[00:00:01]
OKAY.[Call to Order]
WELCOME EVERYONE TODAY TO OUR REGULAR COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING.WE'RE BLESSED WITH ALL THE RAIN AND WE KNOW THE A HUNDRED DEGREES ARE COMING SOON.
WE'RE GONNA BEGIN THIS MORNING WITH OUR INVOCATION LED BY COMMISSIONER LANE AND THEN COMMISSIONER K CROWS WILL LEAD US TO THE PLEDGES IF YOU JOIN ME.
LORD, WATCH RIVERS ALL, KEEP US ALL SAFE.
HELP US DO TODAY IN COURT WHAT IT IS IN YOUR NAME.
AND WATCHOVER ARE OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
AND PLEASE LORD, WATCH OVER AND BLESS THE ONES IN SOUTH TEXAS RIGHT NOW.
I TO THE LIFE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TWO REPUBLIC FOR WHICH WHICH STANDS? ONE NATION UNDER GOD AND THE ISRAEL WITH NEVER JUSTICE THE TEXAS FLAG.
I THREE TEXAS, ONE MAN UNDER GOD.
LAURA, HAVE ANYONE SIGN UP THIS MORNING TO SPEAK? ALRIGHT THEN WE'LL MOVE RIGHT ALONG.
ANY ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE FROM ANYONE?
[2. CONSENT AGENDA.]
IF NOT, THEN WE'LL MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.WE HAVE THREE ITEMS THROUGH WHICH ARE APPROVING THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING FOR JULY THE EIGHTH AND UH, JULY THE SEVENTH.
IATION OF BRITTANY HAMMER FOR THE KAMAN COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE.
ANY DISCUSSION? NOT NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE.
MR. PHILLIPS MAKES THE MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.
[3. Lauren Rowe: Discuss/Consider Lone Star Casa presentation of Justice Involved Youth Program.]
ALRIGHT.SHE WANTS TO DISCUSS, CONSIDER LONE STAR CASA PRESENTATION OF JUSTICE INVOLVED YOUTH PROGRAM.
WELL, HI, HOW ARE Y'ALL THIS MORNING? GREAT.
I SEE YOU HAVE BACKUP IN THE BACK, BACK THERE.
SO, UH, COUNTY JUDGE COMMISSIONERS HOFFMAN COUNTY STAFF, THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME BEFORE YOU TODAY.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LONE STAR CASA.
I KNOW SOME OF Y'ALL'S, UM, LADIES HAVE BEEN GETTING EMAILS FROM ME ABOUT MEETING WITH Y'ALL AND EXPLAINING A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT WE DO.
BUT JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW, SINCE 2004, WE HAVE SERVED THE KAUFFMAN COUNTY COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING GUARDIAN AD LITEMS FOR CHILDREN INVOLVED IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM.
RIGHT? SO, CHILDREN WHO'VE EXPERIENCED ABUSE AND NEGLECT, WE HAVE PROVIDED GUARDIAN AD LITEMS FOR THEM THROUGHOUT THEIR ENTIRE CIVIL CASE.
REALLY ADVOCATING FOR THEIR BEST INTEREST, MAKING SURE THAT THEY ACHIEVE SAFETY AND STABILITY.
AND SO WE DO THIS ON AVERAGE FOR ABOUT 22 MONTHS.
BUT OUR GOAL IS TO GET TO KNOW EVERYBODY ON THE CASE AND REALLY BE ABLE TO LOOK AT IT IN AN UNBIASED WAY.
AND WE UTILIZE VOLUNTEERS TO DO THAT.
SO WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT, LIKE I SAID, FOR OVER 20 YEARS IN KAUFFMAN COUNTY.
ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO WE FELT LIKE THERE WAS A LOT OF LEGISLATIVE CHANGE THAT MADE REMOVALS HARDER.
AND SO WE STARTED OUR COURT ORDERED SERVICES PROGRAM HERE IN KAUFFMAN COUNTY.
SO I'M GIVING YOU A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND BEFORE I GET INTO THE PROGRAM, JUST FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH OUR WORK.
SO OUR COURT ORDERED SERVICE PROGRAM WAS, WE WERE WORKING WITH FAMILIES WHO CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT HAD HAPPENED IN THEIR HOME.
HOWEVER, THE STATE DETERMINED THEY COULD REMAIN THERE SAFELY IF THEY DEVELOPED A SAFETY PLAN.
AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO BE A GUARDIAN AD LITEM ON THOSE CASES WHERE THEY WERE COURT ORDERED TO DO SERVICES, BUT THE KIDS COULD REMAIN AT HOME.
WE WERE THE FIRST IN THE STATE OF TEXAS TO DO THAT WITHOUT PUTTING, UM, WITHOUT SWITCHING, MANAGING CONSERVATORSHIP TO THE STATE.
SO WE'RE VERY PROUD AND I THINK KAUFMAN COUNTY SHOULD BE VERY PROUD.
WE HAVE ONE OF OUR STAFF, TAJ WALKER, WHO'S HERE TODAY AND HE LED OUT ON THAT INITIATIVE WITH US ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO.
AND WE'VE SEEN SUCH GREAT SUCCESS IN WORKING WITH THESE FAMILIES, KEEPING THEM FROM COMING INTO THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM FROM THAT TRAUMA THAT HAPPENS WITH THE KIDS AND THE YOUTH THAT WE SERVE.
OKAY, SO WHY TODAY AM I COMING BEFORE YOU ONE, I GAVE YOU A FOLDER.
UM, IN THAT FOLDER YOU WILL SEE, UM, A PIECE OF PAPER CALLED JUSTICE INVOLVED YOUTH.
AND SO I'M GONNA PULL THAT OUT.
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS, LIKE I SAID, ADVOCACY FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
WE'VE BEEN GUARDIAN AD LITEMS FOR THESE KIDS.
AND SO ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, FIVE AND A HALF YEARS AGO, WHEN I FIRST STARTED, I REMEMBER GOING BEFORE JUDGE TRACY GRAY, SHE WAS SEEING MOST OF OUR CHILD WELFARE CASES AND SHE JUST SAID, HEY, WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH OUR JUVENILES.
WE'RE SEEING THE NUMBER GO UP.
CAN YOU HELP? AND AS YOU CAN SEE FROM 2020 TO 2023, YOU GUYS HAVE EXPERIENCED 121% INCREASE IN YOUTH INVOLVED IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
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TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO TR AND HIS TEAM WHO'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS GROWTH.UM, AND IT'S VERY CLEAR TO ME HOW MUCH THEY CARE FOR THE JUVENILES, UM, THAT THEY WORK WITH AND TO THE FAMILIES.
AND SO WE KNOW THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED THIS GROWTH AND AS WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS GROWTH, WE ALSO KNOW IN KAUFMAN COUNTY THAT THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PREVENTATIVE PROGRAMS, RIGHT? WE DON'T HAVE YMCAS, WE DON'T HAVE BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS.
WE DON'T HAVE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS.
A LOT OF THE PREVENTATIVE PROGRAMS REALLY RELY ON THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, UM, THE LITTLE LEAGUES AND THE CHURCHES.
AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST, IT'S HARD.
AND SO WE FELT LIKE THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CASA TO USE THE EXPERTISE THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND BRING IT OVER INTO THIS SIDE AND TO BE A GUARDIAN AD LITEM FOR YOUTH INVOLVED IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
AND SO WE MET WITH THE DA, WE MET WITH JUDGE RUSSELL, WE MET WITH PROBATION.
UM, AND REALLY THE FACT IS, GUYS THAT ABOUT FIVE, 10 YEARS AGO SOME OF THESE KIDS ON THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM SIDE, WE WOULD'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM ON THE CHILD WELFARE SIDE.
BUT BECAUSE REMOVALS HAVE GOTTEN HARDER AND AS WELL JUST LACK OF, UM, PLACEMENTS FOR TEENS IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, THEY DO REMAIN IN THE HOME.
AND SO WE THOUGHT, WELL HOW CAN WE HELP THESE KIDS REALLY ACHIEVE A BETTER LIFE? AND SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO, OUR PLAN IS TO TAJ WALKER WHO LED OUT ON OUR COS, OUR COURT ORDER SERVICES WILL BE LEADING THIS INITIATIVE ALONG WITH US.
AND IT WILL BE, WE WE'RE PARTNERING WITH PROBATION DA AND JUDGE RUSSELL TO DETERMINE WHICH FAMILIES, WHICH KIDS, THE YOUTH THAT ARE COMING THROUGH AND ARE ADJUDICATED, WHICH ONES NEED A GUARDIAN AD LITEM.
AND THEY WILL BE APPOINTED ONE OF OUR GUARDIAN AD LITEMS. AND WE ARE USING SOME OF OUR BEST CAA VOLUNTEERS THAT WE'VE BEEN USING.
THEY'VE ALREADY GONE THROUGH 30 HOURS OF TRAINING, THEY'VE ALREADY CARRIED CASES.
WE'RE GONNA GIVE 'EM ADDITIONAL TRAINING LED BY THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT ON WHAT JUVENILE JUSTICE IS AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
AS WELL AS MORE TRAINING ON TRUST-BASED RELATIONSHIPS.
AND OUR GOAL IS TO WORK WITH THE YOUTH AND ACHIEVE FIVE THINGS, WHICH IS AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SHEET.
WE WANT THE YOUTH TO COMPLETE PROBATION SUCCESSFULLY.
WE WANT THEM NOT TO GET AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE.
WE WANNA CONNECT THEM TO VITAL COMMUNITY RESOURCES, RIGHT? HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET THE ADVOCACY THEY NEED? IF THEY'RE IN SCHOOL AND THEY'RE TRUANT, BUT THEY NEED A 5 0 4 B, RIGHT? A 5 0 4 PLAN, HOW CAN WE ADVOCATE FOR THAT IF THEY NEED THERAPY, IF THEY NEED MEDS, HOW DO WE ADVOCATE FOR THAT? AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR SO MANY YEARS, WE WANNA DO IT OVER HERE.
HOW DO WE HELP THAT FAMILY STRENGTHEN AND THAT YOUTH KNOW THAT HIS SUPPORT, HIS OR HER SUPPORT SYSTEM IS GROWING, RIGHT? THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE CONNECTIONS.
WE KNOW THAT THAT HELPS PEOPLE IF THEY HAVE A CONNECTION TO SUCCEED.
AND THEN ULTIMATELY WE WANT THE YOUTH TO BE ABLE TO ENVISION A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES, RIGHT? THAT THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY MAKE THEIR FUTURE BETTER.
AND SO THAT'S GONNA BE OUR GOAL.
WE ARE GONNA LAUNCH IT ON SEPTEMBER 1ST.
OUR GOAL IS TO WORK WITH AT LEAST 25 YOUTH DURING OUR FIRST YEAR TO PILOT IT.
WE WILL TRACK ALL OUR OUTCOMES, SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING, OF COURSE, GET FEEDBACK FROM PROBATION AND DA AND JUDGE RUSSELL MAKE ANY CORRECTIONS WE NEED.
AND THEN WE KNOW THIS IS GONNA BE SUCCESSFUL.
BUT JUST IN CASE WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE OUTCOMES.
AND THEN OUR HOPE IS TO GROW THIS, UM, HERE IN KAUFMAN COUNTY, BUT ALSO TO GROW IT INTO ROCKWELL COUNTY.
THIS HAS BEEN DONE IN OTHER STATES.
IT ACTUALLY CAME TO TEXAS AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
THEY HAVE DONE THIS FOR OVER A YEAR AND SEEN A LOT OF SUCCESS.
SO WE'RE EXCITED TO LAUNCH IT IN KAUFMAN COUNTY.
UM, AND WE HAVE BEEN SEEKING PRIVATE, UH, FUNDING FOR THIS.
SO IT'LL COST US ABOUT 95,000 OUR FIRST YEAR.
WE HAVE WRITTEN SEVERAL GRANT APPLICATIONS REQUESTING THE FUNDING TO HELP SUPPORT THAT.
WE'VE ALSO GOT $20,000 FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO'VE ALREADY COMMITTED, UM, TO HELP US WITH THIS PROGRAM.
BUT WE WANTED TO JUST COME BEFORE YOU TELL YOU ABOUT THIS, LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE GONNA BE WORKING WITH YOUR WONDERFUL, UM, PROBATION DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS THE DA AND THE JUDGE, AND TO SEE IF Y'ALL HAD ANY QUESTIONS.
NOW,
HOW IS THIS GOING TO AFFECT YOUR EMPLOYEES? UH, I THINK IT'D BE GREAT.
IT'S AN ADDITION TO THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE FOR THE KIDS.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET WHAT'S BEST FOR THESE KIDS SO THEY CAN SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE PROBATION AND WITH THEM ON BOARD, I THINK THAT'LL HELP.
'CAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS THE PARENTS REALLY DON'T KNOW THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH, YOU KNOW, IF THE KIDS HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, THEY NEED TO GO TO THE DOCTOR, UH, SCHOOL.
IT'S JUST ANOTHER RESOURCE TO HELP THE KIDS AND THE FAMILY TO SUCCEED ON PROBATION.
SO I THINK THIS WOULD BE A GOOD THING FOR US.
WELL, EVERY LAYER THAT WE HAVE IS A PLUS.
DO Y'ALL EVER KEEP TRACK OF HOW MANY OF THESE CHILDREN COME FROM SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES? OH, ON THE CHILD WELFARE SIDE OR ON THE PROB SIDE? YES, EITHER.
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KNOW, I MEAN WE HEAR STATISTICS IN THE NEWS ALL THE TIME, RIGHT? YES.SO I WONDER HOW DO WE TRACK STUFF LIKE THAT? WE DO.
I CAN'T QUOTE YOU ON THAT RIGHT NOW.
UM, WE'VE BEEN TRACKING INCOME LEVEL, WE'VE BEEN TRACKING, UM, RACE AND ETHNICITY.
ONE PARENT, TWO PARENT HOUSEHOLD.
WE DO TRACK ALL THAT INFORMATION AND WE CAN PROVIDE THAT.
AND I'M JUST CURIOUS 'CAUSE YOU HEAR THAT ALL THE TIME.
WELL, HOW'S IT AFFECTED US HERE IN KAUFFMAN COUNTY? I THINK OF THE MAJORITY OF OUR KIDS DO COME FROM ONE PARENT HOME.
THAT'S, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I THINK THIS IS GONNA BE A GREAT PROGRAM FOR US.
I HOPE IT'S VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THE OUTCOME AFFECTS OUR COUNTY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
RIGHT? WELL A HUNDRED PERCENT.
AND WE KNOW AND I KNOW THEY KNOW THAT JUST THE CHARGE THAT THEY HAVE DOESN'T DETERMINE THEIR FUTURE.
AND THAT'S OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY FEEL EMPOWERED, THAT YOUTH FEELS EMPOWERED, THAT IT DOESN'T DETERMINE THEIR FUTURE BECAUSE THEY NEED TO BE PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS AND THEY WANT TO BE, NO ONE WANTS TO BE A LOSER.
MS. DE, WOULD YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SAY? I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT
SEE, I KNEW, WELL I, I JUST GOTTA, I WANTED TO HEAR, I THINK THE QUESTION YOU ASK ABOUT THE SINGLE FAMILY, I DON'T, I THINK THAT TR IS RIGHT.
I THINK STATISTICALLY IT'S MOST OF THEM.
AND I THINK IT'S MORE THAN SINGLE FAMILY.
'CAUSE SINGLE PARENTS DO A GREAT JOB WITH KIDS.
IT'S THAT THESE KIDS AND THE, AND IN THE HISTORY OF MOST COUNTIES, JUVENILE AND CPS GO TOGETHER IN THE COURTS.
THE JUDGES IN DALLAS AND HARRIS AND A LOT OF OTHER DO CPS AND JUVENILE CASES.
BECAUSE THE TIE IN AND WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, LAUREN, IS MANY OF THE JUVENILE KIDS WERE ON CPS CASELOADS.
AND THE CPS CASES COME FROM FAMILIES THAT ARE BROKEN.
I MEAN MORE THAN JUST SINGLE BECAUSE WE, WE HAVE SEEN UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE OF DIVORCE RATE 50%, THERE'S A LOT OF SINGLE PARENTING AND THOSE KIDS CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S WORSE THAN THAT.
SO WE, THE KIDS THAT ARE, THAT WE SEE, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO HELP AND INTERSECT WITH THESE CHILDREN IN WAYS.
'CAUSE CASA WON'T BRAG, BUT WE HAVE TO GET OUR COUNTY ENERGIZED IN KAUFMAN COUNTY FOR LONE STAR CASA.
THEY SERVE WITH THE VOLUNTEERS MOSTLY FROM ROCKWALL TO OUR COUNTY.
SO MORE THAN 70 OR 80% OF THEIR VOLUNTEERS WORK IN OUR COUNTY.
THOUGH THEY ARE ROCKWALL PEOPLE THAT HELP US VOLUNTEER.
THEY SERVE OUR COUNTY, THEY'VE HELPED US TREMENDOUSLY WITH CPS.
AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A SUCCESS BECAUSE CASA HAS A HISTORY OF SUCCESS AND WE NEED, HOW DO WE GO ABOUT GETTING MORE OF OUR PEOPLE INVOLVED? YEAH.
SO WE HAVE BEEN HOSTING LUNCH AND LEARNS.
YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A LOVELY INVITATION IN YOUR FOLDER.
UM, WE DID ONE IN TERRO LAST WEEK.
WE WILL BE DOING ONE IN CRANDALL IN AUGUST.
WE'VE ACTUALLY JUST HIRED, SHE WILL START MONDAY.
UM, A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PERSON WHO WILL SPECIFICALLY BE IN OUR KAUFMAN OFFICE.
UM, REALLY TO GET MORE ENERGIZED IN THE KAUFMAN COUNTY COMMUNITY.
UM, TO HOPEFULLY GET NOT ONLY MORE VOLUNTEERS BUT ALSO MORE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THIS COMMUNITY.
UM, THIS YEAR, JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW AND I'LL Y'ALL GET TO HEAR ME NEXT WEEK AS WELL,
SO IT IS DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS HAVE A MUCH LARGER FOOTPRINT AND A LOT OF YOUNG FAMILIES MOVING INTO THIS COMMUNITY.
SO WE ARE HOPING AND INVESTING IN PEOPLE TO HOPEFULLY STRENGTHEN THAT.
AND I'M BIASED TOWARD KAUFMAN COUNTY.
I THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE GENEROUS.
I JUST DON'T, I THINK THERE'S SO MANY NONPROFITS THAT PEOPLE JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF CASA, WHICH AS A FORMER JUDGE CASA WAS THE EYES AND EARS OF THE COURT.
AND AS THE GUARDIAN AD LITEM, THEY WOULD COME IN AND TELL YOU ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE GOING ON WITH YOUR COURT.
WHEN KIDS ARE REMOVED, THAT SAME ENERGY IS GONNA NOW MOVE TO JUVENILE AND GIVE THE JUDGE, JUDGE RUSSELL EVEN MORE INFORMATION, ASSIST THE FAMILY AND SUPPORT THEM.
BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU TALK INTO THE JUVENILE AND YOU REALIZE, WELL THEY DON'T HAVE A CHANCE.
'CAUSE THE PARENTS HAVE SUCH A POOR UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THEIR KIDS.
AND SO I THINK IF OUR COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS THAT FOR ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN FOSTERING, THIS IS LIKE
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A SHORT TERM VERSION OF THAT.AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO SPEND THE NIGHT AT YOUR HOUSE.
SO YOU CAN JUMP IN THERE AND HELP A KID THROUGH THEIR CASE.
AND THIS IS EVEN A SMALLER COMMITMENT AS THEN A, UH, A CASE INVOLVING CPS THAT THOSE KIDS CAN LIVES GOES ON TO THE AGE OF 18.
THIS IS JUST GETTING THEM SUCCESSFULLY DISCHARGED FROM PROBATION, WHICH IS A SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR.
SO THIS IS A NICE COMMITMENT AND IT WON'T, YOU CAN WORK.
THEY'RE, THEY ARE LEAN ON THEIR STAFF AND HEAVY ON VOLUNTEERS.
SO IT'S, IT IS A GREAT, WE HAVE MANY GREAT PROGRAMS, BUT CASA IS REALLY THE PROGRAM THAT YOU CAN JUMP IN AND CHANGE A LIFE.
YOU, YOU LITERALLY CAN CHANGE A LIFE.
I'VE HEARD MANY YOUTH COME AND GIVE THEIR TESTIMONY BY THE CASA VOLUNTEER WHEN THE CASEWORKER CHANGED, WHEN THE ATTORNEYS CHANGED, HECK WHEN THEIR PARENTS CHANGED, PARENTS GAVE UP ON 'EM, GOT ADOPTED, GOT REMOVED, CAME BACK.
THE ONLY PERSON THAT WAS THEIR CONSISTENT PERSON WAS THEIR CASA VOLUNTEER.
AND WHEN YOU HEAR THAT TESTIMONY AND THEY'RE IN A, IN A UNIVERSITY, 'CAUSE THE STATE PAYS FOR IT AND THAT COSTS A VOLUNTEER AND HIM AND THAT RELATIONSHIP, YOU GO, WOW, YOU CAN ACTUALLY IMPACT SOMEBODY'S LIFE.
SHE'S GONNA DO HER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
NO, I'VE ALREADY GOT A FULL-TIME JOB.
I'VE JUST, I'VE JUST, I'VE BEEN AROUND IT FOR 30 YEARS AND SO, AND HERE IN KAUFMAN FOR 20 AND WITH THE FORMER DIRECTOR AND IT'S BEEN THE SAME THING.
BUT WE, WE REALLY HAVE TO DO THAT TOUCH POINT WITH OUR PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I KNOW THE DA IN ROCKWELL JUST CHAPS ME ALL THE TIME, BUT Y'ALL GOT MORE VOLUNTEERS THAN WE DO BECAUSE I KNOW OUR COMMUNITY JUST DON'T KNOW BECAUSE THEY WOULD ENGAGED.
WELL AND I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
YOU HAVE SOMEONE NOW WHO CAN GET IN THE COMMUNITY.
'CAUSE IF YOU DON'T SELL THE PRODUCT, NO ONE'S GONNA BUY IT.
AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE ADDRESSING.
WELL I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE.
IF YOU GUYS, UH, I KNOW YOU'RE DEALING WITH THE JUVENILE SIDE OF THIS AND SOME OF IT'S PROBATION AND DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, BUT I KNOW LIKE CHURCHES DO A LOT OF PROGRAMS FOR THE KIDDO.
BUT LIKE EXAMPLE ACTUALLY RIGHT HERE, SITTING IN THE ROOM RIGHT HERE, THE YOUNG MARINES OUTTA FORNY IS A GREAT PROGRAM THAT ALSO TEACHES THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN LEADERSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY AND GUIDANCE.
SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF Y'ALL INCLUDE THOSE GROUPS INTO Y'ALL'S OR MAYBE THAT MIGHT BE AN IDEAL IN THE FUTURE OR IS THAT UNDERST STACKED? SAY SOMETHING? I THINK PROBATION DOES.
WE RIGHT NOW, I'M GLAD YOU SAID THAT WE HAVE INCLUDED THE LIONS CLUB AND KAUFMAN FIRST BAPTIST AND, AND NY IS WHERE I THINK EDDIE DEAN IS INTERESTED IN DOING A MENTORING PROGRAM.
SO RIGHT NOW WE, WE HAVE A MEETING ON THE 30TH THIS MONTH WE'RE GONNA ESTABLISH IT, YOU KNOW, THE PROTOCOLS FOR THE MENTORING PROGRAM AND WE'RE GONNA GET THAT STARTED WITH ALL THOSE GROUPS.
SO WE ARE WE MOVING FORWARD? YOU'RE WELL AHEAD ON, ON PLANNING.
I WOULD SAY OUR GOAL IS GOING TO BE GET THE KIDS PLUGGED IN TO WHERE THEY ARE.
BECAUSE AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S DEVELOPING THOSE SKILLS BUT IT'S ALSO THAT RELATIONSHIP.
UM, AND SO WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA LEARN ABOUT ALL THE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE AND THEN OUR GOAL WILL BE GETTING THESE KIDS INVOLVED IN THEIR SCHOOLS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.
AND TR HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH A LOT OF LEADERS.
AND SO THAT'S BEEN GOOD WITH ALL YOUR DISCUSSIONS AROUND THE COUNTY AND THEIR PEOPLE ARE STEPPING FORWARD, WANTING TO HELP VOLUNTEERING NOW THAT THEY KNOW THE NEED.
I THINK WITH THE, WITH THE UH, BOND ELECTION, WITH THE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER, IT MADE PEOPLE VERY AWARE.
AND SO ALL THESE OTHER WONDERFUL ORGANIZATIONS ARE STEPPING UP.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT, UH, WILL BE A PART OF WHAT TR IS DOING.
I'M NOT TRYING TO, THOSE PROGRAMS ARE GREAT AND NEED TO BE PLUGGED IN.
THE ONLY DISTINCTION BETWEEN CASA IS THAT THEY'RE COURT ORDERED.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS SERVICES WHERE THESE KIDS ARE LIKE, OKAY, INTERESTED IN SERVICE, LET'S PUT 'EM IN THE MARINE PROGRAM.
OH, THE CHURCH HAS GOT A SERVICE FOR THAT.
SO THERE'S ALL THESE SERVICES, CASA'S NOT ON THE, THEY'RE NOT, UH, EMPLOYEES BUT THEY'RE COURT ORDERED.
AND IF YOU'RE EVER BEEN IN A CPS CASE, THEY'RE COURT ORDERED LIKE AN ATTORNEY AT LINE BY STATUTE LEGISLATIVELY WHERE THE, WHERE THE NONPROFITS ARE NOT THE SAME.
IF THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE, A DISTINCTION.
SO YES, WE'RE NOT A DIRECT SERVICE.
SO IT'S A COURT ORDER SERVICE JUST TO MAKE A DISTINCTION.
BUT I KNOW ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE SO HELPFUL AND AS LAUREN SAID TO START WITH IT, WE DON'T HAVE THE TRADITIONAL YMCA AND THIS AND THAT, BUT WE DO HAVE A LOT OF GREAT SERVICE GROUPS THAT I THINK AS WE PUT TOGETHER THIS JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER, WE'RE GONNA SEE IN OUR COMMUNITY ALL THESE SPRING UP AND BECOME SOMETHING THAT WE CAN PULL OUT FOR OUR YOUTH AND TRI GONNA DO.
I'VE HAD SEVERAL CALLS JOB DOING THAT.
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OKAY, THANK YOU AGAIN, LAUREN.[4. Teressa Floyd: Present/Accept the Kaufman County Assessments and Collections Contract for Kaufman County Fresh Water Supply District No. 3 ("KCFWSD No. 3")]
MS. THERESA, SHE WANTS US TO PRESENT AND FOR US TO ACCEPT THE KAUFFMAN COUNTY ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTIONS CONTRACT FOR KAUFMAN COUNTY FRESHWATER DISTRICT NUMBER THREE.ALRIGHT, I'M COMING TO SEE IF Y'ALL WOULD APPROVE FOR ME TO COLLECT FOR ANOTHER ENTITY.
YOU KNOW WHERE THAT IS SPECIFICALLY? NO, I REALLY DON'T.
HONESTLY, YOU DON'T ME THE MOST Y'ALL IN YOUR AREA.
YOU KNOW WHAT? THERE'S SO MANY OF THEM
EVERYTHING'S THE SAME ON THAT THEY'RE PAYING THE SAME.
THEY'RE PAYING THE SAME SO IT DOESN'T, OKAY, SO I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THEN.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
MR. PHILLIPS MAKES THE MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.
I'LL GET THESE, I'LL SIGN THESE NOW AND GIVE THEM TO YOU.
[5. Lorena Diaz: Discuss/Consider/Approve advertising a RFP for Convenience Centers for Solid Waste and Recycling Servies.]
OKAY, NUMBER FIVE.MS. LORENA, SHE WANTS TO TALK TO US, DISCUSS, CONSIDER, AND APPROVE ADVERTISING FOR AN RFP FOR CONVENIENCE CENTERS FOR SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING SERVICES.
UM, THE CONTRACT WILL EXPIRE SEPTEMBER 30TH OF THIS YEAR.
WE'D LIKE TO FORMALIZE THE CITATION AND, AND START THE PROCESS ON THAT.
SO I LIKE TO RECOMMEND MOVING FORWARD WITH THE RFP.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? DO I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE? I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
MR. LANE MAKES A MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.
[6. Lorena Diaz: Discuss/Consider/Approve advertising an RFQ for Transportation Bond Program Planning and Development.]
ONCE AGAIN DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND APPROVE ADVERTISING FOR AN RFP FOR TRANSPORTATION BOND PROGRAM PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.SO THE CONTRACT EXPIRED IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR.
WE'RE CURRENTLY OPERATING UNDER A MONTH TO MONTH EXTENSION.
WE'D LIKE TO BEGIN THE SOLICITATION PROCESS AND UM, I RECOMMEND THEM RECOMMEND MOVING FORWARD WITH THE ADVERTISING OF THE RFQ.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? NOT NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE.
COMMISSIONER MOORE MAKES SECOND.
[7. Commissioner Moore: Discuss/Consider/Accept entering into a lease agreement with Ken Davis to lease a property to store and dispose of brush from county roads.]
SEVEN, COMMISSIONER MOORE.DISCUSS CONSIDERING ACCEPT ENTERING INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH KEN DAVIS TO LEASE A PROPERTY TO STORE AND DISPOSE OF BRUSH FROM COUNTY ROADS.
UH, THIS IS GONNA BE A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WAS PRIOR TO THE TAKEN OFFICE THAT WE USED TO STORE BRUSH AND ALL THE MATERIAL TO COLLECT IT FROM THE ROADWAY.
SO THEY HAD A PREVIOUS LEASE WHICH EXPIRED.
UM, AS HE CHARGES A DOLLAR A YEAR TO USE THIS PROPERTY.
UH, WE HAD IT UNDER THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT WAS BURNED, BUT WE NORMALLY HAVE IT GROUND UP AND HAULED OFF EVERY YEAR.
SO, UM, ANYWAY, HE, HE HAD US IN A SPOT ON THE YARD, WHICH HE WANTED US TO MOVE BECAUSE OF HIS A FIELDS.
HE'S BUILDING A BUILDING THERE.
SO HE ASKED THAT WE WOULD MOVE IT OVER.
BUT TO DO THAT IT'S GONNA TAKE ABOUT 800 FOOT OF GRAVEL TO DO THAT.
BUT I TOLD HIM, I'D PRESENT IT TO THE COURT THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO PUT, YOU KNOW, 800 FEET OF GRAVEL DOWN, WHICH IS GONNA BE, IT COST ABOUT $5,000, I'D AT LEAST WANT A FIVE YEAR LEASE AT A DOLLAR A YEAR TO DO THAT.
WHERE IS THIS EXACTLY? IT'S ON, UH, NORTH ON ARCADIA ROAD.
GOING NORTH OUT OF UH, UH, KEMP.
THERE, THERE'S A RV, LITTLE PARKED ON THE RIGHT, RIGHT ON THE LEFT.
THAT'S HIS PLACE AND IT'S IN THE BACK BEHIND THAT.
SO THERE'S LIKE A UH, CELL PHONE TOWER THERE STUFF AND IT WOULD BE IN THE BACK THERE.
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU NEED? YES SIR.
'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO STORE BRUSH.
AND IT MAKES IT VERY CONVENIENT FOR THAT.
SO I'D LIKE TO RENEW THAT AND MAKE A MOTION TO RENEW THE CONTRACT.
[8. Judge Allen: Discuss/Consider/Approve Kaufman County submitting request to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to hold a public hearing on the Petition for the Creation of Grand Meadows Municipal Utility District of Kaufman County.]
EIGHT IS MINE.APPROVE KAUFFMAN COUNTY SUBMITTING A REQUEST TO THE TEXAS COMMISSIONER ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PETITION FOR THE CREATION OF GRAND MEADOWS MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT OF KAUFFMAN COUNTY.
WE WANT TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THOSE INTERESTED SINCE WE ARE AN INTERESTED PARTY, IT'S IN THE COUNTY.
UH, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
SO ANY COMMENTS? IF NOT, I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE.
[00:25:01]
THE MOTION.COMMISSIONER MOORE MAKES THE MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.
[9. Auditor: Discuss/Consider line item and budget transfers/corrections.]
ER DISCUSS CONSIDER LINE ITEM TRANSFERS.SO THIS WEEK WE HAVE A FEW ROUTINE LINE ITEM TRANSFERS FOR EXPENDITURES AND THEN WE HAVE SEVERAL THAT ARE RECOGNIZING SOME ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT'S COMING AND WE ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL.
Y'ALL ALL HAVE TIME TO LOOK AT THESE.
ANY QUESTIONS? NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE? I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR MR. PHIS.
MAKES THE MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.
[10. Auditor: Discuss/Consider claims for payment and/or Financial Information as provided by the County Auditor.]
ONCE AGAIN, MS. AUDITORS DISCUSS CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT.THIS WEEK WE HAVE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE INVOICES TOTALING $1,441,938 AND 72 CENTS.
MOST OF THAT IS MADE OUT, MADE UP OF THE TIFF PAYMENTS THAT WE HAD TO PAY OUT FOR THE YEAR.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAD JUROR CHECKS OF $7,240 FOR A TOTAL PAYOUT OF $1,449,178 AND 72 CENTS.
AND WE ASKED THE COURT, UH, FOR APPROVAL TO PAY.
Y'ALL HAD TIME TO LOOK THOSE OVER.
ANY CONCERNS OR COMMENTS? NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE? I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR YOU.
MR. PHILLIPS MAKES THE MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.
BEFORE WE ADJOURN, ANNOUNCE AGAIN ABOUT CAPITAL ITEMS. I JUST REMEMBER THAT.
SO CAPITAL ITEMS, WE NEED ALL INVOICES SUBMITTED TO ACCOUNTS PAYABLE BY THE AUGUST 20TH.
SO THOSE WOULD ACTUALLY BE PAID IN THE AUGUST 26TH CHECK RUN.
SO WE NEED TO GET ALL OF OUR PAYMENTS IN AND DONE.
SO WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THE BUDGET.
[11. Adjourn Meeting.]
ADJOURN.COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS, DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.