[ Call to Order]
[00:00:05]
THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE KAIN COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS CALLED TO ORDER.TODAY IS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25TH.
WE ARE IN THE, UH, COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING ROOM IN THE COURTHOUSE ANNEX.
UM, WE'LL START OUR MEETING AS ALWAYS, WITH A INVOCATION AND A PLEDGE TO THE FLAGS.
UH, I'LL, I'LL DO THE INVOCATION AND, UH, COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS IS GONNA LEAD US IN THE PLEDGES, IF YOU'LL PLEASE STAND.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS OF THIS LIFE.
WE, WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THIS, UH, REIGN.
WE, UH, WOULD ASK THAT YOU, UH, CONTINUE TO GIVE US MODERATE REIGN AND MAYBE NOT SO MUCH WIND.
UH, WE PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO PROTECT US EVERY DAY AND, AND, AND ASK THAT YOU GUARD AND PROTECT THEM.
AND WE ASK THAT YOU LOOK OVER US TODAY AS WE TRY TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF OUR CITIZENS.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS THAT YOU GIVE US.
PLAYLE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS? ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INVISIBLE LIBERTY.
TEAM, JUSTICE, LAW, HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG PLEDGE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, YOUR GOD.
GOOD MORNING TO EVERYBODY AND GOOD TO SEE YOU.
WE HAVE SOME VISITORS WITH US TODAY.
I APPRECIATE Y'ALL BEING HERE.
UM, THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE.
I DON'T HAVE ANY ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE.
DOES ANYBODY IN THE COURT HAVE ANYTHING THEY NEED TO TELL US?
[2. CONSENT AGENDA]
OKAY.IF NOT, THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM TWO, THE CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTING OF A THROUGH C.
DO ONE OF YOU WANT TO PULL ANY OF THESE ITEMS OFF FOR DISCUSSION? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED? I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.
COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS, IS THERE A SECOND? UH, SECOND.
SECOND FROM I THINK A MEETING COMMISSIONER WHO'S HERE? KATES? NO, BARBARA.
COMMISSIONER KATES DISCUSSION.
THOSE IN FAVOR OF SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES.
[3. Dr. Perritt; Presentation of the concept plan to create a multi-county health district.]
THIS IS A PRESENTATION PRESENTED BY DR.BARRETT, AND I'LL KINDA LEAD THIS IN A LITTLE BIT.
UH, EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF US ARE REALLY SUCCESSFUL, YOU PROBABLY COMMISSIONERS PROBABLY REMEMBER THAT WE'VE, UH, WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING OR WE'VE BEEN, I WE'VE BEEN WORKING FOR A LONG TIME TRYING TO FIND A WAY THAT WE COULD CREATE A HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR A HEALTH DISTRICT.
UH, CURRENTLY WE HAVE A HEALTH OFFICER APPOINTED FOR THE COUNTY, BUT OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES.
AND I WOULD SAY THAT MOST COUNTIES THAT HAVE RELIED ON DSHS THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, MOST OF US DID NOT FEEL LIKE THAT THAT WAS MANAGED WELL.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE WAS JUST AN OVERWHELMING THING THAT THE STATE WASN'T PREPARED TO TAKE CARE OF.
PARROT ALL SERVES AS THE HEALTH OFFICER FOR ROCKWELL COUNTY, AND HE'S PARTICIPATED IN A SEVERAL MEETINGS THAT WE'VE HAD ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE REQUIRED.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HEALTH DISTRICT AND A HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
IS A HEALTH DISTRICT IS JUST A HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT'S SHARED BY MORE THAN ONE ENTITY.
PERRY IS HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT A VISION OR A CONCEPT THAT HE HAS, UH, TO CREATE A HEALTH DISTRICT.
AND, UM, IT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT AND VERY CREATIVE.
AND HE, HE HAS A LOT OF BACKGROUND AND I GUESS HE'LL INCLUDE SOME OF THAT.
IF, IF HE DOESN'T FILL IN SOME OF THOSE BLANKS, I'LL ASK HIM SOME QUESTIONS.
UM, WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANY DECISION.
THIS IS A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE.
I WILL SAY THAT I, WE SPOKE YESTERDAY IN PREPARATION FOR THIS MEETING, AND HE AGREES.
AND I KNOW THAT STEVE AGREES, AND IT SEEMS HARSH TO SAY THIS, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE ARE ANY BETTER PREPARED FOR ANOTHER PANDEMIC THAN WE WERE BEFORE THE LAST ONE STARTED.
I DON'T THINK WE KNOW, HAVE A VERY GOOD CONCEPT OF HOW SUCCESSFULLY WE DEALT WITH IT.
AND, UM, SO LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT NEED TO, WE, WE, YOU MIGHT NEED TO BE BETTER PREPARED.
AND I'M GONNA ASK STEVE MAY HAVE SOME COMMENTS TO ADD TO THIS CONVERSATION LATER, TOO.
PARROT, THANK YOU, JUDGE COMMISSIONERS.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE.
[00:05:01]
WORK IN, UH, ROCKWELL IN DALLAS, AND I'M A HEALTH AUTHORITY FOR ROCKWELL COUNTY AND HELP ROCKWELL KIND OF GUIDE THROUGH THE, THE PAN PANDEMIC THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC JUDGE, UH, RICHARDS AND I HAD REMAINED IN CONTACT.UM, AND SO HE ASKED ME THE QUESTION RECENTLY, ARE WE ANY, UH, BETTER PREPARED FOR A FUTURE PANDEMIC? AND WHAT ARE SOME LESSONS LEARNED? AND I THINK THAT'S A, A, A GREAT QUESTION.
AND THAT CAME UP AT, AT AN INTERESTING TIME, UH, WITH SOME ISSUES THAT WERE GOING ON IN, IN ROCKWELL COUNTY.
SO THE, THE QUESTION IS, ARE WE BETTER PREPARED FOR A FUTURE PANDEMIC? AND, AND UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK THAT ANSWER IS, IS NO.
UM, IF YOU WERE WOULD'VE ASKED ME A MONTH AGO, DO I THINK ANOTHER PANDEMIC'S COMING OR, OR POSSIBLE SOON, THE ANSWER WOULD ALSO BE NO.
UM, HOWEVER, A FEW INTERESTING THINGS HAPPENED IN ROCKWELL COUNTY RECENTLY THAT, THAT, THAT RAISES THAT CONCERN AND QUESTION.
UH, OUR OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE, THE TEXAS COMMISSION OF ANIMAL HEALTH.
UH, THEY WERE OUT IN OUR COUNTY DOING SOME WORK AND JUST HAPPENED TO NOTIFY OUR, UH, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE THAT THEY HAD FOUND SOME, SOME BIRDS THAT WERE POSITIVE FOR AVIAN FLU.
AND SO THOSE ARE THE, AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH AVIAN FLU.
IT'S, IT'S MEDICAL NAME IS H FIVE N ONE IS A HIGHLY PATHOGENIC FLU.
OFTEN WHEN YOU SEE THE NEWS IN CHINA WHEN THEY'RE CALLING OR KILLING ALL THESE BIRDS, IT'S BECAUSE THEY WANNA PREVENT THE SPREAD OF AVIAN FLU.
AND VERY RARELY DOES IT SPREAD FROM, FROM BIRDS TO HUMANS.
IT HAS, IT'S NEVER SPREAD FROM HUMAN TO HUMAN, BUT, BUT IN HUMANS THAT HAVE HAVE CONTRACTED IT, UH, THERE'S ABOUT A 30 TO 70% MORTALITY RATE.
UM, SO THE TEXAS COMMISSION OF ANIMAL HEALTH CONTACTED OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR AND JUST SAID, HEY, SOME BIRDS WERE POSITIVE, UH, JUST LETTING YOU KNOW.
SO, SO WE HAD REACHED OUT TO THE, UH, COMMUNICATE WITH THEM.
AND IT WAS, IT WAS A, A, A DIFFICULT, UH, COMMUNICATION PROCESS.
SO THEY INFORMED US THERE WAS A, UH, SOME LAND THAT HAD 55 CHICKENS, AND, AND OVER A WEEK, 50 OF THOSE CHICKENS HAD DIED.
UH, SO THEY CAME OUT AND TESTED 'EM.
THEY WERE POSITIVE FOR, FOR AVIAN FLU.
SO MY QUESTION IS, THE HEALTH AUTHORITY WAS, OKAY, WELL WHO IS CARING FOR THOSE CHICKENS? AND, AND HOW DO I CONTACT THEM? AND THEIR ANSWER WAS, WELL, WE'VE, WE'VE TALKED TO THAT PERSON.
AND, AND TWO, WE LEGALLY CAN'T SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU, WHO THAT IS.
AND, AND YOU CAN'T CONTACT THEM.
WELL, THE HEALTH AUTHORITY, THAT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN.
SO I DID, UH, KIND OF PRESS A LITTLE FURTHER AND ULTIMATELY GOT THE NAME OF THE INDIVIDUAL, UH, AND CONTACTED THEM.
AND, AND SHE WAS VERY GRACIOUS AND THANKFUL THAT I DID CONTACT HER CUZ SHE'S HAD SYMPTOMS, UH, FOR OVER 10 DAYS AFTER CLEANING THE CHICKEN COOPS, UH, FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS. AND SO, UH, AFTER 24 HOURS OF, OF, OF TRYING TO, UH, DETERMINE WHO THIS IS, WE FOUND OUT WHO IT WAS AND, AND, AND THEN STARTED THE PROCESS ON GETTING HER TESTED, UH, FOR H FIVE N ONE.
SO YOU CAN SEE EVEN AFTER A MAJOR PANDEMIC LIKE COVID, UH, OUR DIFFERENT BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT AREN'T COMMUNICATING WELL, UH, BECAUSE WHAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED IS THEY CONTACTED US, UH, THEY HAD ALREADY MAYBE IDENTIFIED THE PERSON AND STARTED THE, THE PROCESS OF MAKING SURE THAT SHE WAS PROPERLY, UH, WARNED AND, AND TESTED.
UM, AND SO THAT'S JUST ONE SMALL SAMPLE OF, OF ARE WE BETTER PREPARED TODAY THAN WE WERE PRIOR TO THE PAN PANDEMIC? AND THE ANSWER, UH, AS JUST SHARED BY THAT STORY IS, IS NO, DR.
PARROT, UH, TALK A JUST SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TIME, THE, BECAUSE WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, YOU TOLD ME IT STARTED ON A THURSDAY AND TALK ABOUT HOW LONG IT TOOK FOR THAT PERSON TO GET.
SO THE TEXAS COMMISSION OF ANIMAL HEALTH WAS NOTIFIED, UH, ON LAST MONDAY, UH, ACTUALLY PRIOR TO THAT.
BUT THEY CAME OUT LAST MONDAY, UH, DETERMINED THAT THE TEST WAS POSITIVE ON TUESDAY.
UH, CONTACTED US ON THURSDAY TO, TO MAKE US AWARE, AND THEN I MADE MY REQUEST TO TALK TO THEM.
WE ACTUALLY HAD TO REACH OUT THREE SEPARATE TIMES.
AND THE RESPONSE WAS, WHY DO YOU KEEP BOTHERING US? WE GAVE YOU A COURTESY CALL JUST TO LET YOU KNOW OUR VANS ARE GONNA BE IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND THEN ON THURSDAY, FINALLY GOT A CALL, UH, WITH THE HEADS OF THAT, THAT COMMISSION, UH, WHO, WHO THEN TOLD US THEY COULDN'T SHARE THE INFORMATION.
WE PUT IN THAT REQUEST AT THE STATE LEVEL.
IT TOOK 24 HOURS FOR THEM TO IDENTIFY THE PERSON AND SEND ME THAT, THAT INFORMATION, WHICH I REACHED OUT ON A FRIDAY, LAST FRIDAY AT NOON.
SHE WAS VERY THANKFUL I CONTACT HER.
BUT NOW WE HAD TO, TO START THE PROCESS OF FIGURING OUT HOW TO TEST HER.
UH, AND THAT TOOK AN ADDITIONAL FOUR HOURS OF GETTING A HOLD WHO CAN RUN AN H FIVE N ONE AT THE STATE LEVEL, WHICH IS DALLAS COUNTY AND, AND HOW CAN THEY RUN THAT? AND SO I SENT THAT UP TO DALLAS COUNTY, AND AT 4:00 PM WHEN I FINALLY GOT A HOLD OF THE PERSON THAT CAN RUN THE TEST, THEY SAID, GREAT, GET US A SAMPLE BY FIVE O'CLOCK, UH, AND WE CAN RUN IT.
UH, IF YOU GET IT BY FOUR 30, WE CAN RUN IT.
WELL, THIS IS FOUR O'CLOCK ON A FRIDAY, AND THE PATIENT
[00:10:01]
STILL IS IN, IN ROCK WALL.WE HAD, WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A SWAB YET.
SO I SAID, WELL, WE CAN PROBABLY GET YOU THE SAMPLE BY 6:00 PM AND THEY SAID, OKAY, WELL THEN BRING IT TO US ON MONDAY.
WE'RE NOT OPEN OVER THE WEEKEND.
UH, AND SO THERE WAS NO WAY I COULD GET THEM TO STAY OPEN.
I MEAN, I SAID, I, I'M SURE OUR COUNTY WILL BE HELP, HAPPY TO PAY WHATEVER OVERTIME FOR YOUR WORKER IT, UH, TO COME IN, UH, THOSE FEW EXTRA HOURS TO RUN THE SAMPLE.
AND THEY STILL WERE NOT WILLING TO HAVE THAT, THAT PERSON, UH, STAY JUST TWO EXTRA HOURS TO, TO RUN THE SAMPLE.
NOW, MIND YOU, THIS STRAIN OF FLU, H FIVE N ONE 30 TO 70%, UH, MORTALITY RATE, PROBABLY THE SYMPTOMS THIS PERSON HAD IS NOT BECAUSE OF AVIAN FLU, BUT IF IT WERE, WE BETTER KNOW ABOUT IT.
WE BETTER BETTER KNOW ABOUT IT SOON BECAUSE THIS PERSON COULD BE OUT, UH, EXPOSING OTHERS.
AND IF WE'VE LEARNED NOTHING, IT, IT WOULD BE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
AND, AND THROUGH MY WORK, UH, DURING THE PANDEMIC, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH AN INDIVIDUAL THAT ACTUALLY INVENTED THE RAPID FLU TEST AND, AND THE RAPID COVID TEST.
AND I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THEM IN FEBRUARY, AND THEIR COMMENT TO ME WAS, I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT COVID.
I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE NEXT PANDEMIC, AVIAN FLU.
AND THIS, IF THIS WERE EVER TO JUMP PERSON TO PERSON, IT WOULD PALE, COVID WOULD PALE IN COMPARISON TO THIS BECAUSE IT'S 30 TO 70 TIMES MORE DEADLY.
UH, BECAUSE COVID WAS CARRIED A ONE LESS THAN 1% MORTALITY.
SO THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY, PREPARED FOR THE NEXT PANDEMIC OR LACK OF, UH, PREPAREDNESS.
AND SO ONE THING I HAVE LEARNED IS, IS OUR RELIANCE ON SOMEONE ELSE TO DO SOMETHING IS, IS MISPLACED.
IF WE ARE GOING TO BE PREPARED, WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED LOCAL.
YES, WE CAN PROVIDE, RELY ON OUR STATE PARTNERS AND FEDERAL PARTNERS TO PROVIDE FUNDING AND AND TESTING.
BUT IF WE ARE TO BE PREPARED, WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED AS LOCAL.
AND, AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID IN ROCKWELL COUNTY, UH, THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.
UH, WE SAW AN OVERFLOW OF OUR HOSPITAL, UH, DURING COVID WHERE WE ARE TREATING PEOPLE OUT OF A, A MEDICAL TENT, AND THE MORTALITY SPIKE SIGNIFICANTLY.
AND THAT'S WHEN DELTA WAS GOING ON.
WHEN, WHEN THE COVID STRAIN ACTUALLY WAS DEADLY.
NOW, I HAVE NOT ADMITTED A SINGLE PATIENT TO THE HOSPITAL FOR AL MCCN.
IT'S A VERY MILD FORM OF COVID.
BUT, BUT WHEN WE WERE SEEING DELTA, THAT THAT CARRIED A HIGH MORTALITY, WE WERE TREATING PEOPLE OUT OF A TENT.
I WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR JUDGE AND WE HAD SPUN UP MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY, UH, TREATMENT TENTS, UH, ONE IN ONE IN ROCKWELL COUNTY, AND ONE OVER IN ELLIS IN FERRIS.
AND ULTIMATELY WE ENDED UP, UH, BEING THE THIRD MOST PRODUCTIVE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY TREATMENT CENTER IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
IT'S BECAUSE WE, WE, WE SAW OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE THIS ON AS A LOCAL, UH, ISSUE.
HAD WE NOT, WE WOULD'VE NEVER HAD A MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY TREATMENT CENTER.
OUR HOSPITAL WOULD'VE BEEN OVERWHELMED.
AND IF THERE'S ONE THING I'VE LEARNED IS THAT, THAT WE HAVE THE, THE, THE RESOURCES IN TEXAS, WE HAVE GREAT LOCAL COMMUNITY.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THESE THINGS.
WE JUST HAVE TO, TO, TO ORGANIZE AND TAKE IT UPON OURSELVES.
IF YOU LOOK BACK A HUNDRED YEARS AGO WHEN KIND OF PUBLIC HEALTH STARTED, IT TRULY WAS A PARTNERSHIP WITH PHYSICIANS AND GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY.
AND OUR PUBLIC HEALTH WAS REALLY THE PRIDE OF OUR NATION.
UH, THERE WAS A LOT OF PRIDE WE TOOK IN, IN PUBLIC HEALTH A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
AND ON THE RECEIVING IT AS A PATIENT, THERE WAS A LOT OF DIGNITY TO RECEIVE PUBLIC HEALTH AT A PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTION IN THE LAST A HUNDRED YEARS THAT, THAT INSTITUTION HASN'T CHANGED.
AND BECAUSE IT HASN'T CHANGED, WE'VE LOST THE PRIDE AS A COUNTRY IN THAT PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM.
AND WE'VE LOST THE DIGNITY IN RECEIVING CARE AND, AND PUBLIC HEALTH.
IT'S MUCH LIKE GETTING YOUR PUBLIC HEALTH OVER.
UH, WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO GET YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE RENEWED
YOU'RE ONLY THERE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BE THERE.
AND ON THE OTHER END, THE PERSON GIVING YOU THAT SERVICE PROBABLY DOESN'T WANT YOU THERE EITHER, TO BE HONEST.
SO, SO WHAT, WHAT I HAVE DONE, UH, AND, AND, AND WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS REIMAGINE WHAT PUBLIC HEALTH MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
UH, WE'VE LEARNED THAT, THAT WE LACK, UH, THE SAFETY NET AND RESOURCES, UH, TO, TO TREAT OUR COMMUNITY PROPERLY.
AND SO I'VE TRIED TO REIMAGINE WHAT PUBLIC HEALTH MIGHT LOOK LIKE, LESSONS LEARNED FROM A PHYSICIAN.
NOW, MY HEALTH AUTHORITY STANDPOINT IS LOCAL.
WE CAN TAKE THIS ON MY, MY LESSONS LEARNED AS A PHYSICIAN IN AN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IS OUR, OUR COUNTRY HAS RELIED ON ACCESS TO CARE BEING THE SAFETY NET, THE ER, THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS, AND THEY'VE BECOME OVERWHELMED.
WE NO LONGER IN AN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ARE PRIMARILY EMERGENCIES.
WE ARE PRIMARILY BASIC, SIMPLE HEALTHCARE AND SPRINKLED IN WITH SOME EMERGENCIES EVERY DAY.
WHEN I GO TO WORK, WHEN I GO TO PRESBY DALLAS, 60% TO 70% OF ALL PATIENTS I SEE ARE JUST BASIC, SIMPLE PRIMARY CARE WITH 40%, 30% OF TRUE EMERGENCIES.
[00:15:01]
IT MAKES IT REALLY DIFFICULT TO CARE FOR THE EMERGENCIES WHEN, WHEN THE SYSTEM'S OVERWHELMED WITH BASIC NEEDS.AND NOTHING IS MORE EMBARRASSING FOR ME AS A PHYSICIAN WHEN I SPEND ALL OF THREE OR FOUR MINUTES WITH A PATIENT FOR A SIMPLE MEDICATION, REFILL A MOM WITH A COUPLE KIDS THAT, THAT NEED A, UH, A MEDICATION FOR A RASH TO GET BACK TO SCHOOL.
AND THEN I OVERHEAR THE REGISTRATION LADY IN THE, IN THE NEXT ROOM, UH, SAYING, MA'AM, THAT'S $1,100.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO PAY CASH OR CREDIT CARD FOR THAT? AND I SPENT, OH, THREE MINUTES WITH THAT PERSON AND THE HOSPITALS CHARGING THIS PATIENT $1,100.
AND IT'S EMBARRASSING FOR ME, AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY BECAUSE HEALTHCARE, WE'VE BEEN TRAINED THAT HEALTHCARE IS EXPENSIVE.
AND, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE THESE BIG HEALTH IN POLICIES.
AND EVEN AFTER THAT, YOU NEED TO PAY A LOT OF MONEY.
BUT WHEN YOU CONNECT A DOCTOR DIRECTLY WITH THE PATIENT, THAT ACTUALLY DOESN'T, DOESN'T COST A WHOLE LOT.
AND SO THAT PLAYED A ROLE IN RE-IMAGINING WHAT PUBLIC HEALTH CAN LOOK LIKE.
AND WE CALL THAT I, I, I'VE ESSENTIALLY STARTED A COMPANY, MD HEALTH PATHWAYS.
AND, AND I'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PATHWAY TO ACCESS TO CARE, UH, TODAY.
UM, CURRENTLY OUR NATION SPENDS ABOUT 260 BILLION IN CHRONIC DISEASE.
SO WE ARE SPENDING THE MONEY, OUR NATION IS, IS SPECIALISTS AT TREATING LATE STAGE DISEASE PROCESSES.
WE'RE NOT VERY GOOD ABOUT GOING UPSTREAM AND PREVENTING THOSE DISEASE PROCESSES.
OUR HEALTH SYSTEMS IS COMPLEX AND DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE.
I'M SURE EACH OF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT ASPECT OF WHERE DO I START? HOW DO, WHAT DO I DO NEXT? AND, AND THERE'S REALLY NO ONE THERE TO WALK YOU THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
RIGHT NOW IN KAUFMAN COUNTY, THERE ARE 29% UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? YOU'VE GOT ABOUT A 15% UNINSURED RATE, UH, AND YOU HAVE ABOUT A 14% ON MEDICAID.
AND IF YOU HAVE MEDICAID, IT'S ALMOST AS GOOD AS HAVING NO INSURANCE IS ALL AT ALL BECAUSE THERE'S ALMOST NO DOCTORS YOU CAN FIND IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE GONNA TAKE MEDICAID.
UM, KAUFMAN, UH, IS AT A DISADVANTAGE BECAUSE THERE'S ABOUT 50% LESS PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS THAN OTHER COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
UM, UH, WE'RE SEEING A RISING OBESITY RATE.
IT'S NOW AT 36% AND IN KAUFMAN COUNTY.
AND ON THE LAST CENSUS, WHICH IS OUTDATED, THERE'S 15,000 PEOPLE DIAGNOSED WITH DIABETES, WHICH MEANS THERE'S PROBABLY ABOUT 20,000 WITH DIABETES.
THE OTHER FIVE JUST DON'T KNOW IT YET.
UM, RIGHT NOW WE ARE RELYING ON REGION TWO THREE AT DSHS FOR OUR PUBLIC HEALTHCARE.
AND YOU CAN SEE THIS MAP RIGHT HERE.
IT GOES WAY OUT WEST OF ABILENE ALL THE WAY TO KAUFMAN.
SO WHEN WE RELY AND EXPECT DSHS TO, TO HELP US IN KAUFMAN COUNTY TAKE CARE OF A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE, LOOK AT EVERYONE ELSE THEY'RE ADDRESSING.
EVERYONE ELSE IS HAVING PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS YOU.
WHEN I RELIED ON REGION TWO THREE TO HELP US WITH THE AVIAN FLU, LOOK AT HOW OVERWHELMED THEY ARE.
SO IT'S NO SURPRISE THE RESPONSE WE GET WHEN, WHEN THERE'S AN AVIAN FLU AND WE GOTTA GET SOMEONE TESTED.
THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES, UH, THAT TO HANDLE THIS.
AGAIN, ANOTHER REASON WHY WE NEED TO FOCUS ON RESPONSIBILITY, BEING ON US AND BEING LOCAL AND TAKING THIS ON.
UM, SO THEN YOU GO, OKAY, NOTHING'S FREE.
WHY SHOULD WE AS A COMMUNITY THINK ABOUT TAKING ON SOME OF THESE HEALTHCARE COSTS? AND, AND WE ACTUALLY ALREADY DO.
OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE A PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE.
UH, WE ARE ARE PROVIDING SOME LEVEL OF PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ALL THROUGH REGION TWO, THREE, ALBEIT DISAPPOINTING.
IT THERE'S A COST TO THE EMPLOYER.
UM, LOW WAGE WORKERS DON'T GET THE DAY OFF TO GO TO THEIR DOCTOR.
SO IF YOU WORK AT A, AS A SERVER OR AT A GROCERY STORE, YOU'RE NOT GETTING PAID TO GO SEE YOUR DOCTOR DURING THAT DAY.
YOU'D HAVE TO TAKE A, A SICK DAY TO, TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
AND I SEE IT EVERY DAY IN THE ER.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THESE INDIVIDUALS? THEY GO TO WORK CUZ THEY, THEY HAVE TO PAY THEIR BILLS, THEIR RENT, THEIR FOOD.
SO THEY SKIP THEIR OWN HEALTHCARE.
THEY DON'T MANAGE THEIR HYPERTENSION, THEY DON'T MANAGE THEIR DIABETES.
BUT WHEN THEY DO SEE US IS WHEN THEY HAVE A MEDICAL COMPLICATION.
SO GO WITHOUT YOUR MEDS FOR THREE MONTHS AND YOU EXPERIENCE A MEDICAL COMPLICATION AND YOU COME INTO THE ER TO ADDRESS THAT MEDICAL COMPLICATION, AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA MISS THREE TO FIVE DAYS OF WORK.
UH, AND SO WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED WITH AN EASY LOW COST SOLUTION ALLOWED A CHRONIC DISEASE LIKE HYPERTENSION AND DIABETES TO, TO, TO PROGRESS CAUSING A MEDICAL COMPLICATION, MISSED WORK.
AND THAT'S COSTING EMPLOYERS, UH, EMPLOYERS OF, OF HIRING SOMEONE TO FILL THAT SHIFT OF PAYING OVERTIME.
UM, AND THEN THERE'S THE COST TO TAXPAYERS.
WE'D LIKE TO THINK THAT THE SAFETY NET OF THE ER, THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE RECEIVING CARE FOR FREE.
WELL, WE ALL KNOW NOTHING IS FREE.
THE HOSPITAL'S NOT EATING THE, THE CHARGE FOR THESE PEOPLE SHOWING UP WITHOUT INSURANCE.
UH, THEY'RE CHARGING US, UH, FOR THAT HEALTHCARE.
AND THAT'S WHY WHEN THE MOM GOES IN WITH, UH, UH, TWO KIDS WITH A RASH, THE THE REGISTRATIONS LADY SAID, REGISTRATION LADY SAYING
[00:20:01]
THAT'S, THAT'S GONNA BE $1,100 TODAY.UM, ONE OUT OF EVERY $4 WE SPEND IN, UH, THE US ON HEALTHCARE GOES TO PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC DISEASE LIKE DIABETES.
UM, AND SO WHAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT IS WHAT IS REALLY THE KILLER IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
IT'S CHRONIC DISEASE, IT'S HYPERTENSION, IT'S DIABETES.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE, THE LACK OF ACCESS.
UM, ANOTHER BIG REASON WE NEED TO DO THIS IS THE COST OF STUDENT ABSENCE.
SO STUDENTS WITH FEVER, VOMITING, DIARRHEA, INFECTIOUS ILLNESS, PINK EYE, ARE ALL SENT HOME FROM SCHOOLS.
YOU CAN FIND IT RIGHT ON THE KAUFMAN ISD WEBSITE.
IF YOUR CHILD COMES TO SCHOOL WITH ONE OF THESE SYMPTOMS, THEY'RE GONNA BE SENT HOME AND THEN THEY'RE GONNA REQUIRE A DOCTOR'S NOTE FOR RETURN.
OR THEY HAVE YOU SIT OUTTA SCHOOL FOR SO LONG.
WELL, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THAT? WELL, THE PROBLEM IS, A KID THAT'S ABSENT IS, IS A KID THAT'S NOT LEARNING.
UH, AND A KID THAT'S NOT LEARNING AND AND NOT SITTING IN THAT SEAT AND FALLS BACK.
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN A KID THAT'S NOT IN SCHOOL JUST FOR THREE DAYS AND FALLS BACK, BECOMES THAT DISRUPTIVE KID IN CLASS BECOMES THE TROUBLEMAKER BECAUSE HE'S NOT PAYING ATTENTION CUZ HE NO LONGER IS, IS, UH, UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CLASSROOM.
UH, AND SO THAT RESULTS IN, IN MENTAL ILLNESS.
WE SEE DROP HIGHER DROPOUT BREAKS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
UH, POOR MENTAL HEALTH, WHICH LEADS TO ADULTHOOD POVERTY AND ULTIMATELY AN INCREASED RATE OF INCARCERATION IN THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE CHRONICALLY ABSENT FROM FROM SCHOOL.
IF THAT ISN'T ENOUGH, YOU SAY WHAT, WHAT IS THE COST TO THE ISSD? WELL, IN TEXAS, WE'RE PAID ON ATTENDANCE, UH, UH, UH, TO OUR ISSD.
SO THE KIDS, BUT IS NOT IN THE SEAT.
THE SCHOOL'S NOT GETTING PAID.
AND THAT AVERAGE IS UP TO $30 PER DAY.
SO IMAGINE THE MOM THAT HAS THOSE TWO KIDS THAT CAME IN FOR THE RASH.
UH, UH, IF, IF THAT KID, UH, STAYS OUTTA SCHOOL AND THEY DON'T SEE A DOCTOR, THAT COULD BE SEVEN TO 10 DAY ABSENCE.
IF THAT CHILD GOES TO SEE A DOCTOR GETS A CREAM, THEY CAN GO BACK THE NEXT DAY TO SCHOOL CUZ THEY'RE CLEARED BY A DOCTOR.
AND THAT'S $30 EVERY DAY WE'RE MISSING OUT ON, UH, IN THE SCHOOL CUZ THE KID'S NOT, NOT THERE.
SO THAT'S MONEY WE CAN RECAPTURE, UM, IF, IF WE ADDRESS IT PROPERLY AND EARLY.
UM, ALL ALSO ULTIMATELY, POOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE LEADS TO POOR SCHOOL RANKING.
POOR, POOR SCHOOL RANKING LEADS TO POOR PROPERTY VALUES AND A COMMUNITY NO ONE WANTS TO LIVE IN.
UM, SO, SO IT'S THINGS THAT WE NEED TO, TO ULTIMATELY LOOK AT.
SO WHY SHOULD WE ADDRESS HEALTHCARE COSTS AND ACCESS? WHY SHOULD WE ADDRESS THESE THINGS? NUMBER ONE, IT'S JUST THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
AS WE JUST TALKED ABOUT ALL THESE NUMBER OF THINGS.
IT, IT'S, WE LOSE A PRODUCTIVITY IN OUR WORKFORCE.
WE, WE LOSE, UH, OUR SCHOOL CHILDREN.
MENTAL ILLNESS IS A HUGE ISSUE IN OUR, IN OUR SCHOOLS.
AND ONE PART OF THAT IS, IS MAKING SURE KIDS ARE PRESENT AND NOT ABSENT AND NOT FALLING BEHIND.
UM, AND ULTIMATELY IMPACTS THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
SO WHAT IS THE SOLUTION THAT I HAVE COME UP WITH OR I AM PROPOSING TO ADDRESS PUBLIC HEALTH ACCESS, UH, TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES WE JUST TALKED ABOUT? IT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT, THAT I CALL ACCESS FOR ALL.
UM, SO WE ARE PROPOSING, UH, A, A HEALTH SOLUTION PRODUCT WHERE AS A PRIVATE ENTITY WE PARTNER WITH, WITH, UH, UH, PUBLIC COUNTIES AND CITIES TO OFFER A, A PRODUCT THAT WE CALL ACCESS FOR ALL.
UH, IT REDUCES COST OF CARE, IT PROMOTES CHRONIC DISEASE, ACCOUNTABILITY AND MANAGEMENT.
AND IT, AND IT ADDRESSES ALL THESE ISSUES WE JUST TALKED ABOUT AT WORK, UH, UH, PRODUCTIVITY AND SCHOOL ABSENCES.
AND ESSENTIALLY IT IS A BASIC TELEHEALTH PLATFORM, UH, WITH AN UMBRELLA OF MOBILE HEALTH WHERE WE TAKE THE FIXED SITE, THE FIXED, UH, UH, PUBLIC HEALTH SITE, WHICH HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN A BRICK AND MORTAR.
SO YOU PUT A BRICK AND MORTAR IN YOUR COMMUNITY, IT'S, IT'S YOUR PUBLIC HEALTH ACCESS SITE, BUT YET IT'S 30 MILES AWAY FROM SOMEONE THAT REALLY NEEDS IT.
SO THE, THE BRICK AND MORTAR BUILDING HAS DIMINISHED WITH TECHNOLOGY IN EVERY OTHER INDUSTRY, BUT IN PUBLIC HEALTH, IT STILL, IT STILL STANDS.
AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET PUBLIC HEALTH BACK UP TO MEET WHAT, WHERE TECHNOLOGY IS NO LONGER DO WE NEED A FIXED BRICK AND MORTAR.
SO YOU TAKE A MOBILE UNIT, YOU, UH, IT'S ESSENTIALLY A DOCTOR'S OFFICE ON WHEELS, AND YOU MOVE IT AROUND YOUR COUNTY OR YOUR CITY, UH, ON A SCHEDULED BASIS TO GET AS CLOSE TO THE PATIENTS THAT NEED THE SERVICE AS POSSIBLE.
AND THEN YOU HAVE AN UMBRELLA THAT OVERLAYS THAT, THAT ACCESS FOR ALL, UH, WHICH IS A TELEHEALTH PLATFORM THAT ALLOWS PATIENTS TO TEXT IN, UH, TO RECEIVE BASIC HEALTH NEEDS.
UNSCHEDULED CARE NEEDS SOMETHING THAT WOULD SHOW UP TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT FOR THAT MOM WITH THE TWO KIDS WITH THE RASH.
WELL, THAT'S EASILY ADDRESSED ON A, ON A TELEHEALTH PLATFORM
[00:25:01]
THAT TO PROVIDE THAT PRESCRIPTION FOR THE MEDICATION TO GET THE KID BACK TO SCHOOL, THE WORKER THAT, THAT RAN OUT OF HIS HYPERTENSION MEDS AND DIABETES MEDS.THE GOAL IS NOT TO TAKE ON THIS CARE AND BE THE MEDICAL HOME.
IT'S TO PROVIDE THAT UNSCHEDULED CARE NEED AND REFER THESE PATIENTS TO THE EXISTING PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE OR EXISTING HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ALREADY EXISTS IN THE COUNTY.
KAUFMAN COUNTY HAS AN FQ, HC, FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CLINIC THAT HELPS ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THOSE WITH MEDICAID AND UNINSURED.
WELL, THOSE, A LOT OF THE PATIENTS DON'T KNOW THAT EXISTS IF THEY ACCESS A SYSTEM LIKE THIS.
YOU PROVIDE THE UNSCHEDULED CARE, KEEP 'EM OUT OF THE ER, AND THEN YOU PUSH THOSE PATIENTS IN THEIR PROPER MEDICAL HOME.
THE FQHC, MAYBE THERE'S ACTUALLY SOMEONE THAT'S INSURED, THEY ACCESS THE SYSTEM AND THEN YOU REFER THEM TO THE DOCTORS ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.
BUT IT'S TO ACCEPT THAT THAT UNSCHEDULED CARE NEED TO PREVENT THAT HIGH COST TRIP TO THE ER, UM, TO INCREASE THAT PRODUCTIVITY, TO MAKE SURE THAT LOW WAGE WORKER IS GETTING THEIR MED REFILLED, UH, SINCE THEY CAN'T GO TO THE DOCTOR DURING THE DAY, BUT YET THEN PUSH PEOPLE BACK INTO THE ESTABLISHED HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, SO THAT'S THAT ACCESS FOR ALL PROGRAM.
THERE'S TWO COMPONENTS, CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT, DIABETES, HYPERTENSION, UH, AND THEN THERE'S THAT UNSCHEDULED CARE COMPONENT, WHICH IS THE MDX, WHAT WE CALL MD ACCESS, UH, CHRONIC DISEASE.
WE ENROLL DIABETICS INTO THE PROGRAM, HYPERTENSIVES INTO THE PROGRAM, AND WE HELP THEM MANAGE THEIR CARE, UH, MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE ADDRESSING THEIR BLOOD SUGAR EVERY DAY, THEIR BLOOD PRESSURE AND, AND, AND BLOOD SUGAR EVERY DAY AND MANAGING IT TO THEIR NEXT DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT.
WE'RE NOT BECOMING THEIR PRIMARY DOCTOR.
WE'RE FILLING IN THE GAP WHERE THEIR PRIMARY DOCTOR IS, IS STRUGGLING TO MEET.
UM, UH, AND THEN THE MD ACCESS IS THAT UNSCHEDULED NEEDS, UH, LIKE THE RASH, UH, LIKE SOMEONE WITH AN UPPER RESPIRATORY ILLNESS, SOMETHING THAT NEEDS ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY AND THEN CAN RE REFERRED BACK INTO THE, UH, FIXED STRUCTURE OF THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THIS CHART, TRADITIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH FIXED SERVICE SITE TYPICALLY PROVIDES STD TESTING, TREATMENT AND IMMUNIZATIONS.
THIS REIMAGINED PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM ACCESS FOR ALL, UH, UH, OBVIOUSLY CHECKS A LOT MORE BOXES.
A BIG ONE IS IF YOU WERE TO DEVELOP YOUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN KAUFMAN COUNTY, YOU'RE PAYING FOR THAT BUILDING AND ALL THE, THE FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT WORKERS THAT WORK FOR YOU.
IF YOU PARTNER WITH A PRIVATE ENTITY, THEY TAKE ON THE LABOR FORCE.
YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T HAVE TO RUN YOUR OWN LABOR FORCE.
THERE'S NOT A TYPICAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES, BE IT NURSES, ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, UH, OUTREACH STAFF.
UM, THAT'S A VERY EXPENSIVE UNDERTAKING, UH, TO DO ON YOUR OWN.
UH, A SYSTEM LIKE THIS ALLOWS A CITY, A COUNTY, UH, TO FOREGO THOSE HIGH LABOR COSTS AND PUSH THAT ON TO A, A, A PRIVATE ENTITY.
WE PROVIDE TELEHEALTH, MOBILE SERVICES, COORDINATE WITH LOCAL PROVIDERS, CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT.
UH, THERE'S THE MOBILE UNIT THAT MOVES THROUGHOUT THE, THE COMMUNITY PROVIDING THOSE MOBILE PUBLIC HEALTHCARE NEEDS.
UM, AND, AND REALLY ADDRESSES A LOT OF THE HEALTH EQUITY ISSUES THAT, THAT WE HAD JUST DISCUSSED.
SO WE TALKED ABOUT THE BENEFITS.
UM, EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW THE COST.
THIS SOUNDS OUT OUTRAGEOUSLY EXPENSIVE, WHAT'S IT GONNA COST? AND, AND AMAZINGLY ENOUGH, IT IS JUST TWO TO $3 PER RESIDENT PER MONTH.
UH, WHEN YOU TAKE ALL THE LAYERS OF INSURANCE, FRONT DESK STAFF, ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE QUALIFYING PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN PAY, IF YOU KNOW EVERYONE'S PAYING, IT REALLY IS A LOW COST TO PROVIDE A SERVICE LIKE THIS.
TWO TO $3 PER RESIDENT PER MONTH.
OKAY, THAT SOUNDS INEXPENSIVE.
HOW DO YOU ACTUALLY FUND IT? WELL, THERE, THERE'S A COUPLE WAYS TO FUND IT.
UH, THERE, THERE'S ONE WAY TO KICK IT OFF, AND THAT'S WITH ARPA.
UH, AND, AND I'M NOT SAYING YOU GUYS USE ARPA, BUT AS WHEN WE GO OUT TO A CITY OR A COUNTY, THAT'S, UH, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN THOSE AMERICAN RESCUE PROTECTION ACT FUNDS TO KICK OFF PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVES.
UH, BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONGOING FUNDING SOURCE.
THE ONGOING FUNDING SOURCE IS PULLING IN THE PRIVATE HEALTH SYSTEMS THAT ARE GONNA BENEFIT FROM THIS.
WE OFFLOAD SOME OF THEIR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS.
WE DRIVE PATIENTS TO THEIR ESTABLISHED CLINICS TO, TO THE FQHCS.
ULTIMATELY, THEY WOULD BECOME PAYERS TO HELP SUPPORT A SYSTEM LIKE THIS.
BUT THEY NEED TO SEE IT UP AND RUNNING AND SEE THE BENEFIT.
AND THAT USUALLY TAKES TWO YEARS FOR A HEALTH SYSTEM TO SEE THAT BENEFIT, TO START PARTAKING IN THE FUNDING.
AND THEN ULTIMATELY THE, THE, THE, THE, THE NEED FOR FUNDING SHOULD FALL ON THE RESIDENT THEMSELVES.
UH, IT'S 24 TO $36 PER YEAR PER RESIDENT.
[00:30:01]
UH, THERE ARE SOME UNIQUE WAYS TO FUND THIS.YOU COULD PUT A TWO TO $3 PER MONTH, UH, UH, OPT OUT FEE ON THE WATER BILL.
UH, YOU PUT THAT ON THE WATER BILL.
YOU GIVE RESIDENCY ABILITY TO OPT OUT.
IF THEY OPT OUT, THEY DON'T PARTAKE IN THE SERVICE.
UH, IF THEY DON'T, THEY GET A PARTAKE IN THE SERVICE.
SO, SO THERE ARE WAYS TO FUND A, A OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS, UM, THAT DON'T RELY FULLY ON GOVERNMENT, THAT DON'T RELY FULLY ON THE RESIDENT.
IT SHOULD BE A PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL THREE GOVERNMENT HEALTH SYSTEMS, UH, AND, AND THE RESIDENTS THEMSELVES.
SO THIS IS KIND OF THE COMMITMENT.
UH, OUR COMPANY PROVIDES NO FEES, NO BARRIERS, MEANS NO ADDITIONAL FEES TO WHAT YOU'VE ALREADY PAID.
WE REDUCE THE BARRIERS TO ACCESS.
WE PROVIDE THAT LEVEL OF CARE TO EVERYONE INSURED, UNINSURED, ALL CAN ACCESS THE SYSTEM.
UH, WE ALL KNOW WHAT IT'S COST.
UH, THE, THE MOM WAITING UP LATE AT NIGHT, SITTING ON THE EDGE OF HER BED GOING, DO I TAKE MY THREE YEAR OLD INTO THE ER, UH, BECAUSE OF THEIR FEVER? UM, AND, BUT MY OTHER TWO KIDS ARE ASLEEP.
AND, AND, AND PERPLEXED WITH THAT, THAT ISSUE, UM, WELL, YOU CAN GET OUT YOUR PHONE AND EASILY ACCESS THIS SYSTEM AND, AND, UH, GET THAT, THOSE TYPES OF ISSUES TAKEN CARE OF.
UH, IT HELPS PROMOTE HEALTH EQUITY.
THOSE THAT CAN'T DRIVE INTO A FIXED HEALTH SYSTEM, UH, HAVE ACCESS TO THIS SYSTEM.
UM, IT IMPROVES COMMUNITY, UH, AND QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND IT TRULY IS A PARTNERSHIP.
UM, THE, THESE ARE OUR PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE COVID, UH, ACTUALLY THE DALLAS MAVERICKS AMERICA AIRLINE CENTER.
WE ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH, UH, TO PROVIDE ALL THEIR TESTING, UH, COVID TESTING DURING, UH, UH, UH, ALL THE DALLAS MAVERICKS GAMES LAST YEAR.
WE'VE PARTNERED WITH THE DALLAS REGIONAL, UH, CHAMBER, THE TEXAS DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, UH, DSHS, AND THEN TEXAS HEALTH RESOURCES.
UM, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
SO TWO OF MY PARTNERS ARE ALSO EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS.
AND WE HAVE PROVIDED ALL THE TELEHEALTH FOR TEXAS HEALTH RESOURCES IN ALL THEIR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS.
THEY HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED HOSPITAL TO HOME.
IF YOU WERE TO GO INTO THE ER AND GET DISCHARGED, YOU GET A FREE TELEHEALTH VISIT FOR SEVEN DAYS POST DISCHARGE.
AND THE IDEA BEHIND THAT IS HOSPITALS DON'T GET PAID IF YOU RETURN, UH, WITHIN SEVEN DAYS TO AN ER AFTER YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN THERE.
AND SO WE'VE BEEN PROVIDING THAT POST ER FOLLOW UP CARE, UH, THROUGH A TELEHEALTH PLATFORM DOING A HUNDRED AND A HUNDRED, A HUNDRED TO 150 VISITS PER DAY IN A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM.
SO THIS ISN'T SOMETHING WE HAVE NO EXPERIENCE WITH.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING JUST APPLYING IN A, IN A DIFFERENT MANNER.
UM, AND THAT'S KIND OF HOW I, I IMAGINE PUBLIC HEALTH AND STRENGTHENING OUR PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, MAY BE DONE IN AN, IN AN INNOVATIVE WAY.
SO I'D BE HAPPY TO KIND OF HEAR YOUR GUYS' QUESTIONS AND, UH, ANSWER ANY, YOU MAY HAVE ANYBODY, DOCTOR, HOW DO YOU, UH, CAN YOU COMMENT OR IF, IF YOU HAVE THE ABILITY, UH, OR THE BACKGROUND TO TALK ABOUT HOW THIS MIGHT INTEGRATE WITH OUR EXISTING INDIGENT HEALTHCARE PROGRAM? ABSOLUTELY.
UH, SO I'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT TO THE, THE LADY, UH, THAT DOES YOUR INDIGENT PROGRAM.
SHE'S HERE IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM AS A MATTER OF FACT.
YEAH,
SO THERE'S A VERY LIMITED NUMBER OF PEOPLE, UH, THAT WOULD QUALIFY.
AND SHE COULD REMIND US ON, ON WHAT THE, THE, THE, THE NUMBER IS ON INCOME.
UM, 21% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL, THE 21% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL, WHICH IS, AND, AND THEY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT AND YOU OWN A CAR AND ADD THAT ON.
AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO, TO QUALIFY FOR THAT.
SO WHAT IT DOES IS JUST GREATLY EXPANDS ACCESS, UH, AND COVERAGE TO THOSE THAT NEED IT.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT HOW I TREAT MY OWN, UH, UH, FRIENDS AND, AND FAMILY, UH, THEY TYPICALLY TEXT ME WHEN THEY HAVE A, A MEDICAL ISSUE.
THIS, THIS IS GIVING THAT LEVEL OF CONCIERGE CARE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
UH, SO IT GIVES ACCESS TO THOSE INDIGENT ALONG WITH THOSE THAT, THAT AREN'T.
AND THEN MAYBE YOU COULD JUST, UH, COULD YOU JUST COMMENT A LITTLE BIT ON HOW, UH, A PROGRAM LIKE THIS THAT WOULD BE IN PLACE COULD THEN BE EMPLOYED IN, IN THE NEXT PANDEMIC? I MEAN, HOW WOULD IT, HOW WOULD IT GAIN TRACTION AND BENEFIT THE CITIZENS IN THAT SORT OF SITUATION? ABSOLUTELY.
SO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS WHEN THE FIRST PART OF A PANDEMIC IS, IS IDENTIFYING THAT THERE'S AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE PROCESS GOING THROUGHOUT YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE, UH, A, A, AN ACCESS POINT, UH, LIKE THIS IN YOUR COMMUNITY, IT'S EASY TO PICK UP ON TRENDS.
[00:35:01]
IN INFECTIOUS, UH, NUMBERS.THEN IT ALLOWS YOU TO, TO GO OUT AND INVESTIGATE TO SEE WHERE THE SOURCE OF THAT MIGHT COME FROM AND GET THOSE INDIVIDUALS TESTED AND ISOLATE.
UH, AND THEN THAT'S WHEN YOU DO PULL IN YOUR STATE PARTNERS BECAUSE THOSE ARE SPEC VERY SPECIFIC TESTS THAT NEED TO BE RUN.
BUT IT'S IDENTIFYING THERE MIGHT BE AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE OUTBREAK.
UH, AND WHEN YOU SEE THOSE NUMBERS SPIKE, YOU CAN START THAT INVESTIGATION PROCESS.
SO I THINK WE SHOULD GO BACK TO THE, JUST EVERYBODY BE REMINDED OF THIS STORY THAT YOU TOLD.
IF, IF THE QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE PREPARED FOR ANOTHER PANDEMIC, THE ANSWER SEEMS TO BE NO.
THEY IDENTIFIED THIS, UH, BIRD FLU ON MONDAY, AND IT WAS A WEEK BEFORE SOMEBODY COULD BE TESTED.
AND IN THE MEANTIME THEY COULD HAVE BEEN OUT WALKING AROUND IN THE POPULATION SPREADING THE DISEASE EVERYWHERE.
AND IT, IN THIS CASE, IT COULD BE SPREADING A DISEASE THAT 30 TO 70% OF THE PEOPLE DIE FROM GETTING IT.
PARROT AND THIS, THE ONLY OTHER COMMENT I HAD THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IS THAT THE CHALLENGE FOR US, OR THE CHALLENGE FOR A, FOR ANYBODY IN GOVERNMENT IS THAT ALL OF THESE COSTS THAT WE TALK ABOUT, THE ABSENTEE FROM WORK, ABSENTEE FROM SCHOOL AND ALL THAT SORT OF THING, THEY'RE JUST NOT QUANTIFIED ANYWHERE.
I MEAN, WE KNOW THAT IT COSTS US A LOT OF MONEY AS A, YOU KNOW, AS A COUNTY AND AS A COMMUNITY.
BUT WE JUST DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER.
AND, UM, SO IT'S HARDER, IT MAKES IT HARDER TO JUMP INTO A PROGRAM LIKE THIS.
PARS NOT ASKING US TO JOIN TODAY, BUT, UM, OR TO PARTICIPATE.
BUT, UH, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT, IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S WHAT A SHAME IT WOULD BE IF WE WENT, IF WE HAD A EPIDEMIC OF SOME SORT AND WE WEREN'T PREPARED AND KILLED A BUNCH OF PEOPLE.
WELL, THE OTHER, THE OTHER THING, UH, ABOUT IT IS SOMETHING WE TALK ABOUT A LOT, OUR STATE REPS BIG ON IT IS, WHICH IS, UH, MAINTAINING A MODICUM, AT LEAST TO THE LOCAL CONTROL IN HOW WE ADDRESS A POTENTIAL PANDEMIC.
SO, WELL, I THINK WE FOUND OUT THAT NOBODY'S GONNA TAKE CARE OF US.
I MEAN, ACTUALLY MY, I HAD SOME WORKERS IN, IN MY PRECINCT THAT I SENT TO YOUR, TO WHEN THEY CAME POSITIVE AND SENT 'EM THE NEXT DAY IN A COUPLE DAYS.
THEY WERE, THAT'S THE MONOCLONALS INFUSION THING.
I MEAN, IT, IT, I GIVE Y'ALL REAL CREDIT FOR THAT.
THAT'S, THAT WAS, THAT WAS REAL.
THE, THE, YOU KNOW, AND I'VE BEEN THINKING A LOT ABOUT THE, THE, THE MOBILE PROCESS AND THE, AND, AND WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, 150,000 PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE OR 155, 60,000, WHATEVER WE HAVE NOW.
AND YOU TALK ABOUT BREAKING MORTAR.
BUT WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF HOW MANY MOBILE UNIT, I MEAN, IS IT ONE, IS IT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, ARE YOU, ARE YOU JUDGING ON AMBULANCE SERVICES KINDA, OR YOU, YOU, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE, WHERE THE RESPONSE WOULD BE TO THAT KIND OF THING.
OR YOU JUST MOVE ONE UNIT AROUND, YOU KNOW, KINDA LIKE THE, THE, THE MOBILE BLOOD BANKS OR SOMETHING AND, AND JUST MOVING AROUND.
MOST THINGS A MOBILE UNIT WOULD ADDRESS ARE, ARE NOT SO EMERGENT.
SO IT WOULD BE VACCINATION, VACCIN, STD TREATMENTS.
THE MAJORITY OF THINGS CAN BE HANDLED BY THE TECHNOLOGY, BY THE, UH, BUT BY TECHNOLOGY, YEAH.
THEY WOULD COME IN THROUGH THAT.
WE DETERMINE DO WE ACTUALLY NEED TO DEPLOY A UNIT, UH, UH, TO ADDRESS A LOCAL OUTBREAK OF SOMETHING AND WE CAN ADDRESS IT.
BUT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE SCREENED THROUGH THE TECHNOLOGY, THROUGH THE TELEHEALTH.
UH, THE, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY NEED AN IN-PERSON PHYSICAL DELIVERY OF MEDICATION VACCINATION IS GONNA BE PRETTY SMALL.
UM, WHEN YOU FILTER 'EM THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I GET YOU.
WELL, THAT MAKES MORE SENSE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT OUR, OUR, OUR HEALTHCARE PLAN DOES FOR THE COUNTY.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE SAME, YOU KNOW, OP, YOU KNOW, OPPORTUNITY TO USE AT HOME AS YOU DO TO THE CLINIC, AND IT REALLY SAVES YOU TIME AND MONEY.
YOU DON'T HAVE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT INVOLVE ALL THAT.
SO OF COURSE, PART OF TARGETING THESE UNINSURED PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE THAT THESE 5,000 PEOPLE OR MORE THAT HAVE DIABETES AND DON'T EVEN KNOW IT, UH, UNTIL THEY SHOW UP IN YOUR ER, UM, ONLY GIVES 'EM A PLACE TO CALL.
I MEAN, IF YOU HAVE, IF YOU HAVE NOTHING, THEN YOU DO HAVE A, EITHER A PHONE NUMBER OR A COMPUTER OR, OR A LINK OR SOME WAY.
[00:40:01]
I'M PRETTY IMPRESSED THAT YOU, YOU FOLLOW UP WITH THE, WITH THE EX, WITH THE, WITH THE PATIENTS THAT'S LEAVING THE HOSPITAL.AND TALK ABOUT HOW MANY CALLS IT IS A DAY.
UM, WELL THE CHALLENGE, IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME OR SOMEBODY, SOMEBODY'S PUTTING IN A LOT OF TIME OVER THERE.
PERT SAID, PROBABLY A LOT OF THE MAJOR HEALTHCARE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS AND ALL THAT WOULD BE EXCITED ABOUT SUPPORTING IT.
BUT YOU GOTTA HAVE SOME YEARS TO APPROVE IT.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING FOR DR.
UH, GET THE BRAKES FIXED ON YOUR MOBILE UNIT AND BRING IT BACK.
WE MEANT TO BRING IT, WE HAVE A MOBILE UNIT THAT'S GONNA BRING OUT, WE HAVE LITTLE BREAK ISSUES.
THAT WAS IN THE, IN THE, HE DECIDED HE SHOULDN'T DRIVE IT WITHOUT BRAKES.
SO THANK Y'ALL FOR COMING TO, I APPRECIATE YOUR GUYS' TIME.
[4. Commissioner Hunt; Discuss fire protection for businesses in Kaufman County.]
LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM FOUR.COMMISSIONER HUNT, DISCUSS FIRE PROTECTION FOR BUSINESSES IN KAUFLIN COUNTY.
UM, I GUESS A LITTLE HISTORY ON THIS IS, I, I PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE I GOT A CALL FROM A CONCERN GUY ABOUT, UH, HOW OUR FIRE PREVENTION CODE AND THE BUSINESSES AND STUFF AND, AND A REACTION.
AND MY DEAL WAS TO YOU, YOU GO THROUGH THE SYSTEM, YOU TALK TO THE PEOPLE ALL THE WAY UP AND TRY TO FIND SOME TIME OR RESOLUTION OR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW.
AND, UH, HE WANTED TO KNOW WHO HE COULD TALK TO, WHO WAS THE TOP AND WHO WAS EVERYTHING.
SO I JUST TOLD HIM WHAT WE REALLY ARE AND IF HE WENT THROUGH ALL THE STEPS AND, AND DISCUSSED EVERYTHING WITH EVERYBODY ALONG THE WAY, AND HE STILL FELT LIKE HE WANTED TO COMMENT PUBLICLY, THEN I, I'D OFFER THAT FOR HIM.
I GUESS HE'S FILLED OUT THE PAPERWORK TO SPEAK, SO LET HIM DO HIS THING.
WOULD YOU, YEAH, GIVE US YOUR NAME AND WHERE YOU LIVE.
I LIVE IN KAUFMAN, BORN AND RAISED HERE.
UM, THE BUILDINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT TODAY ARE, UM, I THINK YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO PULL A MIC A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO YOU OR SOMETHING.
CAUSE I THINK SHE'S FIXING US.
SAY SOMETHING TO US CAUSE SHE CAN'T HEAR YOU.
ARE WE GETTING IN TROUBLE WITH A CLERK IF WE'RE NOT LOUD AND CLEAR ON THE MICROPHONE.
UM, I'M FROM KAUFMAN, TEXAS, BORN AND RAISED, LIVED HERE.
THE BUSINESS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, THE BUILDINGS IS FOR MY BUSINESS.
UM, I GUESS TRY KIND OF A PREQUEL TO IT CUZ I'M, I'M GONNA PROBABLY SCRAMBLE THROUGH THIS.
I TRIED TO CONDENSE IT AND HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T GET LOST ANYWHERE IN TRANSLATION.
BUT, UM, THE PREQUEL WOULD BE THAT I HAVE TWO BUILDINGS.
ONE WAS BUILT LAST YEAR AND ONE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING BUILT NOW.
UM, I LEARNED FROM THE LAST ONE ABOUT FIRE CODE, UH, ENDED UP HAVING TO SPRINKLE THAT BUILDING.
UM, AND THROUGH LEARNING ALL THAT, WE WOULD SAY HINDSIGHT, I WAS VERY PREPARED FOR THE SECOND BUILDING AND ASKING THE CORRECT QUESTIONS, UM, TO ENSURE THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO SPRINKLE THE SECOND BUILDING.
UM, SO I'M GONNA KIND OF GO THROUGH THIS.
UM, FOR THE INITIAL BUILDING, OBVIOUSLY WE'VE STARTED WITH THE PERMIT FEES.
WE, WE WENT THROUGH EVERYTHING.
UH, KIND OF A A, I GUESS A MISTAKE THAT WAS MADE ON THAT ONE WAS THAT, UM, THEY DIDN'T HAVE WHAT'S CALLED THE WATER FLOW CHART OR TEST IN THE PAPERWORK THAT THEY GIVE YOU FOR THE PRECONSTRUCTION PERMITS.
AT THAT TIME WE DIDN'T KNOW THIS.
WE WERE GIVEN THE APPROVAL TO POUR THE CONCRETE.
SO NOW I HAD 70,000 YARD WORTH OF CONCRETE ON THE GROUND.
IT'S HARD TO MAKE A DECISION AFTER THAT.
UM, THEN I WAS TOLD THAT WE NEED TO GET A WATER FLOW TEST.
UM, AT THAT TIME I THINK I SPOKE WITH HAL RICHARDS AND WE, THEY KIND OF LOOKED AT THAT, SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW, WE FIXED THE ISSUE.
NOT GONNA BENEFIT YOU ANY REFERRING TO ME.
UM, BUT THAT MOVING FORWARD, THAT WOULD BE IN ALL OF THE, THE PAPERWORK.
UH, WHICH IS TRUE CUZ AS I GOT THE PAPERWORK THIS TIME I SAW MY $70,000
SO, UM, I WAS FORCED TO GET THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM, UM, AFTER A VERY LONG AND DRAWN OUT PROCESS.
ASHLEY BOWEN WAS MY INSPECTOR AT THAT TIME.
UM, UM, WHEN SHE CAME FOR THE FINAL INSPECTION, SHE, UH, SHE ADVISED OR OKAY, UH, WHEN SHE CAME FOR THE FINAL INSPECTION, SHE ADVISED ME THAT RANDY, THE FIRE MARSHAL AT THE TIME HAD BEEN CALLING DEVELOPERS PULLING OUT, UH, DUE TO THE IMPOSSIBLE RESTRICTIONS BEING PLACED UPON THEM WITH THE NEW CODE.
UH, RANDY WAS TELLING THOSE DEVELOPERS AND BUILDERS TO HOLD ON
[00:45:01]
AND NOT TO MOVE FROM KAUFMAN, THAT THEY WOULD BE CHANGING THE CODE TO ALLOW FOR THEIR DEVELOPMENT.WHICH WAS, YOU CAN UNDERSTAND FRUSTRATING FOR ME CAUSE I JUST SPENT $70,000 ON A FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM THAT I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GONNA HAVE TO HAVE.
AND THAT THAT WHILE THE WHOLE TIME THAT I'M DOING, EVERYBODY ON THAT STREET WAS BEING HELD UP AT THE TIME, UM, THEY NEEDED 1500 GALLON PER MINUTE OR SOMETHING, WHICH WAS UNACHIEVABLE.
EVEN THE ENGINEERS THAT HAD COME OUT AT THE TIME SAID EVEN IF YOU TAPPED INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE WATER TOWER, YOU WEREN'T GONNA GET THAT WITH THE SIZE OF THE LINE THAT WE HAD.
SO AT THAT POINT, I THINK THE BIGGER ISSUE WOULD THAT THEY INCORPORATED SOMETHING THAT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE COULDN'T SUPPORT.
SO IF YOU, THERE WERE INSTANCES AT THE TIME TO WHERE SOMEONE HAD A CHICKEN COOP BECAUSE SHE HAD IT AS A BUSINESS SO SHE COULD WRITE OFF, I GUESS THEIR CHICKEN FEED OR WHATEVER THEY WERE GONNA MAKE HER PUT A SPRINKLER HEAD IN HER IN THE CHICKEN COOP.
SO I GUESS MOVING THIS FORWARD, GOING TO BUILDING NUMBER TWO, I GOT THE EXACT SAME BUILDING AS TO CUT DOWN ON ANY CONFUSION BECAUSE NOW WE KNOW WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS DEBACLE AND I MEAN IT WAS WELL KNOWN TO EVERYONE.
UM, WHAT THE SCENARIOS WERE THAT IT WAS A WATER CODE RESTRICTION.
UM, SO I ACTUALLY, WAS IT MY INSPECTOR AGAIN AND SHE WAS MY INSPECTOR ON THE LAST ORDEAL.
UM, SHE WAS GREAT TO WORK WITH, VERY APOLOGETIC AND SYMPATHETIC TO WHAT I'D HAD TO DEAL WITH.
I STAYED IN CONTACT WITH ASHLEY ASKING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IF WE WERE CLEAR TO BUILD, KNOWING THAT THE CODE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BEING CHANGED BECAUSE OF RANDY CALLING PEOPLE.
AND I KNEW THAT, I KNEW THAT THAT WAS KIND OF IN THE WORKS.
UM, AND IF, IF THE CODE HAD BEEN LIFTED OVER THIS YEAR PERIOD, CHECKING IN TO SEE IF THE CODE HAD BEEN CHANGED, I WAS TOLD SEVERAL, SEVERAL TIMES THAT IT HAD CHANGED AND THAT ALL WAS CLEAR.
I FELT COMFORTABLE WITH THE FACT THAT I WAS ASKING A VERY POINTED QUESTION, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE PREVIOUS BUILD WAS SUCH A HUGE CATASTROPHE.
I WAS ALSO VERY COMFORTABLE THAT I WAS GETTING BACK A VERY MATTER OF FACT ANSWER, NO SPRINKLER.
AND WHEN I SAY POINTED QUESTION, THERE WAS ONLY ONE QUESTION I WAS ASKING.
I WASN'T ASKING ABOUT BUILDING, UM, ANYTHING PERTAINING TO THE BUILDING WHERE IT'S SITTING ON THE SITE.
I'M ASKING ABOUT THE, THE REASON THAT MY INITIAL BUILDING HAD TO HAVE A FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM, WHICH WAS SOLELY WATER, RIGHT? UM, AND THEY HAD MY OTHER FILE THERE.
SO SAME BUILDING, SAME FILE IS THE REASON THAT I DID IT.
TO CUT DOWN ON ANY OF THAT CONFUSION.
UM, WHEN I ASKED ABOUT JOINING THE BUILDINGS, CUZ I WAS THINKING ABOUT DOING A A, A KIND OF A WALKWAY BETWEEN THEM, I KNEW THAT THAT COULD CHANGE THINGS.
SO I CALLED ONCE MORE TO GET THE, UM, GET THE OKAY TO DO THAT BEFORE I PURCHASED THE BUILDING POUR CONCRETE.
AND I'M IN THE SAME SITUATION THAT I WAS IN THE PREVIOUS TIME.
SO WHEN I ASKED ABOUT JOINING THE BUILDINGS, ASHLEY AGAIN SAID IT WAS GOOD, BUT IN ADDITION SHE HAD THE FIRE MARSHAL REACH OUT TO ME BY PHONE AS WELL.
WHEN PAUL CALLED ME, HE BEGAN BY APOLOGIZING FOR THE RUN IN I HAD EXPERIENCED WITH THE PREVIOUS FIRE MARSHAL AND HIS DEPUTY.
HE THEN REITERATED WHAT ASHLEY HAD TOLD ME AND SAID WE WERE GOOD TO MOVE FORWARD AND THAT WE WOULDN'T NEED TO ADD A FIRE SPRINKLER EVEN IF WE JOINED THE BUILDINGS.
I WAS ACTUALLY TOLD THAT I COULD GO UP TO 12,000 SQUARE FEET BEFORE NEEDING ONE.
THE MARSHALL WAS SO SURE ABOUT THIS AND HIS ASSESSMENT THAT HE TOLD ME THAT I COULD PULL THE FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM OUT OF MY OLD BUILDING, MOVING ALONG THE WATER COMPANY WAS DRAGGING THEIR FEET ON GETTING ME THE WATER FLOW TEST, WHICH THEY NOW HAVE IN THEIR PAPERWORK.
SO I CALLED ASHLEY AFTER IT BEEN, IT'D BEEN PROBABLY TWO WEEKS.
SO I CALLED ASHLEY AND I SAID, HEY, GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT MY FILE, DO WE EVEN, CUZ I'VE ALREADY PRETTY MUCH GOTTEN THE OKAY DO WE NEED TO GET THIS WATER TEST? SHE SAID THAT WE DID NOT NEED ONE.
THIS, IN MY OPINION, REALLY SUPPORTS THE POINT THAT THERE WAS NO REASON FOR ME TO QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT THEY UNDERSTOOD THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF MY FILE.
I BEGAN AT THAT TIME, UM, WHEN I WAS TALKED TO THE FIRE MARSHAL AND I WAS TELLING HIM, HE WAS TELLING ME ABOUT THE SITUATION AND KIND OF APOLOGIZED FOR WHAT HAD HAPPENED.
AND I, I WAS, I WAS INQUIRING COULD I JUST DISCONNECT MY OLD FIRE SPRINKLER CUZ I MEAN YOU HAVE TO PAY, IT COSTS MONEY TO, TO UPKEEP IT ALSO, YOU'RE, YOU'RE HEATING HIM AND THE NEW BUILDING IS NOT GONNA BE HEATED.
IT'LL BE WAREHOUSE SPACE MOSTLY AND UH, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO KEEP A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF HEAT TO KEEP YOUR PIPES FROM FREEZING.
SO, UM, I'LL TRIED TO GO OFF TRACK THERE.
UH, BUT AT THAT, AT THAT POINT IS WHEN HE SAID, UH, THAT I COULD NOT JUST DISCONNECT IT BUT I WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE IT.
AT WHICH POINT, UH, MR. UH, MR. HUNT HAD CONTACTED THE FIRE MARSHAL AND ASKED ABOUT THAT.
NOW MIKE WAS A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED ON WHAT THE ACTUAL ISSUE WAS, WHICH WAS THAT IT WAS IN CODE BEFORE.
SO THE FIRE MARSHAL'S RESPONSE WAS THAT IT, THAT IT WAS IN CODE AT THE TIME AND THAT'S THE REASON THERE
[00:50:01]
WAS A FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM.UM, SO I VISITED HAL UH, SAT DOWN WITH, SAT DOWN WITH HIM AND HE SUGGESTED THAT I GO SIT DOWN WITH THE FIRE MARSHAL.
SO UP TO THIS POINT I'VE GOTTEN THE ALL CLEAR ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THAT WERE, THAT WERE GOOD WITH NO FIRE SPRINKLER, I PURCHASED THE BUILDING AND PUT THE HALF DOWN ON THE CONCRETE, UM, IN TRYING TO GET SOME SORT OF A COMPENSATION FOR HAVING TO SPEND $70,000 ON A FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM, UM, THAT, THAT WAS UNNECESSARY.
I SPOKE WITH HAL RICHARDS WHO SUGGESTED I GO SIT DOWN WITH A FIRE MARSHAL, WHICH I DID AND I SUGGESTED POSSIBLY JUST CUZ I WOULD, I NEEDED SOMETHING OTHER THAN MAYBE A SORRY, RIGHT.
UM, I FELT I WAS OWED THAT I SUGGESTED POSSIBLY GETTING A CREDIT FOR THE $1,500 PERMIT THAT I HAD JUST PAID FOR THE NEWEST BUILDING THAT I'M ABOUT TO BUILD IN EXCHANGE FOR HAVING TO INSTALL A $70,000 FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM WAS UNNECESSARY.
THE FIRE MARSHAL THEN BEGAN PUNCHING NUMBERS ON HIS CALCULATOR AND TOLD ME THAT MY NEW BUILDING WOULD ALSO BE NEEDING A FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM RETRACTING HIS EARLIER APPROVAL FOR WHICH I HAD ALREADY PURCHASED A BUILDING IN CONCRETE FOR, UH, ONCE I BEGAN CHALLENGING THE REASONING BEHIND THIS, I WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULD HAVE HIRED A CIVIL ENGINEER AND THAT THE FIRE MARSHALS OFFICE ISN'T MY ENGINEER, THIS WOULD BE FINE.
HOWEVER, IT WAS NEVER MENTIONED BEFORE.
IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS ONLY MENTIONED ONCE WE HAD AN ISSUE.
UM, IN THIS CASE A DISCLAIMER STATING SUCH AT THE TIME THAT I WAS GIVEN THE APPROVAL, UM, FROM THE PEOPLE WHO CAN GIVE OR DENY THE APPROVAL, UH, WOULD'VE BEEN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN MY OPINION.
UM, EVERYTHING ELSE IS REALLY KIND OF, I DON'T, I DON'T WANNA SAY TACKY, BUT JUST PROOF OR FACTS THAT STATE WHAT I WAS SAYING AND FOLLOW IT ALONG.
I REALLY WON'T BORE EVERYBODY WITH THAT.
UM, BUT I GUESS IN CONCLUSION, UM, WELL I WILL SAY THIS, UM, WHEN I DID GO TO SPEAK WITH THE FIRE MARSHAL AND HE GAVE ME, TOLD ME NO OBVIOUSLY, SO NOW THEY'RE GONNA BE DIGGING INTO ME FOR A LITTLE OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN ONE YEAR, WHICH BY THE TIME YOU TAKE TAXES OUT, THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD SALARY FOR SOMEBODY FOR TWO YEARS, RIGHT? UM, ASHLEY WHO WAS THE ONE WHO HAD TOLD ME THE MAJORITY OF THE TIMES AND I'D WORKED WITH THE ENTIRE TIME, WHO KNEW MY FILE VERY WELL, UM, HE WOULDN'T EVEN LET HER COME IN THERE TO SAY TO ME, YEAH, NO, WE'RE NOT DOING IT.
CAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO CUZ HE KNEW ALSO THAT SHE HAD HEARD HIM APPROVE IT TO ME.
UM, NOT SURE WHY THAT, I'M NOT SURE WHY THAT WAS WITHHELD.
UM, BUT EITHER, EITHER A MISTAKE WAS MADE OR I'M BEING PENALIZED FOR ASKING FOR ANY TYPE OF COMPENSATION.
AND I BELIEVE IT'S THE LATTER OF THE TWO.
UM, SO I GUESS THAT'S PRETTY MUCH MY CONCLUSION.
I DON'T REALLY EXPECT ANYTHING TO COME FROM THIS.
I JUST FEEL LIKE AIRING IT BEFORE SOMEBODY ELSE HAS TO DEAL WITH THE SAME THING.
UM, IT'S BEYOND, I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT WHEN HE WAS TELLING ME, UH, THERE'S NOT MUCH THAT YOU CAN DO, RIGHT? I MEAN, YOU'RE TALKING TO, UM, A POLICE OFFICER OR WHATEVER AND THEY'RE JUST TELLING YOU VERY MATTER OF FACTLY, HERE'S WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO AND UM, IT'S GONNA COST YOU A HUNDRED GRAND.
I'M A SMALL BUSINESS SO I'M NOT FINANCING THIS, THIS COMES STRAIGHT OUTTA MY POCKET.
FORTUNATELY I'M BLESSED ENOUGH THAT I CAN DO IT.
UH, BUT THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT AT ALL.
UM, I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE AT ALL SPEAKING IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.
I'M, I'M VERY MOTIVATED TO HAVE TO GET UP HERE AND DO THIS TO SAY THE LEAST AND UM, MY MOTIVATION WILL PUSH ME FURTHER PAST THIS POINT.
SO, UH, I'LL LEAVE IT WITH THAT.
UH, JAMES, Y'ALL JUST WANNA MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM? I JUST, UH, DISCUSS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT, OKAY, WELL I DON'T KNOW ANY, I'M SORRY, I DON'T, I DOESN'T ASK FOR ACTION SO I DON'T KNOW ANY ACTION.
UH, UM, UNLESS WE JUST OUT THE DISCUSSION AND WANT TO HEAR FROM PAUL.
I MEAN THAT'S WHATEVER YOU WANT.
I MEAN THE MAIN THING IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST LIKE HE SAID, WELL WHO, WHERE DOES THIS STOP? HOW FAR CAN I TAKE IT UP? AND I SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS IT THE COURT.
SO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN IF PAUL WANTS TO, IF HE WANTS HIM TO, TO DISCUSS WHAT HAPPENED, I'M JUST TELLING YOU WE CAN'T ACT CUZ IT'S NOT ROAD TO ACT ON, BUT WE CAN LISTEN TO PAUL.
NO, AND I FOUND OUT FRIDAY I WAS COMING HERE SO I WASN'T PREPARED.
MONDAYS OBVIOUSLY ALL MY BUSINESS MONDAYS
[00:55:01]
ARE, ARE CRAZY.AT ABOUT 10 O'CLOCK I SIT DOWN AND TRY TO PUT THIS TOGETHER.
SO IF PAUL WOULD LIKE TO COME UP, I MEAN, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO JUST TO EXPLAIN THE SITUATION JUST SO THAT WE KNOW IT.
AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, IF IT NEEDS TO COME BACK TO US FOR ACTION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AT LEAST I DON'T LEAST DON'T, UNLESS WE'LL HAVE A, WE'LL HAVE SOME KIND OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE INSTANT AND WHAT HAPPENS.
AND I WOULD, I WOULD EVEN, I WOULD SAY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN MAYBE INTERJECT AND ASK SOME QUESTIONS OF, OF PAUL, UM, IF THAT'S OKAY.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT ACTION STILL.
I MEAN IT'S, IT'S NOT AN ACTION, BUT IT'S A DISCUSSION.
SO IT'S REALLY WHATEVER THE COURT OKAY.
MAYBE, MAYBE, MAYBE I'LL GET SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
I CAN'T, I'LL ASK TO WATCH HIS HEAD ON THE MONITOR THERE.
SO JUST TO CLARIFY A COUPLE THINGS, UM, MR. VINCENT'S SECOND BUILDING IS STILL INTO THE PERMITTING PROCESS.
SO, UH, HE DOESN'T HAVE APPROVAL, UH, ANY DECISION ON HIS PART TO GOING BUY MATERIALS OR PUT DOWN PAYMENTS ON MATERIALS? UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS.
UM, ORIGINALLY, UM, UNDER APPENDIX B OF THE FIRE CODE, WHICH WAS, UH, AMENDED, I BELIEVE LAST YEAR, UH, APRIL OF LAST YEAR, UH, WE REQUIRED A 1500 GALLON PER MINUTE FLOW RATE FOR WATER TO PUT OUT FIRES.
DIDN'T MATTER WHAT SIZE BUILDING YOU HAD, UM, OBVIOUSLY THAT WAS A CHALLENGE TO MEET IN THE RURAL PARTS OF THE COUNTY.
SO, UH, THE COURT DECIDED TO, UH, ADOPT A DIFFERENT STANDARD THAT, UM, BASICALLY ALLOWED YOU TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE FIRE FLOW, UH, WAS GOING TO BE BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING, THE CONSTRUCTION TYPE, UH, WHAT TYPE OF OCCUPANCY IT WAS GONNA BE.
UM, SO REDOING THOSE CALCULATIONS FOR, UM, MR. VINCENT'S BUILDING, UM, EVEN THOUGH IT, WE DIDN'T REQUIRE THE 1500 GALLONS PER MINUTE ANYMORE, WE STILL REQUIRE 500 GALLONS PER MINUTE.
UM, THE WATERFALL THAT WE HAD OUT THERE AT THE TIME STILL DID NOT MEET THAT REQUIREMENT.
WHERE, WHERE EXACTLY IS IT? UH, IT'S RIGHT ACROSS FROM COLIN COUNTY FARM BUREAU UP OF 34, TOP OF YOU.
UM, SO WE STILL HAVE THAT ISSUE, RIGHT? UM, THE INITIAL PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS, UM, THAT WE HAD ABOUT THE PROJECT, UM, IF YOU WERE TO BUILD HIS BUILDING LOOKING AT SQUARE FOOTAGE AND OCCUPANCY TYPE, A SPRINKLER SYSTEM IS NOT REQUIRED.
UH, SO THAT WAS MY RESPONSE TO MR. VINCENT THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, BASED ON THE INFORMATION I HAVE RIGHT NOW, THERE IS NO SPRINKLER SYSTEM REQUIRED.
UM, LATER ON WE DISCOVERED THE ISSUE WITH THE WATER FLOW.
UM, IT MADE SOME PHONE CALLS TO THE PREVIOUS FIRE MARSHAL TO KIND OF GET SOME CONTEXT ON, ON WHAT THE ISSUE WAS, WHY A SPRINKLER SYSTEM WAS REQUIRED.
UM, SO THAT SPRINKLER SYSTEM IN THE BUILDING RIGHT NOW IS A SOLUTION TO STILL NOT HAVING ENOUGH WATER FLOW AT THAT LOCATION.
IT'S AN OPTION, DOESN'T HAVE A TANK OR SOMETHING, OR YOU JUST HAVE AN OUTSIDE BLOOD FOR, OR TANK TRUCK OR SOMETHING.
UM, SO THAT WOULD BE TIED DIRECTLY INTO A, A WATER MAIN, ESSENTIALLY.
UM, AND THERE WOULD'VE TO BE ENOUGH PRESSURE IN THAT MAIN TO SUPPLY THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM, UM, THAT INSTALLING A SPRINKLER SYSTEM ALLOWS YOU TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WATER FLOW REQUIRED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE.
BASICALLY, IT KEEPS THE FIRE SMALL ENOUGH THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T HAVE TO USE AS MUCH WATER.
UM, THE OTHER OPTION WOULD BE PUTTING IN AN FPA 22 WATER TANK.
UH, BASICALLY IT'S A RESERVOIR ON YOUR PROPERTY.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAN HOOK UP TO AND, UM, MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ENOUGH WATER FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION.
SO, UH, LOOKING AT THIS PARTICULAR, UH, SET OF BUILDINGS, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE WILLING TO LOOK AT ANY OPTIONS THAT, UH, SOLVE THE WATER FLOW ISSUE, UH, AT THE LOCATION.
UH, BUT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE CAN JUST IGNORE.
UM, WE, WE DID MAKE A COMMENT, UH, RIGHT NOW, UH, THE PERMIT HAS BEEN SENT BACK FOR RESUBMITTAL, AND ONE OF THE COMMENTS IN THAT IS REQUESTING MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW WE'RE GONNA MEET THE WATER FLOW REQUIREMENT.
ANY QUESTIONS? I WOULD, I WOULD TAKE, SO ONE OF THE THINGS HE WAS TALKING ABOUT WAS THE SIZE.
THE, ONE OF THE THINGS THEY INCORPORATED OR AMENDED IS THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING AND THE, THE MATHEMATICS AND THE COMPUTATIONS THAT COME INTO PLACE TO, TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING I HAVE PRIVY TO THAT I CAN
[01:00:01]
DO.I, I DIDN'T ASK FOR, I KNOW ONE OF THE, THE FALLBACK HERE IS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE FINAL APPROVAL OF THE PLANS.
YOU, YOU CAN'T REALLY BUY BUILDING PLANS.
YOU, YOU CAN PAY $15,000 FOR THE PLANS AND THEN ASK THEM, HEY, IS THIS OKAY? AND IF IT'S NOT SCRAP, I'M GONNA BUY 15,000 MORE WORTH OF PLANS.
UM, UM, BUT THE FACT THAT THESE, THE, THE, THE MATH THAT'S DONE TO DO IT IS SOMETHING THAT I CAN'T DO.
I FEEL AS THOUGH I SHOULD BE ABLE TO CALL MY FIRE MARSHAL AND ASK THEM, HEY, YOU HAVE MY FILE FROM A YEAR AGO, ONE YEAR AGO WITH THE SAME INSPECTOR.
UH, YOU HAVE MY FILE FROM A YEAR AGO.
I KNOW YOU SAID THE CODE WAS CHANGED BECAUSE THE FIRE MARSHAL WAS CALLING EVERYBODY, TELLING EVERYBODY IT WAS GONNA CHANGE.
HAS THAT HAPPENED? YES, IT HAS PUT ME ON THE PHONE WITH THE FIRE MARSHAL WITH ALL THE APPROPRIATE INFORMATION, WHICH I DO KNOW THAT THE FIRE MARSHAL HAD THE FILE AT THE TIME THAT HE WAS SPEAKING TO ME ON THE PHONE.
SO I DON'T KNOW AT WHAT POINT YOU TELL SOMEONE WE'RE GOOD WITHOUT TAKING A LOOK AT THE FILE.
ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
HE KNEW WHEN HE HAD THE CONVERSATION WITH ME THAT, I'M SORRY YOU HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS.
I'M SORRY THAT YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH THIS.
YOU KNOW, DON'T, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
THIS IS NOT THE SAME OUTFIT THAT IT WAS.
YOU WERE GONNA TAKE CARE OF YOU.
WHEN I GOT AFTER THE CONVERSATION, ONCE I HAD FOUND OUT THAT HE WAS DO, DOING THE MATH IN FRONT OF ME AND CHANGING HIS MIND, UM, I THINK I LOST WHERE I WAS AT
UM, WHERE WAS I? I DON'T KNOW.
UM, I GUESS MY BIGGEST QUESTION WOULD BE IF I WAS, IF I WAS GONNA ASK A QUESTION, IT'S JUST FOR DISCUSSION, BUT AT, AT THE POINT, I GUESS I KIND OF READ INTO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
I I DON'T, YOUR FILE, PREVIOUS FILE SAID 1500.
EXACT SAME BUILDING IS LIKE, I GET THAT, BUT NOBODY EVER TOLD 'EM IT WAS BELOW 500 ANYWHERE IN THERE.
YOU, YOU ACTUALLY HAD A PRESSURE TEST AND IT'S BELOW 500.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET BELOW 500, LIKE I SAID, IS WHAT'S HAPPENING IS YOU'RE, YOU'RE INSTALLING SOMETHING THAT COULD ACTUALLY CORRECT FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THAT'S, THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PRESSURE.
AND SEE, THEY, THEY HAD MY FILE, WHICH HAD THE EXACT, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE 500, BUT, BUT CORRECT.
IT DIDN'T, IT HAD THE WATER FLOW TEST IN IT.
AND WHEN THEY TOLD ME TO HAVE A NEW WATER FLOW TEST, I SAID, DO I NEED TO EVEN DO THAT? AND THEY SAID NO.
YEAH, NO, I DON'T SEE WHAT I'M SAYING.
I'M JUST BRINGING THAT ONE UP.
THEY WERE DOING 1500, THEY WERE DOING 1500 AND THEN THEY MOVED IT DOWN.
BUT BECAUSE THEY MOVED, BECAUSE THEY LOWERED IT, I CHECKED DILIGENTLY, I DILIGENTLY CHECKED AND WAS TOLD VERY MATTER OF FACTLY MANY, MANY TIMES THAT I WAS GOOD TO MOVE FORWARD.
THERE'S, THERE'S, OUTSIDE OF THAT, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GET OUTSIDE OF THAT BOX AND THERE'S ANY OTHER YES, SIR.
I DON'T, OTHER THAN JUST GOING, LISTEN, I'M SORRY.
AND I GET ANOTHER, SORRY FROM COMAN COUNTY, BUT THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY WAY OUT OF IT.
EITHER THAT OR WE'RE VINDICTIVE VINDICTIVELY SAYING, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SPRINKLE IT.
THERE, THERE, THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE TWO OPTIONS.
AND I DON'T KNOW THE REASON THEY'D WANT TO BE VINDICTIVE, BUT I'M JUST SAYING, I, I CAN'T IMAGINE THE REASON.
AND AS I WAS EXPLAINING THIS, IT WAS ONLY WHEN I CAME IN TO BASICALLY SAY, HEY, IS THERE, CAN WE DO ANYTHING, MAYBE WAIVE THE $1,500? CUZ EVERYTHING WAS, WAS GREAT BEFORE THAT.
AND THEN STARTED DOING MATH ON THE TABLE AND THEN TOLD ME I NEEDED A SPRINKLER ON THE NEW BUILDING.
AND IT MAY HAVE BEEN THAT HE WAS GONNA GIVE ME GRACE AND MAYBE I SHOOK THE BUSH A LITTLE BIT AND HE DECIDED HE WASN'T GOING TO.
UM, I GET THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER, I WILL POINT THIS OUT AS WELL.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS TOLD WAS THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE ADEQUATE INFORMATION AT THE TIME THAT HE HAD GIVEN ME THE APPROVAL.
UH, HE, UH, STATING I GUESS THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE THE FILE, ALTHOUGH I WAS TOLD THAT HE DID HAVE THE FILE.
BUT I WILL POINT OUT ALSO THAT HE SPOKE TO MR. HUNT AND HE SAID THAT, UM, HE SAID THAT THE REASON MY FIRST BUILDING WASN'T, UM, THAT HAD TO HAVE A SPRINKLER SYSTEM IS CUZ OF THE CODE AT THE TIME.
WELL, YOU HAVE TO SOMEWHAT HAVE LOOKED AT THE FILE OR KNOW THE CIRCUMSTANCE TO KNOW THAT THE FIRST ONE WAS ABOUT WATER AND IF THE FIRST ONE WAS ABOUT WATER AND MY SOLE QUESTION BEFORE REBUILDING AND BUYING A
[01:05:01]
BUILDING AND TRYING TO GO THIS ROUTE WAS ABOUT THE WATER.I DIDN'T ASK A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS.
I ASKED ONE QUESTION, ONE QUESTION BECAUSE I KNEW TO ASK THAT QUESTION AND I DIDN'T ASK THAT QUESTION ONCE.
I ASKED IT FIVE OR SIX TIMES AND WAS TOLD YES EACH TIME.
SO, AND, AND NOW I'M IN THE POSITION I'M IN.
SO ANYHOW, THAT'S ME AIRING MY GRIEVANCES FOR WHATEVER THAT'S WORTH.
I THINK WE PROBABLY HAVE EXHAUSTED THE, THE WE, WE DO, WE, WE HAVE HEARD YOU THERE AND AND APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION.
I DON'T, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY WE COULD COME UP WITH SOME RESOLUTION TODAY, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD BE.
I DON'T, I THINK IT WOULD BE A, A MORE OF Y'ALL MAKING A LITTLE BIT OF RESOLUTION MAYBE BETWEEN THE TWO.
I THINK PAUL WILL LISTEN TO YOU AND TALK TO YOU A LITTLE.
SO MIKE, AND JOIN IN ON THE CONVERSATION.
YOU KNOW, UH, EVERYBODY GOOD TO MOVE ON? YEP.
[5. Bobby Bridges; Present updates on Animal Shelter, Justice Center, and all new construction projects in Kaufman County,]
UH, NEXT UP BOBBY BRIDGES PRESENT UPDATES ON THE ANIMAL SHELTER JUSTICE CENTER IN ALL NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN KAUFMAN COUNTY.SO WE'LL START REAL QUICK WITH THE, THE CHILDREN'S SHELTER.
WE'RE ACTUALLY, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF REMODELING THE, UH, FAMILY RESTROOM.
SHE'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION CURRENTLY.
THAT BATHROOM BASICALLY IS WHENEVER KIDS WITH, UH, BROTHERS AND SISTERS OR WHATEVER, THEY ALL STAY TOGETHER, THEY GO TO THAT ONE ROOM.
THERE'S A BATHROOM THERE THAT HAD A OLD JACUZZI TUB IN IT AND ALL THIS STUFF.
SO ANYWAY, WE'RE, YEAH, WE'RE REMODELING IT.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF, UH, WORKING ON THAT NOW.
UM, THE PET ADOPTION CENTER, THE REPORT IS SUPPOSED TO BE BACK TODAY.
UM, GREG SAID THAT THE MECHANICAL GUYS HAVE RECEIVED IT, SO HE SHOULD GET IT TODAY.
SO WE SHOULD KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
UM, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SHIFTING YES, SIR.
ON THE, FOR THE PLUMBING ISSUES AND STUFF, UM, AS FOR THE JUSTICE CENTER JUDGE, I MEAN, I'M STILL, I TALKED TO, UH, GREG YESTERDAY AND HE STILL DOESN'T HAVE A COMPLETE, HE DOESN'T FEEL GOOD GIVING US A COMPLETION DATE.
BASED OFF OF WHAT HE'S SAYING IS, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CO HAS TO BE ISSUED BEFORE THE JAIL STANDARDS.
I MEAN, JUST KIND OF REMIND EVERYBODY WHAT THE PROCESS IS.
SO ON UH, NOVEMBER THE 17TH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE GREG FEELS VERY COMFORTABLE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE GIVEN AT LEAST A TEMPORARY CO FROM THE CITY GOTCHA.
UM, ONCE WE GET A TEMPORARY OR A CO FROM THIS FA WE WON'T GET A PERMANENT CO CUZ THERE'LL, THERE'LL BE LITTLE THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE FIXED.
SO WE'LL GET A TEMPORARY CO, WHICH CLEARS US TO DO THE, ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO GO INTO THE BUILDING AND THAT SORT OF THING.
NOW THAT THAT EXERCISE OR THAT EVENT IS TOTALLY SEPARATE FROM THE MOVING EVENT.
BECAUSE BEFORE WE CAN MOVE, WE GOTTA HAVE THE JAIL STANDARDS COMMISSIONS, UH, YES SIR.
PIECE OF PAPER THAT GIVES THE BLESSING FOR US TO MOVE INTO THE BUILDING.
AND WE DID TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, COULD WE MOVE IN THE BUILDING WITH THAT? AND THEN WE JUST ALL REALIZED THAT WAS JUST INSANE TO EVEN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
BUT I THINK THE SHERIFF FEELS PRETTY GOOD.
I KNOW GREG FEELS PRETTY GOOD AND H K FEELS PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THE JAIL STANDARDS.
WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING ON A FEW ISSUES IN WITH JAIL STANDARDS, UH, BECAUSE THEY DON'T COME DOWN, THEY COME DOWN NEAR TO PASS OR FAIL.
SO WHEN THEY COME, WE WANT 'EM TO PASS.
SO WE'RE WORKING A FEW ISSUE ISSUES OUT.
I CALLED, UH, I JAIL INSPECTOR TODAY.
I'VE ALSO TALKED WITH BRANDON ON SOME THINGS.
WE'VE GOT AN AIR PACK WE'VE GOTTA GET ORDERED.
IT'S ALREADY ORDERED TO PUT IN THE ROOM DOWN THERE BEFORE THEY SHOW UP.
IT'S GOTTA BE IN THE CONTROL ROOM.
BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THAT.
I'M TRYING TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHERS INSIDE THE HOLDING CELLS, BECAUSE THERE'S SOME STIPULATIONS ABOUT SOME OF THAT.
SO I'M GONNA SEE IF WE'RE GONNA BE CLEAR WITH THAT OR NOT.
UH, BUT IF NOT, THOSE THINGS ARE PRETTY, THOSE ARE PRETTY EASY FIXES, RIGHT? YEAH.
SO THERE'S, THERE'S LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH.
ALSO THE, UH, PANEL IN THE ONE ROOM THAT IS FOR FEMALES MM-HMM.
I'M TRYING TO GET DIRECTION FROM THEM IN WHAT THE STATUE SAYS IN JAIL STANDARDS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE THROUGH WITH THAT, WHERE NOBODY CAN VIEW THEM IN THE RESTROOM.
SO THERE'S JUST VERY FEW THINGS, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON THEM OUT AND I DON'T SEE A ISSUE WITH THAT ANYTIME SOON.
AND I KNOW YOU WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM AND SO I, SO ANYWAY, SO TEMPORARY CO ALLOWS PEOPLE TO GET INTO THE BUILDING.
THEN CO OR OR JAIL INSPECTION PASS, THEN WE CAN EXECUTE THE MOVE.
UM, AND IT'S LOOKING REALLY GOOD OVER THERE.
I MEAN, THE WOOD WALL IS IN, THEY'RE ACTUALLY INSTALLING IT, THE WOOD FOR THE ELEVATORS, ALL THAT SURROUNDING IS BEING INSTALLED.
UM, I THINK THERE'S A COLOR MATCH ON SOME OF THE WOOD STUFF, BUT I MEAN, MAN, IT LOOKS REALLY ABOUT THE DOOR ISSUE.
THE DOORS CAME IN, THEY WERE ONLY SHORT TOO.
[01:10:01]
ARE COMING.BUT I MEAN, IT LOOKS PHENOMENAL.
I MEAN, WHEN YOU GUYS GO HOOK, WHEN YOU GO OVER THERE, YOU'LL SEE.
I MEAN, IT, IT DOES LOOK REALLY GOOD.
UH, THEY DID A PRELIMINARY WALKTHROUGH, HAD 200 SOMETHING PLUS ITEMS ON THEIR WALKTHROUGH.
SO THEY'VE BEEN WORKING THE PUNCH LIST.
I MEAN, THEY'VE GONE A LONG WAYS IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
HOW ABOUT THE EXPANSION? WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THE EXPANSION? UM, THE EXPANSION THEY HAVE, THEY ACTUALLY GOT, YOU KNOW, THE METAL UP, THE CONCRETE'S IN, THEY'RE DOING METAL STUDS CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW.
UM, THERE IS SOME HOLDBACKS ON A FEW ITEMS COMING.
AND MAINLY IT'S THE AIR CONDITIONING UNITS.
UM, I THINK, I THINK THE LAST I HEARD MR. JACK, IS IT CORRECT, IT WAS LIKE 38 WEEKS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT FOR THE I NEVER HEARD OF THAT.
AND OUR MEETING LAST TUESDAY, I THINK IT WAS TALKING ABOUT LIKE 38 WEEKLY TIME OR SOMETHING ON THAT, UH, EIGHT WEEKS TO HAVE AIR.
THE, UH, YEAH, WELL THE, THE CHILLER AND THE, THE CHILLER AND THE BOILER ARE BUILT TO PROVIDE HEATING AND COOLING FOR EXPANSIONS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BUILDINGS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT SPECIFIC THING.
WELL, THERE MUST BE A AIR HANDLERS.
BUT NO, I MEAN, THIS BUILT SPECS, I MEAN, THEY'RE BUILT TO MATCH THAT BUILDING.
I MEAN, THEY, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY CHOICE.
SO WHEN YOU PUT IN A ORDER FOR ONE, IT'S NOT TOMORROW.
UH, THE, UH, GALLAGHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PRETTY CREATIVE AT FIGURING OUT HOW THIS ISN'T THE FIRST THING THEY'VE HAD LEAD TIMES.
THEY ACTUALLY GOT THAT REDUCED.
BY KEEPING THE SAME SPECIFICATIONS.
THE, THE AIR HANDLERS ARE THE SAME SPECIFICATIONS, BUT THEY'VE REWORKED THE UNITS TO GET THE PRICING DOWN ON 'EM.
I MEAN, NOT THE PRICING, THE LEAD TIME DOWN ON THEM.
WHAT ABOUT THE, WHAT ABOUT THE SHERIFF'S SUBSTATION IN INFORMING? WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THAT? I DON'T, I HAVEN'T BEEN OUT THERE.
UM, I'M NOT AWARE OF THAT ONE.
WE DID DISCUSS, UH, RIGHT NOW THEY'RE JUST DOING ALL THE DIRT WORK, UH, MOVING ALL THAT, PLUS ALSO MAKING THE PLOT WHERE WE CAN DO OUR RADIO, UH, TIRE OUT THERE, THE 60 BY 60.
SO RIGHT NOW THEY'RE JUST IN THE PRELIMINARY OF DOING ALL THE DIRT WORK AND GETTING IT WORK IT ACCOMPLISHED IN DRAINAGE.
IS RYAN, IS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE OVERSEEING MAINTENANCE ON THAT? OR FACILITIES MANAGEMENT? OR IS FACILITIES DOING THAT? ON WHICH ONE? ON THE SHERIFF'S SUBSTATION? UM, THE MAINTENANCE PART OF IT, I DON'T KNOW, IS NO, NOBODY'S HAD THAT DISCUSSION YET.
I'M JUST FOLLOWING UP, MAKE SURE IT'S EVERYTHING'S BEING DONE ON OUR END.
SO, I MEAN, THAT SEEMS LIKE THAT OUGHT BE PART OF FACILITIES NEEDS TO BE IN INTEGRATED IN THAT ULTIMATELY IT'S GONNA BE A COUNTY FACILITY.
AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE WERE, WE'RE WORKING THROUGH RIGHT NOW TOO, IS ON THE, THE JAIL SIDE OF, AT THE COURTHOUSE.
YOU KNOW, OUR JANITORIAL STAFF ARE GONNA BE CLEANING, YOU KNOW, DURING THE DAY AND THAT NIGHT, YOU KNOW, AND ONE THING THAT WE NEED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IS, DO YOU WANT US CLEANING INSIDE THOSE CELLS AT NIGHT, DURING THE DAY? THEN WE'LL TAKE CARE OF ALL THAT FOR THE SECURITY AREA.
JUST WANTED IS THAT CONTRACT, IS THAT JANITORIAL CONTRACT, HAS THAT BEEN AMENDED OR, I MEAN, IT'S ACTUALLY, WHERE ARE WE ON THAT? IT'S ACTUALLY NOT A CONTRACT.
IT'S ACTUALLY WE HIRE, UH, TWO PEOPLE, TWO ADDITIONAL STAFFING TO COVER THAT.
SO WE HAVE FOUR PEOPLE THAT WILL BE WORKING AT THE JUSTICE CENTER, TWO DURING THE DAY AND TWO AT NIGHT.
AND, UH, WE HAVE A OVERLAPPING SHIFT AN HOUR SO THAT THEY CAN BE INTEGRATED ON WHAT HAPPENED FOR THE DAY AND WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN THE REST OF THE DAY.
ARE ARE THOSE GUYS ON BOARD ALREADY? UH, TWO OF THEM ARE, YES, SIR.
AND, UM, ONE OF THE LADIES THAT WE WERE GOING TO MOVE OVER THERE IS, IS OUT WITH, UH, UM, SOME MEDICAL STUFF.
AND I DON'T THINK SHE'S GOING TO RETURN, I THINK SHE'S GOING TO END UP RETIRING, SO WE'RE GOING TO REPLACE WHEN SHE RETIRES, WILL BACKFILL THAT POSITION.
BUT ONE OF THE LADIES THAT'S CURRENTLY WORKING FOR US NOW AT THE COURTHOUSE IS THE ONE THAT WE'LL MOVE OVER THERE AND THEN WE'LL REPLACE ONE OF THE ONES THAT'S RETIRING.
AND THEN THE TWO NEW PEOPLE WE HIRED WILL BE THE NIGHT SHIFT MM-HMM.
YEAH, IT'S, IT'S GONNA GET CLEAN.
UM, OUR LAWN CARE GUY IS DOING A GREAT JOB.
UH, WE'VE GOT LOTS OF COMPLIMENTS ON THAT.
UM, HE'S MOWED EVERYTHING IN THE COUNTY SO FAR.
UM, YEAH, HE'S DONE 40, HE'S DONE, UH, TA HE'S DONE PRECINCT FOUR.
UM, ONE THING THAT WE'RE REALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO IS THE EDGING, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE LAST COMPANY WASN'T DOING A VERY GOOD JOB ON EDGING.
WE'RE ACTUALLY USING AN EDGER TO EDGE, UH, RATHER THAN A WEED EATER.
SO, I MEAN, IT REALLY GIVES A CLEAN LOOK WHEN YOU'RE DONE.
BUT, SO HE'S DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB.
[01:15:01]
UM, THAT WILL BE A HUGE TASK.UH, AFTER ME, I WAS OVER THERE AT THE JUSTICE CENTER LOOKING AROUND.
THERE IS A LOT OF VEGETATION THAT'S BEEN PLANTED OVER THERE.
AND I SEE WHY YOU SAID, OH, WE'LL MOW
IT'S, IT'S DEFINITELY A LOT FROM, FROM ONE PERSON TO, UH, TO MANAGE.
SO WE MAY HAVE SOME OF MY GUYS HELPING OUT TEMPORARILY, BUT AGAIN, ONCE WE PUT THE RIGHT STUFF DOWN, IT SHOULD HELP KILL THAT STUFF OUT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR BOBBY? ARE WE ALL DONE WITH THE LIBRARY AS WELL? UM, YES SIR.
OUR LIBRARY STUFF HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
UM, MINUS SOME REMODEL OF THE BATHROOMS THAT HASN'T CAME TO YOU GUYS FOR APPROVAL AND BUDGET STUFF, YOU KNOW, UM, THERE ARE, THE BATHROOMS NEED TO BE DONE OVER THERE.
UM, THEY'RE JUST OUTDATED AND THEY'RE OLD.
YOU KNOW, WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT WAS A BIG COMPLAINT FROM CITIZENS AND VOTING AND, AND STUFF OUT THERE.
IT'S LIKE HE DID ALL THIS OTHER STUFF, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE BATHROOMS? SO, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE STALLS NEED TO BE, I MEAN, THEY'RE JUST, THEY'RE JUST OLD STALLS, YOU KNOW? I MEAN, UM, WE NEED TO UPDATE 'EM WITH TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY, WHICH, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE, I WOULDN'T KNOW ABOUT THAT, THE NINETIES.
SO, UH, THEY MAKE FULL PLASTIC STALLS NOW THAT ARE EASIER TO CLEAN AND THEY ACTUALLY LAST A LONG TIME OTHER THAN OUR METAL ONES.
THE METAL ONES, WHICH WAS, WE HAVE THE SAME, WHICH WE HAD IN THE OLD COURTHOUSE AS WELL.
ONE, I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT HAVING A RECURRING FACILITIES WALKED THROUGH A PROCEDURE.
ARE YOU, ARE YOU, ARE YOU IMPLEMENTING THAT? IS THAT ONGOING FOR ALL OF THAT? YES, SIR.
WE QUARTERLY, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.
EVERY QUARTER WE DO A WALKTHROUGH.
UH, CASEY AND MYSELF WILL DO THAT.
THE BIGGEST THING IS, IS I KNOW THAT A LOT OF THESE BUILDINGS ARE, WELL, NOT A LOT, SOME OF THESE BUILDINGS ARE GOING AWAY.
UM, SOME OF 'EM ARE GONNA BE REMODELED.
UM, I, WHAT I DON'T KNOW IS, IS WHAT'S LIKE THE COURTHOUSE? WHAT IS THE PLAN ON THAT? I MEAN, IS THERE A PLAN FOR THE REMODEL OF THE COURTHOUSE? DO WE KNOW THAT YET? OR WE DON'T KNOW YET.
THE, UH, WELL, WE KNOW WE COMMITTED YEAH.
WE, WE, I MEAN THAT'S WHY WE, THAT THAT WAS THE COMMIT.
WHAT WE MADE TO THE VOTERS FOR THIS BOND IS THAT THAT HISTORIC COURTHOUSE WILL BE RENOVATED.
UH, I, I KNOW WE'RE KIND OF DRAGGING OUR FEET ON THAT.
AND WE NEED TO GO FORWARD BECAUSE, UH, I'M SURE YOU'LL AGREE THAT EVERY MONTH WE'RE BASICALLY BLEEDING MONEY, UH, BOTH IN VALUE AND COST.
WELL, I, I, YOU KNOW, I WILL, I WILL SAY THAT I'VE, I'VE BROUGHT SOME, A ROOFING COMPANY OUT TO LOOK AND, YOU KNOW, OUR, THE ROOFS ON THIS FACILITY, NOT, NOT UNDER THIS ONE, BUT THE ANNEX, UH, THE, THAT ROOF, BOTH THE, UH, THE COURTHOUSE, WELL, ALL THREE OF THE ROOFS AT THE COURTHOUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE AN UPPER LEVEL AND THEN A TWO LOWER LEVELS, TWO LOWER LEVELS HAVE BEEN SPRAY.
FOAMED HAVE LIKE A FOAM ROOF ON 'EM.
THIS ROOF HAS A FOAM ROOF ON IT.
UM, THE UPPER LEVEL AT THE COURTHOUSE IS THE TAR AND GRAVEL.
UM, SO THE THREE BUILDINGS THAT I REALLY FOCUSED ON, WHICH WAS THIS ONE, THE COURTHOUSE AND THE JUVENILE PROBATION.
JUVENILE PROBATION HAS A TAR AND GRAVEL ROOF ON IT AS WELL.
THE JUVENILE PROBATION ROOF COULD BE SAVED PRETTY EASILY RIGHT NOW, IF WE, WE MOVE PRETTY QUICK ON IT.
UM, WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS, IS THIS TAR AND GRAVEL.
SO WE REMOVE THE ROCK OFF OF IT.
THEY RE THEY RE FLOOD IT WITH TAR AND REAPPLY THE GRAVEL BACK ON TOP.
UM, AND THAT ONE WOULD BE GOOD FOR A LONG TIME.
UM, THE ONE OVER AT THE COURTHOUSE, UM, THE TWO LOWER LEVELS HAVE THE PHONE ON AND THEY'RE IN, I MEAN, ME AND YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS A WHILE BACK, JUDGE.
AND, AND IT WAS ONE OF THOSE ONES WHERE, CAN WE HOLD OFF ON IT JUST A LITTLE BIT? AND WE HAVE, WE'VE HELD OFF AND WE'VE PATCHED AND, AND STUFF, AND WE'VE DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB ON KEEPING THAT BUILDING DRY.
BUT IT'S COMING TO THE END OF ITS LIFESPAN.
THAT FOAM ROOFING SYSTEM IS, IS, IT'S A, IT'S A 15 YEAR SOLUTION WITH, UH, EVERY FIVE YEAR KIND OF MAINTENANCE ON IT DURING THAT TIME.
UM, BUT THIS ROOF HERE IS, IS IT'S, IT'S GOT SOME BUBBLES IN IT AND THE BUBBLES HAVE POPPED.
THERE'S FOAM, I DON'T KNOW, THERE'S ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF, ALMOST FIVE INCHES OF FOAM ON THIS ROOF ON THAT PART OF IT.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE SUN BLISTERS IT, YOU KNOW, SO IT KIND OF SWELLS UP AND THEN IT HAD POP AND THEN WATER GETS IN THERE.
SO JUST BECAUSE YOU SEE WATER IN THAT AND THAT BUBBLE DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE WATER'S PENETRATING THROUGH THE ROOF CUZ IT'S A CLOSED CELL PHONE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THE THING IS, IS, YOU KNOW, EVERY BUBBLE THAT YOU HAVE IS, IS HOLDING WATER OVER A PERIOD OF
[01:20:01]
TIME.AND YOU KNOW, THIS BUILDING'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S RATED TO HOLD A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF WEIGHT, BUT TO ANSWER YOUR YEAH, AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION THOUGH, UH, AND I MEAN WE DO, UH, WE ARE COMMITTED TO THAT.
THAT WAS KIND OF A HIGHLIGHT PROJECT IN THE BOND ELECTION WAS TO RENOVATE THE COURTHOUSE.
SO, AND THERE'S A LOT OF, IT'S GONNA BE AN EXPENSIVE PROJECT.
WHAT, WHAT ABOUT THE WATER THAT WAS ABOVE THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE? DID YOU GET THAT ADDRESSED? YES, AND THAT'S, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT.
YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A BUBBLE THAT WAS THERE, UM, THAT BUBBLE HAS POPPED FROM, IT WAS JUST BLISTERED FROM THE SUN AND THAT POPPED AND THERE WAS WATER JUST STANDING IN THE FOAM.
BUT LIKE I SAID, THERE'S, THERE'S FIVE INCHES OF FOAM ON THAT ROOF AND YOU KNOW, THE, THE TOP, YOU KNOW, THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH PEEL OFF AND WATER WAS HOLDING IN THERE.
SO THERE'S NO WATER THAT'S GONNA PENETRATE BECAUSE IT IS A CLOSED CELL PHONE ROOF.
UM, WHERE WE HAD WATER COMING IN AT, AT THIS FACILITY WAS, THERE'S A, THERE'S A VENT THAT'S IN THE, UH, THE HALLWAY OF THE UPSTAIRS AREA THAT'S ABOVE THE CEILING.
THE WIND WAS BLOWING THE WATER THROUGH, WELL, THE WIND WAS BLOWING THE WATER INTO THE VENT AND THEN WATER WAS COMING DOWN THE VENT.
THAT'S WHERE WE HAD OUR PROBLEM.
SO WHAT WE'VE TEMPORARILY DID IS WE JUST PUT A TARP OVER IT AND WE PUT BLOCKS ON THERE TO HOLD THAT DOWN TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING.
BUT I MEAN, WHEN YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, 70 MILE AN HOUR WIND AND YOU GOTTA, I MEAN, AND IT'S COMING FROM ALL DIRECTION, THE WATER WAS JUST BLOWING THROUGH THERE.
THIS HAPPENED AT THE SAME THING AT THE COURTHOUSE AS WELL.
THERE'S FRESH AIR VENTS FOR OUR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS OVER THERE.
WIND WAS BLOWING SIDEWAYS IN THERE AND IT WAS JUST BLOWING IT RIGHT INTO THE VENT.
SO WE HAD TO COVER IT UP TO SEAL IT OFF AS WELL.
UM, AND THEN COME BACK AND TAKE IT OFF.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WINTERS COMING, WE'RE PREPARING ALL THE BUILDINGS FOR THAT, YOU KNOW, GETTING READY TO, UH, ALL THE WATER SPICKETS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDINGS, GETTING THEM COVERED UP AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WATER SPTS THAT ARE OUT AND ABOUT IN YARDS THAT WE NEED TO SHUT OFF THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA USE.
UM, ALL OF OUR SPRINKLER SYSTEMS, WE'RE STARTING TO SHUT ALL THOSE BACK DOWN FOR THE YEAR, DRAIN THOSE OFF.
SO WE DON'T HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THOSE.
SO WE'RE PREPARING FOR WINTER, BUT, UH, AND WE'RE STILL TAKING CARE OF WORK ORDERS ON A DAILY BASIS AS WELL.
AND THEN THE LAST THING IS, I, I KNOW THIS IS SOME TIME AGO WE TALKED ABOUT THE PROJECT TO REPLACE THE WINDOWS OVER AT THE EOC.
WHAT, WHERE, WHERE ARE YOU ON THAT? WE DID NOT BRING THAT BACK TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT THIS LAST BUDGET CYCLE.
UM, THERE WAS A QUITE A FEW THINGS THAT WE ACTUALLY DID NOT BRING BACK.
TRYING TO REDUCE OUR BUDGET AND KEEP OUR BUDGET UNDER.
THERE'S NO, THOSE WINDOWS ARE JUST, THEY'RE JUST, OH, THEY'RE SINGLE PAYING GLASS WINDOWS.
UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK AND CHANGE THOSE OUT TO A DOUBLE PANED GLASS WINDOW COMMERCIAL STYLE WHERE THEY DON'T OPEN AND, AND CLOSE, UH, LIKE IN STEVE HUEY'S OFFICE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S WINDOWS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST GOT THE OLD LEVERS ON 'EM, THEN YOU PULL 'EM OPEN OR YOU PUSH 'EM OUT OR WHATNOT.
UM, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO, BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT WE WERE TRYING, WHAT Y'ALL WERE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THE BUDGET THIS LAST YEAR, WE DID NOT PROPOSE DOING THAT THIS YEAR.
[6. Judge Richards; Discuss/Consider funding allocations to non-profit organizations.]
UH, WILL YOU PASS, DID COMMISSIONER CASE ON THAT? UM, SO WE'VE HAD A, A LITTLE, I GUESS A LITTLE UHOH IN OUR, IN THIS NEXT ITEM THAT'S SO, SO SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST, I DON'T KNOW, IN, IN SOME OF OUR MEETINGS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, UM, THE PROCESS FOR FUNDING NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.UH, SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, WE'VE, WE'VE TRIED TO, UH, HAVE SOME KIND OF AN APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THESE ORGANIZATIONS.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE GIVING THEM, UH, WE'RE PROVIDING THEM WITH TAXPAYERS DOLLARS.
AND I'VE NEVER FELT FROM THE BEGINNING, I NEVER FELT COMFORTABLE THAT WE WERE, IT, IT JUST SEEMED LIKE WE WERE JUST SORT OF DOING THE SAME THING EVERY YEAR.
AND WE'RE NOT REALLY, I DIDN'T THINK WE WERE GOING THROUGH ANY SORT OF PROCESS TO VERIFY THAT THESE WHAT THEIR MISSION IS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE, THEY HAVE A GOOD PROPER ACCOUNTING FOR THE MONEY THAT WE'RE GIVING THEM.
AND WHAT, WHAT HAPPENED, UH, WHEN WE WERE REWARDED THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN MONEY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE THOUGHT YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, THAT WE THOUGHT WE MIGHT BE USING ARPA MONEY TO FUND SOME OF THE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH MAY STILL HAPPEN.
BUT, BUT YOU KNOW, WE, WE WENT, OF COURSE, WE, OUR, OUR BUDGET ON THE EXPANSION AT THE JUSTICE CENTER, THE
[01:25:01]
NUMBERS CAME IN QUITE A BIT HIGHER THAN WHAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY THOUGHT.YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF GOT CAUGHT IN THAT COVID THING.
SO, BUT ANYWAY, WE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE GIVING ARPA MONEY TO THESE, UH, NON-PROFITS.
AND SO WE GOT, UH, UH, WE GOT TITLE BASIN TO, TO GIVE US A, TO HELP US PREPARE AN APPLICATION FORM THAT WOULD, THAT THEY FELT LIKE WOULD MEET THE STANDARDS IF, IF WE GAVE AN ORGANIZATION APA MONEY, THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WOULDN'T GET IN TROUBLE WITH THE TREASURY BECAUSE WE WERE GIVING MONEY TO AN ORGANIZATION THAT WASN'T, DIDN'T HAVE GOOD PROPER ACCOUNTING AND GOVERNANCE AND THAT SORT OF THING.
SO WHERE WE ARE, UH, WE HAD 11, WE'VE HAD 11 OF OUR NONPROFITS THAT WE'VE GIVEN MONEY TO BEFORE.
WE HAD 11 OF THEM SUBMIT THE APPLICATIONS, WHICH YOU GUYS HAVE RECEIVED A FEW WEEKS AGO.
UH, WE HAVE TWO THAT DID NOT, THAT HAVE NOT PROVIDED THE APPLICATIONS.
I I TALKED TO A BOARD MEMBER AT SENIOR CONNECT AND THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING ON GETTING US AN APPLICATION, BUT HERE'S WHAT I THOUGHT WE WERE CLEAR ON, AND I GUESS NOT, I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO NOT PROVIDE ANY MONEY TO ANY NON-PROFITS UNTIL WE HAD THE CHANCE TO REVIEW THEIR APPLICATIONS AND DISCUSS IT.
BUT WE HAVE PAID THEM MONEY ALREADY.
UM, SO WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY, OR WHAT I'M PROPOSING WE DO TODAY IS, UH, HEAR FROM THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AS TO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AS FAR AS FUNDING THESE ORGANIZATIONS.
UM, KAREN, AM I CORRECT IN SAYING THAT, THAT WE HAVE $373,000 BUDGETED FOR THIS YEAR, OR $372,941 BUDGETED? YES, SIR.
SO THE QUESTION FOR YOU, GENTLEMEN, IS HOW DO YOU WANT TO ALLOCATE THAT MONEY? WELL, I, I I, I KIND OF BEGGED A DIFFER ON THE ARPA.
THE ARPA WAS OBLIGATED WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT FOR BUILDING PROGRAMS. WE DID IT AS A COURT.
AND YOU ACTUALLY SAID THE SAME THING.
I GUESS THIS LAST COURT, WHOEVER CAME AND TALKED TO THEY, IT IS NOW FUNDING.
VERY EARLY ON, VERY EARLY ON WE FIRST THE REMAINING APA MONEY AND FOR OKAY.
BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S YOU, YOU REMEMBERED I REMEMBER IT.
BUT THEN THIS, THE BUDGET, THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS, KAREN HAS SAID SEVERAL TIMES I'VE PUT, I'VE JUST, WE NEED TO DISCUSS THE NON-PROFITS.
I'VE JUST FILLED IN THE BLANKS THE SAME WAY IT WAS THE YEAR BEFORE.
AND IF WE KNOW TO DO MAKE ANY CHANGES, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT IN TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
IT WAS, I, I KNOW TWO OR THREE TIMES SHE HAD SAID THAT TO REMIND US, WE NEVER DID MOVE FORWARD, BUT I, AND, AND THE APPLICATIONS YOU GAVE ME WERE ALL JULY AND AUGUST DATES ON 'EM SO THAT WE HAD THEM IN OUR POSSESSION EARLY ENOUGH TO GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS WITH THESE.
SO I, I THINK I APPROVED THE BUDGET, BUT WITHOUT THE LINE ITEMS IN THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT FUND FOR ALL THESE NON-PROFITS.
SO I THINK THAT SINCE I, WE APPROVE THE BUDGET, THAT WHAT'S IN THE BUDGET THAT WE APPROVED, THE NUMBERS NEED TO STAY THE SAME.
AND THEN IN YOUR LIST, LIKE YOU SAID, THERE'S A COUPLE OF THEM THAT, OR NOT EVEN OWN THE FUNDING LIST.
WELL, THERE'S TWO IN THE APPLICATION THAT I'VE RECEIVED THE, OKAY.
SO THE, THE ONES, I THINK THE DISCUSSION NEEDS TO BE ONE, DO WE HAVE THE MONEY TO HELP FUND THESE ONES THAT AREN'T ON THE RECURRING FUNDING LIST AND, AND DISCUSS WHAT WE WANT TO DO FOR THE, OR IF WE CAN DO FOR THEM.
BUT THE ONES THAT WERE ALREADY IN THE BUDGET ALREADY LISTED WITH A DOLLAR AMOUNT, THESE PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY STARTED DOING THEIR BUDGETS.
THEY COUNTED ON THIS IN THEIR BUDGETING PROCESS.
SO, I MEAN, I THINK WE CAN'T GO AND RECANT WHAT WE'VE ALREADY VOTED ON IN THE BUDGET.
SO I THINK THE ONES THAT WE ARE NOT FUNDING NOW, WE NEED TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE ONES THAT ARE IN THE BUDGET STAY THE WAY THEY ARE.
SO THE, THE NONPROFITS, THE ONES THAT WE FUNDED BEFORE AND ALL THAT, THEY, THEY FOLLOWED UP WITH OUR REQUEST TO FILL OUT THE APPLICATION.
UM, AND THEN YOU'RE SAYING THAT WE SHOULD JUST GO AHEAD AND FUND THE TWO NONPROFITS THAT, UH, HAVEN'T SUBMITTED THAT.
NO, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THOSE IF WE HAVE THE MONEY.
AND I KNOW WE HAD, IF WE SIGNED THE CONTRACT THAT WE VOTED ON LAST WEEK FOR THE JUDGE, RICH'S POSITION HE REQUESTED WAS LIKE 187,000.
THAT'S, THAT'S NO COST TO THE COUNTY.
BUT WE SAVED THAT MONEY BECAUSE IT WAS BUDGETED, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T, IT WAS GONNA WORK OUT OUR GROUP.
I NEED TO EXPLAIN THAT I BUDGETED FOR IT ON THE CONDITION.
[01:30:01]
HADN'T HAD A MUTUAL AGREEMENT.I PUT IT IN THAT BUDGET FOR A FULL SALARY AND BENEFITS TRAVEL AND TRAINING.
THAT MONEY CAN BE MOVED AND USED SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AS SOON AS THE CONTRACT THAT WE APPROVED IS FINALIZED, EXCUSE ME, THE CONTRACT IS FINALIZED.
IT WAS AN MOU AGREEMENT THAT NPA HAD SIGNED ALREADY.
THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT PASSED IT AND EXECUTED IT LAST WEEK.
SO WHAT'S THAT AMOUNT, UH, THAT WE COULD USE THAT WAS BUDGET? SOME THOUSAND DOLLARS.
CAUSE I INCLUDE EVERYTHING IN THAT.
I MADE A WHOLE NEW DEPARTMENT FOR THAT.
SO I JUST THINK THAT THE DISCUSSION NEEDS TO BE IN THE ONES, I MEAN, IN MY MIND, WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED A BUDGET WITH THE LINE ITEMS ON IT AND THE TWO THAT ARE REQUESTING THAT ARE NOT IN THERE, THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE WANT TO OR NOT WANT TO FUND THEM.
AND I THINK YOUR LIST HAS THREE, WHICH, WHICH IS IN COURT.
I'VE MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES THAT IN DEPARTMENT 4 0 9 I HAD PUT THE EXACT SAME AMOUNT BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW IF Y'ALL WANTED TO INCREASE OR DECREASE.
THOSE PAYMENTS ARE DONE QUARTERLY.
I CHANGED ONE LAST YEAR TO HELP THAT ENTITY THAT YOU APPROVED ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
IT'S PUT BACK THAT IT'S A REOCCURRING QUARTERLY THING AND IT'S IN MY SYSTEM TO POP UP AND PAY.
AND I MADE MY CLERK WAIT TWO WEEKS BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TOLD THE FIRST WEEK IN OCTOBER, Y'ALL ARE GONNA DECIDE THIS.
SO I KNEW I COULD GET THEIR MONEY TO 'EM.
THEY'RE CALLING BEGGING FOR THEIR MONEY BECAUSE THEY NEEDED TO OPERATE THE ENTITIES THAT WE PAY QUARTERLY.
THESE LIBRARIES, THE SENIOR CONNECT, THE ELDERLY AND UH, STAR TRANSIT.
SO, SO THERE IS, UH, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, WE, WE HAVE MADE, FOR INSTANCE, A PAYMENT TO SENIOR CONNECT ALREADY ONE PAYMENT.
UH, AND IF YOU'LL GO BACK AND CHECK THE RECORDS, YOU'LL FIND THAT LAST YEAR THIS COURT AGREED IN AN EFFORT TO HELP SENIOR CONNECT THROUGH A A UH, HMM.
A SENIOR, UH, I'M SORRY, A SINGLE INCIDENT MM-HMM.
SO, UH, IT, BY WAY OF DISCUSSION, I THINK THAT THIS 125 SHOULD HAVE REVERTED TO A HUNDRED.
UH, THAT WAS THE, THAT WAS A ONE TIME ADJUSTMENT LAST YEAR.
UH, BUT WHAT I RECOLLECT IN OUR DISCUSSIONS DURING THE BUDGET WAS THAT WE HAD DISCUSSIONS THAT WE WOULD TAKE THIS NONPROFIT FUNDING AND PUT IT IN A SINGLE LINE ITEM AND WAIT UNTIL SUCH TIME AS WE, AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT.
AND THERE, THERE'S PLENTY OF RECORD ON THAT.
THERE'S CON THERE'S BEEN, KY WAS COMMENTS MADE, BUT NO NOTICING.
THE LAST, THE, THE, ONE OF OUR VERY LAST MEETINGS, UH, THE AUDITOR SAID, WELL, WHAT AM I, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO ABOUT THESE? AND WE SAID, LET'S PUT THAT MONEY IN ONE LUMP SUM AND WE WILL MEET TO DECIDE HOW TO ALLOCATE IT.
I'LL TAKE BLAME FOR THAT CUZ I DIDN'T DO IT.
I LEFT IT IN THE SAME LINE ITEMS BECAUSE THAT'S THE FUNDING THAT I KEPT REPEATING AND REPEATING AND REPEATING TO ALL FIVE OF YOU THAT NEEDED TO BE LOOKED AT.
AND YOU NEEDED TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO.
WELL, WE'RE IN THE, UH, WE'RE IN THE FIRST MONTH OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
WELL, WE'RE IN THE FIRST MONTH OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.
NO, I STILL THINK WE, I VOTED AND ADOPTED A BUDGET WITH THESE LINE ITEMS ON IT AND I JUST THINK WE NEED TO, OKAY.
I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA ASK THAT WE TABLE THIS ITEM AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU WHY.
ONE OF THE ISSUES, AND I'M GONNA TRY TO BE AS DISCREET AS I CAN.
ONE OF THE ISSUES IS THAT ONE OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE TRADITIONALLY FUNDED IN THE LEADERSHIP OF THAT ORGANIZATION IS SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME OF EMBEZZLING MONEY FROM A NONPROFIT.
SO, UH, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS BEING ADDRESSED RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT'S ALL I'M GONNA SAY ABOUT THAT.
UM, AND I'M GONNA CALL FOR A MOTION TO TABLE ITEM SIX AND WE WILL DISCUSS IT AT OUR NEXT MEETING.
SO MOVE, WE HAVE A MOTION TO TABLE ITEM SIX.
IS THERE A SECOND? MOST? SECOND.
UH, SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BARBER.
THE MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER KATES.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFIED TO SAYING AYE.
[01:35:01]
OKAY.THAT'S TABLED UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING.
UM, ITEM SEVEN, TOMMY PHILLIPS
[7. Tommy Phillips; Discuss/Consider moving Jackie Robertson (County Extension office manager) from Clerk I to Clerk II. Employed since 8/2/1999.]
DISCUSS, CONSIDER MOVING.JACKIE ROBINSON COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT.
OFFICE MANAGER FROM CLERK ONE TO CLERK TWO, JUDGE COMMISSIONERS.
I WAS JOKING WITH MR. HUNT YESTERDAY.
I FEEL LIKE I'M BECOME A REGULAR HERE.
UM, JUST WANT TO BRING TO Y'ALL'S ATTENTION TODAY FOR, UM, DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION.
JACKIE ROBERTSON HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR OFFICE.
I THINK SHE STARTED AUGUST 2ND IN 1999.
AND I'VE KNOWN JACKIE EVEN IN MY FORMER POSITION IN VANZANT COUNTY.
SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN THE FACE OF OUR OFFICE WHEN YOU FIRST WALK IN.
UM, WHEN SHARON LEFT US IN RETIREMENT BACK IN JULY, JACKIE STEPPED UP OVER TO THE OFFICE MANAGER'S POSITION AND HAS BEEN HANDLING THE THREE OF US SINCE THEN.
UH, AND IT'S BEEN A DAUNTING TASK, ESPECIALLY WITH, UH, EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, OUR WORK STUFF.
SO, UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, UH, WITH HER EXPERIENCE AND EVERYTHING THAT SHE DOES, NOT ONLY FOR OUR OFFICE, BUT TAKING CARE OF THE FAIRGROUNDS, SHE RENTS OUT THE FAIRGROUNDS, SHE HANDLES ALL THE SCHEDULING, EVERYTHING.
I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE HER MOVE FROM, FROM CLERK ONE TO CLERK TWO, JUST TO RECOGNIZE HER, HER EFFORTS AND HER DEDICATION TO OUR OFFICE AND TO THE COUNTY.
HOW DID THIS AFFECT THE BUDGET IN ANY WAY? THAT, I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T, THAT'S, I DON'T DEAL WITH MONEY.
WELL,
UH, TALKING TO, UH, BRANDY AND MS. MCLEOD'S OFFICE THE OTHER DAY, IT WOULD BE ABOUT $3,500 DIFFERENCE.
SO IS THERE A LINE TRANSFER REQUIRED FOR THAT? NO, IT'S HIS SALARIES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WOULD THAT, LET ME, CAN I ASK A QUESTION? WOULD THAT AFFECT OUR OTHER SECRETARIAL POSITION THAT STARTED? I HAVE THE MONEY TO COVER ALL OF IT.
CAN WE JUST DEDUCT THAT FROM TOMMY? MM-HMM.
WE'RE GONNA RECANT WHAT I JUST SAID.
IF WITHOUT ANY QUESTIONS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT? UH, POSITION CHANGE? I'LL MAKE A MOTION WITH A MOTION.
COMMISSIONER KATES DISCUSSION.
THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES.
[8. Desiree Pool; Present the Indigent Health Department's quarterly report,]
DESIREE POOLE TO PRESENT THE INDIGENT HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S QUARTERLY REPORT.HOW'S EVERYBODY THIS MORNING? MORNING.
SO DID Y'ALL GET A COPY OF THE REPORT? MM-HMM.
SO SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH Y'ALL, UM, WE HOSTED OUR REGION THREE MEETING LAST MONTH.
WE HAD SIX COUNTIES, THREE HOSPITALS IN A CLINIC, AND THEN WE HAD SOME SPECIAL SPEAKERS.
THE JUDGE, UM, CARED AND, UH, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, TIFFANY FALWELL, THEY CAME IN AND DONE A PRESENTATION FOR US.
UM, WE HAD OUR, UM, TIKA MEETING, WHICH IS TEXAS INDIGENT HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATION LAST TWO WEEKS AGO.
UM, AND IT WAS REALLY, IT WAS DIFFERENT THIS YEAR.
I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT IT, IT FOCUSED MORE ON COUNTIES THAN IT DID STATE.
AND SO, UH, EVEN LIL GOT A LOT OUT OF IT THIS TIME.
SO I WAS PRETTY IMPRESSED WITH IT.
AND WE'RE GOING NEXT WEEK TO OUR SOFTWARE CONFERENCE AND SO HOPEFULLY NEXT QUARTER I'LL BE ABLE TO BRING Y'ALL SOME INFORMATION BACK ON THAT.
JUST WHILE YOU'RE HERE, I KNOW YOU HEARD THE PRESENTATION ON UH, UH, YES, SIR.
DO YOU HAVE ANY, ANY INITIAL, I KNOW YOU'RE NOT, PROBABLY HAVEN'T DONE ANY RESEARCH, ANY INITIAL REACTION TO HOW THAT MIGHT IMPACT OR INTEGRATE WITH YOUR PROGRAM? I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA AFFECT MY PROGRAM CUZ WE STILL HAVE THE PEOPLE THAT'S GONNA NEED US.
SO I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA BE ALL, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH THEM ON CERTAIN THINGS.
IF IT DOES COME ABOUT, THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL TO MY PEOPLE.
OURS IS BREAKING MORTAR
THAT'S, WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT REPORT.
SO WE'LL JUST MOVE ON TO ITEM NINE.
[9. Yasma Holland; Present/Discuss quarterly report (July 2022-September 2022) for the Kaufman County Library,]
UH, YAMA HOLLAND PRESENT, DISCUSS QUARTERLY REPORT FOR JULY 22 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 22.GOOD MORNING, JUDGE RICHARDS COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
UM, THIS QUARTER WE WRAPPED UP OUR SUMMER READING PROGRAM.
THIS WAS OUR FIRST ALL IN PERSON SINCE 19, UH, 2019.
WE HAD A LOT OF GOOD VOLUNTEERS THIS SUMMER.
[01:40:01]
OF THEM, AND THEY'RE ALL, MOST OF THEM WERE FRIENDS AT THE LIBRARY, BUT ROBERT BROWN, HIS YOUTH 180 GROUP ALSO FUNDED LIKE OUR LAST BIG, UM, FINALE, FUNDING THE PIZZA, THE DRINKS AND STUFF FOR LIKE OVER, UM, ALMOST 250 KIDS ON THAT LAST A DAY.UM, OUR STATS FOR THIS QUARTER, BECAUSE WE GRAB THE SUMMER ARE ALWAYS HIGHER.
MAY THROUGH AUGUST, THE KIDS ARE OUTTA SCHOOL, HOMESCHOOLERS, ALL OF THAT.
SO, UM, USUALLY THEY'RE LIKE 30, 40 PERCENTS HIGHER RUNNING THROUGH MAY, THROUGH AUGUST.
UM, WE INTRODUCED A NEW PROGRAM IN, UH, SEPTEMBER CALLED STEAM, WHICH IS SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS AND MATH.
WE DO THAT ON THE SECOND, UM, TUESDAYS OF THE MONTH.
SO LAST MONTH WE FOCUSED ON SYMMETRY.
THIS MONTH IT WAS, UM, STACKING AND ENERGY.
NEXT MONTH WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT MIXTURES AND SOLUTIONS.
SO THOSE ARE VERY WELL ATTENDED.
MELISSA DAY, WHO DOES A LOT OF THE CHILDREN'S PROGRAM IS HEADING UP THAT PROGRAM.
WHAT AGE GROUPS ARE PARTICIPATING IN THAT STEAM PROGRAM? THIS ONE IS FOCUSED AT EIGHT.
WE WERE ASKED TO DO ANOTHER ONE, UM, FOR ANOTHER AGE GROUP.
WE HAVE A TEEN PROGRAM THAT WE DO SOME OF THAT PROGRAM IN AS WELL.
BUT, UM, THERE HAVE BEEN A REQUEST FOR US TO DO ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT'S REALLY FOCUSED ON, UM, THE AGE GROUP FROM LIKE 11 TO 15 IN THERE.
SO WE'LL BE TRYING TO PUT THAT IN NEXT.
WE ALSO, UM, INTRODUCED ANOTHER BOOK CLUB JUST FOR MORE POPULAR AUTHORS.
THIS IS IN ANOTHER ADULT, A BOOK CLUB THAT MEETS ON THE SECOND THURSDAYS OF THE MONTH.
AND WE CALL IT AN ALL THINGS BOOK CLUB.
SO LAST MONTH I THINK WE DID LIKE CALLING HOOVER, WHO'S A TEXAS, UM, AUTHOR, GOT OUR FAME OFF OF YOUTUBE AND THEN GOT PICKED UP BY A BIG PUBLISHER.
SO SHE'S REALLY POPULAR WITH THAT YOUNG ADULT CROWD AS WELL TOO.
UM, THE FRIENDS WRAPPED UP THEIR ANNUAL BOOK SALE, UM, THIS EARLIER THIS MONTH, AND ALL OF THEIR FUNDING, YOU KNOW, GOES TO THE LIBRARY.
SO THEY FUND ALL OF THE KIDS PROGRAMS AS WELL AS ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT THE LIBRARY DOES AND ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED, THEY COME BACK AND DO THAT AS WELL TOO.
SO THEY HAD A REALLY SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISER.
WE ARE GETTING READY FOR OUR TRUNK OR TREAT TOMORROW.
SINCE THEY EARLY VOTE AT THE LIBRARY, WE HAVE TO KIND OF GET OUTSIDE OR, YOU KNOW, BRING IT IN THE LIBRARY.
BUT THE, THE PRESCHOOL STORY TIME IS LIKE 40 KIDS EVERY WEEK PLUS THEIR CAREGIVERS.
SO WE MOVE THAT OUTSIDE AND WE'LL DO A TRUNK OR TREAT PRECINCT ONE IS COMING WITH THEIR HEAVY EQUIPMENT, THE KAMAN FIRE DEPARTMENT CARE FLIGHT.
THE FRIENDS POP THEIR TRUCKS AND GIVE AWAY CANDY AND SO IT IS A REALLY GOOD TURNOUT.
SO, AND THEY REALLY ARE HAPPY TO SEE ALL THAT BIG EQUIPMENT.
SO DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME OR, UM, THERE ANY QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER? I'M GLAD THE BATHROOMS WILL BE GETTING ADDRESSED.
SO I'M REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE BUILDING.
[10. Robert Hunter; Present/Accept Veterans Services quarterly report for 4th quarter FY22.]
UH, ROBERT HUNTER PRESENT FOR ACCEPTANCE THE VETERAN'S SERVICES QUARTERLY REPORT FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER.YOU THINK YOU NEED A WINDBREAKER TODAY?
YEAH, SOMETIMES I JUST LEAVE IT ON ALL DAY.
SO THE, UH, I'M, I'M SURE EVERYBODY GOT THE REPORTS THAT WE SUBMITTED OR THE, THE SLIDES AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU, UH, GENTLEMEN HAVE LIKED TO RECEIVE IN THE PAST.
UM, THE ONLY NOTE I'LL MAKE IS THAT, UH, WITH REGARDS TO THAT PORTION IS THIS WAS OUR BIGGEST YEAR AS A FISCAL YEAR SINCE WE STARTED, OR SINCE I STARTED WORKING, UH, IN THE DEPARTMENT.
UH, THIS IS THE SECOND QUARTER IN A ROW WHERE WE SET NEW RECORDS FOR THE NUMBER OF SERVICE TICKETS THAT WERE CREATED.
I BELIEVE A LOT OF THAT IS IN PART REALLY FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
I THINK LAST QUARTER WAS BIG AND THIS QUARTER AS WELL BECAUSE OF LEGISLATION AND, UM, THE NEW LAWS THAT ARE BEING PUT INTO PLACE FOR VETERANS.
UH, THE BIGGEST ONE BEING THE PACKED ACT, WHICH EXPANDS THE PRESUMPTIVE SERVICE CONNECTED CONDITIONS, UH, FOR THE VETERANS OF THE VIETNAM ERA.
IT ADDED, UM, THAILAND, GUAM, AMERICAN SAMOA AS COUNTRIES THAT ARE NOW, UM, ELIGIBLE FOR THAT REQUIREMENT.
AS WELL AS, UM, IT ADDED A FEW, UM, HYPERTENSION, IT ADDED HYPERTENSION TO, UH, THEIR LIST OF CONDITIONS.
BUT ADDITIONALLY IT ADDED PRES, IT ADDED A WHOLE NEW PRESUMPTIVE SERVICE CONNECTED CONDITION, UH, SET OF RULES FOR BASICALLY MY GENERATION OF VETERANS.
VETERANS OF, WE'LL JUST SAY THE DESERT.
SO GULF WAR, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME THAT WILL SAY THE GULF WAR STARTED IN DESERT STORM, BUT REALLY THERE WAS A PAUSE AND A MOMENT OF PEACE AND THEN WE WENT BACK AGAIN.
SO, BUT ANYONE ESSENTIALLY FROM DESERT
[01:45:01]
STORM, UM, WHO SERVED IN THE DESERT TILL NOW IS NOW ELIGIBLE UNDER THOSE PRESUMPTIVES SHOULD THEY HAVE THE CONDITIONS LISTED.AND, AND I'M NOT GONNA LIST OFF ALL OF THOSE CONDITIONS NOW, BUT THE, THE, THE LIST IS RATHER EXTENSIVE AND IT PRETTY MUCH MIRRORS SOMEWHAT WITH THE SAME SORT OF SYMPTOMS OR, OR CONDITIONS THAT THE VETERANS OF VIETNAM HAVE IN THEIR PRESUMPTIVE LIST.
SO I REALLY THINK WE GOT AN INFLUX, UH, ESPECIALLY WITH PHONE CALLS, PEOPLE ASKING ABOUT THE RULES, ASKING TO DO INTENSE TO FILES.
AND THEN OF COURSE THE, THAT VET PRO SOFTWARE IS STILL AMAZING.
WE'RE DOING, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TAKING CARE OF TICKETS WITHOUT ACTUALLY HAVING VETERANS PHYSICALLY COME TO THE OFFICE.
NOW WE'RE ABLE TO SUBMIT CLAIMS. SO I STILL THINK THAT PLAYS A BIG FACTOR.
SO, UM, OUTSIDE OF THE NUMBERS, THE, UH, THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT I'D LIKE TO KIND OF TOUCH BASE ON, UM, WE ARE REACCREDITED, SO WE PASSED OUR TEST AND DID ALL OF OUR REACCREDITATION.
SO THIS MARKS THE FIFTH TRADE YEAR THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT AND, AND PROVIDE THAT SERVICE.
UM, IT'S, IT'S JUST A SUPER HUGE BENEFIT.
I'M ACTUALLY, BY BEING ACCREDITED, WE'RE ABLE TO LOG INTO THE VA SYSTEM AND PHYSICALLY LOOK AT THE VETERAN FILES THAT WE ARE SERVING THAT HAVE APPLIED FOR, UM, US TO BE THEIR REPRESENTATIVE.
UH, MORE SPECIFICALLY THE TVC, CUZ THAT'S WHO WE'RE ACCREDITED UNDER.
SO, UM, BUT JUST AS I ALWAYS DO, WE RE THAT, THAT REQUIRES, UH, 12 HOURS OF CONTINUING EDUCATION AND THEN OF COURSE THE PASSING OF AN ANNUAL TEST, UH, THAT COVERS ALL OF THE VARIOUS FACETS INVOLVED IN, IN TAKING CARE OF THESE VETERANS AND THEIR NEEDS.
AND SO, UM, WE PASSED THAT TEST AND WE'VE COMPLETED OUR TRAINING AND WE ARE NOW ESSENTIALLY REACCREDITED FOR THE NEXT, FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
UM, THE WORK IN THE PARK THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT I KIND OF BROUGHT UP AS, UH, HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE UPCOMING QUARTER, UH, HAS ALL THE WHITE ROCK THAT LINED THE FRONT OF THE VIETNAM WALL HAS BEEN REMOVED AND THERE HAS BEEN PAVERS INSTALLED ALONG THAT.
SO THAT SHOULD HELP WITH, UH, JUST THE OVERALL AESTHETIC, THE WEEDING, THE MAINTENANCE OF THAT AREA.
IT SHOULD BE, UH, REALLY GOOD.
UM, WE ALSO, THE, THE BENCHES THAT, UH, WE HAD ORDERED, UM, THE CONCRETE WAS POURED AND THE BENCHES WERE INSTALLED ON THOSE CONCRETE SLABS.
SO THE PARK CURRENTLY HAS 10 NEW BENCHES, SIX LINING THE FRONT OF THE VIETNAM WALL, AND THEN THERE'S FOUR UP NEAR THE PARK, ONE BY THE TANK AND THREE, UH, UP BY OUR PERSONAL WALLS.
UH, SPECIAL THANKS TO FACILITIES.
UH, THEY ACTUALLY INSTALLED ALL THOSE BENCHES FOR US, UH, AFTER THE CONCRETE GUY CAME OUT AND DID HIS WORK, FACILITIES TOLD ME THAT JUST GET WITH US WHEN IT'S DONE AND THE INTERRUPTION, I GUESS TO THE CHILDREN'S FACILITY OR WHATEVER ALLOWED THEM TO DO US A WEEK EARLIER.
SO THAT'S ALL DONE AND WE JUST HAVE, UH, THREE GARBAGE CANS LEFT TO INSTALL ON THEIR SLABS.
UM, THE CRACKED MONUMENT THAT WE'VE REPLACED NOW TWICE THAT WE'VE KIND OF ATTRIBUTED TO, UM, IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHERE THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER EVENT, UM, THAT HAS BEEN REPLACED.
FINALLY, IT TOOK A REALLY LONG TIME THIS TIME FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
I THINK THAT MONEY SAT IN, UH, AN INSURANCE CLAIM AND, AND WE HAD HEART ATTACKS AND, AND ILLNESSES ON THE, ON THE CON THE DELIVERY SIDE OF THAT.
SO THAT'S DONE, BUT THAT'S GONNA LEAD INTO A PROBLEM THAT THE ONLY PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS, UM, IF YOU WILL LOOK AT THE LAST SLIDE, AND I KNOW THESE PICTURES PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, BEING, UH, SMALL AND ON A PIECE OF PAPER AS THEY ARE, UM, IS PROBABLY NOT VERY, UM, REVEALING.
BUT IF YOU'LL NOTICE THE, THE, THE SLIDE TITLED ISSUES, WE SPENT, UH, I THINK $8,000 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT LAST YEAR TO HAVE THE CENTERPIECE OF THAT PARK, THE PODIUM AREA WHERE THE THREE FLAG POLES ARE UP NEAR THE FRONT TO HAVE THAT TOTALLY REWORKED BECAUSE THE SHIFTING AND, AND THE, I I'M JUST GONNA SAY SINKING, UM, WAS CAUSING ALL OF THESE, UH, MONUMENTS TO, TO BE BELOW THE CONCRETE WAS SLIPPED AND YOU HAD AS MUCH AS THREE INCH GAPS BETWEEN THE CONCRETE AND THE, THE GRANITE BASE OF THOSE THREE FLAG POLES.
UH, WE LOST A GRANITE BASE, IT FELL OFF AND SHATTERED INTO PIECES.
SO WE CAME OUT AND WE, WE MADE ADJUSTMENTS, WE REPLACED THAT, WE REPAIRED THAT WE HAD ALL NEW CONCRETE POURED.
UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT WERE AT THE VETERAN'S DAY CEREMONY LAST YEAR, UH, MOST OF YOU WERE, UM, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE HOW THERE'S SLIGHTLY HIGHER LIP ON THAT, ON THAT FRONT STEP NOW BECAUSE OF THE WORK THEY DID.
UM, WELL, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS PICTURE THAT IT'S, IT'S TOAST.
I MEAN IT'S THAT, THAT WHOLE CONCRETE STRUCTURE HAS IN LESS THAN A YEAR HAS SUNK ENOUGH TO, I MEAN THESE ARE LARGE OPEN BREAKING CRACK.
EXCUSE ME, THE NEW THIS, SIR, THIS IS, THIS IS RIGHT BEHIND.
SO IF YOU WERE TO STAND BEHIND THE PODIUM AREA WHERE I NORMALLY DELIVER OUR, OUR ADDRESSES AND STUFF, YOU HAVE THE THREE FLAG POLES.
THIS MOST SEVERE AREA IS BEHIND THE LEFT FLAG POLE
[01:50:01]
OR THE ONE THAT CURRENTLY HOLDS THE, UM, UM, UH, PRISONER OF WAR FLAG THAT WE, THAT WE POST.UH, THAT THAT IS LARGE AND YOU CAN FIT TWO FINGERS UNDERNEATH THE CRACK THAT YOU SEE IN THAT.
SO I MEAN, IT'S VERY SIGNIFICANT.
IF YOU'LL NOTICE, UH, IN THE, ALONG THIS SIDE OF THAT PICTURE, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE CONCRETE IS NOW ALREADY AN INCH OR MAYBE EVEN TWO BELOW THAT GRANITE FACING, SO IT'S ALREADY SUNK AGAIN.
SO, UM, I, I KNOW THAT WE HAD THE OLD ENGINEER COME OUT THERE AND TOOK A LOOK AT THAT, UH, BEFORE WE DID ALL THE REPAIRS.
UM, WE HAD IT REPAIRED AS, I GUESS ALL I'LL SAY THERE, BUT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.
I HAVE SPOKEN WITH, UM, THE FRIENDS OF KAUFMAN COUNTY, THE NONPROFIT, YOU KNOW, RAY RAYMOND, THE GENTLEMAN WHO, UH, ORGANIZED THE, THE CREATION OF THE PARK.
AND WE'VE CONSIDERED EVEN, IS IT FEASIBLE OR IS IT PRACTICAL TO POTENTIALLY REMOVE THAT ENTIRE CONCRETE STRUCTURE COMPLETELY AND JUST MAKE A FLAT LEVEL PART AND PUT THE FLAG POLES BACK DOWN? THAT WOULD BE GROUND LEVEL VERSUS BEING UP IN THE AIR LIKE THAT.
UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MORE TIMES IF, IF, IF THIS SINKING AND SHIFTING, UH, WHICH I'M HEARING A LOT OF, UM, IF THIS SINKING AND SHIFTING IS, IS WHAT'S CAUSING US TO LOSE THAT BIG LARGE FRONT PLATE THAT COSTS LIKE FOUR GRAND FOR ME TO HAVE ENGRAVED AND INSTALLED.
IF THAT BREAKS, AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW IF THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS GOING TO COVER IT A THIRD TIME.
SO IT'S, I MEAN, I'M OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS.
I MEAN, UH, I CAN TAKE CARE OF VETERANS ALL DAY LONG AND I CAN CREATE CEREMONIES AND SPEECHES, BUT, YOU KNOW, CONSTRUCTION OF, OF, OF THIS AND, AND THAT TYPE OF STUFF IS NOT MY WHEELHOUSE.
SO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT WE'VE ASKED THE, THE PREVIOUS, UM, ENGINEER, UM, TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND, AND HE DID AND WE HAD CONCRETE POUR AND THEY REBAR IT SO THEY DIDN'T JUST COME OUT AND KIND OF LAY PATCHWORK OVER THOSE EXISTING CRACKS.
UM, THEY POUR, THEY, THEY DRILLED HOLES.
I WENT, I, I LOOKED AT WHAT THEY DID AND AND WHAT PIERS IN THE GROUND.
I DON'T, THEY DIDN'T PUT PIERS IN THE GROUND CUZ THEY DIDN'T DRILL A HOLE THROUGH THE EXISTING RIGHT.
THEY DON'T CONTINUE TO DO THAT IF THEY DON'T GET DOWN TO SOLID SOMETHING.
I MEAN, THIS SOUNDS LIKE A FOUNDATION.
ESSENTIALLY FOUNDATION REPAIR.
WE PROBABLY NEED TO ENGAGE WITH A FOUNDATION SPECIALIST.
WELL, WHEN YOU PUT ALAB IN, IF YOU DON'T PUT SOME KIND OF PIERS DOWN THERE THAT AND THEN PUT PIERS IN, THEN COME BACK, PUT A SLAP ON IT, IT'LL MOVE FOREVER.
I MEAN, IS THIS, IS THIS, I MEAN, JUST WITH Y'ALL'S I'D, YOU KNOW, DIVERT TO Y'ALL'S EXPERIENCE IN LIFE IN GENERAL, BUT IS THIS SOMETHING I NEED TO BE CONCERNED WITH WITH ALL OF THE, I MEAN, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR SIX YEARS.
WE'VE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS OTHER THAN THE CRACKING OF THIS.
AND THAT'S BEEN AN ONGOING THING.
WE, AND I MEAN THIS IS A FACILITIES ISSUE.
I THINK WE NEED TO GET FACILITIES TO ADDRESS IT WITH, UM, IT'S A DROUGHT, YOU KNOW, WITH, UH, A FOUNDATION SPECIALTY TYPE COMPANY.
SO WOULD THIS BE SOMETHING, SO THEN IS THIS SOMETHING I WOULD SUBMIT A WORK ORDER THEN, YOU KNOW, TO, TO MAKE A CHAIN SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE? ABSOLUTELY.
I'LL LOOK INTO JUST, YOU KNOW, GENERAL FOUNDATION REPAIR.
THERE'S ALSO, UH, THE FOAM INJECTION THEY DO NOW TO LIFT, YOU KNOW, SUNKEN CONCRETE LIKE THAT.
IT'S A LOT LESS EXPENSIVE THAN REGULAR FOUNDATION WORK.
JUST GET A COUPLE IDEAS ON WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST THING TO DO.
BUT THAT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN RUN THROUGH BOBBY.
WE LIFTED THE DOORS UP IN THE JAIL ON FOAM.
I KNOW IT CERTAINLY IS FRUSTRATING.
FILL MOY THEN THERE SOMETIMES TOO, AND KEEPS IT AROUND FOR ANOTHER 10 YEARS.
THE FLAG POLES PROBABLY OUGHT TO BE SET IN THE GROUND AND THEN THEY CAN'T.
THEN THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T MOVE UP.
YOU KNOW, IF THEY DO MOVE UP AND DOWN, YOU DON'T NOTICE IT.
IN THE BEGINNING THERE WAS SOME SUPERFICIAL, WHAT I WOULD CALL SUPERFICIAL CRACKING.
IN THE BEGINNING WHEN WE HAD THIS BIG REPAIR DONE, THERE WAS SOME SUPERFICIAL CRACKING, YOU KNOW, THE SMALL SPIDERWEB CRACKING THAT'S NOTICEABLE.
AND ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE WALL YOU COULD SEE IT A LITTLE MORE NOTICEABLE.
BUT THERE WAS, I MEAN, WE NEVER HAD ANYTHING THAT LOOKED LIKE THIS.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF DOING SOME AREA BEAUTIFICATION AND INSTALLING THESE BENCHES AND TRYING TO MAKE THE ADD TO THE PARK.
IT MADE IT LOOK BETTER AND GET READY FOR VETERANS DAY, WHICH IS JUST NEXT MONTH.
AND, AND THEN I SEE THIS AND I'M LIKE, OH MY GOODNESS, YOU KNOW, IS THIS EVEN GONNA BE SAFE FOR ME TO DO A CEREMONY ON TOP OF, SO, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? SO I JUST WANTED TO, I I LIKE TO, MY MILITARY CAREER HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO COME TO YOU AND TELL YOU BEFORE SOMEBODY ELSE COMES TO YOU.
AND THE JUDGE SENT ME AN EMAIL THIS PAST QUARTER AND SAYING I NEEDED TO GET SOMETHING DONE AND I WASN'T TOO UPSET.
THIS, WHAT'S THAT? IS THERE WATER PIPES UNDER THIS? NOT, NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.
THERE'S NO W WELL, I DON'T, CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT TYPE OF PIPES ARE UNDERNEATH.
[01:55:01]
NONE THAT ARE, THERE'S NONE THAT ARE FOR ME.THOSE ARE, UH, RUBBER TUBING PIPES THAT ARE ON TOP ON SURFACE.
SO I CAN'T TELL YOU TAKING WATER FROM SOMEWHERE.
SOMETIMES YOU'VE GOT WATER LEAKING THAT, THAT KIND OF THINGS CAUSES THIS KIND OF PROBLEM.
THAT'S WHY I FOUNDATIONAL FOUNDATION YOU REPAIR.
I MEAN, THEY, THEY, THAT'S THEIR SPECIALTY.
THEY KNOW HOW TO FIND THAT AND FIND BURIED PLUMBING AND THAT SORT OF THING.
SO I CAN GET THE FACILITY TO TURN IN AND WORK ON IT AND SEE WHAT CAUSES THE PROBLEM.
MAYBE THEY'LL FIGURE IT OUT FOR YOU.
UH, ROBERT, I JUST WANNA LET YOU AND EVERYBODY ELSE HERE KNOW THAT, UH, I GOT A CALL ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO FROM A GENTLEMAN IN MY PRECINCT, HE'S A NAVY, UH, VIETNAM VETERAN, AND HE SAID THAT YOU DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB HELPING HIM GET, UH, HIS DISABILITY THAT HE HAD BEEN TRYING TO GET FOR YEARS.
UH, HE'S A FRIEND OF MINE, SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT AND RECOGNIZE YOU FOR THE GREAT JOB YOU DO OVER THERE.
IN THE FUTURE, I'LL PUT JUST PRESENT.
UH, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN PRESENT AND ACCEPT, BUT IF ONE PRESENT I'LL JUST, I'LL JUST PUT PRESENT NEXT TIME.
YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION.
WELL, WE'LL MAKE A MOTION SINCE IT'S ON THERE.
UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT A VETERAN SERVICES QUARTERLY REPORT? NO.
COMMISSIONER BARBERS OR SECOND? SECOND.
COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS DISCUSSION.
THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
OPPOS? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES.
[11. Jack Sebastian; Discuss/Consider advertising a bid for an annual contract for plumbing services.]
11, JACK SPA, DISCUSS.CONSIDER ADVERTISING A BID FOR AN ANNUAL CONTRACT FOR PLUMBING SERVICES.
GENTLEMEN, IT'S TIME TO REBID THAT AND I WILL BE GETTING WITH MAINTENANCE AND, AND DEVELOP A SPECIFICATION AND, UH, GET THAT OUT IN ABOUT A WEEK OR SO.
IS THERE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE ADVERTISING A BID FOR PLUMBING SERVICES? I'LL MAKE IT.
COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS DISCUSSION.
THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
I OPPOS? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES.
[12. Jack Sebastian; Discuss/Consider advertising a bid for an annual contract for electrical services,]
DISCUSS, CONSIDER ADVERTISING A BID FOR AN ANNUAL CONTRACT FOR ELECTRICAL SERVICES.AND THIS WILL BE THE SAME THING.
IT IS THING IS THERE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE ADVERTISING BID FOR ELECTRICAL SERVICES? MAY GET A MOTION.
COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR OF SIGNIFY THE SAME.
OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES.
[13. Jack Sebastian; Discuss/Consider advertising a bid for an annual contract for HVAC services.]
13, DISCUSS.CONSIDER ADVERTISING A BID FOR ANNUAL CONTRACT FOR H V A C SERVICES.
IS THERE A MOTION TO, UH, AUTHORIZE ADVERTISING FOR H V A C SERVICES? WE'LL MOVE.
COMMISSIONER BARBARA, DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR OF SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[14. Jack Sebastian; Discuss/Consider Pet 2 Road and Bridge t o purchasing a 2023 M2-106 Houston Freightliner utilizing th e Buyboard Purchasing Cooperative 698-47.]
14, DISCUSS.CONSIDER PRECINCT TWO ROAD AND BRIDGE TO PURCHASING A 2023 M 2 1 0 6 HOUSTON FREIGHTLINER UTILIZING BY BOARD 6 98 47.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE PRECINCT TWO NEEDS A NEW TRUCK AND THAT THAT IS ON BY BOARDS.
IT MEETS ALL THE, UH, BID REQUIREMENTS AND THAT TOTAL PRICE IS 260 2009 49.
AND I WOULD MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION.
QUESTIONS? NO, I'M MAKING MOTION TO GET ME AN ALARM TRUCK TO REPLACE MY 2001
COMMISSIONER PHIS MOVED TO MOVES TO MAKE THAT PURCHASE IS PRESENTED.
DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
OPPOS? NO, THE MOTION CARRIES.
[15. Steve Howie; Discuss/Consider accepting a State Homeland Security Grant Program award of funding for an Emergency Traffic Incident Management Trailer" through the NCTCOG Public Works Emergency Response Team (PWERT) Working Group.]
STEVE HUEY, DISCUSS, CONSIDER ACCEPTING A STATE HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM AWARD FOR FUNDING OF AN EMERGENCY TRAFFIC INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TRAILER THROUGH NORTH TEXAS COG PUBLIC WORKS EMERGENCY RESPONSE.UM, I THINK I PUT A PIECE ON, ON YOUR TABLES THIS MORNING.
THE COG USUALLY GOES OUT AND DEPENDING ON THE WORKING GROUP APPLIES FOR GRANTS UNDER THIS, UH, THEY WERE ASKING FOR HOSTS.
I STUCK MY HAND UP AND WE WERE CHOSEN TO BE THE HOST FOR THIS TRAILER AND A DYNAMIC MESSAGE BOARD.
AND TO ACCEPT THOSE, WE NEED A RESOLUTION FROM OUR COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
I THINK IT WILL BE VERY, VERY BENEFICIAL TO OUR COUNTY AND, UH, TO OUR REGION.
AND SO IT'S MY RECOMMENDATION.
WILL THAT BE AT YOUR, YOU'LL MAINTAIN IT OVER AT THE EOC? YES SIR.
IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, IS THERE A MOTION TO PASS THAT RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THAT GRANT? I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION WITH A MOTION.
IS THERE A SECOND? UH, SECOND.
THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES.
[16. Auditor; Discuss/Consider line-item and budget transfers/corrections,]
16 TO THE AUDITOR.CONSIDER LINE ITEM AND BUDGET TRANSFERS CORRECTIONS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LINE OWNER TRANSFERS OR BUDGET AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED TO YOU LAST WEEK?
[02:00:02]
IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS FOR THE AUDITORS OR MOTION TO ACCEPT IS SUBMITTED, I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.YEAH, WE HAVE THAT MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER BARBER.
COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS DISCUSSION.
A FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[17. Auditor; Discuss/Consider claims for payment and/or Financial Information as provided by the County Auditor.]
CONSIDER CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT AND OR FINANCIAL INFORMATION IS PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY AUDITOR.YOUR CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT TODAY ARE $2,582,057 AND 44 CENTS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE? 1,000,002 WAS FOR, UH, 2020 FACILITIES BOND, UM, 345,000 FOR 214 ROAD BOND ISSUE AND 312,000 FOR, UH, 2020 ROAD BOND ISSUE AND THEN VARIOUS OTHER EXPENSES.
IF NOT, I ASKED FOR YOUR APPROVAL AND I ASKED, UH, COMMISSIONER KATE TO PASS ONE DOWN.
UH, THIS IS, UH, AN INTERIM FINANCIAL REPORT AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH.
I'M STILL RECEIVING MONEY THAT BELONGS IN THIS FISCAL YEAR AND BILLS.
SO IT'LL BE UPDATED AND YOU'LL GET A NEW REPORT.
UM, ON THE GENERAL FUND, AS OF NINE 30, WE HAD COLLECTED 59,473,000.
OKAY, SO THERE IS SOME I'M NOT THROUGH YET BECAUSE I STILL GOTTA BACK UP A PAYROLL.
AND THEN YOU'RE ROADING BRIDGE EXPENSES AND YOUR TRANSFERS AND Y'ALL, YOUR EXPENSES.
SO I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT WE FINISH THE YEAR IN A A POSITIVE POSITION.
I JUST NEED TO FINISH IT UP AS SOON AS THINGS GET POSTED AND BROUGHT IN.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE BILLS? NO.
UH, IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE CLAIMS FOR PAYMENTS PRESENTED? WE'LL MOVE THE MOTION COMMISSIONER CASE.
COMMISSIONER BARBER DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY THE SAYING.
[18. Adjorn Meeting]
A MOTION TO ADJOURN.COMMISSIONER PHIS MOVES TO ADJOURN.
COMMISSIONER KATE'S DISCUSSION.
THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
OPPOS? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES.