[00:00:01]
THIS IS HOW RICHARD'S[Call to Order]
ON THE COUNTY JUDGE IN KAUFMAN COUNTY, AND I'M GOING TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.FIRST THING I'D LIKE TO DO IS CALL THE ROLL AND THE COMMISSIONERS CONFIRMED THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM.
UH, COMMISSIONER HUNT, COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS.
WE HAVE EVERY MEMBER, ALL MEMBERS OF THE COURT ARE PRESENT.
I'D LIKE TO JUST ESTABLISH SOME PROCEDURES BEFORE WE GET STARTED.
UH, FIRST THING IS PLEASE MUTE YOUR PHONE.
UH, WHEN THE TIME COMES TO YOU TO HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY OR YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO SPEAK, YOU CAN UNMUTE IT.
BUT IF YOU, IF YOU KNOW HOW TO MUTE YOUR PHONE, THAT WILL BE HELPFUL.
THE BACKGROUND NOISE CAN GET OVERWHELMING WHEN YOU SPEAK.
PLEASE ANNOUNCE, I MEAN, EACH TIME YOU SPEAK, PLEASE ANNOUNCE YOUR NAME AND WHAT YOUR POSITION IS, UH, THAT WAY BECAUSE WE DON'T NECESSARILY RECOGNIZE YOUR VOICE.
AND WE'D LIKE TO HAVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
SO, UH, THIS MEETING IS CALLED THE BORDER.
UH, THIS IS, UH, IT IS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18TH, 2020 11:00 AM WHERE WE'RE, UH, CONDUCTING THIS MEETING VIA TELEPHONE CONFERENCE.
UH, YOU OBVIOUSLY ALL HAVE THE CONFERENCE CODE NUMBER OR YOU WOULDN'T BE ON THE PHONE WITH US.
SO, UM, THE FIRST THING WE WOULD DO IS ALWAYS ACCEPT COMMENTS FROM VISITORS.
WE ASK IF YOU ARE A VISITOR THAT YOU LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES.
AND, UH, SO I WOULD OPEN FOR THE ONE THAT YOU HAVE, UH, YOU OKAY? IF YOU ARE A BIG A VISITOR OR IF YOU'RE A CITIZEN.
IS THERE ANY CITIZEN ON COMMERCE? OKAY.
WE HAVE TERRIBLE CHAMBER AND TERRIBLE ABC, UH, IS YOUR FURTHER BECAUSE THEY'RE A VISITOR WITH US, IT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT AT THIS TIME.
THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE AGENDA.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE SPEAKERS IN, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SPEAKING ROLE HERE, WOULD YOU PLEASE MUTE YOUR PHONE? OKAY.
[2. Discuss the Declaration of Disaster.]
THING THAT I'M GOING TO DO IS AGAIN, ITEM MORE ITEMS. THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, I'M GOING TO READ THE DECLARATION THAT WAS SIGNED THIS MORNING.UH, WHEREAS BEGINNING DECEMBER, 2019 AND NOVEL CORONAVIRUS NOW DESIGNATED SAR S C O V TWO WHICH CAUSES THE DISEASE CODED 19 HAS SPREAD THROUGH THE WORLD AND HAS NOW BEEN DECLARED A GLOBAL PANDEMIC BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION.
AND WHEREAS SYMPTOMS OF COBIT 19 INCLUDE FEVER, COUGHING, SHORTNESS OF BREATH.
IN SOME CASES THE VIRUS HAS CAUSED DEATH AND WHEREAS EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES MUST BE TAKEN TO CONTAIN COPE AT 19 AND PREVENTED THROUGHOUT THE COFFIN COUNTY AND ADDITIONALLY POTENTIALLY REQUIRING INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS OR PROPERTY TO UNDERGO ADDITIONAL MEASURES THAT PREVENT OR CONTROL THE SPREAD OF DISEASE.
NOW, THEREFORE, VEHICLE CLAIM BY THE COUNTY JUDGE OF COFFIN COUNTY, TEXAS, ONE THAT A LOCAL STATE OF DISASTER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY IS HERE BY DECLARE FOR COFFIN COUNTY PURSUANT TO SECTION FOUR ONE 8.108 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE TWO PURSUANT TO SECTION FOUR ONE 8.108 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, THE STATE OF DISASTER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY SHALL CONTINUE FOR A PERIOD OF NOT MORE THAN SEVEN DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS DECLARATION UNLESS EXTENDED BY THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND COLLIN COUNTY, TEXAS.
NUMBER THREE PURSUANT TO SECTION FOUR ONE 8.108 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.
THIS DECLARATION OF A STATE OF DISASTER FROM PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY SHALL BE GIVEN A PROMPT IN GENERAL PUBLICITY AND SHALL BE FILED PROMPTLY WITH THE COUNTY CLERK FOR PURSUANT TO SECTION 41 8.108 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.
THIS DECLARATION OF A LOCAL STATE OF DISASTER ACTIVATES THE KAUFMAN COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN.
NUMBER FIVE THAT THIS PROCLAMATION SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
DECLARE THIS 18TH DAY OF MARCH, 2020 AND SIGNED BY ME HOW RICHARD KAUFMAN COUNTY JUDGE.
THAT'S ITEM TWO ON OUR AGENDA.
[3. Discuss/Consider Human Resource policies to address COVID19.]
IS DISCUSSED CONSIDERED HUMAN RESOURCES POLICIES TO ADDRESS COVEN 19 UH, MARY, ARE YOU GOING TO POSITION YOU ONLY TO SKIP THIS WHILE YOU'RE COLLECTING YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING DOING WITH OUR HUMAN RESOURCES PLAN OR KAREN.[00:05:01]
OKAY.KAREN BADGLEY OF ONE OF OUR CIVIL DISTRICT ATTORNEYS IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME DISCUSSION AND SOME PLANS THAT WE WERE IN A BACK ROOM AND RESOURCES.
BASICALLY WHAT WE'VE DONE IS, IS WORKING WITH JUDGE RICHARD LEE PUTS IT IN MARY WESTBROOK, OUR HR DEPARTMENT HEAD.
WE HAD PUT TOGETHER, UM, SOME GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES FOR DEALING WITH THE KARMA VIRUS OUTBREAK AND ITS EFFECT ON EMPLOYEES AND THE SYSTEMS OF KAUFMAN COUNTY.
AND SO IN SUMMARY, OUR THREE GOALS THAT WE'RE WORKING FOR IN THE COUNTY IS TO ASSIST IN STOPPING THE SPREAD OF CODE 19 TO MAINTAIN THE CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS OF COCHRAN COUNTY TO SERVE ITS CITIZENS AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE EMPLOYEES OF COPLAND COUNTY, THEIR FAMILY AND THE CITIZENS.
AND SO WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT THE HR POLICIES? UH, PLEASE.
THIS IS GOING TO BE, THIS IS A DISCUSSING CONSIDER ITEM FROM THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
SO, UH, WE'D LIKE FOR COMMISSIONER TO HEAR THIS FULL ROLLOUT AND THEN WE'LL DISCUSS IT.
SO BEAR WITH ME, I'M GOING TO READ SOME OF THIS VERBATIM BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
UM, WE ARE BASICALLY ASKING ANYBODY, ANY EMPLOYEE THAT HAS TRAVELED TO AREAS WITH CONFIRMED CODE 19 CASES, ESPECIALLY OUT OF THE COUNTRY TRAVEL THAT UM, IF THEY'RE RETURNING FROM TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES FROM ANY OF THE REALLY THE HOT SPOT.
SO THOSE EMPLOYEES WITH THE APPROVAL OF THEIR DEPARTMENT HEAD THAT THEY WOULD GO TO HUMAN RESOURCES AND KIND OF GO THROUGH A CHECKLIST TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT CONTAGIOUS OR THAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE SELF QUARANTINED.
WHAT WE'RE, YOU'RE ALSO THEN LOOKING AT IT IS CONDITIONS WITH VERNON COUNTY WHEN EMPLOYEES MAY BE EITHER SICK THEMSELVES WITH COVERED 19 OR THEY MAY HAVE TO SELF QUARANTINE DUE TO A STATE OFFICIAL, A DEPARTMENT HEALTH OFFICIAL OR MEDICAL PROVIDER REQUESTING THAT THEY SELL QUARANTINE.
SO BASICALLY WHAT THE COUNTY IS DOING IS IF AN EMPLOYEE HAS SYMPTOMS AND THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH THEIR MEDICAL PROVIDER OR THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THEY HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO SELF QUARANTINE BECAUSE OF THEIR OWN PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS, THEN THE COUNTY WILL PAY UP TO 15 BUSINESS DAYS FOR THAT.
THAT EMPLOYEE TO BE ON AN ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE DURING THOSE 15 DAYS OR, OR, OR THE SELF QUARANTINE IS UP, WHICHEVER IS EARLIER SAID IN THAT SITUATION.
UM, THAT IS COMING UP IN THE COUNTY IS IF A PERSON IN CUSTODY, UH, EXCUSE ME JUST A MINUTE.
KAREN, IF YOU'RE ON THIS CALL, PLEASE MUTE YOUR PHONE.
WE CAN'T HEAR WHAT KAREN IS SAYING.
IF IF AN EMPLOYEE HAS A FAMILY MEMBER OR SOMEONE LIVING IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD THAT HAS TO BE SELF QUARANTINED, THEN WE'RE ASKING THAT EMPLOYEE AND THEY AS A CONTACT PERSON HAS TO BE SELF CONTAINED ALSO.
THEN THE COUNTY WILL ALSO PAY THAT PERSON FOR UP TO 15 BUSINESS DAYS OF ADMINISTRATIVE HOURS.
AND UM, THE OTHER PROVISION IS THAT IF AN EMPLOYEE REPORTS TO WORK AND THEY HAVE CHILLS AND FEVER AND THEY HAVE SENT, THEY'LL APPEAR TO HAVE SYMPTOMS OF THE CALL THE NIGHT THAT SUPERVISOR OR DEPARTMENT HEAD CAN SEND THAT EMPLOYEE HOME AND REQUEST THAT THEY GET BASICALLY MEDICAL PARENTS TO REALLY RETURN TO WORK.
IF THAT EMPLOYEE IS NOT ABLE TO GET MEDICAL CLEARANCE BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE ASKED TO SELL QUARANTINE BECAUSE OF THEIR SYMPTOMS. AND WE'LL PAY THEM UP TO 15 HOURS OF ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE.
THE FINAL ISSUE IS IF WE HAVE, I'M GOING TO GET TO THAT, BUT JUST HAVING AN EXTRA, UM, IF AN EMPLOYEE HAS A CHILD, HAS A CHILDCARE ISSUE THAT THE CHILD IS UNDER CHILD OR CHILDREN ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 12 IF THERE IS THE CHILDREN WOULD BE LEFT UNSUPERVISED.
IF THE EMPLOYEE WERE NOT HOME, IF THERE ARE NO OTHER VIABLE CHILDCARE OPTIONS AND THE EMPLOYEE IS NOT ABLE TO WORK FROM HOME, THEN THE EMPLOYEE WILL BE PAID 15 DAYS OF ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE FOR THAT SITUATION.
AND ONE THING I WANTED TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT IS THOSE EMPLOYEES HAVE TO GET THEIR DEPARTMENT HEADS APPROVAL.
IT'S COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR DEPARTMENT HEAD, GETTING THEIR APPROVAL FOR THAT TIME OFF OR THAT SELF QUARANTINE PAYMENT.
AND THE OTHER THING IS ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTATION, IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT BE PROVIDED TO THE DEPARTMENT HEAD AND IT'D BE PROVIDED TO HUMAN RESOURCES.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS EVEN IF IT'S
[00:10:01]
AN EMAIL THAT YOU SEND THAT SAYS, I CONTACTED MY MEDICAL PROVIDER, THEY, THEY WENT THROUGH A CHECKLIST WITH ME.THEY SAID, I HAD THESE SYMPTOMS AND THEY SAID, YOU NEED TO SELF QUARANTINE, THEN YOU NEED TO AT LEAST SEND AN EMAIL THAT HAS THAT INFORMATION WITH YOUR, YOU KNOW, EMAIL SIGNATURE STATING THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE DOCUMENTATION.
NOW IF AN EMPLOYEE JUST HAS THE FLU OR A COLD OR SOME OTHER SICKNESS THAT IS NOT CALLED THE 19 AND NOT RELATED, THEN THAT EMPLOYEE WILL BE USING THEIR OWN ACCRUED TIME, WHETHER IT'S SICK TIME OR VACATION TIME.
AND WE WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR THAT THIS IS JUST A PUBLIC POLICY THAT WE ARE INSTIGATING KAUFMAN COUNTY BECAUSE WE WANT TO PROTECT OUR EMPLOYEES, WANT TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OTHER CITIZENS THAT MIGHT COME INTO CONTACT WITH EMPLOYEES.
AND WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHERE IF THEY'RE SICK THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO STAY HOME WITH THE CLUB IN 19.
THE OTHER, UM, ISSUE IS SOME PEOPLE MAY, MAY DETERMINE ON THEIR OWN SELF THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO BE EXPOSED OR THEY FEEL UNSAFE AT WORK.
AND UM, FOR THOSE PEOPLE, UM, THEY ARE WELCOME TO USE THEIR RECRUITING TIME.
THEY PATIENT TIME OR EVEN UNPAID TIME, BUT THEY WILL NOT FALL UNDER THE COVERED 1915 BUSINESS DAYS WITH ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE BEING PROVIDED TO THEM.
THEY KEY IN THIS POLICY IS TO UM, DOCUMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU WERE IN CONTACT WITH YOUR DEPARTMENT HEAD AND HUMAN RESOURCES.
AND THEN, UM, WE ARE JUST ASKING AS PART OF THIS POLICY THAT DEPARTMENT HEADS, ESPECIALLY IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES MADE OR DECISIONS THAT YOU FEEL NEED TO BE MADE IN YOUR OWN DEPARTMENT, THAT YOU WOULD PLEASE CONSIDER OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE AFFECTED AND THAT YOU WOULD CERTAINLY GET APPROVAL FROM THE COUNTY JUDGE AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.
WE'RE JUST ASKING THAT YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO COMMUNICATE WITH OTHER EFFECTIVE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THE COUNTY JUDGE SO THAT AS A COUNTY WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND THEN ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR CITIZENS ARE TAKEN CARE OF AND THAT WE'RE ABLE TO REALLY CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THE COFFIN COUNTY GOVERNMENT SERVICES THAT WE NEED TO MAINTAIN FOR OUR CITIZENS.
I DON'T KNOW, THAT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION.
UH, I WOULD SAY THE URGENCY OF THIS SITUATION IS I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF QUESTIONS AMONGST OUR, UH, OUR EMPLOYEES AND STAFF AT THE COUNTY AND, AND WE FELT LIKE IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO GET SOMETHING OUT THERE, A POLICY OUT THERE.
WE, THIS IS, WE DIDN'T MAKE ALL THIS UP.
I MEAN THIS IS, THIS IS A LOT OF MISSES COME FROM WHAT WE SEEN TO OTHER COUNTIES DOING.
SO AT THIS TIME THIS IS A DISCUSSION.
CONSIDER WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS CALL ON, I'D CALL THE ROLE OF EACH COMMISSIONER AND SEE IF THE COMMISSIONER THAT YOU INDIVIDUALLY HAVE ANY COMMENTS.
SO YOU'LL NEED TO OBVIOUSLY UNMUTE YOUR FUNNEL FIRST.
UH, COMMISSIONER HUNT, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU'D LIKE TO ADD TO THE DISCUSSION? UH, YEAH.
WHENEVER ELSE LISTEN TO KAREN TALK, I COULDN'T DETERMINE, BUT SHE'S TALKING, YOU KNOW, 15 OUT EIGHT DAYS ABSENCE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 15 BUSINESS DAYS UP TO 15 BUSINESS DAYS OF ABSENCE.
CAUSE A LOT OF TIMES A QUARANTINE IS AT LEAST 14 DAYS.
AND SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO CAP IT.
AND I KNOW WITH YOUR WORKERS WHERE THEY WORK 10 HOURS A DAY, WHETHER IT'S, WHETHER IT'S THE EIGHT OR 10 HOURS, THEIR WORK SCHEDULE IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT STILL BY MEDICAL STANDARDS, MOST QUARANTINES ARE LASTING AT LEAST 14 DAYS.
UH, UH, COMMISSIONER HON, I APPRECIATE THAT.
IF YOU ARE, IF YOU'RE ON THIS CALL, PLEASE MUTE YOUR PHONE.
SOME WE HEAR SOMEBODY IN THE BACKGROUND, PLEASE MUTE YOUR PHONE IS DIFFICULT FOR US TO HEAR.
SO, UH, I'M GOING TO ASK THE COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING OR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS THAT ARE NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE AN ANSWER TO? MR
I COULDN'T EVEN, I COULD HEAR MR. HUNT ASK IF IT WAS 15 OUT OF THE 15 DAYS AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT, WHETHER IT WAS 15 HOURS, 15 DAYS BEFORE WHAT KAREN'S ANSWER TO HIM.
OKAY, LET ME, UH, PROPOSE THIS.
UM, WE WILL SEND THIS OUT, WHICH WE WILL IN A MINUTE.
WE WILL, UH, SEND THIS OUT TO THE COMMISSIONERS SO THAT YOU CAN READ IT AND HAVE CLARITY AND THEY'LL, WE'LL RECONVENE
[00:15:01]
AT ONE O'CLOCK.BUT WE'RE GOING TO FINISH THE AGENDA FOR RIGHT NOW, BUT WE'RE GOING TO RECESS THE MEETING.
WE'RE GOING TO SEND THIS DOCUMENT TO EVERYBODY.
THIS HAS BEEN A, I MEAN THIS HAS BEEN A, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PRETTY FAST AND FURIOUS.
I DIDN'T REALIZE THE CONNECTION WOULD BE AN ISSUE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO RECESS THE MEETING, WE'LL RECONVENE IT ONE, BUT IN THE MEANTIME I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND FINISH THE AGENDA THAT WE HAVE.
UM, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE, IS THAT OKAY WITH EVERYBODY? UH, OKAY.
SO, WELL EXCEPT THAT, THAT'S FINE.
FINISHED IT THEN AND THEN FIN ALL THAT TO US IN WRITING SO WE KNOW, READ IT AND UNDERSTAND IT.
WE'LL RECESS UNTIL ONE O'CLOCK, BUT I'M GOING TO FINISH THE AGENDA.
COMMISSIONER KATE, SO YOU GOT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO ADD? I JUST WANT TO, UH, I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT I'VE SEEN NOTHING IN THE POLICY THAT ADDRESSES ANY CURTAILMENT OF COUNTY SERVICES.
SO WITH NEW WE HAVE ANY CONSIDERATION THAT'S THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
[4. Discuss Facilities Operations and Staff.]
AGENDA, AND THIS IS DISCUSSION, I DIDN'T PUT IT IN THERE FOR CONSIDERATION BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY WAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE PREPARED TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS ABOUT STAFFING TODAY.WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A COMMISSION MEETING ON TUESDAY AND I THINK THAT'LL GIVE US THE TIME TO DO THAT AND TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE FACILITIES OPERATIONS.
SO HERE'S THE OUTLINE FOR RIGHT NOW.
FIRST, I DID TALK TO A FACILITY DEPARTMENT YESTERDAY AND THIS IS SOMETHING EVERYBODY NEEDS TO FACTOR IN.
WE HAVE ABOUT TWO WEEKS OF JANITORIAL SUPPLIES INCLUDING PAPER PRODUCTS.
ALL OF OUR STUFF IS ON BACK ORDER AND WE DON'T KNOW WHEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET IT.
THAT'S JUST A BACKGROUND THING.
THE PLAN THAT, MY SUGGESTION ON FACILITIES IS THAT AN OPERATIONS AND STAFF THAT WE ASK DEPARTMENT HEADS TO DEVELOP A PLAN, A PROPOSED PLAN FOR WHAT THEY CAN SEE.
THEY MIGHT DO AND WHAT WOULD WORK IN THEIR PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT AS FAR AS STAFFING GOES, WE NEED TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHETHER WE WANT TO FOLLOW THE LEAD OF OTHER CITIES AND COUNTIES WHICH ARE CLOSING THEIR DOORS AND MAKE AND ASKING PEOPLE TO COME IN HOLDING BY APPOINTMENT.
THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT I THINK THE DEPARTMENT HEADS NEED TO TAKE THE LEADERSHIP ON FOR THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
SO, UH, ARE THERE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT, WE'RE JUST NOT IN ANY WAY READY TO DO, TO TAKE ANY ACTION A DAY ON OPERATIONS AND FACILITIES AND STAFF? I DON'T THINK SO.
I'M GOING TO GO BACK AND CALL THE ROLL YET.
Y'ALL DON'T MIND THAT A COMMISSIONER? I'D GIVE ANY COMMENTS ON THEM.
MR. PHILLIPS, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THE FACILITIES, OPERATIONS AND STAFFING? NO.
NO, I KNOW, BUT I DID KNOW THAT WERE ALL RUN OUT FLATTENS AND I SAW THAT SOME OF THE BLACK PEOPLE YESTERDAY AND THEY WERE TALKING TO ME.
SO ARE YOU THAT GOOD? ARE YOU A SKEET? ARE YOU GOOD TO LET THE, UH, THE ASSET DEPARTMENT HEADS TO, TO DRAFT UP SOME PLANTS FOR VESTA TO LOOK AT ON TUESDAY AND GET HER.
UH, TERRY, BARBARA HAD BEEN A COMMISSION.
BARBARA, HOW ABOUT YOU? IS THAT, ARE YOU, IS THAT A GOOD PLAN FOR YOU? YES SIR.
UH, I WAS SUPPOSED TO OPEN, I, I'M, I AM A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT WE GO ANOTHER SEVEN DAYS WITHOUT, UH, RESTRICTING ACCESS IN SOME OF OUR HIGH VOLUME AREAS SUCH AS, UH, THE TAX OFFICE.
UH, QUARTERLY TAX PAYMENTS ARE COMING IN NOW.
I MEAN WE'RE ALL GUESSING, BUT ANOTHER SEVEN DAYS WITHOUT ANY, UH, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION SEEMS, SEEMS THAT WE MIGHT RECONSIDER THAT.
WELL, I HAVE A, I GUESS THE ONLY, MY RESPONSE TO THAT WOULD BE THAT WE COULD MOVE THAT INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING ON TUESDAY, WE COULD ORGANIZE A SPECIAL MEETING PRIOR TO THAT OR AN EMERGENCY MEETING PRIOR TO THAT.
BUT WE HAVE TO GIVE THE DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT HAS HAD TO COME UP WITH A PLAN.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT, I HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO PUT IN PLACE FOR THE TAX OFFICE.
I MEAN, UH, THEY, YOU KNOW, MAYBE SAME THING FOR THE CLARKS OF THE COUNTY AND THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE IS THEY, THEY NEED TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN PLANS AND SUBMIT TO US.
OKAY JUDGE, IF I COULD INTERJECT, WE'RE WORKING AND WE'D BE GLAD TO WORK WITH ALL THESE DEPARTMENTS.
I'M MEETING WITH THE JUDGES AS SOON AS I FINISHED THIS MEETING BECAUSE THE COURTS DO NOT HAVE A PLAN AS EVERY OTHER COUNTY.
SO WE NEED TO PUT A PLAN IN PLACE.
[00:20:01]
WE'RE ALL PREPARED TO WHAT THE DELIVERY DEPARTMENT AND WE COULD HAVE THAT AND Y'ALL COULD HAVE YOUR EMERGENCY MAYBE FOR WEEKS STAFF IF YOU SO DESIRE.WE, I KIND OF AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER KATE'S THEN IF I DIDN'T SAY MY NAME, I'M REALLY WELL WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BECAUSE THE WEEKEND'S GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE FESTERING.
SO, UM, THE QUESTION I GUESS IS HOW QUICKLY CAN THE DEPARTMENTS AND MAYBE THEY'D BEEN THINKING ABOUT ALREADY AND I CAN MAYBE QUICKLY COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF A SUGGESTED PLAN THAT WE CAN ALL AT THE COMMISSIONERS CAN ADOPT.
WE'LL MEET WITH EVERYBODY TODAY.
WE'VE ALREADY SCHEDULED MEETING AS SOON AS WE FINISH HERE.
I'M MEETING WITH, I'M NOT SAYING YOUR MEETING IS, BUT I THINK WE CAN TOUCH EVERY BIG DEPARTMENT OVER 10 EMPLOYEES.
WE CAN REACH OUT TO TOUCH AND I CAN JUST TELL YOU WE'RE MEETING WITH THE JUDGES AND WE'RE AFTER THE AGENDAS.
I'M GOING TO MEET WITH MOM AND OFFICE AND COME UP WITH A PLAN AND THEN CAN'T, WE'LL DIVIDE OURSELVES.
WE'VE GOT REBECCA, DEBBIE, KAREN AND WE'LL SPREAD OUT AND MEET WITH EVERYBODY THAT NEEDS OUR HELP.
I GUESS WHAT I'LL SAY IS LET'S JUST EXPECT TO EXPECT TO HAVE ANOTHER MEETING LATER.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO DO ANOTHER CONFERENCE CALL OR NOT, BUT WE'LL SEE.
BUT UM, WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER MEETING.
WE'LL TRY TO SCHEDULE ANOTHER MEETING FOR MAYBE TOMORROW AFTERNOON TO HEAR IF THE, ASSUMING THE DEPARTMENT HEADS CAN GET THEIR PLANS UP.
SO I'LL GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO DEPARTMENT HEADS TODAY AND WE'LL ASK FOR THEM TO, UH, GIVE US WHAT THEIR CONCEPT IS ABOUT, WHAT THEY NEED TO BE DOING RIGHT NOW AS FAR AS HOW THEY CAN SUSTAIN THEIR OPERATIONS.
SO PLAN FOR US TO PLAN IT FOR US TO GET BACK TOGETHER ON AN EMERGENCY MEETING BASIS TOMORROW SOMETIME.
AND I WOULD RECOMMEND THE JUDGE SAID, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, WE MAKE IT AN IN PERSON, UH, TO AVOID THESE TECHNOLOGICAL PROBLEMS. SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS DIDN'T WANT TO MEET IN PERSON, BUT I THINK WE'LL, OBVIOUSLY THE TECHNOLOGY'S NOT MARRIED.
[5. Discuss planning remote services/working from home.]
UH, I'M GOING TO ASK NATHAN, NATHAN FROM IT IS HERE.HE'S, I'M GOING TO JUST TELL HIM TO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT HE'S DOING AND JUST KIND OF WALK THROUGH WHAT REMOTE SERVICES AND WORKING FROM HOME THAT WE'RE GETTING READY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE.
UH, MY NAME IS NATHAN COLLINS WITH THE, UH, I'M THE IT DIRECTOR FOR COPLIN COUNTY.
UM, UH, THE IT DEPARTMENT, UM, DURING THIS TIME WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, IF ANYBODY NEEDED TO WORK FROM HOME, UM, DURING THIS TIME, UH, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE TO THEM.
AND WITHOUT GETTING INTO THE SPECIFIC DETAILS OF HOW THAT WILL HAPPEN, UM, REALLY ALL THEY'LL NEED ANY EMPLOYEE TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE APPLICATIONS THAT THEY'LL NEED, UM, TO GO ABOUT THEIR WORK.
UM, THEY WILL JUST NEED A COMPUTER AT HOME WITH ACCESS TO THE INTERNET AND WE WOULD PROVIDE, UM, BASICALLY A URL THAT THEY WOULD GO TO AND THEY COULD LOG IN AND ACCESS ANY APPLICATION THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO DO THERE TO DO THEIR BUSINESS.
SO WE HAVE THAT ALREADY IN PLACE AND READY TO ROLL OUT JUST IN CASE THAT'S NEEDED.
DO PEOPLE HAVE TO GO TO YOUR COMPANY? I'D APPRECIATE IT.
UM, SO WE'VE ALREADY GONE THROUGH THIS SURVEY PROCESS.
THE SURVEY PROCESS IS JUST FOR A, WHAT IF, IF YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO, WE WANT IT TO BE PREPARED, UM, TO PROVIDE THOSE APPLICATIONS FOR THOSE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS.
SO THAT'S WHY WE DID THE SURVEY.
UH, THE PROCESS, I WOULD APPRECIATE JUST THE DEPARTMENT HEAD, LET US KNOW AND WE'LL GET THAT PARTICULAR EMPLOYEE OR THAT PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT SET UP, UM, AND GIVE YOU ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS YOU NEED TO DO THAT.
SO JUST REACH OUT TO US AND WE'LL DO IT ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.
THIS IS HOW RICHARD'S PART OF THE PLANS.
UH, THEN WE'LL ASK THE DEPARTMENT HEADS TO DO INCLUDE, UH, WHAT THEIR THOUGHTS ARE ABOUT HAVING SOME OF THEIR STAFF WORK FROM HOME.
THAT'LL BE APPROPRIATE FOR SOME DEPARTMENTS AND NOT FOR OTHERS.
SO, UH, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW FROM ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS OR NATHAN? I KNOW THIS IS KAREN AND I HAVE A SOFT VOICE OBVIOUSLY.
SO WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE PROCEDURES, DOES THAT MEAN THAT YOU WILL GIVE SOMEONE INSTRUCTIONS AND A JUMP DRIVE TO GO HOME, READ THE INSTRUCTIONS, STICK THEM IN THEIR COMPUTER AND THEY'RE GOOD TO GO WALK
[00:25:01]
IN? I'M SORRY.THIS IS MARY, THE DIRECTOR OF HR FOR KAUFMAN COUNTY.
UH, ONE THING I WAS GOING TO SEE IF MAYBE Y'ALL COULD DO IS COULD Y'ALL MAYBE DO A VIDEO OR SOMETHING THAT EVERY, EVERY DEPARTMENT HEAD COULD HAVE ACCESS TO, TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THEIR EMPLOYEES TO SHOW SOMEONE GOING THROUGH THE STEPS.
SO THAT WAY YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO MORE ONE-ON-ONE.
I'D BE HAVING TO MAKE INSTRUCTIONS A VIDEO OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT JUST TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS, THIS IS OPEN A BROWSER, GO TO URL LOGIN, AND YOU WILL BASICALLY SEE A PORTAL OF THE APPLICATIONS THAT YOU NEED.
SO, UH, QUESTIONS FROM QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT, UH, REMOTE SERVICES WORKING FROM HOME, FROM COMMISSIONERS.
[6. Discuss/Consider waiving credit card fees.]
OKAY.THEN THAT GETS US TO THE LAST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, WHICH IS DISCUSS AND CONSIDER WAIVING CREDIT CARD FEES.
I'LL GIVE YOU THE BACKGROUND ON THIS.
WE, WE HAVE MANY DEPARTMENTS THAT, UH, THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO PAY BY CREDIT CARD.
THE IDEA BEHIND THIS IS THAT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THAT THEY CAN DO BUSINESS.
A LOT OF THE BUSINESS THEY'VE BEEN DO WITH THE COUNTY, THEY DON'T NEED TO COME IN TO DO IT.
I THINK IF WE MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE PUBLIC THAT THEY COULD DO BUSINESS WITH THE COUNTY AND THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY, THEY WOULDN'T BE EXPERIENCED ANY CREDIT CARD PHASE.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE, I THINK IT MIGHT GET PEOPLE'S ATTENTION AND IT MIGHT HELP ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO BUSINESS ONLINE INSTEAD OF COMING TO THE COUNTY.
UH, THERE WERE OTHER, I KNOW THERE WERE OTHER CITIES AND COUNTIES AND HAVE DONE THIS.
KAREN BADGLEY HAS, UH, IS ARGUING ME.
THERE'S SOME PROCESS THAT HAS TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS WORK.
SO, UM, I GUESS I WOULD ASK THE COMMISSIONER TO BE, YOU SEE BENEFIT IN US DOING THAT AND I'LL, I'LL JUST OPEN THAT UP TO THE COMMISSIONERS TO SEE IF YOU THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
I THINK THAT'S AN INCREDIBLY GOOD IDEA.
I'VE HAD SEVERAL CALLS TO MY OFFICE, UH, PARTICULARLY FROM OUR OLDER CITIZENS, UH, EXPRESSING CONCERN ABOUT NEEDING TO MAKE THEIR QUARTERLY TAX PAYMENTS AND WANTING TO KNOW IF THERE WAS A DRIVE UP SERVICE.
I THINK BRENDA GOT THAT SAME CALL, THAT PARTICULAR CALL.
SO I THINK ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO IN THE SHORT TERM, THE NEXT 14 DAYS OR SO, UM, TO FACILITATE PEOPLE NOT HAVING TO GATHER, UH, IS JUST, THERE'S NOT A DOWNSIDE TO THAT.
UH, THAT'S, THAT'S WORTH THE, THE POTENTIAL, UH, IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.
ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER HAVE A COMMENT ABOUT THAT? THIS IS A DISGUSTING CONSIDER ITEM.
THIS IS A CONSIDERED, THIS IS FOR CONSIDERATION.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO SAY THE DUMB KID? YOU KNOW, WE USED TO USE THAT BABBITT AND WENT UP THERE AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU STILL USE IT FOR TAGS AND PUMP AND MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
I AFTER SCREEN POPPING OFF, BRENDA IS HAND HERE, THEN BRANDON SAMPLES IN HERE AND SHE SAYS IT DOESN'T WORK.
IT'S INOPERABLE SPEED AT MARTIN.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT IS POSSIBLE ANYMORE.
AND I WOULD THINK ABOUT UH, WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANTED TO KEEP THE TAX OFFICE OPEN COFFIN JUST TO CAUSE ALL THE OTHER TAX ABOUT THE LEAST.
THEY DO HAVE CLASSES IN FRONT AND IF NOT, MAYBE BOBBY COULD MAKE LIKE LATE CLASSES OR SOMETHING FOR THE CLUB COFFIN.
BUT TO FOCUS THE QUESTION WHERE YOU PEOPLE, YEAH, THE FOCUS.
THE FOCUS OF THE QUESTION THOUGH IS REALLY IS WHETHER OR NOT ANYBODY HAS ANY INPUT BECAUSE THIS IS A FOR CONSIDERATION.
IF ANYBODY Y'ALL HAVE ANY INPUT ABOUT WHETHER THAT'S WORTH, UH, UH, US ISSUING INSTRUCTIONS TO THE COUNTY TO MOVE THAT ON TO WAIVE CREDIT CARD FEES.
UM, COMMISSIONER HOTTER, ARE YOU ON STILL WITH US? YOU,
[00:30:02]
YOU HEAR ME? YES SIR.YEAH, JUST I THINK ANYTHING WE CAN DO, I MEAN IF HE'S AMPS JUST A LITTLE BIT AS WELL, SO, OKAY.
I'M GOING TO CALL FOR A MOTION THEN.
THE QUESTION IS, IT'S CONSIDER WAITING, WHICH IS CONSIDERED WAITING CREDIT CARD FEES.
AND I THINK A MOTION WOULD BE TO AUTHORIZE THE APPROPRIATE, UH, STAFF IN THE COUNTY TO, UH, TO DO WHAT'S NEEDED TO GET US IN A POSITION TO WAIT.
I'LL JUST MAKE THAT IN THE FORM OF A MOTION.
UM, MY MOTION IS THAT WE, UH, INSTRUCT COUNTY STAFF TO TAKE WHATEVER ACTIONS NEEDED TO WAIVE CREDIT CARD FEES.
IS THERE ANY MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT? I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE BY ROLE OF COMMISSIONER OF HUNT.
SO THAT MOTION CARRIES, UH, I SAID EARLIER THAT WE WOULD, UH, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE HUMAN RESOURCES POLICIES AND I THINK MAYBE THAT'S TOO COMPLEX FOR US TO DO RIGHT NOW.
WE MIGHT HAVE RECESS AND COME BACK AT ONE O'CLOCK, BUT LATER WE TALKED ABOUT TRYING TO HAVE A, PROBABLY HAVE ANOTHER EMERGENCY MEETING TOMORROW TO HEAR BACK FROM THE DEPARTMENT HEADS ABOUT, UH, THEIR PLANS FOR FACILITIES AND THEN WE STILL HAVE THAT HUMAN RESOURCES PLAN.
[3. Adjourn Emergency Meeting.]
UH, I THINK WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS JUST, LET'S GO AHEAD AND ADJOURN THIS MEETING AND I THINK THE COMMISSIONERS, WHOEVER SAID WE PROBABLY NEED TO MEET IN PERSON, I THINK WE PROBABLY NEED TO TRY TO MEET IN PERSON TOMORROW.OUR TECHNOLOGY DOESN'T SEEM TO BE VERY HELPFUL.
SO, UM, IF THAT'S OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING AND YOU, THE COMMISSIONER SHOULD EXPECT TO HEAR SOMETHING ABOUT, UH, CALLING ANOTHER EMERGENCY MEETING FOR SOMETIME TOMORROW.
IT WOULD BE HERE IN THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
MR. PHILLIPS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION ON THE LAST ITEM? YEAH, IF I'M MAKING A MOTION TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING.
SAY I'M FROM COMMISSIONER BARBER.
THAT WAS THAT MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS.
THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
I'M GONNA CALL THE ROLL AGAIN CAUSE WE CAN'T TELL.
OKAY, WE HAVE EYES SO WE'RE ADJOURNED.