Aug 20, 2024 Commissioners Court

CONSENT AGENDA, IF Y'ALL HAD TIME TO LOOK OVER, YOU DID MENTION ON THAT DOG SHELTER THAT WE WILL ACCEPT DONATIONS OF DOG FOOD.

MM-HMM.

, ANY DONATIONS OF DOG FOOD ARE MONEY.

RUN IT.

DISCUSS EXCEPT IN THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING FROM AUGUST THE 13TH AND THE MINUTES FROM, UH, WORKSHOP MINUTES FROM AUGUST 13TH AS WELL.

EVERYBODY KEEP THAT IN MIND.

YOU BET.

CONSENT AGENDA

[2. CONSENT AGENDA]

UH, A SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES ON AUGUST THE 15TH.

ANY COMMENTS, ADDITIONS, QUESTIONS? I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR YOU.

MR. PHILLIPS MAKES MOTION TO APPROVE TO HAVE A SECOND.

MR. BARR MAKES A SECOND.

MS. TANDY, SHE'S GOING TO DISCUSS, CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ELECTION JUDGES, ALTERNATE JUDGES, EARLY VOTING OFFICERS, BALLOT BOARD JUDGE AND ALTERNATE BALLOT BOARD JUDGE CENTRAL COUNTY STATION PERSONNEL FOR THE 24 26 SUBMISSION TERM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS ELECTION CODE.

OKAY,

[3. Tandi Smith: Discuss/Consider approval for the Appointment of Election Judges, Alternate Judges, Early Voting Officers, Ballot Board Judge and Alternate Ballot Board Judge, and Central Counting Station personnel for the 2024-2026 Submission Term in accordance with the Texas Election Code,]

TO USB NINE 90 THAT WE ISSUED LAST YEAR, AS WELL AS THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT VIDEO WHERE WE DISCUSSED IT IN OPEN COURT.

SO THAT'S CORRECT.

THIS IS OUR JUDGE APPOINTMENT, UM, FROM THE POLITICAL PARTIES AS WELL AS OUR ALTERNATE JUDGE APPOINTMENTS.

AND WE ASK THEM AT THAT TIME, BECAUSE THEY CAN SUPPLY OFFICERS AND SEND THEM TO CERTAIN LOCATIONS.

WE WANT TO TAKE THE MIDDLE MAN OUT.

WE'RE JUST GONNA HAVE YOU GIVE US THEIR INFORMATION IN ADVANCE.

THAT WAY WE KNOW WHO'S GOING WHERE AND EVERYBODY HAS TIME TO BE NOTIFIED IN A TIMELY MANNER.

UM, THE ONLY THING DIFFERENT IN THAT BRIEFING WAS THE REQUEST AGAIN TO INCREASE THEIR PAY RATE, UM, TO THE 16 AND 14 RESPECTIVELY.

UM, I GAVE YOU AN UPDATE LAST NIGHT OF WHAT THE PARTIES SUBMITTED TO US AS OF YESTERDAY MORNING.

IT WAS A LOT OF VACANCIES THEY FILLED.

AND THAT'S A WONDERFUL THING.

AND I THINK WE'RE STILL ROUGHLY AT LIKE 37 CLERK VACANCIES, BUT THE JUDGE PLACES HAVE ALL BEEN FILLED AS WELL AS THE ALTERNATES.

THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

IT IS, YES.

AND YOU MIGHT MENTION ABOUT THE PUSH TO GO TO DO AWAY WITH CENTRAL LOCATION VOTING AND STUFF, AND, UH, I WILL BE BRINGING, UM, SB NINE 90 BACK TO THE COURT.

I'M SURE IT'S GONNA GET A MAGICAL NEW NAME BEFORE JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR, BUT THERE IS STILL A PUSH TO ELIMINATE OUR VOTE CENTERS.

UM, AND IT IS A VERY SERIOUS PUSH.

SO I HAVE BEEN SHARING INFORMATION FROM SURROUNDING COUNTIES WHO HAVE REQUESTED IT, AND NOT EVEN JUST SURROUNDING COUNTIES.

A LOT OF COUNTIES WHO AREN'T AROUND US ARE ASKING, WELL, WHAT KIND OF INFORMATION DO YOU HAVE? HOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT DID YOU PRESENT TO YOUR COURT? SO I SHARED WITH THEM OUR LINK, UM, Y'ALL'S LETTER OF OPPOSITION

[00:05:01]

I'VE ALSO PROVIDED THEM WITH SOME DOCUMENTATION AS FAR AS COST AND THINGS TO CONSIDER, BECAUSE IF WE GO BACK TO PRECINCT BASED VOTING, WE'RE NOT JUST LOOKING AT OUR 37 PRECINCTS.

WE'VE GOTTA TAKE AND EVALUATE AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, PRECINCTS THAT HAVE GROWN AND NOW OVER 5,000 POPULATION.

THEY HAVE TO BE SPLIT.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT QUITE A FEW ADDITIONAL PRECINCTS.

WELL, WHICH MEANS MORE PEOPLE, MORE TO WORK, PEOPLE MORE, MORE MACHINES.

MM-HMM.

HAVE TO BUY.

ABSOLUTELY.

IT INCREASED YOUR COST FOR PERSONNEL.

EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

UM, BUT I THINK MY BIGGEST FACTOR IS IT TAKES AWAY, ONE, THE CONVENIENCE OF VOTING FOR THOSE WHO TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES TO GO TO WORK.

WHEN YOU TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES TO GO TO WORK OUT OF OUR COUNTY, YOU'RE NOT MAKING IT HOME SOMETIMES TO THAT COUNTY LINE UNTIL 6 30, 7 O'CLOCK AND TRYING TO RUSH TO A VOTE CENTER AND YOU'RE LEAVING AT 5 30, 6 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING BEFORE THEY OPEN.

SO THAT, THAT'S THE REALITY OF THAT.

AND, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.

I KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE STATEMENTS ARE, IT'S NOT ABOUT VOTER CONVENIENCE.

WELL, EVERYTHING ELSE SEEMS TO BE ABOUT PEOPLE'S CONVENIENCE.

SO WHY WOULD VOTING BE ANY DIFFERENT? WELL, UM, WHO'S, WHO'S THE OPPOSITION ON THIS AND WHAT IS THEIR PROBLEM WITH IT THE WAY IT IS? IT'D BE A VERY GOOD QUESTION FOR SENATOR BAPA.

IT TELLS ME ALL I NEED TO KNOW.

, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? BUT YEAH, I, I MEAN WE'VE EVEN SHARED INFORMATION WITH COLLIN COUNTY AND THEY'RE SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER THAN US.

ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.

MR. MOORE MAKES THE MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.

MR. BAR MAKES SECOND.

THANK YOU

[4. Tandi Smith: Discuss/Consider approval for the execution of a Joint Election contract for entities to join the County on the November 2024 ballot in accordance with Section 271 of the Texas Election Code,]

TANDY.

NUMBER FOUR, DISCUSS, CONSIDER APPROVAL OF EXECUTION OF A JOINT ELECTION CONTRACT FOR ENTITIES TO JOIN THE COUNTY ON THE NOVEMBER 24 BALLOT AND THE ACCORD WITH SECTION 2 71 OF THE TEXAS ELECTION CODE.

YES, MA'AM.

SO I PROVIDED YOU GUYS THAT DOCUMENTATION AS WELL LAST WEEK.

WE DID HAVE A EMAIL COME THROUGH LAST NIGHT AT NINE O'CLOCK.

CITY OF HEATH WILL BE JOINING ON THAT BALLOT.

UM, SO WE WILL ADJUST THEIR COST ACCORDINGLY.

I'VE ALREADY ADJUST, ADJUSTED THE CONTRACT COVER SHEET ACCORDING.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, SANDY, IF NOW NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE? I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

MR. PHE MAKES THE MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.

MR. HUNT MAKES SECOND.

A A.

I'VE GOT ONE FOR EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK.

WILL YOU GET HIM UP? PAIR GIVE I I'LL WEAR WE GOT IT.

THANK YOU.

[5. Chuck Mohnkern: Discuss/Present Treasurer's Monthly Report for July 2024.]

I'M JUST CLARIFYING FOR, SO THEY SAY VOTE HEARINGS, SAY VOTE.

OH MAN.

WENT TOO FAR.

HERE CHUCK, DISCUSS AND PRESENT THE TREASURERS MONTHLY REPORT FOR JULY OF 24.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE COMMISSIONERS.

WE, UH, ENDED JULY WITH, UH, $30.3 MILLION IN, UH, OUR FUND, 10 CASH BALANCE IN BOTH THE BANK AND IN, UH, OUR INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS.

WE EARNED $1,127 IN AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK IN INTEREST 528,373 IN OUR, UH, INVESTMENT POOLS.

UH, TOTAL INVESTED IN TEXT POOLS.

21.2 MILLION TOTAL INVESTED IN TEXAS CLASS AT THE END OF THE MONTH, 87.9 MILLION WE'RE EARNING 5.4594% AVERAGE YIELD ON TEXT POOL, 5.4477% ON TEXAS CLASS.

UM, WE HAD $24.498 MILLION IN AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK AT THE END OF JULY.

THE, UH, TOTAL VALUE OF THE COLLATERALIZATION 36.2, UH, MILLION DOLLARS.

SO COLLATERALIZED AT 148%.

THAT'S GOOD.

UH, WE HAVE 81.68% OF OUR FREE CASH, OR OF OUR CASH, UH, INVESTED AS OF THE END OF JULY.

18.32% IS AN AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK.

WE COLLECTED, UH, 3.585 MILLION.

UH, WROTE 442 RECEIPTS DURING THE MONTH.

AND THAT'S MY REPORT.

VERY GOOD.

WE ARE COLLATERALIZED AT A GOOD NUMBER.

YES, WE ARE.

BEST RETURN ON INTEREST.

WE CAN GET WE'RE, WE'RE DOING QUITE WELL ON THE INTEREST.

AND INTEREST SHOULD HOLD UP PRETTY WELL YET.

UH, FEDERAL RESERVE IS LOOKING AT CUTTING INTEREST RATES OVER THEIR NEXT THREE MEETINGS BY, UH, 25 BASIS POINTS.

ONE FOURTH OF 1% EACH OF THOSE MEETINGS.

BUT THEN AGAIN, UM, WILL THEY ACTUALLY DO IT? YOU KNOW, THAT'LL DEPEND A LOT ON IT'LL, WHAT HAPPENS

[00:10:01]

IN NOVEMBER? YEAH.

SO, WELL, IF IT SPURS THE ECONOMY, IT'S GONNA HELP US IN THE LONG RUN ANYWAY.

MM-HMM? IT WILL.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR CHUCK? NO.

NOT MOTION TO APPROVE.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

COMMISSIONER BARBARA MAKES THE MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.

GOING TO PASS ON NUMBER SIX.

MR. PHILLIPS MAKES A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? SECOND.

THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

WE'RE

[6. Lorena Diaz: Discuss/Consider establishing a standard new furniture in all county buildings.]

MR. MIKE TERRY,

[7. Mike Taylor: Discuss/Consider/Approve Burn Ban order prohibiting outdoor burning.]

IF YOU COME ON UP, WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS AND APPROVE A BURN BAN ORDER PROHIBITING OUTDOOR BURNING.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS.

UH, YES, WE HAVE PRESENTED, UM, A NOTICE OR FOR AN ORDER FOR A BURN BAN.

UM, CURRENTLY THE ONLY OTHER, UH, COUNTY BESIDE US RIGHT NOW, UH, CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW IS ROCKWALL.

THEY DO HAVE THEIR BURN BAN, IN FACT, UM, SEVERAL OTHER SURROUNDING COUNTIES BESIDE US ARE KIND OF SEEING WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY AS FAR AS THEN I THINK THEY'RE GONNA FOLLOW SUIT AS WELL.

A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE BASE THINGS OFF OF IS THE DROUGHT INDEX.

UH, CURRENTLY AS OF YESTERDAY, UH, EVENING WE'RE LOOKING AT AN AVERAGE OF 5 98.

WHAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING OVER THE LAST WEEK IS THAT WE'RE INCREASING 10 POINTS A DAY THROUGH THAT INDEX HERE WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, THE WATER TABLE AND THINGS.

SO WE'RE DEFINITELY HEADED THERE.

YESTERDAY WAS A RECORD DAY OF 107 AND WE'RE JUST CONTINUING TO LOOKING AT THAT RIGHT NOW.

SO WE'RE ABOUT A MONTH BEHIND FROM WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR, KIND OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN.

AND THEY'RE OF COURSE TALKING ABOUT A WARMER TREND UP AND THROUGH THE, THE FALL MONTHS OF THIS YEAR AS WELL.

SO I THINK WE'RE JUST KIND OF A, THAT MONTH OFF OF WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT.

UM, SO I DO HAVE SOME, UH, THE, THE NUMBERS OF WHAT THE OTHER INDEX IS AROUND US ARE OTHER COUNTIES AROUND US ARE.

SO I CAN GIVE YOU ALL THAT IF YOU'D LIKE IT.

UM, BUT BASICALLY IF YOU KIND OF LOOK AT THE COUNTY MAP, UM, THE WAY THAT DROUGHT INDEX IS WORKING IS THAT EVERYTHING KIND OF TO THE WEST TO US AND MORE TO THE SOUTHERN NECK ARE ALL IN CONDITION RED.

AND WE'RE TECHNICALLY WITHIN TWO POINTS OF BEING, THAT'S OUR AVERAGE INTO THE RED ZONE, WHICH IS STARTING OVER 600.

UH, BUT OUR MAX IN THE COUNTY FROM THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF, BECAUSE WE'RE A LARGE COUNTY, UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT 6 86, SO WE'RE WELL, A HUNDRED OVER CLOSE TO A HUNDRED POINTS OVER COUNTY OF THE, THAT CONDITION.

RIGHT.

EXCUSE ME.

THAT CONDITION RED OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

SO I KNOW WE'VE HAD A LOT MORE FIRES IN THE RECENT WEEK.

WE HAVE SEEN A, A, A NUMBER, AN INCREASE IN THOSE FIRES AND AT THIS POINT I'D LOVE TO GIVE SOME KUDOS FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB AND A QUICK RESPONSE, UM, IN OUR COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND, AND PUTTING A QUICK STOP TO A ALLOW OF THESE FIRES BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SOME POTENTIAL FOR, UH, SOME AND WE'VE BEEN BLESSED NOT HAD THE HIGH WINDS THAT YES, THE WINDS VERY BLESSED TO US THIS YEAR SO FAST.

SO WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THEM AND FOR WHAT THEY DO, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE VOLUNTEERS ANYWAY.

YES, SIR.

ANY QUESTIONS FAR? NO.

I WOULD JUST HAVE TO POINT OUT THAT, UH, THIS ORDER, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE OUTDOOR BURNING, BUT WE'RE ALSO BURNING THE DEBRIS FROM THE STORM SO THAT WAY WHEN THE PEOPLE SEE SMOKE WHERE WE'RE BURNING, THEN YES, MAYBE IT KIND OF, WE WON'T GET AS MANY 9 1 1 CALLS.

SO IF WE JUST LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT THERE WE'LL BE YES.

SOME PRESCRIBED BURNS OR, YES, WE ACTUALLY, AND WE MET WITH THEM LAST WEEK AND EVERYTHING, AND THEY ACTUALLY SHOULD BE FROM WHAT THEY EXPLAINED TO US, UM, A WEEK AGO, THEY SHOULD BE WRAPPING UP THIS WEEK.

SO GOOD.

WE, WE WERE KIND OF LOOKING AT IT AS THAT IF THIS WENT INTO EFFECT TODAY, UM, WE OBVIOUSLY WOULD GIVE A GRACE PERIOD OF, OF NO SUPER STRICT ENFORCEMENT TODAY.

WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE EDUCATE EVERYBODY, THE COUNTY TO KNOW WE ARE IN THAT BURN, UH, BURN BAND.

UH, AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM TO HAVE THEM WRAP UP THEIR, THEIR WORK SESSION THIS WEEK SO THAT WAY THEY'LL BE TAKEN CARE OF.

ARE THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS PUTTING UP THE NO BAND BURN SIGNS? YES.

ON THE ROADS AND EVERYTHING.

WE HAD ORDERED SOME MORE AS WELL.

AND UH, AND THIS YEAR WE'RE, UH, A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

THE SIGNS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ONE SIDE IS ENGLISH AND THE OTHER SIDE IS SPANISH.

SO THAT WAY WE CAN REALLY REACH OUT TO, UM, TO EVERYBODY WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES TO, TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.

UH, MOST OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS STILL HAVE SIGNS LEFT OVER FROM, UH, FROM THE LAST YEAR'S PREVIOUS SIGN, BUT WE DO HAVE THE NEW ONES THIS YEAR THAT DOES HAVE THE, THE BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH.

AS WELL AS, AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I'VE ACTUALLY HAD SEVERAL NEWS MEDIA OUTLETS THAT HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME YESTERDAY AND ASKED ABOUT THAT, HEY, ARE Y'ALL GOING UNDER A BURN BAN? AND I SAID, WELL ACTUALLY WE'RE GONNA PROPOSE THAT TOMORROW, SO, SO WE CAN LET YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT.

AND THEY'RE LIKE, AND THEY SAID, CAN WE GO AHEAD? AND THEY SAID, ASK ME IF IT WOULD, DO Y'ALL BE SAFE TO SAY, CAN WE GET SOMETHING PREPARED? SO IF YOU LET US KNOW, WE'LL BLAST THAT OUT.

AND I WAS LIKE, ABSOLUTELY WOULD LOVE THAT.

IF THAT NOT THE CASE THAT Y'ALL PASS THAT MORNING.

I THINK IT'S, IT'S, IT'S TIME.

SO ANY OTHER COMMENTS? NO.

IF NOT, WE NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE.

I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.

MR. TRUMP MAKES THE MOTION.

HAVE A SECOND, SECOND.

MR. FIFTH MAKES A SECOND.

IF YOU SEE HOW FAST COFFMAN COUNTY HAS GROWN, WE'RE SEEING A LOT IN, UH, A LOT OF NEW BUSINESS THAT COMES IN HERE TO THE COUNTY WITH CONSTRUCTION AS WELL AS, UM, YOU KNOW, POST PANDEMIC.

MOTION CARRIE.

OKAY,

[8. Mike Taylor: Discuss/Consider/Approve amending The Kaufman County Fire Code.]

MIKE, ONE MORE TIME.

DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND APPROVE OF AMENDING THE KAUFFMAN COUNTY FIRE CODE.

YES, SIR.

UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, PAUL HAD BEEN WORKING ON.

UM, UNFORTUNATELY HE WASN'T HERE HERE TODAY TO KIND OF, UM, TO PRESENT THAT FOR HIMSELF.

BUT, UM, THE BIG THING THAT WE'RE LOOKING HERE IS WE CURRENTLY WORK UNDER THE 2018 FIRE CODE.

UM, LOTS OF THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE THAT PART, AND ESPECIALLY

[00:15:01]

A LOT OF THINGS HAVE CHANGED THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE WORKING FOR THEIR HOMES AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND THEY'RE MAKING THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS TO, UM, TO OTHER PE THEY'RE TRYING TO BUILD OUTSIDE THE LARGER CORPORATIONS THAT WE SEE.

SO, UM, JUST KIND OF A KEY POINTS INTO THIS NEW FIRE CODE TO THINGS THAT'S GONNA HELP US WITH IS THE STORED INJURED ENERGY SYSTEMS. SO WE'RE STARTING TO SEE AN INCREASE IN SOLAR FARMS AND, UH, WHERE PEOPLE HAVE LEASED THEIR LAND FOR THOSE THINGS.

THIS IS GONNA ADDRESS A LOT OF HOW THEY'RE STORING THAT ELECTRICITY ON THEIR PROPERTY.

UH, THE LITHIUM, EXCUSE ME, THE LITHIUM BATTERIES, UM, STORAGE AND THINGS, THE ION BATTERIES ARE REALLY BECOMING A PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT OUT.

UM, AS WELL AS THAT, UM, THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS BURY 'EM.

SO A COUPLE OF THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE FIRES THAT WE'VE HAD ON SOME OF OUR AGRICULTURAL PROPERTIES, WE'RE HAVING TO DIG HOLES AND BURY THOSE.

WELL NOW WE HAVE SOIL CONTAMINANTS AND WE WANNA BE SUPER, SUPER CAUTIOUS THAT NONE OF THAT GOES DOWN INTO OUR WATER SUPPLY THAT WE HAVE IN OUT HERE.

SO IT GO OUT, GO OUT WHEN YOU BURY IT OR DOES IT STAY HOT FOR LIKE, YOU KNOW, LIKE A LANDFILL THAT YOU BURN FOR A YEAR? SO IT, IT'S KINDA LIKE THE, THE MAGNESIUM FIRES THAT, RIGHT.

ONCE YOU ELIMINATE THAT, THEN IT KIND OF GOES OUT AND THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT IT'S DOING.

BUT WE CAN DUMP A LOT OF WATER ON THESE FIRES.

UM, WELL I'LL TELL YOU SPECIFICALLY, THE LAST FIRE THAT I WAS ON, THEY DUMPED OVER 12,000 GALLONS OF WATER ON IT AND IT REALLY DIDN'T EVEN FACE DIDN'T EVEN PHASE IT, IT JUST KINDA LIKE FIRE, LIKE PUTTING OUT A ROUND HAT BAIL, RIGHT.

SO, SO THOSE, IT'S, SO THAT'S PART OF THE THINGS IN THESE CODES THAT WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO ADDRESS IF HOW, HOW THESE PEOPLE ARE, UH, ARE USING 'EM AS WELL.

BUT STORING AND WEALTH AS A DISPOSAL, 'CAUSE THAT'S GONNA BE REALLY THE COST, UH, UM, PART THAT'S GONNA HIT A LOT PEOPLE.

'CAUSE YOU JUST CAN'T THROW THOSE OUT IN YOUR BACK PASTURE AND NOT WORRY ABOUT 'EM.

THEY'RE, THEY'RE GONNA BECOME A PROBLEM AT SOME POINT.

THAT'S, THEY HAVE A, THAT'S A, SO HOW ARE THEY GOING TO DISPOSE OF THESE THINGS? IS THERE SOMETHING IN THIS CODE THAT, WELL THERE'S NOT NECESSARILY SPECIFICALLY IN THE CODE THAT'S GONNA SAY HOW THEY HAVE TO, BUT IT REFERS TO IS THAT WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS THAT THEY'RE GONNA, THERE'S COMPANIES OUT THERE THAT, UH, WITH THE PROCESSES THAT THEY CAN COME IN TO DO IT, BUT IT'S MORE SPECIFICALLY, UH, LOOK AT IS YOU CAN'T JUST PUT THESE OUT BEHIND YOUR BUSINESS AND NOT WORRY ABOUT THESE ANYMORE.

THEY JUST, WE CAN'T DO THAT.

THEY'VE GOTTA BE PROPERLY STORED AND MAINTAINED AND AND DISPOSED OF.

SO THAT WAY WE MAKE SURE THAT, UM, UH, I'LL TELL YOU SPECIFICALLY THE ONE FIRE WE HAD, THIS GENTLEMAN HAD A SERIES OF, UM, ELECTRIC VEHICLE, UH, CHASSIS.

'CAUSE THAT'S BASICALLY THE, UH, THE FRAME, THE BATTERY'S ON IT.

RIGHT.

AND HE HAS STACKS OF THEM ON HIS PROPERTY AND HE'S STORING THEM THERE FOR CAR COMPANY.

UM, AND THAT'S WHAT CAUGHT FIRE FROM THIS LAST FIRE THAT WE HAD.

SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS CONTROL HOW THEY'RE DOING THAT.

'CAUSE THERE'S REALLY NO REGULATION AS FAR AS PART OF WHAT HE WAS DOING.

SO, SO DO WE HAVE SOMETHING IN THERE FOR THEM? SO, SO THAT'S, THAT'S PART OF WHAT THESE ARE STARTING TO ADDRESS.

SO WHERE IS THE TEETH AND THEN IF THEY DO SOMETHING, UH, WELL THAT'S WHEN Y'ALL PASS IT, IT STARTS IN THERE OF THE CLASS B MISDEMEANOR.

AND, AND IT GOES UP FROM THERE.

AND DOES THAT, DOES THAT ADDRESS LIKE THE HOUSES, YOU KNOW, LIKE I KNOW THAT UM, TESLA HAS A TESLA ROOF NOW, YOU KNOW, AND THEY PUT ROOF ON THE HOUSE AND THEY PUT LIKE THREE OF THOSE STORAGE UNITS OF UH YES SIR.

METHANE BATTERIES.

YES SIR.

DOES THAT ADDRESS THAT FOR HOUSES? IT'S UH, IT'S, WELL IT'S GONNA REFER THE STORING OF IT.

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY, SO IT WOULDN'T MATTER WHETHER IT'S A HOUSE OR A BUSINESS.

IT'S BECAUSE YOU, YOU TALKING ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO PUT IT OUT AND YOU'VE GOT THREE OF 'EM ON THE SIDE AND THE HOUSES ARE BUILT THREE FEET APART.

WELL GUESS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN .

AND SO THAT YOU SAY THAT THERE IS A SECTION IN HERE WHERE, UM, AS IT REFERS TO, UM, THE, UH, PART OF THE, UM, PART OF THAT IS IT REFERS TO HOW THOSE THINGS WERE MOST OF THOSE PROBLEMS THAT WE'VE HAD.

UM, IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK, THERE'S ACTUALLY BEEN A TON OF HOUSE FIRES.

WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE.

WE HA REALLY HAVEN'T HAD ANY OF THOSE HERE IN KAUFFMAN COUNTY.

BUT DALLAS COUNTY AND TARRANT COUNTY HAS HAD, THEY'RE STARTING TO HAPPEN THAT DUE TO POOR INSULATION OF HOW THOSE THINGS ARE BEING CHARGED AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF, THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE SET FORTH OF UM, HOW THOSE ARE BEING WIRED.

THAT WHEN THEY COME IN HERE THAT THEY'RE HAVING OVERHEATING ISSUES AND THEY'RE NOT HAVING THEM PUT THE, UM, IN A SENSE THE OVERCHARGING SENSORS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT'S IN THERE THAT CONTROLS THAT TO SHUTS THAT DOWN.

GOTCHA IT DOWN THAT THAT SPECIFIC PART OF CODE GOES IN HERE AND IT REFERS TO RESIDENTIAL HOUSES AND IT REFERS TO BUSINESSES AND OTHER TYPE OF COMMERCIAL PLACES.

KINDA LIKE THE, THE BIG ONE HERE THAT YOU'LL SAY IS BUCKY'S, WHERE THEY HAVE ALL THOSE.

SO, UM, SO THE PLACES THAT HAVE THOSE THINGS, THIS CODE SPECIFICALLY TALKS ABOUT, UM, HAVING THOSE DEVICES AND THOSE SENSORS IN THERE TO WHERE, HOW THOSE THINGS ARE INSTALLED AND WHAT DEVICES HAVE TO BE ON THERE TO PROTECT THEM FROM HAVING THESE OVER IN ORDER TO NOW IS IT GONNA ELIMINATE 'EM COMPLETELY? ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THOSE THINGS ARE JUST GONNA HAPPEN.

BUT WHAT WE WANNA DO IS TRY TO PUT A DENT IN THERE AS FAR AS FAR AS TODAY THAT WE BEST THAT WE CAN SO THAT WAY WE CAN STOP THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE PROBLEM.

UM, TO BE HONEST, LIKE DALLAS COUNTY AND TARRANT COUNTY'S HAVING AT THIS POINT, WELL I KNOW THEY BROUGHT UP SOMETHING IN CALIFORNIA OVER THE, THE ROOFS AND THE BATTERY STORAGE AND THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THEM STARTING THE FOREST FIRES AND THINGS OUT THERE.

ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN I'M, I'M JUST SAYING THERE, THERE'S SOME GREAT IDEAS, YOU KNOW, AT SOME POINT WE'VE GOTTA BE SURE WE'RE ADDRESSING ALL THE ISSUES ON, WELL HOPEFULLY THIS IS THE END OF THE GAME SOMEWHAT.

YOU OR YOUR DEPARTMENT WHEN THEY PUT THIS ON HOMES.

THAT AND THAT HAVE A LOT HERE ALREADY.

THAT WELL, AND OUR BIGGER PICTURE IS THEY HAVE TO NOTIFY

[00:20:01]

SO WHEN, WHEN THEY'RE DOING THAT PERMITS, WELL, WHEN THEY'RE THE ELECTRICAL PERMITS PROCESSES OF HOW THOSE, WHEN THOSE COME THROUGH IN THERE, WE OBVIOUSLY SEE WHAT IS IT THEY'RE PERMITTING AND HOW THOSE THINGS ARE GONNA BE GONE, UH, BE GONE THROUGH.

AND THEN THAT WE ABLE FLAG AS FAR AS WHAT KIND OF INSPECTION THEY'RE GONNA NEED AND WHAT KIND OF APPROVAL THEY'LL, IF THEY'RE DOING THIS OUT IN THE COUNTY, SO WELL THIS, ALL THE ELECTRICAL PARTS, ESPECIALLY COMING FROM, UM, THE ELECTRIC SERVICE PROVIDERS.

SOMETHING'S GONNA HAPPEN.

THEY HAVE TO GET RELEASES FROM OUR OFFICE IN ORDER TO DO THAT.

SO WE GET TOLD A LOT OF THINGS OF THAT.

SO YOU AGAIN, IS IT, IS SOMETHING GONNA GO THROUGH THE LOOPHOLES? ABSOLUTELY.

BUT FOR THE MOST PART THOUGH, THESE THINGS HERE IS GONNA BE WHEN WE SEE THESE THINGS COMING IN, WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT AS THE STARTING OF TODAY THAT WE, WE'VE GOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO, TO, TO TRY TO PREVENT.

AND AS FAR AS A FUTURE, UH, ISSUES AND PROBLEMS, AS ELECTRIC VEHICLES BECOME MORE AND MORE PROMINENT, WE NOTIFYING THE CITIES WHAT WE'RE DOING.

SO MAYBE THEY COULD FOLLOW SUIT.

HOPEFULLY, HOPEFULLY THAT THEY'RE GONNA DO THAT.

SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN LOOKED AT DOING SOME OTHER AMENDMENTS.

UH, WE'RE ONE OF THE FEW HERE IN TEXAS THAT'S HAS JUMPED ON THIS 2024 CODE AS, AS, AS QUICKLY AS WE HAVE IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, UH, THAT WE'RE SEEING IS, IS IS SUCH A BIG PROBLEM THAT'S STARTING THAT.

AND REALLY IN THE PART, THE THE, THE PART OF THAT IS THAT THIS IS GONNA BE A BIG PROBLEM.

A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST AREN'T REALLY LOOKING AT IT SO MUCH AT THIS POINT, BUT IT'S MORE AND MORE WHERE WE'RE SEEING THIS, PEOPLE ARE IDENTIFYING WE'RE HAVING A PROBLEM AND AS THEY START SEEING WHAT THE CAUSE IS, THEY'RE THEY'RE, THEY'RE KIND OF DELAYED AS FAR AS TO GO WELL WE WANT SOMEBODY TO KIND OF COME BACK IN AND SAY, HEY, WE KNOW FOR SURE BECAUSE OF THIS SURVEY AND SERIES OVER THIS PERIOD OF TIME THAT THIS IS THE CAUSE WE'RE JUMPING IN THE TEETH AND SAY WELL WE'RE NOT GONNA WAIT TILL WE HEAR WHAT THAT IS.

WE ALREADY KIND OF KNOW AND SO THEREFORE WE WANNA TAKE THE PRECAUTIONS BECAUSE THIS CODE HAS ALREADY HAS ALREADY BEEN PRODUCED AND OUT THERE AND THEY'RE SEEING THESE THINGS.

AND THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL CODE.

THIS ISN'T SOMETHING JUST SPECIFICALLY HERE THAT WE WROTE.

THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL CODE.

ANYTIME, ANYTIME YOU CHANGE TECHNOLOGY IT TAKES A WHILE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND THAT'S WHY THEY DO THE TEXT VERSION AND THE INFERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO THEY HAVE THE DATA FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES.

IF THEY FIND THESE THINGS OUT AND THEY PUT 'EM IN THE FIRE CODES, IT TAKES A LONG TIME.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? NO.

I'M JUST GLAD WE CAN ENFORCE IT.

ALRIGHT.

YOU NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.

MR. MOORE MAKES THE MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.

MR. BRENDA, COME FORWARD PLEASE.

MR. PHILLIP MAKES A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVORS SAY AYE.

AYE BOTH CARRIE, THANK YOU MIKE, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PROMOTION.

[9. Brenda Callaway: Discuss/Consider/Approve the Supplement Agreement #5 for the FM 548 Project between Kaufman County and Westwood in the amount of $311,031.00.]

SHE'S GOING LET US GO AND APPROVE AMENDING UH, WE WILL UH, UH, DISCUSSION APPROVE THE SUPPLEMENT AGREEMENT FOR NUMBER FIVE FOR THE FM 5 48 PROJECT BETWEEN KAKA COUNTY AND WESTWOOD IN THE AMOUNT OF $311,031.

YES MA'AM.

SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE ON THIS ONE IS WE'VE HAD THE CONSTRUCTION FUNDS EARMARKED THROUGH TXDOT FOR THIS PROJECT FOR A LITTLE WHILE BUT THEY NOW HAVE SLOTTED IT IN AND ASSIGNED A LETTING DATE.

SO THIS IS FOR 5 48 FROM 80 UP TO WINDMILL FARMS BOULEVARD AND THEY'VE ASSIGNED A LETTING DATE OF MARCH, 2025.

SO WHAT THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS FOR IS TO TAKE THE PLANS THAT WESTWOOD HAD COMPLETED, UPDATE THEM TO CURRENT 2024 STANDARDS.

THEY'RE GONNA GO THROUGH AND ADD ANY OF THE ROADWAYS THAT HAVE COME IN SINCE THEY COMPLETED THE PLANS LAST YEAR.

AND THEN IT ALSO ALLOWS FOR SIX MONTHS OF CONSTRUCTION PHASE SERVICES.

SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS, UH, WHERE THE PLANS NEED TO BE REVISED DURING THE FIRST SIX MONTHS, TDO CAN COME TO US AND WE HAVE THE ENGINEERS TO UM, REVISE THOSE PLANS ACCORDINGLY.

ALRIGHT.

MR. PHELP, THIS IS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

YEP.

CAN'T HELP 'EM SOON ENOUGH.

IN ANYWAY.

YOU MAKE A MOTION.

YOU WANNA MAKE A MOTION? MM-HMM, HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER PHELPS.

I HAVE A SECOND.

I'LL SECOND MR. BARBER, MAKE A SECOND.

BRENDA AGAIN? YES.

LET ME UH, FINISH SIGNING THESE WHILE I'M HERE.

IT'S JUST A FEW COPIES HERE.

DISCUSSED IT APPROVED THE SUPPLEMENT AGREEMENT OF NUMBER TWO FOR THE FM 5 48 PROJECT BETWEEN KAUFMAN COUNTY AND JACOBS IN THE AMOUNT OF $346,544.

MS. CALLWAY ONCE AGAIN

[10. Brenda Callaway: Discussion/Consider/Approve Supplement Agreement #2 for the FM 548 Project between Kaufman County and Jacobs in the amount of $346,544.00.]

YES MA'AM.

OKAY, SO THIS IS FOR THE PROJECT THAT'S ON FM SEVEN 40 AND FM 5 48 OVER IN THE FORNEY AREA THAT GOES FROM 20 TO FM 1641.

HAS ASKED US TO COME BACK AND DO UM, SUBSURFACE UTILITY INVESTIGATION B FOR THIS TO ACTUALLY LOCATE SOME OF THE UTILITIES 'CAUSE THERE'S QUITE A FEW IN THAT CORRIDOR TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SCHEMATIC DOESN'T IMPACT ANY OF THEM OR THE ONES THAT IT DOES IMPACT CAN BE RELOCATED.

UM, WE'RE AT THE, THE END OF THE SCHEMATIC PHASE.

UH, WE'RE ABOUT 90% SCHEMATIC WITH THIS.

TXDOT

[00:25:01]

SO THAT'S ONE, UM, OF THE ITEMS ON THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT.

THE NEXT ONE IS TO DO A NOISE WORKSHOP.

MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE'S ANY NOISE IMPACTS FROM THIS PROJECT THAT WE PROTECT THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE GONE IN ALONG THIS CORRIDOR.

AND THEN, UM, THE THIRD ONE IS, UH, US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEER PERMITTING FOR ANY OF THE WATERWAYS, WETLANDS, ANYTHING LIKE THAT ALONG THIS CORRIDOR.

UM, THESE ARE NORMALLY THE NOISE WORKSHOP AND THE PCN STUFF THAT WE NORMALLY DO IN THE SCHEMATIC PHASE, BUT WE DON'T PLAN FOR 'EM UNTIL WE MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR THEM.

UM, THE UTILITY CONFLICT MATRIX IS SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING IN THE PSE IN THE NEXT PHASE OF THIS PROJECT, BUT BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD SO MANY CONFLICTS THAT HAVE BEEN VERY COSTLY, THEY'VE ASKED US TO ACCELERATE IT.

SO WHEN WE GOT TO PSE WE WOULD PAY FOR THAT ANYWAY, BUT WE'RE JUST ACCELERATING IT FORWARD.

ALRIGHT, ANY QUESTIONS? NO.

MS. PHELPS, THIS IN YOUR AREA? YEP.

ANOTHER ONE WELL NEEDED.

YOU MAKE THE MOTION.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

MR. PHELPS MAKES THE MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.

MM-HMM.

I'LL SECOND MR. MOORE.

MAKE A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVORS SAY AYE.

A MOTION YOUR CASE.

THANK YOU BRENDA VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

I GUESS POSTER.

HE DOESN'T LIKE DRIVING.

PRESENT AND HOPEFULLY WILL ACCEPT THE TAX ASSESSOR'S MONTHLY REPORT FOR JULY OF 24.

YOU MIGHT AS WELL START COMING UP HERE.

THERE.

HE'S GOING TO CALL YOU.

I WAS GONNA .

[11. Teressa Floyd: Present/Accept the Tax Assessor-Collector's monthly Property Tax Collections Report and Auto Collections Report for July 2024.]

YES SIR.

SO Y'ALL GOTTEN A COPY OF THE REPORT, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, FOR THE MONTH OF JULY ON THE GENERAL FUND WE COLLECTED A TOTAL OF 442,297 AND 41 CENTS.

AND FOR THE ROAD AND BRIDGE 97,000 452 95 WE DID 3053 TRANSACTIONS ON THE TAX SIDE AND THERE WAS NO ROLLBACKS.

IT'S KIND OF UNUSUAL.

A ROLLBACK.

YEAH, I KNOW IT IS A LITTLE UNUSUAL.

SHOWS YOU IT SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

RIGHT? THEY THEY HAVE TO FILL UP WHAT? THEY'VE ALREADY ROLLED BACK .

RIGHT.

EITHER THERE THEY'RE CHEATING AND THEY'RE JUST BUILDING ON THAT.

HOLD IT BACK OUT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

AND SO ON THE AUTO SIDE WE COLLECTED A TOTAL OF 3 MILLION 125 5 9 9 31 FOR THE MONTH OF JULY AND THE COUNTY RECEIVED 230,000 243 39 OF THAT MONEY.

OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THAT'S SENT TO THE STATE.

I KNOW.

KIND OF SAD .

IT IS.

WE DO A LOT OF WORK AND THEY GET ALL THE MONEY.

YEAH, IT'S IS TRUE.

ANY QUESTIONS? NO, I DON'T THINK SO.

NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE? I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.

GO.

MR. UH, BARBARA THE MOTION? MM-HMM.

DO YOU HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

MR. UH PHILLIPS.

MAKE A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

[12. Judge Allen: Discuss/Consider/Approve Hoefer Welker as the architect for the Elections and Fleet Services project for Kaufman County.]

NUMBER 12 IS MINE.

DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND APPROVE FER WEER AS THE ARCHITECT FOR THE ELECTIONS IN FLEET SERVICES PROJECT FOR KAUFFMAN COUNTY.

UH, THESE GUYS, UH, WE'VE MET OUT THERE SEVERAL TIMES AND, UH, THEY'RE GOING TO DO ALL THE, UH, GEOTECH FOR THE PROPERTY.

WE DON'T WANT ANOTHER FOUNDATION FAILURE.

UH, LOOKING AT THE TOPO FOR FLOOD RUNOFF, WHERE IT'S GONNA FIT, HOW IT'S GONNA FIT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO REDESIGN ONE OF THE BUILDINGS.

UH, WE'RE NOT GONNA MAKE IT AS LARGE AS WHAT WE ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED THAT WAS FOR, UH, BUILDING SERVICES.

SO, UH, THIS IS JUST FOR THEM TO GET THE WORK DONE AND THAT WAY WE KNOW WHAT KIND OF FOUNDATION WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO BUILD FOR THESE BUILDINGS.

SO THAT'S BASICALLY IT.

ANY QUESTIONS? NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.

MR. PHILLIP MAKES A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

OKAY, MS. AUDITOR, YOU'RE

[13. Auditor: Discuss/Consider line-item and budget transfers/corrections.]

NEXT.

JUST DISCUSS, CONSIDER LINE ITEM AND BUDGET TRANSFERS.

SO THESE WERE EMAILED TO YOU PREVIOUSLY.

JUST ROUTINE LINE ITEM TRANSFERS AND BUDGET AMENDMENTS.

AND WE ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL.

Y'ALL LOOK GOOD TO ME.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR Y'ALL? NO.

NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE? I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

MR. JONES MAKES THE MOTION.

YOU HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

MR. MOORE MAKES A SECOND.

MOTION CARRIES MS. AUDITOR

[00:30:01]

[14. Auditor: Discuss/Consider claims for payment and/or Financial Information as provided by the County Auditor.]

ONCE AGAIN DISCUSS CONSIDERED CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT.

SO THIS WEEK WE ASK FOR PAYMENT OF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE INVOICES OF $944,453 17 CENTS.

WE HAVE JUROR CHECKS OF 2070 $6 AND WE HAVE PAYROLL OF $2,021,251 AND 70 CENTS FOR A TOTAL PAYOUT OF $2,967,780 AND 87 CENTS.

AND WE ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL.

I HAVE A MOTION.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

MR. PHIPPS MAKES THE MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.

I'LL SECOND BAR MAKES A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

[15. Adjourn Meeting]

I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN AND I NEED A SECOND.

MR. BAR MAKES A SECOND.