Jul 21, 2026 Commissioners Court

[Call to Order]

[00:00:03]

I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE HERE TODAY FOR OUR REGULAR COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING, JULY THE 21ST YEAR'S GOING BY REALLY, REALLY QUICK.

UH, WE'RE GONNA BEGIN AS USUAL, WITH OUR INVOCATION AND OUR PLEDGES IF YOU JOIN ME AND STAND, PLEASE.

MOST GRACIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER, LORD, WE JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY.

WE THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE LOVE THAT YOU SHOW US.

AND LORD, WE JUST PRAY THAT TODAY AS WE MAKE DECISIONS, THAT WE MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON WHAT YOU'D HAVE US TO DO.

LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.

WE THANK YOU FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR MILITARY SERVING THE BROAD LORD.

BE WITH THEM, UH, IN THIS TIME THAT THE WORLD'S IN CHAOS.

LORD, WE JUST THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR LOVE AND YOUR SON, JESUS CHRIST.

AMEN.

AMEN.

A PLEASURE.

LADIES FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH HE STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, ONE INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.

DRAW, HONOR, TEXAS FLAG, ALLEGED OF TEXAS.

ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE INDIVIDUAL.

THANK YOU.

ANYONE HAVE ANY ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE THIS MORNING?

[2. CONSENT AGENDA]

WE HAVE FOUR ITEMS. Y'ALL ALL HAD TIME TO LOOK AT THOSE? ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, CORRECTIONS? NOW I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

GOT A, UH, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LANE.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

MR. CROW MAKES A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE.

MOTION CARRIES.

[3. Carrie Sharp/Sarah Mantranga: Discuss/Present the Texas A&M AgriLife quarterly combined report for April, May and June of 2026.]

MORNING.

GENTLEMEN, HOW ARE WE ALL DOING TODAY? GOOD.

CAN WE, CAN WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT COOLER WEATHER OUTSIDE? I MEAN, YOU CONTROL EVERYTHING, SO.

NO.

OKAY.

ANYWAYS, UM, I'D LIKE TO BRING UP THE REPORT FOR APRIL, MAY, AND JUNE.

SO WE HAD A BUSY FINISH OF THE YEAR FOR THE, UH, SCHOOL PROGRAMS. THE LAST THREE MONTHS OF THE YEAR, WE REACHED OUT TO SEVEN, 6,720 STUDENTS IN, UH, ALL SIX SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO BRING 'EM ALL BACK ONLINE.

SO THIS YEAR WE CON, THE BIGGEST PROGRAMS THAT WE DO ARE THE WATER CONSERVATION STREAM TRAILER, UM, THAT TEACHES THEM ABOUT WATER EROSION AND ALSO ABOUT JUST HOW THE WATER CYCLE ROLLS.

UH, THE HATCH INTO THE CLASSROOM IS A VERY BIG PROGRAM.

UH, THIS YEAR WE HAD A, WE CHANGED OVER TO A DIFFERENT PRODUCER FOR, UH, CHICKS.

AND SO WE HAD AN 80% HATCH.

SO IF YOU CAN IMAGINE, UM, 56 CLASSROOMS HATCHING OUT ALMOST 10 CHICKS A CLASSROOM.

WE HAD A LOT OF CHICKS, SO, BUT IT'S REALLY GOOD ON THAT PART OF IT.

UH, THE FARM BUREAU AG COMMODITIES TRAILER WENT BACK OUT AGAIN, UH, TEACHING THE KIDS ABOUT WHERE THEIR FOOD COMES FROM.

AND THEN OF COURSE, WE HAVE A LOT OF HELP WITH THE GARDEN PROGRAMS NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE A WONDERFUL PERSON THAT HAS PLANTS ACTUALLY GROW WITH HER AROUND.

UM, WITH ME, NOT SO MUCH, MUCH.

I DIDN'T GET THAT GENETIC TENNESSEE, SO, UM, BUT THE MEALWORM PROJECT IS ON A GROW BECAUSE THAT TEACHES LIFE, UH, CYCLES.

UH, WE ACTUALLY CONTINUE, UH, TARA BAILEY, ONE OF OUR PROGRAM ASSISTANTS, SHE ACTUALLY HAS A BREEDING PROGRAM TO KEEP THE MEALWORMS GROWING SO WE DON'T HAVE TO BUY 'EM EVERY YEAR.

I TOLD HER I DIDN'T REALLY WANNA KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT.

JUST, JUST DO IT.

TELL ME HOW MUCH OATMEAL YOU NEED AND I'LL GET IT TO YOU.

THE, UH, THE WORKSHOPS THAT WE DID WITH THE FOUR H PROGRAM, UH, LEADERS AND ALSO KIDS, WE HOSTED A REALLY GOOD, UH, CLOTHING AND TEXTILE PROJECT.

UH, WE HAVE A LEADER THAT'S BRINGING IN USED TO DO THE, UH, MILITARY, UH, QUILTS.

WE'RE NOW MOVING ON TO TRY TO BUILD UP A TEAM THAT'S CALLED DUDS BEDAZZLE, WHERE THEY ACTUALLY GO INTO A COMPETITION LIKE THE FOOD CHALLENGE, BUT IT'S ONLY ABOUT MAKING A, A PRODUCT FOR THEM TO MARKET.

UH, WE HAD AN AGENT COME DOWN FROM, UH, COOK COUNTY.

UM, PHYLLIS GRIFFIN, SHE'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST IN THE STATE.

UH, SHE ACTUALLY CAME UP WITH THE PROGRAM, DUD DAZZLE.

SO, UH, OUR LEADERS HAD A REALLY GOOD TIME WITH THE TRASH AND FASHION THAT WE DID IT THAT DAY.

UH, THE LEADERS WENT THROUGH A, UH, AN EXTENSION PROGRAM.

WE'RE TRYING TO RESTART THE LIVESTOCK PROGRAMS. IT'S ALREADY GOING, BUT, UH, WE HAVE A BUNCH OF BRAND NEW FAMILIES COMING ONLINE.

SO TRYING TO TEACH THEM ABOUT WHERE AND HOW TO BUY THEIR PROJECTS AND HOW TO MAINTAIN 'EM, ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, WAS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST PROGRAMS THAT WE WERE DOING THAT DAY.

SO, ON THE, ON THE WHOLE, WE HAVE, WE REACHED OUT TO MORE THAN IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS, WE REACHED OUT TO MORE THAN 2,600, UH, KAUFFMAN COUNTY YOUTH AND RESIDENTS.

UH, THIS, WE HAD 310 YOUTH AND ADULTS THAT ARE, WERE VALIDATED THROUGH THE, UM, THE, UH, VALIDATION PROJECTS.

UH, SO THIS YEAR FOR VALIDATIONS, WE VALIDATED 56 NEW HEIFERS, 34 STEERS.

OUR STEER PROJECTS ARE DOWN, UM, ACROSS FOUR H AND FFA, BUT WE DID DO 182 SHEEP AND GOATS.

SO OUR SHEEP PROJECTS AND OUR GOAT PROJECTS ARE ON A GROW.

AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING REALLY GOOD TO SEE GOING ACROSS THE COUNTY FOR THE FFA PROGRAMS COMING IN.

ALSO THAT WE HAD MULTIPLE PART, UH, PARTNERSHIPS GOING ON.

I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF, UH, THE TEXAS FARM BUREAU,

[00:05:01]

SO WE'LL BE PRESENTING THAT.

WE'RE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT TRYING TO GET THAT READY TO GO.

UM, WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO HELP OUT WITH THE, UM, WE'LL BE SENT PRESENTING SOME OF THE PROGRAMS DURING YOUR COUNTY, UH, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS DAY.

AND SO WE'RE BRINGING IN SOME PROJECTS WITH THAT.

I'M STILL TRYING TO WORK WITH THE STATE TO BRING IN THE ROLLOVER CONVINCER THAT THEY'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS TO TEACH PEOPLE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR SEAT BELTS.

AND SO, UM, WHAT ELSE DO YOU HAVE? UM, GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

UM, SO I HOSTED TWO DIABETIC INTERNS, UH, FOR ABOUT, I WOULD SAY THREE WEEKS.

UM, AND THEY REALLY, REALLY, REALLY HELPED ME OUT.

SO, UM, IN APRIL, I WANT, MY HIGHLIGHT IS I DID A, UH, THE HOMESCHOOL GROUP FOR TRI-COUNTY LIBRARY IN MAYBANK.

THEY WERE AMAZING.

WE HAD 32 KIDS, UM, AND WE DID MYPLATE RELAY BRACE.

WE LEARNED ABOUT DIFFERENT FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, DIFFERENT FOOD GROUPS.

AND THEN WE DID A, UH, UH, LITTLE FRUIT KEBAB AND THEY GOT TO CUT IT.

THEY GOT TO DESIGN IT AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

UM, AND THEN WE DID SOME JUST HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES WHERE THEY GOT TO LEARN ABOUT, AGAIN, FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

UH, THAT WAS EXCELLENT.

AND THEN IN MAY WE HOSTED THE WALK CROSS TEXAS CELEBRATION EVENT AT THE JUSTICE CENTER.

WE HAD 67 EMPLOYEES JOIN THAT, BUT OVER THE EIGHT WEEK PROGRAM, WE HAD A HUNDRED AND, UH, 65 PARTICIPANTS THAT WALKED OVER A LITTLE OVER, UH, 36,000 MILES.

SO THAT WAS EXCELLENT.

WE WERE A LITTLE BIT DOWN ABOUT A 500 FROM LAST YEAR, BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THAT UP NEXT YEAR.

UM, SPEAKING OF THAT, WE WILL BE DOING A FAMILY ONE FOR THE EMPLOYEES IN THE FALL, WHICH IS REALLY, REALLY GREAT.

I THINK FAMILIES SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN THAT, THAT ACTIVITY.

AND SO WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

UM, FOR THE FOUR H SIDE OF THINGS, I STARTED HOSTING, UH, NUTRITION PROGRAMS FOR THE KITCHEN, UM, LEARNING ABOUT COOKING, LEARNING ABOUT SAFETY, LEARNING ABOUT CUTTING, ALL OF THOSE GREAT THINGS.

UM, WE DID THAT ON MAY 30TH.

WE DID THAT ON JUNE 11TH, AND THEN WE DID THAT ON JUNE 17TH, WHO THERE WAS A LOT, UM, A LOT GOING ON.

UM, AND THEN BASED OFF OF THAT, WE ENDED UP GETTING 10 NEW FOUR H KIDS THAT WANTED TO JOIN THE NEW, UH, FOOD AND NUTRITION PROJECT.

UM, WE HAVE OUR FIRST FOUR, UH, FOOD CHALLENGE TEAM OF A FOUR, A GROUP OF FOUR.

AND THEN WE HAVE THREE KIDS THAT WANNA JOIN A FOOD SHOW, UH, FOR 2027.

THIS IS 2027.

SO I'M KIND OF GEARING THEM UP.

THEY'RE GETTING THEIR SUPPLIES TOGETHER.

I'M REALLY, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

UM, AND SO WE'LL BE GOING TO COMPETITIONS NEXT YEAR.

UM, ALSO, I DID, UH, SUMMER SIZZLE INTO SUMMER.

I'M STILL DOING THAT PROGRAM.

IT'S ONCE A MONTH ON SATURDAY, ABOUT HALF A DAY.

UM, AND WE'RE LEARNING, AGAIN, A LITTLE BIT MORE IN DEPTH ABOUT, UH, THE FOOD AND NUTRITION PROJECTS.

UM, I'M KIND OF GOING DOWN, WE'RE DOING APPETIZERS, WE'RE DOING SIDE DISH, WE'RE DOING MAIN DISH, AND THEN WE'RE DOING DESSERTS.

SO EACH SESSION IS BASED OFF OF THAT.

AND THEY'RE ABLE TO DO IT ALL BY TIME.

THEY'RE ALL, UH, DOING IT BY HELP AND THEY'RE MEETING NEW KIDS, AND THAT'S A REALLY GREAT THING TO HAVE.

UM, AND SO WE DID THAT ON JUNE 13TH.

UH, AND WE, WE LEARNED ABOUT GRILLING.

THAT'S WHAT WE DID.

YES.

OKAY.

AND THEN I DID A KIDS' FOODIE CAMP AT TRI-COUNTY LIBRARY, AGAIN WITH 20 KIDS.

OH, IT WAS GREAT.

WE DID A LITTLE BIT OF STEM, WE DID A LITTLE BIT OF SCIENCE WITH FOOD, AND IT WAS GREAT.

UM, I DID FOUR DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES AND IT LASTED ABOUT THREE HOURS.

UH, WHAT ELSE DID I DO? OH, AND THEN LASTLY, I DID PRESERVING THE HARVEST.

THIS WAS MY THIRD SESSION OF PRESERVING THE HARVEST ON SATURDAY, JUNE 27TH.

WE HAD 22, UH, ADULTS, AND IT WAS FUN.

OH, WE HAD SO MUCH FUN.

UM, AND WE DID PEACH, UH, SALSA AND PEACH BARBECUE SAUCE.

AND THE BARBECUE SAUCE WAS WAY BETTER THAN PEACH SALSA.

IT WAS SO AMAZING.

UM, I COULD ATTEST THAT IT WAS REALLY GOOD.

IT WAS REALLY GOOD.

WE WOULDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT.

YOU KNOW WHAT, UM, SORRY.

UH, SHE WOULD'VE, UH, SIR, BUT IT KIND OF GOT DEVOURED AT THE OFFICE, I'M SURE.

YEAH, IT WAS REALLY, UM, ALSO I STARTED TO SEE LIBRARY AT THE OFFICE, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY HAD ABOUT 25 PEOPLE COME TO THE EXTENSION OFFICE TO LOOK AT THE SEEDS, DONATE SEEDS, UM, AND JUST TAKE SOME, IF THEY NEEDED SOME FOR THEIR EITHER SUMMER GARDEN OR THEIR FALL GARDEN, IT'S REALLY AWESOME.

I DID SOME OTHER THINGS FOR THE EXTENSION WORLD.

UM, AND THEN ALSO ME AND CARRIE WORKED, UH, WITH SHARING THE LOVE AND FORNEY, AND WE DID THE, A KID SUMMER CAMP ON JUNE, JUNE 15TH, ALL THAT WEEK.

UM, SO THAT WAS A REALLY GREAT PROGRAM TO DO, THANKS TO THE FOUR H ASSISTANCE

[00:10:01]

AND THEN FOR OUTREACH FROM APRIL TO JUNE, I HAVE REACHED OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, Y'ALL ARE VERY, VERY BUSY AND IT'S IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR CHILDREN TO LEARN THESE THINGS.

AND YOU ARE GOING TO THE STATE FAIR AGAIN THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST CHALLENGE? OH YES.

THE EMAIL JUST CAME OUT YESTERDAY, SO I'LL BE BORN TO YOU ALL.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO, UM, UH, BE ONE OF THE JUDGES FOR THE FOOD CHALLENGE.

SURE.

WE JUST GOT THAT DATE AND THE INVITATION FOR YOU ALL TO, I'VE ALREADY SIGNED UP.

I'M READY TO, THAT'S A GREAT THING.

I I ENJOY DOING THAT, WATCHING THE KIDS, SO, YEP.

YOU PUT ME DOWN AGAIN.

OKAY.

SO, ALRIGHT.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK Y'ALL.

VERY OH, THANK YOU.

NOW WE, WE ARE STILL WITHOUT AN AGENT.

YES, SIR.

SO, BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, UH, OUR, THE AGENCY RIGHT NOW, WE ARE STILL WITHIN, UH, KEEPING IT IN-HOUSE.

OKAY.

WE HAVEN'T PUT IT EXTERNALLY YET.

UM, HOW EXTENSION WORKS WITH THAT, IT'S USUALLY THREE TIMES A YEAR.

THEY PUSH 'EM OUT REALLY HARD.

UM, SO THE NEXT FULL TIME THAT, UH, WE WILL POSSIBLY, UH, REALLY START GETTING AGENTS TO LOOK AT THAT IS THIS JULY AND AUGUST.

BECAUSE WHEN THE, UH, BUDGET YEAR FINISHES UP, THAT'S WHEN THEY USUALLY START LOOKING AT TRYING TO MOVE TO A DIFFERENT COUNTY.

UM, SO, UH, DUE TO A WONDERFUL, UH, TECHNOLOGY, UM, I RESPONDED TO AN EMAIL FOR THE, UH, UM, SCREW WORM PROGRAMS THAT WE HELD ON JUNE 7TH.

UM, I THOUGHT I WAS JUST REPLYING BACK TO THE STATE HEAD OF IT.

I REPLIED TO EVERYBODY IN THIS ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS FOR ALL EXTENSION AGENTS.

I LET THEM KNOW THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE AN AG AGENT HERE, SO I NEEDED ALL THE HELP.

SO THERE ARE 254 COUNTIES AND THEY ALL KNOW THAT KAUFFMAN COUNTY IS LOOKING FOR AN AG AGENT.

THERE YOU GO.

AND EVERY REGIONAL PROGRAM AND STATE PROGRAM I GO TO, I HAVE MY LITTLE FLYER READY TO GO, AND I PICK OUT MY AGENTS THAT I THINK WILL BE GREAT FOR KAUFFMAN COUNTY.

I HAVE GOTTEN IN TROUBLE WITH A COUPLE DAS BECAUSE I AM TRYING TO STEAL THEIR AGENTS.

UM, BUT IT'S OKAY.

I'M OKAY WITH THAT.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

IT SPEED THROUGH THEIR COUNTY, HUH? .

, YEAH.

YEAH.

NO, I DON'T DO THAT.

OKAY.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NO.

THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.

Y'ALL ARE REALLY BUSY.

THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.

OKAY.

UH,

[4. Freese and Nichols: Discuss/Present Kaufman County drainage study with Freese and Nichols in the following areas: FM 740/Crandall, E. Alamo Street/N. Virginia Street and other locations.]

UH, THE CRAWFORD COUNTY DRAINAGE STUDY FOR FREEZE NICHOLS.

THE FOLLOWING, UH, FM SEVEN 40 IN CRANDALL, EAST ALAMO STREET, NORTH VIRGINIA STREET, AND OTHER LOCATIONS.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

I'M JUST GONNA HOOK UP MY MONITOR REAL QUICK.

THERE WE GO.

ALRIGHT, PERFECT.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US THIS MORNING.

UM, MY NAME IS GEORGE OSA.

I WORK WITH FREEZE NICHOLS, AND I'M HERE WITH, ALSO WITH, UH, JEREMY FROM, UH, COUNTY'S OFFICE.

SO TODAY WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE KAUFFMAN COUNTY COUNTYWIDE DRAINAGE STUDY.

THIS IS SPECIFICALLY PHASE TWO OF THE STUDY.

SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING IN, IN HUNTING IN KAUFFMAN COUNTY FOR A WHILE.

UH, JUST DOING A LOT OF DRAINAGE ANALYSIS, UM, FUNDED PARTIALLY THROUGH THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD, AND ALSO IN THE PAST, ALSO THROUGH THE COUNTY AS WELL.

BUT I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT OUR LATEST EFFORTS.

SO JUST A QUICK PROJECT OVERVIEW, SOME UPDATES OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING RECENTLY THIS SUMMER, AND, UH, SOME SELECTED PROJECT SITES THAT WE'RE GONNA PROCEED WITH GOING FORWARD AND LOOKING IN FOR ANY, UM, QUESTIONS OR ANY, YOU KNOW, COLLABORATION WITH YOU GUYS.

SO WHAT IS KAUFMAN COUNTY'S DRAINAGE STUDY? WE'RE CALLING THE PHASE TWO.

SO IT'S APPROXIMATELY A THOUSAND SQUARE MILES OF FLOOD MODELING ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

UH, IT INCLUDES THE COUNTY ITSELF, UH, WITHIN THE LIMITS, BUT ALSO SOME NEIGHBORING WATERSHEDS OF SOME CONTRIBUTING AREAS, YOU KNOW, AROUND THE OUTSKIRTS.

IT'S FULLY FUNDED CURRENTLY THROUGH THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD, UH, CONTINUATION OF OUR PHASE ONE EFFORTS.

AND OUR REAL GOAL FROM THIS PROJECT IS NOT NECESSARILY, NOT NECESSARILY TO COME UP WITH ANY NEW, LIKE REGULATORY FLOODPLAINS.

IT'S NOT, WE'RE NOT MAKING NEW FEMA MAPS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

UH, OUR GOAL IS TO IDENTIFY KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, YOU KNOW, FLOOD RISK, UH, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

WELL, LIKE BEYOND THE LIMITS OF JUST A FEMA FLOOD MAP.

UM, BUT THE GOAL IS TO COME UP WITH PROJECT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THROUGH, THROUGH DESIGN AND EVENTUALLY TO CONSTRUCTION WITH, UH, STATE FUNDING OR THAT'S, THAT'S THE GOAL IN MIND.

SO WHAT WE'VE DONE UP, UP UNTIL NOW IS, UH, WHAT WE CALL OUR SCREENING ASSESSMENT.

UH, SCREENING ASSESSMENT BASICALLY INVOLVED A LOT OF HYDRAULIC MODELING, LIKE COMPUTER SIMULATION FOR THE MOMENT.

UH, AND WE'VE IDENTIFIED DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTY, CURRENTLY UP TO 16 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

WE, WE KNOW OF SOME HISTORIC FLOODING LOCATIONS.

AND THEN WE COMPARE THOSE WITH THE RESULTS THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM OUR, UH, PRAZ MODELS, OUR HYDRAULIC MODELS.

AND WE'RE ABLE TO DETERMINE A LITTLE BIT MORE PRECISELY LIKE WHAT ESTIMATED DEPTHS, WATER

[00:15:01]

UH, THAT HELPS US INFORM, YOU KNOW, WHAT PROJECT LIMITS MAY BE POSSIBLE.

AND, UH, WE KIND OF NEED TO COME UP WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, A REAL BENEFIT, UH, FOR THESE COMMUNITIES.

SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT STILL IN A LITTLE BIT OF A, UH, QUANTITATIVE OR LIKE QUALITATIVE, I MEAN, UH, STATE.

SO WE'RE KIND OF STILL, IT'S, IT'S NOT ENTIRELY FINISHED YET, BUT OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE THE MOST BENEFIT, UM, THROUGH THESE PROJECTS.

SO OUR PROJECTS HAVE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A REGIONAL FOCUS, UH, NOT NECESSARILY JUST LIKE A SINGLE CULVERT CROSSING OR SINGLE LOW WATER CROSSING, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO BENEFIT LIKE MORE OF A COMMUNITY, UH, IN THAT SENSE.

SO UP UNTIL NOW, WE, WE'VE COMBED THROUGH SEVERAL AREAS.

WE'VE SELECTED FOUR, UH, TO PRESENT TO YOU TODAY.

SO HERE'S THE FOUR THAT WE HAVE SO FAR.

UH, FIRST ONE IS, UH, LINDA CIRCLE, WHICH, UH, IS SOUTH OF FORNEY.

UH, BETWEEN, WELL, IT'S BETWEEN LINDA CIRCLE AND GRAYSON DRIVE.

IT'S A COMMUNITY, UM, JUST THE SOUTH OF FORNEY.

IT'S IN, IT IS IN COUNTY, UH, YOU KNOW, JURISDICTION JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.

NEXT ONE IS DOWNTOWN KAUFMAN.

AND I'LL GO OVER SOME THE SPECIFICS ON EACH SLIDE.

UM, AND THEN NEXT TO KEMP AND MAYBANK.

SO, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE MAP, MOST OF THESE AREAS ARE IN PRECINCTS ONE AND FOUR WITH A LITTLE BIT, I GUESS WE, WE TOUCH PRECINCT TWO, UH, BUT WE, WE DID NOT IDENTIFY ANYONE'S, UH, LATELY IN PRECINCT THREE.

UH, THERE'S SOME IN TERRELL, BUT CITY OF TERRELL HAS THEIR OWN MASTER PLAN THAT THEY HAVE SEVERAL AREAS THAT ALREADY MADE IT THROUGH, UH, TO REGIONAL FUNDING.

OKAY, SO THE FIRST ONE IS LINDA CIRCLE, SOUTH FORNEY.

UM, ESSENTIALLY THIS IS, UH, A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD WITH, UH, THE DRAINAGE IS PROVIDED BY LOTS OF SIDE DITCHES AND CULVERTS, WHICH, UH, THE TERRAIN APPEARS TO BE VERY, VERY FLAT.

SO THE DEPTHS OF FLOODING THAT WE'RE GETTING ARE NOT SUBSTANTIAL.

THEY'RE NOT LIKE MUCH GREATER THAN A FOOT PER SE, BUT IT IS REAL.

IT'S A, IT'S A REAL FLOODING LOCATION.

THERE'S KNOWN HISTORIC FLOODING THERE.

AND SO THE SOLUTION IS TO BASICALLY TRY TO CHANNELIZE, TRY TO INTERCEPT AS MUCH FLOW AS POSSIBLE AND TAKE IT TO THE OUTFALLS, AND AT THE SAME TIME MITIGATE, UH, ANY IMPACTS DOWNSTREAM.

'CAUSE AS WE CHANNELIZE ALL THIS FLOW, YOU KNOW, WHERE IT'S, WHERE EVENTUALLY IT'S GONNA OUTFALL, WE'RE GONNA NEED TO OFFSET THOSE IMPACTS SOMEHOW.

SO, WE'LL, NOT SAYING THAT WE WOULD PROPOSE A DETENTION POND, BUT WE'RE CONSIDERING IT.

BUT IT'S SOMETHING TO EVALUATE IN, IN OUR ANALYSIS.

SO THE NEXT ONE IS, UH, DOWNTOWN KAUFMAN.

SO THIS IS NEXT TO THE, UH, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, UH, JR PHILLIPS AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS.

THIS INCLUDES THE STREETS OF PHILLIPS CIRCLE, SIXTH STREET ROYAL DRIVE, AND SOUTH DALLAS STREET.

SO A LOT OF, UM, UH, WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE UNDERSIZED STORM DRAIN SYSTEMS, UH, IN SOME OF THOSE, UH, ROADS AND INTERSECTIONS.

SO IT'S, UH, WE DON'T HAVE A FULL PICTURE OF, UH, THIS IS JUST AN ESTIMATE RIGHT NOW, SO WE DON'T HAVE A FULL PICTURE.

WE NEED MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM.

UH, WE'RE GONNA GO OUT IN THE FIELD AS WELL AND VERIFY SOME THINGS, BUT, UH, WE CAN TELL THAT THERE'S PROBABLY LIKE SOME UNDERSIZED JUST STORM DRAIN AND CHANNEL SYSTEM AS IT GOES, UH, UNDER, UH, HIGHWAY 34 RIGHT THERE.

SO, OKAY.

AND THEN THE NEXT ONE IS KEMP, WHICH IS, UH, WELL JUST TO THE, TO THE EAST OF KEMP.

THIS IS THE CROSSING WITH, UH, ARCADIA ROAD.

AND, UH, THE AFFECTED HOUSES ON ARE ON SOUTH PEARL STREET.

SO, UM, WE BELIEVE THERE'S AN UNDERSIZED, UH, STORMWATER CROSSING THERE.

CULVERT CROSSING.

MM-HMM .

JUST MAYBE A SIMPLE SOLUTION TO JUST UPGRADING THE ROADWAY, MAYBE SOME CHANNEL GRADING, BUT, UM, IT COULD PROVIDE A, A REAL BENEFIT TO A SECTION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND THE LAST ONE IS, UH, MAYBANK.

SO THIS IS JUST NORTH OF MAYBANK.

UH, MAIN STREET IS, UH, NORTH THIRD STREET IS CROSSING THERE ON THE, ON THE WEST SIDE.

SO EVERYTHING TO THE EAST OF NORTH THIRD STREET AND BOUND AT, UH, JUST, IT'S ALL, THIS IS ALL NORTH OF US HIGHWAY 1 75.

SO IT'S A SYSTEM OF, UH, CHANNELS AND CULVERTS THAT I THINK STARTS AT THE CULVERT AT NORTH THIRD STREET IS THE MAIN OUTFALL.

AND EVERYTHING UPSTREAM IS WHAT WE WERE PLANNING TO ANALYZE FURTHER.

SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW, THESE ARE NOT FINAL RESULTS.

THESE ARE SIMPLY JUST THE INITIAL, LIKE HIGH LEVEL, UM, IT'S, IT'S A GRID GRIDDED SYSTEM, SO IT DOESN'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION, IT'S JUST BASICALLY RUNNING THE RAINWATER ON THE TERRAIN.

AND FROM THERE, WE'RE JUST GONNA REFINE IT FURTHER, GET MORE INFORMATION, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF SURVEY POINTS.

OKAY.

AND, UM, AND THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO TELL 'EM MORE, LIKE CONFIRM, YOU KNOW, IF THESE RESULTS ARE, ARE ACCURATE OR NOT.

AND THEN WHAT KIND OF PROPOSED SOLUTIONS WE CAN GO FROM THERE.

GOOD.

GOOD.

OKAY.

CORRECT.

OKAY.

SO WHERE WE ARE NOW IS, UH, WE HAVE SEVERAL TASKS, UH, GIVEN TO US BY THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD, BUT, UH, WE'VE COMPLETED MOST OF THE DATA COLLECTION.

WE'RE STILL DOING SOME FIELD WORK.

UH, WE'VE DONE MOST OF THE HIGH LEVEL H AND H HYDRAULIC ANALYSIS.

UH, WE'RE RIGHT NOW IS THE IDENTIFICATION OF PROBLEM AREAS.

WHERE WE'RE

[00:20:01]

SO TRYING TO FIGURE OUT SOLUTIONS FOR, FOR THESE FOUR LOCATIONS.

AND OUR PLAN IS TO SUBMIT, UM, A 50% DRAFT OF, OF FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS OR LIKE PROPOSED SOLUTIONS BY SEPTEMBER 5TH.

UH, WE HAVE TO HAVE A CONCEPT AT LEAST OF, UH, WHAT KIND OF SOLUTION WE WANT BY SEPTEMBER 5TH.

OKAY.

ANY QUESTIONS? APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU DO.

JEREMY, YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? NO, SIR.

UH, WELCOME ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS YOU GUYS MAY HAVE IN REGARDS TO THE SELECTIONS THAT WE HAVE? IT'S NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE QUICK AND FREEZE.

NICHOLS HAS WORKED WITH THE COUNTY FOR YEARS, AND SO WE TRUST WHAT THEY DO.

YES, SIR.

WE GET GOOD ENGINEERS ON STAFF AND SO IT'S VERY VARIABLE TO THE COUNTY.

SOME OF THESE ARE IN THE COUNTY, SOME OF THIS IS IN THE CITY, SO I KNOW THEY WORK HAND IN HAND, SO THAT'S GOOD.

YEAH, SIR.

NOW IS THIS THE FOUR OF Y'ALL SELECTED? UH, LIKE THE ONES THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT? YES.

LIKE RR CIRCLE AND ALL THAT.

IS THAT INCLUDED IN THIS AS WELL OR IS IT JUST THOSE FOUR WERE PICKED FROM THE 16TH? SO THE ONES THAT WE WERE, OR YOU GUYS DID SUBMIT, OF COURSE WE EVALUATED AND IT'S BASED ON THE IMPACTS.

SO THESE ONES HERE, WE JUST SELECTED AS A MORE HIGHER TIER IN REGARDS TO THE IMPACTS THAT COULD BE GRADED HIGHER AND COULD GET, UH, APPROVAL.

SO, OKAY.

NOW, BEFORE, UH, WE DID THIS A COUPLE YEARS AGO, AND THE SITES THAT YOU GUYS HAD PICKED WHEN THE FEASIBILITY STUDY COME OUT, THEY WASN'T WILLING TO PAY THE FULL GRANT THING.

AND WE WERE, WE HAD TO CAN ALL THOSE PROGRAMS AFTER SPENDING THAT MONEY BECAUSE WE WAS PICKING SITES THAT DID NOT QUALIFY.

SO WAS THAT CONSIDERED THIS TIME AS WELL? CORRECT.

YEAH, THAT WAS, UM, SO THE FIRST CYCLE THAT WE DID WAS KIND OF THE FIRST TIME THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD WAS DOING THIS, THE NEW FIF FUNDING.

SO, UH, THE EXACT RANKING SYSTEM HADN'T EXACTLY BEEN DETERMINED.

AND THIS GO AROUND WE'RE DEFINITELY KEEPING THAT IN MIND AND THEY HAVE A BIT MORE GUIDANCE ON LIKE, WHAT WOULD RANK HIGHER.

SO THE PROJECTS THAT WE DID PREVIOUSLY, UH, FOCUS MAINLY ON COUNTY ROADS, UH, LOW WATER CROSSINGS, BUT, UM, SIMPLY DIDN'T BENEFIT ENOUGH, UH, PROPERTIES OR ENOUGH OF A, LIKE, ENOUGH OF A BENEFIT TO PUSH THEM UP IN THE RANKINGS.

SO THESE PROJECTS WERE SELECTED MAINLY, UH, KEEPING, KEEPING IN MIND, YOU KNOW, LESSONS FROM THE PAST AND ALSO WHAT COULD QUALIFY TO PUSH 'EM FURTHER UP IN THE RANKING.

SO IT DID PUSH US INTO LOOKING MORE INTO, UH, THE DENSER AREAS.

NOT NECESSARILY ONLY CITY LIMITS, BUT WE WERE LOOKING SPECIFICALLY AT PROPERTIES, UH, PROPERTIES THAT COULD BENEFIT.

RIGHT.

SO COUNTY ROADS ARE, ARE GOOD PROJECTS FOR SURE, BUT THEY, THEY JUST DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR ENOUGH OF A BENEFIT, UH, STATE FUNDING.

ALRIGHT.

ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

OKAY, NEXT I WANT TO MOVE ITEM 13 UP.

'CAUSE JUDGE GIBBS NEEDS TO GET BACK TO COURT.

AND SO BEFORE COURTNEY COMES UP, YOU DON'T MIND STAYING A LITTLE BIT LONGER, DO YOU? I DO NOT AT, I DIDN'T THINK YOU DID .

SO.

ALRIGHT,

[13. Judge Allen: Discuss/Consider/Approve resolution to enter contract/MOU with Lakes Regional to serve as Kaufman County's designated Local Mental Health Authority.]

SO WE HAVE WAYNE, YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF, PLEASE, SIR.

ABSOLUTELY.

UH, GOOD MORNING, JUDGE.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

UM, MY NAME IS WAYNE VAUGHN.

I'M THE CEO AT LAKES REGIONAL COMMUNITY CENTER, AND I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY.

I KNOW THIS IS A, A WEIGHTY MEASURE MEASURE AND AN IMPORTANT DISCUSSION TO HAVE TODAY.

UH, BEFORE I GET STARTED, I KNOW THEY'RE OFF CAMERA, BUT I HAVE SOME IMPORTANT PEOPLE WITH ME TODAY.

DEEDEE THURMAN IS BACK HERE.

I'LL TRUST THAT SHE'S MAKING HERSELF KNOWN SOMEHOW BACK THERE.

I WON'T TURN AROUND.

UH, SHE IS THE ASSOCIATED, UH, CEO AT LAKES REGIONAL.

AND THEN MELANIE GAN IS WITH HER.

SHE'S OUR DIRECTOR OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT SERVICES.

AND TREMAINE WILLIAMS IS OUR CLINIC MANAGER RIGHT HERE IN TERRELL, UH, WITH OUR KAUFMAN COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC.

TOGETHER, THOSE LADIES REPRESENT MORE THAN 40 YEARS OF SERVICE TO LAKES REGIONAL AND, UH, REPRESENT THE VERY BEST OF THE 430 FOLKS THAT WORK FOR LAKES REGIONAL COMMUNITY CENTER.

SO I'M VERY HONORED, UH, TO BE HERE TODAY.

UM, I HAVE BEEN AT LAKES JUST ABOUT A YEAR, ACTUALLY, A LITTLE OVER A YEAR.

UH, IT CAME FROM, UH, THE WESTERN PART OF THE METROPLEX.

UH, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, UH, NEXT WEEK I CELEBRATE ONE YEAR AS A KAUFMAN COUNTY RESIDENT.

UM, MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN IN, IN FORNEY, UH, FOR ABOUT A YEAR.

SO, UH, DURING THAT TIME WE FOUND A GOOD CHURCH.

WE FOUND SOME GOOD FRIENDS.

UH, WE FOUND DOCTORS AND DENTISTS AND VETERINARIANS AND THE VOTER REGISTRATION OFFICE, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, MAYBE, UH, THE TAX OFFICE.

SO I'M ALREADY HOOKED UP THERE.

SO, UH, WE HAVE NO PROBLEMS, UM, BEYOND KAUFMAN COUNTY.

I'VE REALLY, UH, ENJOYED, UH, GETTING TO KNOW THE BROADER SYSTEM.

WE ARE THE MHA FOR SEVEN OTHER COUNTIES THAT ARE OUT EAST OF HERE, UM, FROM PARIS TO SULFUR

[00:25:01]

UM, AND SPENDING TIME OUT THERE HAS BEEN ENJOYABLE AS WELL.

UM, WHILE I'M NEW TO FORNEY, OUR FAMILY IS NOT ENTIRELY NEW TO THIS REGION.

MY PARENTS WERE BOTH BORN AND RAISED IN FANNING COUNTY.

UM, WE GO UP TO BOTTOM FREQUENTLY FOR, UH, FOR DIFFERENT, UH, EVENTS, HOLIDAYS, UH, REUNIONS AND THE LIKE.

UH, MY FATHER WENT TO EAST TEXAS STATE, EAST TEXAS A AND M COMMERCE.

AND, UH, WHILE HE WAS WORKING THERE OR WHILE HE WAS IN SCHOOL THERE, HE WORKED IN TERRELL, UH, WORKED, UH, FOR ANDERSON CLAYTON FUNERAL HOME.

DIDN'T KNOW THEY USED TO DISPATCH AMBULANCES OUT OF THE FUNERAL HOMES, BUT HE WAS AN AMBULANCE DRIVER BACK IN THE DAY, UH, THERE IN TERRELL.

AND ALSO WORKED FOR NORTEX LUMBER COMPANY, UH, LUMBER YARD THERE IN TERRELL.

SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE HIM STILL AROUND.

IT'S BEEN NICE TO HEAR THOSE STORIES THAT HE HAS, UH, SHARED WITH ME FROM HIS TIME, UH, LIVING IN TERRELL.

AS FOR ME, I'VE WORKED FOR MULTIPLE, UH, LOCAL, UH, INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY AUTHORITIES AND LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES.

UH, IN MY YEARS I'VE SPENT NEARLY 30 YEARS EITHER STUDYING FOR OR WORKING IN THE MENTAL HEALTH FIELD.

UH, WORKED FOR TWO OTHER, UH, LIT PRIOR TO WORKING FOR NM HHAS PRIOR TO, TO WORKING HERE AT LAKES.

UH, DURING THAT TIME, I'VE BEEN A SERVICE COORDINATOR.

I'VE BEEN A CASE MANAGER, BEEN A THERAPIST, BEEN A YOUTH THERAPIST WORKING WITH JUVENILES ON PROBATION.

UM, I'VE OVERSEEN CLINICS.

I'VE OVERSEEN MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS IN THEIR ENTIRETY ACROSS MULTIPLE COUNTIES.

UM, I'VE OVERSEEN COMPLIANCE AND QUALITY MEASURES AND PROGRAMS. AND I SPENT THE LAST FIVE YEARS BEING THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR A COMMUNITY CENTER WEST OF FORT WORTH.

SO I'VE DONE JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING IN THE MENTAL HEALTH FIELD UP TO THIS POINT.

UM, AND NOW I'M HONORED TO BE IN A POSITION OF STEWARDSHIP WITH LAKES REGIONAL.

UM, IN ADDITION TO MY, UH, CIVILIAN SERVICE, I RETIRED IN OCTOBER OF 2024 AS A LIEUTENANT COLONEL AFTER 33 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE TEXAS AIR NATIONAL GUARD.

UH, I DID THE LAST 26 OF THOSE FLYING C ONE THIRTIES OUT OF FORT WORTH.

UM, IT DID NINE COMBAT DEPLOYMENTS TO IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN DURING THAT TIME.

UH, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WAS ABLE TO RESPOND TO, UH, MANY NATURAL DISASTERS HERE IN TEXAS, HURRICANES AND WINTER STORMS AND THE LIKE.

SO, UM, MY FAVORITE PART OF THAT JOB WAS ALWAYS TEXANS, HELPING TEXANS.

AND I FEEL THE MENTAL HEALTH PART OF MY JOB, THE MILITARY PART OF MY JOB, MESH VERY WELL TOGETHER.

AND PEOPLE, PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME SAYING, WELL, THAT SEEMS LIKE TWO VERY DIFFERENT THINGS.

UM, IN SOME WAYS THEY ARE.

BUT AS A C ONE 30, UH, NAVIGATOR, WE WOULD GO IN AND WE WOULD LAND DIRT AUSTERE FIELDS IN AFGHANISTAN AND WE WOULD PULL PEOPLE OUT.

THEY WERE IN DANGER, THEY WERE AT RISK, AND THAT NEEDED HELP.

OR WE WOULD GO INTO IRAQ AND WE WOULD BRING NEEDED SUPPLIES, NEEDED TOOLS, UTENSILS, UH, ABILITIES THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO SURVIVE.

AND I FEEL LIKE IN MENTAL HEALTH, WE'RE DOING THE EXACT SAME THING.

IT'S NOT GONNA BE A C ONE 30 FULL OF GUYS IN FLIGHT SUITS COMING IN.

IT'S MORE LIKELY TO BE A YOUNG LADY IN A POLO SHIRT DRIVING A NISSAN ALTIMA WHO'S GONNA SHOW UP.

BUT THEY'RE DOING THE EXACT SAME THING.

THEY'RE HELPING PEOPLE AT OFTEN THEIR WORST TIMES, THEY'RE PROVIDING THEM SERVICE AND THEY'RE PULLING THEM OUT OF BAD SITUATIONS TO HELP MAKE THEIR SITUATION BETTER.

SO I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE WHAT I DO, AND WORKING IN MENTAL HEALTH.

UM, LITTLE HISTORY ON LAKES LAKE STARTED IN 1999, UM, AS THE LOCAL IDD AUTHORITY AND THE LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY FOR KAUFMAN COUNTY.

IT WAS STARTED BY KAUFMAN COUNTY AS ONE OF NINE COUNTIES THAT, UH, FORMED IT.

UM, IT HAS OPERATED UNINTERRUPTED.

IT'S A LOCAL IDD AUTHORITY.

SINCE THAT TIME, THAT HAS NEVER CHANGED.

UM, HOWEVER, IN THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS, THERE WAS A PILOT PROGRAM IN THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT PULLED, UH, KAUFFMAN COUNTY OUT FROM UNDER LAKES AS A MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY AND INTO A, UH, MCO DRIVEN PILOT PROGRAM.

THAT PROGRAM, UH, ENDED, UM, AND WHEN IT DID, NORTH TEXAS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AUTHORITY TOOK OVER MOST OF THOSE COUNTIES AND TODAY OPERATES AS THE, UH, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AUTHORITY FOR KAUFMAN COUNTY.

WE HAVE NEVER STOPPED PROVIDING SERVICES AT LAKES REGIONAL THROUGHOUT THAT TIME.

UM, WE JUST DID IT UNDER CONTRACT.

AND TODAY WE OPERATE UNDER CONTRACT, UM, WITH NORTH TEXAS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AUTHORITY.

SO IF THIS CHANGE IS MADE, IT'S NOT SO MUCH A CHANGE AS IT IS TO GOING BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED ORIGINALLY NEARLY 30 YEARS AGO.

UH, WITH LAKES REGIONAL BEING THE MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY FOR KAUFFMAN COUNTY.

UM, I MENTIONED THE OTHER COUNTIES THAT LAKES REGIONAL SERVES AS A MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY.

I'LL SPEAK TO THOSE QUICKLY.

UM, JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE EXPERTISE AS A MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY, WE'VE BEEN DOING IT.

UM, THOSE COUNTIES ARE CAMP DELTA, FRANKLIN HOPKINS, LAMAR, MORRIS, AND TITUS COUNTY.

UH, SOME OF THE THINGS WE DO IN THOSE COUNTIES, IN ADDITION TO THE COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES WE PROVIDE, UM, ALSO INCLUDE CRISIS RESPONSE THAT WE PROVIDE FOR THOSE COUNTIES.

UM, RECENTLY WE HAVE SECURED A GRANT FOR HOPKINS COUNTY THAT'S GONNA PLACE A MENTAL HEALTH

[00:30:01]

WE'VE JUST STARTED A PROGRAM THAT PUTS A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL IN THE JAIL, UM, TO HELP DO ASSESSMENTS AND TREATMENT AND FOLLOW UP AFTER FOLKS LEAVE THE JAIL, UH, TO HELP MAKE SURE THERE'S A SMOOTH TRANSITION, A SERVICES, UH, WE PROVIDE DRUG COURT IN TWO OF OUR COUNTIES.

UM, SO WE HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH DRUG COURT AND WE PROVIDE A, UH, KUMI PROGRAM FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THAT PROGRAM AND ALL SEVEN OF OUR LMHA COUNTIES.

UH, AND THAT STANDS FOR TEXAS, UH, CORRECTIONAL OFFICE ON OFFENDERS WITH MEDICAL OR MENTAL IMPAIRMENTS.

KUMI IS MUCH EASIER, UH, TO SAY, BUT THAT PROGRAM PROVIDES SPECIALIZED ACCESS TO FOLKS ON, UH, ADULTS ON PROBATION OR PAROLE TO HELP MAKE SURE THEY'RE GETTING THE SERVICES TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM AND SEE THAT THEY DON'T END UP BACK IN JAIL.

SO LAKES HAS BEEN CONTINUOUSLY PRESENT.

I CAN TELL YOU.

LAST MONTH WE SERVED 729 ADULTS IN, UH, TERRELL.

WE SERVED 223 YOUTH IN TERRELL.

WE SERVED 16 WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAMS, AND WE SERVED 17 YOUTH IN A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM THAT'S BRAND NEW THAT MELANIE HAS ACTUALLY HELPED START WITH JUDGE TARNO IN, UH, FORNEY.

SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO BE ENGAGED AND INVOLVED HERE IN KAUFFMAN COUNTY.

UM, I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THE FINAL NUMBER THAT I HAVE.

IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT NUMBER TO ME.

IT'S 97.

AND RECENTLY I HAD TO DO A PRESENTATION AND I ASKED OUR QM DEPARTMENT TO LOOK AND SAY, HEY, SHOW ALL THE SATISFACTION SURVEYS WE'VE DONE UP TO THIS POINT IN THE YEAR.

GIVE ME A LITTLE SUMMARY OF THOSE.

WE'VE DONE EIGHT MONTHS WORTH OF, UH, COLLECTING.

SO WE HAD COLLECTED 290 SATISFACTION SURVEYS.

AND IF ANYONE'S EVER DONE A SATISFACTION SURVEY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE RESPOND IF THEY'RE REALLY HAPPY OR IF THEY'RE REALLY MAD , PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE DON'T RESPOND TO SATISFACTION SURVEYS, RIGHT? I'VE NEVER GOTTEN THE FREE FRENCH FRIES AT WHATABURGER FOR FILLING OUT MY RECEIPT OR, OR LETTING THEM KNOW.

UM, BUT WE REVIEWED THOSE 290 SURVEYS AND 97% OF THE RESPONDENTS SAID THEY WOULD RECOMMEND LAKES.

AND THAT TO ME IS THE MOST IMPORTANT NUMBER WE CAN HAVE BECAUSE THAT'S THE FOLKS WE'RE SERVING.

AND THAT SPEAKS TO HOW THEY FEEL THEY'RE TREATED.

IT SPEAKS TO THE QUALITY OF OUR STAFF.

IT SPEAKS TO THE QUALITY OF OUR PROGRAMS. UM, IT SPEAKS TO THE DEDICATION AND THE, UH, DILIGENCE WITH WHICH WE, UH, FULFILL OUR MISSION.

SO I'M VERY, VERY PROUD OF THAT.

UH, WITH THAT NUMBER.

UM, WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICES WITH NPA AND TWO OF THE OTHER COUNTIES.

UM, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THAT.

WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

UM, AND IN, IN SUMMARY, UM, I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL HAVE GREAT COMMUNICATION.

I'M A STRONG BELIEVER IN COMMUNICATION AND IN COLLABORATION, DEVELOPING PROGRAMS WITH ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS PRESENT THAT WORK FOR EVERYBODY, AND THAT EVERYONE HAS A SAY IN.

UM, AND THEN I BELIEVE THAT'S, THAT'S ANCHORED IN PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS.

IF I HAVE TO SEE SOMEBODY OR KNOW I MAY RUN INTO SOMEBODY AT BUCKY'S, IT CHANGES HOW I DO BUSINESS.

IF I MAKE RUN INTO ONE OF Y'ALL AT, AT ANY COMMUNITY EVENT OR CHAMBER EVENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I'M GONNA BE READY TO ANSWER.

IT'S NOT TO SAY LAKES IS GONNA DO EVERYTHING PERFECT, BUT WE WILL STAND UP AND TAKE ACCOUNT FOR, FOR THINGS THAT GO WRONG.

WE WILL ANSWER FOR THAT AND WE WILL WORK DILIGENTLY TO MAKE THOSE THINGS BETTER.

SO I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION ON THIS MATTER.

UM, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE.

I KNOW THAT I HAVE VISITED WITH WAYNE CONSIDERABLY.

SO HAS, UH, MARY BARDEN AND JUDGE RUSSELL, UH, JUDGE GIBBS HAD HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DRUG COURT AND THEY'RE WORKING WITH THEM.

AND YOU DO ALREADY THAT WITH TWO COUNTIES.

WE DO HAVE A MEMBER, MARY WEBSTER, WHO JUST RETIRED FROM THE COUNTY.

SHE IS ON THE BOARD AT, UH, LAKES REGIONAL.

WE JUST REAPPOINTED HER A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.

SO WE HAVE SOMEONE, UH, THERE THAT DEFINITELY WILL BE LOOKING OUT FOR US.

AND, AND SO, UH, JUDGE GIBBS, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE? YES.

I, FIRST OF ALL WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH WAYNE AND TO MEET HIM AND WAS VERY IMPRESSED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

UM, LAKES REGIONAL HAVE NO ISSUE WITH LAKES REGIONAL, IF I'M HONEST ABOUT IT.

I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH NIPA.

THE THING THAT I AM HERE IS BECAUSE MOST OF YOU GUYS LET ME SAY THIS FIRST.

THANK YOU JUDGE ALLEN.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS.

YOU GUYS ARE ALWAYS KEEPING IN MIND THE, UH, BUDGET.

AND I UNDERSTAND THE CONSIDERATIONS OF THE BUDGET.

I'M ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF KAUFFMAN AS THE JUDGE OF THE 422ND DISTRICT COURT.

YOU GUYS KNOW ME AS THE JUDGE OF THE 422ND DISTRICT COURT.

YOU MAY NOT KNOW ME AS THE PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE 422ND DRUG COURT.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.

I WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW THAT I NOT ONLY WEAR THE JUDGE HAT IN TERMS OF CRIMINAL, CIVIL AND FAMILY CASES IN THE 422ND

[00:35:01]

AND NIPA, THEY PROVIDE RESOURCES TO OUR COURT.

THE BOTTOM LINE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE.

WE HAVE HAD HUNDREDS OF GRADUATES.

OUR FOOTPRINT IS SMALL, BUT OUR IMPACT IS HUGE.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE COME THROUGH THE DRUG COURT.

THEIR FAMILIES COME BACK DURING GRADUATION AND THEY SAY, THANK YOU FOR MY SON BACK.

THANK YOU FOR MY DAUGHTER BACK.

THANK YOU FOR MY MOTHER BACK.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT EVEN THOUGH IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME, IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS VERY PERSONAL TO ME.

SO THE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN HAD ABOUT REPLACING, UM, NIP A WITH LAKES REGIONAL, UM, IS SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS ME.

SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS THE PEOPLE THAT I SERVE AND THE PEOPLE THAT I AFFECT THROUGH THE DRUG COURT PROGRAM.

SO I'M HERE BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WHEN YOU PULL THE RUG POTENTIALLY OUT FROM UNDER THE DRUG COURT AND THE RESOURCES THAT WE USE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF KAUFFMAN COUNTY, I WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

THAT'S THE REASON THAT I'M HERE, IS BECAUSE, UH, I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSATIONS AND I TOOK GREAT ISSUE WITH THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD ISSUES WHERE SERVICES HAVE BEEN INTERRUPTED OR CUT BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE A VOICE.

AND SO EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T SEE ME, I, I, I HATE TO COMPLAIN.

I'M NOT COMPLAINING REALLY.

I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT NOT JUST MENTAL HEALTH, IT ALSO ARE OTHER COMPONENTS THAT ARE VERY ESSENTIAL TO PROBATION, TO DRUG COURT AND OTHER UNINTENTIONAL, UH, PARTIES THAT MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE.

SO I DON'T KNOW ABOUT PROBATION, BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT REPLACING THINGS THAT INVOLVE THE 422ND DRUG COURT, I WANT YOU TO SEE MY FACE AND SAY, HEY, UM, HOW DOES THIS AFFECT YOU? THAT'S THE REASON I'M HERE.

BUT WAYNE, I APPRECIATE YOU.

I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU GUYS.

YOU GUYS DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB IN CONSIDERATION OF KAUFFMAN COUNTY AND ITS BUDGET.

SO THANK YOU.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT.

I APPRECIATE IT.

CAN I SPEAK TO THAT JUST REAL QUICK? YES, REAL QUICK.

SO, UM, SUBSTANCE USE AND SUBSTANCE USE PROGRAMS ARE, ARE IMPORTANT TO ME.

UM, MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY HAS BEEN SAVED BY EFFECTIVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING I SHARE WITH MANY PEOPLE, BUT IT MATTERS A GREAT DEAL TO ME.

THIS TRANSITION, IF IT IS TO OCCUR, UM, WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO WORK OUT.

THERE'LL BE ADMINISTRATIVE THINGS, THERE'LL BE COORDINATION, NPA AND LAKES WILL HAVE TO DO.

UM, I'M COMMITTED TO WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH LAKES IN THAT TRANSITION.

I'M ALSO COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS OF KAUFFMAN COUNTY ARE MINIMALLY IMPACTED AND HOPEFULLY NOT IMPACTED AT ALL.

I AM NOT IN A HURRY TO RUSH PROGRAMMING IF THEY'RE GOOD PROVIDERS THAT ARE DOING THAT.

IF JUDGE GIBBS IS HAPPY WITH HIS COURT AND WITH THE TREATMENT THAT HE'S GETTING FROM HIS PROVIDER, I DON'T CARE WHO THE PROVIDER IS, THAT DOESN'T, I CARE VERY MUCH ABOUT THE QUALITY OF SERVICE THEY'RE PROVIDING.

AND WE WILL WORK WITH NPA TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS AND THAT STAYS AND THAT, UH, ALL THE IN INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED ARE TAKEN CARE OF.

UM, AND, AND I HAVE A REAL COMMITMENT TO THAT.

SO, UM, I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO BE AFRAID, UH, OF, OF HOW THAT GOES.

UH, I MEAN, SOME FEAR IS, IS NOR I'M A LITTLE AFRAID OF HOW THAT JUST MAY GO TO BE HONEST.

BUT WE'RE GONNA WORK IT OUT AND I'M GONNA MAKE SURE THAT THE FOLKS IN KAUFFMAN COUNTY AREN'T NEGATIVELY IMPACTED AND WE'LL TAKE OUR TIME TO DO THIS TRANSITION, RIGHT? UM, AND NOT RIP ANYTHING OUT BEFORE SUITABLE REPLACEMENT ISN'T JUST ALREADY NAMED BUT IS NAMED AND READY TO GO AND READY TO IMMEDIATELY STEP IN AND PROVIDE SERVICES SO THAT ANY TRANSITION IS, IS SEAMLESS.

AND IF THERE'S A PROVIDER THAT'S ALREADY DOING GREAT WORK, I HAVE NO QUALMS WITH KEEPING ANY PROVIDERS IN IN THE REGION, IN THE, IN THE COUNTY THAT ARE DOING GOOD WORK.

SO ANY QUESTIONS FOR WAYNE? I KNOW WE'VE, WE'VE, WE'VE TALKED AROUND THIS AND, AND I'M, I'M, AND I'VE ALREADY APOLOGIZED TO JUDGE GIBBS.