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[Call to Order]
Y'ALL THIS MORNING TO OUR REGULAR COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING.AS USUAL, WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH THE INVOCATION OF PLEDGES IF YOU JOIN ME AND STAND, PLEASE.
LORD, THANK YOU FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, ALL OUR MILITARY, LORD, UH, HELP US DO TODAY IN COURT.
WHAT IN YOUR EYES NEEDS TO BE DONE AND HELP US AND THANK YOU FOR SUCH A BEAUTIFUL WORK WEEK.
A PLEASURE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLICAN FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE CRAWL, HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG ALLEGEDLY TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD.
[1. ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE]
ANY ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE THIS MORNING? I DO HAVE ONE THING.UH, THE FIRE BAN WILL, UH, BE OFFICIALLY IN EFFECT NEXT TUESDAY AT COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
BUT WE ARE ASKING ALL, EVERYONE NOT TO BURN BECAUSE OF THE WIND AND IT IS SO DRY.
[2. CONSENT AGENDA ]
AGENDA.WE HAVE FIVE ITEMS. WE'RE GONNA DO A, B, C, AND E.
DISCUSS CONSIDERING ACCEPT THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT REGULAR MEETING FOR JANUARY THE SIXTH OF 26TH.
DISCUSS CONSIDERING, ACCEPT THE TAX ASSESSORS COLLECTORS REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 25.
DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND ACCEPT THE TAX ASSESSOR'S MONTHLY AUTO COLLECTION REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 25.
DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND APPROVE THE STAR TRANSIT RIDERSHIP REPORT FOR DECEMBER 25.
Y'ALL HAVE HAD TIME TO LOOK AT THESE.
ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE? I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
MR. PHILLIPS MAKES THE MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.
[2.D. Discuss/Consider/Approve a budget neutral department restructure by combining 2· Class 2 positions to 1- Class 4 position. ]
D THAT'S COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS.DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND APPROVE A BUDGET FOR DEPARTMENT RESTRUCTURING.
COMBINING TWO CLASS TWO POSITIONS TO ONE CLASS.
POSITION THIS SO HE'S GOT AN EMPLOYEE COMING BACK, UH, FULL TIME SO HE CAN WORK.
AND THIS NEEDS TO BE REALLY AN ACTION ITEM, UH, INSTEAD OF A CONSENT AGENDA.
BUT WE'VE TALKED TO COMMISSIONER MOORE.
BRANDY HAS LOOK THE NUMBERS WHEN THERE'S NEUTRAL CHANGE, UH, HE'LL HAVE A LITTLE PART-TIME MONEY LEFT OVER, BUT MOST OF THE PART-TIME MONEY ON THOSE TWO POSITIONS WILL GO TO, UH, A FULL-TIME POSITION.
SO ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OR COMMENTS ON THAT? NO, IT'S JUST, UH, IT'S JUST THE SAME CLASS AS THE REST OF THE GUYS.
YES, IT'S EXACTLY THE SAME THING.
HE'S JUST TAKING, 'CAUSE IT CONFUSED ME WHEN IT WAS ON THERE.
I SAID, I CALLED HIM IMMEDIATELY AND ASKED HIM ABOUT IT.
I SAID, I SAID, WHAT IS THAT? OKAY.
BUT IT'S NOT A, IT'S NOT A PROMOTION CHANGE.
IT'S NOT A PROMOTION OF ANY KIND OR A CHANGE OF ANYTHING.
COMMISSIONER MOORE MAKES A MOTION.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
[3. Lorena Diaz: Discuss/Consider/Approve the purchase of a 2025 275 XE Compact Track Loader for Road & Bridge Precinct 1#1 utilizing Sourcewell Contract #011723. ]
LORENA, YOU'RE UP NEXT, DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF A 20 25 2 75 XC COMPACT TRACK LOADER FOR ROAD AND BRIDGE PRECINCT ONE.WELL, GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, UM, THE QUOTE AND THE SOURCE WELL CONTRACT HAS BEEN REVIEWED.
I RECOMMEND THE PURCHASE MRS. 151,850 AND IT'S STRAIGHT PURCHASE.
[4. Commissioner Lane: Discuss/Consider/Approve the abandonment of 11827 FM Rd 1392, Terrell TX: Property ID 29904, 30019, 30021 and 30027 street and alleyway located in what used to be the Town of Lawerence. ]
NUMBER FOUR.COMMISSIONER LANE, DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND APPROVE THE ABATEMENT OF 1 1 8 2 7 FM ROW 30 92 IN TERRELL PROPERTY.
ID 2 9 9 0 4 AND 3 0 0 1 9 3 0 0 2 1 AND 3 0 0 2 7 STREET IN ALLEYWAY LOCATED IN WHAT USED TO BE THE TOWN OF LAWRENCE.
I'VE GOT A COUPLE STAND UP HERE TO HELP US OUT ON THAT TOO.
I'M A REALTOR AND THIS IS MY CLIENT, ADAM MARILLO.
WE HAVE A PROPERTY THAT'S LOCATED AT 1 1 8 2 7 FM 1392 IN TERRELL.
IT IS LOCATED IN THE TOWN THAT USED TO BE LAWRENCE.
LAWRENCE HAS SINCE BEEN DISSOLVED.
WE DISCOVERED, UH, AFTER PURCHASING THIS PROPERTY THAT THERE ARE PROPOSED ROADS AND ALLEYWAYS THAT WERE ORIGINALLY PLATTED WITH THE TOWN OF LAWRENCE BACK IN THE 1950S.
THEY WERE NEVER BUILT, IT NEVER CAME
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TO FRUITION, BUT THEY DO BISECT OUR PROPERTY, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO SELL IT AND FOR ANYONE TO GET A CONVENTIONAL LOAN, UM, WITH CLEAR TITLE.SO WE'RE REQUESTING THAT THOSE STREETS AND ALLEYWAYS BE ABANDONED.
I DO HAVE SURVEYS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
SO, UM, SO WHAT WE WOULD DO, WE WOULD TREAT THAT BASICALLY LIKE AN ABANDONED ROADWAY BECAUSE IT WOULD'VE COME BACK TO THE COUNTY WHEN THE TOWN OF LAWRENCE DID NOT MATERIALIZE.
SO WHAT WE DO UNDER THE TRANSPORTATION CODE IS WE ASK THE INTERESTED CITIZENS TO GET AN AFFIDAVIT OF BASICALLY STATING THAT IF THAT EASEMENT SLASH ROADWAY IS ABANDONED, THAT IT DOES NOT IMPACT THEIR PROPERTY OR ANYTHING.
BECAUSE THOSE WOULD BE THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT MIGHT ASSERT LIABILITY AGAINST A COUNTY.
SO I UNDERSTAND FROM COMMISSIONER LANE THAT THE TWO PARTIES ON EITHER SIDE OF THE ROADWAY WHERE IT ENTERS, UH, YOUR PROPERTY, UH, MR. MARILLO, UM, THAT THOSE PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED THOSE AFFIDAVITS OR WOULD BE WILLING TO SIGN THEM.
SO MY CONCERN, AND MY OTHER CONCERN IS JUST THE PROPERTY THAT IS DIRECTLY BEHIND THAT, UM, WHERE THAT EASEMENT ENDS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS ARE NOT RELYING ON THAT EASEMENT FOR ANY KIND OF INGRESS OR EGRESS TO THEIR PROPERTY.
THERE ARE ACTUALLY FOUR NEIGHBORS THAT BORDER THE PROPERTY.
THERE ARE ONE ON EITHER SIDE, AND THEN THERE IS COUNTY ROAD 2 36 B.
UM, THEY ACTUALLY BORDER THE LENGTH OF THE PROPERTY.
UM, AND SO WE WOULD NEED TO GET AFFIDAVITS FROM ALL FOUR OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE THEY TOUCH OUR PROPERTY.
HOWEVER, UM, WE HAVE TRIED TO DO THIS AND WE HAVE RUN INTO SOME ISSUES BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE ARE AFRAID THAT THEY'RE WAIVING THEIR RIGHTS TO SOMETHING.
UM, AND WE WERE UNABLE TO GET THEM SIGNED.
WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST THEN, BECAUSE TODAY IN COURT IS MORE OF AN INFORMATIVE, YOU KNOW, THEY, THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO, TO MAKE A FINAL RULING ON ANYTHING TODAY.
SO WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS IF THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WOULD BE WILLING TO COME TO MY OFFICE, YOU AND MR. MURILLO, COMMISSIONER LANE, WE TRY TO WORK OUT THOSE ISSUES IF WE CAN.
UH, ONE OF THEM, WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A LANGUAGE BARRIER.
UM, UH, THE NEIGHBOR YASMINE IS SPANISH SPEAKING.
AND SO WHILE SHE DID UNDERSTAND THE BASICS OF WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO SAY, WHAT STUCK OUT IN HER MIND WAS THAT SHE WAS GIVING UP RIGHTS.
WE ARE WORKING WITH MR. DESMOND.
I DO BELIEVE WE THINK THAT WE CAN PROBABLY COME TO TERMS WITH HIM.
UM, THE OTHER NEIGHBORS, CLARENCE PETERS, HE FEELS THAT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS TAKE HIS LAND.
WE ARE UNABLE TO MAKE HIM UNDERSTAND WHAT ALL OF THIS MEANS.
AND JUST THAT IT'S SO BOTTOM LINE AND THESE ALLEYWAYS CUT RIGHT THROUGH HIS HOUSE.
SO, BOTTOM LINE, WE DO HAVE SOME ISSUES.
I WOULD PROBABLY GET DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INVOLVED, BUT WE HAVE A, I MEAN, THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT, FRANKLY WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO APPROVE AN ORDER WITH ALL OF THESE ISSUES SURROUNDING THIS LAND RIGHT NOW.
SO WE'VE GOTTA WORK THROUGH THOSE ISSUES SO YOUR CLIENT CAN BE ABLE TO SELL IT OR WE'VE GOTTA FIGURE OUT ANOTHER SOLUTION.
AND SO CAN YOU RECOMMEND THE NEXT STEPS AT THIS POINT? YES.
BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN AT THIS FOR SIX MONTHS,
AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT YOU BOUGHT THE PROPERTY WITH THOSE EASEMENTS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS IN IT.
SO WHAT THE COUNTY CAN DO, UM, BECAUSE YOU'RE THE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE THE PROPERTY OWNER, BUT WHAT THE COUNTY CAN DO IS WE CAN TRY TO WORK OUT THESE ISSUES.
WE FOLLOW THE LAW, WHICH IS THE, THE TRANSPORTATION CODE SECTION.
CHAPTER 2 51 TALKS ABOUT ABANDONING A COUNTY ROAD OR CLOSING A COUNTY ROAD.
AND SO WE'VE JUST, I WOULD APPRECIATE EVEN IF WE START WITH THE MEETING WITH THE TWO OF YOU IN MY OFFICE AND COMMISSIONER LANE AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
UH, TRYING TO GET, I HAVE TALKED WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
REALTORS HAVE CHANGED HANDS DURING THIS TIME.
SOME I, I THINK, OR MAYBE NOT, BUT I'VE TALKED WITH AN ATTORNEY.
I'VE TALKED WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT PEOPLE, THE CITY OF TERRELL.
SO WE WILL, WE CAN WORK THROUGH TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST SOLUTION TO GET, UM, YOU KNOW, SO THAT YOU END UP WITH A CLEAR LEGAL TITLE, BUT, YOU KNOW, AS A REALTOR, AND THAT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT OF A PROCESS.
BUT THE, THE COUNTY CAN'T JUST, YOU KNOW, BOOM, MAKE IT GO AWAY WITHOUT SOME PARTICIPATION AND AGREEMENT FROM SOME OF THESE PROPERTY OWNERS.
AND THEN AFTER MEETINGS WITH YOU, I GUESS DID, DOES THIS ALL COME DOWN TO A JUDGE'S DECISION IN THE END? OR IS THIS TRANSPORTATION CODE JUST CAN KIND OF ELIMINATE THEM IF, IF ALL FALLS IN LINE? UM, I DON'T REALLY, I DON'T REALLY HAVE A CLEAR ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION.
I'M NOT, CERTAINLY I UNDERSTAND IT AND I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T
[00:10:01]
GIVE A YES OR NO LIKE THAT WITHOUT SEEING EVERYTHING.SO LET'S, LET'S WORK THROUGH AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS WHILE WE'RE HERE? NO.
IT'S JUST HOW, HOW I GUESS WE CONTACT MR. LANE REGARDING, UH, SCHEDULING HOW TO GET, HOW TO GET WITH YOU.
AND, UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE A CARD WITH ME, BUT YES, MR. LANE AND I WILL WORK WITH YOU ALL TO GET A SCHEDULE AND, AND WE CAN MEET THIS WEEK.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING DELAYED IN THE, IN THE FUTURE.
WE WOULD REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
SO WE NEED A MOTION TO TABLE THIS TILL YOU GET THINGS.
I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE.
WE'LL COME BACK UP NEXT WEEK FROM, UH, MR. LANE.
[5. Commissioner Moore: Discuss/Consider/Approve Precinct 4 2019 Road Bond Funding Transfers in the amount of $248,332.39. ]
UH, NUMBER FIVE, COMMISSIONER MOORE, DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND IMPROVE PRECINCT 4 20 19 ROAD BOND FUNDING TRANSFER IN AMOUNT OF $248,332 AND 39 CENTS.THIS ONE HERE IS GONNA BE, I HAVE THREE, UH, WHEN I FIRST COME IN OFFICE, I GAVE ALL THE COMMUNITIES A BOND ROAD.
I'VE GOT THREE ROADS IN COMBINE THAT I HAD, UH, PRICED FOR CHIP SEAL.
SO I HAD TO PUT A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY IN THERE TO COVER THE DIFFERENCE IN THE COST.
SO THAT'LL BE FOR THREE ROADS IN COMBINES.
SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE IT.
MR. MOORE MAKES THE MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.
[6. Commissioner Moore: Discuss/Consider/Recommend the appointment of all Emergency Service District (ESD) Board Members for ESD#7, Kevin Johnson 2 year term January 1, 2026- December 31, 2027, Ashley Hunsaker 2 year term January 1, 2026December 31, 2027, Joseph Reese 1 year term January 1- December 31, 2026, Oliver Ralws 1 year term January 1-December 31, 2026, Melissa Smith 1 year term January !-December 31, 2026. ]
NUMBER SIX.COMMISSIONER MOORE, DISCUSS, CONSIDER, RECOMMEND THE APPOINTMENT OF ALL EMERGENCY SERVICE DISTRICT ESD BOARD MEMBERS FOR NUMBER ESD SEVEN, KEVIN JOHNSON, ASHLEY SACKER, JOSEPH REESE, ALL OLIVER RAWS.
IS THAT RIGHT? AND MELISSA SMITH.
NOW, WE HAD DISCUSSION ON THIS LAST TWO WEEKS AGO AND THE INSTRUCTIONS WERE, AND THE CITY REPRESENTATIVES WERE HERE, UH, TO GO BACK AND SEE IF THEY COULD WORK SOMETHING OUT.
AND AS OF TODAY, HAS ANYTHING COME TO FRUITION WHERE IT'S BETTER OR WORSE? SO WHO WANTS TO GO FIRST? DAVID, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS PLEASE.
UH, DAVID LINDSEY, 1 1 8 TEJAS TRAIL, CRANDALL, TEXAS 7 5 1 1 4.
UM, AT THIS TIME WE'VE NOT REACHED AN AGREEMENT.
WE HAVE RECEIVED A PROPOSAL FROM, UH, FROM THE ESD NUMBER SEVEN.
UM, I DID ATTEND THEIR MEETING LAST MONDAY.
IT, IT WASN'T A MEETING WHERE WE WERE NEGOTIATING ANYTHING.
UH, AND SO, UM, UH, WE, WE HAVE NOT COME TO AN AGREEMENT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR WITH ADDITIONAL DETAIL, BUT, UM, SINCE THE LAST MEETING, WE, WE DO NOT HAVE AN AGREEMENT IN PLACE FOR THE, UH, SALES TAX.
THAT WAS THE ISSUE WE WERE DISCUSSING.
AND, UH, AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE WE STAND.
SO ARE YOU WHERE YOU WERE OR WHERE ARE YOU ON EITHER SIDE? LET'S SAY YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE.
SO WHERE ARE YOU BETTER OR WORSE AFTER YOUR DISCUSSIONS? UM, THE, THE PROPOSAL WE RECEIVED, UM, HAD SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT WE HADN'T PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED.
AND I THINK PROBABLY, UH, UH, AND, AND WE, WE BRIEFLY DISCUSSED THOSE AT THE, AT THE ESD MEETING LAST MONDAY.
AND, UH, AND I THINK THOSE WERE KIND OF, UH, I THINK THE IDEA THOSE WERE A STARTING POINT, UH, FOR, FOR SOME NEGOTIATION, UH, I THINK IS, IS WHAT, IS WHAT, UH, IS WHAT THE THOUGHT WAS.
AND SO, UH, THERE, THERE'S A COUPLE, AND, AND I, I SHARED THIS THERE, THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS ON THERE, UH, THAT, THAT I KNOW FOR US IS NOT GONNA, NOT GONNA WORK.
UM, SPECIFICALLY THE, UH, I THINK THE PROPOSAL CALLS FOR A A, A SUNSET BASICALLY ON THE AGREEMENT.
UM, AND OUR, UH, NOT, NOT TO GET OFF INTO THE WEEDS, BUT OUR TURS WOULD BE ABOUT A 35 YEAR TURS.
UM, SO OBVIOUSLY THE CITY WE ARE GIVING UP PROPERTY TAX OVER THAT 35 YEAR PERIOD.
UM, WITH, WITH THE IDEA, THE BENEFIT OBVIOUSLY IS TO RECEIVE THE SALES TAX.
THE, UH, THE, AND, AND AGAIN, THEY WERE, I'M NOT HERE TO, TO BADMOUTH THEM.
THIS, THIS IS, THIS IS UP FOR DISCUSSION, BUT I THINK THE PROPOSAL CALLED FOR THE AGREEMENT TO BASICALLY WIND DOWN AFTER 15 YEARS.
UM, AND SO WE, YOU KNOW, AFTER 15 YEARS, WE'RE STILL GIVING A, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF OUR ADVIL LOAN PROPERTY TAX.
UM, BUT WE WOULD NO LONGER RECEIVE ANY SALES TAX.
SO THAT'S JUST NOT, NOT GONNA WORK.
UM, AND SO, UH, AND I'M, I MEAN, I'M NOT GONNA WALK, WALK THROUGH THE DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT, UM, WE, WE HAVE NOT COME TO AN AGREEMENT.
UH, TO, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
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I'M NOT, I APPRECIATE THESE PEOPLE.I APPRECIATE WHAT THEY DO, AND I'M NOT HERE TO BADMOUTH ANYONE.
BUT, BUT TO JUST ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WE HAVE NOT COME TO AN AGREEMENT.
AND WE DID RECEIVE A, A PROPOSAL FROM THEM.
A COUPLE OF THINGS AGAIN, THAT, THAT WE JUST, IT'S NOT A MOTION, IT'S NOT, IT, IT'S MATH.
THE NUMBERS, THE NUMBERS HAVE TO WORK.
AND, UM, AND WHEN WE'RE CONTINUING TO GIVE UP PROPERTY TAX, BUT NOT GONNA GET SALES TAX, OBVIOUSLY, THAT THOSE FINANCIALS JUST DON'T WORK.
COMMISSIONER MOORE, I, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SAID TWO WEEKS AGO ABOUT WE CAN'T KEEP INCENTIVIZING AND GIVING STUFF AWAY WHEN WE'VE GOT BILLS TO PAY.
UM, AND THAT'S KIND OF, I THINK THE POSITION WE'RE IN.
WE CAN'T GIVE UP SO MUCH BECAUSE WE DO HAVE, WE HAVE BILLS TO PAY TOO.
SO, UM, WE JUST HAVE TO BE REAL MINDFUL TO BE GOOD STEWARDS WITH, WITH OUR TAXPAYERS MONEY.
SO YES, AT THIS POINT WE DON'T HAVE AN AGREEMENT IN PLACE, UH, FOR THE, FOR THE SALES TAX.
AND, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.
WE HAVE SEVERAL FROM THE ESD WHO WANT TO SPEAK.
I'M SURE IT'S ALL ON THE SAME ISSUE.
SO IF YOU WANT COME AND SPEAK, YOU MAY, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
I THINK YOU, I HAVE, UH, NUMBER ONE, CHANDLER MYERS PUT 'EM IN.
SO, ORDER FOR YOU THAT I, I DON'T KNOW ANY OF.
I'M A CAPTAIN WITH CRANDALL FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UM, I LIVE AT 8 0 7 SOUTH COLLEGE STREET, WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.
I JUST WANNA BEGIN BY SAYING I'M NOT A POLITICIAN, I'M JUST A FIREMAN.
SO I BOTH, I WORK FOR THE CITY OF CRANDALL OR THE CRANDALL FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I'VE BEEN WITH CRANDALL FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 YEARS.
UM, I'VE BEEN IN THE FIRE SERVICE FOR OVER 15.
WHEN I FIRST JOINED CRANDALL, WE WERE RESPONDING FROM HOME, JUST SOME SMALL, YOU KNOW, VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.
BUT OVER THE LAST DECADE, I PER PERSONALLY WITNESSED ALL THE GROWTH, WHICH IS NO FAULT TO US OR THE CITY OR THE SD ANYBODY.
BUT, UM, LIKE ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED OUR UP AND DOWNS.
HOWEVER, WE'RE MOVING IN THE POSITIVE DIRECTION.
THIS IS CRITICALLY BENEFICIAL NOT ONLY TO THE CITIZENS OF CRANDALL, BUT ALSO THE RESIDENTS OF THE ESD.
THE BOARD HAS A TREMENDOUS ASSET TO DEPARTMENT'S GROWTH.
THEY'VE LISTENED, THEY SUPPORT, THEY PROVIDE, THEY'VE ALWAYS ACTING WITH THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE, NOT HERE TO CREATE CONFLICT OR DIVISION.
THE UNIFORM I WEAR REPRESENTS BOTH.
BUT MY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY SERVICE WHEREVER THE CALL MAY BE.
UM, WHILE BOTH ENTITIES HAVE SUPPORTED OUR DEPARTMENT, THE ESD IS CONSISTENTLY BEING OUR STRONGEST ADVOCATE.
UM, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
I LIVE AT 1 27 ANGELINA DRIVE, UH, IN THE CITY OF CRANDALL.
UH, I'M THE ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF FOR, UH, CRANDALL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S ALSO KNOWN AS CRANDALL FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UH, I LEFT FOR A COUPLE YEARS, CAME BACK, BUT I HAVE JUST LIKE CAPTAIN MEYER SAID, I'VE, I'VE SEEN THE GROWTH.
UH, I STARTED MY FIRE CAREER IN CRANDALL.
AND SO, UM, AGAIN, WE WERE, WE WERE 100% VOLUNTEER, RIGHT? RESPONDING FROM HOME.
UH, CALL VOLUMES HAVE GONE UP.
AND, UH, THE TRANSITION FROM A VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENT TO THE COMBINATION DEPARTMENT THAT WE ARE TODAY, UM, OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, UH, COULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT THE ESD BOARD.
AND, UH, A LOT OF THESE MEMBERS HAVE BEEN ON THIS BOARD FOR SOME TIME.
AND, UM, THEY'VE REALLY, THEY'VE REALLY HELPED US KIND OF GET TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
UH, RIGHT NOW, WE, YOU KNOW, WE, ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, WE STARTED WITH TWO GUYS, UH, PART-TIME, EIGHT TO FIVE, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE RUNNING FIVE GUYS AROUND THE CLOCK.
UM, SO, UH, I WANNA, I WANT TO GET INTO, UH, TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'VE DONE AND THAT THEY'VE PROVIDED.
UH, 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE SPEAK ABOUT SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING, RIGHT? SO, UM, THE MAJORITY OF OUR FUNDING COMES FROM ESD SEVEN, UH, YEAR OVER YEAR.
THEY'VE, THEY'VE, YOU KNOW, CONSISTENTLY, YOU KNOW, GONE UP ON OUR BUDGET, YOU KNOW, JUST TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE AND TO PROVIDE THE SAME SERVICE THAT WE'VE BEEN PROVIDING.
UM, 2022, THEY, UH, FUNDED AND PURCHASED A NEW APPARATUS TO HELP OFFSET SOME OF THE MAINTENANCE COSTS ON, UH, SOME OLDER EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAD.
UH, WE WERE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY
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ON KEEPING STUFF UP AND RUNNING.UH, NOT ONLY DID IT HELP WITH THAT, THAT COST, BUT IT ALSO ADDED ANOTHER APPARATUS TO THE FLEET SO THAT WHEN WE ADDED MORE PERSONNEL, INSTEAD OF RUNNING ONE APPARATUS, WE COULD SPLIT INTO TWO.
UM, WITH CALL VOLUMES GOING UP, IT HELPED US GET OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE, A LITTLE BETTER THAN WHAT WE WERE.
UH, IN 2023, WE APPROACHED THE ESD, UH, REGARDING THE, UH, PURCHASE OF TWO ADDITIONAL APPARATUS, UH, BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH THAT WAS COMING.
AND, UH, WHEN WE APPROACHED 'EM, THEY SAID, HEY, WE, WE SEE THE NUMBERS, WE SEE THE GROWTH, AND, UH, HEY, WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND, AND BUDGET FOR A THIRD APPARATUS BECAUSE WE KNOW WE'RE GONNA NEED IT.
UM, THAT IS TO BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO REPLACE SOME OF THE, UH, THE AGING APPARATUS THAT WE STILL HAVE.
UH, MOST OF OUR FIRE FIREFIGHTERS ARE NOW IN TWO SETS OF TURNOUT GEAR, UH, WHICH MEETS NFPA STANDARDS.
UH, A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS ARE GOING TO THAT NOW.
IT ALSO HELPS WITH, UH, LONG-TERM CANCER RISKS.
UH, SO WITHOUT SOME OF THAT FUNDING, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO, TO DO THAT.
UH, WE ORIGINALLY ORDERED NEW SCBA AIR PACKS.
UH, OUR AIR PACKS HAVE ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF LEFT OF LIFE.
AND THEY ARE RIGHT NOW A MAINTENANCE NIGHTMARE.
WE SPEND A LOT OF COST EVERY YEAR, UH, TO FIX THOSE THINGS.
AND SO WE FOUND OURSELVES IN A POSITION WHERE WE HAD TO PURCHASE SOME MORE.
AND, UM, THEY COVERED MORE THAN TWO THIRDS OF THAT COST.
UM, AGAIN, I TALKED ABOUT THE BUDGET INCREASING YEAR OVER YEAR, UH, ALLOWING US TO, TO EXPAND THAT STAFFING FROM TWO TO FIVE.
AND THEN, UH, THE ESD AS THE CURRENT BOARD, WORKED COLLABORATIVE COLLABORATIVELY WITH US, UM, AS WELL AS AN OUTSIDE ORGANIZATION TO CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT VERY CLEARLY LAYS OUT, UH, WHERE THE DEPARTMENT'S GONNA BE IN THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, 3, 5, 10 YEARS.
AND, UM, JUST FOR REFERENCE, WHEN I TALK ABOUT CALL VOLUME IN, UH, 2021, WE RAN 1,706 CALLS.
UH, 2022, WE, UH, INCREASED, HAD AN INCREASE OF 237, WHICH PUT US JUST OVER 1900.
WE ENDED THE YEAR AT 2,710 CALLS, WHICH WAS MORE CALLS THAN ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTY.
THAT'S A NON-CAREER DEPARTMENT.
UH, THAT'S ALSO MORE CALLS THAN ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORING DEPARTMENTS, UM, IN DALLAS COUNTY.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE A FULL-TIME DEPARTMENT WITH TWO STATIONS.
UH, SO, UM, THE NEED IS THERE.
OUR, UH, FROM OCTOBER 1ST TO, YOU KNOW, OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 TO, UH, YOU KNOW, JANUARY 12TH, 2025, WE WERE AT 779 CALLS.
SO THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF OUR, OUR LAST FISCAL YEAR FOR THAT SAME TIME PERIOD.
THIS YEAR WE'RE ALREADY 54 CALLS OVER THAT.
SO WE'RE PROJECTED TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, OVER 200 MORE CALLS THIS YEAR.
SO THE CALL VOLUME'S STILL GOING UP.
AND THIS BOARD UNDERSTANDS THAT.
THEY SEE THAT, UM, THEY HAVE FULFILLED, UM, THEIR OBLIGATION TO THE TAXPAYERS AS BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THEIR MONEY.
UM, AND THEY'VE DEMONSTRATED, YOU KNOW, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, UM, BY INVESTING THOSE DOLLARS INTO GROWTH INTO THE STATIONS, INTO THE DEPARTMENT.
UM, AND 'CAUSE OF THAT, YOU'RE ABLE TO HAVE THE, THE GUYS THAT YOU HAVE WORKING FOR YOU, THE BOARD PRESIDENT ASHLEY SKER IS ONE OF ONLY TWO, UH, BOARD PRESIDENTS IN THE, UH, IN THE COUNTY THAT IS, UH, CERTIFIED BY SAFETY.
UH, AS LONG AS THE VG YOUNG INSTITUTE AS A CERTIFIED EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMISSIONER, UM, TO GET THAT, THEY HAVE TO TAKE ADDITIONAL TRAINING, UM, ADDITIONAL HOURS.
UM, YOU KNOW, THEY, YOU KNOW, A A TYPICAL COMMISSIONER HAS TO GET SIX, SIX HOURS, I THINK EVERY TWO YEARS.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR US TO HAVE SOMEBODY LIKE THAT ON THE BOARD, UM, IT'S, IT'S PRETTY IMPORTANT.
UM, YOUR TIME IS UP REPLACING TIME'S UP.
UH, MY NAME IS CARL SCHELLER, 2 0 1 WEST TRUNK, CRANDALL, TEXAS 7 5 1 1 4.
SO I WANT TO BE CLEAR AND I'LL, I'LL SKIP THROUGH.
I HAD A VERY LONG PRESENTATION HERE, BUT I'LL SKIP THROUGH A MAJORITY OF IT 'CAUSE I'M GONNA DITTO EVERYTHING.
UH, AND I WANNA MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE CURRENT BOARD REMAINING.
THAT'S, THAT'S MY TAKE ON THIS.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, WE HAVEN'T DISCUSSED IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO, THE CITY OF CRANDALL VERSUS THE ESD BOARD.
UM, AS FAR AS FIRE PROTECTION IS CONCERNED, WE ALL KNOW THAT THE ESD BOARDS ARE THERE TO SPECIFICALLY FUND FIRE AND EMS. UH, WE'RE FORTUNATE IN THE COUNTY AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE CARE
[00:25:01]
FLIGHT OPPORTUNITY, BECAUSE THAT TAKES SOME OF THOSE FUNDS AND DUMPS 'EM BACK INTO THE ACTUAL DEPARTMENTS.UM, THE CITY, THEY HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
UH, THEY ROLLED THIS, UH, PLANNING PHASE OUT FOR A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, UH, THAT, UH, I THINK WAS VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT, HAD SOME, UH, IMPORTANT INFORMATION IN IT.
BUT THE CITIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS, RIGHT? POLICE STREETS, SEVERAL OTHER THINGS.
WHEREAS THE ESD IS A HUNDRED PERCENT RESPONSIBLE FOR FIRING EMS. YOU'VE TAKEN THE EMS PART OFF OF THEIR PLATE, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS GOING ON BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE ESD AS THEY DO FUND THE CROWN FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR BOTH THE CITY AND COUNTY.
UM, THE TAX REVENUE AND JURISDICTION CHALLENGES HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, THE MAIN TOPIC OF CONVERSATION.
WE'RE TRYING TO STAY RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS AND NOT BE POLITICAL AT ALL.
RIGHT? BUT THERE ARE SOME DEFINITE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO.
THE CITY IS LOOKING TO FUND THE FUTURE GROWTH.
THE STATE PUT IN SOME LAWS THAT ARE NOW PROHIBITING THAT, UH, WHAT USED TO BE CALLED A LAND GRAB, RIGHT? UH, AND THOSE ORGANIZ OR THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS ARE TRYING TO WORK THAT OUT.
BUT IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE WHEN THE STATE COMES IN AND SAYS, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO TO SAVE THAT FUNDING FOR ALL THE ESDS.
AND NOW THE CITY IS LEARNING ABOUT THAT AND THEY'RE, SO, THEY'RE TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER BY THEM TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER.
I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME VERY FAIR, FAIR OFFERS MADE.
I DON'T KNOW THE, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, MONETARY VALUES OF WHAT THE CITY IS TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.
I JUST KNOW THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH GROWTH.
EVERYBODY IN THE COUNTY KNOWS THAT THIS COUNTY HAS GROWN TREMENDOUSLY, RIGHT? AND WE'RE ALL TRYING TO PLAY CATCH UP.
MY MAIN GOAL HERE TODAY IS TO SHOW YOU THAT WE SUPPORT OUR CURRENT BOARD AND NOT JUST WE, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SPEAKING THE ENTIRE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UM, I'D LIKE TO ASK, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF ME THAT HAVE NOT BEEN TALKED ABOUT? I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE ANY.
SINCE I WAS TALKING ON AN AGENDA ITEM, I THOUGHT THAT WE COULD DO THAT.
SO OUR SHARED PRIORITY HERE HAS GOTTA REMAIN PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, NOT POLITICAL MANEUVERING OR FINANCIAL DISPUTES, THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE WANT TO COMPLETELY SUPPORT BOTH ORGANIZATIONS, BUT OUR FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS WITH OUR ESD AS THEY ARE FULLY FUNDING US AND US ALONE.
ARE YOU GOOD? ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I LIVE AT 12 0 3 3 FALCON ROAD IN CRANDALL, AND I SERVE AS A COMMISSIONER ON ESD SEVEN BOARD.
I SUBMIT THESE REMARKS FOR PUBLIC RECORD TO CLARIFY FACTS REGARDING ESD, THE CITY OF CRANDALL, AND THE ALLEGED PROBLEMS BETWEEN THE TWO.
FIRST, IT'S IMPORTANT TO STATE CLEARLY ESD SEVEN AND THE CITY OF CRANDALL HAVE BEEN GOOD PARTNERS FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.
AND THE ESD WANTS THAT PARTNERSHIP TO CONTINUE.
OUR GOAL HAS NEVER BEEN CONFLICT.
OUR GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN RELIABLE.
SUSTAINABLE FIRE PROTECTION DELIVERED COOPERATIVELY.
PUBLIC CONCERN AROSE AFTER DISCUSSIONS ABOUT ANNEXING THE CITY OF CRANDALL INTO ESD SEVEN.
THAT PROPOSAL HAD A STRAIGHTFORWARD PURPOSE TO IMPROVE AND SUSTAINED FIRE PROTECTION FOR CRANDALL RESIDENTS.
WHILE STRENGTHENING COUNTYWIDE EMERGENCY RESPONSE, THE ANNEXATION WOULD'VE SUPPORTED CURRENT ESD APPARATUS RESOURCES AND WOULD'VE SUPPORTED THE PURCHASE OF TWO NEW FIRE ENGINES AND A LADDER TRUCK SCHEDULED FOR DELIVERY IN NOVEMBER OF 2026.
AND INVE AN INVESTMENT OF APPROXIMATELY $4.85 MILLION.
UH, CLAIMS WERE MADE, UH, THAT THE ESD BOARD ACTED IN A SNEAKY AND UNETHICAL MANNER CONCERNING THE ELECTION MEETING RECORDS SHOW OTHERWISE.
THE ANNEXATION WAS DISCUSSED OPENLY OVER 18 MONTHS IN PROPERLY POSTED PUBLIC MEETINGS WITH SOME CITY OFFICIALS.
PRESENT AT A FEW OF THOSE MEETINGS, AGAIN FOR 20 YEARS, OF WHICH ASHLEY HUNSAKER HAS BEEN ON THE BOARD MEMBER FOR 10 OF THOSE YEARS.
NO CONFLICTS BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE ESD EXISTED UNTIL THE CITY REQUESTED 75% OF THE ESDS COUNTYWIDE VOTER APPROVED SALES TAX REVENUE.
EVEN THEN, THE ESD HAS CONTINUED TO ACT IN GOOD FAITH.
AT THE LAST COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING, JUDGE ALLEN ASKED WHEN A RESOLUTION COULD BE EXPECTED.
[00:30:01]
IN RESPONSE, ON JANUARY 6TH, ESD SEVEN SENT A DRAFT INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, UH, PROPOSING A 60 40 SALES TAX SPLIT IN FAVOR OF THE CITY UNDER THE CITY'S OWN PROJECTIONS.THE 60 40 SPLIT WOULD FULLY COVER ITS TURS SIX OBLIGATIONS AND PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL $7.76 MILLION OVER 15 YEARS WHILE ALLOWING ESD SEVEN TO RESPONSIBLY FUND THE COUNTYWIDE FIRE PROTECTION.
TO PUT COST, UH, PUT ADDITIONAL COST IN PERSPECTIVE STAFFING FOR STATIONS COUNTYWIDE WOULD REQUIRE APPROXIMATELY 130 FIREFIGHTERS AND AN AVERAGE ESTIMATED COST OF MORE THAN $11 MILLION.
THAT AMOUNT DOES NOT INCLUDE LAND PURCHASES, BUILDING CONSTRUCTION, OR ADDITIONAL APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT PURCHASES.
GIVEN THESE REALITIES ARE RESPECTFULLY ASKED, WHETHER IT IS WISE TO REPLACE EXPERIENCED ESD BOARD MEMBERS AT A TIME WHEN CONTINUITY, EXPERTISE AND COOPERATION ARE CRITICAL TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
FIRST I WANNA TELL Y'ALL THANK YOU.
IT'S A HARDER JOB THAN PEOPLE REALIZE TO DO THIS, YOU KNOW, TO BE, I'M SURE FOR Y'ALL AND FOR US.
UM, I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD SINCE 2016.
UM, I, I THINK IT'S BEST IF I JUST ADDRESS MAYBE THE, THE TAX ISSUE.
SO THE CITY HAS NOT HAD A CHANCE JUDGE ALLEN, TO RESPOND BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T HAD A MEETING YET.
DON'T YOU THINK DAVID? WE HAVE NOT HAD A MEETING YET.
SO THEY HAVEN'T EVEN HAD A MEETING TO FORMALLY RESPOND TO OUR FORMAL OFFER.
UM, MYSELF AND JOE REESE THOUGH WERE GRANTED, UM, THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS BY THE BOARD AND WITH OUR ATTORNEYS SO WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENT OFFER, UM, EVEN BEFORE THEY COUNTER.
UM, AND A RESOLUTION CAN BE MADE.
NO ONE WANTS THIS MORE THAN ME,
UM, AND YOU KNOW, WE HOPE THAT JOE, JOE, MELISSA AND I WERE ON THE BOARD WHEN WE DID THE, UM, THE FIRE STATION AND WE WORKED WITH THE CITY AND WE WORKED WELL.
WE DIDN'T HAVE PROBLEMS. UM, I'VE BEEN ON IT, 10 JOE'S BEEN OFF AND ON FOR EIGHT.
THIS IS MELISSA'S, I THINK THIRD OR FOURTH YEAR.
ANYWAYS, THIS BOARD HAS WORKED HARDER THAN ANY BOARD THAN I'VE EVER WORKED WITH.
'CAUSE DAVID KIRK WAS MY PREDECESSOR, AND HE WORKED SO HARD, TIRELESS TIRELESSLY THAT TO THE POINT THAT HE FINALLY SAID, ASHLEY, IF YOU'RE SAYING I'M LEAVING, HE WAS READY TO BE DONE.
UM, WE DO HOPE THAT YOU'LL CONSIDER APPOINTING US AGAIN BECAUSE THIS BOARD IS WORKING HARD FOR NOT JUST CR NOT JUST FOR THE CITY CITIZENS OF EST SEVEN, BUT FOR THE CITY OF CRANDALL AS WELL.
UM, AND, AND WE ARE VERY CLOSE TO MAKING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY.
JOE REESE, JOSEPH REESE, UH, 34 21 FM 1390 KAUFMAN, TEXAS.
LIKE I SAID, I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD EIGHT YEARS.
I'M ALSO A DALLAS FIREMAN, A CAPTAIN.
I'VE BEEN THERE FOR 26 YEARS, GOING 27.
UH, ASHLEY AND DAVID INVITED ME TO BE ON THE BOARD AND I DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT AT THE TIME.
SINCE THEN, I'VE BEEN WORKING, HELPING OUT AND SEEING THE DEPARTMENT GROW.
UH, LIKE JOSH WAS SAYING, HE'S GOING, WENT BACK TO 2021, MAKING 1700 RUNS.
WELL, IF YOU GO BACK TO THE YEAR BEFORE IN 2020, THEY MADE, UH, ALMOST 1300.
SO IF YOU GO BETWEEN 1320, JUST IN FIVE YEARS, THEY'VE ALMOST, THEY'VE HAD IT ALMOST DOUBLED THEIR CALL VOLUME.
AND THE PLAN FOR THAT, IT TAKES MONEY, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL THE ROOFTOPS AND EVERYTHING GOING ON THE COUNTY, WE, OUR BUDGET HAS GONE UP.
WE'VE BEEN SAVING, WE'VE BEEN SAVING A LOT OF MONEY.
WE'VE BEEN BUDGETING APPROPRIATELY FOR THEM.
THEY'VE BEEN ASKING, WE USUALLY GIVE EVERYTHING, WE DON'T ALWAYS GIVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED, BUT WE HAVE A BIG STOCKPILE.
AND I WAS VOTED THIS MORNING, SO WE ARE TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF STUFF IN THE FUTURE.
AND, UH, PART OF, WE'LL GO BACK TURS PLAN ON WHEN THEY, THEY DID NOT COMMUNICATE THET PLAN TO THE ESD UNTIL NOVEMBER OF 2025.
AND WHEN THE CITY DID THAT, THEY DID NOT DISCUSS THE FIRE SERVICE NEEDS WITH THE ESD.
PRIOR TO THET FINANCIAL ANALYSIS, THE CITY DID NOT DISCUSS T'S PARTICIPATION OR SALES TAX SHARING WITH ESD PRIOR TO PREPARING ITS FINANCIAL ANALYSIS.
THERE IS NO NEGOTIATION PRIOR TO THE CITY'S FINANCIAL ANALYSIS.
YOU KNOW, WE WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED.
LIKE WE SENT THE, WHEN UH, DAVID WAS AT A MEETING ON JANUARY 6TH, WE GAVE HIM THIS INITIAL DRAFT THAT THE LAWYERS HAD, WHICH IS A 60 40.
AND IT HAD THAT IN DAVID MS AT 15, 15 YEAR TERM LIMIT HE DIDN'T LIKE AND SAID, WELL, THAT'S JUST THE INITIAL DRAFT.
BUT WHAT I DON'T WANNA DO, AND THE BOARD DOESN'T WANNA DO, WE DON'T WANNA JUST GIVE EVERYTHING AWAY AT THE PA AT THE
[00:35:01]
BEGINNING AND THEN BE, UH, STUCK TO IT AND HAVING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FUND THE DEPARTMENT 20, 25 YEARS LATER.'CAUSE WE KNOW THE GROWTH IS COMING AND WE NEED MAKE SURE WE'RE PROTECTING OUR INTEREST FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY TO, UH, BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THEM.
UH, IF THE STATION OVER THERE, JUST FOR THE COST FOR A NEW STATION TRUCK, AN ENGINE, AND ACTUALLY JUST ONE APPARATUS IS $11 MILLION FOR STARTUP FOR A NEW FIRE STATION.
THAT'S PERSONNEL STAFFING IT EQUIPMENT TO GET IT GOING.
UH, THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, JULY 25, DOES NOT ADDRESS FIRE SERVICE IN THEIR BUDGET OF 2026.
INCLUDES LESS THAN 10% INCREASE, UH, FOR THE BUDGET.
THE CITY 2026 ADOPTED BUDGET FOR THE VFD FIRE SERVICE CUBS ONLY PERSONNEL COST ZERO WAS BUDGETED FOR NEW FACILITIES, NEW ADDITIONAL TRUCKS, NEW ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT, AND ADDITIONAL AND PERSONAL LOAN TRAINING.
BUT THEY DO, THEY STEPPED UP ON ONE OF THOSE AIR PACKS THAT JOSH WAS TALKING ABOUT.
THEY BOUGHT FIVE AND WE BOUGHT 17.
SO, YOU KNOW, THERE IS AGREEMENT.
'CAUSE WE BOTH WANT TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY AND, UH, THE COUNTY IS TAKING CARE OF, AND WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THE CITIZENS THAT WAY.
SO WE ARE GETTING IN, WE DO TAKE CARE OF THEM.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY WHEN WE'RE, WHEN WHEN THEY COME TO US, WE ALWAYS WILLING TO TALK TO 'EM.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T JUST GIVE UP EVERYTHING.
WE, FROM THE, WHERE IT STARTED OFF, WE'VE COME DOWN THREE TIMES.
WE'VE NEVER, THEY'VE NEVER EVEN GIVEN US OFFER, BUT THAT ONE OFFER.
SO WE EVEN MORE IN, IN CITY IN THE KAUFMAN COUNTY, THERE IS NO OTHER TAX SHARING AGREEMENT AT ALL.
WE'D BE THE, THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST IN THE COUNTY.
THERE'S NO OTHER CITIES OR ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE ANY TAX SHARING PLAN FOR THE SALES TAX.
AND THAT SHOULD HELP COVER OUR NEEDS AND THEIR NEEDS.
THANK YOU JOE OLIVER, IS THAT BRAS? SORRY IF I MISPRONOUNCED THAT.
4 0 2 3 HEAVENLY WAY IN HARTLAND, TEXAS.
UH, AND I'M CURRENTLY THE TREASURER AND COMMISSIONER OF, OF ESD SEVEN.
AND SO I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK TO YOU MORE.
UH, YOU'VE HEARD THE NUMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD A LOT OF THE, UH, THE, UH, THE HARD FACTS AS FAR AS THE PAPERWORK FROM THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, BUT I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT INTEGRITY.
UH, I'VE BEEN HERE ON THIS BOARD FOR ONE YEAR.
THIS WOULD BE MY SECOND YEAR STARTING AS OF, UH, THIS TERM TODAY.
UH, AND I'M, UM, ALSO AN ASSOCIATE CHILDREN'S PASTOR.
UH, I, I WORK, UH, WITH THE, UH, WITH, WITH CHILDREN AND, AND I TRY TO DO EVERYTHING WITH INTEGRITY TO THE, TO THE NUMBER ONE STANDARD, UH, ABOVE THIS BOARD AND ABOVE ALL BOARDS.
AND SO I PERSONALLY WOULDN'T BE HERE.
UH, NOBODY'S MENTIONED THERE'S MANY MEMBERS OF MULTIPLE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY HERE THAT ARE ALSO OF THE SAME ETHICS THAT WOULD NOT BE HERE SUPPORTING THIS BOARD.
IF THEY DIDN'T FEEL AS STRONGLY, YOU WOULDN'T HEAR FROM THE POLICE CHIEF, FROM THE, THE FIREMEN THEMSELF, I'M SORRY, POLICE CHIEF.
I APOLOGIZE FROM THE FIRE CHIEF AND FROM THE, UH, THE FIREMEN THEMSELF IF THEY DIDN'T ALSO BELIEVE IN THE MISSION, UH, THE ACTIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SHOWN AND WHAT THEY BELIEVE WILL HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE OF THE BOARD THAT IS PRESENT TODAY.
UH, ALSO, UH, AS, UH, MR. REESE SAID, UH, WE'VE EXTENDED THREE OFFERS TO THE CITY.
UH, OR WE'VE COME DOWN THREE TIMES.
UH, AND I'M HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO WORK, UH, WHEN NO OTHER NEIGHBORING CITY EVEN HAS ANY AGREEMENT, UH, WHATSOEVER.
SO NOT ONLY WILL WE BE SETTING THE PRECEDENT, BUT WE'VE BENT THREE TIMES AND, UM, AND ARE STILL HAPPY TO WORK MORE.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYBODY HAS TO, UH, WALK AWAY HAPPY FOR A DEAL TO BE MADE.
AND WE'RE HAPPY TO STAY IN, UH, NEGOTIATIONS.
I MEAN, WE, WE MEET CONSTANTLY.
THESE MEMBERS ARE ALL VERY ACTIVE.
AND AGAIN, IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WASN'T ON THE 100% UP AND UP, I WOULD WALK AWAY TODAY WITH NO PROBLEMS. SO THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT I'VE, I'M HERE TO, TO LEND MY, UH, SUPPORT FOR STAYING, UH, UNDER THOSE TERMS. SO THANK YOU ALL.
WE'VE HEARD FROM EVERYONE WHO WANT, WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
I KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND KNOWN YOU FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE, TAKING YOUR TIME.
UH, WE HAD HOPE WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS THAT THE D AND THE CITY COULD COME TO AN AGREEMENT.
OBVIOUSLY THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED.
UH, IT, IT IS DIFFICULT SOMETIMES TO NOT REAPPOINT BOARD MEMBERS, UH, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE DISAGREEMENTS HAPPEN.
AND YEAH, THERE'S PROBABLY ISSUES ON BOTH SIDES.
WE KNOW THAT Y'ALL HAVE ALL STATED THAT WE'RE AWARE OF IT.
[00:40:03]
SOMETHING CAN BE WORKED OUT OR SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN WORKED OUT, BUT IT HAS NOT.AND YES, UH, I WAS ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE HAD A 500 GALLON TANK AND WE STARTED A BRIDGES AND STRATTON MOTOR FOR WATER.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT JUST MEANS I'M OLD.
UH, I THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE THAT YOU DO.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE CITIZENS.
I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE IN THE CITY OR OUTTA THE CITY.
YOU'RE DOING A SERVICE, UH, AT THIS TIME.
I NEED A MOTION FROM SOMEONE AS TO WHAT TO DO.
WHAT IS YOUR MOTION? I LOOKED AT ALL NINE APPLICATIONS AND I PICKED TWO.
I WANT TO REPLACE ASHLEY HUSKER AND KEVIN JOHNSON WITH, UH, SUMMER I, ALFRED AND HERSCHEL.
THESE TWO, SOME ARE OFFERED HERSCHEL DOCUMENT.
UH, DO I HAVE A SECOND? CAN I MAKE A SECOND? IF WE HAVE ONE SECOND WE CAN.
I MEAN, IF NO ONE A SECOND, WE WILL, BUT WE NEED A SECOND, THEN WE'LL HAVE DISCUSSION.
NOW, INSTEAD OF TAKING IT TO VOTE, I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE DISCUSSED IT AND THEN WE GOING TO DISCUSS IT AS SOON AS WE DO.
JR TOOK A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE TWO.
AND YOU WANT A SECOND? AND I'M SAYING WE DIDN'T DISCUSS IT.
I THINK WE NEED TO DISCUSS IT.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND OR NOT? I'LL SECOND THAT FOR YOU.
OKAY, NOW TIME FOR DISCUSSION.
NOW, WHAT WAS THE SECOND FOR? WHAT WAS THE MOTION WAS TO PUT TWO NEW PEOPLE ON THERE.
HE SECONDED IT TO BE APPROVED.
NOW DISCUSSION AND, AND MY DISCUSSION IS THIS, THAT, UH, I AIN'T GONNA REHASH TWO WEEKS AGO ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON, BUT I THINK IT'S AS BEING ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF WHAT THE STATE TELLS US TO LOOK AT OUR, WHEN WE'RE APPROVING THESE POSITIONS, WE'RE LOOKING FOR FOUR MAIN THINGS AND COMPETENCY MISCONDUCT, FAILURE TO FINANCIAL REPORTS, AND FAILURE TO, UH, COMPLETE TRAINING, WHICH NONE OF THAT WAS FOUNDED BY ME.
UH, I MADE A SUGGESTION TWO WEEKS AGO TO LEAVE THE BOARD AS IT IS, AND RIGHTFULLY SO.
WE HEARD THE PEOPLE SPEAKING TODAY, IT'S WORKING.
SO NOW WE'RE GONNA TRY TO FIND TWO PEOPLE.
I DISAGREE WITH APPLICANTS THAT WERE SUBMITTED, UH, HOW THEY WERE SUBMITTED.
AND I'M SAYING THAT WE SHOULD LEAVE IT AS IN PLACE.
I THINK THEY WILL COME TO AN AGREEMENT.
I THINK THE LAW WILL WORK OUT FINE.
UH, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO MAKE CHANGES JUST BECAUSE OF POLITICS.
SO MY DEAL IS, IS, UH, UNDER THE RULES OF THIS LAW, THERE HAS BEEN NO, NOTHING FOUND THAT THEY'RE DOING ANYTHING WRONG.
SO MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO KEEP THE CURRENT MEMBERS IN PLACE AND LET THEM DO WHAT THEY'RE DESIGNED TO DO.
SINCE SOMEBODY HAS A DISAGREEMENT, DOESN'T MEAN WE GET RID OF PEOPLE.
THAT'S WHAT THE WHOLE PROCESS IS FOR.
THAT'S WHAT OUR DEMOCRACY'S ABOUT.
IF WE ALL AGREED UP HERE, THEN THERE'S A PROBLEM.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO LEAVE THINGS ON AND DO THE RIGHT THING, WHICH I BELIEVE THAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, TO LEAVE THE CURRENT MEMBERS IN PLACE AND LET THE SYSTEM DO WHAT THE SYSTEM'S DESIGNED TO DO.
THERE'S GOOD PEOPLE SITTING HERE, THERE'S GOOD PEOPLE IN THE CITY.
PUT THE POWER STRUGGLE BEHIND US.
LET'S GET SOMETHING DONE FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE ESD AND THE FIRE PROTECTION.
ANYONE ELSE? KELLY? NOTHING NOKE? I, I I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
SO WE'VE HEARD FROM EVERYONE HERE AND FOR THE ITEMS YOU MENTIONED THERE, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY HAVE TO HAVE COMMITTED ONE OF THOSE TO BE REPLACED.
THERE'S NO, I'M JUST SAYING WE'RE, I'M JUST, I MEAN, AND NO ONE'S EVER DONE THAT IN THIS, ON THIS BOARD, EVER.
BUT ARE WE GONNA, EVERY YEAR, ARE WE GONNA ROTATE EVERYBODY OUT FOR THE FUN OF IT? I MEAN, WHAT, WHAT'S THE OBJECTIVE HERE? NEXT YEAR WE'RE GONNA HAVE OPEN C SCAN OR ARE WE GONNA REPLACE PEOPLE JUST, JUST TO ROTATE 'EM OUT? OR ARE WE GOING WE'RE GONNA LET THE BOARDS, I MEAN, WE'RE SETTING A PRECEDENT HERE.
NO, WE'RE THIS IS NOT WE'RE HOW MANY YES, YOU HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON.
[00:45:01]
SDS THIS PAST YEAR? MM-HMMBUT THAT WAS BECAUSE THERE WERE ISSUES, RIGHT? THERE WERE ISSUES.
BUT, BUT LIKE I SAY, I CAN, I CAN TOTALLY SEE WHERE HE IS GOING FOR THIS, THIS, THIS GROUP SEEMS TO GET ALONG GREAT.
WELL, WITH, I MEAN GET, I'M JUST SAYINGS D HE'S TALKING ABOUT DSD THEMSELVES.
THEY, THEY, THEIR BOARD, THE COMMISSIONERS DIDN'T GET ALONG.
I THINK THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.
I THINK WE'RE NOT DOING THE JUSTICE BY DOING THAT.
WHAT, WHAT Y SUGGESTION, I DON'T THINK ISS RIGHT, BUT IT IT'S OVER JOE.
THAT MEANS I'M BREAKING THE TITHE.
THAT MEANS THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT.
YEAH, BUT AGAIN, I ASKED YOU LAST TIME THE, THAT BECAUSE OF YOUR SON BEING ON THE CITY COUNCIL STUFF, THAT YOU REFRAIN FROM THIS.
SO I MEAN, I EXPECT YOU TO VOTE A AYE THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
BUT, AND I THINK YOU GOT A LEGAL OPINION ON THAT.
I MEAN, KAREN BADLEY, YOU HAVE PEOPLE WAVING AT, I'M SORRY.
CAN I COME AND SPEAK SAME? NO MA'AM.
BECAUSE I HAVE A SUGGESTION FOR HOW THIS CAN ALL BE RESOLVED.
WELL, WE HOPED IT'D ALREADY BEEN RESOLVED.
WHY CAN'T BOTH PARTIES HIRE A RETIRED JUDGE FROM ANOTHER COUNTY THAT HAS NO ASSOCIATION HERE AND MEDIATE AND IT IS AGREED BY BOTH PARTIES THAT THEY ACCEPT ONCE THE MEDIATOR HELPS 'EM COME TO A RESOLUTION? WELL, THAT WOULD BE A GOOD RECOMMENDATION.
IT WOULD BE A GOOD RECOMMENDATION.
I'M NOT SURE WE CAN DO IT AT THIS POINT.
I'LL HAVE TO CONTACT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND SEE.
KAREN, WHAT DO YOU THINK? SO, UM, WHAT I WOULD SAY TO THAT IS, ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE SALES TAX ISSUE? THAT'S THE ONLY ISSUE WE HAVE REALLY IS THE SALES TAX ISSUE THAT'S GOING ON.
WHATEVER THEIR DISPUTE IS, LET A, A MEDIATOR COME IN AND HELP BOTH PARTIES COME TO AN AGREEMENT.
SO, SO BEFORE I CAN GIVE AN ANSWER IF, IF YOU ALL ARE WANTING AN ANSWER ON THE SALES TAX ISSUE WHERE THE PARTIES ARE DIS ARE DISPUTING, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE SALES TAX ISSUE.
THE CITY OF CRANDALL, THE ESD, THEY CAN AGREE FOR SOME KIND OF RESOLUTION LIKE THAT, THAT DOESN'T COME WITHIN THE DICTATES OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
SO THAT'S A PRIVATE ISSUE BETWEEN THE CITY OF CRALL AND THE ESD.
AND THEY CAN MAKE A DECISION IF THEY WANNA, IF THEY WANNA REACH SOME KIND OF DECISION LIKE THAT, THEY, THEY CAN ALLOW THAT FOR A DISPUTE RESOLUTION.
BUT THAT'S A DECISION THAT THE ESD AND THE CITY OF CRANDALL WOULD MAKE.
IT'S NOT WITHIN THE DICTATES OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
AS FAR AS APPOINTING THE ESD COMMISSIONERS UNDER THE HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE, CHAPTER 7 51, THAT DOES COME STATUTORILY WITHIN THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT POWER.
SO THEY WOULD NOT DESIGNATE THAT POWER TO A RETIRED JUDGE TO SOMEWHERE TO DECIDE WHO THE COMMISSIONERS ARE, ARE GOING TO BE.
BECAUSE STATUTORILY THAT, I MEAN, I'M JUST BEING CANDID.
OKAY? BUT I KNOW Y'ALL ARE ALL AWARE THAT BY MAKING THIS MOVE, IT TAINTS THIS CITY BECAUSE YOU'RE MAKING A POLITICAL MOVE MM-HMM
TO SATISFY THE CITY OF CRANDALL SO THEY CAN HAVE EVERYTHING THEY WANT WITHOUT WORKING WITH THE OTHER PEOPLE.
[00:50:01]
OKAY.IF YOU WANT TO STAY, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO SAY WE NOW MOVE ON TO NUMBER ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.
SO YOU'RE ONLY APPOINTING TWO COMMISSIONERS.
IT'S ONLY TWO THAT WE'RE UP FOR.
UH, TIME DOWN ALL UP FOR APPOINTMENT.
WE ONLY HAVE TWO ON THE COUNTY RECORDS.
ON THEY LISTED EVERYONE THAT'S ON HERE, THEY'RE NOT UP.
IF THE ONLY ISSUE HERE IS THE TAX, WHY ARE YOU REAPPOINTED THEM'S WAIT.
DO YOU WANT TO LET EVERYONE GO? PLEASE.
THE CITY'S LACK OF PLANNING DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THEIR EMERGENCY TO WORK WITH THE CITY.
[7. Karen Badgley; Discuss/Consider/Approve re-appointment of Larry Eggett, Mike Holley, Janas Byrnes, Jody Deller, and Betty Mayfield to the Norville Center Children's Shelter Board. ]
OKAY, ADAM, NUMBER FIVE.DISCUSS, CONSIDER AN IMPROVED REAPPOINTMENT OF LARRY GERT.
BETTY MAYFIELD TO THE NORRELL CENTER CHILDREN'S SHELTER BOARD.
YOU HAVE A MOTION MR. PHILLIPS? DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
[8. Auditor: Discuss/Consider line item and budget transfers/corrections.]
CARRIES.MS. AUDITOR, DISCUSS LINE, ITEM AND BUDGET TRANSFERS.
SO THIS WEEK WE HAVE TWO BUDGET AMENDMENTS BASED ON SOME ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT WE'VE RECEIVED THIS FISCAL YEAR.
HAVE ALL HAD THESE LOOKED AT 'EM? COURT'S APPROVAL.
ANY QUESTIONS? NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE? I MOTION? THERE YOU GO.
MR. LAMB MAKES A MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.
[9. Auditor: Discuss/Consider claims for payment and/or Financial Information as provided by the County Auditor.]
MR. ARCH ONCE AGAIN CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT.THIS WEEK WE HAVE, UM, CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT THAT WE'RE ASKING TO PAY FOR AP INVOICES.
WE ALSO HAVE JUROR DONATIONS AND JUROR INVOICES.
UM, AND WE ASK FOR THE COURT'S APPROVAL TO PAY.
Y'ALL SEE THESE? ANY QUESTIONS? A MOTION TO APPROVE.
MR. MOORE MAKES A MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.
[10. Judge Allen; Discuss/Consider exiting regular meeting and entering into executive session: a. Pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.071, the Commissioners Court will meet in closed session to consult with counsel regarding pending or contemplated litigation, subjects, or settlement offers, including but not limited to: i. ii. Price v. White; Case 3:24-CV-1387-L; Bates v. Kaufman County; Case 116800-489; iii. Toombs v. Kaufman County; Case 3:24·CV00892-B; iv. Kaufman County, Texas v. Texas General Mechanical et al.; v. Construction Law Matters; and vi. Potential claims/cases involving EEOC, Civil Rights, county issues.]
NUMBER 10 IS MINE.DISCUSS SUIT, EXIT AND REGULAR MEETING.
MR. COLE MAKES A MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.
[11. Judge Allen; Discuss/Consider exiting executive session and entering back into the regular meeting.]
OKAY.I NEED A MOTION TO COME OUTTA EXECUTIVE SESSION AND ENTER IT BACK INTO OUR REGULAR MEETING.
MR. LANE MAKES THE MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.
[12. Judge Allen; Discuss/Consider taking any action resulting from the executive session. ]
NUMBER 12.DISCUSS SITTER TAKING ACTION ON ANYTHING FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THERE IS NO ACTION TO BE TAKEN.
[13. Adjourn Meeting.]
NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.MR. PHILLIPS MAKES A MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.