[1. To discuss the FY26-27 budget requests submitted by the Non-Profit Organizations.]
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OKAY, IT'S TIME.WE'RE GONNA BEGIN OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP WITH OUR NON-PROFITS TODAY, AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND PREFACE THIS.
NOW, MR. RICHIE, IF YOU WANNA COME ON UP, UH, GOING THROUGH OUR BUDGETS, UH, CHANCES ARE, UH, YOU MAY NOT, UH, GET WHAT YOU REQUEST BECAUSE OF OUR SHORTAGES, AND WE HOPE YOU GET WHAT YOU GOT LAST YEAR.
RIGHT? HEY GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.
I, I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO AND FOR THE FACT THAT FOR THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS YOU HAVE SUPPORTED THE CENTER.
UH, JUST REALLY QUICK OVERVIEW FOR THIS, UH, THE CENTER'S, THE FOOD PANTRY RESOURCE CENTER FOR THE KAMAN COUNTY AREA.
WE TAKE CARE OF A LOT OF PEOPLE.
WE CAN TALK LATER ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS AS FAR AS HOW WE TAKE CARE OF THE FOOD AND THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND THE GED CLASSES AND THOSE THINGS.
BUT WHAT I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THIS MORNING IS REALLY WHAT I SENT THE BUDGET IN FOR, FOR A VERY SPECIFIC PROJECT.
WE HAVE, WE'VE ACTUALLY ALREADY STARTED.
WE, UH, ARE LOOKING AT, UH, WE WERE GET STARTED TO HELP A SENIOR ADULT PROJECT WITH THE FOCUS BEING IS GOING INTO SENIOR ADULT HOMES WHEN THEY REQUEST THIS AND DOING WHAT WE REFER TO AS WELL, CHECKS IN THE HOME, RIGHT? LOOKING FOR THINGS LIKE AS SIMPLE AS LIGHT BULBS BEING BURNED OUT.
WE GO INTO HOMES SOMETIMES AND THEY'RE DARK.
AND THE REASON THEY'RE DARK IS BECAUSE THE PERSON CANNOT CHANGE THE BULB AT TOP OR WHEREVER.
SO, I AM WORKING ALREADY GOT SOME PARTNER CHURCHES THAT ARE READY TO GO WITH THIS ON ME TO WHERE THEY WILL ACTUALLY SIT.
ALMOST EVERY CHURCH IN THE COUNTY HAS PEOPLE THAT ARE HANDYMEN HANDY, WOMEN THAT CAN GO IN AND CAN LOOK AT THESE THINGS.
CHANGING BATTERIES IN SOME CASES MAY BE A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED, LIKE RAILS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
WE HAVE ALREADY GIVEN OUT, I KNOW, SEVEN OR EIGHT, UH, WINDOW UNITS FOR SOME FAMILIES, BOX FANS, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
SO WE'VE ALREADY STARTED, AND THIS IS PART OF OUR STRONGER TOGETHER CAMPAIGNS.
WE WORK WITH THE COUNTY AND THIS IS ALREADY GROWING, BUT THIS IS DEVELOPING, IT'S GONNA MOVE INTO THE NEXT STAGE WHERE WE'LL START ADVERTISING TO OUR SENIOR ADULTS TO ALLOW THEM TO, TO GET THIS DONE.
THE IDEA IS NOT ONLY CONNECTING THEM WITH THE CENTER IF THEY NEED THAT NEED, BUT ALSO CONNECTING THEM WITH LOCAL CHURCHES.
BECAUSE THE IDEA IS IF SOMEBODY FROM THE CHURCH WOULD GO IN AND DO THIS, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO TALK WITH THIS INDIVIDUAL, HELP THEM OUT, SEE WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE BEYOND JUST THESE SIMPLE TYPE THINGS, WHICH WILL PROVIDE THE MATERIAL FOR THESE THINGS.
AND THEN CONNECTING THEM TO OTHER THINGS.
MY WIFE RUNS, I KNOW WE'VE GOT SENIOR CONNECT.
MY WIFE RUNS THE KAUFMAN CONNECT PROGRAM AT THE FIRST BAPTIST COFF, AND THEY HAVE 60 TO 70 SENIOR ADULTS THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND IT KIND OF WORKS ON BATTLING THAT SENIOR ISOLATION.
SO THAT'S REALLY THE FOCUS OF THAT, AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS FOCUSING ON WITH THAT.
AND IF I MAY, JUST VERY QUICKLY, I'D LIKE TO SHARE A, SOMETHING WITH YOU THAT I, THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BUDGET.
ONE OF THE, THE GOAL OF THE CENTER IS TO REALLY HELP PEOPLE MOVE FROM WHERE THEY ARE TO A DEPENDENT LIFE, TO BEING SELF-SUFFICIENT.
OBVIOUSLY, SOME OF THE FOLKS WE DEAL WITH HAVE NEVER HAD THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
SO THERE'S, THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
WE STARTED TWO YEARS AGO, OUR FINANCIAL EDUCATION CLASSES, AND I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, WE WORKED THROUGH THOSE.
THEY STARTED OUT, WELL, THEY, THEY KIND OF GOT KIND OF FLATTENED OUT JUST A LITTLE BIT.
SO WE'RE DOING A REBOOT ON THOSE.
AND PART OF OUR REBOOT IS, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY, IT STARTS WE'RE LOOK AT 'EM A ONE DAY CLASS ON THE INTRODUCTION.
WE WERE DOING THESE EIGHT WEEK SESSIONS THAT THE TRUTH IS PEOPLE JUST DON'T DO THOSE ANYMORE.
THIS IS ONE DAY WITH OUR ABILITY THEN TO FOLLOW UP WITH THOSE AND SAY, HEY, WE'RE GONNA, NOW, WE'LL SIT DOWN WITH YOU.
WE'LL WORK ONE-ON-ONE WITH YOU ON YOUR SPENDING PLAN, YOUR SAVINGS PLAN, YOUR, UH, CREDIT REBUILD, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE.
WE'RE ABOUT TO ADVERTISE THAT.
I'VE GOT INFORMATION I CAN GIVE YOU, BUT IT'LL GO FORWARD WITH THAT.
BUT THE SECOND PART OF THAT IS WE'VE BEEN REALLY WAITING TO MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT THIS IN PLAY, IS OUR WORK LIFE PROGRAM, WHICH WORKS KIND OF THE SAME WAY.
WE WILL HAVE SOME ONE DAY SEMINARS TO HELP PEOPLE GO THROUGH WHAT IT MEANS TO GET A JOB AND TO KEEP A JOB.
UH, WE TALK ABOUT JOB SEARCH, INTERVIEWING SKILLS, HELPING TO WRITE A RESUME, UH, SOFT SKILLS.
I THINK MY PERSONAL OPINION, THOSE STATS ON THIS, MOST PEOPLE LOSE THEIR JOB BECAUSE THEY DON'T, THEY'RE, THEY'RE SOFT SKILLS ARE BAD.
AND THOSE OF YOU WHO'VE EMPLOYED PEOPLE, YOU PROBABLY KNOW THAT, UH, REENTRY THESE TYPE THINGS AND, AND OTHER THINGS TOO, UH, AS FAR AS TO GET THEM BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE OR MAYBE INTO THE WORKFORCE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
AND THEN WE'VE ALSO CREATED A, UH, A BOOK TO GO ALONG WITH THIS.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THIS PUBLISHED AND READY TO GO RIGHT NOW HAS 14 POINTS ABOUT WORK, THOSE THINGS I JUST MENTIONED TO YOU.
BUT ALSO THINGS AS SIMPLE AS WHY WORK WHEN YOU WORK, YOU ARE HELPING YOUR COMMUNITY.
YOU ARE INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
WHEN YOU'RE NOT WORKING, YOU'RE NOT HELPING THE COMMUNITY.
WHEN YOU ARE WORKING, YOU ARE HELPING THE COMMUNITY, EVEN THOSE AROUND YOU.
IT GOES BEYOND JUST THE FACT THAT YOU DO NEED MONEY, OBVIOUSLY TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY.
IT GOES TO REALLY HELPING WITH THESE OTHER THINGS AND HOW TO WORK, HOW TO, HOW TO WORK WHILE YOU'RE BEING GOING THROUGH EDUCATION, HOW TO MAYBE GET
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MORE EDUCATION TO GROW IN YOUR JOB AND THINGS LIKE THAT.SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU BECAUSE I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF PROMOTING THAT.
THOSE CLASSES WILL KICK OFF IN AUGUST.
'CAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO REACH PEOPLE.
AND WE THINK THIS IS A WAY, 'CAUSE IT'LL BE ONE-ON-ONE MENTORING, EVEN IN THE WORK LIFE CLASS.
ONCE THE PERSON GOES THROUGH THAT, IF THEY'RE INTERESTED, WE WILL HOOK THEM UP WITH A MENTOR TO SAY, LET'S WALK YOU THROUGH.
SO WE ARE GONNA CARRY YOU THROUGH UNTIL YOU GET A JOB.
THE STUMBLES YOU GO THROUGH, MAKE SURE YOUR RESUME LOOKS LIKE A PROPER RESUME THAT SOMEBODY WANTS TO READ.
AND, UH, HOW TO, WE'LL, WE'LL EVEN DO MOCK INTERVIEWS WITH THEM AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO ANYWAY, I WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
IT'S NOT REALLY A PART OF WHAT I'M ASKING FOR AS FAR AS THE BUDGET.
'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA DO IT NO MATTER WHAT BECAUSE WE'RE READY TO ROCK AND ROLL ON THAT.
WELL, THAT SOUNDS, THAT SOUNDS GOOD.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NEED THAT HELP.
BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER WAY TO, TO ACQUIRE IT.
SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE PROVIDING THAT.
UH, SO THE ADDITION THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE ASKING FOR ANOTHER, ANOTHER 5,000 AND WHAT WOULD THAT MONEY ACTUALLY GO? THAT IS REALLY TO BUY THE PRODUCTS.
THAT GOES BACK TO THE SENIOR PROJECT.
THAT IS TO BUY THOSE PROJECTS, LIKE THE WINDOW UNITS, LIKE THE, THE, THE, THE FANS.
UH, WE ALSO TIE IN, WE HAVE A SENIOR HYGIENE PROJECT.
WE DO, WE DO THAT MONTHLY IS TO HELP CONTINUE TO FUND THAT BECAUSE WHILE IT IS A STARTUP PROGRAM FOR THE SUMMER, IT IS NOW PART OF OUR MINISTRY, PART OF OUR BUDGET TO GO FORWARD.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR RICHARD? APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO AFTER.
IF YOU'LL INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND, AND, UH, WHO YOU'RE REPRESENTING, PLEASE.
HOW ARE Y'ALL? FINE, THANK YOU SIR.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT CELEBRATE FOREVER FAMILIES.
UH, WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO PARTNER WITH THE COUNTY FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
I'M NOT ASKING FOR ANY INCREASE THIS YEAR, JUST THE SAME AMOUNT THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST.
UH, I GAVE YOU A BROCHURE THAT KIND OF TELLS YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE DO.
I KNOW MOST OF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT, THAT WE'RE THE ONLY EMERGENCY DOMESTIC ABUSE SHELTER IN KAUFMAN COUNTY.
WE FAILED IT OVER 400 CALLS FOR SERVICE.
UH, WE SHELTERED ALMOST 100 TOTAL WOMEN AND CHILDREN, UH, IN OUR SHELTER.
UM, WE, UH, YOUR YOUR DOLLARS THAT CAME FROM KAUFMAN COUNTY HELP, HELP ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE IN SOME MANNER.
UH, WE OPERATE THAT SHELTER 365 DAYS OUT OF THE YEAR 24 7 WITH SIX FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES AND ONE PART-TIME EMPLOYEE.
SO WE'RE NOT
UH, LIKE I SAID, OVER THE, OVER THE PA OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE'VE HAD SOME REAL SUCCESS STORIES AND WE'VE HAD SOME HEARTBREAKS.
UH, BUT, BUT THE PHONE NEVER STOPS RINGING.
UH, I DON'T EXPECT IT'S GONNA GO AWAY ANYTIME SOON.
UH, WE ARE MORE THAN JUST A SHELTER THOUGH.
A LOT OF THESE WOMEN DON'T HAVE VEHICLES.
THEY DON'T HAVE ANY WAY TO GET TO APPOINTMENTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE HAVE TO GET THEM TO APPOINTMENTS.
WE HAVE TO GET THEM, WE BRING IN-HOUSE THERAPY IN THAT WE, THAT WE PAY FOR.
WE HAVE A PROFESSIONAL THERAPIST THAT WE PAY THAT COMES ONCE A WEEK TO GIVE THEM, GIVE THEM, GIVE THEM COUNSELING.
UM, AND THEN WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO HELP 'EM TRY TO GET JOB TRAINING.
WE PARTNER WITH RICHARD ON SOME DIFFERENT DIFFERENT THINGS AND WE WORK WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COUNTY ON THAT.
THEY GET BIBLE STUDY, THEY GET PARENTING SKILLS.
UH, THEY HAVE A LARGE VARIETY OF CLASSES THAT THEY ATTEND AS THEY TRY, TRY TO, UH, TRY TO MAKE THEIR JOURNEY.
AND THE NEAT THING ABOUT HAVING, AND I THINK IT'S MAKES US REALLY UNIQUE TO OTHER SHELTERS, IS THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THE EMERGENCY SIDE AND THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE THAT THEY CAN TRANSITION TO ONCE THEY'VE BEEN IN THE EMERGENCY SIDE.
AND IF, IF THEY WANT TO AND WE WANT THEM TO, THEY CAN GO TO THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE AS THEY CONTINUE A, A PLAN TO GET UP AND ON THEIR FEET AND OUT BY THEMSELVES.
AND SO ANYWAY, WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ADO, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS Y'ALL HAVE.
HOW MANY, UH, HOW LONG DOES YOUR AVERAGE STAY? UM, I WOULD SAY JUDGE AROUND SEVEN MONTHS IF THEY GO TO THE RESIDENTIAL.
AND SOME OF THEM STAY FOR A FULL YEAR ON THE EMERGENCY SIDE, WE GET A, WE GET SOME THAT JUST NEED TO GET THERE AND GET SAFE, GET, IF THEY HAVE A FAMILY SUPPORT SYSTEM OUTSIDE OF KAUFMAN COUNTY OR OUTSIDE OF SOMEWHERE AND GET AWAY, WE HAVE SOME THERE, THERE FIVE OR EIGHT DAYS AND THEY'RE GONE.
BUT I WOULD SAY ON AVERAGE, PROBABLY SIX TO SEVEN MONTHS.
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HOW MANY OF 'EM HAVE CHILDREN THAT COME WITH THEM? I'M GONNA SAY 75%.WE DO GET SOME SINGLE WOMEN, BUT ABOUT 75% HAVE CHILDREN.
OFF OF MAIN COUNTY? UH, ALL OF 'EM FROM MAIN COUNTY? NO.
THEY COME, WE HAVE A GOVERNOR'S VICTIM'S ASSISTANCE GRANT FOR THE WHOLE STATE.
UH, ABOUT 60% COME 50, I THINK IT WAS 58% LAST YEAR WHERE KAUFMAN COUNTY RESIDENTS AND THEN DALLAS COUNTY WAS SECOND, THEN HENDERSON COUNTY AND VAN Z COUNTY, IT'S, IT'S CONTINUOUS COUNTIES MAKE UP ABOUT SEVEN OR 8% COME FROM OTHER COUNTIES IN THE STATE.
HOW MANY DO YOU HOUSE IT? UH, WE CAN HOUSE AT FULL CAPACITY AND THAT'S ALWAYS A, A MOVING TARGET BECAUSE OF MAINTENANCE ISSUES.
BUT IF WE COULD EVER GET EVERYTHING FULLY MAINTENANCE AND ALL THAT, AND I WOULD SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, WE PUT A COMPLETE NEW PLUMBING SYSTEM IN AND 80% OF THE FACILITY, THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF PINNACLE CHURCH DOWN, DOWN ON THE LAKE, THEY DONATED $30,000 FOR US TO HAVE A NEW PLUMBING SYSTEM PUT IN AND STUFF.
BUT IF WE, IF WE GET TO FULL CAPACITY, WE COULD HAVE 16 WOMEN AND ABOUT, UM, THREE, THREE TIMES 6 48 KIDS IF WE WERE EVER AT FULL CAPACITY.
WE HAVE TWO ROOMS THAT ARE, THAT ARE DOWN FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER HERE OR THERE FOR MAINTENANCE AND THINGS.
BUT WE USUALLY AVERAGE ABOUT EIGHT TO NINE WOMEN AND ABOUT 12 TO 15 CHILDREN.
THE MAX WE'VE HAD SINCE I'VE BEEN THERE SINCE JANUARY 25 WAS 11 WOMEN.
THAT'S DEFINITELY A SERVICE THAT'S NEEDED.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.
OKAY, MS. DEBBIE, I THINK WE KNOW THIS LADY
MAYBE, MAYBE, MAYBE SHE'D BE NICE TO US.
I BROUGHT PAPER BECAUSE I KNOW WE ALL LOVE TO KILL TREES.
SOME OF THIS WAS SENT IN WITH THE APPLICATION THAT YES.
ALSO INCLUDED OUR UPDATED FINANCIAL REPORT.
SO JUST FOR, YOU KNOW, ALL THE VIEWERS OUT THERE, MY NAME'S DEBBIE BONNER.
I AM HERE AS THE TREASURER OF THE KAUFMAN COUNTY CHILD WELFARE BOARD.
SO WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR AN INCREASE THIS YEAR.
WE WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD CONTINUE THE FUNDING AT THE LEVEL THAT IT'S BEEN AT.
AND IT HAS WORKED REALLY WELL FOR US.
ALTHOUGH I WILL SAY THAT WE ARE SEEING THE WHOLE COUNTY IS SEEING AN INCREASE OF POPULATION, WHICH BRINGS AN INCREASE IN THE DEMANDS THAT WE ARE SEEING AS THE CHILD WELFARE BOARD.
AS YOU KNOW, WE WORK CLOSELY WITH CPS AND NOW EMPOWER TO SERVE THE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN THAT FOR, YOU KNOW, VARIOUS REASONS END UP IN THAT CPS EMPOWER SYSTEM.
UM, STAT WISE, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 63,000 CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18 IN KAUFFMAN COUNTY, WHICH IS UP FROM 53,000 IN JUNE OF 24.
SO OVER TWO YEARS, WE'VE INCREASED 10,000 CHILDREN, ABOUT 12.8.
13% OF THEM LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE.
CPS IS AVERAGING 128 NEW INTAKES A MONTH.
SO THAT A MONTH FLUCTUATES UP AND DOWN.
BUT THAT'S THE AVERAGE NUMBER.
ABOUT 130 NEW FAMILIES DEAL WITH CPS EVERY MONTH.
UM, THEY AVERAGE 84 COMPLETED INVESTIGATIONS A MONTH.
SO OF THOSE 130, THEY CLOSE OUT 84 1 WAY OR ANOTHER.
UM, AND THERE ARE ABOUT 30 AVERAGE OPEN FAMILY BASED SERVICES.
AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT, THEY'RE NOT LOSING THEIR CHILDREN, BUT THEY NEED ASSISTANCE IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER.
SO THEY CALL THOSE FAMILY BASED SAFETY SERVICES THAT THEY DEAL WITH.
THAT COULD BE ANY NUMBER OF THINGS.
UM, THERE ARE CURRENTLY 106 CHILDREN IN CPS CARE AND THAT'S FAIRLY CONSISTENT.
WE ARE, WE'VE USED USUALLY SEE ABOUT 145, SO THAT'S NOT BAD.
WE MEET, UM, EXCEPT FOR JUNE AND JULY.
WE MEET EVERY MONTH AND WE MEET WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM CPS AND EMPOWER.
THEY BRING US THEIR CURRENT STATS.
WE GO OVER THEIR CURRENT STATS AND ANY OF THEIR REQUESTS.
THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT THAT I GAVE YOU SHOWS YOU ALL OF THE EXPENSES THAT HAVE GONE OUT IN OR OUT OF OUR ACCOUNT SINCE LAST OCTOBER 1ST.
SO THIS IS THIS BUDGET YEAR AND IF YOU WILL, I WENT THROUGH AND I DID A LITTLE QUICK MATH.
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YOU'LL SEE THAT MOSTLY IT'S BEDS, IT'S CAR SEATS, IT'S GROCERIES.WE PAY, UH, UTILITY BILLS ON SOMETIMES, BUT MOSTLY THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE.
UH, WE DID HAVE A CHURCH OUT OF DENTON THAT DONATED A BUNCH OF BEDS TO US, WHICH WE NOW HAVE IN STORAGE OVER AT THE LION'S DEN SO THAT CPS CAN GO AND GET TWIN BEDS.
AND THEY'RE THE LINCOLN LOG BED SYSTEMS. UH, THEY BROUGHT US 40, WE ARE NOW DOWN TO 24.
LAST, OVER THE LAST YEAR SINCE OCTOBER 1ST, WE HAVE BOUGHT OR GIVEN AWAY 61 BEDS TO FAMILIES IN NEED, 20 CAR SEATS TO FAMILIES IN NEED.
AND THEN AGAIN, GROCERIES, UTILITY BILLS, CLOTHING, UH, SUMMER CAMPS.
WE ALSO, UH, DO THE ANGEL TREE EVERY CHRISTMAS FOR ANY CHILDREN THAT ARE IN NEED.
WE HELP WITH THAT AND ORGANIZE THOSE DONATIONS, WHICH LUCKILY ARE DONATIONS FROM OUTSIDE TO PROVIDE FOR CHILDREN WHO NEED TO HAVE CHRISTMAS.
THAT THAT IS WHAT WE DO AND WHO WE ARE.
AND IT IS, UM, A LABOR OF LOVE AND TRAGIC AT THE SAME TIME.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO.
DO WE GIVE ANY BEDS FROM THE LINE AND CLUB HERE FOR THEIR, YOU KNOW, BUILD TO BED PROGRAM? THE LIONS CLUB? UH, WE HAVE REFERRED OUR CPS WORKERS TO THE LIONS CLUB.
THEY HAVE TO BE WITHIN OR FOR A WHILE I THINK IT JUST EXPANDED.
BUT THEY HAD TO BE WITHIN THIS ZIP CODE, WHICH AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, A LOT OF OUR CASES COME FROM FORNEY OR TERRELL.
SO THEY WEREN'T WITHIN THE ZIP CODE AND THEY WEREN'T ELIGIBLE.
BUT THEN THE LAST COUPLE WE'VE SENT OVER, IT'S BEEN A SIX TO SEVEN MONTH WAIT TO GET A BED FROM LYONS CLUB THROUGH THEIR BUILD TO BED PROGRAM.
DON'T WE HAVE A LOT OF BEDS OUT THERE? UM, LYONS CLUB, THEY GO ABOUT MONTHLY DELIVER BEDS AND CERTAIN ZIP CODES.
WELL, I KNOW THEY WERE DELIVERING SOME TO OUTSIDE OF 7 5 1 4 2 ZIP.
THEY, THEY HAVE TAKEN IN OTHER, BECAUSE THEY WERE LOOKING FOR SOME HERE WHILE BACK TO DELIVER.
UH, SO ANYWAY, THEY DID VERY GOOD TO US.
I JUST WANT SAY THAT AT GOOD AT THE SHELTER THEY PROVIDED US, I BELIEVE WITH RIGHT AT 10 BEDS, NEW BEDS THAT WE'D GOTTEN AT THE SHELTER.
IT, IT ME, THE IS FAR OUT OUTWEIGHS THE, THE SUPPLY.
AND IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE PEOPLE NEED THAT MANY BEDS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF KIDS SLEEPING ON FLOORS.
A LOT OF KIDS SLEEPING ON FLOORS.
AND I NOTICED THAT IT'S KIND OF CURIOUS HERE, GUN SAFES FOR SOME FOLKS, GUN SAFES, TRIGGER LOCKS, UM, TRIGGER LOCKS.
MEDICATION SAFES, WE PROVIDE MEDICATION SAFES, CABINET LOCKS, DOOR LOCKS.
PAM REMINDED ME THAT THE REASON WE SUPPLY THOSE THINGS IS BECAUSE IF WITHOUT BEDS OR THE GUN SAFES OR THE GUN LOCKS OR THE DOOR LOCKS, CPS WILL REMOVE THE CHILDREN FROM THE HOME.
SO A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO PROVIDE.
A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE DO PROVIDE ARE SO THAT THE KIDS, THE FAMILIES CAN STAY INTACT AND THEY'RE NOT BEING REMOVED AND, AND TAKEN ELSEWHERE.
WELL, SO NINE, 9.9 TIMES, I WON'T SAY 10, BUT OUT OF 10, IF THEY CALL US WITH A REQUEST OR A NEED, WE SUPPLY THAT NEED.
IT'S AMAZING THIS DAY AND TIME.
THERE'S THAT MUCH NEED STILL EVERY DAY.
THIS COVID THAT HITS Y'ALL THE HARDEST IN THE AREA.
IT'S FORNEY FORNEY HITS US HARDER THAN ANYTHING.
A LOT OF WINDMILL FARMS. A LOT OF DEVONSHIRE.
MOSTLY THE APARTMENTS I'M ASSUMING HOUSE.
NO, THOSE, WELL, DEB SHIRE, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY APARTMENTS IN DEBON SHIRE.
WINDMILL FARMS. NO, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY.
YEAH, MOST OF I THEY GOT A COUPLE CONDOS.
WE DO DELIVERIES AND, AND MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, IT'S, IT'S A HOUSE REALLY.
YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, REALLY AREA DOESN'T HAVE THAT BAD APARTMENT.
THERE'S NO BEDS IN THE BEDROOMS. THEY'RE ALL EITHER SLEEPING ON MATTRESSES ON THE FLOOR OR, OR SLEEPING IN THE FLOOR WITH A BLANKET.
IT'D BE A NICE HOUSE ON THE OUTSIDE.
YOU GO IN, THERE'S NOTHING FURNISHED.
I MEAN, HOUSE FOUR SECTION EIGHT VOUCHER STUFF.
IS THAT SOME OF THIS OR DON'T KNOW? I DON'T KNOW.
WE, WE DON'T KNOW HOW THAT, HOW THEY'RE IN THE HOUSES.
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OKAY.I SAID USUALLY THE ONLY THING THAT WE DEAL WITH AS FAR AS HOUSING IS UTILITIES.
THEY GET BEHIND ON THEIR ELECTRIC BILL OR NO.
AND ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR, WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY GOING WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING.
OH, YOU COULDN'T BE DEAD INSIDE TO THINK.
IT'S A GREAT WORK THAT Y'ALL DO.
I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO.
WELL, HERE COMES MR. B HAPPY RIGHT ON TIME.
YOU, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO WAY RIGHT AHEAD.
IF YOU BROUGHT ICE CREAM, WE'RE READY FOR YOU.
YOU'LL HAVE TO HOOK UP UP HERE.
IS IT OKAY IF I MOVE THIS A LITTLE BIT? YEAH.
YOU'RE GOOD NERVOUS WHEN I DO THIS STUFF.
UH, GOOD MORNING COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
FOR THOSE OF YOU DON'T KNOW ME, MOST OF YOU DO THOUGH.
UM, I AM THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BE HAPPY.
UH, WE HAVE SEVERAL PROGRAMS. THE ONE I WANNA TALK TODAY IS MAINLY ABOUT OUR DAY PROGRAM AND OUR PREVOCATIONAL PROGRAM THAT WE'VE LAUNCHED.
UM, FIRST LET ME SHARE THANK YOU FOR, I THINK IT'S BEEN THE LAST TWO YEARS YOU GUYS HAVE PROVIDED $5,000 TO US AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, ANY DOLLAR WE GET IS HELPFUL TO US, JUST SO YOU KNOW.
SO WE'RE THANKFUL FOR WHATEVER WE CAN RECEIVE.
UM, TODAY I AM ASKING FOR CONSIDERATION AND AN INCREASE IN FUNDING.
THE REASON THAT I'M DOING THAT IS BECAUSE, UM, SORRY, I JUST WENT BLANK.
SO I, I PUT ON HERE JUST A FEW PICTURES 'CAUSE I WANT YOU GUYS, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN IN TO BE HAPPY, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN INTO THE ICE CREAM SHOP, I WANT YOU TO SEE WHO WE SERVE IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
UM, SO I PUT A FEW PICTURES HERE JUST TO SHOW YOU WHO WE SERVE.
UM, THE REASON I'M ASKING FOR AN INCREASE IN FUNDING IS BECAUSE, UM, THOUGH STAR TRANSIT IS IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY AND IS A GREAT COMMUNITY PARTNER, THERE'S A LOT OF STRUGGLES THEY HAVE AND THEREFORE IT IMPACTS US.
AND SO WHAT WE DID IS WE HAVE RECENTLY BEEN BLESSED WITH A SECOND VAN.
UM, THE KAUFMAN COUNTY LEADERSHIP GROUP HELPED RAISE SOME FUNDS TO GET US A SECOND VAN THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE RELIABLE THAN THE SHUTTLE VAN WE ALREADY OWNED.
UM, AND SO IN THAT WE DECIDED TO LAUNCH TRANSPORTATION FOR BE HAPPY.
UM, SO WHAT DOES TRANSFORMATION, WHAT DOES TRANSPORTATION MEAN FOR US? UM, IT'S ABOUT BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS.
SO THE PEOPLE WE SERVE HAVE A LOT OF BARRIERS PUT ON THEM BY SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.
UM, THEY'RE TOLD A LOT THAT THEY CAN'T AND AT BE HAPPY.
WE BELIEVE THEY CAN, AND WE JUST GOTTA FIND A WAY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
UM, TRANSPORTATION FOR OUR BUSY BEES AND THEIR FAMILY IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE MOST OF THE FAMILIES CAN'T GET THEM HERE.
THEY'RE FROM ALL AROUND THE COUNTY.
UM, OUR FAMILIES COME NOT ONLY FROM KAUFMAN, BUT WE HAVE FORNEY, WE HAVE MAYBANK, WE HAVE KEMP, WE
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HAVE TERRELL.SO YOUR WHOLE COUNTY, UM, FLOWS INTO OUR PROGRAM.
AND SO THIS IS OUR SECOND VAN WE JUST GOT, JUST SO Y'ALL CAN SEE IT.
UM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO US TO HAVE SUPPORT FOR THAT BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION, THEY'RE AT HOME.
AND, AND IF THEY CAN'T GET OUT AND IF THEY CAN'T BE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, THEY CAN'T GROW.
UM, AND SO WHEN YOU SEE THEM SITTING AT HOME, THEY'RE NOT GROWING FROM THAT.
AND SO SOME OF THE PICTURES I SHOWED YOU, SHOWING YOU SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES WE DO WHEN THEY COME INTO OUR PROGRAM, THEY DON'T HAVE LIMITS.
WE'RE GONNA TRY TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
UM, SO KARATE DANCE, WE SERVE MEALS ON WHEELS.
WE HELP YOUR COMMUNITY IN THAT WAY.
WE GO IN AND WE GO TO THE CENTER, WE HELP THEM.
UM, WE GO TO SOME OF THE LOCAL CHURCHES AND WE CLEAN TOYS AND ALL OF THAT REQUIRES TRANSPORTATION.
UM, AND SO WE STEPPED OUT ON FAITH WHENEVER, UM, THIS VAN GOT PURCHASED.
WE LAUNCHED, ACTUALLY LAST WEEK WAS OUR FIRST WEEK TO LAUNCH A FULL PICKUP.
GO AROUND TOWN, DROP OFF AT HOME DOOR TO DOOR SERVICE.
AND FOR OUR, FOR BE HAPPY BECAUSE WE ARE A PROGRAM THAT IS LIMITED ON ITS GOVERNMENT FUNDING.
WE HAVE TO FUNDRAISE TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS, TO KEEP OUR DOORS OPEN.
AND SO ADDING THIS TRANSPORTATION COST, UM, I'LL BE HONEST, WE'RE GONNA NEED YOUR HELP.
UM, AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING FOR AN INCREASE.
UM, I THINK THE PAPERWORK I FILLED OUT GAVE YOU SOME BREAKDOWN ON WHAT IT COSTS US ON TRANSPORTATION.
UM, WE DO NOT, WE ARE BLESSED THAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE WILLING TO DO THIS OUT OF THEIR HEART.
UM, AND SO THE, THE EMPLOYEES I HAVE ARE AMAZING BECAUSE THEY HAVE A HEART FOR OUR PEOPLE.
UM, AND IN THAT I WANNA BE ABLE TO AFFORD MR. MIKE HAS BECOME OUR TRANSPORTATION GUY, SANTA MIKE.
UM, I WANNA BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO PAY HIM TO DO THIS.
UM, SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR AN INCREASE.
WHAT I WANT YOU GUYS TO REALIZE, UM, BEFORE I CLOSE, IS THAT HAVING THIS TRANSPORTATION AGAIN IS IMPORTANT.
'CAUSE WHEN WE PULL INTO THAT DRIVEWAY, IT'S NOT ABOUT US JUST PICKING THEM UP AND GETTING 'EM TO BE HAPPY, BUT IT'S ABOUT OPENING THEIR DOORS, OPENING THEIR WORLDS, SHOWING THEM THAT THEY CAN, AND EMPOWERING THEM AS EMPOWERING THEM AS INDIVIDUALS.
UM, AND SO I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS WILL BE WILLING TO HELP US CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE OVER OR DO YOU HAVE? SO RIGHT NOW AT MY DAY PROGRAM, I HAVE FOUR ON THE FLOOR.
UH, AND THEN I HAVE A MANAGER, MS. MELISSA, AND THEN I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
AND THEN WE HAVE, UM, ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS THAT I DIDN'T REALLY TALK ABOUT HERE, BUT YOU MIGHT HAVE SAW SOME PICTURES, IS OUR BUZZ IT PROGRAM, WHICH IS PRE-VOCATIONAL.
AND UM, WE HAVE TWO STAFF THERE AND WE'RE RUNNING IT OUT OF TVCC.
UM, KAUFMAN CAMPUS, WHICH IS ALSO ONE OF OUR DROPPING POINTS.
MR. MIKE WILL DROP THOSE GUYS OFF THERE.
AND THAT'S FOR OUR HIGHER FUNCTIONING ONES THAT THEY'RE LEARNING TO WORK ON COMPUTERS, THEY'RE LEARNING TO REFURBISH.
WE HAVE A EBAY WEBSITE WHERE THEY'RE SELLING.
AND THEN IN THE AFTERNOONS, THEY, UH, HAVE AN ESPORTS TEAM.
DO YOU PAY FOR THEIR SALARIES TOO? THE OTHER TWO STAFF? YES.
ALRIGHT, WELL I SEE Y'ALL AROUND TOWN.
AND OUR OUR NEW VAN BUSY IS ABOUT TO GET WRAPPED, SO YES.
ANY QUESTIONS? AND, AND ICE CREAM'S GOOD.
OKAY, NEXT WE HAVE TERRELL LIBRARY.
CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF PLEASE? GOOD MORNING.
I'M THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR AT THE RIDER C HALSEY PUBLIC LIBRARY IN TERRELL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT ME TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS OR JUST KIND OF GO OVER WHAT I SENT.
JUST KIND OF GO OVER WHAT YOU SENT AND THEY MAY HAVE QUESTIONS.
AND IF THERE'S SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY THAT WE DON'T KNOW, THEN SHARE THAT WITH US TOO.
DID, DID Y'ALL JUST MOVE OR CAN DO BUILDING OR SOMETHING? WE DID.
WE JUST OPENED ANOTHER FACILITY.
UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF PHENOMENAL THINGS ABOUT OUR LIBRARY.
UH, THE FIRST AND FOREMOST IS THE STAFF.
WE HAVE AN AMAZING STAFF WHO, UM, THEY PLAN AND IMPLEMENT SOME OF THE, UH, BEST PROGRAMMING IN THE AREA.
AND THEY DO IT OUTTA THREE BUILDINGS, WHICH IS A TREMENDOUS CHALLENGE.
UM, WHAT WE HAVE ASKED FOR THIS YEAR IS AN INCREASE IN FUNDING FROM LAST YEAR.
[00:30:01]
UP UNTIL 20 24, 20 23, WE RECEIVED 47,600 FROM THE COUNTY TO SUPPORT THE COUNTY RESIDENTS THAT WE PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THAT LIVE OUTSIDE THE CITY OF TERRELL.AND, UM, AND I THINK IT WAS 23, UM, THAT FUNDING WAS CUT TO 35,000.
WE UNDERSTAND DOLLARS DON'T GO NEAR AS FAR AS THEY USED TO.
HOWEVER, WITH THE INCREASE IN OUR COUNTY'S POPULATION AND IT'S HAPPENING, UM, THAT NUMBER WENT DOWN.
BUT OUR, UH, SERVICE POPULATION WENT UP.
SO THE, THE POPULATION OF TERRELL IS JUST UNDER 20,000.
AND OUR ASSIGNED SERVICE POPULATION FOR THE STATE, OR FROM THE STATE IS ALMOST 72,000.
SO WE'RE PROVIDING SERVICES FOR TRIPLE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE, UM, WHO DIRECTLY PAY TAXES TO US.
UM, THE, WHAT WE'RE WE'RE ASKING FOR IS THE INCREASE TO KIND OF HELP OFFSET THE COST FOR ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL, ADDITIONAL CITIZENRY THAT WE ARE PROVIDING SERVICES FOR OUTSIDE THE CITY OF TERRELL.
RIGHT NOW, 44% OF OUR CURRENT CARDHOLDERS AND PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, UM, ARE FROM FORNEY.
AND WE UNDERSTAND FORNEY DOESN'T HAVE A LIBRARY.
AND, AND THAT IS SO UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE WE DO BELIEVE THEY NEED ONE, BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO SERVE THEM.
WE JUST NEED SOME FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE COUNTY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT WE DO AT THE LEVEL THAT WE DO.
UM, WE HAVE A MAIN BUILDING THAT IS ON ROCKWALL AVENUE THAT'S BEEN THERE SINCE 1984.
IT'S 9,400 SQUARE FEET WITH A SURFACE POPULATION OF 72,000.
AND SO THE CITY HAS LEASED FOR US A FACILITY AT THE SHOPS AT TERRELL, WHICH USED TO BE TANGER.
AND THAT IS WHERE WE HOST OUR PROGRAMS. UM, WE DO ANYWHERE FROM, UM, EIGHT, 900 TO A THOUSAND PROGRAMS A YEAR.
AND WE SERVE ANYWHERE FROM 40, 50,000 PEOPLE.
LAST YEAR WE HAD 80,000 PEOPLE WALK THROUGH OUR DOORS.
IT'S, UM, THE PROGRAM CENTER WE HAVE IS A WONDERFUL SPACE.
UM, WE PROVIDE ALL OF OUR ADULT PROGRAMMING AS WELL AS YOUTH PROGRAMMING OUT OF THAT FACILITY.
THE STAFF ARE, UH, VERY INTELLIGENT AND, UM, INTUITIVE TO WHAT THE, THE PATRONS NEED.
AND THEY HAVE MADE THAT SPACE WORK.
IT'S NOT IDEAL FOR US TO WORK OUT OF MULTIPLE FACILITIES, BUT FOR US TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES WE DO, WE HAVE TO DO THAT.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE A VERY, UM, ROBUST ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM.
WE WORK WITH THE EDC, UM, AND OUR FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY TO HOST THAT PROGRAM.
WE RECENTLY OPENED A TESTING CENTER.
SO WE HAVE GED STUDENTS AND EL ESL STUDENTS THAT GO THROUGH OUR PREPARATION PROGRAM WHO THEN WANT TO TAKE THE TEST AND THEY WANT TO EITHER GET A JOB, PROMOTING A JOB, GETTING INTO COLLEGE, THAT KIND OF THING.
AND ONCE THEY FINISHED OUR PROGRAM, THERE WASN'T A TESTING CENTER LOCALLY AND THE WAIT LIST FOR THEM TO GET THEIR TEST TAKEN WAS ABOUT 10 MONTHS.
WELL, IF YOU'VE JUST SPENT A YEAR OR TWO TRYING TO GET YOUR GED AND THEN YOU HAVE TO WAIT ALMOST A YEAR, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
SO THE CITY, WE PARTNERED WITH THE CITY AND THE EDC AND OPENED AN OFFICIAL TESTING CENTER AND WE OFFER A GED TEST, ESL TEST, OTHER EDUCATIONAL EXAMS AS WELL AS, UM, CAREER CERTIFICATIONS, PLUMBING LICENSES, ELECTRICIAN EXAMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING FROM ALL OVER THE STATE THAT'S OPEN TO EVERYBODY.
UM, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER FACILITY,
UM, WE FEEL LIKE IT IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR EVERYBODY IN OUR COUNTY AND WE WOULD LIKE FOR MORE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT IT AND REALIZE THAT THEY HAVE THESE, UH, LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES.
AND I'M, I'M SURE THERE'S SOMETHING I'M FORGETTING, BUT I'M, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
I'M, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE 44% FROM 40.
HAVE Y'ALL ASKED 40 CITY TO HELP FUND ANYTHING FOR YOU GUYS? WE HAVE, WELL MY ADULT EDUCATION COORDINATOR HAS BEEN OVER THERE AND TALKED TO SOME PEOPLE.
WE HAVE NOT OFFICIALLY ASKED THEM FOR SOME FUNDING YET, BUT THAT IS ON OUR LIST FOR THIS YEAR AS WELL.
UM, WE'RE WORKING ON TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO THE BEST PEOPLE ARE TO TALK TO AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT STEPPING ON ANY TOES
[00:35:01]
ANYWHERE AND THAT WE HAVE OUR DUCKS IN A ROW BEFORE WE APPROACH THEM.I'M JUST, THAT WAS A BIG PERCENTAGE.
FROM THE CITY FORNEY'S FROM 7 5 1 2 6.
UM, MOST OF THEM ARE FORNEY, BUT SOME OF THEM, THERE'S A SMALL PERCENTAGE THAT YES, SIR.
WELL, BUT WHAT I'M SAYING STILL THE SAME ZIP.
AND I DON'T THINK IT'S ALL FROM THE INSIDE CITY FOR ME.
YOU KNOW, I COULDN'T ANSWER THAT RIGHT NOW, BUT MY DISTRICT IT COULD BE.
IT'S JUST A BIG, BIG PERCENTAGE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THAT ZIP CODE'S.
AND ACTUALLY FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, UM, FORNEY HAS MADE UP THE BIGGEST PERCENTAGE OF OUR OUT OF CITY OF TERRE, BUT COUNTY RESIDENTS, OUR FORNEY RESIDENTS.
AND I'M SURE THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE PROXIMITY, WE ARE THE CLOSEST LOCATION TO THEM.
UM, VERSUS KAUFMAN, THEY WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE A LITTLE FURTHER ACTUAL NUMBER.
YOU SAY PERCENTAGE, BUT YOU KNOW THE ACTUAL NUMBER.
I DO NOT RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
WELL, I'M JUST WONDERING, UH, LET'S SEE IF I HAVE THOSE, I BROUGHT ALL THESE DIFFERENT PAPERS AND I PROBABLY DID NOT BRING THAT ONE.
ISN'T THAT THE WAY IT GOES? I DIDN'T SEE IT.
I DIDN'T, IT'S NOT IN THE PACKET.
I I WILL EMAIL YOU THAT NUMBER IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
I ABSOLUTELY CAN SEND YOU ANY, ANY NUMBER AS AT MY OFFICE AND I'LL SHARE IT WITH ALL THOSE GUYS.
TRAINING CENTER, WAS IT AT THE OLD DEPOT? IT IS THE OLD TRAIN DEPOT DOWNTOWN.
ALRIGHT, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
AND THAT IS, UM, IT ALSO HAS A LITTLE MUSEUM IN THERE.
THAT'S, IT'S A WONDERFUL BUILDING AND IT IS, UM, PERFECT FOR TEMPORARY
THAT IS NOT A LONG TERM TESTING FACILITY, BUT IT IS.
PEOPLE LIKE TO COME AND LOOK AT IT THEN IT'S WORKING.
I'M GETTING YOU ON MY CARD AND OUR LITTLE BROCHURE,
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT, UH, SENIOR CONNECT.
WE ARE THE AGENCY THAT PROVIDES MEALS ON WHEELS TO KAUFMAN COUNTY.
WE ALSO HAVE FIVE SENIOR CENTERS, UH, KAUFMAN, KEMP, MAYBANK, TERRELL FORNEY.
AND WE PROVIDE, AND WE ALSO HAVE, SO WE HAVE HOT ROUTES IN ALL THOSE TOWNS AS WELL.
AND THEN WE HAVE FROZEN ROUTES.
WE HAVE EIGHT FROZEN ROUTES THAT GO OUT IN THE COUNTY TO SERVE THOSE THAT DON'T LIVE WITHIN A CERTAIN, UM, DISTANCE FROM OUR CENTER TO GET A HOT MEAL.
UM, OUR AGENCY HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1978 AND THIS YEAR WE ARE ON TRACK TO SERVE FOR OUR HOME DELIVERED MEALS.
WE HAVE, LET'S SEE, LAST YEAR WE SERVED 36,000, JUST OVER 36,000 HOME DELIVERED MEALS.
THIS YEAR WE'RE, WE'RE ABOUT CLOSE ENOUGH TO BUTTON UP TO 50,000 HOME DELIVERED MEALS.
AND WE HAVE A WAIT LIST OF LAST WEEK.
IT'S GONE UP TO 67 IN THE PAST WEEK, WHICH IS WHY I, OUR AGENCY IS ASKING FOR AN INCREASE THIS YEAR.
WE DIDN'T ASK FOR ONE LAST YEAR.
UM, BUT THIS YEAR IT, AND I KNOW EVERYONE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE POPULATION OF OUR COUNTY GROWING THEIR, THE INCREASE OF, YOU KNOW, SENIOR CITIZENS AND THOSE THAT ARE MOVING IN, THAT ARE BRINGING THEIR, THEIR PARENTS OR THEIR GRANDPARENTS TO COME LIVE WITH THEM RIGHT.
SO THAT'S WHAT, UM, BUT WITH A, WITH AN INCREASE WE COULD, RIGHT NOW OUR WAIT LIST IS ABOUT 20% OF THE AMOUNT OF WHAT WE'RE ALREADY SERVING FOR HOME DELIVERED MEALS.
SO THAT WOULD BE A 20% INCREASE.
AND SO WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING, WITH THE AMOUNT THAT WE'VE REQUESTED, WE COULD SERVE ABOUT 30 ADDITIONAL SENIORS FOR A YEAR.
I MEAN, THAT'S JUST WHAT IT WOULD ALLOW US TO DO.
[00:40:01]
WE DO CURRENTLY HAVE 324, UM, CLIENTS THAT WE DELIVER TO ON OUR HOME DELIVERED ROUTES.AND WITH OUR CONGREGATE SITES WHERE THEY COME IN AND EAT, WE SERVE, WE HAVE, WE HAVE 422 SENIORS NOW.
THEY'RE NOT ALL AT THE CENTER EVERY DAY.
'CAUSE THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE A LOT.
WELL, WELL OVER THE, OUR FIVE CENTERS.
BUT, UM, SO THOSE THAT AND MANY UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE, THAT WE SERVE.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE? OF COURSE I AM FAMILIAR YES.
WITH THE PROGRAM, JUST MY FAMILY'S INVOLVED YES.
AND I KNOW THAT'S WHAT WE DO BECAUSE I'VE BEEN WITH MY WIFE DELIVERING MEALS MM-HMM
AND I'VE TALKED TO THE, UH, PEOPLE WHO HAVE RECEIVED THEM.
AND NUMBER ONE, THAT'S SOME OF EM'S, THEIR REALLY ONLY BILL ABLE TO GET THAT DAY.
AND THE ONLY CONTACT WITH PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE.
AND YOU SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T GET AWAY BECAUSE THEY'RE LONELY.
I DON'T KNOW
TO BE ABLE TO ASSOCIATE WITH OTHER PEOPLE WHO CARE.
IT'S A, IT'S, UM, WE HAD A GENTLEMAN AT ONE OF OUR CENTERS WHO WAS A CONGRESS.
HE CAME TO THE CENTER EVERY DAY AND ATE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH EVERY DAY, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
AND IT'S HARD WHAT WE DO, 'CAUSE TYPICALLY THE ONLY WAY YOU'RE NOT ON OUR SERVICES ANYMORE IS, IS IF YOU'VE PASSED, ONCE YOU'RE ON, YOU, YOU STILL HAVE TO QUALIFY YEAH.
BUT IF YOU QUALIFY, YOU'RE TYPICALLY, YOU'RE, YOU'RE ON IT.
UM, BUT WITH AS HARD AS IT IS, BECAUSE WE BECOME ATTACHED TO THOSE, TO THOSE PEOPLE.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE OUR GRANDPARENTS.
BUT WE HAD A GENTLEMAN AND IT REALLY IS AN HONOR TO SEE HIM.
HE WAS A PART OF THE CONGREGATE PROGRAM AND THEN HE BECAME ILL.
AND THEN WE STARTED, WE WERE ABLE TO SERVE HIM IN HIS HOME AND HE DIDN'T HAVE FAMILY CLOSE.
AND SO WE WERE THERE AT, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE END OF HIS LIFE.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE GET TO GO AND HONOR THEM AT THEIR SERVICES TOO.
SO THAT'S REALLY INCREDIBLE THE, THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE BUILD WITH THOSE THAT WE SERVE.
ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WELL, WE WILL LET YOU KNOW Y'ALL, THAT WAS, THAT WAS EASY.
IT'S KINDA LIKE GOING TO THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE.
YOU JUST DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S GONNA END UP.
UH, ASHLEY, I'VE MISPLACED MY NEW LIST.
WHO'S NEXT WITH CAC? CAC? OKAY.
HOW ARE YOU GUYS? GOOD TO SEE.
I FEEL LIKE I JUST SAW YOU NOT TOO LONG AGO.
WHEN YOU GOT TO VISIT, SO MM-HMM
SO WE'RE HERE YOU MAKING THE ASK LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.
AND IT'S FUNNY, SITTING HERE AND LISTENING TO ALL THESE OTHER AGENCIES TALK, I'M JUST REMINDED OF HOW FORTUNATE OUR COUNTY IS TO HAVE SUCH TREMENDOUS RESOURCES.
I REMEMBER WHEN I MOVED TO THE COUNTY ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO AND WE STARTED THE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER, I FELT LIKE RESOURCES WERE KIND OF POOR, HONESTLY.
UM, WE HAD A HARD TIME FINDING SERVICES FOR OUR FAMILIES OUTSIDE OF WHAT WE DID.
AND, BUT MAN, HAVE THEY GROWN.
AND SO IT'S AMAZING, UM, THAT, THAT ALL, THAT THEY ALL EXIST.
AND HERE I AM PROMOTING EVERYBODY ELSE, BUT THAT'S FINE,
UM, SO YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR YOU.
I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE DO, UM, WE SERVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY ABUSE.
UM, WE DON'T ONLY SERVE JUST THE CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED, BUT, UM, BECAUSE IT DOES AFFECT THEIR ENTIRE FAMILY UNIT.
UM, UM, WE SERVE ALL OF THEM IN VARIOUS WAYS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING STAGES OF THE INVESTIGATION, THE FORENSIC INTERVIEW, ALL THE WAY TO THE THERAPEUTIC SIDE OF THINGS, UM, HELPING THEM HEAL AND, UM, GIVING THEM TOOLS TO BE PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS AGAIN AND MAKING THEM FEEL WHOLE AGAIN.
UM, AND THEN WORKING WITH THE DA'S OFFICE AS WELL, UM, PROVIDING THAT EXPERT TESTIMONY SO THAT WE CAN GET JUSTICE FOR THOSE KIDS, UM, THAT HAVE BEEN ABUSED.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, A BIG PART OF OUR ASK IS BECAUSE WE PROVIDE, UM, SERVICES THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY REQUIRED BY THE STATE, UM, TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND FOR THE KAUFFMAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
AND THOSE ARE VERY EXPENSIVE SERVICES.
[00:45:01]
UM, AND SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, OUR OUR BIGGEST ASK IS TO HELP SUPPORT THAT COST IS IT IS QUITE SUBSTANTIAL WHAT THOSE SERVICES ARE.IF YOU HAD TO CONTRACT THAT, THAT THOSE OUT TO ANOTHER, UM, AGENCY OR JUST OTHER CONTRACT PROVIDERS.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST LOOKING FOR SOME HELP AND HELPING US, UM, MAINTAIN WHAT WE DO, BUT WITH ALSO WITH THE GROWTH OF THE COUNTY.
UM, WE, UH, HAD A 27% INCREASE LAST YEAR IN THE NUMBER OF, UM, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THAT WE SERVED.
AND I THINK THE FIRST THREE MONTHS WE WERE AT 26.8% INCREASE FROM JUST THAT QUARTER LAST YEAR.
SO WE EXPECT THAT TO CONTINUE TO RISE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT'S DONE EVERY YEAR.
AND NOT TELLING YOU GUYS ANYTHING YOU DON'T KNOW.
'CAUSE I KNOW Y'ALL FEEL THAT TOO.
SO, UM, ANYWAY, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR RANDY, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANNA SAY? RANDY, OUR BOARD PRESIDENTS HERE AS WELL, SHANNON, PRETTY WELL HIT ALL OF IT, BUT, UH, I GOT, I GOT TICKLED A MINUTE AGO WHEN JUDGE, WHEN YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO GET AWAY FROM PEOPLE
AND YOU LOOKED AT ME WHEN YOU SAID THAT
BUT UH, ESPECIALLY WITH A JUDGE AND TOMMY 'CAUSE I LIVE IN, IN, UH, IN TOMMY'S DISTRICT.
UH, UH, I WANTED TO TO SAY THANK YOU FOR WHAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE FOR US.
UH, NOT ONLY WITH THE GRANTS THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US, BUT WITH HELP WITH THE BUILDING.
UH, THIS WILL BE MY LAST YEAR AS PRESIDENT OF THE, UH, ADVOCACY CENTER.
UH, WHEN JAKE'S PHONE RINGS AND HE SEES IT'S RANDY SQUIBB CALLING, HE GETS BUSY ALL OF A SUDDEN.
BUT, UH, WHAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE FOR US IS, IS AMAZING.
AND, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO GO OUT ON A HIGH NOTE AND SO PLEASE GIVE US, UH, ALL THE CONSIDERATION THAT YOU CAN.
MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD ME SAY BEFORE THAT IT'S GREAT BEING IN THE FASTEST GROWING COUNTY OR THE SECOND OR THIRD FASTEST GROWING COUNTY IN THE COUNTRY.
BUT WITH THAT COMES AN ELEMENT THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS WANT.
WE GET MORE BAD GUYS AND WE GET BAD GUYS THAT DO BAD THINGS TO OUR KIDDOS.
AND UH, I WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK SHANNON AND HER STAFF FOR THE AMAZING WORK THAT THEY DO.
AND WITH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE SEE, UH, JUST IN THE SIX YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD, I RAN THE NUMBERS THE OTHER DAY.
THE NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT WE SEE AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE HELP IS UP ABOUT 40%.
SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
THANK YOU FOR OUR CULVERT ON 1 75 AND 40 22.
THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT FOR US,
AND UH, UH, AGAIN, UH, WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR SHANNON? NO.
YOU KNOW, THEY DO A GREAT JOB.
WE'LL TAKE A BREAK AND WE'LL COME BACK.
WE WILL CONTINUE WITH OUR NON-PROFITS AS FAR AS WHAT WE HAVE HEARD THIS MORNING.
AND WE KNOW THAT WE CAN'T FULFILL ALL THEIR REQUESTS 'CAUSE THE MONEY'S JUST NOT THERE.
AND SO AS FAR AS A, UH, A PRIORITY, UH, WE'RE NOT GONNA TALK ABOUT DOLLARS JUST YET 'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE OUR FULL BUDGET.
BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE WOULD PRIORITIZE 1, 2, 3 OR JUST ONES AND TWOS AND THREES AS TO HOW, WHO WOULD GET, UH, FUNDS, WHO WOULD NOT, WHO WOULD BE WHOSE WOULD BE REDUCED OR SOME NOT AT ALL.
AND JUST YOUR GENERAL THOUGHTS IS WHAT WE HEARD THIS MORNING AND EVERYTHING WE HEARD FROM EVERY ORGANIZATION IS A GOOD ORGANIZATION.
THEY'RE FILLING A NEED THAT OUR CITIZENS, UH, REQUIRE.
AND IT'S, AND IT'S GREAT, BUT THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN FUND $720,000 OF REQUEST THIS YEAR.
IT'S JUST NOT IN OUR, IN OUR, UH, RESOURCES.
SO, AND THAT'S AN INCREASE OF NEARLY 273,000 FROM LAST YEAR.
AND I'M NOT SURE WITH THE WAY THE PRELIMINARY NUMBERS ARE, LAST YEAR IT WAS 447,511.
WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REACH THAT NUMBER EITHER.
WELL, THE MAJORITY OF IT'S THAT BIG ONE AND CHILDREN'S AVERAGE SEVEN.
THERE'S, THERE'S UH, AND THE 226,000,
[00:50:02]
THAT'S THE BIG ONE.AND AND THEN THEY, AND THAT'S A, THAT'S A BIG, THAT'S A BIG REQUEST.
I'M, I'M JUST GONNA ASK A QUESTION HERE.
I KNOW THIS HAS COME UP OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT OVER THE YEARS DURING BUDGET AND THE JUDGE, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF FUNNY WHEN YOU READ THE STATUTE ON GIVING THE NONPROFITS, A LOT OF COUNTIES DON'T DO THAT.
SO IT'S KIND OF ODD LIKE WHERE WE'RE AT.
UH, 'CAUSE I MEAN LOOKING AT LIKE 2026, I DON'T HAVE 25 NUMBERS.
YOU LOOKING AT TOTAL OF 447, 440 $7,000 GETTING OUT AND IN THE NEXT YEAR, 720,000 AND NOW WE'RE GONNA ADD 200 OR THAT'S 270.
I MEAN IT'S, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBERS WAS FOR LIKE 25, 24 AND 23, BUT I MEAN, IT'S STEADILY GOING UP BIG EVERY YEAR.
IT, IT'S GONE UP EVERY YEAR AND IT'S LIKE, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF WE WE'RE OUTSIDE THAT SCOPE ON THIS.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? LIKE, WE GIVE A LITTLE BIT TO CONTRIBUTE.
WELL I'VE, IT'S ALMOST LIKE WE'RE BECOMING A SUPPORT MECHANISM.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GETTING OUTSIDE OF OUR SCOPE OF WHAT WE SHOULD.
IS IT A GIVEN OR IS IT, I'VE ASKED LEGAL THESE, IF THE 5 0 1 C THREES WE CAN CONTRIBUTE, WE CAN CONTRIBUTE TO EVERYTHING BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY GOOD WORKS OUT THERE.
BUT IT COMES A POINT IN TIME WHERE WE JUST GOTTA SAY, WAIT A MINUTE, WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR, OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND COUNTY SERVICES FIRST AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HELP THE NONPROFITS AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
AND THERE ARE SOME, UH, TO ME, UH, WE NEED TO FILL FEED THE OLD FOLKS, YOU KNOW, WHO'S GONNA FEED 'EM IF WE DON'T HELP, UH, WE DON'T GONNA LET 'EM DIE.
WELL, IN SOME PROGRAMS IT'S NOT A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH OR SAFETY.
UH, THEY'RE, THEY'RE NICE THINGS AND THEY'RE HELPFUL THINGS, BUT THEY'RE NOT, UH, SOMETHING THAT'S ACTUALLY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT, WHAT IS REQUIRED THAT WE ABSOLUTELY DO.
BUT WHERE DO YOU LIKE, YOU SAY, WHERE DO WE STOP? YEAH.
WE GOTTA I THINK FOCUS ON THAT SCOPE OF WHERE WE NEED TO BE ON THAT.
'CAUSE IT'S GOING UP EVERY YEAR AND GETTING MORE.
AND THE PROBLEM IS OUR FUNDING'S GETTING LESS AND LESS.
UH, BUT, AND THEN OUR EVERYTHING'S GOING UP AND UP.
SO I JUST THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER.
NOT THAT I, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE TO ALL OF 'EM.
I'M LIKE YOU, I DO HAVE A PASSION FOR THE SENIORS, YOU KNOW, I MEAN THE SENIOR CONNECT TYPE STUFF, USING THEM AS AN EXAMPLE, IF I HAD TO PICK ONE OUT OF THIS OLD LIST, NOT GET TAKEN FROM ANY OF 'EM, THEY ALL HAVE IMPORTANT JOBS WOULD BE SENIOR CONNECT WOULD BE MY NUMBER ONE CHOICE.
BUT LIKE I SAID, THERE'S ONE THAT I WOULD SAY, HEY, IF I ONLY HAD TO PICK ONE, THAT WOULD BE IT.
NOT SAYING THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING, IT'S JUST THAT WOULD BE THE ONE I'D PAY.
WELL WE KNOW WE CAN'T DO WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR.
SO ALL THE INCREASE IN REQUEST, THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN FULFILL THAT WITH OUR BUDGET.
EVEN THOUGH WE'RE FASTEST GROWING, WE SLOWED QUITE A BIT.
AND OVERALL RESOURCES COMING IN IS NOT WHAT IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST.
UH, EVEN OUR GROWTH IS NOT WHAT IT WAS EITHER.
SO, AND WITH THE VALUATIONS ARE DOWN SO IT ALL COMES TOGETHER.
SO Y'ALL BE THINKING ABOUT THAT.
WE'VE GOT TO DECIDE WHO AND, AND WHAT.
UH, AND ONCE WE GET, Y'ALL BE THINKING, WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.
WE'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT TODAY.
BUT BE IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND, MARK ON YOUR SHEETS HERE, WHAT YOU THINK WE CAN DO.
UH, AND IF WE, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SAY FUND.
UH, LET'S SAY THERE'S MAYBE ONE THERE FOR 5,000.
MAYBE THESE GET A THOUSAND OR MAYBE A THOUSAND TO REALLY DO ANYTHING.
AND YOU KNOW, AND, AND THE PEOPLE WATCHING, WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS.
WE DON'T HAVE REAL NUMBERS YET.
AND THAT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SIT THERE AND MAKE SOLID DECISIONS.
WE CAN'T DO THAT THAT TODAY 'CAUSE WE DON'T KNOW THOSE NUMBERS.
BUT WE DO KNOW WE, WE CANNOT FULFILL THE REQUEST OR FOR INCREASES.
THAT PART WE ALREADY KNOW WITH OUR PRELIMINARY NUMBERS.
SO ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM ANYONE? I HATE TO DO ALL THE TALKING HERE.
SEE, SEE DIDN'T SEND THE NUMBERS.
YEAH, SHE SENT THE NUMBERS BACK.
ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON ANYTHING TO DO WITH THEIR PRELIMINARY BUDGET? NOT JUST TODAY, BUT YESTERDAY? UH, I, WELL I'M GONNA JUST THROW MY COMMENT
[00:55:01]
IN THERE.MY WIFE WILL BE AMENING THAT IN A MINUTE.
BUT I, I WILL TELL YOU THIS, I DO, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT EVERYBODY, WE TAKE CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES, THAT WE TRY TO STAY IN THAT 3% MARGIN ON OUR CALL DOWN.
AND I MEAN, I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF REQUESTS THIS YEAR THROUGH WHAT WE'VE DISCUSSED OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS.
AND I, WE WE'RE JUST ABOUT TO CUT SOME OF THAT OUT, I THINK.
AND FO I, I, I LIKE TO SEE EVERYBODY BENEFIT.
NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THERE'S SOME OF THAT STUFF WE HAVE TO DO WITH THE NEW, SOME OF THE NEW, UH, BUILDINGS AND STUFF WE HAVE COMING UP AND HAVING THE MANPOWER, LIKE THE JUVENILE CENTER, SOME OF THE STUFF WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO, SOME OF IT'S MANDATED BY LAW, BUT I REALLY LIKE TO PROTECT THAT 3% FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
SO, AND TRY TO GET, MAKE SURE THAT CODE IS NOT TWO BUT THREE.
THAT'S ONLY, WELL THE WAY IT LOOKS NOW THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE A LOT OF CUTS.
IF WE DO THAT, WE'RE GOING TO DO A LOT OF CUTS TO THE REQUEST.
SO DO YOU CUT, GIVE THEM WHAT THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOB OR YOU GET A LIST? COLA DO THE PEOPLE TO DO THE JOB.
THAT WILL BE OUR DECISION TO HAVE TO WORK THROUGH SOMEHOW, BUT YEAH.
[2. Adjourn meeting. ]
NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN.I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
PHELPS MAKES THE MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.