK, I THINK
[01:00:01]
THE COURT UNDERSTANDS NOW WHERE THAT HAPPENED.AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, YOU GUYS HAVE CANCELED THAT PROGRAM? NO, WE HAVE NOT YET.
THAT'S A MATTER OF CONSIDERATION TODAY.
AND, UM, ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS PAYDAY LAW, UM, UNDER SECTION 61 DOT OH ONE EIGHT, UM, OF THE TEXAS PAYDAY LAW, ALL DEDUCTIONS, OTHER THAN PAYROLL TAXES, COURT ORDERED GARNISHMENTS AND OTHER DEDUCTIONS EITHER REQUIRED BY LAW OR SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZED BY STATUTE MUST BE BOTH LAWFUL AND SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZED IN WRITING BY THE EMPLOYEE.
UM, I REPRESENT MANY OF THE JAILERS OVER THERE.
IT'S CALLED ONE COUNTY JAIL AND I'M SURE MANY OF THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES HAVE FELT THE SAME THING WHERE THEY ARE FEEL LIKE THEY ARE WRONGLY ACCUSED OF USING TOBACCO.
AND WE ARE NOT TOBACCO USERS WHATSOEVER.
UH, WE DO ASK THE COURT IF IT, THEY CAN FIND IT TO REFUND THAT MONEY FROM OUR CHECKS THAT WAS TAKEN OUT AND TO REFUND THAT MONEY TO US.
SO, UH, WE WILL, I GUESS, LAUNCH OFF OF THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD LAST WEEK.
AND, UH, WE DID, UH, I BELIEVE WE DID BRING UP THE DISC.
WE DID HAVE SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE WOULD, IF WE WANTED TO TERMINATE THE POLICY AND THAT SORT OF THING.
AND I'D LIKE FOR ONE OF THE CIVIL ATTORNEYS TO REFRESH WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT AND JUST SO REMIND US WHAT YOU SAID.
YOU TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM, POTENTIALLY A PROBLEM WITH COMMUNICATION.
CAUSE CERTAIN EMPLOYEES DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO EMAIL, EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE A DOZEN EMAILS SENT OUT IN THE TIME PRECEDING THE DEADLINE FOR THAT.
UM, SO PEOPLE WERE CLAIMING THEY DID NOT GET NOTICED POLICIES BEEN IN PLACE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
SO IT WASN'T A NEW POLICY THAT APPARENTLY FOR SOME REASON, THIS TIME, IT DIDN'T GO AS PLANNED.
SO YOU TALKED ABOUT POTENTIALLY REMOVING THAT, CHANGING THE POLICY.
AND WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE QUESTION OF REIMBURSEMENT OR NON REIMBURSEMENT.
AND I WOULD REITERATE WHAT I SAID BEFORE, WHICH IS IT'S A SLIPPERY SLOPE TO GO DOWN, STARTING TO REIMBURSE PEOPLE.
THE POLICY WAS A VALID POLICY AND IT WAS IN PLACE AT THE TIME.
SHOULD YOU DECIDE TODAY TO CHANGE THE POLICY GOING FORWARD? I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO CEASE THAT DEDUCTION, BUT I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND REIMBURSING ANY EMPLOYEES FOR THE PRIOR DEDUCTIONS.
YOU DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN QUESTIONS OR I GUESS WE'RE DEFERRING TO OUR CIVIL ATTORNEYS HERE ON THEIR ADVICE.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? SURE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, KIND OF 260 EMPLOYEES THAT I HAVE OVER THERE.
I MEAN THE COMMUNICATION, I THINK, UH, Y'ALL HAVE ALL TALKED TO THE CHIEF EVANS ON WHAT WE HAVE DEALT WITH OVER THERE WITH THAT.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT, UH, THIS POLICY IS, IS GOOD FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
UH, WHAT THEY DO ON THEIR OWN TIME IS THAT, AND I DON'T THINK HE SAVES THE COUNTY ANY MONEY AND ALL OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING THIS.
I JUST THINK IT'S A HINDRANCE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND IT SHOWS US WHERE OUR COMMUNICATION IS NOT AS WELL AS WE NEED TO AND WANT TO START TALKING DEDUCTION ON THEIR MONEY.
SO I WOULD ASK THAT WE GET RID OF THIS POLICY AS SOON AS WE CAN JUST FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN MY EMPLOYMENT.
I THINK THAT W YOU KNOW, WE HAD ALREADY IN WHEN ALREADY ADDRESSED THAT LAST WEEK, SO I WAS 110 AGAINST, WE JUST HAD ONE QUESTION THAT I ASKED THAT THE COUNTY TREASURER AND HR TO LOOK INTO TO JUST AFFIRM THAT THIS IS NOT GOING TO ADJUST OR IMPACT OUR, OUR, UH, COUNTY-WIDE HEALTH INSURANCE PACKAGE.
I DID TALK TO TACK AND THE, UH, IF WE DISCONTINUE THIS PLAN, IT WILL MAKE, UH, ABSOLUTELY NO CHANGE IN THE PREMIUMS. UH, THEY DID BRING, UH, THIS ONE THING TO A FOREFRONT FOR US TO CONSIDER.
AND THAT IS THAT IF WE DO TAKE AWAY THE, UH, TOBACCO CESSATION PLANS THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, ON DOWN THE LINE, PEOPLE'S HEALTH WILL DECLINE AND THEREFORE PREMIUMS WILL GO UP BECAUSE THEY'RE USING THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE MORE.
I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT'S ACTUALLY A VALID ARGUMENT, BUT THEY MAY HARD TO MEASURE.
I MEAN, I THINK THAT THERE'LL BE NO, NO IMMEDIATE IF THERE IS NO, NO, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE AT ALL ON OUR INSURANCE PREMIUMS. THANK YOU.
THEN I THINK WHAT I WOULD ASK IS I CALL FOR A MOTION TO TERMINATE EFFECTIVE TODAY.
[01:05:01]
TOBACCO USE POLICY AND THE RELATED, UH, DEDUCTION.SO WE HAVE THAT MOTION COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS, UM, SECOND COMMISSIONER HUNT, UH, DISCUSSION.
YEAH, WELL, I, UH, IT WAS COMMISSIONER PHYLLIS MOTION.
CAN I GO AHEAD AND REPEAT THE MOTION THERE? YES.
THE MOTION WAS TO, AND ACTUALLY, I THINK WE MIGHT EVEN WANT TO CONSIDER AMENDING THE MOTION.
THE MOTION WAS TO TERMINATE IMMEDIATELY THE KAUFMAN COUNTY TOBACCO USE POLICY, INCLUDING THE DEDUCTION, UH, THE DEDUCTION THAT WAS TAKING PLACE.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO STIPULATE THAT THAT IS NOT RETROACTIVE.
THE DEDUCTIONS WILL STOP, BUT NOT, THERE'LL BE NO RETURN REACT TO PAYMENT.
THAT'S KIND OF A LONG-WINDED MOTION.
THAT'S A FACT OF CLARITY EFFECTIVE, EFFECTIVE, EFFECTIVE TODAY.
YOU GOT TO BE ABLE TO STOP THAT DEDUCTION IN PAYROLL.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, IS THERE ANY MORE DISCUSSION? THAT'S THE AMENDED MOTION IS OUR EMOTION.
THE SECOND, UH, THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE OPPOSED.
[18. Judge Richards; Discuss concept of a multi-jurisdiction Health District.]
NEXT UP, UH, DISCUSS THE CONCEPT OF A MULTI-JURISDICTION HEALTH DISTRICT.UM, YOU ALL MIGHT REMEMBER THAT I COMMITTED TO, WE WERE COMMITTED TO COME BACK TO Y'ALL WITH A UPDATE ON SORT OF A NEW IDEA.
AND STEVE, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO MAKE YOUR WAY UP HERE IN CASE YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO THIS.
UM, WE, WE RELY ON OUR, OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR KAUFMAN COUNTY, LIKE MANY OTHER COUNTIES.
OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES.
UM, MANY, MANY PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT COUNTIES, I THINK, HAVE NOT FOUND.
I DON'T THINK THAT NO ONE EVER WAS PREPARED.
UH, DSHS, I DON'T THINK WAS PREPARED TO MANAGE THE KIND OF SITUATION THAT WE FOUND OURSELVES IN FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
AND ALL THE LARGER COUNTIES, I THINK IS FAIR TO SAY THAT ALL LARGER COUNTIES HAVE A HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UH, WE HAVE A, LIKE A LOT OF COUNTIES.
WE HAVE A HEALTH OFFICER, BUT, UH, THE COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER, UH, IS NOT A HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
A HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS ALL SORTS OF AUTHORITY.
IF YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN ANYTHING, I'M NOT GONNA QUOTE STATUTES OR ANYTHING.
UH, SO THE, AN IDEA SPRUNG UP REALLY.
I THINK IT'S PULLING UP IN CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR EMERGENCY MANAGERS IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATORS IN ROCKWALL ELLIS AND KAUFMAN COUNTIES.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS STARTED, BUT SOMEHOW THEY CAME UP WITH, UH, THE IDEA OF CREATING A HEALTH DISTRICT.
A HEALTH DISTRICT IS NOTHING MORE THAN A HEALTH DEPARTMENT, BUT IT'S, IT'S, UH, IT INVOLVES MORE THAN JUST, IT WOULD INVOLVE MORE THAN JUST THE COUNTY.
SO WE MET ON THE 18TH, WE DIVIDED UP SOME TASKS, SOME RESEARCH TASKS TO LOOK INTO THE POSSIBILITIES OF, UM, LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITIES OF, OF CREATING A DISTRICT.
AND THAT'S JUST KIND OF A WORK IN PROCESS.
I WOULDN'T EXPECT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANSWERS FOR OUR, THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE HAVING A GO NO-GO DECISION WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE AWHILE THE EMERGENCY MANAGERS, WE ASKED THEM TO COORDINATE, BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL, UH, UH, YOU WERE A DEBBIE, YOU WERE IN THERE, UH, HELPING, UH, AND YOU'RE KIND OF MANAGING SOME LEGAL QUESTIONS FOR THIS GROUP.
AND WE HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS AND ELLIS IN ROCKWALL COUNTIES.
SO I THINK IT'S THE BOTTOM LINE, I GUESS, IS THAT AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, WE'RE GOING TO BECOME A COUNTY THAT'S, THAT'S GOING TO BE LARGE ENOUGH THAT WE ARE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO RELY ON DSHS TO BE OUR COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
STEVE, WHAT DID I LEAVE OUT? OR IF ANYTHING, I THINK YOU PRETTY WELL COVERED EVERYTHING IN THERE.
UH, THERE ARE MORE COUNTIES IN TEXAS RIGHT NOW WITH EITHER A HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR HEALTH DISTRICT, UH, THAN YOU WOULD THINK, AND MORE BEING ADDED TO, ESPECIALLY OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, BECAUSE, UH, UNFORTUNATELY THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES WHO SERVICES THE SMALLER RURAL COUNTY, SUCH AS OURS, UH, TO BE VERY BLUNTLY,
[01:10:01]
THEY FAILED, THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO MANAGE THE COVID PANDEMIC AND STUFF FOR THE RURAL COUNTIES.AND THIS IS CAME TO AN IDEA AMONGST THE EMERGENCY MANAGERS, BECAUSE WE ALL BECAME A DEFACTO HEALTH DEPARTMENT THROUGH THIS BECAUSE DSHS WASN'T DOING WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO.
AND I THINK IN THE LONG-TERM, THIS WILL BE A TREMENDOUS BENEFIT TO ALL OF OUR CITIZENS.
AND THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE LOOKED AT, UH, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT MIND BOGGLING IS A PROGRAM IN SMITH COUNTY, WHICH HAS, UH, MADE US AWARE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF FUNDING THAT'S AVAILABLE, THAT, THAT THAT'S NOT AVAILABLE TO US NOW, BUT IT COULD BE AVAILABLE TO US IF WE HAD A HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR A HEALTH DISTRICT.
SO, UM, THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE.
I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE, UH, THAT I WOULD JUST TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, IT'S SORT OF A WORK IN PROCESS.
DEB, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? UM, SOME OF THE ADVANTAGES WOULD BE THE FUNDING THAT WE COULD RECEIVE THAT WE COULD REDIRECT FROM THE STATE, SOME POLICY PROGRAMS WE CAN PUT IN PLACE TO HELP OUR CITIZENS IN A MORE DIRECT ROUTE.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF HAVING AN RV GO FROM COUNTY TO COUNTY AND SET UP DIFFERENT PLACES TO DO VACCINES OR TESTING, WHATEVER IS NEEDED AT THE TIME.
I THINK EVERYBODY IS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY AND THIS PROSPECT.
AND WE TALKED ABOUT POTENTIALLY HAVING THIS, IF IT GOES FORWARD, YOU KNOW, SOMETIME IN THE NEXT YEAR, BEING A TIMEFRAME THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT, GETTING THINGS ACCOMPLISHED.
OH, I THINK, I THINK IT'S BEGINNING TO BE A REAL NECESSITY.
I DON'T EVEN THINK IT'S A CHOICE IN THE MATTER THEN.
I THINK WE DID A REALLY GREAT JOB.
I THINK STEVE AND THE COUNTY JUDGE NEVER MUDDY.
I THINK THEY GOT A REALLY EXCELLENT JOB DURING THIS COVID CRISIS WHERE WE MANAGED TO SET UP THINGS, TO GET THINGS ROLLING AND GET PEOPLE SHOTS, BUT YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.
YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN'T DEPEND ON SOMEBODY ELSE TO DO THE SERVICES AND THEY KIND OF LET EVERYBODY DOWN.
SO WE PROBABLY WEREN'T, WE WEREN'T AS FAST AS DALLAS OR FORT WORTH OR TARRANT COUNTY OR DALLAS COUNTY, BUT WE COULD BE DEFINITELY SHOWED IN GREAT DETAIL, THE DEFICIENCIES IN THE SYSTEM AS IT EXISTS NOW.
WELL, AND TO BE FAIR, UH, NO BUN, NO ONE ANYWHERE DSHS OR ANY PLACE ELSE W REALLY SPOOLED UP TO MANAGE SOMETHING LIKE THIS, RIGHT? YES, SIR.
UH, AFTER YOU BROUGHT IT FORWARD, BEFORE I READ ABOUT IT, AND IT REALLY DOES SEEM TO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE REALLY BENEFICIAL TO, TO HAVE OUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE AS DAD POINTS OUT, WE HAVE THE ABILITY PRESUMING THAT WE CAN FIND THE FUNDING, YOU KNOW, WHICH THIS, THIS ORGANIZATION WOULD GIVE US THAT AT LEAST THAT AVENUE TO PROVIDE ACTUAL CLINICAL SERVICES, SO VACCINATIONS AND MAYBE EVEN SOME FREE CLINICS THAT, THAT KIND OF THING.
SO, SO REALLY CONSUMER RELATED SORT OF HEALTH SERVICES LET ALONE MANAGING, YOU KNOW, ALL THE OTHER, UH, PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AND THINGS LIKE OR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
BUT I THINK IT, UH, MOVING FORWARD WITH IT, IT WOULD REALLY GIVE US THAT THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK FUNDING THAT WOULD REALLY PROVIDE DIRECT, UH, HEALTH SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING ABOUT THE SMITH COUNTY CONCEPT, UH, AND I DON'T REMEMBER THERE WERE, THEY HAD 13 OR 14 PARTNERS, CITIES, AND OTHER COUNTIES THAT PARTICIPATE WITH THEM, BUT SO IT'S A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL ORGANIZATION, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY CLINICIANS IN THEIR GROUP.
IN OTHER WORDS, THEY DON'T HAVE, THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T GIVE SHOTS AND THEY DON'T DO MEDICAL EXAMS. THEY, THEY ROUTE ALL OF THAT STUFF TO EXISTING PROVIDERS IN THEIR AREAS.
SO THEY DON'T HAVE THE BURDEN OF TRYING TO BECOME, UH, A COMMUNITY HOSPITAL.
THEY'RE THERE, THEY'RE JUST PROVIDING FUNDING AND, UM, AND, AND HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHERE TO GO.
IF YOU NEED A, YOU KNOW, IF YOU NEED A VACCINATE, A FLU VACCINE, OR YOU NEED THIS OR WHATEVER, THESE ARE THE PROVIDERS THAT CAN DO THAT.
SO YOU'RE NOT HAVING TO BUILD A WHOLE NETWORK.
YOU DON'T NEED THE COORDINATION MEDICAL PERSONNEL, UH, BECAUSE YOU REALLY NEED A HOSPITAL DISTRICT.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO START DOING CLINICS AND THINGS YOU DON'T, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT IN THAT MAY MAYBE LIKE YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT AN RV OR SOMETHING THAT WOULD MERGE UNSEE, YOU KNOW, IT WAS SMALL, YOU KNOW, REALLY LIMITED SCOPE, YOU KNOW, ACTUAL CLINICAL STUFF, BUT, YOU KNOW, IMMUNIZATIONS
[01:15:01]
AND THINGS LIKE THAT.NOT, NOT A FULL BLOWN, YOU KNOW, HEALTH PROVIDER SERVICE.
THE OTHER INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE SMITH COUNTY SET UP IS THEY SET IT UP TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT.
SO THERE IS NO RELIANCE ON COUNTY'S FUNDS OR THAT THEY DIDN'T GO TO GET THEIR OWN FUNDING AND COVER ALL OF THEIR BALES AND COSTS.
AND, BUT CAN'T ASK FOR SOMETHING BETTER.
WELL, THAT WAS JUST A DISCUSSION ITEM.
AND, UH, AND I'LL TRY TO UPDATE YOU AS SOON AS THERE'S SOMETHING RELEVANT TO BRING BACK TO THAT.
UM, SO THAT BRINGS US TO ITEM 19,
[19. Auditor; Discuss/Approve Fiscal Year 2022 first quarter financials. ]
DISCUSS FOR APPROVAL FISCAL YEAR, 2022 FIRST QUARTER FINANCIALS FROM THE AUDITOR.GOOD MORNING, GENTLEMEN, MORNING.
UM, THIS IS AN EXCITING PART OF THE MAIN ROOM.
THIS IS YOUR, UH, QUARTER FIRST QUARTER REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022.
AND YOU SHOULD BE AT LIKE 25%.
ONE FOURTH OF YOUR BUDGET GENERAL FUND REVENUES ARE AT ALMOST 42% COLLECTION, WHICH IS DOUBLE WHAT IT WAS LAST YEAR.
UH, GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES IS ONLY AT 20%, SO THAT WAS PRETTY GOOD.
AND SO IS YOUR ROAD AND BRIDGE FUNDS OR AT 44% COLLECTIONS.
AND THEN WE'VE DISTRIBUTED THE EXTRA MONEY TO Y'ALL'S FOUR DEPARTMENTS BY THE PERCENTAGE.
SO EVERYTHING LOOKS WELL IN ORDER.
UM, THERE'S SOME MORE TO THAT REPORT.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS TELLS YOU WHAT THE QUESTION, THE, UH, THE CHECKS WRITTEN FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER AND WHAT THOSE AMOUNTED TO WHAT THEY WERE FOR, AND THEN IT SHOWS YOU WHAT OUR CASH BALANCES ARE? NO, IT LOOKED GOOD.
SOUNDED LIKE YOU WERE THROUGH.
THEN, UM, I RECEIVED THE AUDITED REPORT FOR SENIOR CONNECT FOR THEIR FISCAL YEARS, 2020 AND 2021.
AND I WANTED YOU TO HAVE A COPY OF IT.
IF YOU LOOK, COMPARE THE BOLT TO THE 2020 TO THE 2021, YOU WILL TO SEE THEY HAVE A DECLINE IN THEIR BALANCES.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND BECAUSE THEY MIGHT HAVE TO NEED SOME HELP OR SOMETHING, JUST SO YOU KNOW, THAT WAY YOU HAVE THE COMPLETE REPORT, THEIR REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES, AND THE LETTER FROM THE AUDITOR SAYING THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING THAT LOOKED MISAPPROPRIATED OR OUT OF BALANCE.
EVERYTHING LOOKED GOOD QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 FIRST QUARTER FINANCIALS? UM, I GET MOTION WITH A MOTION COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS.
IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND SEGMENT COMMISSIONER CAGE DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED? NO MOTION CARRIES.
[20. Auditor; Discuss/Consider line-item transfers.]
FIRST DISCUSS, CONSIDERED LANCOME TRANSFER.DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LINE ITEM TRANSFERS? NO.
MA'AM IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE A LINE ON OUR TRANSFERS AS PRESENTED? I'LL MAKE THAT MOVE, BUT MOTION COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS.
IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER HUNT DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[21. Auditor; Discuss/Consider claims for payment.]
DISCUSS CONSIDER CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT.YOUR CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT ARE MILLION $727,424 AND 38 CENTS.
UH, WE HAD A, A SMALL PAYROLL OF $90,841 AND 16 CENTS.
TOTAL CLAIMS FOR TODAY IS 1,000,800 AND 18,000 265 54, UM, 628,000 OF THAT HAD TO DO WITH EMPLOYEE INSURANCES AND A 573,000 HAD TO DO WITH YOUR BOND ISSUES.
UM, THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, MR. I'VE ALREADY GIVEN THE PAPERWORK TO MR. MAAN KERN TO PAY ALL OF OUR DEBT SERVICES FROM OUR TAX COLLECTIONS.
ONE GOOD NOTE IS I'VE PAID OFF ONE BOND.
WE OH, ZERO NOW, SO THAT THAT'S GOING TO HELP.
SO JUST TO LET YOU KNOW HOW YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALWAYS GOOD
[01:20:01]
PAYOUTS.ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BILLS OR CLAIMS FOR MA'AM? NO QUESTIONS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO PROVE CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT IS PRESENTED LIKE THAT MOTION? WE HAVE MOTION COMMISSIONER HUNT.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS DISCUSSION THAT WAS IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[22. Judge Richards; Discuss/Consider exiting regular meeting and enter executive session.]
ITEM 22, DISCUSS CONSIDER EXITING REGULAR MEETING AND ENTERING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.IS THERE A MOTION TO DO SO I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.
WE HAVE MOTION COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS.
IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER CAGE DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES WE'RE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
[23. Executive Session; Pursuant to Section 551.072 of the Texas Government Code, the Commissioners Court will meet in closed session to discuss real estate negotiations.]
PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 51 0.072 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT WILL MEET IN CLOSE SESSION TO DISCUSS REAL ESTATE NEGOTIATIONS.
[24. Judge Richards; Discuss/Consider exiting executive session and enter back into regular meeting.]
OKAY.A WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION TO LEAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND COME BACK INTO REGULAR SESSION.
WE HAD A MOTION COMMISSIONER CATES.
IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[25. Judge Richards; Discuss/Consider taking any action resulting from executive session.]
NO ACTION WAS TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.I DON'T HEAR ANY EMOTIONS COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION, SO
[26. Adjourn Meeting]
WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 26.I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO JOURNALISTS, MAYBE COMMISSIONER PHYLLIS MOVED TO JOURNEY'S OR SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER CAGE DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR.