* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:02] OKAY, WE'D LIKE TO BEGIN [Call to Order] THIS MORNING. WE'RE GONNA START OFF WITH OUR INVOCATION. IT'S GONNA BE LED BY OUR NEW COMMISSIONER KELLY LANE. AND THEN, UH, COMMISSIONER MOORE IS GONNA LEAD US IN OUR PLEDGES IF YOU JOIN ME. AND STAND, PLEASE, LORD, WATCH OVERS KEEP US SAFE. HELP US DO YOUR WILL IN THIS COURT. UH, HELP US A COUPLE NEW COMMISSIONERS TO DO WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE. UH, WATCH OVER OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND LORD, WATCH OVER ONE IN COFFIN COUNTY FOR OUR STORMS COMING IN. AND THANK YOU FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, CHRIST, THEM WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. AMEN. I PLEDGE THE, THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL FOR LIBERTY, JUSTICE FOR ALL TEXAS. FLAG OUR P ALLEGIANCE TO BE TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD. THANK YOU. WELL, WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE HERE THIS MORNING FOR OUR FIRST MEETING OF 2025. WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME OUR TWO NEW COMMISSIONERS, KELLY LANE FROM PRECINCT THREE, AND TERRY CROW FROM PRECINCT ONE. UH, JUST GLAD TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD AND IT'S BE A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR A LONG TIME, SO ABSOLUTELY DON'T, DON'T BE DISCOURAGED, . OKAY. ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE. [1. ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE.] AS YOU KNOW, THE WEATHER'S COMING IN, WE WILL NOTIFY SOMETIME MAYBE TOMORROW NIGHT IF WE KNOW SOMETHING. UH, IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN TILL LATER, THEN THE SHERIFF'S WILL LET ME KNOW AND LET STEVE KNOW. THEN IT WILL GO OUT ON THE WIRE, EVERYONE'S EMAIL ADDRESS AS TO WHAT THE SITUATION WILL BECOME THURSDAY MORNING. HOPEFULLY IT WON'T BE THAT BAD, BUT WE NEED TO PLAN FOR IT. SO ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE? OH, BY THE WAY, NEXT WEEK IF YOU WANT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA, WHAT DAY DID YOU DECIDE, ASHLEY? WEDNESDAY. WEDNESDAY OF THIS WEEK FOR NEXT WEEK, BECAUSE WE MAY NOT BE HERE THURSDAY. OKAY. [2. CONSENT AGENDA] ALRIGHT. ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, WE ONLY HAD ONE ITEM. DOES EVERYONE HAVE TIME TO LOOK AT IT? ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF NOT, I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE. I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR YOU. MR. PHELPS MAKES THE MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND. I'LL SECOND. MR. LANE MAKES A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. A MOTION CARRIES. OKAY, MS. LORENNA, [3. Lorena Diaz: Discuss/Consider/Approve purchasing 16 Protech Hardwire Level 3 20X30 Shield (level 3 shield) utilizing Buyboard contract 698-23 for Constables.] YOU'RE UP NEXT. SHE'S GONNA DISCUSS AND WE HOPEFULLY APPROVE PURCHASING A 16 PROTECH HARDWARE LEVEL THREE 20 BY 30 SHIELD. THAT'S ALMOST LIKE A RLE SCOPE. 20 BY 30 . I LIKE THAT. UH, USE THE BUYBOARD CONTRACT. 6 98 DASH 23 FOR THE CONSTABLES. YES, MA'AM. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. WELCOME MORNING. THANK YOU. THE TWO NEW COMMISSIONERS. THANK, UM, THIS IS ON BY BOARD CONTRACT 6 9 8 2 3. IT MEETS ALL PROCUREMENT REQUIREMENTS. UH, THE TOTAL COST IS 59,694 AND IT'S BEING FUNDED AND RE BY A REIMBURSABLE GRANT FROM THE GOVERNMENT'S, UM, GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION FOR THE CONSTABLES, I, UH, REQUEST PURCHASE REQUEST APPROVAL FOR PURCHASE. OKAY. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? NOW I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE. I'LL MAKE THE MOTION. MR. MOORE MAKES THE MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND. I'LL SECOND. MR. PHILLIPS MAKES A SECOND. ALL IN FAVORS. AYE. A MOTION CARRIES NUMBER FOUR. [4. Brenda Callaway: Discuss/Consider/Approve the Interlocal Agreement between Kaufman County and TxDot for the Outer Loop Project in the amount of $350,096.00] THANK YOU, MS. BRENDA CALLOWAY. CONSIDER AND APPROVE THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN KAUFMAN COUNTY AND TDO FOR THE OUTER LOOP PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $350,096. MORNING, BRENDA. GOOD MORNING. UH, THIS AGREEMENT SETS UP A FORMAL ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN TXDOT AND KAUFMAN COUNTY FOR THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE SCHEMATIC EA AND EVENTUAL DESIGN OF THE OUTER LOOP FROM 2 0 5 TO INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 20. THEY'VE ASKED THAT WE PAY THE DIRECT COSTS FOR THEIR REVIEW, AND THEY'RE GONNA PICK UP THE INDIRECT COSTS. SO WE, UH, RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPROVE THIS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT. UM, THEY HAVE BEEN INFORMALLY REVIEWING IT FOR US, BUT WE WANT TO GET A FORMAL AGREEMENT WITH THEM. SO WHEN IT COMES TIME TO TRANSITION TO TECH STOP, WE KNOW ALL THE DESIGNS DONE TO THEIR STANDARDS. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? NOT NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE. I'LL MAKE A MOTION. KELLY LANE MAKES COMMISSIONER LANE MAKES A MOTION TO APPROVE. DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. MR. CROW MAKES SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. A AYE. MOTION CARRIES MS. SIN FOR YOU, BRENDA? YES. I'LL PICK IT UP AFTER. WHOOPS. OKAY, [5. Shannon Roden: Discuss/Consider/Approve the final plat of Stauffer Estates located on CR149 and FM 1895 in Precinct 1.] [00:05:06] ADAM, NUMBER FIVE. MS. SHANNON, DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND APPROVE THE FINAL PLAT FOR STAUFFER ESTATES LOCATED ON COUNTY ROAD 1 49 AND FM 1895 IN PRECINCT. ONE MORNING, SHANNON. GOOD MORNING. AND AGAIN, WELCOME TO THE NEW COMMISSIONERS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL. SO, STAUFFER ESTATES IS ROUGHLY 25 ACRES AND IT'S BEING SPLIT INTO THREE LOTS, RANGING FROM SIX TO EIGHT ACRES. ALL OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION AND APPROVALS WERE SUBMITTED WITH THE AGENDA PACKET, AND WE JUST NEED YOUR APPROVAL TODAY. OKAY. SINCE THIS IS IN YOUR PRECINCT, WE'LL ALWAYS ASK YOU FIRST. EITHER ONE OF YOU, IT'S IN YOUR PRECINCT. IF YOU'VE APPROVED, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO MAKE THE MOTION. OKAY. MR. PEARL MAKES A MOTION. I HAVE A SECOND. I'LL SECOND. MR. MOORE MAKES A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. NO. AYE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, MS. SHANNON. ONCE AGAIN THOUGH, [6. Shannon Roden: Discuss/Consider/Approve the final plat of Deer Creek Addition located on CR 355 in Precinct 3.] DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND APPROVE THE FINAL PLAT FOR DEER CREEK EDITION LOCATED ON COUNTY ROAD 3 55 IN PRECINCT THREE. OKAY. SO DEER CREEK EDITION IS ABOUT 47 ACRES, AND THAT IS BEING SPLIT INTO 11 LOTS, RANGING FROM ONE TO 11 ACRES. AND AGAIN, ALL THAT REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION AND APPROVALS WERE SUBMITTED WITH THE PACKET. WE JUST NEED YOUR APPROVAL. OKAY. YOU MAKE THAT MOTION TO APPROVE. I'LL MAKE A MOTION. OKAY. MR. LANE MAKES THE MOTION. DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. WHAT? MR. PHIS MAKES THE SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. A MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [7. Fabi Carrillo: Discuss/Consider/Approve the final plat for Greener Pastures located on County Road 4061 and County Road 4058 in Precinct 4.] FABY. WHERE ARE YOU? I'M, YOU'RE COMING. OKAY. DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND APPROVE THE FINAL PLAT FOR GREENER PASTURES LOCATED ON COUNTY ROAD 40 61 AND COUNTY ROAD 40 58 IN PRECINCT FOUR. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. WELL WARM. WELCOME TO OUR NEW COMMISSIONERS. UH, GREENER PASTURES IS APPROXIMATELY 62 ACRES. THE OWNER IS SPLITTING INTO 12 LOTS, FIVE ACRES EACH, APPROXIMATELY FIVE ACRES EACH. ALL THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION AND APPROVALS WERE SUBMITTED WITH THE AGENDA PACKET. AND WE'RE JUST ASKING THE COURT FOR YOUR APPROVAL. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO, MR. MOORE MAKES A MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND. I'LL SECOND. MR. LANE MAKES A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [8. Steve Howie: Discuss/Consider/Approve Order Re-Appointing Directors for Levee Improvement District No, 6.] OKAY, MR. HUEY, DISCUSS, CONSIDER APPROVE ORDER REAPPOINTING DIRECTORS FOR THE LEVY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NUMBER SIX. THANK YOU, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, UM, LEVY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NUMBER SIX IS LOCATED ALONG US HIGHWAY 80, UH, JUST WEST OF FORNEY. IT IS THE ONLY FUNCTIONING LEVY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT LEFT. UM, AND EVERY PERIOD PERIODICALLY WE HAVE TO REAPPOINT THEIR BOARD MEMBERS. AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HERE TODAY TO DO. UH, THE CIVIL ATTORNEYS, BRAD AND KAREN AND THEM HAVE, UH, I GUESS THEY PUT THE ORDER IN THE PACKET TO, UH, SIGN OFF, ONTO APPOINT, UH, THE COMMISSIONER, THE NEW COMMISSIONERS FOR THE, UH, LEVY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. AND IT'S, UH, JESSE RUIZ, ED FARROW, AND EUGENE BRAGG SMITH II. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS, MR. STEVE? IF NOT, I ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE. I'LL MAKE MOTION. MOTION. MR. PHIS MAKES THE MOTION. DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. MR. CROW MAKES A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, STEVE. [9. Judge Allen: Discuss/Consider/Approve clarifying effective date of budget amendment for FY 24/25 budget for Assistant Public Defender Position, approved by Commissioner's Court December 31, 2024, was effective December 1, 2024, and authorizing all expenditures related to such position from December 1, 2024.] NUMBER NUMBER NINE IS MINE. AS YOU REMEMBER, LAST WEEK WE HAD THE, UH, ASSISTANT, UH, ONE OF THE DAS FOR PUBLIC DEFENDER. AND THIS IS JUST CLARIFYING AND CLEANING THAT UP, THAT WE DID APPROVE THAT POSITION AND THAT MONEY. BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS IN THE, IT IS IN THE BUDGET. AND IT WAS EFFECTIVE DECEMBER THE FIRST OF 2024. AND THAT'S ALL THIS IS ABOUT. JUST TO CLEAN UP. I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE. I'LL MAKE A MOTION. MR. PHIPPS MAKES A MOTION. MR. CROW SECONDS. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. A MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU GENTLEMEN. MR. [10. George Williford: Discuss/Consider potential financing options for Juvenile Detention Center.] WILLIFORD, HE IS GOING TO CONSIDER, DISCUSS, CONSIDER POTENTIAL FINANCING OPTIONS FOR THE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER. MORNING, MR. WILLIFORD. GOOD MORNING. UH, IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK, JUDGE. AND, UH, COMMISSIONERS, NEW COMMISSIONERS IN PARTICULAR. UH, FOR THE RECORD, UH, GEORGE WILLIFORD WITH HILLTOP SECURITIES. AND JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND, UH, WHAT I DO, WHAT, UH, WE DO IS, UH, UH, TERM FINANCIAL ADVISOR. AND SO WE, UH, HELP THE COUNTY, UH, WITH ANY TYPE OF DEBT FINANCING NEED AS FAR AS, UH, FROM THE OUTSET, UH, WHAT, WHAT CAN BE DONE AND, AND [00:10:01] STRUCTURING AND ULTIMATELY, UH, UNDERTAKING FINANCING IF, UH, THAT'S DESIRED. AND ON, JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND, UH, I'VE WORKED WITH KAMAN COUNTY SINCE, UH, 2001 OR 2002. UH, THE 2002 WAS THE FIRST, UH, DEBT ISSUANCE THAT WE WERE INVOLVED IN AND, UH, UH, BEEN ONGOING. AND, UH, THE MOST RECENT COURSE WAS, UH, THE ELECTION THAT APPROVED THE TRANSPORTATION AND THE, UH, UH, COURTS, UH, BUILDING AND EVERYTHING. AND SO THE LAST ISSUE WAS IN 2022 THAT THE COUNTY, UH, DID, AND THAT WAS TO FINISH OUT THE, UH, ROAD BONDS, UH, ISSUANCE AND SO ON. BUT JUDGE ALLEN, UH, AND, UH, BRANDY HAD, UH, BEEN IN TOUCH WITH ME REALLY OVER, UH, A FEW MONTH PERIOD ABOUT JUST, UH, WHAT WOULD BE INVOLVED, WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT AND POSSIBLE FINANCING, UH, FOR A JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER. AND YOU ALL ARE NOT UNIQUE. I'VE GOT SOME OTHER COUNTY CLIENTS THAT, UH, THAT'S KIND OF A BIG ITEM, UH, FACING THEM IS, UH, UH, TAKING CARE OF, UH, THE JUVENILE AND HOUSING AND, UH, IF THEY'VE GOT, FACILITIES ARE ANTIQUATED AND UNDERSIZED, AND THEN IN A LOT OF CASES, UH, THEY'RE JUST NOT THERE. AND, UH, UH, INADEQUATE AND SO ON. SO WHAT I PUT TOGETHER, UH, WAS A LITTLE PACKET OF INFORMATION. AND FEEL FREE TO JUST ASK ANYTHING, UH, THAT YOU MIGHT WANT. THE, UH, FIRST PAGE IS REALLY A, A SUMMARY OF, UM, THE, UH, UH, FINANCING STRUCTURE AND IMPACT AND SO ON. AND THEN I'LL USE THE THREE SCHEDULES. I WON'T GO NECESSARILY INTO DEPTH IN EACH ONE, BUT I'LL EXPLAIN KIND OF HOW IT, UH, ALL TIES TOGETHER. BUT WHAT WE LOOKED AT, UH, AND WE STARTED OFF, UH, REALLY, UH, MONTHS AGO, MAYBE LOOKING AT SMALLER AMOUNTS, BUT BASED ON WHAT BRANDY'S BEEN COMMUNICATING, UH, OR JUST RAN 30, 35 OR $40 MILLION, UH, FINANCING, UH, NOTHING SMALLER AT THIS POINT. UH, I CAN, UH, REVISE AND, AND PROVIDE EITHER SMALLER OR LARGER AMOUNTS, UH, THAT MIGHT BE NEEDED. BUT AT ANY RATE, THEN, UH, STRUCTURING THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EXISTING DEBT THAT THE COUNTY HAS. UH, WE, UH, DETERMINE BELOW, UH, WHAT THE TAX IMPACT WOULD BE AS FAR AS AN INCREASE, UH, NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE FINANCING. AND, UH, THIS IS ABOVE THE COUNTY'S CURRENT RATE FOR DEBT OF 5.30 CENTS. AND YOU'LL SEE, AND, AND OF COURSE WE USED INTEREST RATES THAT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, UH, ARE A LITTLE HIGH. UH, IT'S 20 YEAR, UH, TERM, AND WE USE LIKE 4.6%. AND TODAY WE'D BE, UH, A HALF A PERCENT OR 50 BASIS POINTS. UH, UH, DEFINITELY BELOW THAT. BUT WE ALWAYS TRY TO BE SOMEWHAT CONSERVATIVE WHEN WE'RE MAKING PROJECTIONS AND DON'T KNOW TIME-WISE, UH, UH, WHEN SOMETHING MIGHT OCCUR. BUT YOU'LL SEE, UH, IN THIS CASE, TO FINANCE $30 MILLION WOULD REQUIRE AN INCREASE OF 0.63 PENNIES. UH, SO I'D TAKE THE RATE FOR A COUPLE OF YEAR PERIOD, PROJECTED TO 5.93 VERSUS AT 5.3. UH, 35 MILLION WOULD BE ABOUT A 0.72 CENT INCREASE. SO IT'D BE A 6.02 TOTAL. WHEREAS 40 MILLION WOULD REQUIRE A PROJECTED INCREASE OF 0.81, UH, CENTS SINCE I'D GET IT TO ABOUT 6.11 AGAIN FOR A COUPLE OF YEAR PERIOD. UH, AS IT'S PROJECTED DOWN BELOW THAT, WHAT WE DID IS, UH, PUT, UH, PROPERTY VALUE STARTING AT A HUNDRED THOUSAND, GOING UP TO HALF A MILLION. UH, AND THIS WOULD BE WHETHER IT WAS COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL, UH, AFTER ANY EXEMPTIONS, WHATEVER THE TAXABLE VALUE WAS, UH, THIS WOULD BE THE PROJECTED IMPACT. AND, AND INFORMATION THAT HAD GOTTEN SHOWED THAT AROUND 310,000 IS THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL HOMESTEAD VALUE IN THE COUNTY. AND SO IN THAT CASE, IF, UH, YOU UNDERTOOK A 30 MILLION FINANCING, UH, THE MAXIMUM IMPACT THAT IT WOULD GO UP, UH, VERSUS CURRENT ANNUAL, UH, TAX BILL WOULD BE AROUND 19, UH, DOLLARS AND 59 CENTS, A LITTLE UNDER $20 FOR FULL YEAR'S TAX BILL. WHEREAS THE 40 MILLION BE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER, IT WOULD, UH, REQUIRE PROJECTED INCREASE, UH, OF AROUND $25. UH, UH, IN THE ANNUAL TAX BILL. IF YOU'LL LOOK AT THE NEXT PAGE, THIS IS THE, UH, VERY DETAILED, UH, $30 MILLION SCHEDULE. UH, BUT JUST TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT WHAT WE'RE DOING AS FAR AS STRUCTURING. AND THEN, UH, CALCULATING THAT TAX IMPACT OVER ON THE FAR RIGHT HAND SIDE, COLUMN B, THAT'S THE TAXABLE VALUE, CURRENTLY, UH, 23 BILLION, 454 MILLION. [00:15:02] AND THEN WE ASSUME, UH, NEXT YEAR, A 7% INCREASE. AND THEN RATCHETED THAT DOWN, UH, AS YOU CAN SEE, TO WHERE WHEN YOU GET OUT AROUND 2032 OR THREE, IT REALLY, UH, DROPS TO A PROJECTED TWO, ONE AND A HALF. AND ONE, UH, THE COUNTY'S GROWTH HAS BEEN WELL IN EXCESS OF THAT. UH, AND IN A LOT OF CASES WE DON'T USE THAT NECESSARILY A HIGHER RATE, EVEN IN THE EARLY YEARS. BUT IN KAMAN COUNTY, UH, GIVEN ALL THE GROWTH AND, AND SO ON, UH, I'M NOT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE SEVEN, SIX AND, AND FIVE AND SO ON. AND YOU'LL SEE THEN IN COLUMN D, THIS IS THE EXISTING ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE THE COUNTY HAS ON ALL OF YOUR DEBT, BOTH TRANSPORTATION AND NON ROAD BONDS. UH, AND YOU CAN SEE THE MAXIMUM ANNUAL PAYMENTS THAT YOU HAVE, UH, OCCUR IN 2027, A LITTLE OVER 14 MILLION, 14,000,167. UH, THEN IT'S PRETTY STATIC AROUND 13.9, 13.97 FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, UH, BEFORE, AS SOME OF THE OLDER ISSUES START PAYING OFF. AND THAT DEBT GOING SERVICE GOING AWAY, THE ANNUAL PAYMENTS DROP. AND THEN IN THAT GRAY BOX, THAT'S EVERYTHING THAT WE STRUCTURED WITH RESPECT TO A NEW ISSUE. AND WHAT WE DID IS, UH, WHAT'S CALLED SOMEWHAT OF A WRAPAROUND STRUCTURE WHERE GIVEN THAT, UH, THAT DEBT SERVICE IS CLOSE TO OR OVER 14 MILLION, UH, FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS, AND IN ORDER TO LET TAXABLE VALUE, UH, CATCH UP AND, AND TRY TO REDUCE THE IMPACT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, WE, UH, DID INTEREST ONLY FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND THEN WE START PRINCIPAL PAYMENTS. BUT WE HAVE THOSE AGAIN WHERE, UH, THIS ISSUE HOPEFULLY WILL FIT IN VERY SMOOTHLY. IN FACT, YOU CAN GO ALL THE WAY OVER TO COLUMN, UH, J AND THAT WOULD BE THE NEW COMBINED ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE, UH, TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, THE OLD, UH, PAYMENTS PLUS WHATEVER WOULD BE NEW. AND YOU CAN SEE IN THIS CASE, FOR TH 30 MILLION, UH, WE'D HAVE IT STRUCTURED WHERE, UH, IN 2026, UH, WE'D TRY TO KEEP IT AROUND 14 6, 14 7, CLIMBING TO AROUND 15 AND A HALF MILLION. AND THEN LEVELING OUT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, UH, AT AROUND $15.7 MILLION, WHICH WOULD BE, UH, ABOUT, UH, 1,000,008. UH, UH, WELL, THE, WHAT YOU SEE, THE DEBT SERVICE MILLION SEVEN 90, UH, HIGHER THAN THE EXISTING. AND THEN THE FAR RIGHT HAND SIDE IS THE CALCULATED TAX RATE TO SUPPORT, UH, EVERYTHING OLD AND NEW. AND YOU'LL SEE BOLD, UH, FOR 26 AND 27, THAT 5.93. SO THAT'S REALLY THE MAXIMUM PROJECTED. UH, AND AS I SAID EARLIER, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, UH, AND THERE'S REALLY, UH, UNLESS THE INTEREST RATE'S LOWER, AND FOR INSTANCE, THE VALUE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS OUTGROWS THIS, UH, NOT REALLY A WAY TO REDUCE THAT 'CAUSE WE'RE RUNNING ONLY INTEREST ONLY, BUT IF VALUES ARE, WERE A LITTLE HIGHER AND THE RATES WERE A LITTLE BETTER, THAT COULD EVEN, UH, COME DOWN AS WELL. THE NEXT TWO PAGES ARE REALLY JUST THAT SAME STRUCTURE FOR THE 35 AND 40 MILLION. SO I WON'T NECESSARILY WALK THROUGH THAT, BUT IT'S, IT'S THE SAME CONCEPT AS WHAT I JUST WENT THROUGH ON THE 30. THE NEXT PAGE BEHIND THE SCHEDULES, UH, SAYS GEO OR GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS COUNTIES IN TEXAS, UH, REALLY HAVE, UH, SPECIFIC AND SOMEWHAT LIMITED MEANS OF HOW THEY CAN UNDERTAKE FINANCING PROJECTS AND SO ON. AND FOR A PROJECT LIKE THIS, WHERE IT'D BE LONG-TERM, UH, REPAYMENT AND SO ON, THE OPTIONS ARE REALLY GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE APPROVAL, UH, OF THE VOTERS AT ELECTION OR CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, WHICH, UH, DON'T REQUIRE, UH, A AN ELECTION, BUT DO HAVE A, A PROCESS, UH, THAT COULD TRIGGER AN ELECTION AND SO ON. BUT LET ME WALK THROUGH KIND OF THE SPECIFICS OF EACH ONE. UH, GO BONDS, UH, AND I'VE GOT A CALENDAR AT THE VERY BACK. UH, THERE ARE TWO UNIFORM ELECTION DATES, UH, FOR ALL TYPES OF SPECIAL ELECTIONS IN THE STATE. AND THAT'S, UH, IN NOVEMBER AND IN MAY. UH, AND SO IN THIS CASE, THE COUNTY COULD LOOK AT A MAY 25, NOVEMBER 25 ELECTION, UH, NOT A MAY 26, UH, IF THINGS CARRIED ON, UH, BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF A VAGUE, AND IN SOME CASES UNKNOWN, UH, ASPECT OF THE LAW, IT'S KIND OF BURIED. AND IT HAPPENED TO A COUNTY, UH, LAST YEAR, UH, THAT I'M AWARE OF. THEY WERE PREPARING TO [00:20:01] CALL AN ELECTION IN MAY. AND, UH, THEN, AND, AND EVEN THEIR BOND ATTORNEY, UH, KIND OF GOT CAUGHT, UH, UNAWARE. ANOTHER LAWYER BROUGHT UP, YOU CAN'T DO THAT. AND SURE ENOUGH, THEY HAD, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD TO RESCIND, UH, CALLING THAT ELECTION. BUT A COUNTY CAN CALL AN ELECTION, A BOND ELECTION IN MAY OR NOVEMBER ANY YEAR, EXCEPT IN EVEN YEARS, YOU CANNOT HOLD A MAY, UH, SPECIAL BOND ELECTION AND SO ON. UH, THE REST OF THAT JUST REALLY GOES THROUGH, UH, GEO BONDS CAN BE USED FOR ANY, UH, PUBLIC PURPOSE, UH, OF THE COUNTY WHERE IT INVOLVES CAPITAL. AND EVEN IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY LIKE, UH, A JUDGMENT OVER YOU OR, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU CAN VOTE TO FINANCE, UH, TO ACCOMMODATE, UH, SETTLING THAT OBLIGATION AND SO ON. OF COURSE, IT'S SECURED BY YOUR FULL, UH, ADVIL OR PROPERTY TAX AUTHORITY. UH, IT'S THE HIGHEST TYPE OF CREDIT THAT A COUNTY, UH, OR LIKE IN THE CASE OF A CITY, SAME THING, UH, CAN DO BECAUSE THAT'S, UH, YOUR PRIMARY SOURCE OF REVENUE AND FULL SECURITY AND SO ON. AND, UH, YOU'LL NOTE AT THE BOTTOM, IF A COUNTY, UH, UNDERTAKES, AND THIS APPLIES TO COUNTIES IN CITIES, BOTH, UH, AN ELECTION AND IT FAILS, THEN THEY CAN'T GO AN ALTERNATE FINANCING ROUTE, LIKE FOR CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, ANYTHING FOR A THREE YEAR PERIOD. UH, SO ONCE YOU HELD AN ELECTION, YOU KINDA, IF YOU, IF YOU WANT TO PURSUE THE PROJECT AGAIN, YOU'D HAVE TO CALL ANOTHER ELECTION. AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT THREE YEARS. UH, YOU COULD CALL AN ELECTION THE VERY NEXT UNIFORM, UH, DATE, UH, IF THAT'S WHAT WAS CHOSEN AND SO ON. THE NEXT PAGE TALKS ABOUT CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION. AND, UH, I'LL SAY THEY'VE KINDA GOTTEN, UH, BLACK EYE, UH, IN SOME PART, YOU KNOW, JUST SOME CIRCLES IN THE STATE. AND IT'S UNDESERVED BECAUSE, UH, COS WERE ORIGINATED FOR A PURPOSE. UH, AND, AND I MET THE LAWYER THAT WROTE THE, UH, LAW BACK IN 1971 AND SO ON. AND THEY'VE BEEN USED BY CITIES AND COUNTIES, UH, UH, FOR PROJECTS, UH, YOU KNOW, NOW FOR, UH, OVER 50 YEARS AND SO ON. UH, THE PROBLEM IS SOME COUNTIES AND EVEN SOME CITIES WERE, UH, MAYBE ABUSING, UH, THOSE AND, AND USING, UH, CERTIFICATES OR TAX NOTES, WHICH HAVE TO BE DONE ON A SHORT BASIS. AND THEY REALLY CRACKED ON THEM FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE NOT ESSENTIAL PUBLIC PURPOSE AND, AND REALLY MAYBE SHOULD HAVE BEEN, UH, SPOKEN TO BY VOTERS, UH, PURE QUALITY OF LIFE OR KIND OF EXTRAORDINARY TYPE PROJECTS. BUT FOR, UH, JAIL COURTS, UH, ROADS, THINGS LIKE THAT, UH, THEY HAVE A PURPOSE AND THEY'RE GOOD. AND I JUST RECENTLY, UH, HELPED DECKER COUNTY, UH, UH, IN NOVEMBER THEY SOLD 325 MILLION TO BUILD NEW COURT, UH, HOUSE AND ALSO TO FINISH A DETENTION CENTER BACK IN 2021. UH, THEY HAD DONE A CO FOR OUR DETENTION CENTER, AND THAT WAS A POST COVID SUPPLY CHAIN AND EVERYTHING. AND THEY COULDN'T GET BIDS BECAUSE NONE OF THE, UH, BUILDERS COULD GET, UH, UH, GOOD SOLID BIDS ON A LOT OF THE SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT THAT'S REQUIRED IN A DETENTION FACILITY AND SO ON AND ALL. AND THEN WHEN THEY FINALLY GOT A GOOD COST, THEY WERE OVER WHAT THEY HAD FINANCED. AND SO JUST, UH, LIKE I SAID, NOVEMBER, UH, PART OF THAT ISSUE WAS, UH, AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO FINISH OUT WHAT IT'S GONNA COST THEM TO BUILD A DETENTION CENTER. BUT, UM, THAT REALLY, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE ABLE TO START THE PROCESS EARLY FALL ISSUE IN NOVEMBER, OTHERWISE, UH, THEY'D HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, MAY OR WHENEVER, AND THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT COST AND THEY REALLY HAD SOME DIRE, UH, CIRCUMSTANCES AFFECTING THEIR COURT COURTHOUSE, UH, AND SO ON. SO THAT'S JUST AN ILLUSTRATION THAT, UH, FOR, FOR ESSENTIAL PROJECTS, THEY'RE STILL USED. UH, I MENTIONED YOU DON'T JUST CHARGE AHEAD AN ISSUE. THERE'S A PRESCRIBED PROCESS. AND WHAT IT IS, IS, UH, IF, IF THE, UH, COMMISSIONER'S COURT SAID, YES, WE'D LIKE TO CONSIDER, UH, ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES FOR THIS PURPOSE, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU HAVE TO ACT ON A RESOLUTION TO PUBLISH A NOTICE, UH, OF INTENT TO ISSUE THOSE. AND THAT THAT NOTICE SPECIFIES THE COUNTY, UH, PLANS TO ISSUE ON WHATEVER DATE THIS AMOUNT FOR THIS PURPOSE. IN THIS CASE IT WOULD DETENTION, UH, FACILITY AND SO ON. AND THAT HAS TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE, UH, PAPER AND POSTED ON COUNTY'S WEBSITE FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE WEEKS, STARTING AT LEAST 45 SAYS 46. BUT THAT'S JUST KINDA A MARCH 45 DAYS AHEAD OF THAT DATE THAT YOU'D PLANNED TO ISSUE. AND THEN THAT DATE FOR ISSUANCE, AND THIS WOULD APPLY ON ISSUANCE OF GO BONDS TOO, UH, [00:25:01] COUNTIES, UH, CAN ONLY AUTHORIZE ISSUANCE OF DEBT AT REGULAR COURT MEETING DATES. SO IT CAN'T BE A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OR WHATEVER. AND IT REQUIRES AT LEAST FOUR OF THE FIVE MEMBERS OF THE COURT BE PRESENT WITH A THEN MAJORITY VOTING. SO IF YOU HAD A REGULAR MEETING AND TWO COMMISSIONERS WERE OUT, YOU COULDN'T ACT TO, DIDN'T AUTHORIZE THE DEBT, UH, AND SO ON. BUT, UH, YOU CAN SEE THE PURPOSES, THEY, THEY'RE THE SAME SECURITY AS A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND, FULL TAXING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY. SO THEY CARRY THE SAME RATING, SAME INTEREST RATE, UH, AND SO ON. AND, UM, AGAIN, DOWN AT THE BOTTOM, UH, IF, UH, THEY CANNOT BE USED, LIKE I SAID, IF THE COUNTY HAD CALLED, UH, AN ELECTION THAT FAILED, UH, AT LEAST FOR A THREE YEAR PERIOD THEREAFTER. AND I'D BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT GOS COS OR, UH, THE STRUCTURE, UH, KIND OF BLOWN THROUGH IT QUICKLY, I APOLOGIZE. YEAH. AND YOU GAVE US A CALENDAR. IF, IF SO, WHATEVER THE REASON IS, WE HAVE TO ABIDE BY THE DATES. YES, SIR. THE ONE OF THE LAST THING I PUT WAS A, AN ELECTION CALENDAR FOR, UH, COUNTIES. UH, AND THIS WOULD REALLY APPLY TO CITIES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND SO ON. 'CAUSE THE SPECIAL DATES ARE THE SAME. IT'S JUST A FEW OF THE NOTICE DATES AND ALL VARY FROM ONE ENTITY TO ANOTHER. UH, BUT YOU CAN SEE FOR A MAY 3RD, 2025 ELECTION, THE LATEST DATE THAT, UH, THE COURT COULD ACT TO CALL IT WOULD BE VALENTINE'S DAY, FEBRUARY 14TH. UH, AND YOU COULD DO IT, UH, PRIOR TO THAT. AS YOU CAN SEE, ANY TIME BETWEEN FEBRUARY 3RD, FEBRUARY 14TH, UH, YOU COULD CALL THE ELECTION. UH, AND THEN IT LISTS THE, UH, UH, DATES FOR WHEN YOU'D HAVE TO POST NOTICE, UH, AND, AND THEN WHEN EARLY VOTING WOULD BEGIN. UH, APRIL 21ST, BUT MAY 3RD WOULD BE THE ACTUAL ELECTION DATE IN THAT CASE. UH, IN THE CASE OF A FALL ELECTION, THE LATEST DATE TO CALL, IT'S AUGUST 18TH. UH, AGAIN, EARLY VOTING, OTHER THINGS, BUT THE ELECTION DATE, UH, WOULD BE NOVEMBER 4TH IN THAT CASE. UH, AND LEMME KINDA GO OVER THE TIMING 'CAUSE I MENTIONED LIKE HECTOR COUNTY FOR EXAMPLE. UH, AND, AND ON COS UH, IF YOU POST A, A NOTICE THAT YOU'RE GONNA ISSUE CERTIFICATES, THEN YOU'RE REALLY IN THE ISSUANCE PROCESS. AND THAT 46TH DAY, OR PROBABLY MOST CASES SOMETIME AFTER THAT, UH, LIMIT THE DATE THAT YOU WOULD, UH, PLAN TO, UH, VOTE WOULD BE WHEN YOU'D ACTUALLY AUTHORIZE THE DEBT. AND WHETHER IT WAS DELEGATED OR, OR NOT, THE SALE OF THE, THE COS WOULD OCCUR. I MEAN, RIGHT THEN WITHIN JUST A VERY FEW DAY PERIOD. IN THE CASE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, FOR INSTANCE, IN MAY, UH, IN MOST CASES YOU'D BE LOOKING AT EARLY JULY AT THE EARLIEST, UH, THAT YOU'D ACTUALLY ISSUE OR SELL, UH, THE BONDS BECAUSE, UH, YOU'VE GOT TO CANVAS THE ELECTION. UH, THERE'S A 30 DAY CONTEST PERIOD. UH, AND THEN JUST THE WORK REQUIRED TO GET A A, AN ISSUE TOGETHER AFTER YOU KNEW THE ELECTION HAD PASSED. SO, UH, THERE'S ABOUT A 60 DAY LAG BETWEEN SUCCESSFUL ELECTION AND THEN WHEN YOU COULD ACTUALLY SELL, UH, AN ISSUE. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. WILLIFORD COMMENTS? TRENT? HE'S OUR JUVENILE DETENTION GURU. YES, SIR. YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. WILLIFORD? NO, I DON'T. OKAY. GEORGE, THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU. AND AS ALWAYS, UH, I'M SURE QUESTIONS WILL COME UP. THAT'S, THAT'S NORMAL SIR. SO JUST FEEL FREE TO FEED 'EM, UH, THROUGH BRANDY OR JUDGE AND, AND I'LL BE GLAD TO PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION. AND THEN, UH, IF WE NEED TO LOOK AT, UH, ALTERNATE STRUCTURES, UH, AMOUNT WISE AND ALL, WELL WE CAN, UH, MODEL WHATEVER'S NEEDED. THANK YOU FOR COMING. ALRIGHT. SUCH A COLD DAY. IT IS. APPRECIATE IT. OKAY, [11. Auditor; Discuss/Consider line-item and budget transfers/corrections.] MISS AUDITOR, YOU'RE UP DISCUSSING CONSIDER LINE ITEM AND BUDGET TRANSFERS OR CORRECTIONS. YES SIR. SO WE EMAILED THESE AHEAD OF TIME AND THIS WEEK WE ONLY HAVE ONE LINE ITEM TRANSFER. ALRIGHT. WE ASKED FOR YOUR APPROVAL. OKAY. I HAVE A, DO I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION. MR. PHILLIPS MAKES THE MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. AND Y'ALL TIED. WE TIED TIED. WE'LL FLIP FOR IT. ALRIGHT, MR. LANE. COMMISSIONER LANE MADE SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. MOTION CARRIES. OKAY, MS. ARCHER ONCE [12. Auditor; Discuss/Consider claims for payment and/or Financial Information as provided by the County Auditor.] AGAIN CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT. SO THIS WEEK WE HAVE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE INVOICES TOTALING $1,565,686 AND 82 CENTS. THAT IS MADE UP MOSTLY OF ROAD BOND AND [00:30:01] INSURANCE LIABILITIES. UM, WE ALSO HAD A PAYROLL OF $2,038,805 AND 67 CENTS FOR A TOTAL PAYOUT OF $3,604,492 AND 49 CENTS. AND WE ASKED FOR THE COURT'S APPROVAL TO PAY. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SECOND. OH, MAKE ONE. YOU GOTTA MAKE ONE. MAKE THE MOTION. OKAY. I SECOND. MR. CROW MADE THE MOTION. ONE MAY THE SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. A AYE. MOTION CARRIED. I'LL IT'S [13. Adjourn Meeting] YOUR TURN. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. VOTE. YOU MIGHT. MR. PHILIP MAKES THE MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND. I'LL SECOND MR. MOORE. MAKE SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OKAY. NOW WAIT A MINUTE. WAIT BEFORE WE ALL GO, WE'RE GONNA SWEAR IN OUR, UH, MS. FLOYD RIGHT DOWN HERE. SO IF YOU'LL COME ON UP HERE AND WE'LL GET THIS DONE FOR HER. COME ON UP HERE, . I DIDN'T LOOK AT IT. I'LL, HE WANTS YOU TO HAVE EXERCISE. I KNOW, RIGHT? OH, ALL RIGHT. OKAY. HOW WAS YOUR TRIP THOUGH? IT WAS WONDERFUL. IT WAS TOO LONG, BUT WONDERFUL. . OKAY. FIRST WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A STATEMENT OF ELECTED OFFICER. OH, YOU WANNA LEAVE IT ON? OKAY. YEAH. LEAVE IT ON OR MAKE IT HEAR IT. A I, THERESA FLOYD. THERESA FLOYD. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I HAVE NOT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, THAT I HAVE NOT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY PAID, OFFERED OR PROMISE TO PAY PAID, OFFERED OR OFFER TO PAY. CONTRIBUTED. CONTRIBUTED OR PROMISED TO CONTRIBUTE OR PROMISED TO CONTRIBUTE ANY MONEY OR THING OF VALUE, ANY MONEY OR THING OF VALUE. OR PROMISED ANY PUBLIC OFFICE OR PROMISED ANY PUBLIC OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT OR EMPLOYMENT FOR THE GIVING OR WITHHOLDING FOR THE GIVING OR WITHHOLDING OF A VOTE AT THE ELECTION OF A VOTE AT THE ELECTION AT WHICH I WAS ELECTED, AT WHICH I WAS ELECTED. OR AS A REWARD OR AS A REWARD TO SECURE MY APPOINTMENT OR CONFIRMATION TO SECURE MY APPOINTMENT OR CONFIRMATION, WHICHEVER THE CASE MAY BE. SO HELP ME GOD. WHICHEVER THE CASE MAY BE. SO HELP ME GOD. OKAY. NOW THE OATH OF OFFICE I, I, THERESA FLOYD DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE, I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF KAUFMAN COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR. OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND I WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, AND I WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, PRESERVE AND PROTECT, DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION, DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION, AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME GOD, AND IF THIS STATE STILL HELP ME, GOD. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, VERY GOOD. I NEED TO SIGN? YES MA'AM. ALRIGHT. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.