[00:00:02]
[Call to Order]
THIS SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KAUFMAN COUNTY'S COMMISSIONER COURT IS CALLED TO ORDER.IT'S TUESDAY, APRIL 7TH, 2020 AT 9:00 AM WE'RE DOING THIS MEETING BY ZOOM MEETING.
I AM AT THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER THIS MORNING AND COMMISSIONERS ARE SCATTERED ABOUT DIFFERENT PLACES.
SO I CAN SAY WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE JUST LISTENING AND MAYBE WON'T BE ABLE TO SEE.
I ACTUALLY CALL THE ROLE TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS COMMISSIONER FRONT IS NOT AVAILABLE.
THE INFORMATION EVERYBODY ELSE HAS.
PHILLIPS, ARE YOU HERE? I'M HERE.
COMMISSIONER BARBARA? YES, SIR.
PRESENT COMMISSIONER KATE'S PRESENT.
[1. ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE]
KNOW YOU, YOU WILL HAVE PROBABLY ENOUGH INFORMATION LATER IN THE AGENDA, BUT I THOUGHT UNDER THE TITLE OF ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE, DO YOU HAVE ANY, UH, GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE OR UPDATES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND WITH A COUPLE? UM, IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO JUDGE, I CAN GO OVER JUST SOME OF THE NUMBERS FROM THE DSHS, UM, JUST TO PUT THEM IN OFFICIALLY IN THE RECORD.BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I DON'T HAVE ANY UPDATES.
GO AHEAD AND, AND, AND YOU MIGHT TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN, THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT WHY THOSE NUMBERS, UH, WERE NOT, THEY WERE KIND OF SCATTERED AROUND A LITTLE BIT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.
UM, THERE WAS A COUPLE OF TIMES WHERE ACTUALLY I DIDN'T RECEIVE A DAILY UPDATE FROM THEM.
UM, AND IT TURNED OUT ON, UH, PART OF THE REASON WAS BECAUSE, UH, THERE WASN'T A BIG CHANGE OVER THE WEEKEND AND SO THEY GOT ME ANY EMAIL UPDATE AS SOON AS THERE, THERE WERE SOME NUMBERS THAT CHANGED, UH, JUST, UH, KIND OF AS A WAY TO EXPLAIN ALL OF THAT.
UM, THE D S H S IS, IS VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHICH, UM, NUMBERS THEY RELEASE, WHICH ADDRESSES THEY RELEASE, UM, MAINLY FOR REASONS OF PATIENT PRIVACY, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THE DESIRE TO BE AS ACCURATE AS POSSIBLE.
UH, AND SO THERE'S ALWAYS AN JUST, UM, OF NECESSITY, THERE'S A DELAY, UH, ONCE THE PROCESS IS THAT ONCE THE DSHS GETS NOTIFIED BY EITHER A PHYSICIAN'S OFFICE OR A LABORATORY, BOTH OF THOSE GROUPS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS ARE NOW LEGALLY REQUIRED TO SEND ANY POSITIVE RESULTS DIRECTLY TO THE DSHS.
SO ONCE THAT HAPPENS, THE DSHS DIDN'T TAKE, TAKES ON, UM, THE NEXT FEW STEPS OF RESPONSIBILITY, INCLUDING, UH, VERIFYING THE POSITIVE RESULT, MAKING SURE THAT IT WAS NOT, UM, A TEST THAT WAS, UH, WAS DONE AN ERROR, OR IF THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT MAY HAVE BEEN WRONG WITH THE ACTUAL TEST ITSELF, THAT TAKES SOME TIME.
THEY THEN, ONCE THEY FEEL LIKE IT'S AN ACCURATE RESULT, UH, GET A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE CLINICAL SCENARIO FROM THE, UH, PATIENT'S PHYSICIAN IF POSSIBLE.
AND THEN THEY, UH, PRIMARILY THEIR, THEIR MAIN GOAL IS TO CONTACT THE PATIENT AND, OR THE PATIENT'S FAMILY, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND KIND OF WHAT THE ACTUAL POSITIVE RESULT MEANS AND WHAT IT NOW MEANS AS FAR AS QUARANTINE AND ISOLATION AND EXPLAINING TO THEM THE DIFFERENT PARAMETERS THAT WE WANT THEM TO GO THROUGH.
UM, IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT, THEY'RE ABLE TO, UM, GET AHOLD OF THOSE PATIENTS AND FIND OUT WHERE THEY'RE STAYING AND FIND OUT, YOU KNOW, THEIR ACTUAL ADDRESS.
AND THAT'S THE INFORMATION THAT THEY EVENTUALLY SEND OUT TO ME SPECIFICALLY TO GIVE TO OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATORS SO THAT WE CAN PUT A FLAG IN THE SYSTEM, UH, FOR, UH, SUCH THINGS AS LIKE A NINE 11 CALL OR ANOTHER REASON WHY AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE MIGHT BE DISPATCHED TO THAT PARTICULAR ADDRESS.
SO THAT IF AND WHEN THAT CALL COMES IN, THEN THE THEN, AND ONLY THEN THE FLAG IS, IS NOTIFIED AND, UH, THE RESPONDING PROVIDERS ARE ABLE TO GET THE PROPER PPE GOWNED AND GLOVED UP AND EVERYTHING.
SO THERE AT NO TIME IS THAT ADDRESS ACTUALLY GIVEN OUT TO ANY OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, ANY OF OUR NINE 11 OPERATORS.
UM, IT'S JUST LOGGED IN THE SYSTEM AND THEN WHEN THAT PARTICULAR ADDRESS HAS GIVEN OUT, THEN THE FLAG COMES UP.
SO THAT'S WHEN THEY'RE NOTIFIED IS, IS NOT UNTIL, UM, THEY'RE BASICALLY ON THEIR WAY THERE.
OBVIOUSLY THAT'S, YEAH, THE MOST EFFICIENT AND BEST WAY THAT THEY CAN COME UP TO DO IT.
AND YET STILL MAINTAIN THAT PRIVACY THAT WE HOLD SO DEAR.
SO I THINK THAT IT'S, IT'S AN IMPERFECT SYSTEM.
[00:05:01]
AND JUST ALL THE LITTLE NUANCES AND THINGS THAT I JUST DESCRIBED ARE MMM, OBVIOUSLY TAKE TIME AND THERE'S BEEN SOME, SOME GLITCHES ALONG THE WAY AND THERE'S BEEN SOME TIMES WHERE THOSE NUMBERS AND THOSE THAT, THOSE DATA POINTS DON'T SEEM TO MATCH UP WITH WHAT WE HAVE AS FAR AS OUR LOCAL INFORMATION.AND I THINK THAT ACROSS THE STATE AND ALL 254 COUNTIES, UM, I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF EVERYONE IS HAVING A SIMILAR KIND OF RESPONSE IN A SIMILAR KIND OF, UH, SET OF GLITCHES AND AS FAR AS GETTING THAT INFORMATION OUT, UH, BUT AS BEST AS WE CAN WITH, WITH THE CORRECT INFORMATION AND THE MOST ACCURATE INFORMATION WHILE MAINTAINING PATIENT PRIVACY.
I THINK THAT'S THE MAIN REASON WHY WE'RE SEEING SOME DELAYS AND SOME GLITCHES AND SOME CHANGES IN THOSE, IN THE SYSTEM AS WE GO, AS WE FIND BETTER WAYS TO DO IT.
OTHER, OTHER COUNTIES HAVE, UH, HAD THE SAME SORT OF ERROR IN REPORTING.
I TALKED TO ANOTHER COUPLE OF COUNTY JUDGES.
THEY'VE HAD THE SAME SITUATION.
WELL, JUST AS A, AS A FINAL POINT, I REALLY THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US AS LEADERS TO KIND OF TAKE ON THAT MANTLE THAT SAYS, UM, FOR EVERYONE OUT IN THE SYSTEM LOOKING FOR THOSE EXACT NUMBERS, UH, WE CAN HELP THEM TO KIND OF RE REDUCE SOME OF THEIR ANXIETY AND HELP THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE EXACTNESS OF THE NUMBERS IS, IS, HAS BECOME LESS IMPORTANT.
IT REALLY HAS, UH, BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNITY SPREAD NOW THAT WE HAVE, UH, THE OPINION THAT ALMOST EVERY PATIENT WHO'S GOT A FEVER OR A COUGH OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT PROBABLY SHOULD JUST BE PRESUMED TO HAVE COVEN.
UM, IT'S NO LONGER A BIG OF A DEAL FOR US TO BE ABSOLUTELY SURE.
UM, IF THEIR TEST IS POSITIVE AS FAR AS HOW WE APPROACH THEM, UM, CERTAINLY MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE TO THEM.
CERTAINLY ON A PATIENT BY PATIENT BASIS, UH, FINDING OUT EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF, OF GETTING ACCURATE RESULTS, UH, TO THE PATIENT, TO THEIR PROVIDER.
UM, BUT NOW THAT WE'VE GOT COMMUNITY SPREAD, THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING THE EXACT TIMING AS TO WHEN THAT RESULT IS POSITIVE, UH, JUST HAS BECOME A LOT LESS OF A DIFFERENCE MAKER AS FAR AS WHAT, AS FAR AS OUR ACTIONS ARE CONCERNED BECAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE TASKED WITH, UM, TRYING TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, UH, HEALTHY, TRYING TO PROVIDE FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR, OF ALL OF OUR YEAH.
AND SO IT'S, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE IF THERE WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, ZERO CASES IN OUR COUNTY AND WE WERE IN, WE WERE CONFIDENT THAT THERE REALLY WERE NO CASES, THEN THE TIMING OF THAT VERY FIRST CASE WOULD BE, UH, PRETTY IMPORTANT.
IT WOULDN'T, IT WOULD PROBABLY HELP US TO MAKE THE DECISIONS.
BUT I THINK WITH THE COMMUNITY SPREAD MIXED WITH THE LACK OF AVAILABLE EASY TESTING, I THINK THERE'S A WHOLE LOT MORE CASES THAT ARE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW THEN WE CERTAINLY HAVE POSITIVES FOR.
SO JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE 15 OR 20 OR 25 POSITIVES, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY WORTHWHILE TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S LIKELY HUNDREDS OF POSITIVE CASES IN KAUFMAN COUNTY.
UH, THAT JUST HAVE NOT HAD A LABORATORY TEST TO CONFIRM THAT.
AND I THINK ONCE, ONCE FOLKS UNDERSTAND THAT THERE, THAT IT'S THAT UBIQUITOUS THAT IT'S THAT COMMON MMM.
THAT PERHAPS THE SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES, THE HAND WASHING THE TECHNIQUES THAT WE KNOW ARE VITAL, MAYBE WE'LL BECOME A LOT MORE CONSISTENTLY DONE.
STAY WITH US CAUSE WE MIGHT HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU LATER AND SOME OF THE OTHER ITEMS. UM, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AGENDA, WHICH IS ITEM TWO.
[3. Judge Richards; Discuss/Consider approving Proclamation to proclaim the month of April as Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month.]
THE NEXT ITEM IS MINE, WHICH IS UH, DISCUSSING ORDER APPROVING THE PROCLAMATION TO PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF APRIL IS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND AWARENESS MONTH.AND I HAVE THIS A PROCLAMATION THAT I WILL READ REAL QUICKLY.
WHEREAS THE COUNTY OF KAUFFMAN PRIDES ITSELF ON GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, CONTRIBUTING TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG OUR CITIZENS.
AND WHEREAS THE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER OF COFFIN COUNTY PROVIDES JUSTICE AND HEALING FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGH ITS SUPPORT OF A COLLABORATIVE CHILD CENTERED RESPONSE.
WHEREAS THE KAUFMAN COUNTY CHILD WELFARE BOARD IN ASSOCIATION WITH A TEXAS COUNCIL OF CHILD WELFARE BOARDS SUPPORTS CALLING THE COUNTY'S NETWORK OF VOLUNTEERS CONCERNED WITH THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY THOSE SUFFERING FROM ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
[00:10:01]
SHELTER SERVES CHILDREN OF ALL AGES AND WORKS WITH CASA AND CPS OFFICES TO HELP MEET THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN IN KAUFMAN COUNTY.WHEREAS LONE STAR CASA IN ASSOCIATION WITH A NATIONAL COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE ASSOCIATION SPEAKS FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE COURTS.
WHEREAS MORE THAN 300 CHILDREN IN THE COFFIN COUNTY AREA SUFFERED FROM SOME FORM OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT EACH YEAR.
WHEREAS THROUGH A NATIONAL EFFORT, KAUFMAN COUNTY COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO JOIN TOGETHER TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR THOSE CHILDREN ALL IN VICTIMS TO ABUSE AND NEGLECT THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF APRIL.
AND WHEREAS THIS EVERETT WILL GIVE ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY AND AROUND THE COUNTRY, THEY SAFE A CHANCE FOR A SAFE AND POSITIVE FUTURE.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE KAUFMAN COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT HEREBY COMPLAINS, PROCLAIMS APRIL AS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND AWARENESS MONTH IN KAUFMAN COUNTY AND IN DOING URGE ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN IN THE NATIONAL AWARENESS AND HELP PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN THIS WILL BE SIGNED AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE MOMENT BY MYSELF AND ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
I WILL JUST GO BACK AND REFLECT THAT, THAT SPECIFICALLY NAMES SOME VERY IMPORTANT, UH, WORKERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER OF CONFERENCE COUNTY, OUR CHILD WELFARE BOARD, THE CHILDREN'S SHELTER IN CASA.
THOSE ARE FOUR, UH, COMMUNITY BASED GROUPS THAT ARE DOING GOD'S WORK.
SO, UH, WHAT'S BEFORE US IS DISCUSSED IS TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THAT PROCLAMATION.
UH, IS THERE A MOTION APPROVAL? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER BARBER IN THE SECOND, SECOND.
SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS.
THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[4. Nathan Collins; Discuss/Consider approving First Amendment to CenturyLink Custom Cover Agreement between Kaufman County and CenturyLink Sales Solution, Inc.]
NATHAN COLLEGE DISCUSSING CONSIDER APPROVING FIRST AMENDMENT TO CENTURY LINK CUSTOM COVER AGREEMENT BETWEEN KAUFMAN COUNTY AND CENTURY LINK SALES SOLUTIONS INC.UM, YEAH, SO THIS IS JUST TO, UM, TO UH, MAKE A COUPLE OF CHANGES TO A CONTRACT THAT WAS STARTED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, UH, BETWEEN COFFIN COUNTY AND CENTURY LINK.
SO, UM, A COUPLE OF CHANGES ARE, UM, THERE'S ACTUALLY TWO AMENDMENTS TO CONSIDER HERE.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A METRO EAST CIRCUIT AT THE KSL, A METRO EAST CIRCUIT UPGRADED AT THE EOC AND A METRO EAST CIRCUIT DOWNGRADED TO 500 MEGABITS PER SECOND AT THE 3001 SOUTH WASHINGTON OR THE SOUTH CAMPUS.
AND UM, THE INTERNET CIRCUIT AT THE EOC WILL BE UPGRADED TO ONE GIG AS WELL AS A 500 MEG CIRCUIT AT THE KSL REMOVE TWO FIBER INSTEAD OF, UH, GOING, UM, OVER THE AIR LIKE WE'VE BEEN.
UM, SO THIS IS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CONTRACT.
SO ANY QUESTIONS? I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING, THIS HAS BEEN A LONG, SLOW PROCESS.
THEY'VE BEEN HARD TO GET THEM TO COMPLETE IT AND APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.
I KNOW OUR CIVIL DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN INVOLVED PRETTY HEAVILY ALSO.
SO ARE THERE ANY MORE QUESTIONS OF NATHAN? IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, IS THERE A MOTION? PROVE THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO LINK CUSTOM COVER AGREEMENT BETWEEN COFFIN COUNTY AND CENTURY LINK SALES SOLUTIONS MOTION.
WAS THAT FROM COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS? YES.
COMMISSIONER BARBER DISCUSSION.
THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES.
[5. Rebecca Lundberg; Discuss the Governor’s Executive Order GA-14.]
FIVE, REBECCA LUMBERGH DISCUSSED THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER GA 14.LAST WEEK GOVERNOR ISSUED, UM, GA 14 AND THAT ACTUALLY WENT INTO EFFECT ON APRIL 3RD LAST
[00:15:01]
FRIDAY AND IT LASTS UNTIL APRIL 30TH.AND WHAT IT IS IS TECHNICALLY TEXAS'S VERSION OF A STAY AT HOME ORDER, ALTHOUGH IT'S BEEN REBRANDED AND NAMED SLIGHTLY DIFFERENTLY.
UM, AND I WANTED TO WALK THROUGH THE THINGS THAT IT DOES DO JUST BRIEFLY AND THEN I SENT OUT THAT PROCLAMATION TO EACH OF YOU TO GO THROUGH IN DETAIL.
SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT ASKS ALL TEXANS TO SAY AT HOME UNLESS THEY'RE PARTICIPATING IN ESSENTIAL BUSINESS ACTIVITY OR PROVIDING THAT ESSENTIAL BUSINESS.
UM, IT USES THE SYSA FEDERAL DEFINITION FOR ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES THAT YOU GUYS ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH BECAUSE THAT WAS USED IN JUDGE RICHARD'S ORDER.
UM, IF YOU ARE PROVIDING AN ESSENTIAL BUSINESS, IT ENCOURAGES AND ASK THAT YOU USE THE CDC GUIDELINES FOR SHOW, UH, SOCIAL DISTANCING AND TELEWORK IF POSSIBLE.
UM, IN PERSON, UH, WORKING OR ORGANIZING YOUR BUSINESS HAVE IN-PERSON VISITATION SHOULD BE FOLLOWING SOCIAL DISTANCING GUT, UH, GUIDELINES IF YOU'RE IN A CENTRAL BUSINESS.
THE GOVERNOR ASKS TETUM, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TO MANAGE THE LIST OF THE CENTRAL BUSINESSES AND THEN THEY ALSO PROVIDED A WEBSITE AND LINK TO ENCOURAGE THE BUSINESS IF THEY'RE NOT SURE THAT IF THEY'RE AN ESSENTIAL BUSINESS TO GO TO THAT, CONTACT THEM AND THEN MAKE THAT APPLICATION.
THE ORDER ASKS PEOPLE TO SPECIFICALLY AVOID BARS, RESTAURANTS, FOOD COURTS, GEMS, MASSAGE PARLORS, TATTOO PIERCING STUDIOS, HAIR SALONS, EXCEPT THAT YOU CAN USE DRIVE THROUGH DRINKS AND FOOD.
ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES DOES INCLUDE VISITATION OF PARKS, HUNTING, FISHING, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO USE SOCIAL DISTANCING IF YOU'RE DOING THOSE THINGS.
INCLUDES THE NURSING HOME, VISITATION RESTRICTION AND THEN POSTPONES IN-PERSON SCHOOL ACTIVITIES OR SCHOOL UNTIL AFTER MAY 4TH.
THE LAST PART, THE ORDER OUTLINES THAT ANY PART OF THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER WOULD CONTROL AND SUPERSEDE WHAT A COUNTY OR A CITY HAS ISSUED.
AND SO THE COUNTY MAY CONTINUE TO ISSUE ORDERS BUT THEY HAVE TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER AND CAN'T DIVERGE OR BE MORE STRICT OR LESS STRICT.
UM, HIS ORDER IS THE UMBRELLA ORDER AT THIS POINT.
SO THAT COVERS MOST OF WHAT THAT ORDER DOES.
DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT IT OR CONFUSION? YEAH, IF NOT THEN I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE ON THE MATTER.
JUDGE, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING FURTHER? UM, I DON'T, UH, I DON'T, UM, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THE GOVERNOR, UH, SUSPENDS, UH, MAYORS AND COUNTY JUDGES AUTHORITY TO DECIDE WHAT AN ESSENTIAL BUSINESS IS.
I THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR DEFINITELY POINTS TOWARDS TETUM TO DIRECT THAT TYPE OF INFORMATION AND THOSE ACTIVITIES.
WELL THANK YOU FOR THAT BRIEFING.
AND WE MAY COME BACK TO THIS JUST A LITTLE BIT.
[6. Judge Richards; Discuss/Consider taking any action regarding the Shelter in Place Order for Kaufman County.]
DISCUSSED, CONSIDERED TAKING ANY ACTION REGARDING THE SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER FOR KAUFMAN COUNTY.THAT WAS THE ORDER THAT EXPIRES ON APRIL 8TH.
I KNOW IN SOME CASES, UH, THOSE ORDERS HAVE BEEN EXTENDED, BUT, UM, I'M NOT SURE THAT I SEE THE PRACTICAL REASON FOR DOING THAT.
AND I'M INTERESTED TO HEAR WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS WOULD SAY SINCE THE SHELTER.
BASICALLY THE INFORMATION IS IN THE TAKEN CARE OF IN THE GOVERNOR'S GA 14 ORDER OF BEFORE THE I ASKED THE COMMISSIONERS REBECCA D IS THAT AN ACCURATE ACCURATE CHARACTERIZATION? WHAT I JUST SAID, I THINK IT IS, UM, OUR SHELTER IN PLACE EXPIRES TOMORROW THAT YOU ISSUED AND BASICALLY IT DOES TRACK WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER HAS DONE.
THERE'S A FEW DIFFERENT DIVERGENCE LIKE WE PUT IN A SECTION REGARDING DAYCARES AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S
UH, SO COMMISSIONERS, I GUESS WE THAT DOES IT, DOES ANYBODY HAVE AN OPINION ABOUT, UH, TAKING ANY ACTION ON THAT ORDER OR JUST TO LET IT EXPIRE TOMORROW? SO WE'RE TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE SHELTER AND PLACE ORDERS, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
NO, I WOULD CONCUR THAT, UH, THAT PROBABLY COULD BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE WITHOUT ANY ACTION.
UM, THEN, UH, THERE'LL BE, I W THEY MOTION COMING FROM THAT, SO WE'LL JUST PASS THROUGH THAT ITEM.
[7. Judge Richards; Discuss/Consider approving Amended Declaration of Local Disaster for Public Health Emergency.]
DISCUSS, CONSIDER[00:20:01]
APPROVING AMENDED DECLARATION OF LOCAL DISASTER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.UM, EVEN THOUGH THIS HAS GOT MY NAME ON IT.
UH, REBECCA, I'LL, UH, SEE IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THIS OR JUST KIND OF GET US STARTED IN OUR DISCUSSION.
SO CURRENTLY THE COURT HAS A DECLARATION FOR LOCAL DISASTER THAT'S IN PLACE UNTIL APRIL 25TH WE RECEIVED SOME COMMENTARY IN OUR OFFICE FROM DIFFERENT, A DIFFERENT COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER CATES WHO WAS ASKING FOR A FEW CHANGES.
AND SO I DIRECTED HIM TO THIS GOVERNING DOCUMENT TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES.
UM, SO LONG AS UNDER FOUR, 18, YOU GUYS ARE OPERATING UNDER A DECLARATION OF DISASTER, UM, THAT WOULD BE YOUR, THAT YOU GO TO, TO MAKE ANY SPECIFIC DEMANDS OR CHANGES AS A COURT AS A WHOLE.
UM, OF COURSE THE JUDGE STILL HAS THOSE EXECUTIVE POWERS IN ORDER TO ISSUE SEPARATE ORDERS, LIKE FOR INSTANCE, THE STAY AT HOME ORDER.
UM, SO THAT'S WHERE THIS AMENDED DECLARATION COMES FROM.
UH, THE DOCUMENT THAT WE WORKED ON YESTERDAY WITH COMMISSIONER TATES AND HE CAN EXPLAIN SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT HE REQUESTED.
UM, WHAT IT DOES DO IS ADDS IN AN EXTENSION OF TIME UNTIL APRIL 30TH, SO FIVE ADDITIONAL DAYS TO MATCH UP WITH GOVERNOR'S ORDER FOUR 18 SO THAT YOU TRACK THAT.
AND THEN IT ALSO JUST SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT THE COUNTY IS FINDING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO FOLLOW THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER AND THAT IT SHOULD BE ENFORCED AS, AS WRITTEN.
AND THEN ALSO IT SPECIFIES SPECIFICALLY REGARDING ANY ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES BEING REFERRED TO TEACH THEM TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT THE STATE HAS LAID OUT.
UM, COMMISSIONER KATES, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTARY ABOUT THE OTHER SPECIFIC NUMBERS THAT YOU HAD REQUESTED? YEAH, SURE.
I'LL, UH, I'LL JUST ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, AS REBECCA POINTED OUT, UH, UH, HAVING THIS, UH, AMENDED DOCUMENT TRACK WITH THE GOVERNOR'S PROCLAMATION UP TO THE 30TH, UM, JUST PUTS US OFFICIALLY IN LINE WITH THAT.
UH, THE AMENDED DOCUMENT THAT HOPEFULLY GOT SENT AROUND.
I, I SENT IT AROUND FOR, UH, A PACKAGE SUPPLEMENT YESTERDAY, UH, ALSO, UH, MAKES IT CLEAR REGARDING THE GOVERNOR'S, UH, DECLARATION, THE, THAT ANY EXISTING WAIVERS, UH, THAT, THAT HAD BEEN GRANTED IN THE COUNTY ARE NOW, UH, VACATED AND, UM, THE COUNTY AND TENDS TO FULLY OPERATE UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S DECLARATION, WHICH AGAIN ALIGNS US WITH THE STATE.
AND, UM, UH, THAT THOSE WERE THE TWO ESSENTIAL, UH, ITEMS THAT I ASKED ABOUT.
UH, THIS WAS ALL PREDICATED ON, UM, ON MY, UH, CONCERN THAT INFORMATION REALLY NEEDS TO BE SHARED, UH, THROUGHOUT THE COURT IN A TIMELY FASHION.
SO, UM, AND WHILE I HAVE A COUPLE OF AGENDA ITEMS, UH, THIS PARTICULAR MINUTE ORDERED LARGELY ADDRESSES THOSE THAT IT CODIFIES, IF YOU WILL, THAT THE COMMISSIONERS WILL BE, UH, UH, INCLUDED IN DAILY UPDATES, UM, AS WE RECEIVED THOSE, UH, THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED.
UM, BECAUSE I THINK AS WAS POINTED OUT IN OUR LAST MEETING, UM, THE COMMISSIONERS, AND I'M SURE THE JUDGES OFFICE AS WELL, RECEIVED DAILY INQUIRIES, MULTIPLE INQUIRIES FROM THE PUBLIC, JUST THE STATUS OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COUNTY RELATIVE TO THIS CODE AT 19 CRISIS.
AND I GUESS I WILL DISAGREE WITH DR BROCHURES IN HIS EARLIER STATEMENT IN ONE REGARD.
UM, WELL PROFESSIONALLY KNOWING THE NUMBERS, UH, IN A TIMELY FASHION AND UH, APPROXIMATE LOCATIONS, UH, MAY NOT HAVE MUCH SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON, UM, THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY AND OUR, AND OUR, UM, OUR RESPONSE, THE CLINICAL RESPONSES.
IT DOES IN MY OPINION HAVE A, HAVE A STRONG IMPACT.
UM, THE, OUR CONSTITUENTS, UM, THAT LITERALLY 10 TIMES A DAY, WHETHER IT BE BY A PERSONAL CONTACT, PHONE CALLS, EMAILS OR FACEBOOK MESSAGES.
UH, UM, I'M INQUIRED OF AS TO WHAT'S THE LATEST STATUS AND AS, AS WE AS WAS TOUCHED ON HERE EARLIER, UM, THE RE THE REPORTING HAS BEEN INCONSISTENT FROM AT EVERY LEVEL.
SO I THINK THAT THIS ALSO JUST FORMALIZES IF YOU WILL, THAT AS INFORMATION IS RECEIVED, UH, INTO THE COUNTY THAT IT IS TIMELY DISSEMINATED
[00:25:01]
IN THAT, IN THAT, UH, UH, SANITIZED SORT OF FORMAT.UH, I CERTAINLY AGREE THAT THE COMMISSIONERS AND EVEN THE COUNTY JUDGE PROBABLY DON'T HAVE A BURNING NEED TO KNOW THE ABSOLUTE ADDRESS AND NAME AND THAT SORT OF THING OF ANY OF THESE, UH, UH, UH, SICK PEOPLE.
BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS, UH, THE PROGRESS IF YOU WILL, THIS DISEASE AS IT, AS IT IMPACTS OUR COUNTY AND AS IT IMPACTS WHAT PORTIONS OF THE COUNTY, UM, PEOPLE LIVE IN.
SO ALL OF THAT IS ADDRESSED IN THIS, UH, AMENDED ORDER THAT, UH, REBECCA HELPED, UH, ME, UM, MODIFIED JUST EVER SO SLIGHTLY.
BUT AGAIN, I THINK THE, UH, THE CRITICAL MODIFICATIONS THAT I MADE OR THAT I SUGGESTED OR THAT WE ALIGN OUR DATE WITH THE STATE, UH, AND THAT, UH, THAT THE, UH, HERE TO FOR, UM, WAIVER, UM, PROCESS AND APPROVED WAIVER REQUESTS WILL NOW BE VACATED, UM, SUBORDINATE TO THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER AND, UM, AND THAT THIS DOCUMENT JUST OVERALL ENSURES TIMELY AND EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION INTERNALLY IN THE COUNTY SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ANSWER IT, OUR CITIZENS INQUIRIES.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT FOR ME? NOPE.
SOME OF THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
I'M NOT, I WANT TO DR. BROWN, I'M A LITTLE, I GUESS ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO HIM TO TALK ABOUT IS, IS WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE ADDING, WHETHER WE CAN GET THIS INFORMATION AND WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE ADDING, UH, ADDITIONAL LITTLE DUTIES TO THESE, TO THE MEDICAL FOLKS.
MY ASSUMPTION IS, AND I HAVEN'T BEEN IN A DOCTOR'S OFFICE, BUT MY SON ENGINEERS ARE PROBABLY DEALING WITH SOME ABSENTEEISM AND ARE PRETTY, PRETTY BUSY.
UH, DR BRASIER I SENT THIS TO YOU YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
DID ANY OF THIS BRING COMMENTS FROM YOU? YES SIR.
UM, I GUESS AS I WAS READING IT, UM, ONE OF THE INITIAL PARTS WAS THAT IF YOU WANTED DATA FROM WHAT IT SAID, COMMERCIAL LABS, UM, I'M NOT AWARE THAT WE HAVE ANY COMMERCIAL LABS IN KAUFMAN COUNTY.
UM, I ASSUME YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE QUEST OR LAB CORP OR, OR ANY OF THE DOZENS OF PRIVATE LABS THAT ARE, THAT ARE RUNNING THESE TESTS.
UM, THOSE LABS ARE REQUIRED BY THE STATE TO SEND IN ALL OF THEIR POSITIVE TESTS, THEIR NUMBER OF TESTS RUN, UM, TO THE SHS.
WE DO HAVE THOSE NUMBERS ON THEM ON VERY REAL TIME UPDATES ON THE WEBSITE.
SO US, US ASKING THESE LABS TO ALSO SEND US THIS DATA SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY MIGHT HAVE AN ADDRESS IN KAUFMAN COUNTY DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE AT ALL.
UM, I DON'T THINK THAT THAT HELPS US AT ALL.
UM, AND ALSO AS A LITTLE CONFUSING TO ME AS TO WHY WE WOULD WANT THOSE NUMBERS.
UM, TWO, YOU KNOW, IF OUR CONSTITUENTS OR IF YOUR CONSTITUENTS CALL YOU AND ASK YOU, HEY, WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE OUR TESTING NUMBERS IN THE COUNTY? I FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE A, AN ABSOLUTE PERFECT GOOD ANSWER TO GIVE THEM.
AND THAT'S THE SAME, YOU KNOW, GO TO THE WEBSITE.
THOSE NUMBERS ARE ACCURATE AS AS CAN BE, WHICH IS CERTAINLY FLOG.
IT'S NOT PERFECT, BUT IT'S WITHIN A FEW DAYS TIME AT AT WORST WE'RE GETTING THE NUMBERS.
SO, SO THAT'S KINDA HOW I FEEL.
THOSE NUMBERS ARE VERY ACCURATE WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS TIME.
AND THE DELAY IS, LIKE I SAID, IT'S DEFINITELY EXPLAINABLE.
SO I DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE HIDING THIS INFORMATION FROM THE PUBLIC AT ALL.
AND ASKING LABS, CLINICS OR ANYBODY TO GIVE THOSE RESULTS TO US SPECIFICALLY WHILE THEY'RE ALREADY HAVING TO GIVE THOSE RESULTS TO THE STATE JUST SEEMS UNNECESSARY.
WELL, IF ALL THESE LABS THAT ARE ANOTHER COUNTY, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS, I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN EVEN MAKE THEM, IF, IF THERE'S A LAB IN DALLAS COUNTY, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF WE CAN MAKE THEM GIVE US THAT INFORMATION.
I'M POSITIVE WE CAN NOT ASK THEM TO DO THAT.
SO YEAH, THAT'S NOT EVEN STABLE.
THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO GIVE THAT INFORMATION AT ALL.
SO, SO LET ME BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
I DIDN'T ASK FOR THAT, UH, LABORATORY ADDITION, NOT THAT WAS ADDED IN KAUFMAN.
I DIDN'T HAVE THAT LABORATORY REQUEST IN MY INITIAL CONCERNS, SO I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT JUDGE.
UH, I WILL, I WILL RESPOND TO THE, AND TELL YOU THAT, UH, IT IS JUST SETTLING IN MY OBSERVATION.
IT IS TO SETTLING TO THE CITIZENS BECAUSE THE NUMBERS THAT GET POSTED AS THE JUDGE REFERENCED EARLIER ARE NOT ACCURATE.
UH, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE FLYING THIS AIRPLANE.
UH, BUT FOR INSTANCE, THIS WEEKEND, UH,
[00:30:01]
THE STATE DASHBOARD REPORTED, UH, 10 CASES IN OUR COUNTY.THEN YESTERDAY IT WAS AMENDED TO NINE.
THEN YESTERDAY EVENING WE, WE WERE INFORMED, UH, THROUGH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT THAT WE HAD 16 CASES.
UH, AND THEN I CHECKED THIS MORNING AND THE DASHBOARD STILL REFLECTS NOT SO, UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BELIEVE ME, I UNDERSTAND CRISIS MANAGEMENT RELATIVELY WELL AND I KNOW THAT IT'S A FLUID SITUATION, BUT I THINK, I THINK THE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE MOST INFORMATION, THE MOST, UM, UH, SPECIFIC AND ACCURATE INFORMATION THAT WE CAN, UH, THAT WE CAN FEEL CONFIDENT ABOUT, BE AVAILABLE TO THE CITIZENS.
SO I GUESS AS FAR AS ITEM FIVE GOES, WE WOULD AGREE THAT IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY LABS IN KAUFMAN COUNTY THAT THAT DOES, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE FOR US TO LEAVE THAT ONE IN THERE.
NO, I'M, I'M HAPPY TO STRIKE THAT.
I DIDN'T ASK FOR A LAB REPORTING.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE ORIGIN OF THAT IS.
UM, AND THEN, UH, HOSPITALS AND SURGICAL CENTER REPORTING.
OR THEIR BED CAPACITY THAT ALSO, UM, I'M NOT SURE OF THE ORIGIN OF THAT JUDGE.
I DIDN'T ASK FOR THAT SPECIFIC.
I THINK WE'RE GETTING THAT INFORMATION ALREADY.
WE JUST STARTED GETTING AN INFORMATION.
STEVE IS IN HERE, IS THAT RIGHT? DID WE JUST START GETTING A REPORT? WE ONLY HAVE ONE HOSPITAL.
ACTUALLY THAT'S A PRESBYTERIAN.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY SURGICAL CENTERS.
I DON'T THINK, I GUESS THIS IS LANGUAGE OUT OF THE STATE GOVERNOR'S ORDER, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY, WE ONLY HAVE ONE HOSPITAL HERE.
AND WE ARE GETTING A DAILY BED COUNT ON THAT FROM THEM.
THERE'S SOMETHING IN HERE THAT SAYS YOU WERE SEND THAT TO THE PERMISSION, RIGHT? UH, I HAVEN'T BEEN, BUT I CAN IF YOU WANT ME TO.
WELL IT ISN'T HERE, ISN'T IT? YEAH.
UH, NUMBER EIGHT, YOU CAN, YOU CAN ADD THE REPORTS FROM THE HOSPITALS TO NUMBER EIGHT.
BUT JUST KIND OF CONFIRM YOU GUYS ARE STRIKING FIVE, SIX AND SEVEN, RIGHT? I'VE GOT THOSE REMOVED.
WELL WE TALKED ABOUT, WELL I DON'T KNOW, I'M S I'M SUGGESTING THAT WE JUST, WE ONLY HAVE ONE HOSPITAL AND IF THAT ONE HOSPITAL IS GIVING STEVE THAT INFORMATION THAT WE JUST ADD LANGUAGE THAT WHEN HE IS THAT HE REPORTS TO US, HE SENT, WHEN HE GETS THAT REPORT WITHIN A DAY, HE SENDS THAT INFORMATION TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
SO JUDGE, YOU COULD MAKE THAT ADDITION THEN INTO NUMBER EIGHT AND THE DAILY RAPPORT.
ANY INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM UH, THE REGIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HOSPITALS.
I'LL HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO POSE THAT IF I'M GONNA CHANGE IT, BUT, AND THEN CAN WE TALK ABOUT SEVEN? WELL, IF YOU DON'T REQUIRE FIVE OR SIX AND THE NUMBER SEVEN WOULDN'T BE, YOU WOULDN'T NEED THAT ONE ANYMORE.
AND WE WOULD TAKE CARE OF SIX.
THE REQUIREMENT IS SIX FOR THE BED REPORTING.
WE WOULD JUST ADD THAT TO EIGHT.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE, OTHER COMMENTS OR THINGS YOU THINK WE SHOULD KNOW? YEAH, NO, THE ONLY, UM, ISSUES THAT I HAD A PROBLEM WITH WERE FIVE, SIX, AND SEVEN.
SO IF ALL THOSE ARE GETTING MOVED, THEN I DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUE AT ALL WITH THE REST OF IT.
HOW VALID OR I'M JUST KIND OF CURIOUS ABOUT THE BED REPORT.
YOU'D SAID EARLIER, I THINK, WELL YOUR ORIGINAL BRIEFING WITH US, SHE TALKED ABOUT THAT THE BEDS CHANGED.
I MEAN THAT THEY MOVED PEOPLE AROUND ALL THE TIME.
IS THAT, WELL W WE HAVE A FAIRLY UNIQUE SITUATION IN THAT WE'RE A, WE'RE A COMMUNITY OF 120,000 OR SO THAT HAS, UM, UM, A DECENT SIZED HOSPITAL, BUT IT'S A HOSPITAL THAT'S A PART OF A MUCH LARGER SYSTEM.
AND SO OUR COMMUNITY IS CERTAINLY SERVED BY THAT HOSPITAL, BUT FOR, FOR BED PURPOSES AND INTENSIVE CARE PURPOSES AND SPECIALIST PURPOSES, AS FAR AS THE AVAILABILITY OF THOSE SERVICES, WE'RE RELIANT ON THE BIGGER PICTURE, WHICH IS ALL OF THE THR SYSTEM IS THE EASIEST KIND OF ROUTE THAT WE HAVE IN THE END OF THAT FACILITY.
BUT WE ALSO ARE NOT THAT FAR AWAY FROM BAYLOR SCOTT AND WHITE FACILITIES.
WE'RE NOT THAT FAR AWAY FROM THE METHODIST SYSTEM THAT THE SEVERAL HOSPITAL SYSTEMS THAT
[00:35:01]
ARE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS IN THE COUNTY OF DALLAS ARE MUCH LARGER SYSTEMS, MANY MORE HOSPITALS.AND SO THEN TRYING TO COORDINATE BEDS BETWEEN THOSE SYSTEMS MAKE SENSE FOR THEM TO KIND OF SAY, HEY, WE WANT TO CREATE A CENTRAL, UM, I GUESS ASSESSMENT POINT SO WE CAN SEE, OKAY, HOW'S OUR BED SITUATION ACROSS ALL OF THESE SYSTEMS IN KAUFMAN COUNTY WITH ONLY ONE HOSPITAL? UM, THERE'S REALLY NO NEED FOR US TO KIND OF TRY TO MICROMANAGE THEIR BED SYSTEM.
AND IN FACT IT WOULD PROBABLY JUST, IT WOULD BE A OVERKILL FOR US TO KIND OF GET INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS AND SAY, WELL, IF YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, 1212 BEDS AVAILABLE TODAY, CAN WE HAVE 10 PATIENTS COME IN? YOU KNOW, WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO? AND THEN, CAUSE NONE OF THAT WILL BE UNDER OUR DECISION MAKING PROCESS.
THE PHYSICIANS IN THE HOSPITAL, ADMINISTRATORS WHO ARE GOING TO DECIDE AND IF THEY, IF THEY'RE RUNNING LOW ON VENTILATORS AT THE KAUFFMAN HOSPITAL, UM, THEY WILL SHIP THEIR PATIENTS THAT ARE NEEDED INTO A DALLAS HOSPITAL.
I MEAN, THAT'S JUST HOW IT WORKS.
WE'VE ALWAYS DONE THAT WHEN WE NEEDED A SPECIALIST OR WE NEEDED A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE WITH THE COFFMAN HOSPITAL.
WE'RE USED TO TRANSFERRING LOTS OF PATIENTS.
SO MY, MY POINT IS WE JUST DON'T NEED THAT IN OUR COUNTY BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE THE ONE HOSPITAL.
BUT I CAN SEE A LITTLE BIT OF A USEFUL WORD, A NEED FOR IT IN A COUNTY WITH A LOT MORE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS AND A LOT MORE BEDS TO ACCOUNT FOR IT.
SO DID THE COMMISSIONERS WANT TO LEAVE THAT BED? UH, LEAVE THAT STIPULATION THAT THEY REPORT THE NUMBER OF THAT PRESBY REPORTS, THE NUMBER OF BEDS EVERY DAY TO, AND THEY WOULD REPORT, I GUESS THEY REPORTED TO, UH, DR BRASIER WHO WOULD SEND THAT INFORMATION.
OUR SOP WOULD BE SENDING INFORMATION TO STEVE AND HIS, STEVE WOULD SEND IT TO THE COMMISSIONERS.
WELL, I WOULD EVEN REMOVE ME FROM THE EQUATION.
DENISE HAS ALREADY VOLUNTEERED TO GIVE THAT INFORMATION EVERYDAY TO STEVE AND SHE'S, DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE'VE KIND OF AGREED IT'S NOT A VITAL INFORMATION THAT, THAT THE COUNTY REALLY NEEDS TO KNOW.
SHE'S BEEN MORE THAN HAPPY TO PROVIDE THAT AND SHE'S, SHE'S BEEN PRETTY RESPONSIVE TO THE IDEA THAT UM, THAT SHE UNDERSTANDS WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW, HEY, IS OUR HOSPITAL SYSTEM CAPABLE OF HANDLING THINGS THAT COME ALONG? SO SHE'S, SHE DEFINITELY IS ON BOARD WITH THE IDEA THAT WE NEED TO KNOW THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
SO SHE'S OKAY WITH HELPING US TO UNDERSTAND IT.
I THINK AS FAR AS JUST THE EXACT NUMBERS AND KNOWING THE BED CAPACITY, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, THAT'S LESS IMPORTANT THAN KNOWING THAT WE HAVE A GOOD CONNECTION WITH DENISE, THAT SHE'S ABLE TO CONNECT WITH STEVE AND SHE'S LETTING HIM KNOW, HEY, THIS IS WHAT'S GOING ON, HERE'S THE SITUATION.
AND SHE CAN KEEP HIM ALERTED ON A PRETTY REGULAR BASIS SO THAT WE WILL KNOW IF AND WHEN IT COMES TO A POINT WHERE DALLAS IS GETTING EXTREMELY FULL AND, AND OUR CAPACITY REALLY IS AT RISK, THEN ABSOLUTELY WE NEED TO BE ON THE, IN THE LOOP ON THAT.
IT'S JUST THAT AT THIS POINT, UM, THAT WOULD JUST BE A LITTLE BIT OF AN EXTRA THING FOR, FOR US TO DO THAT'S NOT NECESSARY.
SO WE LEAVE IT IN THERE SINCE DENISE WAS ALREADY REPORTING THAT TO STEVE.
SO WE'LL JUST LEAVE IT IN THERE.
ANYBODY ELSE? ARE THEY MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? OKAY.
UH, THEN I GUESS IF Y'ALL DON'T, IF IT'S OKAY, I'LL GO AHEAD AND PUT THIS IN THE FORM OF EMOTIONS.
WE'VE GOT SO MUCH DISCUSSION IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT WITH EVERYBODY.
UM, SO I MOVE THAT WE UH, APPROVE THE AMENDED DECLARATION IS PRESENTED IN ITEM SEVEN WITH THE FOLLOWING CHANGES, STRIKING ITEMS IN THAT ORDER, STRIKING ARMS FIVE, SIX AND SEVEN AND ADDING TO ITEM EIGHT THAT A DAILY REPORT, UH, DELIVERED BY THE COFFIN COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
WOULD BE SENT, IT WOULD INCLUDE THE BED COUNT AT OUR LOCAL, AT OUR COUNTY, THE ONLY HOSPITAL IN THE COUNTY, WHICH WOULD BE THE HOSPITAL IN COFFIN.
AND THAT, THAT WOULD, THAT REPORT WOULD INCLUDE THE NUMBER OF BEDS IN THAT INFORMATION AS IT SAYS IN NUMBER EIGHT, THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE DAILY REPORT.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SEC SECOND.
THAT'S MOTION FROM THE COUNTY JUDGE.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION? THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
LET'S TAKE THE ROLL CALL CAUSE I CAN'T TELL.
UH, COMMISSIONER BARB, UH, COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS,
[00:40:01]
UH, COMMISSIONER BARBARA.UH, YOU KNOW, I VOTE I ALSO, SO THAT MOTION CARRIES, IT GETS US EIGHT, UH,
[8. Commissioner Ken Cates; Discuss and Consider establishing a timely but not less than DAILY reporting process from the County Judge’s Office and the Office of Emergency Management to the entire Commissioners Court regarding any COVID 19 developments within Kaufman County to include: State Health Service information, Virus Testing Results, Public Testing for Virus Capabilities, Law Enforcement Actions related to the Public Health Disaster Declaration, information received by or from the Kaufman County Public Health Officer or other significant or critical information during the pendency of the county’s Medical Disaster Declaration.]
[9. Commissioner Ken Cates; Discuss and Consider an Order Requiring the County Judge and the KC Office of Emergency Management to timely inform and coordinate with any impacted County Commissioner regarding any Medical Disaster Declaration and any related “Shelter in Place” Orders, to include: Reviewing and Assessing Waiver Requests, developing and making public announcements regarding these matters and implementing any changes or alterations to such Commissioners Court Orders.]
COMMISSIONER CAGE.THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE REPORTING PROCESS.
JUDGE TO MOST OF MY CONCERNS, UH, HAVE BEEN RESOLVED IN THIS, UH, AMENDED ORDER THAT WE JUST APPROVED.
UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE, UH, MY, MY GENUINE BELIEF THAT RECURRING AND TIMELY COMMUNICATION HERE INTERNALLY IN THE COUNTY IS VERY CRITICAL.
AND, UH, I THINK, UM, HAVING SOMEWHAT CODIFIED THAT REPORTING INCLUDES THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AS A WHOLE.
UH, I HAVE, UH, UH, A FIELD WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO PULL ITEMS EIGHT AND NINE AS WELL AS MY CONCERNS HAVE BEEN RESOLVED.
THEN WE'LL JUST PASS THOSE ITEMS. IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT? YES, SIR.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, I WOULD JUST SAY ONE, ONE ADDITIONAL THING AND I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING OUT OF, OUT OF SEQUENCE HERE BECAUSE I MISSED IT BEFORE WE MOVED OUT OF ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE.
UH, I JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS ONE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, CAMP POLICE SERGEANT, UH, MITZI STORY WHO WAS A SHOT IN THE LINE OF DUTY, UH, OVER THE WEEKEND.
UM, UM, AND WE JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER SERVICE AND HER DEDICATION.
SHE'S A RETIRED OFFICER NOW EMPLOYED BY THE KENT POLICE DEPARTMENT AND, UH, AND UH, THANKFULLY, UH, SHE'S GONNA BE FULLY RECOVERED.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS, AND I GUESS THE AWKWARDNESS OF THIS, UH, NEW SITUATION.
UH, WE DID NOT MAKE A PROVISION IN HERE FOR PUBLIC, UH, QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC.
AND SO BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO ITEM 10, UH, THERE PERHAPS ARE PEOPLE LISTENING TO THIS, UH, LISTENING TO THIS MEETING AND I WONDER IF ANYONE WOULD CARE TO, UH, GIVE US THREE MINUTES WORTH OF COMMENT.
I DON'T, I GUESS WE HAD NO ONE FROM THE COMMENT THAT IS ASKING TO SPEAK.
UH, THAT BRINGS US TO ITEM 10.
[10. Commissioner Terry Barber; Discuss/Consider approving Order Authorizing Abatement Procedures for Public Health Nuisances and Public Health Threats; pursuant to Chapters 341 and 121 of the Texas Health and Safety Code.]
COMMISSIONER BARBER DISCUSSED CONSIDER APPROVING ORDER AUTHORIZING A BATEMAN PROCEDURES FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC HEALTH THREATS PURSUANT TO CHAPTER THREE 41 AND ONE 21 OF THE TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE.UH, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CODE 19 ISSUE.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A, PART OF THAT IS NOT, THIS ACTUALLY DEALS WITH THE SEPTIC SYSTEMS. UH, I'VE HAD SOME ISSUES IN MY PURSE THING.
I BELIEVE SOME OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS HAVE TO WEAR, UH, THE NORMAL PROCEDURES WE HAVE FOR DEALING WITH THE SEPTIC TANK ISSUES SUCH AS OVERFLOWS, THINGS LIKE THAT JUST AREN'T BEING DEALT WITH.
PEOPLE THAT ARE ALLOWED TO BASICALLY PAY A FINE AND THEN THEY'RE EXTENDED SEVERAL DAYS OR SEVERAL MONTHS, I SHOULD SAY IN SOME CASES, UH, AND THE PROBLEMS, THE PROBLEMS THERE AREN'T BEING TAKEN CARE OF.
UH, SO I DISCUSSED IT WITH UH, REBECCA LUNBERG AND SHE SAID THERE WASN'T A WORD THAT WE COULD PUT IN PLACE THAT WOULD ASSIST US WITH THAT AND GIVE US A LITTLE MORE TEETH THAN JUST SOMETHING DONE SOONER.
UH, AND IF I COULD, I'D LIKE TO ASK REBECCA TO EXPLAIN IT A LITTLE MORE DETAILED.
SHE WOULD, UH, I'D BE HAPPY TO.
UM, TERRY HAS BEEN WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE FOR QUITE SOME TIME TO AND ALSO, UM, COMMISSIONER KATE'S TO ADD ON TO OUR NUISANCE ABATEMENT TOOLKIT IN THE COUNTY.
AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A THREE 43 ORDER THAT YOU GUYS, UM, UPDATED LAST YEAR AND THAT DEALS WITH, UM, SPECIFIC TYPES OF EVENTS THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONES THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY CAPTURE UNDER THREE 41.
UM, AND THEN THE OTHER CHAPTER IS ONE 21.
SO WHAT THIS ORDER DOES IS IT ADDS ON THREE 41 NUISANCES AS WELL AS ONE 21.
AND THEN WITH THE HELP AND TEAMWORK OF OUR LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITY, DR BRASIER, UM, WE CAN ACTUALLY TAKE A COMPLAINT TO, UM, HIM AS A AND ASK HIM TO FIND THAT IT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT.
THIS NORMALLY WORKS AND TERRY'S COMPLETELY RIGHT.
IT NORMALLY IS, IF THERE'S OPEN SEWAGE ON THE GROUND, MAYBE IT'S GOING INTO A NEIGHBOR'S PROPERTY, SOMETHING THAT'S DEFINITELY VERY CONCERNING FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH POINT.
UM, THEN WE CAN GENERATE A COMPLAINT AS A COUNTY AND THEN FOR THAT INFORMATION TO DR BRASIER AND I WILL WORK, UM, WITH HIM TO START A DRAFT OF THOSE COMPLAINT NOTICES AND WHAT THEY WOULD LOOK LIKE.
[00:45:01]
WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO CALDWELL COUNTY THAT HAS A VERY ROBUST, UH, ROBUST NUISANCE PROGRAM AND THEY GAVE US ALL THEIR FILES AND DIFFERENT DOCUMENTATION.SO THE PROCESS WOULD LOOK LIKE ISSUING A 72 HOUR NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT TO ABATE AND THEN, UH, FURTHER A 24 HOUR.
AND THEN IT WOULD GO INTO NOTICING YOUR UTILITY PROVIDER IN ORDER TO ACTUALLY STOP THE GENERATION OF, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT NUISANCE, WHICH WOULD BE USUALLY WATER BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT CAUSES SEWER ISSUES.
UM, THREE 41 CAN ALSO BE MOSQUITO INFESTATION, RODENTS, UM, ALL THOSE THINGS.
AND SO DEFINITELY A LOT FASTER THAN USING OUR ONSITE SEWER ORDINANCE, WHICH TAKES 30 DAYS AND THEN SOMETIMES CAN PIN FOR UP TO OR OVER A YEAR, UM, IN THOSE CASES.
AND SO THAT IS BASICALLY HOW IT WORKS.
THE ONLY OTHER THING THIS ORDER DOES IS ALLOWS THE COUNTY TO USE COUNTY EMPLOYEES AS ASSISTANCE TO YOUR LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITY.
AND SO THERE ARE TWO PARTICULAR EMPLOYEES THAT ARE, UM, ALREADY FAIRLY TRAINED IN THIS AREA IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
UM, HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS AND JUDGE HAS BEEN INVOLVED, UH, WITH MONIQUE AND UTILIZING THOSE EMPLOYEES AND THEY'RE BOTH WAYNE AND JERRY, UM, WAYNE MCKINSEY AND JERRY MARTIN TO, UH, WORK ON THIS WHOLE PROCESS AND THEY'RE VERY EXCITED TO GET STARTED ON IT.
SO DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IT IS, WHAT THIS ORDER DOES OR HOW IT COULD HELP YOUR PRECINCT? WELL, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION.
I, I JUST LIKE TO, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SUPPORT COMMISSIONER BARBER, UH, SPECIFICALLY WITH, UH, THE VOLUME OF THESE KINDS OF COMPLAINTS THAT WE ALSO GOT INCREASING FOR HAT.
AND, UH, AND CLEARLY, UH, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO SEPTIC, WE, UH, THE PENDENCY OF FOR 30 DAYS AND LONGER.
IT'S JUST A, TO ME UNACCEPTABLE.
SO, UM, BEING ABLE TO EMPOWER, UH, OUR, UH, OUR DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES ON OUR OWN SIDE SEPTIC SPECIALISTS IN, UH, IN THIS CODE ENFORCEMENT TYPE OF A ROLE, I THINK IS VERY POSITIVE.
JUDGE, I THINK YESTERDAY, THE NUMBERS THAT YOU SENT US, UH, REGARDING THE, THE GROWTH THAT KAUFMAN COUNTY HAS EXPERIENCED, UH, UP 6% BETWEEN 18 AND 19, UM, JUST CLEARLY SHOWS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM.
IT'S ONLY GONNA GET WORSE IF WE DON'T ADDRESS IT.
SO, UH, I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR, UH, THIS PARTICULAR ACTION.
I ALSO THINK WE DO NEED TO, UM, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, AS A COURT COORDINATE WITH OUR JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, UH, TO ENSURE THAT, THAT THEY'RE SENSITIZED US TO THE NEED TO, UH, TO ACT EXPEDITIOUSLY ON THESE KIND OF, UH, ISSUES WHEN, WHEN PUBLIC HEALTH IS INVOLVED.
WELL, UH, DR BRASIER I WAS, UH, I WAS A LITTLE AFRAID TO ASK HIM IF HE WOULD HELP US WITH THIS CAUSE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF COMING UP IN THIS THING AND, UH, HE WAS VERY, I MEAN, HERE'S, HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN.
I REALLY APPRECIATE HIS BEING WILLING TO STEP INTO THAT ROLE AND UH, RE REBECCA AND IN, UH, IN OUR, THE EMPLOYEES THAT THE STAFF AT THE COUNTY ARE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING TO MAKE IT, UM, NOT HEAVY LIFTING FOR YOU.
DR BRASIER, YOU HAVE ENOUGH, YOU HAVE ENOUGH STUFF TO CARRY AROUND WITH YOU RIGHT NOW? I'M SORRY, BUT I'M PRETTY BORED MOST DAYS.
SO ITEM, UH, THAT'S BEEN PRESENTED IN BRIEF DAYS OR EMOTION OR ITEM 10, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
COMMISSIONER BARBARA MAKES A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT ITEM.
IS THERE A SECOND? ALSO
THOSE IN FAVOR? I'LL CALL THE ROLE.
UH, UH, COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS.
AH, CAN WE FOR BARBARA? UH, COMMISSIONER KATE'S.
AND THAT BRINGS US TO ITEM 11.
[11. Adjourn Special Meeting.]
COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS OUT OF THIS MEETING, WE HAVE MOST OF YOU.ALSO AGAIN, SEPARATE COMMISSIONER BARBARA.
THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.