Jul 28, 2026 Commissioners Court

OKAY, MR. TOMMY RIGGS UP NEXT, DISCUSS PRESENT THE PLANS FOR THE BENEFIT OPEN ENROLLMENT.

[3. Tommy Riggs: Discuss/Present plans for Benefit Open Enrollment.]

MORNING, TOMMY.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE.

GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.

HOPE Y'ALL ARE HAVING A GOOD DAY TODAY.

UM, WE ARE APPROACHING, UH, THE TIME FOR OPEN ENROLLMENT OR BENEFIT OPEN ENROLLMENT.

OUR, OUR NEW PLAN YEAR, WE'LL START IN OCTOBER.

SO WANTED TO GIVE YOU, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPDATE IN TERMS OF WHAT OUR PLANS ARE AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON.

UH, OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

WE'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH DIFFERENT BROKERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS AND WE'VE EVALUATED A NUMBER OF OPTIONS, HOPEFULLY TRYING TO GET THE BEST VALUE AND BENEFITS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES IN THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE.

UH, NATIONAL ENROLLMENT PARTNERS, I MAY REFER TO THEM AS NEP FOR SHORT.

UH, HAS SERVED THE COUNTY FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, UH, AND THEY CONTINUE TO BE THE TOP CHOICE FROM OUR EVALUATION FOR CONTINUED SERVICES.

UH, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING OUR CURRENT AGREEMENT WITH THEM.

WE HAVE KIND OF AN ONGOING AGREEMENT, UH, WITH THEM AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING THAT, UH, PARTIALLY BECAUSE OF SOME NEW THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING THAT WE FEEL LIKE ARE GOING TO BE OF BENEFIT FOR THE COUNTY AND EMPLOYEES.

AND SO I'M GONNA START GOING THROUGH THOSE, UH, QUICKLY FOR YOU.

UH, WE'RE GONNA OFFER SOME NEW OPTIONS FOR THE ACTUAL ENROLLMENT PROCESS.

UH, ONE OF THOSE IS GOING TO BE A PASSIVE ENROLLMENT FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THEIR, UH, BENEFITS.

UH, AND THEY KNOW WHAT BENEFITS THEY WANT AND THEY'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THOSE.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH A FACE-TO-FACE MEETING.

THEY CAN JUST SIMPLY LET THINGS CONTINUE ON AS THEY ARE, AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO DEDICATE TIME OUT OF THEIR SCHEDULE TO COME IN AND MAKE DECISIONS AND MEET WITH AN ENROLLER.

SO WHAT WE'LL REFER TO THAT AS A PASSIVE ENROLLMENT.

IF SOMEONE DOESN'T DO ANYTHING, THEN THEIR BENEFITS PRETTY MUCH STAY THE SAME.

WE'LL HAVE SOME COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT THAT.

THERE'S A FEW CAVEATS ON THAT THAT I'LL GO THROUGH, UH, WITH YOU AND CERTAINLY WE'LL HAVE WITH COMMUNICATIONS WITH EMPLOYEES.

ANOTHER OPTION WILL BE JUST A VIRTUAL OR ONLINE ENROLLMENT PROCESS, RATHER THAN HAVING TO COME AND MEET WITH AN ENROLLER, THE SOFTWARE IS BEING ADJUSTED TO WHERE EMPLOYEES, IF THEY WANT TO DO THIS AT HOME WHILE THEY'RE WITH THEIR SPOUSE AND LOOK AT BENEFITS AND MAKE THOSE DECISIONS, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY TO DO THAT RATHER THAN BEING FORCED TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.

IN A MEETING HERE AT A COUNTY FACILITY DURING THE DAY.

UM, TOWARDS THE END OF OPEN ENROLLMENT, WE'LL PROBABLY ALSO OPEN UP A SMALL, UH, WINDOW OF TIME FOR A CALL CENTER WHERE SOMEONE COULD SCHEDULE A PHONE APPOINTMENT, UH, TO TAKE CARE OF OPEN ENROLLMENT AS WELL.

IF THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO GET IT TAKEN CARE OF PRIOR TO THAT.

WE'LL STILL BE OFFERING, UH, THE FACE-TO-FACE ENROLLING MEETINGS WITH AN ENROLLER IF EMPLOYEES WANT TO DO THAT.

OUR OFFICE HAS PROBABLY ALREADY BEEN IN CONTACT WITH YOUR OFFICES.

SOME TO SET UP SOME TENTATIVE TIMES TO DO THAT, BUT WE ANTICIPATE THAT THAT'S GONNA TAKE LESS TIME THAN IT HAS IN THE PAST.

UM, WE DO PLAN AND WANT TO OFFER A NEW BENEFIT, UH, FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AS WELL.

UH, THIS WILL BE REFERRED TO AS FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS.

UM, YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THESE.

UM, THEY CAN BE DONE FOR EITHER MEDICAL EXPENSES OR DEPENDENT CARE EXPENSES.

IF SOMEONE'S PAYING CHILDCARE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, EVEN ELDERLY CARE MAY QUALIFY IN SOME CASES.

UH, THE WAY A FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT WORKS, OR AN FSA WORKS IS EMPLOYEES SET ASIDE A REGULAR DEDUCTION FROM THEIR PAYCHECKS, AND THEN THEY WILL EITHER USE A CARD THAT WILL BE ISSUED OR

[00:05:01]

THEY WILL FILE REIMBURSEMENT CLAIMS. IF, UH, THERE THEY'VE GOT A MEDICAL EXPENSE THAT DOESN'T TAKE A CARD, MOST THINGS WILL TAKE A CARD.

BUT THERE IS AN OPTION THERE TO FILE A CLAIM IF THEY NEED TO.

UH, AND THAT'S THE WAY THEY'LL ACCESS THOSE SET ASIDE FUNDS.

UH, THE REAL BENEFIT COMES BECAUSE THE IRS ALLOWS FOR THESE FUNDS TO BE SET ASIDE PRE-TAX, AND SO EMPLOYEES CAN INCREASE THEIR AFTER TAX INCOME.

UM, BY USING THOSE, UH, REALISTICALLY I THINK MOST EMPLOYEES COULD SEE, UM, UH, BASED ON THE AMOUNT THAT THEY HAVE DEDUCTED ABOUT A 19 TO 28% SAVINGS ON THAT AMOUNT.

IN OTHER WORDS, IF SOMEONE DEDICATED A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO BE TAKEN OUT OF THEIR CHECKS, UH, OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR, THEY'RE GOING TO SEE ABOUT 190 TO $280 INCREASE IN THEIR, UH, AFTER TAX NET INCOME FOR THE YEAR.

SO IT'S NOT MAKING ANYONE WEALTHY, BUT AGAIN, UH, THAT'S DOLLAR ACCOUNT THAT THAT'S A THOUSAND BUCKS.

AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS IF SOMEONE HAS A NUMBER OF REGULAR MEDICAL EXPENSES AND ALSO HAS A LOT FOR DEPENDENT CARE, IT'S POSSIBLE WITH THE IRS LIMITS THAT THEY COULD SET ASIDE CLOSE TO $11,000 WITH THE CURRENT LIMITS.

AND SO YOU LOOK AT THAT AND IF THEY CAN CREATE AN INCREASE ON THAT AMOUNT OF $11,000 OF 19 TO 28%, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO TO $3,000 A YEAR, A YEAR, UH, IN TERMS OF WHAT THAT'S DONE.

NOW, THAT'S NOT GONNA BE A TON OF EMPLOYEES, BUT IT MAY BE SOME THAT HAVE REGULAR MEDICAL EXPENSES SET UP TO DO THAT.

AND SO, AND DON'T, UH, DON'T MOST SCHOOL DISTRICTS DO THIS ALREADY.

UH, MY WIFE HAD HAD ASKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, SO I'M GLAD, GLAD TO HEAR IT.

UH, THEY, THEY DO.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I'LL POINT OUT IS, UM, JUST INFORMATIONAL.

I MEAN, MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE GONE AWAY FROM THIS BECAUSE THEY DON'T OFFER THE QUALITY INSURANCE PROGRAM THAT WE DO.

MM-HMM .

UH, BECAUSE THEY CAN USE, UH, A HIGH DEDUCTIBLE PLAN AND QUALIFY FOR AN HSA RATHER THAN AN FSA.

AND THAT HAS A LITTLE BIT MORE FREEDOM TO IT AND BENEFIT TO IT.

BUT WHEN WE OFFER THE, THE PACKAGE THAT WE DO FOR LIFE INSURANCE AND FSA IS A GOOD COMPANION BENEFIT TO PLUG IN WITH THAT TO CREATE AN OPTION FOR.

UM, INCREASING AFTER-TAX INCOME.

UH, THE CURRENT LIMITS ARE 3,400 PER EMPLOYEE FOR MEDICAL AND 7,500 FOR DEPENDENT CARE.

SO THAT AGAIN, GETS CLOSE TO $11,000.

UM, THERE, UM, NOTHING IS FREE.

THE PROCESSING OF THIS, UH, THE, THE PARTNER THAT NEP BROUGHT WITH US THAT THEY HAVE WORKED WITH IN THE PAST, THERE IS A CHARGE OF $3 AND 85 CENTS PER MONTH FOR HAVING AN ACCOUNT ON THAT.

NOW, MY PROPOSAL WILL BE FOR THE EMPLOYEE TO BE CHARGED OUT $2 AND 50 CENTS PER MONTH FOR THAT AND THE COUNTY TO PAY A DOLLAR 35 CENTS PER THAT.

THE COUNTY IS GOING TO SEE SAVINGS ON THIS AS WELL BECAUSE THE COUNTY WILL BE PAYING LESS IN TERMS OF FICA AND SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES.

THESE FUNDS ARE, USE THEM OR LOSE THEM TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.

AND SO THERE WILL BE SAVINGS THAT ARE GENERATED THERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, OF 7%, CLOSE TO 7% FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT EMPLOYEES PUT INTO THAT PLAN.

UM, AND SO, UH, I THINK WE CAN TAKE PART OF THAT COVER PART OF THAT COST BY THE COUNTY, BUT THEN LET THE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE BENEFITING FROM THAT ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO PART OF THAT, THAT TWO 50 A MONTH, UM, AMOUNTS TO $30 OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.

AND SO MY THOUGHT IS THAT'S A FAIR APPROACH TO LET EMPLOYEES BEAR PART OF THAT EXPENSE AND THEN THE COUNTY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO PART OF THAT BASED ON THE SAVINGS THAT THE COUNTY EXPERIENCES.

AGAIN, UH, THERE'S SOME FLEXIBILITY ON THAT AND CERTAINLY WE COULD MONITOR AND ADJUST THAT.

UM, LONG TERM.

UM, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE FOR EMPLOYEES THAT ARE GONNA PARTICIPATE THAT EXPENDITURES ARE SUBJECT TO AUDIT.

I'VE NEVER BEEN AWARE OF THAT BEING AUDITED, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS IF SOMEONE'S FOR PERSONAL AUDIT OR SOMEONE CAME IN FOR OUR COUNTY AND AUDITED THAT, THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO KNOW THAT THERE'S A PROCESS.

SO THE GROUP THAT WE WOULD BE WORKING WITH IS GOING TO HAVE SOME AUDIT PROCEDURES FROM TIME TO TIME THAT THEY'RE GOING TO ASK EMPLOYEES FOR RECEIPTS TO VERIFY SOME THINGS THAT CAN'T BE VERIFIED ELECTRONICALLY.

UM, THE IRS DEFINES WHAT IS ELIGIBLE, WHAT CAN BE DONE.

UM, IT'S NOT GONNA CONSIDER VITAMINS, UM, NUTRIENTS TO BE MEDICAL EXPENSES.

IT'S NOT GOING TO CONSIDER COSMETICS TO BE THAT, BUT, UH, IT CAN BE A REAL BENEFIT FOR SOMEONE THAT'S GOT A CHILD THAT THEY'RE PLANNING ON HAVING ORTHODONTICS WORK DONE THAT THEY CAN KNOW, HEY, HERE'S AN ESTIMATED EXPENSE THAT I CAN DO.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF ELIGIBLE EXPENSES.

WE'LL HAVE A SITE ON OUR WEBSITE THAT HAS REFERENCE TO THAT AS WELL, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GO IN THERE AND CHECK, UH, KEYWORD FOR EMPLOYEES TO CONSIDER WILL BE SAFE AND PREDICTABLE.

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YOU DON'T NEED TO JUST PUT A BUNCH OF MONEY IN THERE TO CREATE TAX SAVINGS BECAUSE IT IS DONE WITHIN THE CAPACITY OF A YEAR.

UH, I, I'M RECOMMENDING THAT WE DO HAVE A, A, A FUND, A ROLLOVER OF WHAT THE IRS MAX ALLOWS TO ROLL OVER TO THE CURRENT YEAR RATHER THAN EMPLOYEES LOSING THOSE FUNDS.

BUT AGAIN, IT IS SUBJECT TO A MAX.

NOW THE HSA DOESN'T DO THAT.

YOU DON'T LOSE IT ON HSAS.

YOU, YOU ARE, YOU ARE CORRECT.

THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN BENEFITS OF THE HSA IS THAT YOU DON'T LOSE THEM FOR A YEAR.

BUT THE FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS IS A KEY POINT FOR EMPLOYEES TO KNOW IS THEY NEED TO PREDICT WHAT THEY REALLY THINK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE DURING THE COURSE OF A YEAR.

AND THEN IF THEY WANT TO, THEY WANT TO CONCLUDE THE EXTRA FOR WHAT THEY ARE DOING FOR THE ROLLOVER.

I I, I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER WRITTEN DOWN.

I THINK IT'S 680 OR 640 NOW IS WHAT THE IRS ALLOWS FOR A ROLLOVER TO THE NEXT YEAR.

UM, BUT UH, IT ALLOWS SOME ROLLOVER, BUT IT'S NOT A 100%.

SO YOU DO NEED TO PLAN AND IT'S, IT IS AN ACCOUNT SET UP THAT'S MAINLY FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE A ONGOING COST IN YES.

IN MEDICAL NEEDS.

LIKE, YOU KNOW, DIABETES OR SOMETHING.

THEY'RE TAKING INSULIN.

AND THAT IT'S A PAY FREE YOUR INSULIN.

ABSOLUTELY.

YOU'RE NOT GET TAX.

YOU KNOW, IT'S, I MEAN, IT IT'S A GOOD DEAL.

IT'S A GOOD DEAL.

IT'S JUST THAT IT'S NOT AS GOOD AS IT, BUT IT'S NOT AS GOOD AS AN HSA, IT'S NOT.

UM, BUT AGAIN, IT PROVIDES SOME, SOME ADDITIONAL, UM, OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE TAX SAVINGS.

SO, UM, UM, ONE DOWNSIDE OF THIS IS THAT INDIVIDUALS WILL HAVE TO ACTUALLY GO THROUGH THE ENROLLMENT PROCESS, EITHER ONLINE OR WITH AN ENROLLER OR LATER ON DURING THE CALL CENTER.

AND THEY WILL HAVE TO DO THAT ANNUALLY FOR THIS, BECAUSE IT IS AN ANNUAL SELECTION, YOUR MEDICAL NEEDS MAY DIFFER FROM YEAR TO YEAR.

AND SO YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

YOU CAN MEET WITH THE ENROLLER.

YOU CANNOT DO THE PASSIVE ENROLLMENT AND ENROLL IN THIS PROCESS.

SO, UM, THAT, THAT HELPS THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE GETTING.

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY, THAT'S REALLY GOOD.

AND THE QUESTION I ASK IS ON THE EMPLOYEE SELF SERVE, I'M ASSUMING WE STILL HAVE THAT, UH, I KNOW WE GOT IT A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WE WAS GONNA DO THE EMPLOYEE SELFER.

'CAUSE LIKE ON THE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS WHERE I WORKED BEFORE, YOU COULD LOG IN, CLICK ONE BOX, KEEP YOUR, ALL YOUR STUFF THE SAME, LOG OUT AND IT WAS ALREADY DONE.

SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT'S HOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO THE PASSIVE SIDE OF IT OR IT'S GONNA BE FOUR.

NO, HE JUST SAID DON'T DO ANYTHING.

IT'LL BE DONE.

I THOUGHT YOU, WE HAD TO SIGN EVERY YEAR FOR THAT.

BUT IF, IF WE CHOOSE TO OFFER A PASSIVE ENROLLMENT, AND AGAIN, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO A GREAT JOB OF COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR EMPLOYEES OF THIS, BUT IF THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING, THEN THEY CAN KEEP THOSE SAME BENEFITS.

TOTALLY.

THAT THAT'D BE A LOT BETTER.

GO UP AGAIN FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS ON THE VISION PLAN.

AND I KNOW THERE ARE EMPLOYEES THAT THEY HAVE THOSE SET, THEY DON'T WANNA SIT DOWN AND GO THROUGH THINGS WITH AN ENROLLER, THAT KIND OF THING.

UH, I THINK WE WILL HAVE A LOT, IT WILL GO FASTER, EVEN IN FUTURE YEARS WITH THE FSA.

THIS IS GOING TO, IT'S, IT'S GONNA BE A POINT WHERE YOU EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT THIS, HAVE MEETINGS ABOUT, AND ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, UH, ON THE FSA.

UM, AND SO THEY'LL, AFTER WE GET THIS IMPLEMENTED AND PEOPLE GET USED TO IT, THERE'LL BE LESS NEED FOR DIALOGUE.

UH, BUT AGAIN, THE SOFTWARE SYSTEM SHOULD BE SET UP TO WHERE, AGAIN, YOU CAN GO DOWN THROUGH THERE AND WORK IF YOU'RE DOING THAT INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT THE ENROLLER.

UM, THAT'S WHY THE SELF-ENROLLMENT PROCESS SHOULD WORK.

UM, THE FSA IS TOTALLY VOLUNTARY.

WE'RE NOT FORCING THIS ON EVERY EMPLOYEE.

I MEAN, THIS IS TOTALLY THEIR OPTION TO PICK.

UM, I'M GONNA SWITCH GEARS HERE A LITTLE BIT.

I SEE HEADS NODDING IN TERMS OF THE FSA.

SO, UM, I, I THINK YOU WE'RE GOOD.

UM, SEE THE, THE BENEFIT OF OFFERING THAT FOR EMPLOYEES THAT REALLY FEEL LIKE THAT COULD BE BENEFICIAL.

UM, WE ARE GETTING AN ENHANCED VISION PLAN WITH SUPERIOR, SO THERE'S GONNA BE SOME CHANGES IN THAT.

UM, ENHANCEMENTS ALSO TYPICALLY GO WITH SOME INCREASES.

UH, THE PREMIUM MAY GO UP ANYWHERE FROM 58 CENTS TO A DOLLAR 55 CENTS PER CHECK, UH, BASED ON WHETHER YOUR EMPLOYEE ONLY OR EMPLOYEE AND FAMILY.

UM, BUT EMPLOYEES AND ANYONE THAT'S ON THEIR PLAN CAN NOW QUALIFY FOR FRAMES EVERY 12 MONTHS RATHER THAN EVERY 24 MONTHS.

SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT, UH, TWO YEARS TO GET A NEW SET OF FRAMES WITH YOUR ALLOWANCE OR TO GET YOUR ALLOWANCE AGAIN.

UH, YOU CAN GET THAT EVERY 12 MONTHS.

AND THE, UH, OVERALL, UH, ALLOWANCE FOR FRAMES AND CONTACT LENSES HAS ALSO BEEN INCREASED FROM $130 A YEAR TO $150 A YEAR.

SO THAT'S A $20 BENEFIT THAT'S BEING ENHANCED AS WE'RE DOING THAT.

THEY'VE ALSO EXTENDED A RATE LOCK FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS ON THAT.

SO THAT RATE SHOULD NOT

[00:15:01]

AND AGAIN, THE, THE COST FOR EMPLOYEES IS ANYWHERE INCREASES FROM 58 CENTS TO A DOLLAR 55 CENTS PER CHECK, UH, FOR THOSE ENHANCEMENTS, UH, PASSIVE ENROLLMENT CAN STILL BE USED FOR THAT.

WE'LL JUST COMMUNICATE TO EMPLOYEES, HEY, IF YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING WITH PASSIVE ENROLLMENT AND YOU'RE IN THE EMPLOYEE ONLY, YES YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A RATE INCREASE, BUT YOU STILL GOT YOUR COVERAGE THERE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET IN AND SAY, YES, I'M WILLING TO PAY AN EXTRA 58 CENTS PER CHECK IN ORDER TO KEEP THAT.

UH, IF THAT'S SIGNIFICANT TO THEM AND THEY DON'T WANT TO DO THAT, THEN THEY WOULD NEED TO GET IN AND DECLINE THE VISION COVERAGE.

UH, THEY COULDN'T DO THE PASSIVE ENROLLMENT IF THEY WANT TO STOP.

UM, WE ARE HAVING A VENDOR CHANGE.

UM, AS PART OF THE ENHANCED PROGRAM THAT NATIONAL ENROLLMENT PARTNERS PUT TOGETHER, UM, UNUM WILL BE TAKING OVER THE POLICIES THAT HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN PROVIDED FOR LINCOLN.

UH, THE BIGGEST ADVANTAGE HERE IS THIS SHOULD RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS FOR OUR GROUP TERM LIFE RATES THAT ARE PAID BY THE COUNTY.

UM, WE'RE ESTIMATING THAT THAT'S GOING TO COME IN ABOUT 25,000 A YEAR, LESS THAN WHAT WE HAVE BEEN PAYING FOR THE GROUP TERM RATE THAT THE COUNTY HAS PROVIDED, UH, IN THE PAST.

AND THIS WAS A KEY FACTOR IN NPS PROPOSALS BEING SELECTED BECAUSE OF THOSE SAVINGS THAT WERE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE COUNTY.

UM, LINCOLN ALSO HAS, UM, ONE OF OUR VENDORS, IT'S ONE OF OUR VENDORS FOR VOLUNTARY LIFE INSURANCE AND LONG-TERM DISABILITY.

AND UNUM WILL BE TAKING OVER THOSE COVERAGES.

AGAIN, PEOPLE CAN DO THE PASSIVE ENROLLMENT, UH, AND WE WILL JUST NOTIFY EVERYONE THAT BASICALLY IF YOU'VE HAD LINCOLN, IT'S GONNA BE SWITCHED OVER.

THE RATES ARE GOING TO STAY THE SAME.

THEY'VE ACTUALLY EXTENDED THE, THE, THE RATE LOCK FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

UM, BUT UH, THAT WILL SWITCH OVER.

AND AGAIN, IF THEY DON'T WANT TO GO WITH UNUM, THEN THEY WOULD NEED TO GET IN AND DECLINE THAT COVERAGE BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY WE WOULD HAVE IT SET UP TO WORK.

UM, BUT THEY CAN STILL PARTICIPATE IN THE PASSIVE ENROLLMENT.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THAT? WELL, OBVIOUSLY YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK AND WE APPRECIATE IT.

IT'S GONNA WORK VERY SMOOTH.

UM, YOU GOT THE COURTROOM ALREADY BOOKED, RIGHT? WE'VE GOT, WE'VE GOT I THINK OPEN ALL OF OUR ROOMS BOOKED.

I THINK THERE MAY BE ONE AREA THAT WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR A CONFIRMATION ON.

UM, UH, THAT WE, WE ALSO, UM, WE WE'RE PLANNING ON ENHANCED COMMUNICATIONS.

WE'RE, UH, WORKING ON PROBABLY HAVE 90% DONE ON A BENEFIT GUIDE THAT WE CAN GIVE TO EMPLOYEES EARLY THAT GIVES THEM MORE INFORMATION THAN WHAT THEY'VE HAD IN THE PAST.

UH, WE'VE GOT DRAFTS ON A COUPLE OF ADDITIONAL WEB PAGES THAT PEOPLE CAN GO TO FOR INFORMATION ON BENEFITS.

SO WE'RE WORKING, UM, HARD ON THAT.

THAT'S GOOD.

THAT'S REALLY GOOD.

THANK YOU TO YOU'RE WELCOME.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I GET WITH YOU TOO TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALL THE BUDGET IMPACTS.

'CAUSE I'M NOT SURE IF WE HAVE THAT SAVINGS RECORDED OKAY.

AS WELL.

SO, OKAY.

WE'LL GET TOGETHER AFTER THIS.

THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

I THINK YOU WILL BY SAYING OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, SOME, A COUPLE OF DOTTING I'S AND CROSSING T'S TO BRING TO YOU ON SOME AGREEMENTS THAT ARE BEING, UM, UPDATED, UH, FROM WHAT WE'VE HAD.

AND SO BE LOOKING FOR THOSE.

SORRY IT WENT A LONG.

THANK YOU, TOMMY.

[4. Sheriff Beavers/Chief Valentine: Discuss/Consider/Approve a donation of one pallet of bottled water from Brookshires Grocery Company in the amount of $287.52.]

OKAY, NUMBER FOUR.

SHERIFF BEAVERS AND CHIEF VALENTINE DISCUSSED CONSIDERING TO APPROVE THE DONATION OF ONE PALLET OF BOTTLED WATER FROM BERKSHIRE GROCERY IN THE AMOUNT OF $287 52 SECONDS.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS, AS YOU KNOW, ALWAYS WHEN WE GET A DONATION BY LAW, I GOTTA COME, UH, GET Y'ALL TO APPROVE IT.

UH, WITH ALL THE SHOOTING AND THE HEAT THAT IT IS, WE REACHED OUT TO OUR PARTNERS AND LUCKILY WE GOT A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY.

AND BROOKS HAS DONATED A PILE OF WATER TO HELP US AS WE'RE TRAINING ALL OUR PEOPLE.

SO WE JUST ASK THAT YOU ACCEPT THIS DONATION FOR US.

I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

YOU BET.

I NEED A MOTION.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

MR. LANG MAKES A MOTION.

HAVE A SECOND.

MR. CROW MAKES A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, CI AYE.

MOTION CARRIES NUMBER

[5. Sheriff Beavers/Chief Valentine: Discuss/Consider/Approve a donation of 2 large animal traps from Tractor Supply Company in the amount of $399.00.]

FIVE.

ONCE AGAIN, SHERIFF BEAVERS DISCUSSED CONSIDER TO APPROVE THE DONATION OF TWO LARGE ANIMAL TRAPS FROM TRACTOR SUPPLY IN THE AMOUNT OF $399.

UH, ONCE AGAIN, WE REACHED OUT TO OUR PARTNERSHIPS AND TRACTOR SUPPLY WAS WILLING TO DONATE, UH, TWO LARGE TRAPS, WHICH, UH, Y'ALL KNOW THE DOG PROBLEM WE'RE HAVING.

SO WE TEAR UP A LOT OF TRAPS AND THEY'RE WILLING TO HELP US OUT WITH THAT.

THEY GET WELL USED, THEY GET WELL USED.

THEY GET WELL USED.

SO YES.

ONCE AGAIN, I'M ASKING FOR YOU TO APPROVE THIS DONATION FAR AND KEEP TRAPPING.

DOGS NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE.

I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.

MR. MOORE MAKES THE MOTION.

I HAVE A SECOND.

MR. LANE MAKES A SECOND.

MS. LORENA, DISCUSS, CONSIDER AN APPROVED SOLICITING AND ADVERTISING BID 2026 DASH OH OH NINE FOR THE PURCHASE OF A WATER TRUCK FOR PRECINCT ONE ROAD AND BRIDGE.

THANK MOTION CARRIE.

THANK YOU SHERIFF.

APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU GUYS DO.

[6. Lorena Diaz: Discuss/Consider/Approve soliciting & advertising Bid 2026-009 Purchase of Water Truck for Precinct#l Road & Bridge.]

YES, MA'AM.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE.

AND COMMISSIONERS.

SO THIS WILL BE A COMPETITIVE

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BID FOR THE WATER TRUCK TRUCK.

UM, THIS IS FOR PRECINCT ONE AND IF APPROVED, WE WILL BE RELEASING THAT THIS WEEK ON THURSDAY AND IT'LL GO OUT THROUGH AUGUST 13TH.

ALRIGHT.

GOOD DEAL.

I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE.

I MAKE A MOTION.

I SECOND CROW MAKES THE MOTION.

COMMISSIONER US TO MAKE SECOND.

A A MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU.

NUMBER SEVEN,

[7. Commissioner Moore: Discuss/Consider/Approve entering into road use agreement for County Road 4074 for the Lordswood Development.]

COMMISSIONER MOORE.

DISCUSS CONSIDERING APPROVED, ENTERING INTO A ROAD USE AGREEMENT WITH ON, UH, CAN ROAD 40 74 WITH, UH, LARGE WOOD DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S GONNA BE ONE OF THE DEVELOPERS THAT'S DEVELOPING, UH, ONE OF THE ROADS IN FRONT OF DEVELOPMENT.

40 76 HAS BEEN, UH, REDONE.

SO HE'S AGREEING TO STAY ON 40 74, WHICH IS ROCK.

AND SO I TOLD HIM IF HE'D PUT UP AN ESCROW MOUNT FOR BRINGING IN HEAVY EXCAVATORS AND STUFF TO COVER ANY ROCK DAMAGE OR ANY DAMAGE TO THE ROAD.

SO HE AGREED TO IT.

SO WE'RE JUST GONNA RUN IT THROUGH COURT AND DO THE ESCROW.

SO YOU NEED A MOTION THEN? YOU MAKE THE MOTION.

YES, SIR.

MR. MOORE MAKES THE MOTION.

I HAVE A SECOND.

MR. LANE MAKES A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, CI AYE.

DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND APPROVE SIGNING A CERTIFICATE TO APPROVE THE BONDS FOR TEXAS HEALTH RESOURCES FOR FINANCING AND REFINANCING THE COST OF HOSPITALS AND OTHER HEALTHCARE AND RELATED SUPPORT FACILITIES EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING TEXAS HEALTH PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL IN KAMAN.

NUMBER EIGHT,

[8. Judge Allen/Norton Rose Fulbright: Discuss/Consider/Approve signing the certificate to approve the bonds for Texas Health Resources for financing and refinancing the costs of hospitals and other health care and related support facilities and equipment, including Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Kaufman, TX.]

GOOD MORNING.

NOW YOU HERE IF YOU'D TELL US WHO YOU ARE, PLEASE.

YES, SIR.

SO I'M JOHN SS.

I'M AN ATTORNEY WITH NORTON HILLS FULBRIGHT.

WE REPRESENT TEXAS HEALTH RESOURCES.

AND SO THE APPROVAL THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR FROM THE COURT IS JUST BECAUSE, UM, TEXAS HEALTH IS FINANCING AND REFINANCING PROJECTS AT VARIOUS SEVERE CAMPUSES THROUGHOUT TEXAS, INCLUDING THEIR FACILITY HERE IN KAUFMAN.

UM, AND SO IN ORDER TO DO SO, THERE'S A REQUIREMENT UNDER THE TAX CODE THAT WE GET AN APPROVAL FROM THE, UM, THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT OR THE JUDGE, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HELD A, A PUBLIC HEARING THAT'S REQUIRED UNDER THE TAX CODE, UM, AND THAT TEXAS HEALTH CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH A FINANCING.

UM, AND SO JUST ONE THING I'LL POINT OUT WITH THE CERTIFICATE THAT WE PRESENTED, UM, FOR THIS APPROVAL, UM, BY GIVING US APPROVAL, THIS DOESN'T OBLIGATE THE COUNTY ON ANY OF THE DEBT, UM, OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE.

AND SO IT'LL JUST BE THE OBLIGATION OF TEXAS HEALTH.

KIND OF USED TO THAT.

MR. PHILLIPS MAKES THE MOTION.

COMPLETION DATE OF THE ONE IN FORNEY? UM, WELL, THE, I'M NOT SURE ON THAT, BUT THE, THE ONE THAT'S HERE IN, IN KAUFMAN, THIS IS JUST FINANCING PROJECTS THAT ARE ALREADY RIGHT.

REFINANCING IS ALREADY DONE, BUT OH, MAYBE YOU MIGHT KNOW ABOUT THAT ONE OVER THERE.

NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE.

ANY QUESTIONS THOUGH? ANY QUESTIONS? NO.

YOU NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE? I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

HAVE A SECOND.

MR. CROW MAKES SECOND.

IS MS. ARTHUR LIGHT ITEM AND BUDGET TRANSFERS.

MOST CASES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JOHN.

THANK YOU.

OKAY, NUMBER NINE

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

YES SIR.

THIS WEEK WE HAVE A FEW LI UH, BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT WE'VE RECEIVED AND WE HAVE, UM, ROUTINE LIGHT ITEM TRANSFERS AND WE ASK FOR THE COURT'S APPROVAL.

Y'ALL ALL GOT THOSE LAST WEEK? ANY QUESTIONS? NEED A MOTION TO ACCEPT? I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR YOU.

COMMISSIONER PHELPS MAKES THE MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.

I'LL SECOND BOARD MAKES A SECOND.

AUDITOR CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT.

MOTION CARRIED.

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

SO THIS WEEK WE HAVE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, INVOICES MADE UP OF COUNTY ROADS AND EQUIPMENT, AND WE ASK FOR THE COURT'S APPROVAL TO PAY THOSE.

THERE AGAIN, YOU GOT THOSE LAST WEEK.

ANY QUESTIONS? NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.

COMMISSIONER MOORE MAKES THE MOTION.

HAVE A SECOND.

MR. PLAIN MAKES A SECOND.

TO A ADJOURN MR. PHIPPS TO HAVE A SECOND.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION A HAVE A MOTION

[11. Adjourn Meeting]

MR. COLE MAKES A SECOND.