Sep 20, 2022 Commissioners Court

THIS

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[Call to Order]

TODAY IS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2022 IT'S 9:00 AM.

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

UH, WE'LL START OFF OUR MEETING TODAY.

I WILL ASK, UH, COMMISSIONER BARBARA, IF HE WOULD OFFER AN INVOCATION FOR US AND COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS, WILL YOU LEAD US IN THE PLEDGES? PLEASE STAND, PRAY WITH ME, PLEASE.

I HAVE FATHER WANNA THANK YOU FOR THIS MORNING IN THIS DAY.

WANNA THANK YOU FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM YOU ON A REGULAR BASIS AND ASK YOU TO CONTINUE TO BE WITH US AS A COUNTY, AS A COUNTRY.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND OUR MILITARY AND ASK YOU TO PLEASE BE WITH THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THE SACRIFICES THEY MAKE FOR ALL OF US.

BE WITH US TODAY AND KEEP US SAFE.

AND IN YOUR SON'S NAME, WE PRAY.

AMEN.

I AMEN TO THE FLAG UNITED STATES OF THE MAYOR TO THE REPUBLIC, WHICH IS STANDS LIBERTY JUSTICE FOR HONOR, TO BE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER THANK Y'ALL VERY MATE, WELL STANDING ROOM ONLY THIS MORNING.

WELCOME TO EVERYBODY.

UH, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE, UH, FOLKS SHOWING INTEREST IN WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

UH, FIRST ITEM OF

[1. ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE.]

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE TO SHARE? I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND SHARE ABOUT THE CLEANUP.

SURE.

WE HAD A, UH, ELECTRONICS CLEANUP THIS WEEKEND, SATURDAY DOWN THE SOUTH CAMPUS, AND, UH, HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE OVER 135 RESIDENTS SHOWED UP PROBABLY ABOUT 58 TELEVISIONS.

THEY'RE STILL GETTING THEM GREAT, BIG, GIANT TELEVISIONS THAT TAKES FIVE PEOPLE TO CARRY YOU THINK THAT AFTER THIS IS THE THIRD OR FOURTH ONE, THAT'D BE GONE, BUT LIKE 50 COMPUTERS AND 40 PRINTERS AND 50 ELECTRONIC ACCESSORIES AND 46 HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES.

AND THEN OF COURSE, FLUOR ABOVES AND ALL THAT HOUSEHOLD HAZARD HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE STUFF, BUT IT WAS A PRETTY BIG TURNOUT.

SO I APPRECIATE ALL THAT DID IT'S BETTER THAN BEING ON THE COUNTY ROAD.

SO YEAH, APPRECIATE THAT.

ANYBODY ELSE? UH, SO NEXT

[2. CONSENT AGENDA]

WE HAVE TWO ITEMS, A AND B, UH, WOULD ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS WANT TO DISCUSS AN ITEM INDIVIDUALLY? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED? I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.

WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS.

IS THERE SECOND I SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER BARBER DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY THE SAYING.

AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED KNOW THAT MOTION CARRIES AND UH, NEXT UP IS TAMMY PAR PAR

[3. Tammy Pargoud; Presentation on REACH Child Placing Agency.]

SORRY IF I MISPRONOUNCE YOUR NAME THERE A PRESENTATION ON REACH CHILD PLACING AGENCY, UH, AND TAMMY, WHILE YOU'RE COMING UP AND GETTING READY TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS.

UH, I WANNA JUST REMIND THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE PUBLIC.

ALSO, WE HAVE SET ASIDE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THE BUDGET, LUMP SUM.

UH, KAREN, I'M NOT GONNA PUT YOU ON THE SPOT AND ASK YOU HOW MUCH IT WAS, BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER SAME AMOUNT AS WE HAD GIVEN LAST YEAR.

AND WE HAVE IT ALL IN ONE LUMP SUM.

UH, THE COMMISSIONERS WERE DELIVERED A BIG STACK OF APPLICATIONS THIS MORNING FOR THEM TO REVIEW.

AND THEN IN AN UPCOMING MEETING, WE'RE GONNA, UH, TAMMY, YOU'RE GONNA BE THE FIRST ONE, BUT WE'RE GONNA, UH, MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO THE ORGANIZATIONS, APPLYING FOR ASSISTANCE TO, UH, COME TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT IF THEY WANT TO, OR THEY CAN JUST LET THEIR APPLICATION STAND ON ITS OWN.

AND SO, BUT YOU'RE HERE TODAY TO TELL US ABOUT REACH CHILD PLACING AGENCY AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

OKAY, GOOD MORNING.

UM, AGAIN, MY NAME IS TAMMY PARU AND I AM THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF REACH CHILD PLACING AGENCY.

UM, WE ARE THE LOCAL FOSTER ADOPTION AGENCY HERE IN KAUFMAN COUNTY.

OUR OFFICE IS LOCATED IN TERELL, TEXAS IN CORNERSTONE BAPTIST CHURCH.

UM, WE PROVIDE LOVING FOSTER HOMES FOR CHILDREN, UM, WHO ARE IN NEED OF CARE.

WE HAVE, UM, I HAVE ISSUED ALL OF YOU A CURRENT FOSTER ADOPTION DATA REPORT FROM DECEMBER THE FIRST OF 2021 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2022.

UM, WE HAVE, UH, HAD 120 FOSTER CARE CASES.

UM, TOTAL KIDS IN CARE AS OF TODAY IS 26.

WE PLACED LAST NIGHT AT MIDNIGHT.

UM, TOTAL KAUFMAN COUNTY KIDS AND CARE IS SIX.

UM, TOTAL LICENSED FOSTER HOMES ARE 2310 OF WHICH ARE HERE IN KAUFMAN COUNTY.

UM, TOTAL NUMBER OF FOSTER KIDS PLACED IN KAUFMAN COUNTY HOMES IS 13 TOTAL OF KAUFMAN COUNTY KIDS PLACED, UM,

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WE HAVE CONSUMMATED 17 ADOPTIONS HERE IN KAUFMAN COUNTY SINCE THIS PERIOD THAT I'M REPORTING DATA ON, UH, OUR KAUFMAN COUNTY, UH, CHILDREN THAT HAVE CONSUMMATED TOTAL OR EIGHT, UM, FIVE OF WHICH ARE KAUFMAN COUNTY RESIDENTS.

UM, AND THESE CHILDREN THAT ARE, UH, KAUFMAN COUNTY RESIDENTS, UM, THREE OF THEM ARE KAUFMAN COUNTY, UH, RESIDENTS THAT WILL LIVE HERE AND CURRENTLY STAY IN THE COUNTY.

THE OTHER TWO ARE KAUFMAN COUNTY KIDS THAT WERE CONSUMMATED, BUT LIVE IN DALLAS COUNTY.

UM, OUR NEXT ADOPTION, UM, IF ANY OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND IS ON NOVEMBER, I'M SORRY, IS ON SEPTEMBER 22ND.

THIS IS A KAUFMAN COUNTY FAMILY AND THIS CHILD WILL REMAIN IN KAUFMAN COUNTY.

UM, WE HAVE ONE STUDENT THAT GRADUATED EARLY.

SHE GRADUATED FROM TARRELL HIGH SCHOOL AT 17.

THIS YOUNG LADY IS IN THE MILITARY.

SHE'S 17 YEARS OLD.

SHE IS A COFFMAN COUNTY CHILD.

UM, REACH IS NOT JUST A FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION AGENCY.

WE ALSO PROVIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR OUR LOCAL FAMILIES THAT ARE IN NEED.

UH, ONE OF WHICH IS OUR DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAM, UH, MEANING THAT WE ARE CALLED WHEN PEOPLE NEED ASSISTANCE WITH LIGHT BILLS, WATER BILLS, UM, MOST RECENTLY IS FIRES.

SO WE DO SUPPORT THOSE FAMILIES THROUGH OUR LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS, WITH OUR BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE BRAND NEW ITEMS FOR THOSE THAT HAVE LOST, UM, THEIR BELONGINGS.

UM, WE PROVIDE SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR ALL OF OUR FOSTER CHILDREN AND ANY COMMUNITY KIDS THAT COME INTO CARE THAT NEED IT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AT OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS, WE PROVIDE DAYCARE ASSISTANCE FOR THE KIDS THAT ARE PLACED WITH US IN OUR FOSTER HOMES.

UM, AND WE DO THAT BECAUSE MANY OF YOU KNOW, THAT REIMBURSEMENT FOR FOSTER CARE DOES NOT HAPPEN UNTIL ABOUT 45 DAYS LATER.

MOST OF OUR FOSTER FAMILIES ARE DUAL FAMILY HOMES AND THEY ALL WORK SO THEY NEED DAYCARE RIGHT AWAY.

SO WE PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR THAT.

UM, WE ALSO PROVIDE UP TO $150 FOR EACH CHILD PLACED IN OUR FOSTER HOME CUZ AS YOU KNOW, MANY OF THEM COME IN AND THEY HAVE NOTHING OR THE THINGS THAT THEY BRING MAY BE, UM, UNUSABLE DUE TO DRUG USAGE.

SO WE DON'T WANT THOSE TO CONTAMINATE OUR FOSTER HOMES.

UM, A LOT OF YOU HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE GIFT OF HOPE PROGRAM THAT IS HAPPENING AGAIN THIS YEAR FOR THE SIXTH YEAR.

UM, THAT PROGRAM IS WHERE WE, UM, HAVE CHIL THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ALLOCATE AND NOMINATE CHILDREN WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE.

UM, THESE CHILDREN ARE VERIFIED THROUGH THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

THEY CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROGRAM LIKE THEY DO OTHER PROGRAMS. SO IT'S NOT A EVERY YEAR YOU CAN SIGN YOUR CHILDREN UP.

UM, IT, THEY HAVE TO HAVE A VERIFIED NEED THROUGH THE SCHOOL OR FROM A LOCAL OFFICIAL.

THEY ARE PLACED IN OUR PROGRAM.

EACH CHILD RECEIVES A HUNDRED DOLLARS GIFT CARD THAT WE PARTNER WITH THE COMMUNITY WITH.

AND, UM, THOSE CHILDREN ARE ALLOWED TO SHOP, GET THE TOYS THAT THEY WANT.

AND THIS YEAR THERE WILL BE NO OPTION FOR FAMILIES TO RETURN ANY ITEMS. UH, WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH ALL THREE LOCAL WALMARTS.

UH, WE WILL BE, UM, SLASHING THE BARCODES BECAUSE WE ARE VERY GOOD STEWARDS OF ALLOCATED MONEY FOR THIS PROGRAM AND IT'S COMMUNITY MONEY.

SO WE DON'T WANT FAMILIES TO TAKE THESE ITEMS BACK AND BE ABLE TO GET THOSE MONIES BACK TO USE FOR DIFFERENT THINGS.

UM, WE WILL START THAT PROGRAM AND COLLECTING FOR THAT PROGRAM ON OCTOBER 1ST, UM, WE PARTNER WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS.

UM, AND THIS PROGRAM IS VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART BECAUSE IT'S NOT A PROGRAM TO WHERE WE'RE JUST PROVIDING CHRISTMAS PRESENTS.

WE'RE PROVIDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE WHO HAVE SWORN TO PROTECT AND SERVE THESE KIDS.

UM, I FOUND IT REACH BECAUSE, UM, CHILDREN, UM, WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE, ALWAYS END UP ON THE BAD END, OUR LACK OF GOOD FAMILY SUPPORT.

WHEN WE PLACE OUR KIDS IN GOOD FAMILIES, THEY ARE ABLE TO SEE WHAT FAMILY LOOKS LIKE.

THEY ARE ABLE TO SEE AND RECEIVE THE LOVE THAT ANY OTHER NORMAL CHILD WOULD HAVE.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO AT REACH.

WE ARE THE HOUSING UNIT FOR THESE CHILDREN WHO CANNOT BE SAFE AND LOVED IN THEIR OWN HOME.

UM, WE PARTNER WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES TO CARE AND MONITOR THESE HOMES.

UM, OUR OTHER AGENCIES THAT WE WORK WITH IS CASA, WHO SEES OUR KIDS IN OUR HOME.

AND WE ALSO WILL WORK WITH THE CAC IN THIS COMMUNITY WHEN KIDS HAVE SEXUAL ABUSE, BUT REACH OUT PLACING AGENCY AND ALL LOCAL, UM, AGENCIES ARE THE 24

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SO WE ARE ASKING THAT YOU ALL WILL CONSIDER, UM, HELPING REACH, CONTINUE TO CARE FOR THIS COMMUNITY BY, UM, SELECTING A PORTION OF THE ALLOCATED FUNDS TO BE DIRECTED TO OUR AGENCY.

SO DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR TAMMY? UH, WELL, WE'LL BE, UH, AND YOU MIGHT WANT TO STAY TUNED AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND REVIEW THESE APPLICATIONS AND STUFF.

AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE, UH, WE CREATED A MORE, UM, FORMAL APPLICATION PROCESS BECAUSE WE ARE, WE ARE USING, WE ARE GIVING TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

AND SO WE FELT LIKE WE NEEDED TO KNOW SOME THINGS ABOUT THE OP THE GOVERNANCE AND THE FINANCES OF THE ORGANIZATION.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR DOING THE APPLICATION FOR YOU.

THANK YOU, GOD BLESS YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

UH, JUST A LITTLE HOUSEKEEPING STUFF.

I HAVE A NUMBER OF CARDS FROM FOLKS THAT WANT TO, UH, COMMENT ON THE BUDGET AND OTHER ITEMS. UM, AND JUST TO MAKE IT CLEAR, WE, WE, PART OF THE AGENDA TODAY IS TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.

AND SO ANYONE IS WELCOME TO SPEAK DURING THE PU DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING.

SO YOU, IN THIS CASE, YOU WOULD NOT, SINCE THERE'S A PUBLIC HEARING FOR YOU TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET, YOU DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO HAVE A CARD MADE OUT.

SO WE'LL NAVIGATE THROUGH THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN I'LL MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY HAS I'LL.

UH, IF SOMEBODY WILL REMIND ME, I'LL MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S HAD A CHANCE THAT WANTED TO, TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

OKAY.

OKAY.

NEXT UP, TANDY

[4. Tandi Smith; Discuss/Consider approval of supplemental information to the Appointment of Election Judges, Alternate Judges, Election Officers, and Early Voting Officers for the 2022-2024 Submission Term.]

GOOD MORNING, GENTLEMEN, I FORWARDED YOU SOME INFORMATION LAST WEEK AS YOU'RE WELL AWARE, THE PARTIES HAVE UP UNTIL THE 16TH OR THE 20TH DAY BEFORE THE ELECTION TO FILL ANY VACANCIES, WHICH FALLS AROUND I BELIEVE OCTOBER 16TH.

UM, SO WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO BE FLUID IN THESE LISTS AS THEY FILL THOSE VACANCIES.

UH, WE WANNA ALLOW THEM THE TIME TO FILL THESE VACANCIES, BUT WE WANNA BE TRANSPARENT AND ADHERE WITH THE CODE THAT SAYS IT MUST COME TO THE COURT.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PRESENTED? NO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD WORK AS ALWAYS TANDY.

THANK YOU.

UH, SO WHAT'S BEFORE US, WOULD IT BE, I'LL BE LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION TO THE APPOINTMENT OF ELECTION JUDGES, ALTERNATE JUDGES, ELECTION OFFICERS, AND EARLY VOTING OFFICERS FOR THE 2224 SUBMISSION TERM.

IS THERE SUCH A MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL FROM COMMISSIONER BARBARA.

IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER, UH, PHILLIPS DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING I OPPOSE NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT UP CHRISTIE DICKEY DISCUSS

[5. Kristi Dickey; Discuss/Consider approval of the final plat of Hilborn Addition located on CR 253 and FM 1565 in PCT 3.]

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

THE HILLBURN EDITION IS GOING IS SORRY.

FIVE LOTS.

UM, LOT NUMBER ONE IS APPROXIMATELY, UH, FIVE ACRES.

LOT.

TWO IS APPROXIMATELY 15 AND A HALF ACRES AND THEN LOTS, THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE ARE APPROXIMATELY TWO ACRES.

THIS IS FOR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL USE.

UM, ALL APPROVING AUTHORITIES HAVE GONE OVER THE PACKET AND HAVE APPROVED.

AND WE'RE JUST ASKING THE COURT'S APPROVAL TODAY.

QUESTIONS FOR CHRISTIE ABOUT THAT? NO, IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FINAL PLAN FOR HILLBURN EDITION AS PRESENTED? I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER BARBER.

IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER HUNT DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY THE SAME.

AYE.

AYE, AYE.

OPPOSE.

NO THANK YOU.

THAT MOTION CARRIES, UH, ITEM

[6. Zennell Andy; Discuss/Consider the purchase of firearm by retired Sheriffs Department Deputy Bobby Nichols, in accordance with Commissioners Court Policy pursuant to HB 1379, serial tt PPL833.]

I'M NOT SURE WHICH ONES WE'RE GONNA HAVE PRESENTING DISCUSS.

CONSIDER THE PURCHASE OF FIREARM BY RETIRED SHERIFF'S DEPUTY BOBBY NICHOLS IN ACCORDANCE WITH COMMISSIONER'S COURT POLICY PURSUANT TO HOUSE BILL 1379.

THE SERIAL NUMBER OF THE FIREARM IS PPS L 8 33.

GOOD MORNING, MORNING CASE.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE.

I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, ASK FOR THE APPROVAL FOR THE RETIRED DEPUTY, UH, BOBBY NICHOLS TO PURCHASE OF HIS FIREARM FAIRLY ROUTINE MATTER FOR US.

ANY QUESTIONS, IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT PURCHASE AS PRESENTED? WE HAVE THAT MOTION COMMISSIONER CASE.

IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY THE SAME.

AYE.

AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

[7. Judge Richards; Discuss/Consider exiting regular meeting and enter a public hearing.]

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ITEM SEVEN, DISCUSSING CONSIDER EXITING REGULAR MEETING AND ENTER INTO A PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE A MOTION TO DO SO? SO WITH A MOTION AND COMMISSIONER CASE, IS THERE A SECOND I SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER HUNT DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY TO SAY AYE.

AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES.

SO WE ARE NOW OPEN IN A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE

[8. Public Hearing; on the proposed budget and tax rate for FY2022-2023.]

UM, SO IS THERE ANYONE WITH US WHO WOULD CARE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION OF THE PROPOSED TAX RATE AND PROPOSED BUDGET? IF YOU WANNA SPEAK AN OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE US YOUR NAME, WHERE YOU LIVE ANYBODY.

YES, SIR.

WELCOME.

NO, COME ON UP HERE TO THE MICROPHONE.

SO, UH, YOU CAN BE HEARD AND UH, IF YOU COULD TELL US WHO YOU ARE AND WHERE YOU LIVE.

UH, MY NAME IS ALAN LEWIS.

I LIVE IN CURRY, TEXAS, AND I WORK HERE IN KAUFMAN AND JUST MY CONCERNS ON THE PROPOSALS ARE THE, UH, THE AMOUNT OF SOME OF THE PROPOSED PAY RAISES AND ON THE TAX, UH, THE PROPERTY TAX HIKES, AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE GOT EVALUATIONS IN THE MAIL, UH, EARLIER IN THE YEAR THAT YOUR PROPERTY EVALUATIONS HAVE ALREADY DOUBLED TRIPLED.

WHEREAS ONE OF MY PROPERTIES WENT UP IN THE PAST RECENTLY 771%.

UH, THAT SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO COVER EXPENSES.

I MEAN, WHEN YOU MORE THAN DOUBLE THE, UH, EVALUATIONS, WHICH DOUBLES THE ACTUAL TAXES OUTTA MY POCKET, I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU SHOULD HAVE TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE TAX RATES.

YOU SHOULD HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH TO COVER IT.

IF A TAX RATE WAS, YOU KNOW, X AMOUNT LAST YEAR, AND IT DOUBLED GOING INTO THIS YEAR, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO RAISE THAT AMOUNT ON THE NEW EVALUATIONS.

AND, YOU KNOW, AS WE ALL KNOW, WE'RE IN A, THE ECONOMY WE'RE IN CURRENTLY IN THIS COUNTRY IS PRETTY ROUGH ON A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I KNOW I'M, I'M SINGLE.

I HAVE ONE INCOME, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S TOUGH.

YOU KNOW, I'M IN A, I'M IN A PLACE, UH, WHERE I COULD RETIRE IF I HAD THE ABILITY TO RETIRE.

AND I WAS LOOKING AT THAT, YOU KNOW, PRETTY RECENTLY, AND NOW WITH, YOU KNOW, NEW, NEW TAX RATES, THE ECONOMY, INSTEAD OF RETIRING, I MAY HAVE TO GET A SECOND JOB JUST TO MAKE IT AND PROPOSED, UH, PAY RAISES FOR SOME COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE GOING UP AS MUCH AS $1,500 A MONTH.

THAT'S A BIG PAY RAISE NOW, $1,500 A MONTH FOR ME.

UH, THAT'S NOT A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN I'D GET IN MY RETIREMENT.

I ALSO KNOW THAT COUNTY OFFICIALS ONLY HAVE TO WORK EIGHT YEARS TO GET THAT FULL RETIREMENT.

AND SO, I MEAN, I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WOULD WANNA PAY RAISE OF THAT MAGNITUDE, BUT WHEN, WHEN IT'S COMING OUT OF OUR POCKETS, I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING YOU REALLY NEED TO LOOK BACK ON.

UM, AGAIN, Y'ALL, COULD I GO VOTE MYSELF IN A PAY RAISE? NO, I, I WORK FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND, YOU KNOW, WE JUST, WE GET WHAT WE GET.

I MEAN, AND WE'RE PUBLIC SERVANTS.

YOU GUYS ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SERVANTS.

I MEAN, I KNOW YOU DON'T GET RICH OFF, OFF OF THE JOB THAT YOU DO.

AND I DO APPRECIATE THE JOB THAT EACH ONE OF YOU DO, BUT I MEAN, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THREE OR 4% COST OF LIVE AND RAISE, THAT WOULD BE UNDERSTANDABLE, BUT YOU KNOW, 20%, YOU KNOW, $1,500 A MONTH ON, ON A REGULAR MONTHLY, 160 HOURS.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT HOURLY.

EMPLOYEES WOULD BE OVER $9 AN HOUR IN A RAISE.

I MEAN, THAT THAT'S A LOT, I MEAN, THAT'S A LOT TO CONSIDER.

AND WHEN THE PEOPLE HAVE CALLED MY COUNTY ARE STRUGGLING KNOW EVERYDAY PEOPLE LIKE ME AND, AND SOME PEOPLE ARE GETTING THOSE KIND OF RAISES AND THE ONES GETTING THE RAISES ARE ALSO THE ONES THAT GET TO VOTE FOR THAT RAISE.

I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT A LOT OF, THAT'S NOT A LOT DIFFERENT THAT GOES ON IN WASHINGTON DC TODAY.

AND I DON'T THINK TOO MANY OF YOU UP HERE AGREE WITH WHAT GOES ON IN WASHINGTON, DC.

I KNOW THAT I DON'T, AND I KNOW I'M ONE PERSON, BUT I KNOW I REPRESENT A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I NOT OFFICIALLY REPRESENT 'EM, BUT I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY BECAUSE IT IS A WORK DAY AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE OFF OF WORK.

YOU KNOW, I, I GOT I'M AGAIN, I'M FORTUNATE.

I'VE GOT A LOT OF DAYS SAVED UP.

SO I TOOK HALF A DAY SO THAT I COULD BE HERE TODAY.

AND AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE JOB THAT ALL OF YOU DOING, UH, COMMISSIONER KATES.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THE JOB THAT YOU'VE DONE IN THE PAST.

AND SAME THING WITH YOU.

UH, JUDGE RICHARDS, I'M NOT REALLY FAMILIAR WITH THE REST OF YOU, BUT AGAIN, THAT'S MY CONCERNS ON TAX HACKS ON RATES THAT ARE ALREADY, YOU KNOW, PUTTING A CRUSH ON SOME OF US AND THEN THE PAY RAISES THAT WE WOULD ALL LOVE TO HAVE.

BUT I MEAN, THAT'S, AGAIN, A REGULAR COST OF LIVING RACE IS UNDERSTANDABLE, BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, 20%, IT'S KIND OF PUSHING IT IN MY OPINION.

ANYWAY,

[00:20:01]

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

OKAY.

SO WHAT WE DO IS WE TAKE OTHER COMMENTS THAT ARE ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND, UH, AND TAX RATE.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE THAT WANTS TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? YOU WOULD, UH, TELL US WHO YOU ARE AND WHERE YOU LIVE MORNING GENTLEMEN, MY NAME IS JENNY RIVERS AND I LIVE IN SCURRY.

UM, LIKE HE HAD SAID BEFORE MY PROPERTY TAXES, MY, THE VALUE OF MY HOME DOUBLED OVER THE LAST YEAR NOW WITH A 22% INCREASE, IT'S GONNA MEAN THAT MY TAX, MY, MY PROPERTY TAXES WILL BE MORE THAN MY MORTGAGE.

I, I DON'T, I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

SO SOME OF YOU HAVE, HAVE HAD, UH, CONVERSATIONS WITH ME, YOU KNOW, I RUN THE WATER DISTRICT.

I PAY PEOPLE WHEN THEY INCREASE WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

AND MY QUESTION IS WHY, WHY THE HIGH INCREASE? WHY, WHY ARE YOU VOTING SELVES? THE $20,000 RAISE? YEAH, I DON'T JUST WALK IN AND LET MY, ONE OF MY PEOPLE COME IN AND SAY, HEY, I WANT A $20,000 RAISE THE REST OF US.

CAN'T DO THAT.

I MEAN, IF THIS GOES INTO EFFECT, I PAY MORE IN PROPERTY TAXES ON MY 11 ACRES THAN I DO ON MY MORTGAGE.

THAT'S CRAZY.

SO PLEASE RETHINK THIS.

THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

GOOD MORNING.

UM, WILL YOU PLEASE TELL US WHO YOU ARE AND WHERE YOU LIVE? MY NAME'S AMANDA OLIVER.

I'M ALSO FROM SCURRY .

WE HAVE A SCURRY CONTAIN.

WE CAME OUT IN FORCE.

UM, SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED THINGS THAT I WAS GOING TO ALSO POINT OUT.

UM, ONE ITEM THAT HASN'T BEEN DISCUSSED IS WE'VE HAD A LOT OF NEW HOMES BUILT.

SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE MILL RATE, THOSE NEW HOMES ARE SELLING AT A RATE HIGHER THAN WHAT WE BOUGHT OUR HOMES.

SO THAT'S ALREADY INCOME THAT WILL BE COMING IN THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PUT INTO YOUR BUDGET FOR YOUR EVALUATION.

I LOOK LOOKED UP ON THE PERFECT, UM, INTERNET AND LOOKED AT ZILLOW AS TO WHAT'S ACTUALLY CURRENTLY OUT THERE.

THERE ARE 600 HOUSES ALONE THAT ARE OVER $300,000 THAT ARE FOR SALE RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S JUST THIS MONTH.

UM, A AGAIN, ACCORDING TO ZILLOW, NOT PERFECT, BUT HOMES ARE TURNING OVER EVERY 30 TO 60 DAYS.

SO THAT'S ROUGHLY 600 HOMES EVERY 30 TO 60 DAYS.

SO THAT'S A LOT OF INCOME THAT'S ALREADY COMING IN.

AND SO I AM ALSO AGAINST THE MILL RATE INCREASE, CUZ THERE'S MONEY COMING.

SO IF YOU WOULD PLEASE RECONSIDER THAT WE REALLY DON'T WANT TO BE PRICED OUT OF OUR HOMES WHERE WE ARE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD CARE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THIS PROPOSED ACTION? IS THERE ANYONE WITH US WHO WOULD CARE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS PROPOSED ACTION OF THE COURT? HELLO, JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS.

I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COUNTY.

I'M RICK CARON.

I'M FROM THE CITY OF TERRILL, BUT I, AS MUCH AS ANYBODY UNDERSTANDS HOW BUDGETS AND TAX RATES ARE SET AND HOW YOU USE THOSE TO DETERMINE HOW YOU'RE GONNA PAY FOR SERVICES FOR, UH, IN, IN MY CASE, THE COMMUNITY ARE TERRIBLE, BUT IN YOUR CASE, THE COUNTY, AND I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE GROUP'S EFFORT IN TRYING TO MAINTAIN, UH, A GOOD BUDGET AND MAINTAIN YOUR TAX RATE.

SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

AND WE'RE A GROWING COUNTY, WE'RE A GROWING MUNICIPALITY AND WITH THAT COMES EXPENSES.

AND SO WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU, UH, NEED TO DO TO COVER THOSE COSTS.

AND, UM, I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT AND WOULD BE, WOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF YOUR BUDGET AS IT, AS IT EXISTS.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU.

IS ANYONE ELSE WITH US WHO WOULD CARE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS PROPOSED ACTION OF THE COURT? JUDGE COMMISSIONERS? I'M RAY DUNLAP FROM TARRELL.

I REPRESENT ONLY MYSELF TODAY, NO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE BUDGET AND THE TAX RATE.

I DON'T LIKE SENDING MY MONEY TO WASHINGTON DC.

I DO NOT MIND MY MONEY GOING TO THE LOCAL TAXING ENTITIES, WHETHER IT'S SCHOOL, DISTRICT COUNTY, CITY.

I THINK YOU DO AN EFFICIENT JOB.

I THINK OUR PEOPLE DESERVE RAISES AND I THINK THE ELECTED OFFICIALS DESERVE RAISES AFTER ALL, YOU EVEN HAVE TO PAY TO GET YOUR JOB.

SO, UH, I VERY MUCH SUPPORT THE BUDGET AND THE TAX RATE.

[00:25:01]

THANK YOU, SIR.

COME ON, COME ON.

DOES ANYBODY, UH, IS ANYONE ELSE HERE THAT CARES TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS PROPOSED ACTION? OKAY, COME UP, GET YOURSELF UP HERE, MY FRIEND, AND TELL US WHO YOU ARE AND WHERE YOU LIVE.

ALL RIGHT.

THANKING FOR THE RAISE.

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I'M JAMES WEAVER.

I LIVE IN TERELL AND I'M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE AND HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY FEELINGS.

I I'M NEW, UH, HERE IN TARA, MY WIFE AND I'VE BEEN HERE SIX YEARS AND WE'RE JUST NOW LEARNING WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND UH, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, ATTEND COUNCIL MEETINGS AND HEAR THE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE BUDGETS AND ALL THIS GOING ON.

AND ACTUALLY I'M JUST AMAZED AND BLOWN AWAY ABOUT THE COMPLEXITY OF WHAT OUR, OUR PEOPLE FACE AS THEY, UH, PREPARE THESE BUDGETS.

IT'S NOT EASY.

UH, I, I CAME FROM DALLAS DIDN'T EVEN, UH, EVER ATTEND TO OR INTEND TO, OR, UH, ATTEND A COUNCIL MEETING BECAUSE IT WASN'T GONNA DO ANY GOOD.

BUT I, I APPRECIATE THAT.

I LIVE HERE IN A, IN A PLACE WHERE I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE GONNA LISTEN TO US AND, UH, I'M IN TOTAL SUPPORT OF THIS, UH, UH, UH, INCREASE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.

I THINK SOME OF THE, UH, OTHER COMMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE DOES NOT INCLUDE THE FACT THAT SOME OF THESE RAISES HAVEN'T BEEN RECEIVED IN A NUMBER OF YEARS.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE OVERALL RAISE, IT MAY BE EIGHT OR NINE YEARS SINCE THE LAST RAISE WAS GIVEN.

AND SO THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.

AND, UH, OF, UM, I, I, UM, INTENDING THE MEETINGS AND HEARING THE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS.

I, UH, WAS REMINDED OF WHAT MY FIRST BOSS EVER COMING OUTTA COLLEGE TOLD ME.

HE WAS ONE OF THE WISEST, SMARTEST BUSINESSMEN I'VE EVER KNOWN.

AND HE JUST GOT RIGHT TO THE POINT.

AND HE SAID, JAMES, I'M GONNA TELL YOU SOMETHING THAT YOU DIDN'T LEARN IN THE BOOKS, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSET THAT YOUR COMPANY WILL EVER HAVE ARE THE, THE EMPLOYEES THAT WORK FOR YOU, THEY WILL MAKE YOU, OR THEY WILL BREAK YOU.

AND THAT'S TRUE WITH COUNTIES COMMISSION, ANY ORGANIZATION.

AND, UH, HE SAID, UH, WHEN YOU LOOK AT AN INCOME STATEMENT, THE SALARIES ARE EITHER IN EXPENSE OR AN INVESTMENT.

IF YOU HIRE THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND PAY THEM THE RIGHT MONEY, IT'S GONNA BE AN INVESTMENT.

THEY'RE GONNA DO THEIR JOB AND THEY'RE GONNA DO IT DILIGENTLY.

AND I DON'T KNOW ALL OF YOU GENTLEMEN, BUT I'M, I KNOW I DO KNOW TERRY BARBER AND, UH, I'M PROUD OF HIM AS OUR, UH, COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

HE'S DONE A HECK OF A JOB FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I KNOW THIS, UH, AS A, AS A FRIEND, HE REALLY CARES AND HE'S GONNA DO HIS JOB REGARDLESS OF WHAT HE GETS PAID, BUT, UH, UH, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.

AND, UH, THIS GENTLEMAN TOLD ME, HE SAID THE, THE KEY IS, IS TO FIND THE RIGHT PEOPLE, THE BEST PEOPLE TRAIN THEM PROPERLY, TURN THEM LOOSE AND, UH, TELL 'EM WHAT'S EXPECTED OF THEM AND LET THEM DO THEIR JOB.

AND, UM, I, I SAID, THAT SOUNDS, SOUNDS GOOD.

WELL, EIGHT YEARS LATER, UH, I LEFT J J AND STARTED MY, OUR OWN COMPANY WITH A GROUP OF OTHER GUYS.

WE LAID OUT SOME, UH, VERY HEAVY GOALS FOR OURSELVES.

AND I WAS, UH, MENTIONED THIS FACT THAT THIS GENTLEMAN HAD TOLD ME THAT IS WE NEED TO FOCUS AND MAKE SURE WE GOT THE RIGHT PEOPLE DOING THIS RIGHT JOB.

WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS COUNTY.

AND THIS CITY IS AMAZING, THE COMPLEXITY OF IT, BUT I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE COMPATIBILITY AND HOW EVERYBODY SEEMED TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON CAUSE OF DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR THE SHORT AND LONG TERM OF THIS COMMUNITY.

AND IT DOESN'T GET DONE BY OSMOSIS.

IT, IT GETS ACCOMPLISHED BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE HIRE, THESE THAT ARE SITTING HERE, BUT PEOPLE THROUGHOUT I WAS EX UM, CERTAINLY IMPRESSED AND HAPPY TO HEAR ABOUT THE, UH, INCREASE FOR OUR FIREMEN AND FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS.

WHEN I CALL 9 1, 1, I WANT A HAPPY CAPER TO SHOW UP WHATEVER THE CAUSE, BUT THE SAME THING.

NOW, AS I'VE BEEN THROUGH THESE MEETINGS AND UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITY OF WHAT ALL WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH YOU DEAL WITH, JUST SO THAT WE CAN, UH, GET OUR STREETS FIXED, GET, UH, UH, JUST OUR CITY WORKS AND OPERATES TO EFFICIENTLY IS JUST AMAZING.

SO I, UH, I, I THINK THAT EVERYBODY HAS DO THEIR, THEIR REWARD.

AND AGAIN, I WANNA EMPHASIZE, UH, THIS IS NOT, UH, A RAISE, THAT'S AN ANNUAL RAISE.

THIS IS, UH, A RAISE THAT HASN'T BEEN GIVEN IN SOME TIME FOR SOME OF THESE EMPLOYEES.

SO I'M TOTALLY SUPPORTIVE OF IT.

AND AGAIN, I LOOK AT IT AS AN INVESTMENT.

MY TAXES HAVE DOUBLED IN THE SIX YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE.

AND, UH, I'M JUST GLAD, UH, THAT, UH, THAT IT'S GONNA BE, BE USED FOR.

THE PART THAT'S GONNA BE USED HERE IS GONNA BE USED FOR THE RIGHT REASON.

AND I KNOW THAT CUZ I'VE ATTENDED THE MEETING.

SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR WHAT YOU DO AND FOR EVERYBODY BEHIND YOU AND BEHIND THE SCENES TO DO IT.

AND AGAIN, I'M FOR THIS BUDGET.

OKAY.

THANK YOU, MR. WEAVER.

THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WITH US WHO WOULD CARE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS PROPOSED ACTION? OKAY.

THEN, UM, CHUCK STANDING UP.

OH SURE.

COME ON UP.

CAN I STRAIGHT THINGS OUT BEFORE I START? YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CHUCK, NOT SCURRY THERE THREE TIMES.

THAT'S NINE MINUTES.

CAN I HAVE NINE MINUTES? THERE'S NO TIME.

THERE'S NO TIME LIMIT.

LET YOUR CONSCIENCE

[00:30:01]

CHUCK , YOU'LL GONE FOREVER IN TROUBLE.

I'M FROM ELMO.

AND I GOT, UH, SOME PEOPLE HERE FROM ELMO AND UH, I'D LIKE TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE FROM ELMO.

CAUSE WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE PART OF THE COUNTY BACK IN THE YEARS IN THE DAYS AND EVERYTHING, WE WERE NOT, WE WERE THE, UH, WORST THING THAT EVER WAS OVER THE PERIOD OF TIME AND EVERYTHING THERE.

WE HAVE, UH, UH, DONE A LOT BETTER.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY YOU, WE, THE CLERKS KINDA LOOKING AT YOU.

CAN YOU, WELL, YOU SPEAKING TO THE MICROPHONE BECAUSE CAN'T HEAR ME WELL, BUT HEAR YOU ON THE RECORDING RECORDING.

THERE YOU GO.

THANK YOU.

OH, OKAY.

OKAY.

UH, YOU KNOW, THE THING THAT, UH, WE'VE SEEN OVER IN ELMO, WE'VE PUT TOGETHER A GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH A CRIME WATCH AND UH, DOING THINGS AND EVERYTHING.

AND WE GOT REALLY, REALLY CLOSE TO OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

AND, UM, IT'S A THERE'S NO, YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND THE WAY IT IS NOW, THE WAY THAT IT WAS BACK THEN WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THAT THING, BUT WE HAVE A GOOD SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND WE GOT GOOD PEOPLE.

THE ONLY THING THAT WE HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH IS KEEPING THOSE PEOPLE.

AND THE REASON THAT WE CAN'T KEEP THOSE PEOPLE IS THEY CAN DRIVE 30 MILES DOWN THE ROAD AND GET SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS MORE OF A SALARY.

AND IT'S BEEN LIKE THAT AND EVERYTHING.

WE TRIED GOING UP, WE'VE DONE BUILT A LOT OF STUFF AND BOUGHT A LOT OF ROADS AND CARS AND THINGS.

BUT NOW IT'S TIME TO TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE THAT GUARD US AND, UM, LOOK OUT FOR OUR LIFE AND SO FORTH.

AND THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.

WE, UH, ANOTHER THING IS, IS THAT OUR ROAD SYSTEM AND EVERYTHING THERE, AND I KNOW ALL WHERE ALL THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN, BUT WE'RE, WE'VE GOT, WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF DIRT ROADS DOWN HERE ANYMORE.

AND WE DID HAVE DIRT ROADS HERE FOR YEARS AND WE STILL GOT A FEW AROUND, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.

BUT, UM, UM, THE THING IS, IS WE WANT TO GET GOOD PEOPLE PAY 'EM GOOD MONEY, GOOD TRAINING.

AND, UM, DO, UH, REPRESENT US THE WAY THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE DONE.

AND I THINK THAT, UH, WE HAD A SPELL AND, UH, WE'VE TALKED AND IT'S, IT'S BEEN SENT TWO OR THREE TIMES WHEN YOU GO FOUR OR FIVE YEARS WITHOUT A RACE AND YOU GO FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AND YOU DON'T CHANGE YOUR, UH, ALL OF YOUR, UH, STANDARDS AND EVERYTHING THERE AND YOUR, WHAT YOUR TIES WERE.

BUT THAT HAPPENED HERE IN KAUFMAN COUNTY.

YOU, WHEN YOU GO UP AND EVERYTHING THERE AND DIDN'T GET NOTHING, WE'RE SUFFERING THE DANGERS THAT CAPA HAPPENED IN THOSE YEARS, BECAUSE IF THEY DIDN'T RAISE IT, THEN YOU THINK IT DIDN'T GET IN ON PART OF THIS DEAL ON WHAT WE JUST DID.

AND THAT'S WAS, IT'S A BAD DEAL, BUT WE'LL WORK OUR WAY OUT OF IT.

WE'VE GOT GOOD PEOPLE.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE.

AND I, UM, I THINK THAT WE CAN DO IT.

AND IF WE'VE GOT SOME GOOD, UH, PEOPLE AND EVERYTHING, AND THERE'S ONE THAT I REALLY WANT TO SAY THAT DOES A REAL, REAL GOOD JOB.

THAT'S KAREN.

SHE ALWAYS TOOK CARE OF ME ON ANYTHING.

I, SO KAREN HAS BEEN AROUND AND DOES SOME GOOD WORK.

SHE'S ONE OF THOSE GOOD WORK PEOPLE.

I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY, IF YOU WANNA, BOO ME, I'VE BEEN BOOED BEFORE.

NOTHING.

I GOT THROWN OUT.

THE LAST TIME I CAME IN HERE, OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IN OUR, IN OUR, IN OUR, UH, CONS.

WE GOT PEOPLE COMING OVER AND WORKING WITH US AND, AND IT'S JUST A, IT'S A, I'M SORRY.

UH, IT'S JUST A, IT'S JUST A GOOD DEAL.

AND UH, WE GONNA HAVE TO TAKE THE BULLET AND WE GOT IN ORDER TO STRAIGHTEN THIS THING OUT, WE'VE GOT TO TAKE THE BULLET AND THE BULLET IS HERE AND IT'S, EVERYBODY IS INVOLVED IN THIS.

IT'S NOT JUST A CERTAIN AGE GROUP OR WHATEVER.

SO ANYWAY, I GUESS I GOT MY NINE MINUTES.

YOU DID.

I, IT, IT, IT ONLY FELT LIKE TWO MINUTES, CHUCK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UM, OKAY.

WAS ANYONE ELSE HERE CARE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS PROPOSED BUDGET AND TAX RATE, THEN I'M LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO EXIT

[9. Judge Richards; Discuss/Consider exiting the public hearing and enter back into a regular meeting.]

IS THERE A MOTION TO DO SO I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.

WE HAVE THAT MOTION COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS.

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

AYE.

AYE.

THOSE OPPOSE.

NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES.

OKAY.

ITEM 10.

[10. Judge Richards; Discuss/Consider setting salaries, expenses, and other allowances of all Elected County and Precinct Officers.]

UM, THERE'S NO PRESENTATION TO BE MADE HERE.

[00:35:01]

WE DID HAVE, WE DO HAVE ONE, UH, PERSON HERE THAT I GOT A CARD ON AND THAT'S, UH, ROBERT, I HOPE I DON'T.

BUT YOUR NAME HERE, ROBERT POLLY, WOULD YOU CARE TO SPEAK WITH US ABOUT THAT? DID WHAT? WELL, YOU CAN TELL ME YOUR LAST NAME.

WHEN YOU GET UP HERE.

MY HANDWRITING IS KIND OF LIKE YOU'RE MR. POLLY.

IT'S NOT REALLY, REALLY GOOD.

SO NOT GOOD.

MINE, NOT, I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE.

MY NAME IS ROBERT POLLY AND I'M A 91 YEAR OLD VETERAN.

AND I DON'T HAVE MANY YEARS, YOU KNOW, TO, TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.

BUT I AM IN THE FACT THAT I HAVE CHILDREN THAT WILL TAKE MY 80 ACRES AND MY HOME AND THEIR HOMES.

AND WE DON'T, WE LIVE, WE HAVE A SCURRY MADEN ADDRESS, BUT WE DON'T LIVE.

WE LIVE ON CRAWFISH PRAIRIE.

YOU EVER HEARD OF CRAWFISH PRAIRIE? WELL, THAT'S WHAT THEY CALLED IT.

70, UH, NUMBER OF YEARS AGO WHEN I CAME DOWN AS PART OF THE WORLD.

AND, UH, UH, WHEN I CAME DOWN, UH, I PAID $500 A ACRE FOR MY FIRST PLOT OF GROUND.

NOW THEY'RE TELLING ME, UH, I TALKED TO A REAL ESTATE PERSON AND, AND IT, BUT IT IS NOT FOR SALE.

THAT'S THE WHOLE THING.

UH, THIS $22,000 AN ACRE.

NOW, UH, I, WHEN I HEARD THIS STORY OF, UH, THE RAISES THAT ARE GOOD COMMISSIONERS ARE, ARE GETTING IT SCARED ME.

UH, I'M I'VE BEEN, I'VE BEEN, UH, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNMENT WAS BROKE.

THEY SAID A LONG TIME.

SO THEY GAVE US VERY LITTLE RAISE OVER THE YEARS FOR OUR SERVICE.

AND, AND I HAVE A SON THAT IS A FIRE TO A FARMING AND HIS RAISES ARE VERY SKIMPY MOST OF THE TIME.

AND SO WHEN I HEARD THIS STORY OF, UH, 18 OR 20% PAY RAISE, IT, IT, UH, IT DISTURBED ME BECAUSE I HAD NEVER, I NEVER, OTHER THAN A OWNER OF A COMPANY OR SOMETHING, I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THAT, OF THIS BEING A, A ROUTINE THING.

CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY WE WOULD GET, WHY YOU, UH, COMMISSIONERS WOULD GET A 20% RAISE? UH, YOU MIGHT HEAR THAT IN OUR DISCUSSION BEFORE, PRIOR TO VOTING, BUT, UH, THIS IS YOUR TIME TO SPEAK AND OUR TIME TO LISTEN.

SO, WELL, THERE'LL BE DISCUSSION IN A MINUTE.

SOMEBODY MAY, I REALLY SHOULD HAVE COME UP ON, ON THE, UH, UH, BUDGET PROPOSAL, YOU KNOW, OUR, UH, UH, PEOPLE OVER ACROSS THE WAY OVER THERE THAT, THAT GO OUT AND RIDE AROUND AND LOOK AT, TAKE PICTURES OF YOUR HOUSE AND YOUR BARN AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

AND WHEREAS IT, UH, WAS, UH, WE'LL SAY $10,000.

THEY RAISED IT TO $20,000 AS IT BEEN WORTH.

IT, IT AIN'T WORTH IT.

NOW, THE PEOPLE IN, IN, UH, MY PART OF THE WORLD DOWN THERE, I HAVE A NICE HOME IT'S COMFORTABLE, UH, BUT IT'S NOT WORTH, IT'S GONE TWICE, TWICE AS MUCH AS WHAT IT COST ME TO BUILD IT IN 1986.

AND THAT'S WHEN I, I CAME DOWN, I BOUGHT MY LAND IN 73, BUT I DIDN'T MOVE DOWN HERE CAUSE I WASN'T RETIRED UNTIL, UH, 86.

SO I BUILT HOME AND, AND FOLKS IT'S, UH, IT'S DISTURBING.

NOW, IF SOMEBODY CAN TELL ME WHY, UH, I MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT MORE IN FAVOR, BUT, UH, UNTIL I AM DEFINITELY AGAINST ANYONE GETTING A 20% RAISE.

OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND, AND I TELL YOU WHAT, I'M A CHRISTIAN AND I GO TO, UH, CHURCH REGULARLY.

AND, UH, AND IT'S NOT A, IT'S NOT A, A CASE OF ME BEING AGAINST, UH, ANY OF YOU GUYS AND MR. CASE IS OF MY PRECINCT FOR, UH, COMMISSIONER AND I APPRECIATE WHAT HE'S DONE, BUT HE HADN'T PUT A, A SUPER HIGHWAY DOWN IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.

THANK Y'ALL.

THANKS ON THE LIST ON THE LIST.

OKAY.

UM, THAT WAS THE, THE ONLY CARD I HAD SPECIFIC TO THE, THE NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS, UH, HAVING TO DO WITH, UM, SETTING SALARIES, EXPENSES, AND OTHER ALLOWANCES FOR ELECTED COUNTY OFFICIALS.

DID

[00:40:01]

UM, IS THERE A MOTION TO, UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE SETTING SALARIES, EXPENSES AND OTHER ALLOWANCES OF ALL ELECTED COUNTY AND PRECINCT OFFICERS AS HAS BEEN PUBLISHED AND PUT ON PUBLIC RECORD? I'LL MAKE IT MOST, WE HAVE THAT MOTION FOR APPROVAL FROM COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS.

IS THERE A SECOND? NO.

SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER BARBER DISCUSSION.

YES, JUDGE.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.

I THINK IT COMES AS NO SURPRISE THAT I'M IN OPPOSITION TO THE, TO THE PROPOSED SALARY INCREASES.

UM, I HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL COMMENTS THAT I'LL RESERVE FOR A LATER VOTE, BUT, UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT, UH, JUST HAS BEEN EXPRESSED HERE THAT WE ARE IN A DIFFICULT, UH, FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC TIME.

AND, UH, EVERYONE IS FEELING IT NOW, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO SALARIES AND COMPENSATION FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS, I CERTAINLY AGREE THAT REASONABLE AND RESPONSIBLE COMPENSATION IS, UM, WARRANTED AND IT'S, UH, IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, BUT THE OPERATIVE WORD IS REASONABLE AND RESPONSIBLE.

UM, A, EVERY, EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THIS COUNTY, EVERY ONE OF US ON THIS PODIUM KNEW WHAT THIS JOB PAID WHEN WE ASKED FOR IT.

WE ALL KNEW WHAT, WHAT SOME OF US HAS ASKED FOR THIS JOB JUST RECENTLY.

UH, SO EVERYONE KNEW WHAT THIS JOB PAID.

UH, AGAIN, I RECOGNIZE THAT, UH, WE, WE HAVE INFLATION IN THE UNITED STATES AND WE HAVE IT HERE IN THE METROPLEX.

UH, ALTHOUGH NOT NEARLY TO THE EXTENT THAT IT IS IN SOME OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

SO A REASONABLE AND RESPONSIBLE RAISE ON THE ORDER OF THREE, FOUR, 5%.

UM, I, I THINK THAT COULD BE SUPPORTED, BUT, UH, RAISES, UH, PARTICULARLY, UM, LUMP SUM RAISES, LIKE ARE BEING PROPOSED HERE, I THINK ARE UNREASONABLE.

I THINK THEY'RE IRRESPONSIBLE.

AND, UM, I WOULD URGE THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO VOTE NO ON THESE RAISES AND TO HAVE US TO HAVE US, UH, RECONVENE AS, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND ESTABLISH A REASONABLE AND RESPONSIBLE SALARY COMPENSATION LEVEL FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS.

YEAH.

UM, I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE A GAVEL, BUT SO, UM, THE, I THINK WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE RAISES AS WE HAVE THEM PROPOSED IS THAT IT PUTS ELECTED OFFICIALS, PARTICULARLY MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT SORT OF AT, AT, AT REALLY HIGH WAGE INCREASES.

AND I, I THINK SOMEBODY SEEKING THIS IS MY PERSONAL OPINION.

SOMEBODY SEEKING ELECTED OFFICE SHOULD HAVE AS THEIR MISSION TO BE A SERVANT LEADER.

UH, NOT THAT MEANS TO ME, THAT MEANS YOU, UH, YOU, YOU PARK AT THE FURTHEST PARKING PLACE.