May 26, 2026 Commissioners Court

I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE THIS MORNING TO OUR REGULAR COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING.

YOU READY? ALRIGHT.

[Call to Order]

HERE IT IS, MAY THE 26TH.

THIS YEAR IS GOING AWFUL FAST.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH THE INVOCATION AND THE PLEDGES.

IF YOU JOIN ME AND STAND, PLEASE PRAY.

HEAVENLY FATHER, LORD, WE JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY.

LORD, WE ASK FOR WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING IN MAKING DECISIONS FOR THE COUNTY LORD.

AND WE JUST WANT TO BE, JUST GIVE YOU THANKSGIVING FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS THAT YOU DO.

SHOW US, BE WITH OUR EMPLOYEES, BE WITH OUR TROOPS SO FAR OFF, AND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.

AND WE JUST THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR LOVE.

IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.

AMEN TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS.

NATION, NATION, UNDER GOD, IN THE MIDST WITH LIBERTY, BE AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

HONOR THE FLAG, OUR ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE INDIVIDUAL.

ANYONE HAVE ANY ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE OTHER THAN TODAY'S VOTING DAY? AND PLEASE GET OUT AND VOTE.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

DOES

[1. ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE]

DO YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL ABILITY TO DO THAT.

BUT A LOT OF COUNTRIES YOU DON'T GET TO DO THAT.

SO ANYWAY, IF YOU HADN'T DONE IT, DO IT.

I DON'T GET TO DO THAT IN IRAN.

I DON'T KNOW.

IN AGENDA WE HAVE FOUR ITEMS THERE.

NO ONE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY, BECAUSE

[2. CONSENT AGENDA]

DISCUSS, CONSIDER ACCEPTED COMMISSIONER'S COURT REGULAR MEETING FOR MAY THE 19TH OF THIS YEAR.

UH, DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND ACCEPT THE ALTER'S MONTHLY REPORT FOR MARCH OF 26TH.

DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND ACCEPT THE ALTER'S MONTHLY REPORT FOR APRIL OF 26TH.

DISCUSS AND ACCEPT THE DEPUTATION OF MANUEL VALDEZ IN THE TAX ASSESSORS COLLECTOR'S OFFICE.

ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? NO.

I MAKE MOTION.

A MOTION TO APPROVE.

HAVE A MOTION FOR COMMISSIONER PHIPPS TO HAVE A SECOND.

MR. COLE MAKES A SECOND.

A AYE.

MOTION CARRIE.

NUMBER THREE,

[3. Sue Stalder with DFPS: Discuss/Consider proclaiming the month of June as Elder Abuse Awareness Month.]

SUE IS THAT LER ST.

STALLER STALLER WITH DFPS DISCUSS, CONSIDER PRO PROCLAIMING.

THE MONTH OF JUNE IS ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME SAY SOMETHING PLEASE, MA'AM.

IT MEANS Y'ALL CAN'T ABUSE ME THIS MONTH.

WELL, FIRST I WANNA THANK Y'ALL AGAIN FOR HAVING US.

UM, Y'ALL HAVE BEEN SO GRACIOUS EVERY YEAR TO PROCLAIM JUNE AS ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH IN KAUFMAN COUNTY AND WE APPRECIATE IT.

UH, WE HAD 267 COMPLETED INVESTIGATIONS DONE LAST YEAR IN KAUFMAN COUNTY.

I THINK WE CAN AGREE THAT ONE IS TOO MANY, BUT THE MORE PEOPLE THAT BECOME AWARE THAT THIS IS A TRUE PROBLEM OF ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND REALLY FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION OF OUR SENIORS, IT'S REALLY BECOMING, UH, OUT OF CONTROL.

SURE.

UH, THE MORE PEOPLE WHO KNOW THE BETTER REPORTING WE CAN DO.

ONE THING WE DO KNOW ABOUT ADULT ABUSE, NEGLECT AND EXPLOITATION IS IT IS VERY UNDER-REPORTED, HAS A STIGMA THAT GOES WITH IT.

IT'S EMBARRASSING AND IT'S USUALLY BEING DONE BY PEOPLE THAT ARE KNOWN TO OUR, UM, OUR CLIENTS.

AND A LOT OF TIMES, UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S THEIR ADULT CHILDREN WHO ARE STEALING THEIR MONEY REALLY AND PUT THEM IN A REAL STATE OF NEGLECT.

SO WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL FOR SUPPORTING US AND, UM, WE'LL BE BACK NEXT YEAR TOO.

A QUESTION, WHO DOES MOST OF THE INVESTIGATING ON THESE? IN KAUFMAN COUNTY, WE HAVE THREE A PS SPECIALISTS.

NOW, WHEN THEY GET TOO HEAVY OF A CASELOAD, WE CAN BRING IN WHAT WE CALL WORKER FIVES WHO WORK THE ENTIRE REGION AND THEY WILL STEP IN AND HELP OUT.

SO THE, THERE IS A LOCAL OFFICE.

YES.

NOW THE, YOU SAID 267 INVESTIGATIONS LAST YEAR.

HOW MANY OF THOSE WERE ACTUALLY COMPLETED AND BROUGHT TO A CONCLUSION AND KIND OF WHAT WAS THE FINDINGS OF THE MAJORITY OF IT? SO THAT WAS 2 67 COMPLETED INVESTIGATIONS? YES.

THE, THERE WAS I BELIEVE ABOUT 447 REPORTS.

4 4 7 REPORTS.

UM, SO A LOT OF TIMES THINGS GET REPORTED, BUT THEY DON'T MEET OUR CRITERIA.

THAT'S THE OTHER SITUATION WITH A PS, IT'S A VERY MISUNDERSTOOD PROGRAM BECAUSE WE DON'T WORK WITH JUST ANY ADULT.

UH, OUR PROGRAM'S TOO SMALL, WE CAN'T HANDLE THAT.

SO WE SPECIFICALLY WORK WITH 65 AND OVER ONLY.

AND THEN IF THERE IS A SUBSTANTIALLY DISABLED ADULT, MEANING THEY CANNOT CARRY OUT THEIR DAILY ACTIVITIES ON THEIR OWN OR ARRANGE FOR THAT TO BE, UH, DONE FOR THEM.

SO A LOT OF TIMES WE GET THESE REPORTS, BUT THEY DON'T MEET OUR CRITERIA AND THEY GET, UM, THEY GET REFERRED OUT TO OTHER SOURCES IF POSSIBLE, BUT THEY GET SHUT DOWN.

SO THAT NUMBER OF 2 67, THOSE WERE THE ONES THAT WERE WORKED AND EITHER REFERRED TO SERVICES OR, UM, LEGAL ACTION WERE TAKEN.

UM, BUT THEY WERE ACTUALLY INVESTIGATED.

I KNOW IT'S TOUGH, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY GET

[00:05:01]

OLDER.

YES.

UH, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON .

WELL, AND THAT'S THE OTHER CHALLENGE IN WORKING WITH ADULTS IS, UH, ADULTS HAVE RIGHTS, WHICH IS A WONDERFUL THING.

I APPRECIATE THAT AS I GET OLDER.

UM, BUT NOT EVERYONE MAKES GOOD CHOICES, BUT THEY'RE FREE TO MAKE THOSE BAD CHOICES AS LONG AS THEY HAVE CAPACITY.

RIGHT.

AND OFTENTIMES THAT'S WHERE IT GETS VERY STICKY BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS TO TAKE THE RIGHTS OF AN ADULT AWAY.

BUT IN SOME SITUATIONS WHERE IT IS REALLY, UM, THEIR LIFE IS AN IMMINENT DANGER THAT HAS TO BE DONE.

SURE.

SO, BUT PEOPLE TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY AND A PS IS A HUGE PROPONENT OF OUR ADULTS, OUR SENIORS, KEEPING THEIR RIGHTS INTACT AND WORKING WITH THEM IN A LEAST RESTRICTIVE WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN STAY SAFE.

AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

THEY NEED THEIR SELF.

YEAH.

I HAD ONE, I HAD, I HAD SOMEBODY CALL ME THIS WEEK.

YEAH, YEAH.

AND THERE'S OVER A TEXT THEY GOT, I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY ELSE GOT THESE TEXTS? I I EVEN GOT ONE.

REALLY? MY WIFE GOT ONE AND IT WAS ALL ON THE THEY'RE GOING TO COME TAKE YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE.

OH, I GOT THAT TOO.

I GOT THAT SAME TEXT.

I SURE DID.

I SAID I SURE DID.

DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO IT.

HOT, HOT, HOT GMAIL.

MM-HMM .

I SAID, COME ON.

I SAID, THE STATE OF TEXAS ISN'T GOING TO SEND YOU SOMETHING FROM HOT GMAIL.

AND WE'VE ACTUALLY GOTTEN SO GOOD AT GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT TO OUR SENIORS TO NOT RESPOND TO ANY PHONE CALLS OR TEXTS OR SOMETIMES WE HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING A HOLD OF THEM.

WE'RE LIKE, IF YOU WOULD SEND SOME MESSAGE TO MY OFFICE AND WE CAN PUT IT ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE.

OH, OKAY.

IF YOU WOULD DO THAT, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

YES, ABSOLUTELY.

I SURE WILL.

IN FACT, WE'VE GOT BULLETIN BOARDS EVERYWHERE.

WE EVEN PUT IT ON THE BULLETIN BOARDS IN THE, IN OUR SUBSTATION.

OH, OKAY.

YEAH.

I I APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT Y'ALL DO AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY NECESSARY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

THEY JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.

THEY, THEY GET PUSHED AROUND REAL EASY.

THEY REALLY DO.

I MEAN, BELIEVE ME, YOU GET SOFTER WHEN YOU GET OLDER.

'CAUSE YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME.

JUST LOOK AT HIM.

HE GETS .

I'M SOFTER.

THE GOAL, THE GOAL IS TO AGE WELL.

AGE WELL.

THAT'S RIGHT.

AND KEEP IN MIND ABOUT YOU.

THANK Y'ALL, SUE.

THANK I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS.

MR. CHUCK, DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND ACCEPT THE TREASURER'S MONTHLY REPORT FOR APRIL THE 26TH.

MR. LANE MAKES A MOTION.

HAVE A SECOND.

I'LL SECOND MR. WELL MAKES A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

SIGN THAT POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE.

MM-HMM .

NUMBER FOUR.

[4. Chuck Mohnkern: Discuss/Consider/Accept the Treasurer's monthly report for April 2026.]

MORNING.

CHUCK.

GOOD MORNING JUDGE.

AND COMMISSIONERS, I'LL KEEP THIS REAL SHORT.

UH, WE HAVE A GOOD BALANCE IN OUR, UH, GENERAL FUND.

UH, WE ARE COLLATERALIZED AT THE BANK AT 137.44%.

SO WE'RE VERY WELL COLLATERALIZED.

AND WE HAVE, UM, ABOUT 78% OF OUR FREE CASH, UH, IN THE INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS RIGHT NOW.

SO, UH, WE'RE DOING WELL THERE WITH, UH, THE AVERAGE YIELD ABOUT 3.7 TO 3.8%.

SO THE YIELD HOLDING ABOUT THE SAME? YES.

MM-HMM .

THAT'S GOOD.

I LIKE THE FOURS, BUT, BUT THAT'S OKAY.

RIGHT.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR CHUCK? NONE WHATSOEVER.

NO.

I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE.

FIVE IS CONSTABLE JOHNSON.

COLE MAKES THE MOTION.

MR. PHIS MAKES A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

[5. Constable Johnson: Discuss/Consider/Approve the contract to expand AXON vehicle camera systems for 8 new add on vehicles.]

DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND APPROVE THE CONTRACT TO EXPAND EXXON VEHICLE CAMERA ASSISTANCE FOR EIGHT NEW CARS.

MORNING CONSTABLE.

MORNING JUDGE.

MORNING COMMISSIONERS.

YES SIR.

IN FRONT OF YOU IS A, UH, UPDATED CONTRACT FOR THE PURCHASE OF FI OR EIGHT NEW, UH, AXON CAMERAS.

UH, WHICH WOULD BRING THE COST TO $124,000 OVER A FIVE YEAR PROGRAM.

UM, WHICH WOULD COST US $26,000 A YEAR.

UM, THAT I KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE THE MONEY TO COVER IT AND UNFORTUNATELY THE, UH, WITH THE NEW CAMERAS, THE NEW SOFTWARE AND THE NEW PROGRAMS, THE COMPATIBILITY WITH WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS NOT COMPARABLE.

SO WE HAVE TO GO WITH THIS TO STAY AFLOAT.

SO THE 26,000 IS THE COUNTY'S PORTION OF THIS? IT'S OUR PORTION, YES SIR.

THAT'S CORRECT.

AND THE CONTRACT'S PICKING UP THE REST OF IT? YES SIR.

SO I THINK WE HAVE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN OUR FLEET VEHICLE.

UM, AND THEN THE CONTRACTS AND EVERYTHING WILL, WILL COVER THE COSTS.

WE'VE GOT IT COVERED.

GOOD WITH THAT.

AND APPROVE ORDERING ONE CONCRETE BOX COVERAGE FOR ROAD BRIDGE PRECINCT FOUR.

ANY QUESTIONS? NO MOTION TO APPROVE I GUESS RAN IT THROUGH THEM, RIGHT? OH YEAH.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR IT.

HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

NEED A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

MR. COLE MAKES A SECOND.

[6. Lorena Diaz: Discuss/Consider/Approve ordering one Concrete Box Culvert for Road and Bridge Precinct 4 utilizing Kaufman County Bid 25-003.]

LONO, YOU'RE UP.

NEXT DISCUSSED SEND

[00:10:01]

DEPUTY ELI COUNTY BID 25 DASH OH OH THREE.

YES MA'AM.

GOOD MORNING JUDGE.

AND COMMISSIONERS.

SO COMMISSIONER MOORE ASKED ME TO PLACE THIS ON THE AGENDA.

THIS IS FOR TRANSPARENCY ONLY AND THE COST FOR THE T'S 90,000.

THE PURCHASE FALLS UNDER EXISTING BID 25 0 0 3 AND IT MEETS ALL SPECIFICATIONS AND PROCUREMENT REQUIREMENTS.

A MOTION TO APPROVE.

I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.

MR. MOORE MAKES A MOTION.

HAVE A SECOND.

COMMISSIONER LANE MAKES A SECOND.

NUMBER SEVEN, COMMISSIONER LANE.

[7. Commissioner Lane: Discuss/Consider/Approve Road Use Agreement between Kaufman County and Enchanted Oaks Estates.]

DISCUSS, HIT AN APPROVED ROAD USE AGREEMENT BETWEEN KAMAN COUNTY AND ENC CHIN OAKS ESTATES.

YES SIR.

JUST, JUST TO HAVE MADE AN AGREEMENT AND UH, JUST GONNA MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, APPROVE THAT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

COMMISSIONER CROW MAKES A SECOND.

A AYE.

MOTION CARRIES.

[8. Judge Allen: Discuss/Consider exiting regular meeting and entering into executive session, pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.071, to consult with counsel regarding pending or contemplated litigation, subjects, or settlement offers including but not limited to:]

NUMBER EIGHT IS MINE.

DISCUSS, CONSIDER EXITING REGULAR MEETING AND ENTER INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 5 5 1 0.071 TO CONSULT WITH THE COUNCIL REGARDING PENDING OR CONTEMPT OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION SUBJECTS OR SETTLEMENTS OFFERS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO.

A KAMAN COUNTY VERSUS TEXAS GENERAL MECHANICAL.

B, CONSTRUCTION LAW MATTERS AND C, POTENTIAL CLAIMS CASES INVOLVING EEOC, CIVIL RIGHTS AND COUNTY ISSUES.

NEED A MOTION TO EXIT.

ENTER TO A MEETING.

I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.

MR. WARD MAKES A MOTION.

HAVE A SECOND.

I SECOND.

MR. SLANG MAKES A SECOND.

10 0 9.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? KILL.

[9. Judge Allen: Discuss/Consider exiting executive session and entering back into the regular meeting.]

ALL RIGHT.

I NEED A MOTION TO EXIT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

ENTER BACK INTO A REGULAR MEETING.

MR. LANE MAKES THE MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.

MR. WILL MAKES A SECOND.

IT'S 9 26.

NUMBER

[10. Judge Allen: Discuss/Consider taking any action resulting from executive session.]

10.

DISCUSS TAKING ANY ACTION A RESULT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMISSION ON THING WE DID.

WE NEED A MOTION TO ALLOW OUR ATTORNEYS TO CONSI TO CONTINUE SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS.

MR. LA MAKES A MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.

MR. CROW MAKES A SECOND.

AYE.

MOTION CARRIES.

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

NUMBER 11, MS. S.

LINE ITEM BUDGET TRANSFERS.

YES SIR.

WE HAVE JUST A FEW ROUTINE LINE ITEM TRANSFERS AND BUDGET AMENDMENTS.

JUST SOME CLEANUP, UM, AND SOME TRANSFERS.

AND WE ASK FOR THE COURT'S APPROVAL.

Y'ALL SEEN THOSE? ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS? NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE? MAKE A MOTION MR. LINE.

AH, .

YEAH, SORRY ABOUT THAT.

THAT'S AN INSULT TO SOMEBODY.

I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE MR. KROLL MADE THE MOTION.

NOW WHAT? COMMISSIONER LANE MAKES A SECOND.

NUMBER 12, MS. AUDITOR CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT.

THE MOTION CARRIES.

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

SO THIS WEEK WE HAVE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, INVOICES, MOSTLY MADE UP OF EQUIPMENT AND REIMBURSEMENT EXPENDITURES.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A REGULAR PAYROLL AND WE ASK FOR THE COURT'S APPROVAL TO PAY.

Y'ALL SEEN THOSE ALSO? ANY QUESTIONS ON THE BILLS? NOPE.

ANY MOTION TO APPROVE? MAKE A MOTION.

MR. KROLL MAKES THE MOTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AND SAY AYE.

AYE.

BRANDI, YOU WANNA GIVE UPDATES? SO THE EMPLOYEES YOU'RE LISTING ABOUT BUDGET? YES.

SO WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH BUDGETS, UM, GETTING THAT READY TO PREPARE FOR FY 27.

UM, WE'RE HOPING TO GET THAT OUT, UM, TODAY AND TOMORROW TO ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS TO START WORKING ON THEIR 27 BUDGETS AND GET THAT BACK TO US.

AND THEN WE WILL HAVE, UM, AFTER THAT WE'LL HAVE SCHEDULED HEARINGS, UH, BUDGET HEARINGS.

YES.

NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MAKE A MOTION AND ADJOURN.

[13. Adjourn Meeting]

COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS MAKES THE MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.

I'LL SECOND MR. WE'LL MAKES A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE.

MOTION CARRIES.