May 05, 2026 Commissioners Court

WE'RE HERE IN THE COMMISSIONER'S COURTROOM ON OUR NORMAL TUESDAYS FOR OUR REGULAR MEETING HELD EVERY TUESDAY.

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.

[Call to Order]

THIS IS THE TUESDAY THE FIFTH, MAY, MAY THE FIFTH OF THIS SAME MAY TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY GOT THE RIGHT MONTH.

2026 AT 9:00 AM LOCATED AT 100 NORTH WASHINGTON STREET IN KAUFFMAN COUNTY, TEXAS.

THE UH, JUDGE IS A LITTLE UNDER THE WEATHER THIS MORNING AND SO HE STAYED HOME AND UH, WE WILL HAVE OUR NORMAL STUFF HERE.

WE'LL HAVE AN INVOCATION AND COMMISSIONER MOORE'S GOING TO DO THAT.

AND THE PLEDGES ALL TAKE CARE OF THAT.

AND SO IF EVERYBODY PLEASE RISE AND MOST AMEN, PRAY.

LORD GRACIOUS, HEAVENLY FATHER, WE JUST ALWAYS GIVE YOU PRAISE FOR ALL THE MANY BLESSINGS THAT YOU GIVE US EACH AND EVERY DAY.

LORD, WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE SUNSHINE AND WE'RE ALSO THANK YOU FOR THE RAIN THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US OVER THE PAST WEEK.

AND LORD, WE JUST THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR LOVE YOU SHOW US AND WE ASK THAT YOU BE WITH US AS WE GO THROUGH OUR MEETING TODAY, LORD, TO LET IT BE, UH, YOUR DECISION AND NOT OUR DECISIONS THAT WE HANDLE IT IN THE WAY YOU'D HAVE US TO HANDLE COUNTY BUSINESS.

LORD, WE JUST THANK YOU FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES.

WE JUST THANK YOU FOR THEIR SERVICE THAT THEY PROVIDE TO DECISIONS OF KAUFFMAN COUNTY AND WE'D GIVE YOU ALL THE PRAISE IN YOUR SON'S HOLY NAME.

AMEN.

I PLEDGE THIS TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG.

I PLEDGE THE ELITE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER ONE.

THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.

[1. ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE]

ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE.

I THINK MR. MOORE HAS A LITTLE BIT.

YES.

UH, THERE'S TWO, TWO ITEMS I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH EVERYONE.

UH, THE POOR FARM, UH, POLLINATOR GARDEN OPENING DAY WILL BE ON SATURDAY, MAY THE NINTH AT 9:00 AM TO NOON.

IT'LL BE OUT AT THE POOR FARM.

IT'LL BE A A GREAT EVENT THAT'S EVERYBODY'S KIND OF BEEN WAITING TO GET KICKED OFF HERE.

SO, UH, AS MANY AS WE CAN HAVE COME OUT TO THAT, THAT'D BE A GREAT THING TO DO.

UH, ALSO WE HAVE THE, UH, PET FOOD PANTRY, WHICH IS GONNA BE AT THE KAUFMAN COUNTY, WHAT WE CALL THE SOUTH CAMPUS, WHICH IS AT 3001 SOUTH WASHINGTON STREET.

AND THAT'S GONNA BE ON WEDNESDAY, MAY THE 13TH FROM 12:00 PM TO ONE 30 UNTIL SUPPLIES LAST.

UH, IF SOMEBODY NEEDS PET FOOD, UH, SMALL BAGS OF STUFF THAT CAN COME OUT AND RECEIVE THOSE ITEMS IF IN NEED OF THAT.

SO IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE PAM, ON THAT? WE'RE GOOD ON THAT.

FARMER'S MARKET IS ALSO THIS SATURDAY.

YEP.

DURING THE, THE GREEN OPENING OF THE GARDEN.

THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO CONSENT AGENDA.

AND ALSO ALSO WITH THE FARMER'S MARK.

IT'S GONNA BE, UH, AT THE POOR FARM AS WELL THIS WEEKEND.

SO ANYWAY, HOPEFULLY WE HAVE, UH, A GOOD SHOWING ON THAT.

NO RAIN.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY PREDICTED RIGHT AT THE MOMENT, THE WEEKEND.

I THINK WE'RE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE.

ALRIGHT, ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE? NO, EVERYBODY'S GOOD.

ALRIGHT,

[2. CONSENT AGENDA]

AND IN THE CONSENT AGENDA WE HAVE THE COURT REGULAR MEETINGS MINUTES FOR APRIL 28TH AND DISCUSSING CONSIDER THE TAX ASSESSORS MONTHLY PROPERTY TAX COLLECTIONS AND REPORT FROM MARCH 26.

AND ALSO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER AND ACCEPT THE TAX ASSESSORS MONTHLY AUTO COLLECTIONS REPORT AND MARCH FOR 2026.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR ANYTHING ON THAT OR CORRECTIONS OR ANYTHING? THEN I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

COMMISSIONER LANE MADE A MOTION.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CROW.

NUMBER THREE,

[3. Pam Corder: Discuss/Consider/Approve submitting an application to the Texas Indigent Defense Commission for the Assistant Indigent Defense Coordinator position for Kaufman County.]

PAM QUARTER.

DISCUSS AND CONSIDER AND APPROVE SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION TO THE TEXAS ENGINE DEFENSE COMMISSION FOR THE ASSISTANT ENGINE DEFENSE COORDINATOR POSITION FOR KAUFFMAN COUNTY.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING PAM.

UM, THIS IS A GRANT THAT WE STARTED IN 2024.

SO AS OUR COUNTY GREW, WE UM, WERE FALLING BEHIND IN OUR INDIGENT DEFENSE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE WE ONLY HAD ONE PERSON MAN MANAGING THAT.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE FUNDING, UM, FROM THE TEXAS INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION, WHICH IT STARTED OUT AS THEM PAYING 80% THE FIRST YEAR, 60% THE SECOND YEAR.

NOW THIS IS OUR THIRD YEAR AND IT'S 40% THAT THEY COVER.

NEW PERSON WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT LAWS AND THINGS THAT HAD BEEN IN PLACE, THE MANDATES.

AND THEN NEXT YEAR IT'LL BE 20%.

SO, UM, WE HAD TO HAVE THE

[00:05:01]

AND SO WE HAD TO GO AHEAD AND HIRE THAT SO WE WERE ABLE TO GET SOME HELP.

SO THIS YEAR, UM, THE SALARY THAT THE COUNTY WILL BE PAYING FOR THIS PERSON AND THE THIRD YEAR IS 42,000 SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY ONE SEVENTEEN.

BUT THE STATE OR THE INDIGENT DEFENSE, TIDC, WILL BE PAYING 27,000 435 60.

AND SO I'M ASKING PERMISSION TODAY FOR YOU FROM YOU GUYS TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.

EVERY YEAR I'LL COME BACK TO YOU WITH A RESOLUTION.

WE'RE ALREADY GOOD ON THAT BUDGET WISE.

COMMISSIONER MOORE MAKES A MOTION.

COMMISSIONER LANE MAKES A SECOND.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND I, I FORGOT TO SAY MAY 16TH IS THE KAUFMAN COUNTY HOMESTEAD DAY.

SO EVERYONE COME OUT, YOU KNOW, IN THE SPRING OF LAST YEAR WE HAD OVER 1500 IN ATTENDANCE.

IT'S A GREAT DAY.

BE LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON FACEBOOK AND OUR COUNTY WEBSITE.

ALRIGHTY.

THANK YOU PAM.

ALRIGHT,

[4. Steve Howie: Discuss/Consider/Approve the contract between Kaufman County and Beavers Construction for the repairs lo LEFL 2.]

NUMBER FOUR.

ALRIGHT, STEVE HENRY DISCUSSING CONSIDER APPROVED CONTRACT BETWEEN KAMAN COUNTY AND BEAVER'S CONSTRUCTION FOR THE REPAIRS TO LEVY NUMBER TWO OR EAST FOR COLLATERAL TWO.

YES SIR.

MM-HMM .

UH, AND THIS HAS, THERE ARE NO RELATION TO OUR SHERIFF BY THE WAY.

YEAH, FINE , UM, THEY CAME IN, UH, BEAVERS CONSTRUCTION CAME IN WITH A LOW BID OF, UH, EIGHT.

I HAD IT RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF ME, 800 AND SOMETHING THOUSAND DOLLARS, WHICH, UH, WAS WHAT CONSIDERABLY UNDER WHAT THE STATE HAD BUDGETED.

AND UH, THIS WILL NOT COST THE COUNTY ANYTHING.

IT'S A REIMBURSEMENT.

SO WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD QUICKLY.

SO IF YOU COULD APPROVE THIS, WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

MM-HMM .

YEAH.

AND ACTUALLY IS 840,485 AND 25 CENTS.

WHY THEY NEED 25 CENTS? I DON'T KNOW.

, IT BLOWS MY MIND TOO.

I JUST, I JUST DON'T, I DON'T GET THAT.

SO ANYWAY.

WELL, I'LL GO IN THE QUARTER, BUT ANYWAY.

YEAH, WELL I DON'T THINK ANYBODY CAN ARGUE WITH A FREE, SO I'LL TAKE A MOTION FROM SOMEBODY.

COMMISSIONER CROW MAKES A MOTION.

MOTION.

COMMISSIONER MOORE MAKES A SECOND.

NUMBER FIVE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF A PRIMARY PLAT FOR LORDSWOOD LOCATED ON COUNTY ROAD 4 0 7 4 AND COUNTY ROAD 4 0 7 6 IN PRECINCT FOUR.

[5. Developmenl Services: Discuss/Consider/Approve the preliminary plat of lordswood located on CR 4074 and CR 4076 in Precinct 4.]

THAT'S COMMISSIONER MOORE.

GOOD MORNING AREA.

GOOD MORNING.

SO THIS IS ABOUT 15 AND A HALF ACRES AND THE APPLICANT IS, UH, SUBDIVIDING INTO 12 LOTS EACH OVER AN ACRE.

UM, TODAY'S APPROVAL WOULD ALLOW US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE NEXT PHASE OF THE REVIEW PROCESS, WHICH IS THE IN-DEPTH CONSTRUCTION PLAN REVIEW FOR THE GRADING AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS.

AND WE JUST NEED THE COURT'S APPROVAL.

COMMISSIONER MOORE MAKES A MOTION.

COMMISSIONER LANE SECONDS.

DISCUSS AND CONSIDER APPROVE ENTERING INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE NEW EDGE TO HOST GIS IN THE CLOUD.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MONIQUE.

HUNTER,

[6. Monique Hunler: Discuss/Consider/Approve entering into a contract with New Edge to host GIS in the cloud.]

IT HAS A LOT OF GOOD FEATURES AND WE HOPE TO GROW IT EVEN BIGGER AND WITH IT BEING IN THE CLOUD, IT CAN GROW AS BIG AS WE NEED IT TO BE.

RIGHT? YES.

AND YOU GONNA EXPLAIN TO EVERYBODY WHAT THAT IS IF THEY, EVERYBODY DOESN'T KNOW ALREADY AND WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED IT.

I KNOW WHAT IT IS.

OUR, UH, GIS PORTAL IS A TOOL USED BY OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC.

IT, UM, DISPLAYS WHETHER OR NOT THEIR PROPERTY IS IN A FLOODPLAIN.

IT GIVES THEM A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR PROPERTY, WHAT SCHOOL ZONE THEY'RE IN, WHAT ELECTION BOX THEY'RE IN.

IT HAD A LOT OF DIFFERENT LAYERS BUILT INTO IT.

UM, SO FUNNY THING IS, IS THAT GIS IS NOTHING COMPARED TO IT.

THEY DON'T KNOW IT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT BEAST.

AND WE'VE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH TRYING TO GET THOSE TWO COHABITATE AND SO WE, UM, FOUND A COMPANY AND, AND NATHAN IS VERY HAPPY THAT WILL HOST IT IN THE CLOUD.

UM, SO THAT THEY WILL MANAGE IT AND WE WILL, UM, BE ABLE TO PUSH IT OUT THERE TO THE PUBLIC IN ABOUT FIVE DAYS ONCE THIS IS SIGNED AND APPROVED.

SO IT'LL BE BACK IN IN CIRCULATION.

OUR PUBLIC USED IT A LOT TO MINIMIZE CALLING OUR OFFICE FOR EVERY LITTLE THING.

SO IT, FOR TIME MANAGEMENT, IT WAS AN EXCELLENT TOOL.

COMMISSIONER, I KNOW YOU WERE LIKE, WHEN ARE WE GETTING IT BACK? BECAUSE THEY USE IT QUITE A BIT.

UM, IT SHOWS ROAD MAINTENANCE,

[00:10:01]

SO THIS COMPANY WILL HELP US.

UM, I'VE NEGOTIATED WHERE WE LOCK THE FEE IN FOR THREE YEARS, UM, SO THAT THEY CAN'T RAISE THE PRICE ONCE I MOVE IT THERE AND FALL IN LOVE WITH IT.

AND SO, UM, I'M ASKING FOR THE COURT'S APPROVAL TO ENTER INTO IT.

ARE WE GOOD ON? YES AND WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED THE BUDGET FOR IT AS WELL.

COMMISSIONER CROW SECONDS.

COMMISSIONER LANE MAKES A MOTION.

DO I HAVE SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? PLEASE SAY AYE.

MARINA DISCUSSING APPROVE AWARD FOR THE BID.

MONIQUE

[7. Lorena Diaz: Discuss/Consider/Approve award for Bid 2026-003 County Road 4031 New Bridge Construction.]

2026 DASH OH OH THREE COUNTY ROAD 40 31 BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION.

OH, WELL I I PUT THEM ON ONE FIRST BUT THIS ONE, THIS ONE'S ACTUALLY TO DO IT IN ORDER.

40 31 ROAD CONSTRUCTION BRIDGE.

WELL GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.

UM, SO WE DID RECEIVE THREE BIDS.

MCMAHON DID, UH, COME IN LOWEST RESPONSIVE BID.

THE CONTRACTOR IS ESTIMATED ABOUT 90 DAYS AND I AM RECOMMENDING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE AWARD AND I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.

ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER MOORE.

COMMISSIONER LIEN SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR OF PLEASE SAY AYE.

[8. Lorena Diaz: Discuss/Consider/Approve award for Bid 2026-005 County Road 4036 Bridge Scouring Repair.]

SAME.

WORKING ON THE SAME THING EXCEPT THE DIFFERENCE IS THE APPROVAL OF THE BID FOR 2026 DASH OH OH FIVE ON COUNTY ROAD 4 3 6.

AND ON THE BRIDGE SCOURING CONSTRUCTION, SAME PART, SAME THING.

UM, SO WE GOT THREE THREE BIDS AND MC MCMAHON DID, UH, COME IN THE LOWEST MM-HMM .

AT 306 46.

AND SO I'M MOVING REQUESTING, UM, THE COMMISSIONERS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE AWARD.

HOW? WHICH IT'S GONNA BE THE SCOURING THAT'S THE ONE.

OH, HOW MUCH WAS THAT? AND YOU SAID THE, THE SCARRING IS, LET ME MAKE SURE THAT I I THINK I MAY HAVE GIVEN IT TO 76.

SCARRING IS 76 3 12.

CORRECT.

COMMISSIONER CROW SECONDED.

AND THEN THE NEW BRIDGE IS THREE HUNDRED AND SIX FORTY SIX.

OKAY, SO CORRECTION ON THAT.

YES.

AND UH, THIS IS GONNA BE THE TWO PROJECTS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

YES.

WE APPROVED THE BIDDING FOR ALL THESE PROJECTS TO MOVE FORWARD ON THEM.

SO I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE.

ACCEPT THE BID.

I'LL SECOND.

COMMISSIONER MOORE MADE THE MOTION.

DISCUSS AND APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF STEVEN MACK TO FILL THE UNEXPIRED TERM OF OLIVER WALLS BEGINNING ON MAY 5TH, 2026 AND ENDING ON DECEMBER 31ST, 2026.

[9. Commissioner Moore: Discuss/Consider/Approve the appointment of Stephen Womack to fill the unexpired term of Oliver Rawls beginning on May 5, 2026 and ending on December 31, 2026.]

UH, UH, WE APPRECIATE OLIVER'S SERVICE BUT HE IS MOVING OUT OF THAT DISTRICT SO HE HAD TO RESIGN.

SO WE HAVE ANOTHER GENTLEMAN HERE THAT SAID HE'D LOVE TO SERVE AND AT CAPACITY, ALSO SENDING OVER TO COMMISSIONER CROW, BEING THAT WE SHARE THE ESD AND, UH, ANYWAY, I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

ALRIGHT, HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER CROW.

DO I HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER MOORE? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

10, THIS GOES TO COMMISSIONER CROW.

ALL RIGHT.

NUMBER

[10. Commissioner Crow: Discuss/Consider/Approve the reclassification of the open foreman position to a Class IV Road and Bridge position with Precinct 1.]

DISCUSSION, APPROVE AND CAN RECLASSIFICATION OF AN OPEN FOREMAN POSITION TO A CLASS.

FIVE OR FOUR OR FOUR.

FOUR.

AND THE ROAD AND BRIDGE POSITION THEN PRECINCT ONE.

COMMISSIONER CROW MAKES A MOTION.

I'LL SECOND.

COMMISSIONER LANE.

SECOND.

NUMBER 11 BELONGS TO THE AUDITOR.

ALRIGHT, THIS COMM

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

DISCUSS AND CONSIDER LINE ITEM TRANSFERS AND BUDGET TRANSFERS IN CORRECTIONS.

AND EVERYBODY'S RECEIVED ALL THIS AND YOU'VE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO LOOK AT 'EM.

AND DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON IT? NO.

THEN I'LL ALL ROUTINE, I'LL LINE ON TRANSFERS AND BUDGET AMENDMENTS AND WE ASK FOR THE COURT'S APPROVAL.

I KNOW IT.

ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

[00:15:01]

I'LL SECOND COMMISSIONER LANE.

COMMISSIONER MOORE MAKES A MOTION.

SECOND NUMBER

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

12.

UH, DISCUSSING CONSIDER CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT AND OR FINANCIAL INFORMATION AS PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY AUDITOR.

SO THIS WEEK WE HAVE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, INVOICES AND JURY PAYMENTS.

MOST OF THE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE INVOICES ARE MADE UP OF, EXCUSE ME, ROAD BOND EXPENDITURES AND REIMBURSEMENTS FOR GRANTS.

AND WE ASK FOR THE COURT'S APPROVAL TO PAY.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS OR ANYTHING ON THE PAYING OF THE BILLS? ALRIGHT THEN I'LL TAKE A MOTION.

COMMISSIONER CROW MAKES A MOTION.

COMMISSIONER LANE SECONDS.

13 BELONGS TO ME, SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING AND I'LL SECOND AND COMMISSIONER MOORE SECONDS.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NUMBER

[13. Adjourn Meeting]

ALL IN FAVOR? PLEASE SAY, AYE.