Mar 08, 2022 Commissioners Court

[Call to Order]

[00:00:07]

THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE KAUFMAN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT IS CALLED TO ORDER.

TODAY IS TUESDAY, MARCH 8TH, 2022 9:00 AM.

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

UH, WE'LL START OFF OUR MEETING TODAY.

I'LL OFFER AN INVOCATION AND COMMISSIONER KATES IS GOING TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGES.

IF YOU WILL PLEASE STAND.

OKAY, LORD, WE ASK YOUR BLESSING ON THIS, ON THIS MEETING TODAY AND ASK THAT YOU GOT US AND THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE ON BEHALF OF OUR CITIZENS.

UM, YOU PARTICULARLY, I THINK A LOT TO OFFER A PRAYER TODAY FOR THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE AND THE, THOSE IN THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES WHO ARE BEING SO GENEROUS TO TAKE THEM IN AND SHELTER THEM.

WE ASK THAT YOU PAVED THE WAY FOR PEACE IN THAT LAND.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT.

WE THINK ABOUT OUR SOLDIERS AND OUR MILITARY PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING DEPLOYED, AND WE ASK YOU TO KEEP THEM SAFE, KEEP THEIR FAMILY SAFE.

AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS THIS LIFE IN JESUS NAME.

AMEN.

OKAY.

WE ENJOY OUR FREEDOM.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE.

I PLEDGE TO LEAVE, BUT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY HERE ARE THE DECKS FOR SLY REGIONS TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD, THE VISIBLE MORE THAN EVERYBODY.

WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF VISITORS WITH US TODAY.

WELCOME TO YOU ALL.

UH, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM PRESENCE TODAY.

WE'RE A LITTLE SHORT.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO BE WITH US TODAY.

[1. ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE.]

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE TO SHARE?

[2. CONSENT AGENDA]

THEN THE SECOND ITEM IS THE CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH IS CONSIST OF ITEM A, WHICH IS THE MEETING MINUTES FROM MARCH 1ST, 2022 A IS OUR MOTION TO, DO YOU WANT TO DISCUSS THAT? OR ANY CHANGES OR ADDITIONS TO THE MINUTES? IF NOT AS OUR MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED, WE HAD A MOTION COMMISSIONER HANS, OUR SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER CAGE DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED? NO, NOBODY TO BE OPPOSED THAT MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM

[3. Constable Brooks; Discuss/Consider accepting the 2021 Racial Profiling Report for Pet. #4 Constable's Office,]

WE HAVE CONSTABLE BROOKS WITH US THIS MORNING, UH, DISCUSSING CONSIDER APPROVING MAINTENANCE.

I'M SORRY, DISCUSSING, DISCUSSING, CONSIDERED ACCEPTING THE 2021 RACIAL PROFILING REPORT FOR PRECINCT FOUR CONSTABLE'S OFFICE.

YOU WERE GETTING READY TO DO CHRISTIE RE DICKIES THING WITH NO COMPLAINTS.

THAT'S SIMPLE ENOUGH QUESTIONS, JUDGE.

I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT, UH, WE'VE HAD THESE REPORTS FROM ALL OUR CONSTABLES, ALL OUR CONSTABLES, DO A GREAT BROOKE, DO A GREAT JOB EVERY DAY.

AND I PARTICULARLY COMMEND CONSTABLE BROOKS.

SHE'S A HUGE ASSET IN OUR PRECINCT AND I APPRECIATE HER GOOD WORK.

OKAY.

IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION, IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE 2021 RACIAL PROFILING REPORT FOR PRECINCT FOUR CONSTABLE? SO WE'LL MOVE.

WE HAVE THAT MOTION COMMISSIONER CASES OR SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER HUNT DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

MOTION CARRIES ITEM

[4. Lloyd Pope; Presentation for Belltown Power Projects.]

THANK YOU.

I DON'T AFFORD LLOYD POPE PRESENTATION FOR BILL TOWN POWER PROJECTS.

HI, HOW ARE YOU GUYS TODAY? GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

UH, MY NAME IS LLOYD POPE I'M WITH BELLTOWN POWER, TEXAS.

WE ARE A SOLAR ENERGY STORAGE DEVELOPER.

WE'VE GOT OFFICES OUT IN DALLAS, WHICH IS WHERE I'M FROM.

UM, I KNOW MAYBE YOU'VE TALKED WITH AUSTIN WILLIS, MY COUNTERPART HE'S HAD A CONFLICT.

TODAY'S ONE PINCH HITTING.

UM, BUT I'M THE PRESIDENT OF, OF BELLTOWN POWER, TEXAS.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO DO TODAY AND WHAT AUSTIN HAD KIND OF SET UP WAS TO COME AND TALK TO YOU GUYS TODAY TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, MORE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WHAT WE ARE, WHAT WE'RE DOING AND THEN KIND OF WHAT OUR PLANS ARE HERE IN KAUFMAN COUNTY AND, UH, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, UH, FOR YOURSELVES.

UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY I'M TRYING TO TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT SOME TAX ABATEMENTS FOR THE PROJECTS HERE.

THERE'S TWO IN PARTICULAR THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

UM, THE FIRST ONE IS

[00:05:01]

UH, THE SECOND ONE IS A SOLAR PROJECT.

IT'S AN 80 MEGAWATT SOLAR PROJECT WITH A 50 MEGAWATT ENERGY STORAGE COMPONENT TO IT.

UM, BOTH OF THESE PROJECTS, UM, ARE HERE IN COFFIN COUNTY.

THEY'RE VERY CLOSE TO EACH OTHER JUST TO THE SOUTH, UH, WEST OF TERRELL, UM, OFF OF A COUNTY ROAD, 25, 78, UM, AND 2 75.

BUT FIRST LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BELLTOWN POWER, TEXAS.

SO, SO YOU KNOW WHO WE ARE.

WE, UH, WE'VE BEEN IN OPERATION FOR ALMOST SIX YEARS NOW, UM, DEVELOPING RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS REALLY IN THE NORTH PART OF THE STATE.

UM, SO WE HAVE OPERATIONAL SOLAR FARMS IN FANNIN COUNTY, VANZANT COUNTY, UM, COOK COUNTY.

WE'VE GOTTEN PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN DENTON COUNTY HILL COUNTY, AND SOON TO BE IN HUNT COUNTY.

SO WE'VE DONE A FAIR AMOUNT OF WORK IN, IN NORTH TEXAS IN THE COUNTIES KIND OF SURROUNDING THE, THE METROPLEX.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT KIND OF WHERE, UH, WE BELIEVE THESE PROJECTS SERVE PEOPLE, IT'S REALLY WHERE PEOPLE ARE NEEDING THE POWER.

AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE TARGET, UH, OPPORTUNITIES, UH, IN COMMUNITIES LIKE THIS, UM, THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE PROJECTS TO THE FOLKS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES, UH, FOR RENEWABLE GREEN POWER AND THEN ENERGY STORAGE, WHICH IS, UM, IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

IT'S NOT ACTUALLY TECHNICALLY A GENERATING ASSET.

IT'S MORE AN ASSET THAT STORES, UM, POWER FROM ANOTHER GENERATING RESOURCE IN A BATTERY FOR DISPATCH AT, UH, AT CERTAIN TIMES, PARTICULARLY IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.

SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT ABOUT US.

I KNOW I'M KINDA, UH, GOING PRETTY FAST THROUGH KIND OF THE BACKGROUND AND THE PROJECTS, BUT I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, MY, MY THOUGHT TODAY WAS A QUICK INTRODUCTION TELLING YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROJECTS AND THEN CERTAINLY OPEN IT UP FOR, FOR DISCUSSION AND QUESTIONS.

UH, YOU KNOW, FROM YOURSELVES, I KNOW WE SHARED A PRESENTATION AND I'M NOT SURE IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT, BUT THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION KIND OF ABOUT THE PROJECTS.

AND ULTIMATELY WHEN WE'VE WORKED IN, IN OTHER COUNTIES, UM, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE SIGNIFICANT ASSETS.

BOTH OF THEM ARE ABOUT A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT.

SO TOGETHER BETWEEN THE TWO, IT'S CLOSE TO $200 MILLION, WHICH, UM, IS A, IS A PRETTY SIZABLE INVESTMENT, UM, FROM A TAX PERSPECTIVE, UH, TYPICALLY THE PROJECTS AND THE LAND THAT WE'RE UTILIZING ARE, UM, CURRENTLY UNDER KIND OF AN AG EXEMPTION.

SO PULLING THAT PROPERTY OUT OF AG AND INTO A COMMERCIAL, UM, TYPE OF PROPERTY FROM A TAX BASED PERSPECTIVE IS, UH, IS PRETTY, IT'S PRETTY ATTRACTIVE TO, TO THE, TO THE, TO THE COUNTIES FROM A TAX REVENUE.

UH, AND, AND ON TOP OF THAT, I WOULD TELL YOU AS, AS BENEFICIAL AS THEY ARE FROM A COUNTY PERSPECTIVE, THEY'RE PROBABLY THREE TO FOUR X, UH, OF A BENEFIT TO THE, TO THE LOCAL SCHOOLS.

UH, SO QUITE A FAIR AMOUNT OF, UH, OF REVENUE FROM, UH, FROM A TAX PERSPECTIVE TO THE SCHOOLS.

SO I I'LL STOP THERE.

I KNOW I'M RAMBLING A BIT, SO MAYBE OPEN IT UP TO, UH, TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU GUYS MIGHT HAVE.

I SAW YOUR PRESENTATION.

WOULD YOU JUST REMIND ME HOW MANY ACRES ARE INVOLVED? YEAH, SO ON THE SOURS PROJECT, WHICH IS A BATTERY STORAGE PROJECT, THOSE ARE VERY COMPACT.

IT'S ABOUT EIGHT AND A HALF ACRES, UM, AND ESSENTIALLY ADJACENT TO THE ROSE HILL SUBSTATIONS THAT ENCORE AND NOW RAYBURN, UH, ACTUALLY HAS TWO THERE.

SO THERE'S ACTUALLY THREE SUBSTATIONS.

UH, AND THEN WE'RE EIGHT AND A HALF ACRES OF JOINING THAT ON THE, ON THE OTHER PROJECT AT, UM, AT, UH, WE CALL IT SUNBELT.

THAT IS A LITTLE BIT LARGER BECAUSE IT'S GOT THE SOLAR COMPONENT TO IT.

IT'S, IT'S ROUGHLY 500 ACRES OF PROPERTY.

UH, AND, AND AGAIN, IT'LL HAVE A, A, UM, THE SOLAR ARRAY PLUS A, OKAY, THANK YOU.

AND THE 500 ACRES IS ON 2 75 ALSO, UH, THAT IT IS ON BECAUSE I'VE SEEN ON 25, 78 BEHIND THE POWER STATION, THE DIRT AND MOVING THERE IS NO.

SO THAT IS, UM, ACTUALLY RAYBURN ELECTRIC IS BUILDING A NEW SUBSTATION WHERE YOU SEE THE DIRT BEING MOVED TODAY, AND THEN WE WILL COME IN RIGHT BEHIND THAT, UM, AND BUILD ADJACENT TO THAT.

SO IT'S REALLY, I SAY IT'S ONE IN THE SAME THING, BUT TECHNICALLY IT TECHNICALLY, IT'S TWO DIFFERENT PROJECTS.

AND W WHAT YOU SEE TODAY IS RAYBURN'S BUILD OUT OF A NEW SUBSTATION THAT WE WORK PRETTY CLOSELY WITH RAYBURN.

UH, AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO BE CONNECTING INTO THAT SUBSTATION.

IT'S THE BATTERY PROJECT, CORRECT? YES, SIR.

YES.

AND THE OTHER ONE IS THE OTHER ONE I'M LOOKING AT SEC, TWO 70, UH, I'M SORRY.

UH, 25 78 AND 9 87, UH, ABOUT A QUARTER MILE FROM THAT, UH, FROM THAT INTERSECTION BACK TOWARDS THE NORTH.

YES, I BELIEVE SO.

YES, NORTHEAST.

YEP.

THIS SAYS A 250

[00:10:01]

UM, SO LIKE FOR HOW LONG? YEAH, SO, SO, SO ON THE IT, ON THE, ON THE BATTERY, THE WAY THAT THESE THINGS WORK IS THE BATTERIES HAVE, WHAT WOULD THEY WORK IN CALLED MEGAWATT HOURS? SO THIS, THIS, AND THE ONE THAT WE'RE CONTEMPLATING IS A 200 MEGAWATT.

SO IT'LL ACTUALLY BE 40,000 HOMES.

AND THE WAY THAT THAT WORKS IS, UM, THAT 200 MEGAWATTS LASTS FOR EITHER ONE OR TWO HOURS, DEPENDING ON WHAT TYPE OF BATTERY SYSTEM YOU USE.

AND I'D SAY TODAY, UM, IT'S, IT'S, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE DEBATING FROM A COST PERSPECTIVE.

DO WE DO A ONE-HOUR BATTERY OR TWO HOUR BATTERY, BUT IN ESSENCE, THAT, UM, THAT STORES ENOUGH POWER TO SUPPLY THOSE HOMES FOR AN HOUR.

AND SO REALLY THEY'RE, UH, OPPOSITE FROM THE SOLAR SIDE, WHICH IS KIND OF A CONTINUING RESOURCE DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING, THAT PRODUCES, UM, POWER TO SUPPLY THOSE HOMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY, THE BATTERY IS MUCH MORE, I SAY, INTERMITTENT AND SPORADIC, AND MEANT TO BE KIND OF TURNED ON AND OFF.

UM, AT CERTAIN TIMES DURING THE DAY, WHAT I READ ABOUT THESE BATTERY INSTALLATIONS IS IT'S ALSO, UH, THE VALUE HAVING TO DO WITH PEAKING SO THAT THEY, SO WHEN PEOPLE GET HOME AT FOUR O'CLOCK AND START TURNING THE AIR CONDITIONERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, IS IT THE POSSIBILITY FOR THIS PARTICULAR INITIALIZATION THAT, THAT MIGHT SAVE HAVING TO BUILD MORE LINE CAPACITY IN THIS SORT OF THING? YES.

YEAH.

I MEAN, PEAKING IS, IS KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT PEAKING RIGHT AT THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, WHEN IT'S TWO IN THE AFTERNOON AND REALLY ACTUALLY PEAK REALLY IS IT HAPPENS A LITTLE BIT LATER.

WE'RE NEAR FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON WHEN PEOPLE START TO COME HOME TO THEIR HOUSES AND TURN ON THE STOVES AND THEIR WASHING MACHINES, REALLY THAT PEAK, WHAT IT ALLOWS IT TO DO IS PUT POWER IN.

SO REALLY IN THEORY, IT, IT, IT PROVIDES MORE POWER DURING THOSE TIMES, WHICH IN THEORY REDUCES THE COST.

UM, SO IT'S REALLY MORE PEAKING IS REALLY ABOUT COST SHAVING, UM, AND NOT HAVING TO PULL GENERATION FROM OTHER PARTS TO MEET THAT DEMAND.

UM, AND SO REALLY, IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE WAY THAT BATTERIES TYPICALLY WORK, THEY'LL CHARGE WHEN IT'S LOW DEMAND AND THEY'LL DISPATCH WHEN IT'S HIGH DEMAND.

SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE CURVES, IT'S KIND OF TRYING TO SMOOTH THAT CURVE OUT.

AND THEN, AND THAT'S, THAT'S, I'D SAY THE NORMAL OPERATION OF A BATTERY.

THE OTHER ASPECT OF IT IS, IS WHEN THERE IS AN OUTAGE, THEN THAT THING IS GETTING TURNED ON TO PROVIDE POWER, ALBEIT FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

SO, UM, WINTER STORM YURI LAST YEAR REALLY PUT A BIG SPOTLIGHT ON THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL BATTERIES THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, THAT STORM LASTED FOR FIVE DAYS.

THESE BATTERIES ARE NOT GOING TO CURE A FIVE DAY OUTAGE.

THEY'RE GOING TO SOLVE A MUCH SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME.

HOW MANY OF THESE BATTERY INSTALLATIONS DO YOU HAVE? WE'VE GOT ONE THAT'S STARTING CONSTRUCTION, UH, UP IN HUNT COUNTY.

SO IT'S A RELATIVELY NEW, UM, I'LL SAY PRODUCT, UH, IN THE STATE PRIMARILY FOR TWO REASONS.

ONE IS THE COST OF BATTERIES.

W YOU KNOW, HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN VERY EXPENSIVE AND LIKE A LOT OF TECHNOLOGIES, THE COST CONTINUES TO BE DRIVEN DOWN.

AND SO THESE HAVE BECOME MORE AND MORE ECONOMICAL.

THE OTHER ASPECT OF IT IS, IS IF YOU THINK ABOUT TEXAS AS A ERCOT, AS A GRID, WE'RE APPROACHING KIND OF A HUNDRED GIGAWATT GRID.

AND RIGHT NOW YOU PROBABLY ON THE GROUND PROBABLY ONLY HAVE MAYBE ONE GIGAWATT OF BATTERIES.

SO THESE THINGS ARE REALLY NEEDED, UH, FROM A UTILITY PERSPECTIVE, FROM AN ERCOT PERSPECTIVE TO STABILIZE THE GRID.

AND SO YOU'LL THAT ALONG WITH COSTS, YOU'VE NOW BECOME, AND SEEING THESE THINGS BEING MORE ECONOMICAL AND INVOKE FROM A STANDPOINT OF PUTTING THESE ON THE GROUND AND DEPLOYING THESE ASSETS.

UH, LAST QUESTION IS ASSUMING THAT YOUR PLANS GO AS, AS YOU EXPECTED, WHAT KIND OF A TIMEFRAME ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT FOR EACH OF THESE PROJECTS COMPLETED? UH, SO FOR ON THE BATTERY STORAGE, ONLY THE SOURS PROJECT THERE AT THE SUBSTATION.

SO RAYBURN IS IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING THAT STATION.

THEY ARE AIMING TO BE COMPLETE IN THE FALL OF THIS YEAR.

UH, AND THEN WE WOULD THEN ROLL INTO THAT, UM, SHORTLY THEREAFTER, MOST LIKELY BEING OPERATIONAL, UM, PRE SUMMER OF 2023.

SO LET'S JUST CALL IT 14 OR SO MONTHS NOW, YOU KNOW, THE CAVEAT TO THAT IS, IS THERE SOME SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW THAT, UM, IS CAUSING THINGS TO BE DELAYED, RIGHT.

BUT THAT'S THE THAT'S THE WORKING ASSUMPTION IS THAT WE WOULD TRY TO BEAT SUMMER OF 20, 23 ON THE, UM, THE OTHER PROJECT, THE SOLAR, UH, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE ABOUT SIX MONTHS OR SO LATER FOR A TARGET OF THE FALL OF 2023.

SO LET'S SAY THAT'S WHAT 18 TO 20 MONTHS AWAY.

[00:15:04]

SURE.

PERFECT.

YEAH, NO, I THINK, UH, THAT'S ULTIMATELY OUR GOAL HERE IS TO GET THESE THINGS BUILT IN AN ECONOMICAL FASHION.

SO YEAH, WE'LL REACH BACK OUT EITHER MYSELF OR AUSTIN TO WORK WITH YOU GOING FORWARD.

ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

SURE.

OKAY.

ITEM FIVE,

[5. Kristi Dickey; Discuss/Consider motion to approve maintenance bond for West Point Circle located in the Bella Tresa Addition in Pet 3.]

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

OKAY.

OKAY.

BELLA TRACES STARTED AT THE DEVELOPMENT IN AUGUST OF 2019, UM, TO START THE SUBDIVISION, UH, WE'VE SPOKE TO COMMISSIONER BARBARA THIS MORNING ON THE TELEPHONE, AND HE HAS AN AGREEANCE WITH THE MAINTENANCE BOND THAT, AND IT'S GONE OVER IT, READ OVER IT WITH THE LEGAL TEAM AND THEY'RE IN GRANTS WITH THAT.

SO WE'RE JUST ASKING THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR THEIR APPROVAL ON THAT TODAY.

QUESTIONS, IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MAINTENANCE BOND FOR WEST POINT CIRCLE? SO WE'LL MOVE.

WE HAVE THAT MOTION COMMISSIONER KATES.

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

AYE.

AYE.

MOTION CARRIES.

NEXT

[6. Kristi Dickey; Discuss/Consider motion to Approve Final Plat of Bella Tresa Place on State Hwy 34 in PCT 3.]

FINAL PLAT OF BELLA TRACE A PLACE ON STATE HIGHWAY IN PRECINCT 34 AND PRECINCT THREE.

UH, AGAIN, UH, THIS PROJECT STARTED IN 2019, UM, DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES OF COVID AND THE SNOW AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO THE PROJECT LASTED A LITTLE LONGER THAN EXPECTED, UM, BUT THEY HAVE GOTTEN EVERYTHING DONE NOW AND IS READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE APPROVAL OF THEIR FINAL PLAT.

UM, ALL APPROVING AUTHORITIES HAVE LOOKED OVER IT.

IT'S APPROXIMATELY 23 LOTS IN THIS SUBDIVISION QUESTIONS.

IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FINAL PLAT OF BILL? THE TRACE PLACE ON 34? NOW MY GOOD MOTION WHERE THAT MOTION COMMISSIONER HAUNT IS OUR SECOND, SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER CAGED DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE, MOTION CARRIES.

[7. Kristi Dickey; Discuss/Consider motion to approve Final Plat of Hamm Estates Located on CR 322 and FM 429 in PCT 3.]

UM, MR. HAM, UM, FATHER PASSED AWAY.

AND SO HE'S SPLITTING THE 43, SORRY, 53 ACRES INTO FOUR LOTS.

ESSENTIALLY.

HE WOULD HAVE MET A PLATTING EXCEPTION, BUT HE CHOSE TO GO AHEAD AND PLANT THE PROPERTY.

SO THERE'S NO QUESTIONS IN THE FUTURE IF THEY DECIDE TO SPLIT AND TO SELL.

SO THAT'S WHAT HE'S ASKING IS THE COURT'S APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS FINAL PLAT QUESTIONS, WHICH ARE NO QUESTIONS.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FINAL PLAN OF HAMMER STATE'S LOCATED ON COUNTY ROAD 3 22 AND FM 4 29, LIKE THE MOST WHERE THE MOTION COMMISSIONER HANS, IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER.

AND KATE'S DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE.

AYE.

MOTION CARRIES NOW EIGHT LAST

[8. Kristi Dickey; Discuss/Consider motion to Approve the Replat of Wynchase Crossing Lots 144-147 Located on North Ridge in PCT 4.]

CHRISTIE DISCUSS, CONSIDER MOTION TO APPROVE REPLAT OF WIND CHASE CROSSING LOTS 1 44 THROUGH 1 47 LOCATED IN NORTH REGION PRECINCT FOUR, WHEN CHASE, UH, LOTS OF 1 44 THROUGH 1 47.

THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY JUST RELOCATING THOSE LOT LINES.

THERE WAS SOME HOMES THAT WERE PLACED ON THE PROPERTY LINES AND SOME OF THE SEPTIC SYSTEMS WERE CROSSING OVER AS WELL.

AND SO THEY WERE HAVING TO CORRECT THOSE LOT LINES.

AND SO THAT'S WHY THE REPLANT IS HERE.

QUESTIONS.

IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REPLANT OF WIND CHASE CROSSING LOTS 1 44 THROUGH 1 47.

SO MOVED, WE HAD THAT MOTION COMMISSIONED CASES ARE SECOND I'LL SECOND, SECOND, COMMISSIONER HUNT, DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

THAT MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

[9. Raylan Smith; Discuss and consider receipt, transfer, and disposal of County owned assets.]

GOOD MORNING, MORNING, AND NEED TO CONGRATULATE COFFIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

THEY ARE STEADILY GOING THROUGH AND CLEANING OUT SOME OF THEIR INVENTORY.

BEN'S BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD.

SO WHAT WE HAVE TODAY IS AT 26 TASERS THAT WE'RE ASKING TO BE DISPOSED OF.

WE W WE'RE I'M SORRY, IT'S 42 TOTAL.

UM,

[00:20:01]

AND HOW DO YOU DISPOSE OF THEM? WE, THEY WILL GO THROUGH ELECTRONICS RECYCLING AND WE'LL GET A CERTIFICATION OF DISPOSAL.

SO IF THERE NO QUESTION, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE DISPOSAL OF THOSE COUNTY ASSETS? SO WE'LL MOVE.

WE HAVE THAT MOTION COMMISSIONED CASE.

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

AYE.

AYE.

MOTION CARRIES

[10. Raylan Smith; Discuss and consider approval of NRCS-ADS-78, Assurance Relating to Real Property Acquisition, for Project - Lower East Fork Laterals Watershed, Kaufman County.]

OH BOY, HERE WE GO.

DISCUSS APPROVAL OF E R C S A D S 78 ASSURANCE RELATING REAL PROPERTY ACQUISITION FOR THE LOWER EAST FORK LATERALS WATERSHED.

SO THIS IS THE LAST PIECE TO NOT BELIEVE THAT WHEN I SAY THIS IS THE LAST PIECE TO OUR DAM CONSTRUCTION, UH, FOR THE LOWER EAST FORK LATERALS, UM, THIS IS JUST THE LAST PIECE.

WE HAD AN ATTORNEY'S OPINION ON SB AND ABLE TO UTILIZE THE EASEMENTS FOR CONSTRUCTION.

SO THIS PROJECT, THIS MILLION DOLLAR DAM UPGRADE WILL BEGIN WITHIN THE NEXT 14 DAYS.

IT'S BEEN AN ADVENTURE HASN'T IT HAS, BUT WE ARE FINALLY HERE.

QUESTIONS FOR RAILING, I GUESS JUST EDUCATE ME IN, IS THIS THE ONE WHERE WE MET IN THE BACKROOM WITH ALL THE PEOPLE FROM AUSTIN AND THE NRS, NRCS PEOPLE IN THE LAWYERS OVER PROPERTY LINE? UM, YES, IT WAS OKAY.

THE OPINION.

YEAH.

YES.

SO WE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING BACK YET.

WE HAD TO REACH OUT TO ANOTHER.

OKAY.

IF THERE ARE NO MORE QUESTIONS FOR RUTLAND ABOUT THAT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE, UH, THAT REAL ESTATE ACQUISITION IS PRESENTED IN ITEM 10? SO WE'LL MOVE AT, AT MOTION COMMISSIONER CATERS OR A SECOND.

I'LL SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER HUNT, DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES.

I'M NOT USED TO VOTING.

SO,

[11. Judge Richards; Discuss and Consider authorizing Hilltop Securities to initiate the process to issue the remaining 2019 transportation bonds.]

THIS ACTION REALLY IS JUST, UH, I JUST WANTED THE COMMISSIONER TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO FORMALLY TELL, UH, HILLTOP SECURITIES TO START MOVING ON THIS.

THE, THE, THE REALLY CRITICAL DATA IN THIS WOULD BE OUR COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING ON APRIL THE 12TH, WHICH REQUIRES A SUPER MAJORITY VOTE.

UM, SO IT JUST KIND OF EVERYBODY PUT THAT ON YOUR CALENDAR.

UH, I THINK WHEN WE TALKED THROUGH THIS PRETTY WELL AT THE LAST MEETING, I THINK EVERYBODY SEEMED TO THINK THAT WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND, UH, GET ROLLING, UH, QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.

IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE HILLTOP SECURITIES TO INITIATE THE PROCESS TO ISSUE REMAINING 2019 TRANSPORTATION BONDS MOOT HAD THAT MOTION WHERE COMMISSIONER CASES ARE SECOND, A SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER HUNT, DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

THAT MOTION CARRIES NEXT

[12. Judge Richards; Discuss and Consider new organizational structure for Fire Marshall Office and Development Services and adjust salaries and budget lines to match the structure. Organization changes, salary changes, and budget changes will be effective on March 28, 2022.]

ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES, SHOWER CHANGES, BUDGET CHANGES WILL BE EFFECTIVE ON MARCH 28TH, 2022.

WE REALLY TOOK THIS ACTION A LONG TIME AGO, BUT, UH, OUR FIRE MARSHALL, UH, HAD A COUPLE OF TWEAKS TO THE ORGANIZATION.

WELL, BOTH OF THEM I THINK DID.

AND SO WE'LL HEAR WHAT HE HAS TO SAY HERE.

ALL RIGHT.

UH, SO YOU ALL SHOULD JUST HAVE THE, UM, NEW ORGANIZATIONAL CHART PROPOSED OR CHART IN FRONT OF YOU AND, UM, YOU ALSO BE GETTING THE, UH, PROPOSED BUDGET COMPARISON TO SEE WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR FINANCES.

WE DIDN'T GET THAT.

OH, MAYBE THERE WE GO.

OH, MY SHOULDER WENT.

UH, SO FIRST I JUST KIND OF WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE WORKLOAD, UH, THAT WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING IN THE FIRE MARSHALL'S OFFICE.

UH, WE REALLY, UH, DON'T HAVE A GOOD GRASP ON HOW MANY INSPECTABLE PROPERTIES WE HAVE IN THE COUNTY RIGHT NOW.

SO THAT'S GONNA BE SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING TOWARDS.

UM, I DID WORK WITH GIS AND I WANT TO ADDRESSING TO A FIGURE THAT WE HAVE ABOUT 650 INSPECTABLE PROPERTIES THAT ARE DOCUMENTED IN OUR COUNTY RIGHT NOW.

UM, WE'RE GETTING IN ABOUT 140 TO 160 NEW STRUCTURES IN OUR COUNTY EVERY YEAR, UH, SINCE 2019.

AND SO THAT WORKLOAD IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE.

UM,

[00:25:03]

UH, ON THE INVESTIGATION SIDE, WE HAD, UH, 795 FIRES THAT WERE DISPATCHED LAST YEAR.

UM, I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT IN FIRST DATA.

THIS IS JUST DATA, THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS PUTTING IN, UH, TO SAY WHETHER IT WAS AN ACTUAL FIRE OR NOT, UH, OF THOSE FIRES, ABOUT 470 OF THOSE WERE ACTUAL WORKING FIRES.

SO, UM, WHAT I'VE DONE IS, UH, KIND OF BROKEN THOSE FIRES DOWN INTO PRIORITIES.

UH, SOME FIRES ARE GOING TO BE VERY SHORT AND SWEET.

WE GO IN THERE.

SO WE GOT TO WORK WITH, AND WE MOVE ON DOWN THE ROAD.

OTHER FIRES ARE GOING TO BE MORE COMPREHENSIVE, UH, INVESTIGATIONS.

UH, THERE'S GOING TO BE LEGAL ACTION INVOLVED, UM, AND THE REPORTS ARE GONNA BECOME MORE COMPREHENSIVE.

SO I TRIED TO ADJUST, UH, FOR THOSE DIFFERENT PRIORITIES, UH, BUT ABOUT 90% OF OUR FIRES ARE WHAT I WOULD CALL PRIORITY THREE OR PRIORITY TWO FIRES.

SO WITH THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART I'M PRESENTING TODAY, MY GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE IN-HOUSE STAFF TO AT LEAST INVESTIGATE THE PRIORITY TWO AND THREE FIRES.

IF WE HAVE A PRIORITY ONE FIRE, WHICH WOULD BE SOMETHING WITH A FELONY OFFENSE, SOMEONE WHO'S INJURED, UM, SOME WHO DIED IN THE FIRE.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN CALL THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE IN FOR ASSISTANCE.

WE CAN, UH, IMPLEMENT A TASK FORCE, UH, HERE IN THE REGION TO TRY TO HAVE A FORCE MULTIPLIER.

UM, SO COMPARING THE, THE SERVICE AREAS, UM, AND THE DEMAND FOR PERSONNEL HOURS, THE INVESTIGATIONS SIDE OF OUR DEPARTMENT HAS A LOT MORE DEMAND FOR PERSONNEL HOURS.

UM, THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE SERVICE TO, UH, WITH INVESTIGATIONS.

WE HAVE TO HAVE AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO GET OUT THERE RIGHT AWAY.

UH, WE DO NEED TO BE INCREASING THE QUALITY OF OUR REPORTS COMPARED TO WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN THE PAST.

UH, AND THESE ARE THINGS THAT CAN'T BE SCHEDULED.

UH, WE, IT'S NOT REALLY COST-EFFECTIVE TO THIRD-PARTY THIS THING OUT, UM, WITHOUT A COSTING OF, YOU KNOW, A MILLION TO $2 MILLION.

SO, UH, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF INSPECTIONS OF PLANAR VIEW, UH, THIS IS SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T HAVE TO BE CERTIFIED AS TICO PEACE OFFICER.

UH, THESE ARE THINGS THAT CAN BE PLANNED SCHEDULED.

WE HAVE 30 DAYS TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE PLANS AND GET THEM BACK TO THE CONTRACTOR.

UH, SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME WE HAVE TO WORK WITH, WITH THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

SO, UH, THE ORG CHART DOES PRIORITIZE FIRE INVESTIGATIONS WITH THAT INFORMATION IN MIND.

UM, YOU'LL SEE, AT THE BOTTOM, WE ARE IMPLEMENTING THE ONE-STOP SHOP, UH, APPROACH TO THIS WHERE THE PUBLIC COMES IN.

THEY HAVE THE CLERKS RIGHT THERE AT THE DESK, THEY TURN ALL THEIR DOCUMENTS IN, AND THAT GETS DISSEMINATED OUT TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS FROM THERE.

UM, WE DO PLAN ON UTILIZING A THIRD PARTY PLAN REVIEW AND INSPECTION SERVICE TO, TO TAKE ON THAT INSPECTION SIDE OF OUR DEPARTMENT.

UM, WE DO STILL HAVE SOME CONCERNS TALKING TO OTHER FIRE MARSHALS, UH, ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THOSE INSPECTIONS.

UH, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS AN AUDIT COMPONENT, SOMETHING THAT WE CAN HOLD A VENDOR ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE SERVICES THEY'RE TELLING US THEY'RE GOING TO PROVIDE US.

UH, SO FOR THAT REASON, WE'RE INCLUDING THE PART-TIME INSPECTOR, UH, TO JUST KIND OF KEEP AN EYE ON, UH, THE PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING IN, UM, THE QUALITY INSPECTIONS THAT ARE BEING DONE AND MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT MISSING ANYTHING ON PLAYER VIEWS.

AND A LOT OF THE PART-TIME INSPECTOR JOB WILL BE AUDITING, CORRECT? YEAH.

NOT ACTUALLY DOING INSPECTIONS, BUT LOOKING, REVIEWING THE CORRECT.

YEAH.

OKAY.

BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO JUST BE REVIEWING THE PAPERWORK, RIGHT.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE GOING OUT ONSITE, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT MISSING THINGS ONSITE AS WELL.

UH, SO THAT BEING SAID, UM, THERE WON'T BE ANY ADDITIONAL COSTS FOR IMPLEMENTING THIS.

UH, WE ALREADY HAVE THE VEHICLES, THE OFFICE SPACE, THE COMPUTERS, ALL THAT EQUIPMENT, READY FOR THEM TO ROCK AND ROLL.

UM, AND THEN LOOKING AT, UM, THE FAR MARSHALL'S BUDGET, UH, WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE SAVING ABOUT $179,000, UH, BY IMPLEMENTING THIS PLAN.

SO ALL WE'RE GONNA GET A BETTER SERVICE.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE A MORE MANAGEABLE WORKLOAD TO THE FIRE MARSHALL'S OFFICE.

UH, WE'LL BE ABLE TO OFFER OUR EMPLOYEES COMPETITIVE SALARIES AND, UH, COME OUT WITH SAVINGS.

SO, AND I AGREE, I THINK THIS IS A, YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO COMMENT ABOUT MONIQUE? UM, THE GREAT THING ABOUT THE INTAKE IS THAT WHEN HE SAYS THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE THE DATA, WE'LL MAKE SURE THE DATA IS THERE.

NOW, THERE WAS A GAP IN DOCUMENTATION, UH, ARCHIVING SCANNING, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

SO WITH THEM CONCENTRATING ON THE FIRESIDE, UM, OUR CLERKS WILL CONCENTRATE ON THE ARCHIVING SIDE.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK THAT A REALLY ADVANTAGE, AND I KNOW THIS, YOU SORT OF ORIGINATED THIS CONCEPT BUILDING ON OUR ONE-STOP SHOP THING.

YOU'LL HAVE A POOL OF PEOPLE WHO CAN RECEIVE THE PUBLIC NOW.

AND INSTEAD OF HAVING JUST ONE PERSON IN THAT OFFICE TO RECEIVE THE PUBLIC, OF COURSE, IF YOU JUST HAVE ONE PERSON, SOMETIMES THEY'RE GONE TO LUNCH.

SOMETIMES THEY'RE SICK, SOMETIMES THEY'RE ON VACATION

[00:30:01]

I THINK THIS IS GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE, CORRECT? THEY'LL ALL BE TRAINED.

UM, THE CONSULTING ENGINEER FROM THAT WE, UM, UH, DID A CONTRACT WITH, THEY ACTUALLY COME ON SITE AND SPEND A DAY WITH US TO JUST BASICALLY SEE HOW THAT INTAKE'S GOING TO WORK FOR SENDING OUT ELECTRONIC PLANS, NO MORE PAPER PLANS.

UM, YOU KNOW, AND HOPEFULLY, UH, CAUSE I BELIEVE YOU'VE IMPLEMENTED THE BLUE BEAM ALREADY, SO YOU'RE ACQUIRING THE BLUE BEAM FOR ELECTRONIC REVIEW.

SO EVERYTHING IS ELECTRONIC.

SO THOSE PLANS THAT YOU SEE ALL ROLLED UP, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE A THING IN THE PAST.

UM, WE DO HAVE THOSE CLERKS ALSO ARE GOING TO TAKE ON THE TASK OF SCANNING THOSE PLANS.

THE BLUE BEAM IS A SOFTWARE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO MAKE ANNOTATIONS ON THE PLANS AND ALL THAT.

RIGHT, RIGHT.

CORRECT.

YEAH.

INSTEAD OF TAKING YOUR PINS AND DOING IT MANUALLY, YOU CAN DO IT ON A COMPUTER SCREEN.

IT IMMEDIATELY CAN SEND IT BACK TO THE, TO THE DEVELOPER OR TO THE COMMERCIAL BUSINESS IMMEDIATELY.

AND THEN THEY CAN LOOK IT OVER, MAKE CORRECTIONS SPEED TO THE PROCESS, THE BENEFIT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS, AS WELL AS THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THOSE PLANS ELECTRONICALLY TO THEM.

UH THERE'S SOFTWARE OUT THERE THAT WHEN THEY GET A CALL, THE PLANS FOR THE BUILDING ARE RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF THEM.

SO THIS ALL SOUNDS LIKE PROGRESS TO ME.

ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THIS STUFF? AND THIS IS A STAR.

AND THEN AS, AS WE GROW IN THE NUMBERS INCREASE, THEN WE CAN GROW UP.

YEAH, YEAH.

I DO ANTICIPATE THERE BEING MORE DEMAND FOR FIRE INVESTIGATIONS, UH, PARTICULARLY, UM, AND WE CAN SEE WHERE THE NUMBERS TAKE US ALL TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT JUST SEEING A SPIKE, YOU KNOW, THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, UH, BEFORE WE ACTUALLY MAKE DECISIONS ON ADDING MORE PERSONNEL.

BUT YEAH.

DATA TAKES TIME TO ACUMEN DOES SO SEE WHAT IT IS, BUT I WAS IMPRESSED ABOUT THE DIRT DOBBER.

I WASN'T PRESSED ABOUT THAT.

I HADN'T IN ALL MY YEARS.

I NEVER EXPERIENCED THAT.

SO YEAH, THAT WAS KIND OF COOL.

THAT'S PRETTY UNIQUE.

ONE.

I THINK THIS IS ALSO REALLY AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF REALLY MODERN MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES BECAUSE, UH, EVERY ORGANIZATION THAT, UH, THAT IS WELL RUN AND, AND UH, PROPERLY ADMINISTERED, IT LEANS OUT, IT BECOMES MORE EFFICIENT.

UH, YOU KNOW, IT ROUNDS OFF SHARP CORNERS AND I THINK, UH, BOTH DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES AND THE FAR MARSHALL'S OFFICER DEMONSTRATING THAT, THAT THAT'S A REALLY A POSITIVE IMPACT.

IT'S A COST SAVINGS, IT'S AN EFFICIENCY IMPROVER AND, UH, THAT'S REALLY WHAT OUR CITIZENS DESERVE.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH DUE TO THE EFFICIENCY OF THE GREAT THING ABOUT IT IS, IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE SEPARATE DEPARTMENTS APPROVING PERMITS, AND THE OTHER SIDE DOESN'T HAVE COMPLIANCE.

AND WHEN THEY SEE COUNTY SIGNED OFF ON IT, THEY JUST ASSUME THAT THE ENTIRE COUNTY SIGNED OFF ON IT.

SO THE FACT THAT THOSE PERMITS WILL COME THROUGH ONE INTAKE, EVERYONE'S LAYING EYES ON IT.

THAT MISTAKE WON'T HAPPEN ANYMORE.

YEAH.

PERFECT.

AND IT, MAYBE, SOMETIMES PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

UM, OKAY.

ANYTHING ELSE, IF NOT, THEN I WOULD, UH, LOOK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AS PRESENTED TODAY WITH A SHOWER AND THANK YOU, KAREN, FOR WORKING OUT ON THE SALARIES AND BUDGET STUFF WITH THEM.

UH, SO THAT EXPLAIN ONE THING, THOUGH, WHEN WE DID THIS CHANGING, YOU APPROVED THE COURT APPROVED OPTION B, IT WAS TO ADD TWO MORE PEOPLE TO HER BUDGET AS CODE ENFORCEMENT.

AND THEN HE WAS GOING TO EXPLAIN WHY WE'RE NOT DOING THAT.

SO WE'RE SAVING THAT MONEY AND NOT HAVING TO FIND IT ELSEWHERE.

RIGHT.

SO, UH, WE DID HAVE TWO INSPECTOR POSITIONS.

UM, NUMBER ONE, THE SALARIES WERE PRETTY LOW ON THOSE.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME FILLING THOSE POSITIONS.

UM, BUT WE, WE HAD BEEN DOING BUILDING INSPECTIONS AND ELECTRICAL INSPECTIONS, THINGS LIKE THAT IN THE FAR MORE SOPHOS.

UH, SO WE'VE CHANGED THAT.

UM, AND WITH THAT CHANGE, UH, IT'S BETTER TO SEND ALL OF THOSE PLANS OFF TO THE THIRD PARTY THAT CAN HANDLE IT, ARE ALL QUALIFIED TO DO THAT.

UM, AND SO IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF LIABILITY OFF OF US THAT WAY.

AND THEN WE'RE STILL HAVING THAT ACCOUNTABILITY ASPECT.

SO WE'RE STILL EXPECTING THE FIRE SYSTEMS. CORRECT.

YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE Y'ALL REMEMBERED THAT.

AND, UH, YOU'RE WELCOME JUDGE, ON FIGURING AND THAT, UM, ALSO A PROVEN THIS LIKE THIS ON THE FAR MARSHALL SIDE AND MAKING AN EFFECTIVE APRIL 28TH, MARCH, MARCH 28 GRADE.

UM, THAT'S ALSO GONNA CUT OUT THE TRANSFER FROM THE FIRE CODE FUND TO THE GENERAL FUND BECAUSE THAT'S NOT COVERING ALL THOSE SUPPLEMENTALS, JUST SO Y'ALL KNOW.

AND WHAT DID SHE EXPLAIN THE, UH, THE, UH, INSPECTORS AND THEIR JOBS THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO? IT KIND OF FELL IN LINE WITH WHAT YOU GUYS WERE HOPING FOR IN A CODE ENFORCEMENT.

[00:35:01]

YOU'RE STILL GOING TO GET THAT.

IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT TITLE.

VERY GOOD.

UH, OKAY.

SO LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND A BUDGET AND SALARY CHANGES, THIS ONE, LIKE THE MOTION WE HAD A MOTION COMMISSIONER HUNT, IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND ONE COMMISSIONER CAGE, DISCUSS THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

THAT MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

THAT'S GREAT WORK

[13. Judge Richards; Discuss operational readiness.]

AND IT, THE, THE THOUGHT OCCURRED TO ME THAT WHEN WE HAVE AN ICE STORM, MOST CASES, THE PRUDENT THING IS TO CLOSE OUR BUILDINGS FOR SAFETY PURPOSES.

BUT I QUESTIONED WHY WE NEED TO CLOSE ALL OF OUR COUNTY OPERATIONS.

CLEARLY SOME OF OUR COUNTY OPERATIONS CAN'T, UH, UH, MISS SAMPLES, UH, CLERKS CAN'T, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN'T ACCEPT MONEY, GENERALLY REMOTELY.

A LOT OF THOSE THINGS, THEY CAN'T MAN, THE COUNTERS, BUT A BIG PERCENTAGE OF WHAT WE DO IN THE COUNTY COULD BE WE COULD CONTINUE OPERATING OR WE, I THINK WE CAN WE'VE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE LEARNED A LOT.

WE WERE DOING A LOT OF THIS AT HOME DURING COVID.

SO IT'S, IT SEEMS TO ME, AND THIS IS, I'M JUST OPENING THIS UP FOR DISCUSSION.

AND I ASKED STEVE TO COME BECAUSE WE'VE GOT PLANS FOR THESE SORT OF THINGS ALREADY.

WE'VE, WE'VE GOT PRETTY MUCH, UH, FOR THE MOST PART, WE GOT THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE NEED.

WE MIGHT NEED A LITTLE TWEAKS IN OUR TECHNOLOGY TO ALLOW A LOT OF OUR EMPLOYEES TO WORK AT HOME.

BUT I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWEAKS CAUSE WE'VE, SO WE'VE ALREADY DONE THIS.

AND THEN THE OTHER THING, AND THIS IS KIND OF WHAT I'D LIKE TO STEVE TO SPEAK TO, UH, IF WE HAVE ANOTHER ICE STORM, HOPEFULLY NOT THIS YEAR, BUT IF WE, THE NEXT TIME WE HAVE A ICE STORM LIKE THAT AND WE HAVE TO CLOSE THE COUNTY OFFICES FOR TWO DAYS, IT'S A CHANCE FOR US TO PRACTICE WORKING REMOTELY AND WORKING AT HOME.

THAT'S WHEN WE FIND OUT, WELL, MY VPN NETWORK DOESN'T WORK OR THE PASSWORD, MY PASSWORD HAS CHANGED, OR I CAN'T GET ON FOR SOME REASON OR SOME CONFLICT WITH MY VIRUS PROTECTION OR SOMETHING.

WE'LL NEVER KNOW THOSE THINGS IF WE DON'T ACTUALLY EXERCISE IT.

SO STEVE FLESHED THIS OUT A LITTLE BIT AS TO WHAT YOU THINK WOULD BE A, SO MY PROPOSAL IS THAT WE ASK OUR DEPARTMENTS TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO WORK REMOTELY.

AND THE NEXT TIME WE HAVE AN INCIDENT, OR MAYBE EVEN IN THE MIDDLE, SOMETIMES WE ASK ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS TO SEND HALF THEIR PEOPLE HOME, TO WORK REMOTELY AT TWO O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON AND BE READY TO GO WELL UNDER CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS.

WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING IS A, AN OUTSTANDING SUGGESTION BECAUSE THINGS LIKE, UH, SHUTTING DOWN FOR WINTER WEATHER IS A GOOD TIME TO PRACTICE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE HOME.

THE OPERATIONS, IT CAN BE DONE REMOTELY SHOULD BE DONE.

THE BIG PIECE OF THAT IS HAVING THE LAPTOPS OR THE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY THAT PEOPLE CAN TAKE HOME WITH THEM AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE OR TAKE, TAKE HOME WITH THEM.

WHEN WE SUSPECT WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE NOW, UH, AS STORMS ARE GOOD, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THINGS SUCH AS A POWER OUTAGE.

RECENTLY, WE HAD A INTERNET OUTAGE HERE, WHICH MEANT THAT OUR SYSTEMS WENT DOWN NOW WOULD CARRYING A LAPTOP HOME, WORKED IN THAT SITUATION, OR, YOU KNOW, IT'S A TIME WHERE YOU CAN FLUSH OUT UNKNOWNS AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO BE BETTER PREPARED.

AND THIS IS ALL COVERED UNDER CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS.

UH, BACK IN 2018, THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT ADOPTED THE BASE PLAN FOR THE COUNTY, BUT THE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO DO THEIR OWN DEPARTMENTS.

AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE, UH, LAURA AND HER PEOPLE HAVE AN OUTSTANDING PLAN FOR RECOVERY AND, UH, YOU KNOW, ESTABLISHING A REMOTE LOCATION.

SO I KNOW WE'VE GOT ONE, UH, BUT I, HAVEN'T GOT A LOT OF RESPONSE OVER THE YEARS FROM THE OTHERS, BUT, UH, IT'S A GOOD WAY TO DO IT.

AND, UH, TO LEARN

[00:40:01]

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE THINGS AFTER IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE IT IN A YEAR, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.

SO REALLY, I THINK OUR GOAL IS TWO THINGS.

NUMBER ONE IS TO MAINTAIN SERVICE TO OUR CUSTOMERS.

SO WHEN PEOPLE CALL, UH, MAYBE CLERKS THAT ARE, THAT ARE COUNTER THAT WORK ON THE COUNTER, THEY CAN'T CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK, BUT THEY COULD STILL, AND THEY CAN ANSWER THE PHONES.

I MEAN, WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE COULD, WE COULD HAVE THEM PHONES DELIVERED TO THEIR, TO ANOTHER PHONE THAT THEY COULD ANSWER THE PHONES, THEY CAN RETURN EMAILS.

UM, SO CONTINUING TO SERVE OUR CUSTOMERS AND DRILLING OUR ABILITY TO ACTUALLY WORK REMOTELY.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.

AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE TO PURSUE THIS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

UM, THERE ARE STILL SOME GRANT FUNDS AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL LAPTOPS FOR THE DEPARTMENTS AND THINGS THAT WE MIGHT NEED.

SO, YOU KNOW, NOW'S THE TIME TO GET IT DONE WHILE WE HAVE THOSE THINGS AVAILABLE.

OKAY.

WE DID DURING COVID AND I TALKED TO NATHAN AND HE SAID, THIS WOULD STILL WORK.

THE, UH, ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT HAS, I THINK 60 OR 65 LAPTOPS.

AND NATHAN WAS SAYING, WE DON'T, WE PROBABLY DON'T NEED TO BUY A LAPTOP FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON.

HE SAID, IT TAKES 30 MINUTES OR LESS FOR THEM TO TAKE AN ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT LAPTOP, PUT MY DESKTOP ON IT, PUT EVERY SO THAT WHEN I, WHEN I TURN IT ON AND SET IT UP, I'M LOOKING AT MY DESKTOP, JUST LIKE I AM SITTING IN MY OFFICE.

AND YOU SAID IT TAKES 30 MINUTES OR LESS TO DO THAT FOR EVERY SINGLE LAPTOP.

SO THAT'S A RESOURCE THAT WE COULD USE IF WE WEREN'T IN A SITUATION DURING ELECTIONS AND WE COULD BUY MORE LOT.

WE DON'T HAVE A LOT, OF COURSE, MOST OF OUR PEOPLE WORK ON DESKTOP STILL.

AND NATHAN DOESN'T ADVOCATE FOR CHANGING EVERYBODY BUY LAPTOPS.

CAUSE HE SAYS THEY'RE, THEY'RE EXPENSIVE AND THEY'RE, THEY THEY'RE HARD TO MAINTAIN.

BUT YOU ALSO NEED TO THINK ABOUT ALONG THE LINES OF THE CRITICAL FUNCTIONS IN THE COUNTY THAT NEED TO IMMEDIATELY BACK UP AND START OPERATING WHERE THEY WOULD NEED THOSE LAPTOPS SUCH AS THE FIRE MARSHALL'S OFFICE OR MAYBE THE COUNTY CLERK AND AUDITOR, YOU KNOW, SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO IDENTIFY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE CRITICAL, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE NEED TO MAINTAIN.

SO, OKAY, SO THIS, THIS IS A DISCUSSION ITEM I'D LIKE TO HEAR.

DO YOU ALL SUPPORT THIS? DO YOU WANT US TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO EXERCISE THIS OR WHAT? WELL, JUDGE, I DON'T THINK, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY QUESTION.

UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK, UH, MIKE WILL AGREE AND IF YOU'VE BEEN IN, UH, IF YOU'VE BEEN IN THE FIRST RESPONDER BUSINESS, UH IT'S, IT'S ABSOLUTELY, UH, IT'S JUST REQUIRED THAT WE HAVE OUR CRITICAL OPERATIONS, UH, BE ABLE TO CONTINUE UNABATED OR, OR AT LEAST BE ABLE TO GET RIGHT BACK UP AFTER A TORNADO OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

SO THAT, UH, W WHATEVER STEPS WE TAKE, UH, WITH REGARD TO THAT IS ABSOLUTELY A POSITIVE.