[00:00:03]
OKAY.[Call to Order]
OUR REGULAR COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING.AS USUAL, WE'RE GONNA BEGIN WITH THE INVOCATIONS AND OUR PLEDGES.
AND IF YOU'D JOIN ME AND STAND, PLEASE LET US PRAY.
LORD, WE JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY AND WE JUST THANK YOU FOR THE LOVE THAT YOU SHOW US EACH AND EVERY DAY.
LORD, WE PRAY FOR WISDOM TODAY AS WE MAKE DECISIONS FOR THE COUNTY.
WE ASK YOU TO BE WITH OUR EMPLOYEES AS WELL.
LORD, THEY'RE WORKING HARD IN THE HEAT AND IN THE OFFICES.
LORD, WE JUST THANK YOU FOR OUR, ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
AND LORD, WE ALSO THIS MORNING WANNA JUST DO A SPECIAL, JUST KEEP YO YOLANDA AND HER FAMILY IN OUR PRAYERS THIS MORNING, ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
WE THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR LOVE AND THE BLESSINGS THAT YOU SHOW US EACH AND EVERY DAY.
OUR PLEDGE AND LEADING OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH THE INCES ALL UNDER GOD.
[1. ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE ]
ANYONE HAVE ANY ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE THIS MORNING? ANY CLEANUPS COMING THIS MONTH? ONE.YEAH, I THINK WE DO HAVE A CLEANUP.
YEAH, WE SHOULD BE FOR AUGUST IS GOING TO BE AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OR I'M SORRY, SEPTEMBER.
IT'S GONNA BE SEPTEMBER THE FIFTH.
AND THAT'S GOING TO BE AT THE CITY OF KAUFMAN.
KAUFMAN'S GONNA BE IN PRECINCT ONE THIS TIME.
SO REMEMBER THAT LIKE ELECTRONICS COULD HAVE A FEE, BUT UH, THERE'S SOME RESTRICTIONS ON THAT KIND OF STUFF, BUT WE'D LIKE BRING, OKAY, WELL UH, MOVE ON TO
[2. CONSENT AGENDA ]
THE CONSENT AGENDA THEN.WE JUST HAVE ONE ITEM DISCUSSED, CONSIDERED AND ACCEPT THE COMMISSIONER'S SHORT, REGULAR MEETING MINUTES FOR AUGUST THE 25TH OF 2026.
ANY CORRECTIONS, ANY CHANGES? I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR YOU.
COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS, DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
[3. Brenda Callaway, P.E.: Discuss/Consider/Approve the authorization of additional services for the Road Bond Program Management Support Task Order No. 36 and 37 between Kaufman County and Teague Nall and Perkins, Inc. in the amount of $1,236,850.00. ]
MS. BRENDA THAT IT DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND APPROVE THEIR AUTHORIZATION OF ADDITIONAL SERVICES FOR THE ROAD BOND PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SUPPORT TASK ORDER NUMBER 36 AND 37 BETWEEN KAUFFMAN COUNTY AND TEGNA PERKINS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,236,850.COMMISSIONERS, UH, TNP AND I VISITED WITH COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS ABOUT A MONTH AGO ABOUT SOME IMPROVEMENTS THAT HE WANTED ON UNIVERSITY DRIVE AND THEN ALSO A SIGNAL WARRANT STUDY AT VALLEY VIEW AND RANCH ROAD.
UM, WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING TOGETHER A PACKET WITH TNPA TASK WORK ORDER TO GET THOSE SERVICES PROVIDED WHEN COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS CALLED US AND SAID THAT THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL THERE WAS A CONSIDERABLE BACKUP AT THAT INTERSECTION.
SO WE'VE SEPARATED THOSE TASKS OUT INTO TWO.
THE FIRST TASK, TASK 36 IS TO DO A SIGNAL WARRANT TO SEE IF A SIGNAL, UM, IS NEEDED AT THE INTERSECTION THERE TO HELP WITH THE BACKUP AND TRAFFIC.
THEY'RE GONNA, T P'S GONNA ACCELERATE THAT AND WE SHOULD HAVE THE RESULTS IN THAT ABOUT FOUR, ABOUT FOUR WEEKS.
SO WE'LL KNOW WHETHER OR NOT A SIGNAL BY OCTOBER.
UH, ONCE WE FIND OUT IF THE SIGNAL IS WARRANTED THERE, THEN THERE WOULD BE SOME DESIGN, UM, CAPABILITY OR DESIGN THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE OF THE SIGNAL AND THEN PUTTING TOGETHER A BID PACKET AND ACTUALLY BIDDING IT.
THIS IS THE FIRST THING THAT WE NEED TO DO.
THE SECOND TASK, TASK 37 IS FOR IMPROVEMENTS ALONG UNIVERSITY DRIVE.
UM, THE COST FOR THAT, THE 1,223,450 IS TO GO ALL THE WAY FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END.
UH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ANY ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITTING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
UM, ANY PLANS THAT NEED TO BE DONE LOOKING AT THE RIGHT OF WAY, ANY RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION DOCUMENTATION THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
UM, TITLE COMMITMENT POLICIES.
TMP WILL THEN COME IN AND PUT TOGETHER DESIGN PLANS IN A BID PACKET.
THEN THEY WILL ALSO BE THERE TO MONITOR CONSTRUCTION AND DO THE CONSTRUCTION TESTING.
SO THIS IS AN A TO Z? NO COUNTY FORCES NEEDED TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROJECT AND THEY'RE READY TO START ON THAT.
AS SOON AS WE GET 'EM A NOTICE TO PROCEED.
[00:05:01]
DO ANOTHER ENVIRONMENTAL ON THE ROAD THAT'S ALREADY EXISTING.IS THAT JUST REQUIRED? IS IT NECESSARY OR DOES THAT JUST DELAY THINGS OR? UM, THERE ARE THREE PERMITS THAT ARE SOMETIMES NEEDED FOR COUNTY ROADS ON ROADS THAT ARE ALREADY EXISTING.
UM, ESPECIALLY IF IN THIS CASE, UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT GOING FROM A TWO LANE TO A TWO LANE WITH THE CENTER TURN LANE.
SO THERE MAY BE SOME RIGHT OF WAY NEEDED.
ONE IS COORDINATION WITH THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION JUST TO MAKE THE, MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NO HISTORICAL PROPERTIES OUT THERE THAT WE NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT.
UM, AND THEN THE SECOND ONE IS IF WE'RE IN WATERWAYS, WE MIGHT NEED TO HAVE A US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEER PERMIT TO GO WITH THAT.
THOSE ARE INCLUDED IN THIS, UM, COST, BUT IF WE DON'T NEED 'EM THEN WE WON'T PAY FOR 'EM.
AND IT SEEMED LIKE A LOT OF EXTRA STUFF WITH SOMETHING WAS ALREADY EXISTING YES.
AS WHY WE WOULD NEED THAT, SO YES SIR.
ANY QUESTIONS MS. KEITH? THIS IS IN YOUR PRECINCT? NOPE.
HAVE A MOTION FOR COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
COMMISSIONER KROLL MAKES A SECOND.
[4. Teressa Floyd: Present/Accept the Kaufman County Assessments and Collections Contract for FairFields MUD #1B.]
OKAY, NEXT UP MS. THERESA, SHE WANTS TO PRESENT AND FOR US TO ACCEPT THE KAUFMAN COUNTY ASSESSMENTS AND COLLECTION CONTRACT FOR FAIRFIELD MUD NUMBER ONE B.OKAY, SO YES, WE HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE WANTS US TO COLLECT THEIR TAXES FOR THEM AND OF COURSE WE ARE CONTRACTING WITH THEM IF IT'S, IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU.
AND UH, THIS WILL MAKE US 69 JURISDICTIONS WE'RE COLLECTING FOR 69.
AND WHERE IS THIS EXACTLY? UH, I WOULD BE LYING IF I SAID I KNEW THAT ONE.
WE WENT BACK AND FORTH A YEAR AND TURNED ON THE EMAILS, BUT I DON'T FAIR THAT ONE.
WELL THIS IS A COMMON THING WE DO.
IT'S THE SAME RATES, SAME RATES, SAME EVERYTHING.
MIND IF I NEED ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THERESA? NO.
YOU NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THEN I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.
COMMISSIONER MOORE MAKES THE MOTION.
[5. Constable Johnson: Discuss/Consider/Approve the deputation of Taylor J. Rankin as a Deputy Constable with Kaufman County Precinct #2 Constable's Office to fill a vacant patrol contract position in Dept. 193. ]
JOHNSON, DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND APPROVE THE DEPORTATION OF TAYLOR J RANKIN AS A DEPUTY CONSTABLE WITH THE KAKA COUNTY PRECINCT.NUMBER TWO CONSTABLE'S OFFICE TO FILL A VACANT PATROL CONTRACT POSITION IN DEPARTMENT 1 93.
MORE COMMISSIONERS? UH, YES SIR.
MR. RANKIN APPLIED WITH OUR OFFICE AND HE'S ACTUALLY COMING FROM SUNNYVALE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UM, AFTER CAREFUL BACKGROUND, UM, THE ORAL BOARD REALLY LIKED MR. RANKIN AND THINK THAT HE'D BE TREMENDOUS FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
COMMISSIONER PHIS? DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
[6. Constable Johnson: Discuss/Consider/Approve Deputy Taylor J. Rankin to fill a vacant patrol contract position #44040356 in Dept. 193 Devonshire with Kaufman County Precinct #2 Constable's Office. ]
SIX.ONCE AGAIN, CONSTABLE JOHNSON, DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND APPROVED DEPUTY TAYLOR J RANKIN TO FILL A VACANT PATROL CONTRACT.
POSITION NUMBER 4 4 0 4 0 3 5 6 IN APARTMENT 1 93 DEVONSHIRE WITH THE
THIS POSITION WAS ALREADY CREATED, UH, ACCEPTED AND APPROVED.
SO HE WOULD BE GOING INTO AN OPEN, OPEN SPOT THAT IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AND READY TO FILL.
MR. PHILLIPS MAKES THE MOTION.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
[7. Constable Johnson: Discuss/Consider/Approve the deputation of Miguel A. Del Toro as a Deputy Constable with Kaufman County Precinct #2 Constable's Office to fill a vacant patrol contract position in Dept 192. ]
CONSTABLE JOHNSON ONCE AGAIN DISCUSS.CONSIDER AN APPROVED THE DEPORTATION OF MIGUEL A DEL TORO AS A DEPUTY CONSTABLE WITH KAMAN COUNTY PRECINCT NUMBER TWO, CONSTABLE'S OFFICE.
BECKETT PATROL CONTRACT POSITION DEPARTMENT 1 92.
MR. DEL TORO ACTUALLY COMES FROM THE, UH, TEXAS HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY'S BEEN OVER THERE FOR THREE YEARS NOW.
UM, AFTER DOING A BACKGROUND WITH UH, MR. DEL TORO, THE UH, RAL BOARD REALLY LIKED HIM AND SAID HE'D BE TREMENDOUS.
SO I'D LIKE TO ADD HIM IN A SPOT.
ANY QUESTIONS? NO NEED TO MAKE A MOTION.
MR. PHILLIPS MAKES THE MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.
COMMISSIONER COLE MAKES A SECOND.
[8. Constable Johnson: Discuss/Consider/Approve Deputy Miguel A. Del Toro to fill a vacant patrol contract position in Dept. 192 (Mud 5 Travis Ranch) with Kaufman County Precinct #2 Constable's Office. ]
AGAIN, CONSTABLE JOHNSON DISCUSSED, CONSIDER APPROVE DEPUTY MIGUEL A DEL TORO TO[00:10:01]
FILL A VACANT PATROL CONTRACT POSITION IN DEPARTMENT 1 92.TRAVIS RANCH WITH KAMAN COUNTY PRECINCT TWO.
AGAIN, THIS POSITION WAS ALREADY CREATED AND IS, UH, CURRENTLY VACANT AND MR. DELTORO WILL BE GOING INTO THAT POSITION THAT'S CURRENTLY OPEN.
MR. PHELPS MAKES THE MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.
[9. Shannon Roden: Discuss/Consider/Approve the Final Plat for Banales Addition located on US Hwy 80 in Precinct 3. ]
MS. SHANNON, SHE WANTS TO DISCUSS, CONSIDER, AND HOPEFULLY APPROVE THE FINAL PLOT IS THAT ALIS EDITION LOCATED ON US 1 75.I MEAN HIGHWAY 180 IN PRECINCT THREE.
SO THIS IS A FIVE ACRE PIECE OF PROPERTY AND THE OWNER'S SPLITTING THAT INTO TWO LOTS.
WE HAVE A 1.4 LOT, A 1.4 ACRE LOT, AND A 3.6 ACRE LOT.
IT'S BEEN THROUGH ALL THE REVIEWS AND MET THE REQUIREMENTS, UH, SET FORTH IN OUR SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS AND WE JUST NEED THE COURT'S APPROVAL TODAY.
COMMISSIONER LANE MAKES THE MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.
[10. Lorena Diaz: Discuss/Consider/Approve two Mack dump trucks with 16-food dump beds from Bruckner Truck Sales utilizing HGACBuy Contract HT07-26A. ]
LAINA.DISCUSSED CONSIDERING APPROVED TWO MAC DUMP TRUCKS WITH 16 FOOT DUMP BEDS FOR BRUCKNER TRUCK SALES, UTILIZING HGAC BY CONTRACT HT OH SEVEN DASH 26 A.
UM, SO THIS IS TWO, UH, DUMP TRUCKS WITH A PURCHASE PRICE TAG OF 180 7 7 7 7 EACH FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF 3 75.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS BEING, UM, PURCHASED OUTRIGHT.
IT MEETS ALL PURCHASING REQUIREMENTS.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
[11. Workshop: To discuss updating and amending the current Kaufman County tax abatement policy. ]
NUMBER 11, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO, UH, WORKSHOP TO DISCUSS UPDATING AND AMENDING A CURRENT KAUFMAN COUNTY TAX ABATEMENT POLICY.Y'ALL HAVE A COPY OF THAT? THE ONLY, THE LAST TIME WE DID THIS WAS BACK WHEN YOU AND I FIRST CAME INTO OFFICE.
WE CHANGED IT AND CUT IT DOWN FROM 10 TO SEVEN.
AND THE STEWARDS HERE WITH THE CITY AND THEY'VE KIND OF BEEN MIMICKING WHAT WE DO PRETTY MUCH.
AND SO NOW IT'S TIME TO FIRST TO DISCUSS.
'CAUSE 12 YEARS AGO THINGS DIDN'T COST AS MUCH AS THEY DO TODAY.
AND SOME COUNTIES ARE NOT GIVEN ABATEMENTS.
SOME ARE AND SOME HAVE GOT LIMITS WHERE THEY STARTED A HIGHER NUMBER THAN WHAT WE DO.
SO NOW IS THE TIME TO DISCUSS IT AND GIMME YOUR THOUGHTS AND IDEAS.
AND IF THEY DON'T DO SOMETHING, WHO'S GONNA MONITOR IT? IF WE DO GIVE AN ABATEMENT.
SO WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS? YEAH, WOULD Y'ALL LIKE ME TO START
HEY, ONE THING I WILL TELL YOU IS, UH, I'M ALL ABOUT THE, YOU KNOW, THE MAXIMUM TIME ON ABATEMENT'S 10 YEARS ANYWAY.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT MOST PEOPLE'S TRYING TO DO.
THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD, UH, ASK THAT Y'ALL WOULD CONSIDER THAT I'M INTERESTED IN DOING IS, UH, YOU KNOW, ONCE WE FIGURED THE NUMBERS OUT FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROJECTS, LIKE FOR REAL ESTATE'S ONE SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT THINGS HAVE DIFFERENT PERCENTAGES ON IT.
BUT I'D LIKE TO INCLUDE A PILOT PROGRAM IN THAT SO THAT EACH, WE CAN DO A PILOT ANY TIME.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO START PRACTICING THE PILOT MORE OFTEN.
BUT I DON'T KNOW ON PERCENTAGES RIGHT NOW.
WHAT DO WE S***T? WE'RE LIKE, WHAT, WHAT'S OUR PERCENTAGES? DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN Y'ALL DID THAT? YOU DO YOU PRINT YOUR LIST? OKAY, BACK IN THE DAY WE STARTED AT $10 MILLION.
NO WE STARTED $3 MILLION, 3 MILLION, THREE, FIVE AND 10.
WELL, YOU CAN'T HARDLY BUY HOW MUCH TODAY FOR $3 MILLION OR EVEN $10 MILLION ON NEW CONSTRUCTION.
THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY HOUSES OR APARTMENTS.
ANYTHING TAX EXEMPT WILL NOT BE INCLUDED 'CAUSE THEY'RE TAX EXEMPT.
YOU KNOW, THE PALLET, YOU KNOW, THE PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES IS THE WAY A LOT OF COUNTIES ARE DOING IT.
'CAUSE IT DOESN'T AFFECT OUR TAX RATES, WHICH IS GOOD.
UH, THE 180 AGREEMENTS I DON'T LIKE.
DO Y'ALL STILL DOING 180 AGREEMENTS? THREE 80 AGREEMENTS? THREE 80? I MEAN DID THREE TWELVES? MM-HMM.
THE LAST CONFERENCE WE WENT TO, WHAT LAST WEEK WAS, UH, MOST S NOT DOING THE THREE EIGHTIES AT ALL.
IT WAS DOING THREE TWELVES IN PILOT, WHICH IS THING ON THREE EIGHTIES IS FOR A TAX, I MEAN FOR SALES TAX.
YOU COULD DO A 3 81 FOR REBATE.
[00:15:01]
A SALES TAX.I THINK, I THINK WE NEED TO GET PART OF THE CITY'S SALES TAXES.
SO I THINK, I THINK THAT WORKED.
WOULD YOU AGREE TO THAT? I THINK THE CITY WOULD AGREE THAT.
TALK TO JEFF JORDAN ABOUT THAT.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S GONNA WORK.
SO HONESTLY, UH, SOME COUNTIES START NOW MINIMUM OF 25 MILLION.
DON'T EVEN TALK ABOUT A TAX ABATEMENT.
AND YOU WE HAVE A SEVEN YEAR, WE DON'T DO 10, WE JUST DO SEVEN.
UH, SO WE NEED TO COME UP WITH SOME PLAN TO WHERE WHEN SOMEONE COMES IN HERE, JUST LIKE WE DID RECENTLY, UH, WE DID THE SEVEN YEAR WITH THE COMPANY OUT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO COME INTO CRANDALL.
BUT THAT'S BEEN THE LAST ONE WE'VE DONE IN, IN SOME TIME.
AND THEN ONE THERE IN ONE OVER IN TERRELL.
WHAT HAVE WE DO, TERRELL? I DON'T REMEMBER BUT I DON'T REMEMBER THIS YEAR DOING IT THIS YEAR? NO, LAST YEAR.
AND WE DID A 10 YEAR, WE DID A 10 YEAR MODIFIED WITH KAUFMAN ON THE STORAGE PLANT.
DIDN'T WE? DID WE SEVEN ON THAT ONE? I THOUGHT WE DID A 10 YEAR MODIFIED.
IT'S JUST 'CAUSE ALL WE CAN DO IS SEVEN.
IT SHOULD BE, I MEAN I, THE REASON I SAY SEVEN, YOU KNOW, THE RE YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT PAYMENT'S NOT MADE.
IT'S, IT'S FOR, IT'S MORE FOR STARTUP IF IT'S IN COUNTY, IT'S MORE FOR STARTUP GETTING THEM GET STARTED SEVEN YEARS.
IF THEY HAVEN'T MADE IT IN SEVEN YEARS, I'M NOT SURE THEY'LL EVER MAKE IT.
I MEAN, I'M SORRY I, YOU KNOW, IT IS NOT THERE.
THAT'S BOREDOM FOREVER, NOT US.
UH, STUART MCGREGOR, UH, KAUFMAN, EDC DIRECTOR, UM, ON THOSE TAX ABATEMENT POLICIES AS AS YOU SAID, COMMISSIONER, UM, YOU CAN GO UP TO THE 10 YEARS AND I KNOW Y'ALL'S POLICY DOES A I KNOW WE CAN, RIGHT? I'M JUST SAYING THERE'S NOT A GOOD POINT BECAUSE THE COUNTY THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY EXTRA MONEY.
WE HAVE ONLY, ONLY THAT TAX AND, AND AND, AND IF YOU GIVE IT ALL AWAY, IT MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO KEEP UP WITH OUR GROWTH.
AND UM, AND SO AS FAR AS COMPANIES THAT ARE PURSUING THAT, OBVIOUSLY IF IT'S A NEW COMPANY MOVING INTO THE COUNTY, THAT IS AN OPTION THAT YOU CAN DO AND ENTERTAIN WITH A COMPANY MOVING INTO THE COUNTY, WHETHER THEY'RE A STARTUP OR AN EXISTING COMPANY THAT IS WANTING TO LOCATE ANOTHER FACILITY IN THE COUNTY.
BUT IT'S ALSO GOOD FOR EXPANSIONS TOO.
AND OBVIOUSLY LEGACY COMPANIES THAT HAVE BEEN PART OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME, YOU KNOW, EMPLOYING A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT HERE, THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES WITH THEM TO EXPAND AND BE ABLE TO TAKE A PORTION OF THAT EXPANSION AND DO A A TAX ABATEMENT WITH THEM AS WELL.
I WAS ACTUALLY JUST TALKING TO A COMPANY YESTERDAY LOOKING, DOING A SMALL EXPANSION.
UM, AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY IN THE COUNTY.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, ONE, ONE CONSIDERATION YOU MAY WANNA MAKE AS Y'ALL DISCUSS THIS AND DELIBERATE HOW Y'ALL WANNA MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS IS SOME SORT OF, UM, OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME OF THOSE EXISTING COMPANIES OUT HERE THAT ARE EXPANDING AND LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, IS THERE SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DO AS FAR AS THE THRESHOLD OF A SMALLER AMOUNT FOR THOSE EXPANDING COMPANIES THAT ARE ALREADY EMPLOYING PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PAYING TAXES TO THE COUNTY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
AND THE THINGS WE RUN INTO SOMETIMES IS WHO REPORTS TO WHOM IS NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, DO THEY ACTUALLY HIRE WHO THEY SAY THEY'RE GOING TO HIRE? WHO'S KEEPING TRACK OF THAT? THEY HAVE TO FILE AN ANNUAL REPORT WITH THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT ON THAT.
AND THEY ALSO, YOU CAN ALSO REQUEST THAT AS PART OF THEIR PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT WITH Y'ALL.
SO WE DID THE AGILE TAX ABATEMENT, UM, A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
UM, PART OF THAT PROCESS IS EVERY YEAR THEY PROVIDE TO ME AN ANNUAL REPORT OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT, THEIR INVESTMENT, THEIR TAXABLE VALUES SO THAT I CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE VERIFYING THAT THEY'VE CREATED AT LEAST THE MINIMUM JOBS THAT THEY'VE DONE.
AND YOU CAN DO THAT BEING THE CITY, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT AUTHORITY.
Y'ALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT IN THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANYTHING FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT AS TO WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
AND YOU CAN, YOU CAN REQUEST THAT INFORMATION FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
I THINK THAT WOULD NEED TO BE AUTOMATIC.
SO JUDGE, WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DO, IF YOU LOOKED AT SOME OF THE ABATEMENT POLICIES OF THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES IS THE ABATEMENT POLICY THAT PEOPLE AGREE TO.
PART OF THE ABATEMENT AGREEMENT IS THE, UM, HOW IT WILL BE MONITORED, HOW, WHAT IT, WHAT REPORTS, WHAT EXPECTATIONS, ALL THOSE THINGS.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE CITY HAS IN, IN THEIR TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENTS TO, THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO UPDATE OUR, THAT'S REASON WE NEW THIS, WE REALLY DO WITH BRINGING UP THE MODERN DAY INSTEAD OF 12-YEAR-OLD PROGRAM.
AND WE UPDATED OURS A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
WE STILL SOMEWHAT MIRROR Y'ALL'S, BUT WE ALSO DID ADD SOME ADDITIONAL KIND OF THINGS IN THERE THAT I SENT YOU, UM, VIA EMAIL IN CASE Y'ALL WANNA LOOK AT THAT TOO.
AND, AND THEY DO DIVIDE IT OUT INTO NEW, YOU KNOW, NEW INDUSTRY EXPANSION THERE, THERE'S DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS FOR DIFFERENT THINGS.
UM, BUT YOU CAN MAKE IT AS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THEM IS 36 PAGES.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN YOU CAN MAKE IT AS DETAILED AS YOU WANT FOR COMPLIANCE AND UM, YOU KNOW, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, SOME, UH, COUNTIES EVEN HAVE WHERE A RECALL THAT IF THEY DON'T DO WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO,
[00:20:01]
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN RECALL THOSE TEXTS.WE DO HAVE, WE HAD IT, BUT I, I DON'T KNOW.
HAVE YOU EVER REPORT WE DO HAVE THAT BECAUSE WE DID HAVE THAT INSTANCE LIKE LAST YEAR, THE YEAR BEFORE THAT WE HAD TO DO THAT.
AND I CAN SAY THAT THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, WE DO LOOK AT THE REBATE ONES BEFORE WE CUT ANY CHECKS.
UM, NOT NECESSARILY THE ABATEMENTS, BUT THE REBATES WE DO THAT IS ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF DOING THE REBATE.
OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT BAKED INTO YOUR, YOUR TAXABLE VALUES LIKE A THREE 12 IS.
BUT THE REBATE ALLOWS YOU TO KIND OF STEP BACK AND DO SOME COMPLIANCE.
YOU JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING THOSE REPORTS TO YOU EACH YEAR SO YOU CAN LET THE CAD KNOW BEFORE THEY APPLY THAT TO THE ABATEMENT.
THERE'S JUST A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE, WE NEED TO REVISIT.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE THREE 12 OR WHATEVER IT WAS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY, SO YOU'RE ALWAYS PAYING THE SAME THING.
IT WASN'T, IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT, IT'S A BIG TASK TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT.
SOMETIMES ON ABATEMENTS THEY'LL WEAR THAT DEPARTMENT OUT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE VALUE IS AND WHAT THE THING IS AND BE ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT.
THERE'S PILOTS, THERE'S PERCENTAGES THAT CHANGE.
YOU KNOW, AND I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT IT A FEW YEARS AGO AND WE SAID, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE THINGS, THREE TWELVES AND THINGS ARE JUST SO SIMPLE BECAUSE IT'S THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY EVERY YEAR NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, DOESN'T CHANGE THINGS THAT, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A SIMPLER PROCESS.
BUT, AND I THINK EVERYBODY'S GOT THEIR OWN OPINION.
ONE, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO KEEP WHAT I'M GONNA DO, HIRE A PERSON TO KEEP UP WITH THE PEOPLE, THEN KEEP THE PERSON OR YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S NOT JUST AS SIMPLE AS EVERYBODY SAYS IT.
IT SOUNDS SIMPLE, BUT IT IS NOT VERY SIMPLE WHEN YOU'RE DOING, YOU KNOW, 2000 ABATEMENTS OR WHATEVER COMPANIES AND YOU'VE GOT ALL THIS NETWORK AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW, YOU'RE HAVING TO HIRE SOMEBODY JUST TO KEEP UP AND FIND OUT IF THEY ADDED EMPLOYEES.
DON'T ADD EMPLOYEES, DO WHATEVER.
THE PROCESS NEEDS TO BE REALLY EASY AND SIMPLE.
SO IT DOESN'T COST US EXTRA MONEY JUST TO EVEN TRY TO FIGURE OUT TO MONITOR IT ALL THE TIME.
I MEAN IT, IT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE I'M DREAMING THAT IT SHOULD BE A SIMPLE PROCESS, BUT I THINK IT SHOULD BE A VERY SIMPLE PROCESS.
AND I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE A LONG TERM PROCESS.
I'M SORRY I JUST, YOUR COMPANY, THE AVERAGE BASE THING IS BETWEEN THREE AND FIVE YEARS IF YOU, IF YOU'VE SUCCESSFULLY MADE THREE TO FIVE YEARS, YOU'RE GENERALLY A VIABLE AND UP MOVING COMPANY AND YOU'RE DOING WELL IF YOU START DOING MORE THAN THAT AND YOU'RE JUST STRUGGLING.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'LL EVER SURVIVE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, YOU GO TO A AWFUL LOT OF DIFFERENT ARTICLES ON DIFFERENT PEOPLE, WALL STREET JOURNALS, EVERYTHING THAT BRINGS IN COMPANIES.
SO THIS IS WHAT, AS FAR AS BRING YOU HERE AND TO GET YOU STARTED, NOT TO SUPPORT YOU FOR LIFE.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, AND I THINK THERE'S, THERE'S THERE'S VALUE IN LARGE COMPANIES BRINGING LARGE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES BECAUSE THAT HELPS THE ECONOMY OVERALL.
NOT JUST FOR CITIES BUT FOR COUNTIES.
AND WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT ALSO.
UH, BUT YOU WERE SELF-EMPLOYED.
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO BREAK EVEN? YEAH.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I, MY SUCCESS CAME BETWEEN THREE AND FIVE AFTER, AFTER MY THIRD TO FOURTH YEAR IN MY COMPANY.
I HAD A LOT OF EMPLOYEES ON A LOT OF TRUCKS.
I WAS SMOKING AND I, I NEVER GOT A NICKEL FROM THE CITY, COUNTY OR ANYBODY.
NO, I MEAN IT WAS A HUNDRED PERCENT ON, ON MY OWN POWER.
ONE ONE THING THOUGH TO THINK ABOUT AS Y'ALL WORK THROUGH THIS IS ALSO JUST THE DYNAMICS OF COMPANIES MAKING THOSE SITE SELECTION DECISIONS.
I MEAN, THEY MAY BE LOOKING AT KAUFMAN COUNTY, THEY MAY BE LOOKING AT TAYLOR COUNTY, THEY MAY BE LOOKING AT KENDALL COUNTY AND YOU KNOW, WHERE DO WE PUT SOMETHING? AND IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE THAT YOU HAVE TO BE THE, THE BIGGEST INCENTIVE THAT THAT'S KIND OF THE CHERRY ON THE TOP OF THE, OF THE SUNDAY AT THE END OF THE DAY.
BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN COMPANIES ARE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, AM I GONNA INVEST A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN A MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN ONE OF THESE THREE COUNTIES OR IN THIS STATE VERSUS TEXAS? YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT'S ANOTHER CONSIDERATION.
AND SO HAVING I THINK SOME LANGUAGE WHERE YOU CAN NEGOTIATE OUTSIDE OF JUST A STANDARD DEAL OH YEAH.
JUST GIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT OF COVER.
EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN ALWAYS SAY, NO, WE'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT, HAVE, DO THAT.
IF, IF THE END RESULT IS TO GET A GOOD CORPORATION HERE, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE WITH THEM TO MAKE IT WORK FOR BOTH OF YOU.
JUST, JUST LIKE WITH THE AGILE DEAL, I MEAN THAT, THAT PROJECT IS CASH FLOWING FROM DAY ONE, UM, SINCE THEY OPENED UP AND THEY HIT THE TAX ROLLS EVEN WITH OUR ABATEMENT THAT WE DID FOR THEM AT, AT THE CITY FIVE YEARS, 50%.
UM, THE CITY I THINK IS NETTING 300,000 OFF THAT PROJECT AND UH, THEY'RE NOW OUR NUMBER
[00:25:01]
ONE TAXPAYER WITH THE ABATEMENT IN PLACE AND THEIR TENANT IS THE NUMBER THREE TAXPAYER TO THE CITY.AND SO WHEN USED RESPONSIBLY, THEY CAN BE A REALLY, REALLY STRONG WAY TO, TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN AND FACILITATE GROWTH.
AND WE'VE GOT SOME EXAMPLES OF OTHER COUNTIES WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND SOME OF IT, THEY DON'T TIE EXACT NUMBERS TO IT.
AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY A PRETTY GOOD THING TO DO.
AND, AND ONE, ONE THING I'LL MENTION TO COMMISSIONERS MOORE, UM, HIS COMMENT ABOUT PILOTS, UM, SOMETHING JUST TO KIND OF KEEP ON THE RADAR THAT I'M WATCHING AS WELL IS, UM, THIS NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, I THINK PILOTS ARE GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT THE LEGISLATURE'S LOOKING AT, UM, POTENTIALLY REFORMING.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT'S GONNA ALL ENTAIL.
UM, BUT THAT'S COME UP IN A LOT OF THEIR INTERIM HEARINGS THAT THEY'VE HAD SO FAR IS ON THESE PILOT AGREEMENTS.
AND I THINK PILOTS ARE A GREAT WAY TO FACILITATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
I MEAN THE, THE FORNEY POWER PLANT, THAT, THAT WAS A PILOT BETWEEN VISTA ENERGY AND THE CITY OF FORNEY.
UM, THAT'S MADE THEM THE NUMBER ONE LARGEST TAXPAYER IN THE COUNTY.
UM, BUT JUST PUTTING THAT ON YOUR RADAR THAT THERE COULD BE SOME CHANGES.
THIS NEXT SESSION REGARDING THAT.
AM I'M SUPPOSED TO HAVE HIM BE BACK IN AUSTIN THE 16TH.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANNA ASK STEWART ABOUT WHILE HE'S HERE? NO, WE'RE NOT THE SAME AS THE CITY, BUT WE STILL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER WITH ALL THE OTHER CITIES.
SO, UH, I WANT Y'ALL TO TAKE, TAKE OUR ABATEMENT POLICY, LOOK AT IT, MARK IT UP, AND A COUPLE OF WEEKS WE'RE GONNA COME BACK AND REVISIT THIS AGAIN AND TRY AND TIE SOME THINGS DOWN BECAUSE WE WANNA GET THIS DONE BEFORE THE FIRST OF THE YEAR FOR SURE.
I'D LIKE TO GET DONE NEXT MONTH BY THE END OF THIS MONTH IF POSSIBLE.
SO WE KNOW WHERE WE ARE, WHAT DIRECTION WE'RE GOING.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TIFFS AND TURS, YOU KNOW, NONE OF, NO ONE HERE IS IN FAVOR OF THOSE THINGS.
UH, BUT WE HAVE SO MANY ON THE BOOKS NOW.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO DO ANYMORE.
BUT THERE MIGHT BE A TIME WHEN THAT MIGHT BE, BUT STILL WE NEED, WELL I WORRY ABOUT THAT TODAY.
CAN I HOUSES HAVE TO BE CUT OUT.
I MEAN, WELL HOUSES WE'RE NOT GIVING BABIES THE HOUSES.
AND, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU O ONE QUESTION ABOUT, UH, LIKE ON THE, DO Y'ALL DO ANY PILOTS FOR THE CITY? LIKE DO Y'ALL, DO YOU, ARE YOU ALLOWED TO DO THAT? I GUESS THAT SHOULD BE MY FIRST QUESTION.
I'M ALLOWED DO ONE A LONG TIME.
WE HAVEN'T HAD A, A HUGE PROJECT THAT'S, THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO A PILOT WITH.
ALRIGHT THEN LET ME ASK YOU ONE OTHER QUESTION.
BECAUSE YOU, YOU'RE VERY, UH, WELL KNOWLEDGEABLE IN THIS AREA.
WHAT WOULD BE THE BENEFIT OF US RUNNING OUR OWN ABATEMENT WITH THESE COMPANIES AND STUFF? 'CAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME WE DO ONE OF THESE, IT'S THE CITY SHOWING UP HERE.
THEIR PEOPLES LOOKED AT IT, THEIR ATTORNEYS LOOKED AT IT, AND IT'S KINDA LIKE THEY COME IN HERE AND ASK US, AND WE HAVE THIS THROW DOWN ABATEMENT PROGRAM.
IT'S LIKE JUST AB BASE MODEL, WHICH DIFFERENT THINGS FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION SHOULD BE HANDLED DIFFERENTLY.
SO WOULD IT BE MORE BENEFICIAL FOR US TO DO OUR OWN ABATEMENT WITH THESE COMPANIES LIKE YOU DO? THE CITY DOES THEIR OWN SEPARATE ONE AND THEY CAN COME TO US SEPARATELY.
SO TYPICALLY WHENEVER YOU DO A THREE 12 AGREEMENT, THERE'S A LEAD TAXING ENTITY THAT TAKES THE LEAD ON THAT.
AND SO, LIKE WITH AGILE, THE CITY WAS THE ONE THAT TOOK THE LEAD ON THAT.
UM, BUT Y'ALL'S ABATEMENT WAS A SEPARATE AGREEMENT THAT KAREN, UH, DRAFTED FOR Y'ALL.
AND IT ALSO PROVIDED, UM, A DIFFERENT SCHEDULE.
Y'ALL, Y'ALL DID THE SEVEN YEAR SLIDING SALE SCHEDULE AND THE CITY AND THE JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT DID A FIVE YEAR SCHEDULE.
AND SO I WORKED HAND IN HAND WITH KAREN ON THAT DEAL.
AND ONE, ONE THING I WILL COMMEND Y'ALL ON, I THINK THAT IS A SMART, SMART APPROACH AND WE ALSO DO IT AT THE CITY, IS, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL AREN'T TOUCHING YOUR INS OR ROAD AND BRIDGE.
AND SO WHEN WE DO OUR ABATEMENTS, WE DON'T TOUCH OUR INS EITHER.
YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU NEED THAT FOR THE GROWTH TO MANAGE THAT.
PAY YOU BILLS, RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY.
BUT, BUT YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST WHAT IT IS.
YOU KNOW, AND, AND WE ARE SEPARATE.
IT'S GENERALLY THE REASON THEY'RE IN THE CITY FIRST AND THEY BRING IT TO US BECAUSE THEY HAVE A DEVELOPMENT SERVICE.
NO, I THINK WE DON'T GO OUT, WE DON'T HIRE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND TRY.
BUT I BELIEVE THE 3 81 OR THE THREE 12 HAS TO BE IN A TUR ZONE.
IT'S, IT'S NOT A NECESSARILY A TUR ZONE.
YOU DO HAVE TO CREATE WHAT'S CALLED A REINVESTMENT ZONE, WHICH KIND OF IS CONFUSING.
BUT IT'S IT'S A SEPARATE, IT'S SEPARATE AND APART FROM WHAT A TOURS DOES.
WELL SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, AND I TALK ABOUT IT JUST MAKES IT, IT'S A SIMPLE PROCESS.
WHETHER WHERE YOU'RE SAYING, HEY, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS AND THAT AND WE'RE GONNA PAY YOU BACKWARDS FROM THE FACE OF IT AND SAY, HEY, THAT YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU 10% OF YOUR TAX BACK AND WHATEVER IT IS, AND NOT, YOU KNOW, ON A SLIDING SCALE THING, IT'S THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, SIX YEARS, SEVEN YEARS, WHATEVER YOU DECIDE TO DO.
[00:30:01]
PAYMENT.AS LONG AS THEY'RE IN BUSINESS AND THRIVING, SHE GONNA WRITE OUT THE CHECK WHEN THEY PAY THE TAXES.
IN THE END OF THE STORY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ALWAYS WORRY ABOUT WHAT THE PERCENTAGE OF THE COST IS.
SO TWO WEEKS, WE'RE GONNA DISCUSS THIS AGAIN.
STUART, IF YOU DON'T MIND COMING BACK IF YOU WANT TO, YOU'RE WELCOME.
AND WE WORK WITH KAREN TO GET THE WORDING RIGHT AND FOLLOW SOME OF THE OTHER COUNTIES THAT'S UPDATED THEIRS RECENTLY.
IT'S A LOT EASIER THAN WHAT WE HAVE AND, UH, GET, GET IT TIED DOWN SO WHEN SOMEONE COMES, WE HAND IT TO 'EM.
BUT WE ALWAYS MAKE EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE, SO.
WARREN WAS A GOOD TEACHER, WASN'T MM-HMM
UH, ANYONE ELSE? A GOOD DRIVER, BUT A GOOD TEACHER.
ANYTHING ELSE ON THE ABATEMENT POLICY? FOR RIGHT NOW? NO.
[12. Auditor: Discuss/Consider line item and budget transfers/corrections. ]
THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO MS. CONSIDER LINE ITEM AND BUDGET TRANSFERS.WE DID HAVE JUST A FEW ROUTINE LINE ITEM TRANSFERS, UM, FOR SOME CLEANUP AND THEN, UH, BUDGET AMENDMENTS TO RECORD ADDITIONAL REVENUE.
AND WE ASKED FOR THE COURT'S APPROVAL.
ANY QUESTIONS? CORRECTIONS NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE? I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
[13. Auditor: Discuss/Consider claims for payment and/or Financial Information as provided by the County Auditor. ]
MS. AUDITOR TO CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT.SO THIS WEEK WE HAVE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE INVOICES, MOSTLY MADE UP OF COUNTY ROAD AND REIMBURSEMENT EXPENDITURES.
UM, WE ALSO HAD JURY PAYMENTS AND WE ALSO HAD A PAYROLL.
AND WE ASKED FOR THE COURT'S APPROVAL TO PAY.
Y'ALL SEEN THOSE AT THE SAME TIME? QUESTIONS? NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
COMMISSIONER MOORE MAKES A SECOND.
[14. Adjourn Meeting ]
MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.