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THIS IS WHERE YOU'RE MEETING OF
[Call to Order]
THE COFFIN COUNTY.COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS CALLED TO ORDER IT'S TUESDAY, JULY 14TH, 2020 AT 9:00 AM.
AND WE'RE IN THE SECOND FLOOR.
NO, WE CHANGED OUR MEETING LOCATION FROM THE SECOND FLOOR ANNEX TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURTROOM.
THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT WAS, UH, HAD THEIR STUFF ALL IN HERE TO MANAGE THE ELECTIONS AND THEY GRACIOUSLY GOT IT, MOVED OUT A LITTLE EARLY FOR US.
SO THE FIRST THING THAT WE'LL DO TODAY IS I'LL ASK EVERYBODY TO STAND.
I'LL OFFER AN INVOCATION AND A COMMISSIONER BARBER IS GOING TO GIVE US, LEAD US IN THE PLEDGES.
PRAY WITH ME, HEAVENLY FATHER.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS OF THIS LIFE.
UH, UNLESS YOU MAKE DECISIONS ON THE BEHALF OF OUR CITIZENS, UH, WE PRAY FOR YOUR, UH, TH THAT YOU WOULD GIVE US WISDOM AS WE MAKE DECISIONS FOR THE BEST IN THE GOOD OF OUR RESIDENTS IN THE COUNTY.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS OF THIS LIFE IN JESUS NAME, I TO FLAG THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
WE, WE NORMALLY AT THIS TIME WOULD HAVE REMARKS FROM VISITORS AND I JUST, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I KNOW WE HAVE A CROWD OF PEOPLE, OR WE HAVE LOTS OF FOLKS THAT ARE SHOWED UP TODAY THAT, THAT I ASSUME WOULD LIKE TO, AND I DON'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE CARDS, BOBBY, YOU'RE GOING TO BRING THEM OKAY.
UH, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SOMETHING REALLY CLEAR AND I WISH, I DON'T KNOW IF THE FOLKS OUTSIDE ARE GONNA, THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO HEAR THIS, BUT
[Addendum Item 1. Discuss/Consider forming a Monument Citizens Commision (Part 1 of 2)]
WHAT IS ON THE AGENDA TODAY IS NOT TO DISCUSS THE DISPOSITION OF THE MONUMENT IN FRONT OF THE COURTHOUSE.BUT WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA TODAY IS TO DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND DISCUSS THE APPOINTMENT OF A CITIZENS COMMITTEE, UH, TO LOOK AT THE MONUMENT AND COME BACK TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT WITH RECOMMENDATIONS.
THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
SO IF ANYONE HERE, IF ANYONE'S WITH US TODAY, THAT WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THE DISPOSITION OF THAT MONUMENT IN FRONT OF THE COURTHOUSE, THAT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, WE, OUR POLICY AND STATE LAW SAYS THAT YOU CAN SPEAK, CITIZENS CAN SPEAK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S ON THE AGENDA.
SO YOU CAN SPEAK TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT, WELCOMED TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT YOUR INPUT, ABOUT APPOINTING A CITIZENS COMMITTEE, ANY INPUT YOU'D HAVE ABOUT THAT, BUT THAT SPECIFICALLY IS WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA.
SO, UM, I WANT TO WAIT FOR THOSE.
RODNEY'S GONNA BRING ME THOSE CARDS AND LET'S SEE WHAT THE FOLKS ARE ASKING TO SPEAK TO.
OH, SO I'M NOT REALLY SURE COMMISSIONERS.
I'M REALLY NOT SURE HOW TO MANAGE THIS SITUATION.
CAUSE WE'VE GOT SO MANY PEOPLE OUTSIDE.
UM, I WONDER IF I SHOULD GO OUT THERE AND EXPLAIN THAT TO THEM.
SO THE, IS THAT CLEAR TO EVERYBODY? WHAT WE'RE, WHAT THE ISSUE IS? OKAY.
WELL, I WANT US TO GO WITH, YOU KNOW, LET'S PUT TOO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE.
YEAH, WELL THAT'S ALREADY PRETTY GREAT.
WELL, BE RECORDED IN HERE MORE THAN WAS EXPLAINED ON SOCIAL MEDIA, BY THE WAY.
SO I WAS EXPLAINING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WHAT THE HECK? THAT IT WAS NOT AN ACTION, RIGHT? NOT FOR, NOT HAVING TO DO WITH THE MONUMENT AND AN ACTION ITEM, JUST HAVING TO DO WHETHER APPOINT THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE OR NOT.
I'M NOT SURE, BUT OKAY, WELL, I'M GOING TO GO EXPLAIN IT TO FOLKS AND IF THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE, THEY'RE WELCOME TO DO THAT.
CAN, IN CASE YOU'RE NOT TRACKING THAT, THAT AGENDA ITEM THAT WE MOVED UP, THAT'S OBVIOUSLY THE ITEM THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WE DECIDED TO PUT THAT FIRST, SINCE WE HAD FOLKS HERE.
GOOD MORNING, SIR, IF YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME AND, UH, WHERE YOU LIVE GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS JAMES HENDERSON.
UM, I'M A RESIDENTIAL KAUFMAN, THE CITY OF KAUFFMAN.
AND, UM, AND I ACTUALLY STILL, I WORKED FOR KAUFMAN COUNTY AS WELL.
SO I'M AN INVESTIGATOR IN THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AND I'M HERE THE
[00:05:01]
TOP OF THE GUYS IN THE SHARE, MY INPUT.AND MY THOUGHTS AS FAR AS THIS GOES IS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER A COMMITTEE ABOUT THAT MONUMENT THAT'S IN FRONT OF THE COURTHOUSE.
NOW I ASK THAT YOU TAKE IN CONSIDERATION THE DIVERSITY, UH, IN THAT COMMITTEE, I ASK THAT YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION HOW SOME OF THESE CITIES AREN'T QUITE AS DIVERSE IN THAT COMMITTEE.
AND I ASK THAT YOU TAKE A STRONG CONSIDERATION ON WHAT'S GOING ON AS FAR AS, UH, AS FAR AS AROUND AROUND THE WORLD, AS PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING OUT AND HAVING A, HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS FROM THAT STANDPOINT.
UM, I DO WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU, UM, A STORY, UH, AND I'LL, I'LL KEEP IT REAL BRIEF.
I WAS WALKING WITH RAYMOND, A CLIENT OF MINE FROM THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE ACROSS THE STREET TO THE COURTHOUSE.
WE WERE GETTING READY BECAUSE WE WERE GETTING READY TO HEAD TRIAL ANNOUNCEMENT ON HIS CASE.
WE ROUNDED THAT CORNER AND RAN AND LOOKED UP AND SAW THE STATUTE AND SAID, WHO'S THAT? I SAID, WELL, IT'S NOT ANYONE.
PARTICULARLY IF IT'S A STATUE OF WHAT I SAID, A CONFEDERATE SOLDIER, WHICH RAYMOND SAID, OH MAN, WE GOT A LITTLE CLOSER.
AND HE STATED THEN M IS RIGHT THERE BY THE DOOR.
HE PAUSED, LOOKED ME IN THE EYE AND SAID, I AIN'T GOT A CHANCE.
WHAT I ASKED IS THAT YOU DO YOU, IT, FIRST OF ALL, THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT YOU PUT IN CHARGE OF POLLING, EACH OF THESE COMMUNITIES, EACH OF THESE TOWNS, AND YOU TAKE THAT IN CONSIDERATION, THEY'RE DOING LIKE RAYMOND OR IN THIS COUNTY.
AND THEY FEEL THAT WAY ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN GOING FORWARD.
I THINK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR TIME, THANK YOU, MR. HENDERSON, JUST TO MAKE EVERYBODY AWARE.
I'VE ASKED, I'VE ASKED OUR ATTORNEY TO KIND OF RUN, BE THE TIMEKEEPER OVER THERE SINCE WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT WANT TO SPEAK.
SO SHE'S GOING TO RUN A TIMER FOR US.
UM, HI, HONORABLE DOUG RICHARDS, COMMISSIONER AND CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JOHN MICHAEL PALMER.
I GREW UP IN KAUFMAN COUNTY AND TERRELL, TEXAS.
UM, I'M HERE TODAY TO, IN SUPPORT OF, UH, THE COMMITTEE BEING FORMED.
UM, IN REGARDS TO THE STATUE, UH, THE QUESTION WE MUST ASK ALL OF OURSELVES IS WHO ARE WE AS A COMMUNITY? AND DOES THE MONUMENT REPRESENT KAUFMAN COUNTY? UM, THE MONUMENTS ARE MONUMENTS ASSEMBLES OF PROGRESS.
AND WE AS A COUNTY HAVE, SORRY, HAVE MOVED BEYOND RACIST SYMBOLISM AND TO REPRESENT, UH, THAT IS REPRESENTED BY THE CONFEDERATE STATUES.
UM, I THINK BACK WHEN I THINK ABOUT THOSE TYPES OF STATUES AND THE THINGS THAT ARE REPRESENTED BY THE CONFEDERACY, I THINK BACK TO ME HAVING TO BE TRANSFERRED OR CHANGED SCHOOLS DISTRICTS BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE, UH, RACIAL UNDERTONES THAT THE DISTRICT HAD.
UM, AND I THINK BACK, UH, THINK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT AFFECTED MY PARENTS AND IT AFFECTED WHERE I WENT TO SCHOOL.
UM, AND I ALSO THINK ABOUT WHEN I BECAME A PROFESSIONAL, I BECAME A TEACHER AND A COACH.
UM, I WAS SITTING DOWN ACROSS FROM, UM, AND IT WAS MY VERY FIRST JOB.
I WAS SITTING DOWN ACROSS FROM THE PRINCIPAL INTERVIEWING ME AND HE ASKED ME A QUESTION.
HE ASKED ME, DO YOU HAVE A WIFE OR DO YOU HAVE A GIRLFRIEND AND GO HOME TO, AND, AND I SAID, YES, HE SAID, WELL, IT'S GOOD.
BECAUSE AS SOON AS YOUR DUTIES ARE DONE HERE, YOU NEED TO HEAD OUT OF TOWN.
AND THIS WAS MY FIRST JOB OUT OF COLLEGE.
AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT THOSE THINGS, I THINK ABOUT HOW TIMES DID NOT CHANGE FROM THE TIME THAT I WAS A KID TO THE TIME I WAS AN ADULT AND HAVING TO EDUCATE TODAY'S YOUTH.
AND SO TODAY WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS TO, UM, IS TO HONOR OUR COUNTY, OUR STATE, AND OUR COUNTRY, UM, FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, AND WE'RE ASKING THAT WE TAKE NECESSARY STEPS TO FORM THIS COMMITTEE, UH, IN ORDER TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR OUR COUNTY AND OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS.
UM, WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU TO ERASE ANY HISTORY.
WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR THE, UM, PROPER STEPS TO BE TAKEN, UM, AND TAKE AN ACCOUNT.
EVERYONE WHO MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE MONUMENTS THAT STILL STAND TODAY, UM, OUR KIDS ARE WATCHING.
UM, AND WE'RE JUST ASKING THAT YOU ALL BE A PART OF THE CHANGE THAT NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE.
WILL YOU CALL THE MAYOR? I'M SORRY, CHIEF, OR YOU CALL MAYOR JORDAN, IF YOU DON'T MIND,
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YOU CAN TAKE IT OFF.I THOUGHT I WAS SUMMONED TO SPEAK TODAY AND I'M HAPPY TO, OR I CAN JUST ANSWER QUESTIONS, HOWEVER Y'ALL PREFER.
UH, BUT JEFF JORDAN, 1300 LEWIS DRIVE KAUFMAN, TEXAS CURRENTLY SERVED AS MAYOR OF KAUFFMAN.
UM, I BELIEVE THE CROWD TODAY IS LARGELY FOR ONE AGENDA ITEM, WHICH I WILL ADDRESS.
AND I'VE SPOKEN WITH SOME OF YOU ABOUT BEFORE.
THANK YOU, HAVE A GOOD PLAN GOING TO CO COMMIT TO APPOINTING A COMMITTEE, TO GET A COMMUNITY SOLUTION FOR A DIFFICULT SITUATION, WHICH BELIEVE ME, I'M USUALLY ON Y'ALL SIDE OF THE DICE AND, AND, UM, NO, NO, THAT YOU HAVE DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO MAKE AHEAD OF YOU.
I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION OF IT.
I WOULD ASK THAT THAT COMMITTEE BE REFLECTIVE OF THIS COMMUNITY, THE, UH, YOU KNOW, REPRESENT A GOOD CROSS SECTION OF OUR DEMOGRAPHICS HERE.
AND, UM, I'M OFFERING, UH, FOR SURE ANY HELP I CAN GIVE ANY OF Y'ALL AND DEFINITELY ANY HELP THAT THE CITY OR ME PERSONALLY CAN GIVE THAT COMMITTEE, UH, IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE.
BUT THIS IS, THIS IS WE'RE AT A POINT IN THE CITY OF KAUFFMAN WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO GO AWAY AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS IT.
UM, IT'S BECOMING A BURDEN FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY.
IT'S BECOMING A BURDEN FOR, UM, FOR A NUMBER OF PRACTICAL REASONS, WHICH IS ALL I'LL ADDRESS THIS MORNING.
UM, SIMPLY WITH MY MAYOR'S HAT ON, I ALSO RESPECTFULLY ASK, AND I MENTIONED THIS TO A COUPLE OF YOU ALREADY.
I KNOW THIS IS Y'ALLS DECISION.
I KNOW THIS IS A COUNTY DECISION.
I KNOW IT'S ON COUNTY PROPERTY, BUT PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THAT'S THAT'S YOU IS SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF MY TOWN AND I'M CERTAINLY NOT, UH, FREE FROM THE BURDEN OF FACEBOOK POSTS AND PHONE CALLS AND TEXT MESSAGES AND EVERYTHING OUT OF THE SORT THAT I KNOW YOU'VE ALL FILLED IT AS WELL.
UM, AND THOSE COMMENTS HAVE CERTAINLY NOT SLOWED DOWN AND I DON'T EXPECT THEM TO.
SO AGAIN, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, UM, OR HELP IN ANY WAY THAT I CAN ON THIS MATTER.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO TAKE OFF YOUR MASK IF YOU WILL CARE TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS SHELBY DEVINEY AND I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF KAUFFMAN.
I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF FORMING A COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF THE CONFEDERATE STATUE AT THE COURTHOUSE.
THE MONUMENT IS A SYMBOL OF RACISM AND HATE, WHICH I DON'T THINK ACCURATELY REPRESENTS OUR COMMUNITY.
WHO'S A PERSON OF COLOR ONCE TOLD ME YEARS AGO THAT SHE'S SCARED TO LET HER HUSBAND LEAVE THE HOUSE AFTER DARK FOR FEAR THAT SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN TO HIM AT NIGHT.
THIS MAN HAS A GRADUATE DEGREE.
HE'S AN ENGINEER, BUT SOME ARE STILL FEARFUL OF HIM SIMPLY BASED ON THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN.
WE CAN, AND WE MUST DO BETTER.
I BELIEVE THAT OUR COMMUNITY CAN MOVE BEYOND THIS WAY OF THINKING AND ADDRESSING THE STATUE IS A GOOD STEP TOWARDS THIS GOAL.
TODAY, I'M ASKING THAT WE HONOR OUR COUNTY, OUR STATE, OUR COUNTRY, AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
WE MUST TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO REPAIR AND RECONCILE, BUT ADDRESSING SYMBOLS OF RACISM AND OPPRESSION AS WE MOVE TOWARDS A BETTER FUTURE.
I'M NOT ASKING THAT HISTORY BE ERASED.
I'M ASKING YOU TO FORM A COMMITTEE TO ADDRESS THE STATUE AS A NECESSARY STEP IN THE PROCESS OF ACKNOWLEDGING THE EVIL ATTACHED TO ITS HISTORY.
THIS WAY WE CAN BEGIN THE PROCESS OF REPAIR.
IF YOU'LL GIVE US YOUR NAME AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO TAKE YOUR MASK OFF, IF THAT WOULD HELP YOU SPEAK.
I'M JOHNNY ADAMS, NOT THE JUDGE, JOHNNY ADAM.
WE HAPPENED TO HAVE THE SAME NAME.
I WAS BORN IN COFFIN COUNTY 75 YEARS AGO.
AND, UH, REMEMBER COMING WITH MY DAD WHO WAS A FARMER, UH, TO THE COURTHOUSE NOW.
AND THEN I REMEMBER WHEN THIS ONE WAS BUILT AND THE TWO SETS OF RESTROOMS, ONE FOR COLOUREDS
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AND ONE FOR WHITE.AND OF COURSE THAT'S GONE NOW.
AND I REMEMBER THE CONFEDERATE SOLDIER STATUE.
UH, I'VE NEVER COME TO AN OCCASION LIKE THIS TO PROTEST OR RECOMMEND OR REQUEST ANYTHING.
UH, BUT I THINK IT'S TIME TO GIVE CONSIDERATION TO, UH, MOVING THE STATUE.
UM, NOT PERSONALLY FOR DESTROYING ANY STATUE FROM THE PAST THAT WE NOW HAVE PRESENTLY THINK THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THAT PERSON.
UM, BUT I THINK THAT PEOPLE WHO COME INTO THE COURTHOUSE AND SEE THE, WHERE THAT IS, WOULD THINK THAT IT IDEALIZES THE PEOPLE IN THE ORGANIZATION THAT THE STATUE REPRESENTS.
AND, UM, SO I THINK IF I WERE BLACK OR SOME OTHER, SOME OTHER PERSON OF COLOR, I WOULDN'T EXPECT TO BE TREATED FAIRLY IN THE COURTHOUSE WHERE THAT STANDS AT THE FRONT DOOR.
AND, UH, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
YOU KNOW, LINCOLN OF COURSE SAID, TALKED ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE.
AND I THINK IF SOMEONE THINKS THIS GOVERNMENT IS FOR, AND BY SOME OTHER PEOPLE, NOT LIKE ME, UH, IT WOULDN'T MAKE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE TO THEM.
SO, SO I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THAT TO BE CONSIDERED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, MR. ADAMS. THANK YOU.
IF YOU'LL GIVE US YOUR NAME AND WHEN YOU'RE SPEAKING, YOU'RE WELCOME TO REMOVE YOUR MASK.
O'DONNELL GOOD MORNING, YOUR HONOR, AND COMMISSIONERS, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING.
MY NAME IS ELIZABETH O'DONNELL AND I GREW UP IN KAUFMAN AND I'M PROUD TO BE RAISING MY SEVEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER HERE AS WELL.
I ALSO SERVE AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN KAUFMAN, AND I'M ACCUSTOMED TO SITTING ON YOUR SIDE OF THE TABLE WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS.
I CAME TODAY TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THE CONFEDERATE MONUMENT.
I WANT TO DO MY PART TO MAKE KAUFMAN A BETTER PLACE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND OUR, OF THIS COMMUNITY.
IT WOULD BE EASY FOR ME TO REMAIN SILENT ON THE ISSUE AND JUST HOPE THAT IT WOULD GO AWAY.
HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT WE WOULD BE FAILING OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR FUTURE TO DO SO.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT A COMMITTEE BE APPOINTED TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE AND THAT THE COMMITTEE REFLECT THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THIS COMMUNITY AND THE, AND THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE OUR COUNTY AND ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
IF YOU'LL GIVE US YOUR NAME AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO TAKE YOUR MASK OFF, IF THAT WILL HELP YOU SPEAK.
I LIVE IN KAUFFMAN AND I'M AN ATTORNEY IN TERRELL, TEXAS.
I'M ASKING THAT THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT CONSIDER, UH, CREATING A, UH, COMMISSION TO, UH, DEAL WITH THE STATUTE IN FRONT OF THE, UH, SOUTH ENTRANCE OF THE KAUFMAN COUNTY COURTHOUSE.
IN FACT, I REMEMBER DOING A TOUR OF KAUFFMAN, PERHAPS IN JUNIOR HIGH AND THINKING IT WAS A LITTLE ODD THAT THIS STATUE STOOD HERE REPRESENTING WHAT LITTLE I KNEW ABOUT THE CONFEDERACY AS A YOUTH.
IT MAY SEEM LIKE AN, I MAY SEEM LIKE AN UNLIKELY PERSON TO BE MAKING PUBLIC COMMENTS, BUT I HAVE TWO SONS THAT ARE ADOPTED FROM AFRICA AND THEY'RE BOTH IN THE ROOM WITH ME.
I ASKED THAT THEY BE HERE SO THEY COULD SEE ME MAKE A STAND FOR THEM AND MAKE A STAND FOR OTHER CHILDREN WHO TAKE THAT TO A KAUFFMAN IN THE FUTURE.
AND WONDER WHY THIS PARTICULAR STATUTE WAS HERE TO HONOR CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ARGUMENTS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT ARE MADE ABOUT KEEPING A CONFEDERATE STATUTE.
THE STATUTE IS HISTORICAL AND TO THE REMOVAL OF SAID, STATUTE POSSIBLY SETS A BAD PRECEDENT.
STATUTES DO NOT REPRESENT HISTORY.
STATUTES REPRESENT VALUES OF THE COMMUNITY.
LAST FRIDAY, I PROBATED A WILL AND JUDGE RICH'S COUNTY COURT OF LAW, NUMBER TWO, ALSO HISTORICAL, AND ONE THAT IS RECORDED AND A PUBLIC DOCUMENT.
I DO NOT EXPECT OR WANT THE STATUTE TO BE ERECTED
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TO COMMEMORATE THAT EVENT OR ME EATING A BAGEL.BUT WE AS COMMUNITIES, DON'T MEMORIALIZE EVERY PIECE OF HISTORY AT SOME POINT, THIS COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE HERE WHO WERE HERE BEFORE US WANTED ALL OF US TO WALK THROUGH THOSE DOORS, TO THIS COURTHOUSE AT THE SOUTH ENTRANCE, WHICH I'M SURE IS PURELY COINCIDENTAL, UH, TO HAVE A CONFEDERATE SOLDIER LOOKING DOWN AT THEM EVERY TIME THEY ENTER, IF THERE WAS EVER ANY QUESTION ABOUT THE INTENT OF THE CONFEDERACY, YOU HAVE TO LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE CONFEDERATE CONSTITUTION.
IT SAID THAT THERE SHALL BE NO LAW DENYING OR IMPAIRING THE RIGHT OF PROPERTY AND NEGRO SLAVES SHALL BE PASSED.
IN ADDITION TO THIS CLOSET ONLY ALLOWED WHITE MEN TO VOTE.
THE CONFEDERACY WAS ONLY INTENDED ON BEING A PRO SLAVERY STATE AND IT GUARDS OUR COURTHOUSE.
THESE WORDS SHOULD NOT BE WHAT OUR COMMUNITY STANDS FOR TODAY.
AS FAR AS PRECEDENT FOR TAKING DOWN A STATUE WHILE YOU CAN LOOK BACK ON JULY 9TH, 1776, MEAN FIVE DAYS AFTER THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DECLARED ITS INDEPENDENCE FROM ENGLAND.
ON THAT DAY, GEORGE WASHINGTON, HIS SON OF HIS SOLDIERS REPORTEDLY ALONG WITH SOME SLAVES FOR IN CITY HALL PARK, NEW YORK CITY, WHERE A TWO TON STATUE OF KING GEORGE WAS FORCIBLY REMOVED, MELTED AND USED TO MAKE BULLETS TO FIGHT THE BRITISH.
I'M NOT AT ALL ADVOCATING DOING WHAT THOSE AMERICANS OF 1776 DID.
THE REMOVAL OF STATUES SHOULD BE A DEMOCRATIC DECISION, WHICH IS WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY.
AS I MENTIONED, I'M SURE THAT SOME OF YOU ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE SLIPPERY SLOPE THAT THE REMOVAL OF A STATUE MAY CREATE.
IF WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THE STATUTE.
AND WHAT ELSE WOULD WE REMOVE? I CAN SUGGEST A PRETTY SIMPLE RULE.
IF THERE IS A STATUE THAT COMMEMORATES AN INSTITUTION, SUCH AS THE CONFEDERACY THAT TOOK ARMS AGAINST THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THEN THAT STATUE SHOULD NOT BE VENERATED IN A PUBLIC SPACE.
IF YOU'LL GIVE US YOUR NAME AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO TAKE YOUR MASK OFF TO SPEAK.
IF YOU'D LIKE, MY NAME IS LANA PAGE.
AS WE THINK ABOUT MEMORIALS AND MONUMENTS TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS FOR A MOMENT ON THEIR PURPOSE.
THINK ABOUT THE USS ARIZONA MEMORIAL IN PEARL HARBOR, THE NINE 11 MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM IN NEW YORK OR THE PRESIDENTIAL MONUMENTS IN WASHINGTON, DC.
THESE MONUMENTS ARE A WAY TO HONOR AND GRIEVE SHARED LOSSES, EDUCATE SPECTATORS ABOUT A PERSON OR AN EVENT, OR REMEMBER PEOPLE WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS DESERVE RECOGNITION.
IN KAUFMAN, WE HAVE A STATUE IN FRONT OF OUR COURTHOUSE THAT DOES NOT SERVE THESE PURPOSES.
IT DOES PARTIALLY ON OUR LOSS.
IT IS TRUE THAT CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS GAVE THEIR LIVES TO THEIR CAUSE DURING THE CIVIL WAR.
BUT THAT IS NOT THE WHOLE STORY TO BE REMEMBERED FROM THE CIVIL WAR WITHOUT THEIR BROADER LOSS OR THE INJUSTICES OF THAT DAY.
IT IMPLIES THAT THE CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS ARE THE MAIN ONES TO BE REMEMBERED AND THAT THERE ARE CAUSES INCLUDING FIGHTING FOR SLAVERY DESERVE RECOGNITION.
WE ARE HERE TODAY TO SAY THAT THIS IS UNJUST, AND WE ARE ASKING THE COMMISSIONERS TO FORM A COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS THE HANDLING OF THIS MEMORIAL.
IMAGINE FOR A MOMENT, A STATUE OF A NAZI SOLDIER, NAZI SOLDIERS DID SACRIFICE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR CAUSE, BUT THAT IS NOT THE MAIN CHARACTER OF WORLD WAR II THAT WE OUGHT TO MEMORIALIZE ALONE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T TELL THE WHOLE STORY THAT NEEDS TO BE REMEMBERED.
IF THERE WERE SUCH A NAZI STATUE, ITS PLACEMENT WOULD ALSO SEND A MESSAGE.
IMAGINE IT INTENTIONALLY BEING PLACED IN FRONT OF A JEWISH SYNAGOGUE IN THAT PLACE.
IT WOULD BE A CRUEL AND PAINFUL REMINDER TO THE JEWS OF THEIR OPPRESSION AND SYSTEMATIC KILLING.
AND EVEN IF SOMEONE PUT A NAZI STATUE OUTSIDE OF A SYNAGOGUE AND CLAIMED IT, THE INTENTION WAS TO EDUCATE AND REMEMBER THE PERCEPTION OF IT, THAT IT WAS CRUEL AND INAPPROPRIATE WOULD FAR OUTWEIGH THOSE CLAIMS. WE DO WANT FUTURE GENERATIONS TO LEARN ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST AND THE CIVIL WAR SO THAT NOTHING SIMILAR EVER HAPPENS AGAIN, BUT THAT LEARNING NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN THE APPROPRIATE PLACES AND INAPPROPRIATE WAYS IN THE SAME WAY.
I WANT TO STAND TODAY AND SAY THAT THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE IS NOT THE PLACE TO REMEMBER A FALLEN CONFEDERATE SOLDIER FOR OUR FELLOW CITIZENS OF COLOR.
THIS STATUTE, REGARDLESS OF ITS INTENT STANDS AS AN IMPLIED THREAT.
A REMINDER OF BOTH THE DAYS WHEN THEY HAD NO CHANCE OF JUSTICE AND THE LINGERING INJUSTICES THEY EXPERIENCED TODAY, WHY IT'S PLACED AN UNBEARABLE AND INEXCUSABLE BURDEN ON THE BACKS OF BLACK PEOPLE FROM THE BEGINNING OF AMERICA'S HISTORY.
AND ALTHOUGH THE WEIGHT OF THAT BURDEN HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY REMOVED FOR MANY YEARS, THERE ARE WINS THAT REMAIN.
THESE WILL ONLY BE HEALED BY ONE STEP FORWARD AT A TIME.
AND WE ARE ASKING KAUFMAN COUNTY TO WAIT TO TAKE ONE STEP FORWARD TOWARD LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL BY FORMING THIS COMMITTEE.
[00:25:03]
GOOD MORNING, PLEASE GIVE US YOUR NAME AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO TAKE YOUR MASK OFF TO SPEAK.I AM THE PREACHING MINISTER AT KAUFFMAN CHURCH OF CHRIST HERE IN KAUFMAN.
A LITTLE OVER 10 YEARS AGO, I LEARNED ABOUT A PROBLEM THAT WAS HAPPENING IN A FAR AWAY PLACE.
IN GHANA, AFRICA, CHILDREN WERE ENSLAVED AND WORKING ON FISHING BOATS FOR AS MANY AS 14 HOURS A DAY.
I KNEW THAT CHILD TRAFFICKING EXISTED, BUT BECAUSE IT DIDN'T IMPACT MY LIFE, I COULD SORT OF IGNORE THAT IT WAS HAPPENING IN OUR WORLD.
BUT THEN I WENT AND SAW IT WITH MY OWN EYES.
I REMEMBER RETURNING HOME FROM MY FIRST TRIP TO GHANA AND HAVING THIS THOUGHT I CAN'T UNSEE WHAT I'VE SEEN.
I CAN'T DO NOTHING ABOUT WHAT I NOW KNOW.
I LIVED MOST OF MY LIFE AND NEVER BEEN IMPACTED BY MODERN DAY SLAVERY, BUT THEN BECAUSE OF WHAT I'D SEEN AND LEARNED MY LIFE WAS DIFFERENT.
AND IN THAT MOMENT, I HAD A CHOICE TO MAKE, WOULD I IGNORE THE PROBLEM SLIP BACK INTO MY COMFORTABLE LIFE OR WHAT I BE A PART OF THE WORK TO END SLAVERY IN GHANA.
AND AS ODD AS IT MIGHT SEEM TO YOU THIS MORNING, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE AND PREPARING MY THOUGHTS FOR TODAY ABOUT THE CONFEDERATE STATUE THAT'S OUTSIDE OUR COURTHOUSE.
FOR YEARS, I PASSED THE STATUE AND DIDN'T THINK MUCH ABOUT IT, BUT THEN ONE DAY IT WAS POINTED OUT TO ME AND I SAW IT.
I LEARNED ABOUT THE HISTORY WHEN IT WAS PLACED AND WHAT IT REPRESENTED.
I FINALLY LISTENED TO MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF COLOR AND HEARD THEM VOICE THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE MONUMENT AND THE THOUGHT I HAVE NOW RUNNING THROUGH MY MIND IS THE SAME ONE I HAD ALL THOSE YEARS BEFORE, ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE IN GHANA.
I CAN'T UNSEE WHAT I'VE SEEN AND I CAN'T DO NOTHING ABOUT WHAT I NOW KNOW.
LIKE SO MANY PROBLEMS IN OUR WORLD.
IT WOULD BE EASY FOR US TO JUST KEEP OUR HEADS DOWN AND HOPE THAT THINGS, THIS THING BLOWS OVER AND WE CAN ALL SLIP BACK INTO OUR NORMAL LIVES.
IT'LL BE EASY TO THINK TO OURSELVES.
MAYBE IF WE CAN JUST AVOID THE DISCUSSION LONG ENOUGH, IT'LL BE SOMEBODY ELSE'S PROBLEM.
AFTER ALL, WE DIDN'T CREATE THE STATUE.
WE JUST INHERITED THE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
NOW, WHAT COULD WE POSSIBLY DO ABOUT IT? BUT THE THING IS IS THAT NOW, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM AND THAT YOU KNOW, THAT THE STATUE IS THERE AND YOU KNOW WHAT IT REPRESENTS.
AND SO DO WE, I'M PERSONALLY FINE AND ENCOURAGE THE HONORING OF LIVES OF PEOPLE THAT DIED.
LIFE SHOULD ALWAYS BE HONORED.
AND WHILE I'M SAD AND THAT LIFE WAS LOST IN THE CIVIL WAR, THE STATUE DOESN'T REPRESENT THE PEOPLE'S LIVES THAT WERE LOST.
THERE ARE NO NAMES ON THE STATUE.
THE STATUE REPRESENTS THEIR CAUSE.
AND IT'S MY BELIEF THAT THEIR CAUSE SHOULD NOT BE CELEBRATED.
LET'S PUT CONFEDERATE THINGS IN MUSEUMS SO WE CAN LEARN FROM THAT PART OF OUR HISTORY.
BUT THOSE SAME THINGS DON'T BELONG IN PUBLIC SPACES IN SPACES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO REP REPRESENT EQUITY AND JUSTICE WILL TAKING DOWN THE STATUE AND ALL EXISTING RACIAL TENSION IN KAUFMAN COUNTY.
OF COURSE THE ANSWER IS NO, IT WILL NOT, BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT STEP.
AND TODAY WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY TO SUPPORT THE RELOCATION, FORMING A COMMITTEE, WHATEVER IT MAY BE INVOLVED TO REMOVE THIS STATUE FROM THE COURTHOUSE.
WE STAND HERE AS PEOPLE LIKE YOU, THAT CAN'T UNSEE SOMETHING THAT WE'VE SEEN.
WE CAN'T IGNORE SOMETHING THAT WE'VE LEARNED.
YOU ARE THE ONES IN THE POSITION TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THIS MATTER AND FORM THAT COMMITTEE.
SO THAT NEXT STEPS CAN BE TAKEN.
AND WE ARE COUNTING ON YOU ALL TO DO THE RIGHT THING, TO DO THE THING THAT'S RIGHT BY ALL THE CITIZENS THAT YOU REPRESENT.
IF YOU'LL GIVE US YOUR NAME AND YOUR WELCOME TO IT, YOUR MASK OFF TO SPEAK.
I'D LIKE TO PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THOSE WHO INITIATED THIS PETITION AND REQUEST HAVE DONE SO IN A PEACEFUL AND RESPECTFUL MANNER AND THAT WE SHOULD BE DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE OF IT.
GIVEN THE CLIMATE AROUND OUR COUNTRY.
I'M HERE TODAY TO LEND MY SUPPORT OF THE FORMATION OF A COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER THE NEXT STEPS REGARDING THE CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL STATUE IN FRONT OF THE COFFIN JUSTICE CENTER, THE STATUTE MEMORIALIZES THE CAUSE OF THE CONFEDERACY.
AND AS I CAN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MANY VIEW, THAT CAUSES BEING STATE'S RIGHTS.
WE CANNOT SEPARATE THE FACT THAT THE RIGHTS THAT WERE, UH, WERE, UM, ABOUT AN ECONOMIC SYSTEM THAT RELIED ON THE BACKS OF CAPTURED AND ENSLAVED PEOPLES AND HONORING OF THIS CAUSE IN A PLACE OF JUSTICE, WHICH SHOULD BE AFFORDED TO ALL OF OUR CITIZENS AND IS CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED, IS THAT BEST IN POOR AND AT WORST, A PROCLAMATION OF WHITE SUPREMACY.
SO TODAY I URGE YOU TO MAKE THE DECISION TO CREATE A COMMITTEE, TO CONSIDER THE FATE OF THE STATUE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
[00:30:08]
GOOD MORNING.IF YOU'LL GIVE US YOUR NAME AND THEN YOU'RE WELCOME TO TAKE THE MASK OFF TO SPEAK.
I'M GOING TO ABBREVIATE THIS AN INTEREST OF YOURS, TOM.
I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE HEARD QUITE A BIT ALREADY.
UM, I JUST WANT TO SAY OUR, OUR COUNTY COURTHOUSE IS ITSELF A SYMBOL, A SYMBOL OF JUSTICE, JUSTICE THAT WE ASPIRE TO AS A COUNTRY.
WE STILL STRUGGLE TO ASPIRE TO THAT.
WE CONTINUE TO ASPIRE TO THAT, AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES US LOVABLE TO EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE WORLD.
WE CAN COME A DISTANCE TOWARDS SOME JUSTICE, UH, BY FORMING A COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS WHAT WE PUT IN FRONT OF OUR COURTHOUSE.
I WOULD HOPE THAT WOULD SOME OF THOSE THINGS WILL BECOME TOUCHSTONES TO CELEBRATE A SHARED PAST THAT CAN HELP LEAD US TO A SHARED FUTURE.
TO ME, THE WORK CONTINUES THAT WE STILL DO, WHICH IS HELPING OUR COUNTRY MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS GREATER FREEDOM AND A GREATER SHARED DESTINY.
AGAIN, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU FORM A COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS WHAT WE PUT IN FRONT OF OUR COURTHOUSE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
IF YOU'LL GIVE US YOUR NAME AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO TAKE THEIR MASK OFF TO SPEAK.
IF YOU CARE TO MY NAME IS LINDA MOTT.
FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, SAY MY APPRECIATION TO ALL OF YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO COME, UH, AND SPEAK AT MEETINGS AND GIVE OUR OPINIONS ABOUT THINGS ON THE AGENDA.
UH, MY NAME IS LINDA MOD AND I'M A KAUFMAN COUNTY RESIDENT.
I'M HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF ESTABLISHING A COMMITTEE TO START LOOKING AT THE NEXT STEPS.
UH, AS WE LOOK AT THE PROPER PLACEMENT, UH, OF THE STATUTE ON THE GROUNDS OF THE, UH, COURTHOUSE HERE IN KAUFMAN TO ME, MONUMENTS ARE SYMBOLS OF SOMETHING OR SOMEONE WHO WE WANT TO EMULATE.
AND THESE ARE JUST SOME THOUGHTS THAT I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO HEAR SO THAT MAYBE THEY COULD BE PASSED ON TO THE COMMITTEE, UH, AS THEY, UH, LOOK AT WHAT THEIR DECISIONS WILL BE, IS THE STATUE AT THE COURTHOUSE, WHICH TO MANY REPRESENTS RACIST SYMBOLISM.
WHAT WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TO LEARN IS A VALUE AS A PRINCIPAL IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
I REMEMBER HAVING A DISCIPLINE REFERRAL ON A YOUNG MAN.
HE HAD URINATED ON THE BACK OF THE SCHOOL BUS AFTER A FOOTBALL GAME.
AS I DISCUSSED THIS WITH HIM, HE TOLD ME THAT I, SOMETHING THAT I HAD NEVER HEARD BEFORE I DID NOT GROW UP IN KAUFMAN COUNTY.
UH, WHAT HE TOLD ME WAS, IF YOU ARE BLACK, YOU DON'T GET OFF THE SCHOOL BUS IN ACE, TEXAS AT NIGHT THAT SENT ME TO HEAR IS I WANT ALL CHILDREN TO FEEL SAFE, SECURE, AND EQUAL.
I REALIZED, AND I'M GLAD THAT COMMUNITY WAS NOT IN KAUFMAN COUNTY, BUT IT'S MORE SUBTLE HERE.
IT WILL ALWAYS BE A PART OF OUR HISTORY, BUT IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT BELONGS AT OUR COURTHOUSE STEPS.
WE'RE ALL PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FEEL THAT NO MATTER WHAT THEIR COLOR, THEY WILL RECEIVE EQUAL JUSTICE IN OUR COURT SYSTEM.
LET KAUFMAN COUNTY BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION, NOT THE PROBLEM.
WE ALL OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN, A KAUFMAN COUNTY, WHERE EVERYONE FEELS LIKE EQUAL US CITIZENS.
I'M ASKING THAT WE HONOR OUR CON OUR COUNTY AND OUR COUNTRY AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
WE MUST TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO REPAIR AND RECONCILE OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO ERASE HISTORY.
I'M ASKING TO ESTABLISH THE COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT THE NEXT, NEXT STEPS THAT ARE NEEDED AT THIS TIME.
I WOULD LIKE TO END MY STATEMENT TODAY WITH A QUOTE FROM THE CEO OF THE, UH, AND SOME OF YOU MAY IS THAT MY TIME UP, GO AHEAD AND FINISH.
UH, THE CEO OF THE IRP ORGANIZATION, JOANNE JENKINS, LET US ALL UNITE TO CREATE A SOCIETY, A SOCIETY THAT VALUES HOPE OVER HEIGHT, FAITH, OVER FEAR AND COMPASSION OVER CONFRONTATION.
[00:35:21]
GOOD MORNING, SIR.IF YOU'LL GIVE US YOUR NAME AND, UH, YOU'RE WELCOME.
HI AND WE'LL GOOD MORNING, JUDGE.
I'M A RESIDENT OF KAUFMAN COUNTY AND LIVING IN TERRELL, A VOTER IN PRECINCT THREE.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
FIRST OF ALL, JUST TO SAY, I SUPPORT THE REMOVAL OF THE STATUTE AND I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO ALL THE REASONS.
I'M SURE HE'S GETTING AN EARFUL OF THAT RIGHT NOW.
AND I REALLY DIDN'T PLAN A LOT.
SO IF Y'ALL WILL GET YOUR BIBLES TURN TO ANYWHERE IN THERE AND I'LL GET THERE IN A DIRECTLY, OKAY.
JUST, I KNOW IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
AND I THINK THAT, UH, IT REMINDS ME OF SOMETHING I HEARD NOT TOO LONG AGO, UH, SAME IN JUDAISM, WHICH IS, UH, TO COME HOME TO COLD ALL OF THEM.
AND THAT MEANS ROUGHLY THE WORLD IS FULL OF BROKENNESS AND IT'S OUR JOB TO REPAIR IT.
AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING.
UM, I THINK THIS WAS A STEP TO REPAIR SOMETHING THAT'S BROKEN IN OUR SOCIETY AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMITTEE TO LOOK IN WHAT TO DO WITH THE STATUTES, THE RIGHT MOVE.
AND YOU SIT AT THE RIGHT TIME.
AND HAVING SAID THAT, I'D LIKE TO SUBMIT, MY NAME IS CONSIDERATION TO BE ON THAT COMMITTEE, KNOWING THAT WHERE I STAND ON IT, WHICH IS FAIR FOR YOU TO KNOW AS WELL.
UM, BUT IF YOU GUYS WOULD DO THAT, JUST TO REMEMBER ME THAT I WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEMS BEING ON THAT COMMITTEE, THERE'S A PRAYER THEY'RE 600 YEARS OLD, UM, THAT THE CHURCH USED TO PRAY AND IT'S MAY THE CITIZENS OF ALL RACES AND CREEDS FORM A COMMON BOND IN TRUE HARMONY TO BANISH ALL HATRED AND BIGOTRY.
I PRAY THAT FOR MYSELF AS WELL.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.
UM, I WANT TO FIRST SAY, UM, TO JUDGE RICHARDS, UH, TO THE COMMISSIONER COURT, UH, I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING OPEN TO THIS CONVERSATION.
AND IF YOU GUYS SEE 90% OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE SPEAKING TODAY, DON'T LOOK LIKE ME.
AND THAT SPEAKS TO WHERE WE ARE AS A COUNTY THAT SPEAKS TO WHERE WE ARE AS A COUNTRY.
LIKE IT IS TIME TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND I THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.
I'M A GRADUATE OF COUGH, THE HOT CLASS IN 1999.
MOST OF THESE PEOPLE I GREW UP WITH, I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH, UM, AND WE DECIDED TO COME HERE TODAY.
UM, NOT JUST AS SUPPORTIVE COMMITTEE, BUT IN SUPPORT OF THE FULL, COMPLETE REMOVAL OF THAT STATUTE FROM THE COURTHOUSE.
UM, I'M A COLLEGE EDUCATED FIRST-GENERATION, I'M ONE OF THE ONLY MALES IN MY FAMILY THAT DOESN'T HAVE A FELONY AND THAT HASN'T BEEN CAUGHT UP IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
I'M ONE OF THE ONLY BLACK MALES IN KAUFFMAN THAT HASN'T BEEN IN THAT SITUATION.
I'M NOT, I'M THE PRESIDENT OF A FOUNDATION CALLED SECOND CHANCES.LIFE.
AND MY ORGANIZATION EXISTS BECAUSE OF THE PRISON SYSTEM AND THE INJUSTICES AND HOW THIS STUFF DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS MY COMMUNITY.
WE FOCUSED ON REDUCING RECIDIVISM IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE WOULD NOT BE IN BUSINESS IF IT WASN'T FOR THIS BROKEN SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE.
AND ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE OVERTONES AND UNDERTONES OF THINGS THAT WERE PUT IN PLACE BEFORE US.
THE CONFEDERACY, NO ONE CAN DENY, HAS IT REPRESENTS RACISM.
IT REPRESENTS WHITE SUPREMACY IS CONSIDERED THE WHITE MAN'S FLAG.
AND IT WAS POLITICIZED IN 1948 TO GO AGAINST THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND TO KEEP THINGS SEGREGATED.
EVERYBODY IS SPEAKING HERE IS, IS, WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD.
I'M DOING MY PART IN THE COMMUNITY TO IMPLEMENT SOME POSITIVE CHANGE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I HOPE YOU GUYS JOIN ME IN THAT FIGHT BECAUSE THIS IS SUPER IMPORTANT.
WE CAN'T SIT HERE AND SAY THAT WE'RE CHILDREN OF GOD AND NOT FACE THIS THING HEAD ON.
WE HAVE TO, IT'S NOT GOING AWAY.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW IT TO GO AWAY.
YOU GUYS HAVE OUR FULL SUPPORT IN THAT.
BUT MY ASK IS THAT WE REMOVE THAT STATUTE.
THE COMMITTEE IS GREAT, BUT HOW MANY CONVERSATIONS DO WE NEED TO HAVE ABOUT THE TRUTH? LIKE A WEED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY OVER AND NOT.
[00:40:01]
UH, THANKING YOU GUYS, UH, YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT, UM, AND ALL THAT, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.IF YOU WOULD, UH, GIVE US YOUR NAME AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO TAKE YOUR MASK OFF TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS BETHANY THOMAS AND I LIVED IN KAUFMAN ALMOST MY ENTIRE LIFE.
I GRADUATED FROM KAUFMAN HIGH SCHOOL AND I'VE RAISED MY CHILDREN IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I'M CERTAIN THAT I'VE WALKED PAST THE MONUMENT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS MORNING, DOZENS AND DOZENS OF TIME TIMES IN MY LIFETIME.
AND I REALLY NOT EVER GIVEN IT A SECOND THOUGHT UNTIL RECENTLY, TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST, I COULDN'T HAVE TOLD YOU UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT THE STATUE WAS A CONFEDERATE SOLDIER.
HOWEVER, MY LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS HEADS DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE CONSIDERING THIS CONVERSATION.
UH, I BELIEVE THAT JUST BECAUSE WE FAILED TO SEE A SLIGHT OR AN INJUSTICE, DOESN'T MAKE IT ANY LESS REAL FOR THOSE WHO'VE EXPERIENCED IT, NOR DOES IT NEGATE THE NEED FOR US AS A COMMUNITY TO CONSIDER THIS.
NOW THAT IT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION.
WHEN I THINK OF PLACING SOMETHING OR SOMEONE ON A PEDESTAL I CAN SET, AS I CONSIDER THE PEDESTAL A PLACE OF HONOR, THE DEFINITION IS LITERALLY TO BELIEVE OR BEHAVE AS IF SOMEONE OR SOMETHING IS PERFECT, WONDERFUL, OR BETTER THAN OTHERS.
WE'VE PUT A CONFEDERATE SOLDIER ON TOP OF A PEDESTAL IN FRONT OF OUR COURTHOUSE, THE PLACE WHERE THE LAW IS SUPPOSED TO BE BLIND AND JUSTICE IS SUPPOSED TO BE SERVED TO ALL.
AND WHILE I WOULD NEVER EVER SAY THAT THE SOLDIERS THAT FOUGHT IN THE CONFEDERACY WERE NOT HONORABLE PEOPLE.
I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE THAT WE'RE SIMPLY NOT ACKNOWLEDGING WHEN WE CHOOSE TO LEAVE THAT STATUE IN FRONT OF OUR COURTHOUSE.
WE MUST ADMIT THAT THE NARRATIVE, WHEN WE SPEAK OF CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS AND THE CONFEDERACY IS OFTEN ONE OF JUDGMENTS BASED ON SKIN COLOR AND A COMMENTARY THAT SAYS YOU'RE NOT AS VALUABLE AS I AM.
IF YOUR SKIN IS DARKER THAN MINE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT TO THE FACT THAT THOSE ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS ARE MOST CERTAINLY NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO HONOR IN OUR COMMUNITY.
HISTORY IS VALUABLE, AND I'M SURE THAT A CITIZENS COMMITTEE CAN PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER AND FIND A MORE APPROPRIATE SOLUTION FOR THE STATUE.
THEN WE HAVE NOW FORMING A COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER MOVING THE STATUE WILL MOST CERTAINLY NOT UNDO YEARS OF INEQUALITY AND RACISM.
IT WON'T UNDO HATEFUL WORDS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID, BUT IT WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
IT WILL MOST CERTAINLY SAY THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS A COMMUNITY THAT IS WILLING TO MOVE FORWARD, TO CONSIDER NEW POINTS OF VIEW AND TO LISTEN TO ITS PEOPLE.
THE OTHER HALF OF THE DEFINITION OF PUTTING SOMEONE ON A PEDESTAL IS TO THE EXTENT THAT ONE IS UNABLE TO SEE ITS POTENTIAL FLAWS OR FAULTS.
LET'S NOT BE THE KIND OF PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO SEE THE FLAWS AND THE FAULTS OF THIS SITUATION.
LET'S BE THE KIND OF PEOPLE WHO ARE UNAFRAID TO SAY IT'S TIME TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
IF YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO TAKE YOUR MASK OFF TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS NATHAN FIERCE, AND I AM A TEACHER AND COACH.
I HAVE TAUGHT IN PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR 14 YEARS AND SEVEN OF THOSE YEARS, I'VE TAUGHT EIGHTH GRADE US HISTORY.
IT HAS SOLELY BEEN REVEALED THROUGH PUBLIC DISCOURSE OF HISTORICAL EVIDENCE.
MANY OF THE CONFEDERATE STATUES ERECTED ACROSS THE UNITED STATES WERE DONE WITH EVIL INTENTIONS TO INTIMIDATE BLACK PEOPLE MOST IN THIS ROOM, SHAKE THEIR HEAD.
AND WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT THE HISTORY OF REPRESSIVE LAWS, LYNCHINGS CHURCH BOMBINGS, PEACEFUL PROTESTERS ATTACK BY OUR GOVERNMENT AND CHILDREN BEING BITTEN BY TRAIN DOGS.
THAT WAS A TERRIBLE TIME IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
WE HATE THAT OUR GOVERNMENT WAS OPPRESSIVE TOWARD BLACK PEOPLE AND OTHER MINORITIES, BUT WE DON'T HATE HOW LONG IT TOOK,
[00:45:02]
HOW LONG IT HAS TAKEN US TO CORRECTLY IDENTIFY THOSE PRACTICES AS EVIL.AND IT HAS TAKEN A LONG TIME TO GET TO THIS POINT TODAY, WE HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO SET A PRECEDENT FOR THE CHILDREN OF KAUFMAN COUNTY.
WE CANNOT TEACH OUR STUDENTS ABOUT LIBERTY EQUALITY AND FREEDOM, BUT HAVE A STATUE UP IN FRONT OF A PLACE OF JUSTICE THAT REMINDS BLACK PEOPLE TO REMEMBER THEIR PLACE.
LET THE PEOPLE OF KAUFMAN COUNTY SAY TO OUR CHILDREN.
WE BELIEVE IN LOVING OUR NEIGHBOR.
WE BELIEVE THAT JUSTICE MUST EXTEND TO EVERYONE.
WE BELIEVE THAT WE MUST PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR SOCIETY.
LET THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE COMMIT, CONSIDER THAT COMMITTEE.
LET'S MAKE THAT COMMITTEE AND CONSIDER WHAT TO DO WITH THAT STATUTE.
IF YOU YOU'D GIVE US YOUR NAME AND YOUR WELCOME TO SPEAK YOU.
RICHARD'S, COMMISSIONER'S HOT PHILLIPS BARBARA AND KATE'S, UH, MY NAME IS CASEY TOWNS AND, UH, I'M A COFFIN COUNTY RESIDENT, UM, IN PRECINCT TWO.
UM, MY CHILDREN ARE ACTUALLY FIFTH GENERATION COFFIN RESIDENTS.
UM, HERE, MY FAMILY HAS BEEN HERE A LONG TIME.
UH, I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT PROGRESS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE BACKBONE OF OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM IS FAIRNESS FOR ALL.
UM, AND I CAN'T THINK OF BIGGER JUXTAPOSITION TO THAT, UH, TO THIS DOCTRINE THEN A MONUMENT THAT SUGGEST THAT THE CAUSE OF PROTECTING THE DARK INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY IS A MORAL ONE.
YOU KNOW, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT MESSAGE THAT MIGHT SEND TO PEOPLE OF COLOR, YOU KNOW, IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, YOU KNOW, I KNOW ALL OF YOU ARE HERE IN PUBLIC SERVERS BECAUSE YOU HOLD THE POSITION THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO SEE PROGRESS, UH, PROGRESS IN OUR STREETS, PROGRESS IN OUR ROADS, UH, PROGRESS WITH EVERYTHING.
SO IT'S BETTER FOR NOT ONLY US, BUT REALLY OUR CHILDREN.
UH, SO I KNOW, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS, YOU KNOW, IT'S WELL WHILE IT'S LONG OVERDUE, YOU KNOW, REMOVING THE MONUMENT RE RE REPRESENTS A SMALL SLICE OF PROGRESS AND WHILE NO ONE CLAIMS THAT IT'S GOING TO SOLVE EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, IT'S CERTAINLY A START.
UH, SO THANK YOU FOR AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, HEARING THIS PROPOSAL.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH PEOPLE AS WE GO THROUGHOUT, UH, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
IF YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO REMOVE YOUR MASK TO SPEAK.
UH, THANK YOU GUYS FOR GIVING ME THE TIME TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY.
UM, I WANT TO START MY JUST READING, UH, ONE OF THE WRITINGS ON THE STATUE, OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE.
UH, ONE OF THOSE WRITINGS IS HONOR TO THE MEMORY HONOR TO THEIR MEMORY GLORY, TO THEIR CALLS AND PEACE TO THEIR ASHES, GLORY, TO THEIR CALLS.
SO WHAT WAS THEIR CAUSE? UH, AND I WANT TO REFER YOU TO THE DECLARATION OF CAUSES, UH, THE DECLARATION, WHICH IMPEL THE STATE OF TEXAS TO SECEDE FROM THE FEDERAL UNION ON FEBRUARY 2ND, 1861.
AND I'LL READ JUST A, A SMALL PORTION OF THAT AND VIEW THESE AND MANY OTHER FACTS.
IT IS MEAT THAT OUR OWN VIEWS SHOULD BE DISTINCTLY PROCLAIMED.
AND THOSE VIEWS ARE WAIT, HOLD IS UNDENIABLE TRUTH TRUTHS THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE VARIOUS STATES AND OF THE CONFEDERACY ITSELF OR ESTABLISHED EXCLUSIVELY BY THE WHITE RACE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR POSTERITY, THAT THE AFRICAN RACE HAD NO AGENCY AND THEIR ESTABLISHMENT THAT THEY WERE RIGHTFULLY HELD AND REGARDED AS AN INFERIOR AND DEPENDENT RACE.
AND IN THAT CONDITION ONLY COULD THEIR EXISTENCE IN THIS COUNTY OR IN THIS COUNTRY BE RENDERED BENEFICIAL OR TOLERABLE THAT IN THIS FREE GOVERNMENT, ALL WHITE MEN ARE END OF RIGHT OUGHT TO BE ENTITLED TO THE EQUAL CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS AT THE SERVITUDE OF THE AFRICAN RACE.
AS EXISTING IN THESE STATES IS MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL TO BOTH BOND AND FREE AND IS ABUNDANTLY, AUTHORIZED AND JUSTIFIED BY THE EXPERIENCE OF MANKIND
[00:50:02]
AND THE REVEALED WILL OF THE ALMIGHTY CREATOR AS RECOGNIZED BY THE CHRISTIAN NATIONS, WHILE THE DESTRUCTION OF THE EXISTING RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO RACES, AS ADVOCATED BY OUR SECTIONAL, ENEMIES WOULD BRING INEVITABLE CALAMITY UPON BOTH AND DESOLATION UPON THE 15 SLAVE HOLDING STATES BY THE SUCCESSION OF SIX OF THE SLAVE HOLDING STATES AND THE, THAT OTHERS WILL SPEEDILY DO.LIKEWISE, TEXAS HAS NO ALTERNATIVE, BUT TO REMAIN AN ISOLATED CONNECTION WITH THE NORTH OR YOU NOT HER DESTINY'S WITH THE SOUTH.
AND OF COURSE THEY UNITED THEIR DESTINIES WITH THE SOUTH.
THIS CALLS THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT WRITTEN ON THE STATUTE, A CALL, A CALL THAT THEY'RE GLORIFYING WAS THE CAUSE OF SLAVERY AND WHY SUPREMACY.
UH, THESE ARE NOT MY WORDS, BUT THE WORDS OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT AND THEIR DECLARATION OF SECESSION FROM THE UNION.
THIS CALL SHOULD NOT BE GLORIFIED OR MEMORIALIZED.
WE SHOULD NOT FORGET HISTORY OR ELSE WE ARE DOOMED TO REPEAT IT.
HOWEVER, A STATUTE GLORIFYING A CAUSE AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS IS NOT A RESPECTFUL OR APPROPRIATE WAY TO REMEMBER HISTORY.
FOR THIS REASON, I AM FOR THE FORMATION OF A COMMITTEE TO REMOVE THE CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL STATUE FROM THE KAUFMAN COUNTY COURTHOUSE.
IF YOU'LL GIVE US YOUR NAME AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO REMOVE YOUR MASK WHEN YOU SPEAK GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS STEPHANIE TURNER.
I WANT TO SAY GOOD MORNING, AND TO HONORABLE COMMISSIONER RICHARDS HUNT, UH, PHILLIPS BARBARA CAKES AND EVERYBODY ON THE PANEL ON THE BOARD.
UH, I'M A COFFIN COUNTY RESIDENT.
I HAVE BEEN BORN AND RAISED IN KAUFMAN COUNTY, TERRELL, TEXAS.
UH, I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY BECAUSE I WANT TO SUPPORT REMOVING THE CONFEDERATE STATUE FROM THE KAUFMAN COUNTY COURTHOUSE.
THE QUESTION WE MUST ASK OURSELVES IS WHO ARE WE AS A COMMUNITY? AND DOES THE MONUMENT REPRESENT KAUFMAN COUNTY NOW THAT THE MONUMENTS WERE BUILT IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY CONCEITED WITH INDICTMENT OF JIM CROW LAWS BUILT 1950, 1960S AS A BACKLASH AGAINST THE CIVIL RIGHT MOVEMENT.
GEORGE WALLACE, A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR SAID HIM HIMSELF.
HE'S HIS KEY WORDS WERE A SEGREGATION NOW SEGREGATION TOMORROW, SEGREGATION FOREVER.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? KAUFMAN COUNTY, IS THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING? WE'RE ALLOWING THE STATUTE TO REMAIN.
IF SO, WE HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S COME FROM COUNTY.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S WHERE I'M FROM.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE REPRESENT ANYTHING WE'RE RACISM OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE.
MY DAUGHTER DOES SIT IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM.
WE HAD AN EPISODE WHEN MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING A VEHICLE, SHE WAS LEAVING BROOKSHIRE'S AND TERRELL, TEXAS.
WE, SHE ALMOST BACKED INTO SOMEONE, TWO GENTLEMEN IN A TRUCK.
THEY HAD CONFEDERATE FLAGS ON THEIR TRUCK.
AND THESE TWO GENTLEMEN, WE THOUGHT THEY WAS GONE.
THEY FOLLOWED US TO THE RED LIGHT.
THEY WAS CALLING US ALL TYPES OF NAMES FROM THE WORD TO EVERYTHING YOU COULD THINK OF, REMIND YOU.
I HAVE MY CHILDREN IN THE BACKSEAT AS WELL.
SO AT THIS POINT, MY MOTHER PROCEEDED TO FOLLOW THEM.
SO I COULD TAKE A PICTURE OF THEIR LICENSE PLATE SO WE COULD REPORT THIS.
AND AS WE PULLED ON THE SIDE OF THEM, THEY ACTUALLY PULLED OUT A WEAPON.
NOW MY CHILD'S IN THE BACK SEAT.
MY SON IS IN THE BACKSEAT, TERRIFIED THESE ARE TWO TEN-YEAR-OLDS.
SO AT THAT POINT TO ME, I'M LIKE, THIS IS A FAIR LOOK AT THE FLAG.
I'M LOOKING AT SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE USE AS A SYMBOL.
WE DON'T WANT TO ERASE THE HISTORY OF THE STATUTES.
WE DON'T WANT TO ERASE THE HISTORY HISTORY OF ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE, BECAUSE WE HONOR THAT ANYONE WHO BELIEVES IN THE WAR AND WHAT THAT STATUE STANDS FOR, BUT WHAT WE DON'T BELIEVE IN IS THE DIVISION.
AND THAT'S SOMETIMES WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO IS KEEP US DIVIDED.
WE AS PEOPLE THAT IS BLACK, WHITE, MEXICAN, ASIAN, BLUE, PURPLE, WE'RE TRYING TO COME TOGETHER IN THIS COMMUNITY KAUFMAN COUNTY.
WE'RE TRYING TO SHOW THAT KAUFMAN COUNTY, WHEN A BLACK, AFRICAN AMERICAN OR A WHITE WALK INTO THE COURT YARD UNTIL UNTIL THE FRONT OF THE COURTHOUSE, THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO FEEL LIKE JUSTICE IS NOT GOING TO BE SERVED.
LIKE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE AN EQUAL CHANCE OF SHOT.
ARE WE ASKING YOU TO US TO DO IS FORM A COMMITTEE.
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE MY DAUGHTER, MY CHILD KEEP ASKING ME QUESTION OF THAT DAY.
REMEMBERING THAT DAY OF MARCH THE 11TH, 2020 ASKING ME MAMA, WHY ARE PEOPLE RACIST? SO ARE WE ASKING YOU TODAY? KAUFMAN COUNTY IS TO REMOVE THE STATUE FORM OF COMMITTEE AND
[00:55:01]
PLEASE UNDERSTAND WHERE EVERY SIDE IS COMING FROM.THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
WELL, THAT WAS, UH, THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL.
A LOT OF, UH, GOOD, WELL THOUGHT OUT WORDS.
SO LET'S GET BACK TO THE STANDARD AGENDA
[1. ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE.]
ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE THAT WERE COURSE.THAT WAS ITEM ONE ON THE ADDENDUM.
AND SO WE'RE BACK TO RE ROUTINE CORE STAUNCH ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE.
I HAVE AN EMAIL HERE FROM HILLTOP SECURITIES TELLING ME THAT THEY HAVE SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTED THE REFINANCING OF THE BONDS THAT THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT VOTED ON SOME TIME BACK.
YOU REMEMBER, WE WERE GOING TO DO THIS.
AND THEN THE MARKETS SORT OF FELL APART.
THAT TURNED OUT TO BE A REALLY GOOD THING.
UH, WE HAVE THEY'VE EXECUTED THOSE BOND SALES AND WE ARE GOING TO SAY, THE COUNTY IS GOING TO SAVE $235,175 A YEAR, 230, $5,000 A YEAR OVER THE REMAINING LIFE OF THOSE BONDS.
THAT'S GOING TO BE 3.2 $9 MILLION IN INTEREST SAVINGS.
THE 2013 BOND ISSUE WAS AT 4.75%.
THIS INTEREST COST ON THIS RE-ISSUE IS 1.96.
SO I WISH WE HAD MORE OF THAT.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY CORRESPONDENCE TO SHARE?
[2. CONSENT AGENDA]
OKAY.THAT BRINGS US TO THE ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE.
WE HAVE ITEMS A, B AND C ON CORRESPONDENCE.
DOES ANYBODY CARE TO BRING THOSE OFF AND DISCUSS THEM INDIVIDUALLY? OR DO YOU WANT TO, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE.
WE HAVE A MOTION FOR PERMISSION, BARBARA, TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND SECOND WERE COMMISSIONER HUNT DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES ITEM THREE
[3. Lily Solar; Discuss/Consider taking all appropriate action on a resolution designating a reinvestment zone for property tax abatement under the property redevelopment and tax abatement act, chapter 312 of the Texas Tax Code.]
IS, WAS TO BE LILY SOLAR.UH, THAT, THAT ITEM IS NOT, UH, READY FOR DISCUSSION TODAY.
AND I'M LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO TABLE ITEM THREE.
I HAVE A MOTION FOR COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS TO TABLE.
IS THERE A SECOND SECOND CHECK FOR COMMISSIONER CAGE DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE, THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY MOTION CARRIES.
[4. Debbie Bonner; Discuss/Consider approving the ILA between the City of Terrell and Kaufman county regarding Maintenance Agreement Cedar Creek Watershed Kaufman County Texas for Rehabilitated Floodwater Retarding Structure 87A.]
NEXT UP.DEBBIE BONNER DISCUSSED, CONSIDER APPROVING AN INNER LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF TERRELL AND KAUFMAN COUNTY REGARDING MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT FOR CEDAR CREEK WATERSHED COFFIN COUNTY REHABILITATED FLOOD STRUCTURE.
UM, I WAS GOING TO ASK STEVE ROGERS TO COME UP.
AND HE MAY BE HELPFUL ON THIS.
THIS IS, UM, ON JUNE THE 30TH, THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF TERRELL APPROVED SUBJECT TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT APPROVAL.
AND IN OUR LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COFFIN COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT RELATING TO AN OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT FOR THE CEDAR CREEK WATERSHED IN KAUFMAN COUNTY, TEXAS FOR THE REHABILITATED FLOODWATER RETARDING STRUCTURE, 87 EIGHT, AND UNDER THE TERMS OF THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT, WHICH I THINK YOU'VE SEEN BEFORE, UH, IT INVOLVED THE KAUFMAN CAMP, KAUFMAN VAN SANT, SOLON WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT, THE CITY OF TERRELL AND THE KAUFMAN COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT AS SPONSORS.
AND UNDER THAT AGREEMENT, THE SPONSORS HAVE CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES, BOTH FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITIES, UH, FOR THIS, UH, FOR THE, FOR THE DAM.
AND, UH, CITY OF TERRELL HAS AGREED TO ASSUME ALL THE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES, THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COFFIN COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT WITH REGARD TO THIS OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT.
AND THAT HAS BEEN MEMORIALIZED INTO AN INNER LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF TERRELL AND THE KAUFMAN COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
I HAVE SUBMITTED THAT AGREEMENT TO THE ATTORNEY WITH KAREN TO KAREN BACHELOR.
AND THAT IS WHAT IS, WE'VE GOT TWO THINGS BEFORE YOU TODAY.
FIRST THING IS THIS INNER LOCAL AGREEMENT, UH, WHICH THE CITY OF TERRELL WILL ASSUME ALL THE RESPONSIBILITIES, THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND HOLD THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT HARMLESS.
UH, IF THAT AGREEMENT IS AMENDED, IT ALSO APPLIES TO ANY KIND OF AMENDMENTS IN THE FUTURE.
AND THEN THE SECOND PART, WHICH MR. ROGERS IS HERE FOR IS TO DISCUSS WITH YOU THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE GROUP ITEM FOUR ON THE AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF THE INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENT.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, KAREN.
UM, BUT IT WOULD BE ALL SAID IS CORRECT.
WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER ON THIS.
[01:00:01]
UM, SOME OF THE ISSUES BEFORE, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, KAUFMAN COUNTY, POSSIBLY BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME OF THOSE FINANCIAL AND MAINTENANCE OBLIGATIONS UNDER THAT OPERATIONS AGREEMENT, BECAUSE THERE'S NO DISTRIBUTION OF SPONSOR DUTIES.AND SO THE CITY OF TARO GRACIOUSLY, UM, HAS STEPPED IN AND WE HAVE THIS LOCAL AGREEMENT WILL ALLOW FOR THE CITY OF TERRELL BASICALLY TO TAKE ON ALL OF THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES.
AND, UM, CONSIDERATION IS BEING KNOWN TO SIGN AS A SPONSOR THAT, UM, OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT WITH THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT IS THAT SENSITIVE.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR, UH, MS. RAMSEY OR KAREN? OKAY.
AND, UH, IS THERE A MOTION REGARDING THAT, YOU KNOW, LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF TARO AND COMPANY I'LL MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT? OH, WE HAVE MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER BARBARA TO ACCEPT THAT, TO APPROVE THAT AGREEMENT IS OUR SECOND I'LL SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER HUNT, DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE.
[5. Steve Rogers; Discuss/Consider approving the Operation and Maintenance Agreement Cedar Creek Watershed Kaufman County Texas for Rehabilitated Floodwater Retarding Structure 87A.]
ROGERS DISCUSSED, CONSIDER APPROVING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENTS.CEDAR CREEK WATERSHED CALL FROM COUNTY, TEXAS, MR. ROGERS.
UM, IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY HOPE EVERYBODY'S DOING WELL.
UM, APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR SERVICE TO THE COUNTY.
UM, AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS ABOUT SIX WEEKS AGO, I WENT OVER IT IN DETAIL.
UM, I DON'T WANT TO REHASH EVERYTHING, BUT IT'S A A HUNDRED YEAR AGREEMENT AND I HOPE YOU'RE ALL AROUND WHEN IT EXPIRES.
UM, UH, AND YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IT PUTS, UH, WITH THE PREVIOUS ACTION AND IT PUTS Y'ALLS BARDEN ONTO THE CA TARA, WHICH WE'VE BEEN DOING ANYWAY.
AND SO WE'RE PERFECTLY FINE WITH THAT.
AND WE'VE BEEN TO THE, UH, COPLAN VANS AND SOUL WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT AND HAVE THEIR APPROVAL ON THIS AGREEMENT AS WELL ALREADY.
WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE THREE COPIES WITH KAREN WHEN WE LEAVE FOR THE JUDGE TO SIGN AND FULLY EXECUTE, GET BACK TO US AND WE'LL GET THE NRCS HAS TO SIGN IT FINALLY TO MAKE IT A FULLY EXECUTED DOCUMENT.
WE'LL GET YOU OUT ORIGINAL BACK TO YOU WHEN WE GET BACK FROM THEM.
SO I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS, UH, IS THERE, IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION TOO? WE HAD THAT MOTION COMMISSIONER BARBARA, IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED? NO MOTION CARRIES.
NEXT UP WE HAVE, UH, UH, ROSS, ANTHONY IS HERE TO, UH, AS PART OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT TO SPEAK ON ITEM SIX.
DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK NOW ROSS OR DO YOU ARE SEVEN? I'M SORRY.
SO WE DO YOU FIRST THERE TO MEET HERE, YOU FROM YOU FIRST, JOHN, AND THEN IF ROSS, IF YOU WANT TO PICK UP AFTER THAT.
[6. John Polster; Discuss/Consider the 2019 Road Bond Program's initial issuance priorities and any appropriate action.]
UH, DISCUSSING CONSIDER 2019 ROAD BOND PROGRAMS, INITIAL ISSUANCE PRIORITIES IN ACTION, JOHN POLLSTER, INNOVATIVE TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS, UH, HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT YOUR ROAD BOND PROGRAM, UH, IN YOUR PACKET, YOU RECEIVED A SPREADSHEET, UH, THAT ARE HIGHLIGHTED THE CHANGES THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING FROM THE INITIAL DRAFT.THIS WILL BE THE ACTUAL FORMAL ACTION ADOPT THE FIRST ISSUANCE LIST AND FUNDING PRIORITIES.
THERE WERE NO CHANGES MADE IN PRECINCT TWO OR THREE OF THE PRIMARY CHANGES WERE MADE IN PRECINCT ONE AND FOUR.
AND, UH, THEN THE JUDGES WITH THE ON SYSTEM PROJECT.
SO IF YOU'D BLACK, I LIKE TO SKIP THE JUDGE FIRST AND THEN GO TO PRECINCT ONE AND THEN FOUR, AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO THE JUDGE IF THAT WORKS.
SO ON PRECINCT ONE, UH, THERE WERE, UH, PROJECTS THAT, UH, IN THE INITIAL ANALYSIS WHERE YOU HAD A MISSED UP MESSED OUT ON THE LIMITS AND THE, AND THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS WE GOT BACK TOGETHER WITH, UH, MATT ATKINS, UH, MR. SULLIVAN RAYLAND AND THE COMMISSIONER AND HIS STAFF.
AND WE, UH, ANALYZE THOSE PROJECTS, UH, WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH RAYLAN'S IDENTIFY SOME BETTER PRICING ON IT.
AND THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS THAT WE, UM, IDENTIFIED ARE LISTED, UH, IN PRECINCT ONE, FOR THOSE PROJECTS, WE DIDN'T CHANGE ANY OF THE MATERIALS AMOUNT.
WE JUST ADJUSTED THOSE PROJECTS IN THE, IN THE PRECINCT ONE PAVEMENT IMPROVEMENTS, SECTIONS FOUR ABNER HIGHER ON, UH, TAILOR AND KIND OF ROAD ONE 24.
[01:05:03]
AND I THINK WE'VE MET WITH COMMISSIONER AND I THINK HE'S, UH, CONCURRENT WITH THOSE DOLLAR AMOUNTS THAT WE'VE GOT THERE.THEN WE'LL GO TO PRECINCT FOUR AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK FOR QUESTIONS AFTER A CURVE THING.
UH, WE HAD TO MAKE CHANGES TO SEVERAL OF, UH, COMMISSIONER KATE'S PROJECTS TO ADJUST FOR THE LIMITS, THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS AND, UM, THE COSTS.
AND SO WE'VE IDENTIFIED THE FIVE PROJECTS THAT WE NEEDED TO, UM, AMEND TO ADJUST THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS ACCORDINGLY.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE NOT TOUCHING ANYBODY'S MATERIALS, UH, ISSUANCES, THOSE ARE STILL IN PLACE AT THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS LISTED.
AGAIN, WE WORKED WITH STAFF, GOT THE COST ESTIMATES DONE BY A MATT AND RAELYNN VAL VALIDATED THE, THE PRICE UNITS.
AND SO WE'RE VERY CONFIDENT IN THESE NUMBERS THAT YOU SEE HERE TODAY.
IF YOU'LL NOTE AT THE BOTTOM, THE FIRST ISSUANCE, LAST TIME WE HAD A DRAFT WAS 39, FOUR OR FIVE FIVE, BUT WE ISSUED 40 MILLION.
SO THIS FIRST ISSUANCE FORMAL ACTION, UH, UM, TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION THAT ADDITIONAL $550,000.
SO IF YOU GO BACK NOW TO THE COUNTY JUDGE, THERE WERE SOME INCREASES IN PRECINCT, ONE IN FOUR, FOR THOSE COST ESTIMATES.
I WORKED WITH TEXAS DOT ON THE 1641 PROJECT AND THE ONE 48 BYPASS, UH, TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE TIMING IS ON THOSE PROJECTS.
SO, UH, WE HAD LARGER AMOUNTS ISSUED, ANTICIPATED TO BE ISSUED IN THE FIRST ISSUANCE THAT UPON MEETING WITH TECH STOCKS.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, FM 1641, WE'VE ALREADY GOT A CONTRACT ON CONTRACT FOR DOING THE DESIGN.
WE'VE ALREADY, WE'VE ALREADY BEEN IN THERE, NO LOCAL FOR FM ONE 48 FOR THE, UM, RIGHT AWAY.
SO THEY'RE MOVING INTO RIGHTO ACQUISITION, WE'RE UP FOR 10%.
SO, UM, THE NEXT STEPS FOR BOTH OF THESE PROJECTS WILL BE, UH, RIGHT AWAY FOR 1641, WHICH IS MAKE TEEN TO 20 MONTHS AWAY AND THEN CONSTRUCTION FOR ONE 48, WHICH IS 12 TO 14 MONTHS AWAY.
SO THE FIRST ISSUANCE DRAFT WAS 39, FOUR 50 THAT A, THIS ONE IS 40 MILLION.
AND IT JUST PICKS UP THAT ROUNDING THAT WE DID WHEN WE WENT TO THE, TO THE MARKET, WE DID AROUND NUMBER INSTEAD OF A ODD NUMBER.
AND SO I THINK THIS REPRESENTS EVERYTHING THAT, UH, I UNDERSTAND, AGAIN, THERE WAS NO CHANGES THAT I, UH, WOULD NOTED IN PRECINCT THREE AND TWO, HOPE THAT STILL, RIGHT, IF NOT, I'M LEAVING.
UH, AND, UH, SO MY RECOMMENDATION TODAY IS FOR THE COURT, CAUSE THIS WILL, THIS WILL GUIDE, UH, RAYLON, RON, MATT, AND MYSELF, AND Y'ALL FOR THE NEXT, HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES TO GET THEM DONE.
UM, OUR ACTIONS RELATED TO THESE PROJECTS.
AND SO AFTER TODAY, OTHER THAN MATERIALS, CAUSE I THINK Y'ALL HAVE ALREADY BEEN MOVING ON THOSE PROJECTS, WE'LL BE ABLE TO, UM, WE'VE GOT THE AUDITOR NUMBERS, I THINK, SET UP.
THAT CHRISTINA GAVE THAT TO YOU.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GET THE AUDITOR NUMBER SET UP.
UM, AND THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO, WE'VE USED, WE'VE ALREADY HAD THE, UH, CONTRACT APPROVED PREVIOUSLY THROUGH THE CIVIL AND, UM, WE'LL BE ABLE TO START MOVING ON THESE PROJECTS IF WE NEED TO, AS WE NEED TO.
SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS IF THERE'S NO CHANGES OR, OR I GUESS TYPE QUESTIONS, BUT IF AT THE END OF THE CONVERSATION, IF THERE'S ANY, NO CHANGES THAT I'VE RECOMMEND THE COURT ADOPT THIS FIRST ISSUANCE, UM, DIRECTIVE TO YOUR STAFF QUESTIONS DISCUSSION, ALL RIGHT, THEN WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE US IS A CONSIDER THE 2019 BOND PROGRAMS, INITIAL ISSUANCE PRIORITIES AS PRESENTED ON THAT SPREADSHEET.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SHOULD I TELL THEM, MAKE THAT MOTION? WE HAVE MOTION FOR APPROVAL COMMISSIONER IN CASE, IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER HUNT DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE, THOSE OPPOSED.
[7. John Polster; Discuss/consider ratification of the location of Helms Trail consistent with the current Kaufman County Thoroughfare Plan, adopted by Kaufman County on August 22, 2016, and any appropriate action.]
WE MOVE ON TO ITEM SEVEN.UH, ROSS, DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT, YOU WANT TO MAKE COMMENTS FIRST OR YOU WANT TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT JOHN, UH, IF YOU DON'T MIND COMING UP HERE, UH, YOU HAVE TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY JOHN SOCIAL DISTANCING.
[01:10:01]
UH, BRIEFLY REMIND THE COMMISSIONERS THAT ABOUT, I THINK IT WAS TWO MONTHS AGO NOW I CAME FORTH AND DISCUSS WITH YOU ALL THE CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN ROADWAYS, UM, WITHIN THE CITY OF FORNEY IN THE 40 ETJ AND THE CITY OF TERRELL ETJ THAT WOULD CONNECT, UM, OUR PROPERTY AND IN CONNECTION HELMS TRAIL TO GATEWAY BOULEVARD, AND THEN THE WINDMILL FARMS BOULEVARD BRIDGE, UH, THAT ITEM WAS TABLED AT THE TIME.UM, IN ORDER SUCH THAT WE COULD GET MORE INFORMATION WITH REGARD TO HELMS TRAIL.
SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT THE INFORMATION THAT MR POLLSTER BRINGS FORTH NOW, UH, ALLOWS THE COMMISSIONERS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A DECISION ON THAT ITEM, SUCH THAT WE CAN COME FORTH AND BRING, UM, BRING BACK THE ITEM THAT WAS TABLED ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO AT THE, AT THE FOLLOWING COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING.
SO JUST WANTED TO KIND OF GIVE YOU THAT PREAMBLE AND, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET SOME FINALITY ON THAT OTHER ITEM HERE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.
THANK YOU, JOHN FOSTER VERSION TWO.
SO THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE ON THIS, I THINK I GOT A LITTLE BIT OF TROUBLE.
SO I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN KEEP OUT OF TROUBLE THIS TIME.
BASICALLY LAST TIME WE WERE HERE, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS RELATED TO HOW TO MOVE FORWARD ON HELMS TRAIL.
ONE WAS, UH, MAKING SURE THAT WHATEVER WE DO ON THE HELMS TRAIL RELATED TO THE THOROUGHFARE PLAN IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS WANTS TO SEE, UH, AS THEY CAN CONSIDER AND CONTEMPLATE PARTICIPATION FINANCIALLY IN THIS FACILITY, BECAUSE IT IS REGIONALLY SIGNIFICANT CAUSE 80 AND 20 TOGETHER.
SO WE WENT AND MET WITH THEM AND THEIR COMMENTS WERE, THEY ARE AGNOSTIC AS TO THE SPECIFIC LOCATIONS OF HELMS TRAIL TO THOSE TWO FACILITIES.
AS LONG AS THOSE INTERCHANGES THAT OCCUR IN BOTH LOCATIONS ARE FULLY OPERATIONAL INTERCHANGES.
SO I THINK WE'RE GOOD ON THAT ONE.
UH, THEN WENT BACK TO TEX DOT AND NO ONE THAT THEY'RE DOING THE 80 SCHEMATIC IN THAT CORRIDOR THAT, UM, THEY HAVEN'T GOT A CONSULTANT ON BOARD YET, BUT THEY ARE WORKING TOWARDS THAT.
WE HAD THIS SIMILAR EXPERIENCE ON THE OUTER LOOP IN ROCKWELL COUNTY ON 30 AND, UH, THE OUTER LOOP ON IN DENTON COUNTY ON 35 WHERE THE, UH, TWO PROJECTS, 30 AND 35 ARE MOVING FASTER THAN THE OUTER LOOP.
AND SO THEY HAD TO DO SOME ASSUMPTIONS RELATED TO WHERE THE OUTER LOOP IS IN ORDER TO GET THOSE SCHEMATICS APPROVED FOR THOSE TWO PROJECTS.
AND SO THAT A SIMILAR, UM, EXERCISE THAT I ASKED THEM TO DO ON 80, I PROVIDED, UH, I THINK THE COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF TO COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF, THE SCHEMATIC THAT, UM, TEXTILE SHOWED WHERE THEY THINK THE DIRECT CONNECTS WILL LAND FOR THE OUTER LOOP ON 80, NEAR SPUR FIVE 57, AND IT'S IMPACT POTENTIALLY TO THE EXISTING LOCATION, HELMS TRAIL, AND AN EMAIL WHERE THEY REFERENCED, THEY NEED TO, WE NEED TO BE CONSIDERATE OF THOSE DIRECT CONNECTS AS WE CONTEMPLATE WHAT TO DO ON HELMS TRAIL.
THE LAST THING YOU HEARD WAS FROM EDDIE HAAS, FREESE AND NICHOLS, SUGGESTING THAT THE COURT RATIFY OR CERTIFY, OR, OR AFFIRM THAT YOU THERFORE PLAN SHOWS HELMS TRAIL HAS A CURVE AND CONNECTION TO WINDMILL FARM, AND THEN A MINOR, A FACILITY THAT CONTINUES ON AND TIES INTO THE FRONTAGE ROAD, UH, THAT 80.
SO WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION I'M MAKING, ASSUMING THAT RON OR SOMEBODY BEHIND ME DOESN'T DISAGREE IS, UM, AFFIRM YOUR THOROUGHFARE PLAN.
THAT HELMS TRAIL, THE MAJOR CONNECTION WILL BE A WOMAN FARMS. AND THEN THERE'LL BE THE MONOR CONNECTION AT, UM, HELMS TRAIL ON 80.
AND THEN AS THE PROJECT GOES FORWARD, THE QUESTION ON THE APP GRADE CROSSINGS ACROSS THE UNION PACIFIC WILL BE ADDRESSED, WHETHER IT'S WE ACCESS A, UH, AT GRADE BANK AND PICK UP A SECOND CROSSING, OR WE ADDRESS HELMS TRAIL SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE WHEN DEVELOPMENT REQUIRES IT.
BUT W MY RECOMMENDATION TODAY IS IT'S SILENT ON THAT STEP IS JUST TO AFFIRM WHAT YOUR THIRD FOR PLAN SHOWS.
AND I HOPE THAT SOUNDS LIKE WHAT WE SAID THE OTHER DAY.
AND WE'RE KEEPING BOTH DIRECTIONS OPEN, BASICALLY BOTH DIRECTIONS OPEN, AND WE HAVE A RAILROAD IN THE BANK.
SO IF WE NEED TO, WE WILL KEEP THE RAILROAD CROSSING AND THEY'LL HAVE REALM COSTS.
I HAVE A RAILROAD CROSSING, BOTH ROAD WILL BE OPEN CAUSE THE OUTER LOOPS WAY DOWN THE ROAD.
WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY CORRECT THOUSAND FEET ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
IT COULD BE A BIBLE MANTRA BACK IN
[01:15:01]
TURN, BACK TO GO TO THE EAST.AND SO IT GIVES ONE MORE OUT WITHOUT CLOSING THE ROAD BECAUSE A MAN ANTHONY HAS, YOU KNOW, SAID THAT A A HUNDRED FOOT EASEMENTS GOOD WITH THEM THE MATTER ALTAR.
SO ONE THING THAT I HAD NOT FOUND OUT SUBSEQUENT TO OUR CONVERSATION IS, IS THAT THE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS IS WORKING WITH TEXTILE, WHICH IS WORKING WITH UNION PACIFIC FOR A SPUR LINE PARALLEL TO THAT, TO THAT FURTHER TO THE, I THINK TO THE EAST OF OUR MIND, REMEMBER WHERE THE MAP WAS.
SO WE DO HAVE SOME THING THAT UNION PACIFIC WANTS FROM US, RIGHT? THAT WE CAN ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND OUR NEEDS IN THIS AREA.
SO WE'RE NOT TOTALLY UNARMED IN THIS SCENARIO.
YOU KNOW, I MET WITH THE RAILROAD, UH, I GUESS IT WAS LAST YEAR AND THEY TALKED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF, OF RAILROAD TRAINS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.
AND THEN THE SPUR AND THE PROBLEM WITH THAT GRADE AT WINDMILL FARMS TO ME WOULD BE THAT EVENTUALLY, IF THEY EVER SPUR AND THEY HAVE THIS AND THEY HAVE THAT, AND THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT RETAIL PARK AND THEY WANT TO KEEP IT AT GRAVE, WELL, IT PUTS EVERYTHING IN JEOPARDY OF HOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET ACROSS ALL THIS.
SO THAT'S PART OF THE REASON TEXTS THAT BROUGHT US IN ON THE CONVERSATION IS BECAUSE THERE ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTS THAT WE NEED TO MITIGATE ON WHAT EPA IS DOING.
AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE WANTING THINGS FROM THE COUNTY, FROM THE CITY, FROM TEXTILE AND FROM COD.
AND THIS IS AS GOOD A TIME AS ANY TO GET WHAT WE NEED FROM THAT.
I JUST THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, NO MATTER WHAT BREATHING DOES NEED TO BE TALKED TO ME, I MEAN, INSTEAD OF GRADES, I MEAN, THEN I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT, BUT I MEAN, I JUST, I JUST, I JUST BELIEVE IT PUTS YOU RIGHT BACK IN THE SAME SPOT THAT YOU'RE ALREADY IN, BUT TODAY THE ONLY ACTION I'M SUGGESTING THE COURT TAKE IS JUST THE ALARM TO GO WITH.
THE ALIGNMENT IS, IS AS SHOWN IN THE THIRD FLOOR PLAN.
THERE'S NO CHANGE TO THE THIRD FLOOR PLAN REQUIRED, THEN WE'RE GOOD.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR JOHN ON THAT? OKAY.
LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO RATIFY THE LOCATION OF HINGE TRAIL CONCESSION WITH THE CURRENT COFFIN KENNEDY THOROUGHFARE PLAN, I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.
WE HAD THAT MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND CHECK COMMISSIONER HUNT, DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE.
[8. Ron Sullivan; Discuss/Consider authorizing Freese & Nichols to review City of Crandail's request to revise the county's Thoroughfare Plan by extending an arterial from the intersection of FM 741 and US 175 as proposed by their Thoroughfare Plan.]
SULLIVAN, DISCUSS, CONSIDER AUTHORIZING FREESE AND NICHOLS TO REVIEW CITY OF GRANDMA'S REQUEST TO REVISE THE COUNTY'S THOROUGHFARE PLAN BY EXTENDING AN ARTILLERY FROM THE CURIAL FROM THE INTERSECTION OF FM SEVEN 41, US ONE 75 JUDGE MEMBERS OF THE COURT.UH, THE CITY OF CRANDALL HAS REQUESTED THAT WE CONSIDER AMENDING, UH, OUR THERAPY, OUR PLAN TO EXTEND, UM, UH, FM SEVEN 41 SOUTH OF, UH, ONE 75 AND TO, UH, PROVIDE, UH, ADDITIONAL, UH, CIRCULATION IN THAT AREA.
UH, THE PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE BETTER ACCESS TO, UH, CRANDALL HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE LARGE POPULATION NORTH OF A ONE 75 ALSO TO, UH, ENHANCE THEIR DEVELOPMENT AS WELL.
UM, OPPORTUNITIES, UH, WE'VE REACHED OUT TO FREESE AND NICHOLS TO GET A, UH, A POTENTIAL TASK AUTHORIZATION, UH, FOR, UH, DOING THIS WORK IF THE COURT SO DECIDES, UH, IS IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,450, UH, CHRISTIE, UH, THE, UM, WITH, UM, OH, I FORGET HER LAST NAME, BUT ANYWAY, SHE'S HERE.
UH, UH, AS WELL, IF THE COURT HAS ANY QUESTIONS, UH, FROM THE CITY OF CRANDALL, CHRISTIE'S THE ENGINEER OF RECORD FOR CRANDALL COMMISSIONER KATE'S CHRISTINA LAMBERT IS HERE.
JUST AFFORD HER AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE HER COMMENTS.
YOU CAN REMOVE YOUR MASK IF YOU CARE TO SPEAK.
HI, I'M CHRISTIE LAMBETH WITH LAMBETH ENGINEERING AT 86 37 COUNTY ROAD, ONE 48 IN KAUFFMAN, AND THE CITY OF CRANWELL RESPECTFULLY REQUEST TO AMEND THE THOROUGHFARE PLAN TO EXTEND FM SEVEN 41 SOUTH OF
UM, I CAN PASS THESE OUT, BUT I THINK YOU'VE ALL SEEN THIS MAP OF THE MASS DEVELOPMENT COMING INTO CRANDALL.
AND RIGHT NOW, FOR ALL THE DEVELOPMENT ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF ONE 75, IF THEY WANT TO GO BACK TOWARDS DALLAS, THEY'D
[01:20:01]
HAVE TO GO THROUGH ONE 48.THERE'S NOT A CONNECTION ON OTHER THAN THIS ONE 75.
SO IT'S, IT'S CRITICAL THAT THIS EXTENSION OCCUR, OR WE WILL HAVE MAJOR TRAFFIC JAMS BEFORE WE KNOW IT.
UM, I HAVE A COMPARISON HERE, IF HE HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CRANDALL'S THOROUGHFARE PLAN, THE LOOP EXTENSION, AND ON THE COUNTY WHERE IT'S NOT JUST TO COMPARING THAT EXTENSION AND THE CURRENT AERIALS.
SO IF YOU'D LIKE THAT, LET ME KNOW.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HERE TO HELP, UH, ON THE, ON THIS THOROUGHFARE PLAN HERE IT SHOULD.
I THINK THIS IS SEVEN 41 AND IT SHOWS ONE ON THE THIRD FAIR PLAYING.
IT GOES ALL THE WAY TO ADD 20.
IS THAT THE ONE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SAYS THE DIFFERENT ONE, BESIDES THAT, IS IT SEVEN 41 75? IT'S THIS ONE RIGHT HERE.
SO IT'S EVEN FURTHER THAN THAT.
I JUST THOUGHT THIS WAS THE SAME 41, THIS ONE RIGHT HERE.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? I'M SURE.
THIS IS A PLAN THAT, UH, THE CITY OF CRANDALL HAS WORKED ON FOR QUITE A WHILE.
UM, CRANDALL IS, UM, COMMITTED TO TRYING TO BE OUT AHEAD OF THEIR PREDICTED EXPLOSIVE GROWTH, PARTICULARLY IN, UH, UH, RESIDENTIAL GROWTH, BUT ALSO, UH, INVOLVING COMMERCIAL, UH, EXPANSION RIGHT THERE AT THE INTERSECTION OF FM SEVEN 41 AND, AND, UH, STATE HIGHWAY ONE 75.
UM, CRANDALL IS, IS REALLY AT THE FOREFRONT, UH, IN, IN MY PRECINCT, UH, FOR THE EXPANSION AND GROWTH THAT'S COMING OUR WAY OUT OF DALLAS AND THIS PARTICULAR, UH, ADJUSTMENT TO BOTH THE CITY'S THOROUGHFARE PLAN, AS WELL AS THE COUNTIES.
I THINK IT'D BE VERY BENEFICIAL TO A TRAFFIC FLOW OF CERTAINLY SUPPORT THE, THE DESIRABLE COMMERCIAL GROWTH.
UM, I THINK GRANDLE, UM, HAVE SOME, SOME, UH, BIG PLANS FOR THAT PARTICULAR INTERSECTION INVOLVING, UH, UH, PRETTY DESIRABLE, A BIG BOX STORES AND, AND, UH, THIS PARTICULAR, UM, AMENDMENT TO THE THOROUGHFARE PLAN WILL FACILITATE THE EXPANSION OF A LOT OF THE UTILITY SERVICE IN THE AREA, UM, WATER AND SEPTIC AND THAT SORT OF THING.
SO, UM, AFTER A LOT OF MEETINGS AND A LOT OF EFFORT ON THE PART OF CHRISTY AND THE MAYOR, UM, CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE THERE IN CRANDALL, UH, I THINK THEY'VE PUT TOGETHER A REALLY GOOD PROPOSAL AND, UH, I'D HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT WE APPROVE THE AMENDMENT TO THE THOROUGHFARE PLAN, UH, BASED ON, OR AT LEAST, UH, THE, UH, THE TASKING TO FREEZE A NICHOLS TO, TO, UH, PREPARE AND EXAMINE THAT THOROUGHFARE PLAN ADJUSTMENT.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR CHRISTY OR RON? OKAY.
UH, THEN, UH, BE LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE FREESE AND NICHOLS TO REVIEW THE CITY OF CRANDALL'S REQUEST.
WE HAVE THAT MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER CATES.
IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS? NO DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THOSE POSTS KNOW THAT MOTION CARRIES, UH, NEXT STEP.
[9. Constable Johnson, Discuss/Consider accepting donation to the Kaufman County Precinct #2 Constable's office from Windmill Farms of one (1) 2020 Gray Chevrolet Tahoe Police Inceptor VIN# IGNLCDEC6LRI87699.]
CONSTABLE JOHNSON CONSIDER ACCEPTING A DONATION TO THE COFFIN COUNTY PRECINCT TODAY CONSTABLE'S OFFICE FOR ONE 2020 CHEVROLET TAHOE OREN JUDGE.UH, YES, THE, THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS REPLACING THE 2015 TAHOE THAT WE GOT FROM THE WINDMILL FARMS CONTRACT WE'VE UTILIZED AND FIXED IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND IS FINALLY TAKING THIS LAST LAP.
UM, I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT TRYING TO MAYBE KEEP IT, UH, SEE IF WE CAN FIX IT AND KEEP IT OPERABLE FOR A BACKUP, BUT THEY DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE WITH NO EQUIPMENT.
UM, SO THAT VEHICLE IS READY TO GO.
[01:25:01]
READY JUST TO REPLACE IT OUT OF THAT ONE AND QUESTIONS.GIVEN IT TO US, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE EXEMPT THEM.
WE HAVE EMOTIONAL COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS, EXCEPT THAT DONATION IS PRESENTED ON ITEM NINE.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND SECOND WITH COMMISSIONER BORROWER DISCUSSION THAT WAS IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
SUPPOSE NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES THE
[10. Constable Johnson; Discuss/Consider approving the transfer of Aaron Ross from a reserve Deputy Constable to a full time Deputy Constable position with the Kaufman County Precinct #2 Constable's Office that is currently vacant due to attrition.]
CONSTABLE JOHNSON AGAIN, IMPROVING TRANSFER OF AARON ROSS FROM RESERVE DEPUTY CONSTABLE TO A FULL TIME DEPUTY POSITION WITH COMPLI COUNTY PRECINCT TO YOU, SIR, JUDGE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.WELL, YOU HAVE A POSITION AND IT'S COME UP DUE TO ATTRITION.
UM, THAT POSITION IS PAID THROUGH THE PATROL CONTRACTS.
WE'VE ALREADY VERIFIED IT WITH MS. KAREN.
WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING SITUATED.
IT'D BE AN EASY WIN MOVE OVER, NO COST TO THE COUNTY WHATSOEVER.
AND MR. ROSS WAS ALREADY RESERVING WITH US RIGHT NOW.
SO IT WOULD BE AN IMMEDIATE PICKUP THAT WOULD GO RIGHT INTO THE POSITION ITSELF QUESTIONS.
UH, IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE, UH, PROVE MR. ROSS IS A DEPUTY.
UH, COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS MAKES A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT TRANSFER OF AARON ROSS FROM RESERVE TO FULL TIME.
IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND ONE COMMISSIONER CAGE DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE OPPOSED.
[11. Constable Johnson; Discuss/Consider supplemental pay increase for Pet. #2 Constable Sergeant Guadalupe Frias for supervisor pay from Windmill Farms Patrol Contact 010-7999-564 in the amount of $865.35 for the remainder of FY 20 or $2.16 per hour starting on 07/19/2020 and applying to the remaining 400 hours in FY 20 from that date, and subsequent contract years, then equaling a supplemental supervisor pay increase of $4,500 per year.]
UH, CONSTABLE JOHNSON'S DISCUSSING FOR CONSIDERATION SUPPLEMENTAL PAY INCREASE FOR PRECINCT TWO, CONSTABLE SERGEANTAND WELL, THE REST OF IT IS IN THE TEXT OF THE MOTION.
PRESENT THAT FOR ITS POLICE ARE.
UM, SERGEANT FRIAS HAS BEEN EMPLOYED WITH THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE.
HE DOES A OUTSTANDING AND AMAZING JOB WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
HE HANDLES A LOT OF THE REPORTS THAT COME IN FROM THE DEPUTIES ON CALLS THAT WE'VE ANSWERED AND IT MOVES FORWARD UP THE CHAIN TO THE LIEUTENANT.
AND JUST TO MYSELF TO FILE WITH THE DA'S OFFICE, THE MONEY THAT WOULD GO TO MOVE HIM FROM A REGULAR DEPUTY'S POSITION SALARY TO A SERGEANT BY SALARY WOULD BE AGAIN FROM THE CONTRACTS, UM, NO COST TO THE COUNTY ITSELF.
WE'VE ALREADY VERIFIED THIS WITH MS. KAREN AS WELL.
UM, SERGEANT FURRY IS ANNOUNCED STANDING DEPUTY FOR THE COUNTY AND FOR OUR OFFICE, AND HE DEFINITELY DESERVES THIS PROMOTION TO BE RECOGNIZED BY IT QUESTIONS FULLY REIMBURSED.
UM, I HAD SPOKE WITH MS. BRANDY ON THAT, UM, AND SHE VERIFIED THE NUMBERS.
IS THAT AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE CONTRACT AMOUNT? NO, SIR.
IT IS NOT THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE IN THE CONTRACT.
WE HAVE THE CONTINGENCY, UH, MONEY AS WELL.
UM, SO WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN FALL BACK ON JUST IN CASE SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN.
SO THIS WOULD BE THE TOTAL COST OF IT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS IF THERE NO QUESTIONS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE A SUPPLEMENTAL PAY INCREASE AS PRESENTED ON AUTUMN 11? UH, I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.
I GUESS WE HAD A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS WHO APPROVED THE SUPPLEMENTAL PAY INCREASE.
IS THERE A SECOND, A SECOND SEGMENT COMMISSIONER BARBARA DISCUSSION THAT WAS IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES.
[12. Constable Johnson; Discuss/Consider the deputation of Deputy Constable Anthony Rene Manriquez to fill a contract deputy position vacant due to attrition.]
AND, UH, CONSTABLE JOHNSON AGAIN, DISCUSS CONSIDERED DEPUTIZATION OF DEPUTY CONSTABLE RENEE MARIEKE IS A TWO CONTRACT DEPUTY POSITION VACANT DUE TO ATTRITION.MR. MENRIQUEZ ACTUALLY COMES FROM THE COFFIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
HE'S GOT A TREMENDOUS BACKGROUND.
UM, FOR WHATEVER REASON, HE DECIDED TO LEAVE THERE, UM, CAPABLE OF BEING REHIRED WITH THE COUNTY.
UH, MR. MENRIQUEZ WOULD ALSO BE FILLING A POSITION WHAT'S THE PATROL CONTRACTS DUE TO ATTRITION.
UM, SO THE MONEY WOULD NOT COME FROM THE COUNTY AS WELL, WHICH UH, THAT SPOT IS VACANT.
SO WE WOULD HAVE A FULL TIME STAFF, WHICH CONTRACT IS THAT? UM, IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE THE ONE MILL FARMS CONTRACT QUESTIONS.
IS THERE A PAIN PART? IS THERE A MOTION I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
YOU MAKE A MOTION WITH THE DEPUTATION OF, UH, ANTHONY RENAMED.
MENRIQUEZ THAT'S YOUR MOTION, RIGHT? IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SAY SECOND COMMISSIONER HUNT.
WHERE THE MOTION FOR PINCH FOR PHILLIPS SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER HUNT, DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR,
[01:30:01]
SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.[13. Lynn Fanion; Discuss/Consider accepting the Collections Department Quarterly Report.]
LYNN FEIN, YOU DISCUSS, CONSIDER ACCEPTING COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT, QUARTERLY REPORT.UM, THIS PAST QUARTER HAS BEEN, UM, A CHALLENGING ONE.
UH, AND YOU'LL NOTICE THAT, UM, WE'VE HAD A DECREASE OF COLLECTIONS FROM, UH, THE PREVIOUS QUARTER OF ABOUT 18.8% AND A DECREASE OVER THE SAME PERIOD IN 2019 OF 16 POINT 54%.
UM, IT HASN'T BEEN AS BAD AS I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE.
UH, AND I DO NOTICE IF YOU'LL NOTICE FROM APRIL, MAY AND JUNE, THE, UM, COLLECTIONS ARE INCREASING EACH MONTH AND IN FACT, JUNE SHOWS MORE OF THE COLLECTION THAN IT WAS JUNE OF LAST YEAR.
SO I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO STAND DOWN.
ANYBODY HAVE QUESTIONS FOR LAN ABOUT, ABOUT HER REPORT.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT QUARTERLY REPORT ON MY GOOD MOTION WAY THAT MOTION OF COMMISSIONER HUNTER, IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND WITH COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES A NEXT STEP.
[14. Monique Hunter; Motion to Accept Development Services Quarterly Report for April 1,2020 through June 30, 2020.]
MONIQUE IS JUST, I THINK NOT AVAILABLE, BUT UH, JUST HAS TO DO WITH ACCEPTING DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.WAYNE, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT OR NO, SIR.
WELL, IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES? QUARTERLY REPORT? I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
COMMISSIONER BARBERS ARE SECOND, SECOND, SECOND, COMMISSIONER CAGE, DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED NO MOTION CARRIES OR WE NEED TO SHUFFLE OUR AGENDA JUST A LITTLE BIT.
[17. Brenda Samples; Discuss/Consider update Interlocal Agreement for Tax Collections.]
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO ITEM 17 JUST TO KEEP THINGS IN A PROPER ORDER.UH, MS. SAMPLES HERE TO TALK ABOUT UPDATING AN IR LOCAL AGREEMENT FOR TAX COLLECTIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MOVING THAT AROUND FOR US.
UH, THIS IS OUR COLLECTIONS CONTRACT THAT WE USE WITH THE ENTITIES AS FAR AS COLLECTING THE TAXES.
AND WE RELAX TO UPDATE A LITTLE BIT AND PUT IN HERE THAT WE CAN KEEP OUT.
UM, I BELIEVE YOU, EVERYBODY GOT A COPY OF IT.
YOU KNOW, WHERE WE CAN HAVE A LITTLE MORE, UM, CONTROL OVER GETTING OUR MONEY FROM SOME OF THE ENTITIES THAT'S ON EXHIBIT A, THE WAY THAT WORKS NOW OR THE WAY IT HAS WORKED IN THE PAST IS YOU COLLECT THE TAX FOR A CITY.
YOU SEND THEM THE FULL AMOUNT AND THEN THEY SEND YOU, THEY SEND YOU PAYMENT BACK FOR THE SERVICES.
AND YOU'RE PROPOSING AND WE CHANGE THAT.
THAT WE CAN KEEP IT FROM THEM.
WE JUST DEDUCTED OUT LIKE A CREDIT CARD COMPANY WOULD OTHER ONES, WHENEVER THEY START MARCHING, IT WAS PRESENTED.
SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN WANTING TO PAY.
SO, UH, BUT THAT'S WHAT I'M PROPOSING THIS MORNING ON NUMBER 17.
SOMETIMES I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME SIGNIFICANT DELAYS IN IT.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU WANT TO SEND THAT MONEY IN THE FIRST PLACE.
SO, UM, ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? SEEMS LIKE A COMMON SENSE THING TO ME, BRENDA, UH, LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT UPDATE, TO ENTER LOCAL AGREEMENT FOR TAX COLLECTIONS.
IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED, WE HAVE THAT MOTION WITH COMMISSIONER AND CASES ARE SECOND I'LL SECOND SEGMENT COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE, THOSE PO'S KNOW THAT MOTION CARRIES.
UH, DISCUSS CONSIDERING I'M SORRY.
YES, MA'AM MISS BRENDA, ARE YOU GOING TO SEND THEM A STATEMENT SHOWING HIM WHAT YOU DEDUCTED? YES.
WE'LL HAVE TO SEND, WE'LL HAVE TO, MOST OF THEM DO REAL WELL AT PAIN.
WE'VE HAD ANYONE THAT REFUSE TO PAY, UH, ON SOME THINGS.
SO, UM, YOUR QUESTION JUST HAS TO MAKE SURE IT'S ABUNDANTLY CLEAR WHEN THEY GET THAT, THAT THAT'S TAKEN
[01:35:01]
OUT.WHEN SHE WRITES THE CHECK TO THE TREASURER, WE'RE RE RECEDING THE CORRECT AMOUNTS, RIGHT? WE'LL DO WHATEVER.
HOWEVER YOU WANT US TO DO IT IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.
I'M JUST ASKING, BECAUSE I JUST WANTED TO KNOW.
SO I CAN KIND OF GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.
WE MIGHT NEED TO VISIT WITH YOU, SEE HOW IT WOULD BE BEST FOR YOU.
THAT MIGHT INCLUDE THE TREASURER BECAUSE HE'LL BE THE ONE RECEIVING YOUR MONIES.
WE'LL BE GLAD TO DO WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO.
I'M JUST TRYING TO PROTECT THE COUNTY.
[15. Brenda Samples; Discuss/Consider New Jurisdiction for 2020 for Kaufman County to collect taxes for Municipal Utility District #3 which is part of Devonshire Development.]
SO ITEM 15 IS DISCUSSED, CONSIDERED JURISDICTION FOR 2020, A CALL FROM COUNTY TO COLLECT TAXES FOR MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS PART OF THE DEMAND CHARTER DEVELOP.UH, THEY'D LIKE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR US TO COLLECT THEIR TAXES FOR THEM.
AND UM, WITH THE NEW AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE, AND THIS, I FEEL REAL GOOD ABOUT DOING THIS, BUT THEY'RE ASKING FOR PERMISSION FOR US TO COLLECT THEIR TAXES.
AND THIS IS A ONE 48 AND A UNIVERSITY DROP.
NO, THEN, UH, REALLY YOU DON'T HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR CAPACITY TO HANDLE ANOTHER CONTRACT LIKE THAT? NO, SIR.
IS THERE, WOULD THERE BE A MOTION TO APPROVE ADDING THAT NEW, NEW JURISDICTION, WHICH WOULD BE MISERABLE UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER THREE AND I'LL MAKE THIS MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS IS OUR SECOND SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BARBER DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES ITEM 16.
MA'AM THOSE PEOPLE THAT DON'T PAY US THAT THEY HAVE BALANCE.
CAN WE TAKE THAT FROM IT? WELL, WORKING ON THAT, KAREN JUST HIT ME.
IN RACING QUESTION, AND WE WILL BE WORKING ON THAT STILL.
I HAVE NOT LEFT THAT WE CAN, THEY MIGHT GET MAD AT THIS WINDOW REAL QUICK.
I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THEM GETTING MAD AT US.
[16. Brenda Samples; Discuss/Consider purchase of refurbished DS450 high speed digital image scanner with steel table, reports printer, audit printer, start up kit, dust cover, battery backup, two (2) USB cables, and two (2) standard 8GB memory devices-version 6.0.4.0. to be paid utilizing the HAVA Funds received.]
DISCUSS, CONSIDER PURCHASE OF A REFURBISHED, UH, HIGH SPEED DIGITAL SCANNER.SO TELL US JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT IS.
THE BIG TUBS THAT THEY PUT THE, THE BA THE BALLOT 10 WHEN PEOPLE VOTE, THIS IS A HIGH SPEED ONE, AND IT'S GOING TO DO A LOT MORE.
THE ONES WE'VE GOT NOW WAS OUR COUNTY GROWING.
LIKE IT IS, WE REALLY NEED THIS SCANNER.
AND WITH THE HAVA MONEY THAT WE'VE GOTTEN, IT WILL BE PAID OUT OF THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY.
UM, THIS ONE'S A DEMO LEVEL TWO.
THIS IS THE DEMO, PROBABLY THE ONE THAT WE SAW.
THEY DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER ONES.
AND THEY'VE BEEN KIND OF HOLDING THIS ONE BACK FOR US BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WANTING IT AND WE NEED IT.
THEY'LL COVER THE COST OF THIS RIGHT.
MONEY WILL COVER THE COST OF THIS.
WHAT IS THE COST? 55,200 MAKE A BIG PLASTIC DRESS IN SIX MINUTES.
WELL, IT DOES LOOK LIKE PICK UP A COUPLE HOMES OUT OF THE ROAD, BUT IT'S GOT A BATTERY BACKUP, UM, THE USB CABLES, WHICH THEY NEED TO STANDARD EIGHT GIGABYTE MEMORY DEVICES.
AND IT WILL BE PAID FOR, FROM THE HAVA MONEY THAT WE'VE GOT.
AND WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED THAT DISCOUNT WE RECEIVED IN THE SAME.
I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT COMMISSIONER.
UM, WE ARE GETTING A DISCOUNT.
I WANTED A NEW ONE, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY, WHEN WOULD IT BE RECEIVED AND THEN PUT INTO USE? WELL, FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION, PEOPLE WOULD HAVE TO BE TRAINED ON IT.
IT'S A LOT MORE ADVANCED THAN THE ONE WE'VE GOT, BUT THAT DOES PROVIDE FOR TRAINING, THAT TYPE OF THING.
WE'RE GOING, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO MEET IN NOVEMBER.
SO THAT, THAT ONE REASON WHY I WAS BEGGING FOR THIS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR BRENDA? YES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR BRENDA? NO.
UH, IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS,
[01:40:01]
UH, BE LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF THAT.UH, HIGH-SPEED DIGITAL IMAGE SCANNER TO BE, UH, FUNDED THROUGH THE HOPPER GRANT.
WE HAVE THAT MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS IS OUR SECOND, SECOND, SECOND FOR COMMISSIONER KATE'S DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED? NO MOTION CARRIES.
[18. Raylan Smith; Discuss and consider approving award of contract for RFP 20-19: County Road ROW Maintenance.]
NEXT UP.ARE YOU ON SMITH? DISCUSS, CONSIDER APPROVING A WORD CONTRACT RFP 2019 COUNTY ROAD.
UH, WHAT WE HAVE IS TWO VENDORS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THIS RFP AND MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO AWARD AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT WITH BOTH VENDORS.
SO THAT COMMISSIONERS AND THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT CAN NEGOTIATE PRICING, UH, FOR PARTICULAR AREAS WITHIN YOUR PRECINCT THAT WOULD NEED THESE SERVICES.
SO WE DID, UM, INDIVIDUAL PRICING FROM THE VENDORS, BUT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE ONCE WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE AREAS.
EXPLAIN RIGHT OF WAY MAINTENANCE.
IS THAT JUST THE MOWING TREES? YEAH.
WELL IT DOES INCLUDE TREE REMOVAL, BUT THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR THOSE CONTRACTS.
AND SO THAT WHEN WE GO OUT FOR QUOTES TO THESE VENDORS, WE CAN ACTUALLY SPECIFY WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WITHIN THAT PARTICULAR LENGTH OF ROADWAY.
WE HAVE A PRESS AS THE PRESS WE'LL GET IT WHEN YES.
SO WHAT, WHAT THEY, WHAT THEY INITIALLY GAVE US WAS UNIT PRICING, WHICH WAS JUST STRICTLY MOWING.
UM, AND THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THEIR OPERATIONS PLAN, BUT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO RELEASE INDIVIDUAL QUOTES AND ACTUALLY GIVE SPECIFICATIONS FOR THAT RIGHT AWAY OF EVERYTHING THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED AND ALSO THE, THE TIMELINESS AND HOW MANY MOWINGS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, ET CETERA.
SO IT WAS KIND OF A WIDESPREAD RFP SO THAT WE COULD GET, UH, VENDORS WHEN THEY GAVE HIM BACK THE BED ON THE MOWEN.
WAS IT BY THE MILE OR HOW WAS IT? UH, YES.
WELL, WE HAD ONE VENDOR THAT DID IT BY LINEAR FOOT WITH ZERO, UH, MOBILE MOBILIZATION COSTS.
AND THEN WE HAD ANOTHER VENDOR WHO DID IT BY ACRE AND BY MILE.
SO, UM, OH, YOU HAD TO BREAK IT OUT OR ARE TOTALLY.
AND SO WHAT THIS WOULD BE ESSENTIALLY IS THIS WOULD BE THE MAXIMUM PRICE AND WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GO IN AND PRESS ON THE MOUND AS 3,500 PER MILE.
THIS CAN'T READ IT ONCE YOU IS.
SO SOMEONE HAD ASKED, SOMEONE HAD ASKED ME TO DELETE A FUND THAT WE USE FOR ROD AVOID MAINTENANCE AND IT'S OLD, OLD, OLD ARE Y'ALL GONNA PAY FOR IT OUT OF YOUR DIFFERENT PRECINCT BUDGETS.
OR DO YOU WANT TO TRANSFER MONEY TO THAT? NO, IT WAS FUN FOR TRACKING.
TO BE OUT OF THE ROAD AND BRIDGE.
IT WOULD BE INDIVIDUAL PRECINCT AT A ROOM BRIDGE.
UH, PRINT IT AND LOOK AT IT YET.
SO THAT WAS LOOKING AT OUR QUESTIONS FOR RAILA NOMAD.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REWARD OF CONTRACT RFP 2019? I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION WITH EMOTIONAL COMMISSIONER CASE.
SECOND WERE COMMISSIONER BARBER DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED NO MOTION CARRIES NEXT ITEM.
[19. Raylan Smith; Discuss and consider approving award of contract for RFP 20-20: Kaufman County IP Surveillance /Camera System - Equipment, Installation, and Maintenance.]
19 DISCUSS, CONSIDERED APPROVING AWARD OF CONTRACT RFP 2020 COFFIN COUNTY IP SURVEILLANCE CAMERA SYSTEM.UM, I DID GIVE YOU A NEW HANDOUT I NOTICED, OR ACTUALLY SOMEONE NOTICES FOR ME THAT THE HEADING WAS ALSO LISTED AS 20 OR 2019.
SO, UM, THESE WERE THE FOUR VENDORS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE RFP, UH, THE OPERATIONS PLANS, AS WELL AS THE PROPOSAL TOTALS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED BY KCSO, UH, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
AND THEY ARE RECOMMENDING THE LOW BIDDER OF TERRELL ALARM SYSTEMS. AND WE HAVE VERIFIED THAT THEIR SPECIFICATIONS AND THE PRODUCTS THAT THEY ARE RECOMMENDING MET ALL OF OUR SPECIFICATIONS WITHIN THE RFP OUT OF THE COURTHOUSE SECURITY.
MA'AM JUST FOR THE COURTHOUSE ARE ALL BUILDING.
UM, ACTUALLY I STAND CORRECTED.
THIS IS NOT FOR THE COURTHOUSE SPECIFICALLY.
I DO BELIEVE THAT SOME OF THIS IS GOING TO COME OUT OF JAIL FUNDS AND THIS IS PROBABLY PRICING FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
SO HE'S PUTTING IT WITHIN HIS BUDGET.
THAT'S WHY WE WENT OUT FOR BID.
NOW WE, I HAVE GOT IT SEPARATED.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ABSTAIN FROM THIS VOTE.
[01:45:01]
I'M JUST A LITTLE CONFUSED.WHAT, WHAT IS THIS FOR? IT IS FOR NEW CAMERA SYSTEMS, UM, THROUGHOUT JAIL, SOME WITHIN THE COURTHOUSE, IT'S SOME OF THE CAMERA SYSTEMS THAT NEED TO BE UPDATED.
UM, I ALSO DID WANT TO GO AHEAD AND ADD THAT WE INCLUDED THIS AS PART OF OUR IT CONVERSATION WITH THE NEW JUSTICE CENTER AS WELL, SO THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE INTEGRATE ANY, UH, EQUIPMENT THAT WE PURCHASED FROM THIS POINT FORWARD SO THAT THIS WOULD BE THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVE MOVING FORWARD.
HE TALKED TO THE HOK, I T PEOPLE.
I'LL BE LOOKING FOR A MOTION FOR APPROVING THE AWARD OF CONTRACT RFP 2020 AS PRESENTED.
IS THERE A MOTION SO MOVED, WE HAVE THAT MOTION COMMISSIONER CASE FOR APPROVAL.
IS THERE A SECOND ALSO I CAN SEGMENT COMMISSIONER BARBER DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
UH, WE HAVE ONE VOTE ABSTAINING.
UH, THOSE OF THOSE ARE NO, WE HAVE NO AIR.
SO THAT MOTION PASSES THREE VOTES
[20. Raylan Smith; Discuss and consider receipt, transfer, and disposal of County owned assets.]
ITEM, 20 DISCUSSING CONSIDERED RECEIPT TRANSFER AND DISPOSAL OF COUNTY OWN ASSETS.UH, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF ITEMS FOR ROAD AND BRIDGE FOR AVAILABLE FOR AUCTION.
AND I DID WANT TO NOTE THAT, UH, ADULT PROBATION IS REQUESTING PERMISSION FOR A DONATION OF 25 COMPUTER MONITORS, WHICH WOULD GIVE THEM SOME NEWER EQUIPMENT WITHIN THEIR OFFICE.
I BELIEVE IT WAS ANOTHER STATE AGENCY.
IT WAS WITHIN THE STATE SYSTEM.
SO WE JUST NEEDED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE WERE GOING TO TAKE THAT INTO OUR INVENTORY.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS, UH, ON ITEM 21, LOOKING FOR APPROVE, I'M SORRY.
ON ITEM 20, LOOKING FOR APPROVAL OF THE RECEIPT TRAIN FOR DISPOSAL OF COUNTY ASSETS.
SO MOVE, WE HAD THE EMOTIONAL COMMISSIONER IN CASE.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND SEGMENT COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES.
[21. Raylan Smith; Discuss and consider TexasBit contract for Frierson Road in the amount of $138,840.80; utilizing RFP 20-03 for Precinct #1.]
DISCUSS CONSIDER TEXAS BID CONTRACT FOR FREE OR SOME ROAD IN THE AMOUNT OF 130, 8,008 40 IN PRECINCT ONE.THE PROPOSAL IN CONTRACT, ACTUALLY LINK BACK TO RFP 20 ZERO THREE.
UM, THIS WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH PRECINCT ONE SPECIAL PROJECT LINE ADAM.
SO THIS WILL BE A CURRENT FUNDING.
YEAH, YOUR MONEY OR BOND MONEY OR IT'S NOT MINE.
I'M TRANSFERRING TO CONTRACT LABOR AND THE RISK OF STORM DAMAGE AS ON THE TRANSFERS TODAY.
SO TO DO THE PROJECT, SO WE'RE USING THE BOND PROCESS, BUT THAT'S ABOUT AS CLOSE TO THE BOND.
YOU'RE GONNA MAKE A MOTION ON THAT.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE, UH, REPAIR FOR ROAD.
UH, WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THAT CONTRACT.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND, THAT MOTION WAS FROM COMMISSIONER HUNT SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES, UH, DISCUSS,
[22. Raylan Smith; Discuss and consider approving Contract for 2019 Kaufman County Bond Program -Construction Manager-Agent Services (RFQ 20-16) between Gallagher Construction and Kaufman County for construction of the Animal Shelter.]
CONSIDER APPROVING CONTRACT FOR 2019 COUNTY BOND PROGRAM, CONSTRUCTION MANAGER, AGENT SERVICES FOR BETWEEN GALLAGHER CONSTRUCTION AND KAUFMAN COUNTY FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE ANIMAL SHELTER.AS YOU'LL RECALL, WE, UM, DID APPROVE RFQ 2016 WITH GALLAGHER CONSTRUCTION TO BE OUR CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AGENTS.
SO WHAT THIS WOULD DO IS ADD AN ADDITIONAL CONTRACT TO HIS SERVICES.
HE IS CURRENTLY CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AGENT OVER THE JUSTICE CENTER, AND THIS WOULD ALLOW HIM THE SAME TYPE OF CONTRACT AND THE SAME TYPE OF DUTIES FOR THE ANIMAL SHELTER.
UM, JUST TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THE CONCEPT BEHIND THIS IS THAT HE WOULD OVERSEE BOTH PROJECTS AND THE HOPE WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD GET THEM ON THE SAME TIMELINE AND ULTIMATELY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BIDDING THESE PROJECTS THE SAME AND HAVING HIM OVERSEE BOTH CONSTRUCTION.
WELL, UH, I S ARE THERE CONTINGENCIES, IF WE DON'T GET THE EXTRA LAND TO DO THE ANIMAL SHELTER, WASN'T THERE A PROBLEM WITH AN EXTRA, I JUST RECEIVED A LAYOUT.
UH, WE ACTUALLY, UH, I GUESS I'M A LITTLE OFF HERE, BUT THE, UM, WELL I TALKED TO GALLAGHER, I ACTUALLY TALKED TO GALLAGHER ABOUT ONE OF THE CONCERNS IS THE FALL OF THAT PROPERTY.
AND HOW THE, IF, IF THE, IF THE BUILDING KIND OF RUNS EAST AND WEST PARALLEL, THAT YOU DON'T HAVE AS MUCH OF AN, BUT IT WOULD HELP US FOR FUTURE EXPANSION.
IF WE COULD HAVE A STRIP OF LAND FROM THE, THE COFFIN EDC, UH, I HAD HIM, I ASKED HIM, I JUST RECEIVED IT THIS MORNING.
I THINK YESTERDAY TO RE, TO RE FIX
[01:50:01]
THAT SO THAT THE PRETTY SIDE OF THE FACILITY WOULD BE ON THE COFFIN COUNTY, EDC PROPERTY SIDE, THE PRETTY PART OF THE BUILDING, AS OPPOSED TO THE OTHER PART, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, CANDLES AND THE OTHER THINGS.SO, UH, THAT'S STILL A WORK IN PROCESS.
WE DOING THIS, IF YOU COULD MAKE IT FIT ON THE PROPERTY.
I'VE TALKED TO GALLAGHER ABOUT IT.
AND HE, HE SAID THAT, THAT, UH, THAT FILLING THAT LAND, IF WE HAVE TO COME, IF WE HAVE TO COME TOWARDS THE JAIL WITH THAT BUILDING, UH, THE ARCHITECT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT FILLING THAT LAND.
AND, UH, MR. GALLAGHER TOLD ME THAT JUST FROM HIS OPINION, THAT IT WASN'T GOING TO BE A BIG DEAL.
HE SAID, SHE'S NOT GOING TO BE A SLAB ON GRADE ANYWAY.
SO FILLING IN BUILDING ON TOP OF THAT, HE DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD BE A PROBLEM, BUT IT'S KIND OF STILL, I JUST GOT THE NEW LAYOUT.
SO WE'LL SEE WHAT THE, IF THE CITY IT WOULD HELP.
I THINK IT WOULD HELP THE CITY'S PROPERTY, UH, WITH THAT BUILDING THERE.
CAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE AN ATTRACTIVE FACILITY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT ITEM 22? YEAH.
LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE CONTRACT 20, UH, APPROVED, UH, CONSTRUCTION MANAGER, AGENT SERVICES FOR GALLAGHER ON THE ANIMAL SHELTER.
TELL YOU THAT EMOTIONAL COMMISSIONER CASES ARE A SECOND.
I'LL SECOND SECOND FOR COMMISSIONER BARBER, DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES.
[23. Sheriff Beavers; Present/Accept the Sheriff's Office Monthly Reports.]
ITEM 23, A SHERIFF'S DEPART THE DEPARTMENT OFFICE MONTHLY REPORTS.NO, THEN GOOD REPORT JOB LIKE YOU ALWAYS DO.
WELL, IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS.
OH, MIKE, WE'RE JUST BURNING DAYLIGHT.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE IS WE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE SHERIFF'S REPORT FROM COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS.
IS THERE A SECOND NOW SECOND SEPARATE COMMISSIONER BARBARA DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT LONG INVOLVED REPORT.
[24. Commissioner Phillips; Discuss/Consider the purchase of 2019 Carlson CP-130 Paver Serial # CP130 Paver Serial #CP130/153DB9X in the amount of $261,806.65 utilizing the buy board.]
A COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS DISCUSSED CONSIDER THE PURCHASE OF A 2019 CP ONE 30 PAVER THAT SAYS WHAT I'M DOING.I'VE BEEN LEASING IT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW.
AND SO I'M PURCHASING IT AND ALL THE MONEY IN THE LEASE AND GOING INTO IT TOO.
UH, IS THAT YOUR MOTION, SIR? UH, YES.
I'M ON PREJUDICE WITH MY MONEY AND SALARY IN THE BANK.
COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS, UH, UH, MAKES A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PURCHASES OF THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT AS PRESENTED ON 20 FOURS OR SECOND I'LL SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER IN CAGE.
DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES.
[25. Commissioner Barber; Discuss/Consider approving Annual Road Report for Pet. #3 Road & Bridge.]
COMMISSIONER BARBARA DISCUSSED, CONSIDER APPROVING ANNUAL REPORT FOR PRECINCT THE ROAD AND BRIDGE THAT PRESENTED MY ANNUAL REPORT.I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT GETTING FAVORITE BODY, BUT I HAVE HAD THIS EMAIL TO YOU THIS MORNING, BUT IT'S JUST OUR ANNUAL ROAD REPORT AND JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE'S.
UH, WOULD YOU PUT THAT IN FORM OF EMOTION THEN APPROVE THE PRECINCT THREE ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2020 HAVE MOTION COMMISSIONER BARBARA TO APPROVE THE ANNUAL PRECINCT ROAD REPORT.
IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND ONE COMMISSIONER CAGE DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING I WAS SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT MOTION CARRY ITEM
[26. Commissioner Cates; Discuss/Consider approving Annual Road Report for Pet. 4 Road & Bridge.]
26, COMMISSIONER AND CAGE DISCUSSED.CONSIDER APPROVING ANAL ROAD REPORT FOR PRECINCT FOUR.
WAS THAT A MOTION MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER CAGE PROVING HIS ANNUAL REPORT.
IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND FOR COMMISSIONER BARBARA? YOU ALL ARE JUST TOO FUNNY.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED NO MOTION CARRIES ITEM 27.
[27. Judge Richards; Discuss/Consider entering an Interlocal Agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for the County Transportation Infrastructure Fund Grant Program.]
AND RON, I SENT YOU A MESSAGE THIS MORNING.I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY ABOUT THIS, BUT THE ITEM 27 HAS TO DO WITH A, UM, A TEXAS TRANSPORTATION GRANT, UH, COMMISSIONER KATE'S ACTUALLY SORT OF GOT THE BALL ROLLING ON THIS DEAL.
THIS IS, THIS IS GRANT MONEY, $150,000 OR SO A GRANT MONEY THAT HAS TO DO WITH IT'S AN OLD OIL AND GAS RELATED THING.
YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT COMMISSIONER? NOT TO ACTUALLY LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE JOHN POLLSTER IN HIS, UH, HIS COMPANY'S HELPING IN POLISHING THAT, UH, THAT GRANT SUBMISSION AND, AND, UH, THE, UH, UH, THE COMPONENTS ARE THAT, UH, WE'RE
[01:55:01]
UH, IN THIS PARTICULAR SUBMISSION, UM, CONFINED TO PRECINCT THREE AND FOUR, BUT I THINK IT'S ABOUT 154,000 AND CHANGE.SO I'D RECOMMEND THAT WE, UM, THAT WE DO ENTER INTO THAT INNER LOCAL AGREEMENT THEN EXCEPT THAT MONEY.
UM, I WOULD ALSO JUST, WE HAVE THAT AS EMOTION, BUT, UH, IS THERE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER CAGES OR SECOND I'LL SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS DISCUSSION.
UH, THE ONLY DISCUSSION I WOULD ADD TO THAT WOULD BE THAT WE, UH, I SUGGEST WE TASK THE COUNTY ENGINEER TO ADMINISTRATE WHATEVER ADMINISTRATION IS REQUIRED ON THAT GRANT.
SO THAT AGREEMENT THERE WAS SIR, I'M MODIFYING MY MOTION TO INCLUDE THE COUNTY ENGINEER AS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE GRANT.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF, UH, OR IN ARENA AT THE AIR LOCAL GREENWOOD'S TEXDOT.
IS THERE, UH, ANY DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES.
UH, AND I DON'T WANT TO, SO THIS HAS GOT MY NAME ON IT, BUT, UH, WE HAVE, UH, ITEM 28,
[28. Judge Richards; Discuss/Consider allocation formula for Road & Bridge.]
UH, DISCUSS, CONSIDER ALLOCATION FORMULA FOR ROAD AND BRIDGE.MS. COMES OUT OF OUR WORKSHOP LAST TIME.
YEAH, I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING.
I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING TO INPUT ON THAT.
WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE HERE? HOW MANY PEOPLE LEFT? WELL, JUDGE, WE HAD A, I THINK WE DID HAVE SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT DURING OUR WORKSHOP AND, UH, JUST BEAR WITH ME WHILE I PULL UP THE PAPERWORK.
SO THIS IS A, UH, AN ITEM THAT I REALLY TO ADDRESS THE, THE, UH, PERCENTAGE ALLOCATION BY PRECINCT OF WHATEVER THE TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT OF ROAD AND BRIDGE FUNDING FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR IS.
AND, UH, IT LARGELY COMES DOWN TO A QUESTION OF THE APPROPRIATE ALLOCATION FOR PRECINCT TO PRECINCT, TO, UH, BY RECOLLECTION, IF CORRECT ME, IF I'M WRONG IS REQUESTING 13.5%, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 2% FROM THE ALLOCATION FOR LAST YEAR.
ALTHOUGH WE HAD HERE IN COURT, UH, UH, A, UH, A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER BARBER THAT ULTIMATELY I THINK WE TABLED, BUT THAT MOTION WAS THAT WE, UH, ESSENTIALLY ADOPT, UM, THE ALLOCATIONS FOR LAST YEAR FOR, FOR THIS CURRENT YEAR, SORRY, UH, WITH SOME SUBSEQUENT CONVERSATIONS, UH, I THINK THERE WAS SOME, UH, SOME AGREEMENT AMONGST THE COMMISSIONERS THAT, THAT ALLOCATION FROM THIS CURRENT YEAR NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED, UM, UH, WITHOUT GETTING TOO FAR IN THE WEEDS.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT THE APPROPRIATE ALLOCATION FOR PRECINCT TWO WOULD BE 13% AS OPPOSED TO 13.5%.
UM, AND AS IS TYPICAL, I CAN'T FIND MY NOTES, BUT, UH, I ACTUALLY FIXED MY MATH THAT WAS WRONG.
AND IN OUR, UH, UM, IN OUR, UH, WORKSHOP.
SO SINCE I CAN'T FIND IT, I'M GONNA TRY TO DO THIS ON THE FLY.
I AM, UH, I'M PROPOSING THAT THE ALLOCATION FOR PRECINCT TO BE ADJUSTED TO 13% THIS YEAR OF THE TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT, WHICH WILL CERTAINLY BE AN INCREASE THAT PRECINCT FOURS ADJUSTED TO, UH, A, UH, A GRAND TOTAL OF 36% AND THAT, UM, PRECINCT ONE BE ADJUSTED TO TWO 25.3% AND PRECINCT THREE, HE ADJUSTED TO WHATEVER THE REMAINDER OF THAT EVENT PERCENTAGE WOULD BE.
IS THAT RIGHT? I THINK THAT'S CORRECT.
[02:00:01]
PERCENT THAT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT CORRECT.SO COMMISSION COMMISSIONER, YOUR PROPOSAL IS PRECINCT ONE, WHATEVER THE ROAD AND BRIDGE ALLOCATION FUND TOTAL WOULD BE PRECINCT, WON'T BE 25.3 PRECINCT TWO 13.
THIS IS PERCENTAGES, OBVIOUSLY PRECINCT THREE 25.7 AND PRECINCT FOUR 36.0, ALTERNATIVELY, THAT A ONE IN THREE THAT THERE, THAT THE ADJUSTMENT BE 25 FIVE FOR EACH OF THOSE.
WOULDN'T THAT BE THE SAME? YES.
OUR LAST YEAR, LAST YEAR WE DID 26% FROM PRECINCT ONE AND 26.44 PRECINCT THREE.
SO THAT'D BE LOSING SEVEN TENTHS OF A PERCENT FOR WHAT'D YOU SAY IT WAS FOR THREE.
HERE'S THE WHITES ALL THE WAY LAST YEAR, 26, ONE 11 TO 26 FOR THREE 36, SIX FOR FOUR.
AND THEN, UH, HE'S PROPOSING 25, THREE 25, SEVEN AND 30 MAY RERUN THAT.
WHAT HE JUST, WHAT WE JUST, KAREN AND I JUST ADDED UP 25.3 FOR PRECINCT ONE 13.0 FOR PRECINCT TWO 25.7 FOR PRECINCT THREE 36.0 FOR PRECINCT FOUR IN OUR AUDITOR USING HER HIGHLY SKILLED MATH SKILLS SAYS ADDS UP TO A HUNDRED.
CAUSE LAST YEAR PRECINCT FOUR BE LOSING SIX SIXTEENTHS, RIGHT? YES.
WE LOSING SEVEN TENTHS A PIECE.
IS THAT RIGHT? WELL, YOU'RE MAKING IT, MAKE IT UP ALMOST 2%.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE TRANSFERRING 2% TO PRECINCT TWO.
I KNOW, BUT WE'RE GIVING UP SEVEN TENTHS PRECINCT TWO AND YOU'RE GIVING US SIX STANCE IS 36.6 LAST TIME.
AND YOU'RE SAYING THE NEW ALLOTMENT WOULD BE 36.0 AND THEN WE'RE REDUCING FROM 26.
SO THAT'S SEVEN RIGHT LAST YEAR.
SO THE NUMBERS I HAVE WERE FOR ONE WAS 26% LAST YEAR.
AND 11% TO 11% FOR TWO 26.4 FOR THREE 36.6 36.6 FOR FOUR.
HERE'S WHAT I'M PROPOSING 13% FOR PRECINCT TWO 36% FOR FOUR 25, FIVE EACH FOR ONE AND THREE.
WELL, I THINK WE'RE STILL DISCUSSING.
WAS THAT GOING TO PUT YOUR SCHEME? WHERE'S THAT GOING TO PUT YOU, IS THAT GOOD? LAST DAY? I LIKE 13.5.
I'M NOT JAMES ENOUGH OF MYSELF.
I'M PERFECTLY COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
AND ROUGHLY FIGURING OUT BEING MADE IN SEVEN, WHATEVER.
AND I THINK MY BUDGET I'M TURNING IN LIKE A MILLION, EIGHT SOMETHING, AND I'M GONNA DO A, UH, WHATEVER MONTH LEFT OVER IS THE PHILLIP ALL MY SPACE THERE I AM.
SO, UH, I THINK, I THINK THAT THERE, I THINK IT WAS FAIR.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, I, I GAVE UP AN AWFUL LOT OF LAST YEAR AND Y'ALL EACH GAVE ONE FOR TWO.
UM, SO I GAINED WHAT, 10% LAST YEAR AFTER WHAT? 40 YEARS OF UNDERFUNDING.
WELL, YOU'LL GET OVERFUNDED NEXT YEAR.
UM, THAT PUTS, AND, AND, AND I, I'M NOT DEFENDING TERRY, BUT HE WAS GOING DOWN FROM TWENTIES.
HE'S GOING DOWN FROM 26.4 TO 25 FIVE TO MATCH ME.
AND I'M JUST, HE'S GOING DOWN FURTHER THAN I AM.
JUST, CAN YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT COMES OUT TO IN JUST TO AN IDEA? YEAH.
ROUGHLY, BECAUSE WE CAN MAKE THIS SIMPLE AND WE CAN JUST GO AHEAD AND DO THE 13TH FOR SKEET AND JUST TAKE THE 2% OUT OF PRECINCT FOUR AND THAT'LL
[02:05:01]
BRING IT DOWN TO 31 SIX.AND BELIEVE ME, I'M JUST, WE ALL GAVE UP LAST YEAR.
I UNDERSTAND, BUT YOU'RE SUBSTANTIALLY WELL AHEAD OF WHAT YOU WERE THE YEAR BEFORE.
PLUS I THINK, I DON'T KNOW, INITIALLY IN THE BOND THAT YOU HAD TO CORRECT ME ON THIS AND I'LL TRUST YOU ON IT, BUT INITIALLY YOU WERE GETTING LIKE 62% OF YOUR FIRST RELEASE BOND MONEY.
SO, WHICH IS ESSA, PASO HAVE MONEY FOR YOU TO SPEND THIS YEAR AND YOU'RE IN YOUR CITIZENS ARE GOING TO BENEFIT.
AND IF YOU CAN'T MAKE DIFFERENCES IN THAT, THAT I WOULDN'T EVEN VOTE FOR YOU NEXT TIME.
WELL, WE'RE DOWN TO ABOUT 15 CHANGED AFTER TODAY, BUT YOUR INITIAL INITIAL, WHAT THEY BROUGHT TO COURT WAS 62% OF YOUR BOND MONEY.
CAUSE I'M IN MY INITIAL WAS LIKE 31, BUT I'VE GOT THE CDS INTERIORS WITH SPEECHY, SOMEBODY WHO'S GOT CD STUFF AND JUST VERY LITTLE COUNTY AND YOU'RE REAPING THE BENEFIT OF BEING MORE RURAL THAN WHAT WE ARE AND ALL YOUR MONEY IS GOING TO YOUR COUNTY ROADS.
SO, I MEAN, YOU HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF BOND MONEY TO SPEND.
AND THEN IF WE'VE BETTERED YOURSELF WITH THE BUDGET AND IF WE JUST, IT IS A ONE YEAR SACRIFICE BECAUSE HOPEFULLY YOU'LL GET ALL OF MY BAD ROADS AFTER THIS REALIGNED.
WELL, THIS GUY, AS I HAVE TOLD, I'VE SAID SEVERAL TIMES, I'M CERTAINLY WILLING TO GIVE UP THE 1%, BUT, UH, I THINK IT'S A LOT BECAUSE THE ARGUMENTS, UH, I HATE TO CHARACTERIZE THEM AS ARGUMENTS, THE FACTS THAT I GAVE YOU ALL LAST YEAR ABOUT THE HISTORICAL UNDERFUNDING OF PRECINCT FOUR ARE STILL VALID.
AND, UH, AND I KNOW THAT PRECINCT TWO HAS A DIFFERENT CATEGORY.
THEY BUILD DIFFERENT ROADS THAN WE DO.
UH, THEY HAVE MORE TRAFFIC, BUT FOR EVERY ONE OF THOSE TITS, I HAVE A TAT UH, I HAVE, UH, I HAVE RURAL BRIDGES THAT WASH OUT THAT YOU DON'T HAVE.
UH, I HAD TO REPLACE FOUR BRIDGES LAST YEAR AND I'M GONNA REPLACE TWO THIS YEAR.
THOSE ARE 90, 70 TO $90,000 A PIECE HITS.
SO I'M HAPPY TO, UH, I'M NOT HAPPY, BUT I'M WILLING TO MAKE THAT 2% ADJUSTMENT FOR PRECINCT TWO FROM 11 UP TO 13.
SO I'LL GIVE UP THE 1% AND LET THE OTHER TWO PRECINCTS GIVE UP A HALF PERCENT.
CAN JUST TELL ME THE NUMBERS AND I'M WITHIN MY PROPOSED BUDGET WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM WITH DOING IT THIS WAY.
SO I'M FINE WITH IT AS FAR AS MY PRECINCT GOES.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE IN PRECINCT THREE WOULD BE OKAY WITH THAT DUDE, CAUSE I'M WITHIN MY BUDGET WHERE I NEED TO BE.
SO ARE WE GOOD? CAN WE AGREE ON THAT? RELUCTANTLY UNDERSTAND RELUCTANTLY.
SO I GUESS THEN MY MOTION WILL BE, UH, THAT, UH, THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE ROAD AND BRIDGE DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR, UM, BETWEEN THE PRECINCTS WILL BE 13% FOR PRECINCT TWO.
WELL, WE'RE GONNA, THIS IS, WILL BE 36% FOR PRECINCT FOUR.
DOESN'T MEAN YOU SAY THEY GAVE UP A VOTE.
WE'RE SAYING IT CAN'T BE PER SAY.
THAT'S WHY I'M HESITATING HERE.
I'M TELLING YOU, WE'RE GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THESE TWO DIFFERENT NOTES.
IT'S ALREADY FIVE, SIX 25, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE AGREED TO BE.
WELL, WE, WE AGREED RELUCTANTLY WITH, WITH BRACING TOO.
SO LAST YEAR AND YOU'RE DOING IT AGAIN.
AND BASED ON LAST YEAR'S NUMBERS, PRECINCT FOUR WILL BE AT 35.6%, RIGHT? CORRECT.
SO YOU FOLLOW ALONG WITH MY NUMBERS HERE, TERRY.
SO 35.6 BASED ON LAST YEAR'S ALLOCATION, THAT'S MY 1% PRECINCT.
THREE WE'LL NEED TO ADJUST FROM 26, FOUR TO 26 MORE.
IF YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, 25,
[02:10:01]
NINE TO 25 NINE, I'M TRYING TO GIVE ME MORE PRECINCT.ONE WILL ADJUST TO 25, FIVE AND PRECINCT TWO.
SO HALF A PERCENT IS ABOUT $150,000.
WELL, THAT ADDS UP TO A HUNDRED FOR SURE.
WELL THE 25 FIVE, I'M STILL WITHIN MY BUDGET, RIGHT? WELL, HE JUST SAID YOURS IS 25 NOW, BUT AT 25 FIVE, I'M STILL GOOD.
SO I CAN GIVE THAT OTHER FOUR TO TWO TO HELP HIM OUT WITH WHAT HE NEEDS.
NO, WHEN ME AND MIKE EACH HAVE 25 FIVE, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT THE EQUAL AMOUNT OF MILEAGE ROADS PRETTY CLOSE.
SO YOU'D BE JUST GIVING UP AN EXTRA FOUR TENTHS, RIGHT.
AND THEN WE CAN HAVE THIS BATTLE ALL OVER AGAIN IN A BIGGER SPECTRUM NEXT YEAR.
WELL THEN I'LL MODIFY MY MOTION TO, TO, UH, TO ENCOMPASS COMMISSIONER BARBER'S GENEROSITY.
LET ME READ THESE NUMBERS TO, YOU CAN VERIFY THAT THIS IS YOUR EMOTION.
YOUR EMOTION IS AT THE ALLOCATION WOULD BE 25.5% FOR PRECINCT ONE 13.4% FOR PRECINCT TWO 25.5% FOR PRECINCT THREE 35.6% FOR PRECINCT FOUR.
IS THAT YOUR MOTION? YES, THAT'S MY MOTION.
KAREN, ARE YOU GOING TO TELL ME THAT'S 100%.
SO WE HAVE THAT MOTION WITH COMMISSIONER CATES.
SECOND SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BARBER.
DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE ROUTINE STUFF OF ITEM TRANSFERS AND ALL THAT I DON'T WANT TO, I DON'T WANT TO SKIP OVER THE WE'VE NEVER, WE, WE HAD ALL THAT PUBLIC COMMENT JUST DON'T LET ME, LET'S JUST, DON'T CLOSE OUT THE MEETING UNTIL WE GOT TO DISCUSS THAT ITEM, WHICH IS THE DISCUSSION OF APPOINTING US CITIZENS COMMITTEE.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND FINISH WITH 29 AND 30, BUT THEN WE NEED TO TAKE IN THAT OTHER ADDENDUM.
[29. Discuss/Consider line item transfers.]
IS A DISCUSSION SHARE LINE ON WHERE TRANSFERS MADAM.THESE WERE, THESE WERE EMAILED TO YOU EARLIER DURING THE WEEK.
WE SENT ONE ADDITIONAL YESTERDAY.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THOSE? NOT I CAN ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL.
ANY QUESTIONS THERE? NO QUESTIONS.
IS THERE A MOTION FOR PROVING LINE ITEM TRANSFERS AS PRESENTED? I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
WE HAD EMOTIONAL COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS IS OUR SECOND, SECOND, SECOND, CRUCIAL BARBER DISCUSSION.
THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES
[30. Discuss/Consider claims for payment.]
ITEM 30, DISCUSSING CONSIDER CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT.UH, YOUR CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT OR THREE 30, $4,854 AND 6 CENTS.
WE HAD TWO PAYROLL PERIODS WITHIN THAT TIMEFRAME OF $2,662,612 AND 49 CENTS.
TOTAL FACULTY AND 697, FOUR 66 55.
AND YOUR MIND EXPANSIONARY SPEND TEACHERS WERE EMPLOYEE INSURANCE, UM, RUBBED BOND EXPENDITURES, ROAD MATERIALS, MEDICAL CONTRACT, AND, UM, FACILITIES CON UH, CONSTRUCTION BOND AND SOME NEW EQUIPMENT AND THINGS.
IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT AS PRESENTED? I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.
WE HAVE THAT MOTION COMMISSIONER IN CASES OR SECOND I'LL SECOND, SECOND ONE COMMISSIONER HUNT, DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES.
[Addendum Item 1. Discuss/Consider forming a Monument Citizens Commision (Part 2 of 2)]
OKAY.NOW, BEFORE WE GO TO OUR NEXT ITEM, I GAVE YOU GUYS THIS, I SENT THIS TO Y'ALL THIS MONUMENT CITIZENS COMMISSION.
DID Y'ALL GET IT AND READ IT? YES.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHOW, I MEAN, I'M INTERESTED IN COMMENTS ABOUT THIS PROCESS THAT I HAVE WOUND UP HERE.
DOES EVERYBODY DO Y'ALL LIKE IT? DO YOU WANT TO MODIFY IT IN SOME WAY? UM, I GUESS MY ONLY QUESTION THAT IT REALLY STUCK OUT WITH ME IS, UH, WHENEVER YOU START LOOKING AT THE ETH
[02:15:01]
ETHNICITY CALL FROM A COUNTY, WE ALSO HAVE, I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ASKING FOR TWO MEMBERS TO SERVE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LARGEST ETHNIC GROUPS IN OUR COUNTY, BUT THAT IS BLACK, WHITE, AND BROWN TO BE ON THIS COMMITTEE.AND I THINK TERRELL'S THE SAME WAY AS KAUFMAN.
AND I'M SURE THAT PRECINCT FOUR IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME WAY.
AND I UNDERSTAND, WE PROBABLY NEED TO THINK ABOUT, WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THREE PEOPLE FOR EACH PRECINCT.
THAT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT FOUR MORE PEOPLE, FIVE MORE PEOPLE.
SO IT'S JUST A DISCUSSION, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO TRY TO FIND, YOU KNOW, FOLKS THAT REPRESENT THE MAJORITY OF THE FOLKS HERE IN KAUFMAN COUNTY.
I KNOW WE CAN'T GET EVERYBODY UP HERE TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A PLACE AT THE TABLE, BUT THESE ARE THE LARGEST LARGEST GROUPS THAT NEED TO BE REPRESENTED.
SO YOUR, YOUR SUGGESTION IS THAT WE WOULD GO FROM APPOINTING TWO PEOPLE TO APPOINTING THREE.
AND I DON'T REALLY WANT TO PUT PARAMETERS ON ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER, CAUSE THESE ARE MY THOUGHTS AS I WOULD LIKE TO BE DIVERSE IN THE PEOPLE THAT I SELECT TO PUT ON THE COMMITTEE.
AND I DON'T WANT TO FORCE THAT ON ANYBODY ELSE AND WHAT THEY WANT TO DO PERSONALLY.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AT LEAST THREE WHERE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.
CAUSE I'M REALLY SPEAKING FOR MYSELF ABOUT WHAT THINKING.
SO THE, UH, UH, THE, WHAT IT'S WHAT'S ON MY MIND FOR APPOINTMENTS IS NOT JUST THE ETHNICITY, BUT THE MIX OF MEN, WOMEN.
I KNOW THAT JUDGE, WHEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE A COUPLE OF WEEKS BACK, AT ONE POINT WE HAD CONSIDERED HAVING THE CITIES BE THE DRIVERS OF LARGELY THE DRIVERS OF THE MAKEUP OF THE POTENTIAL COMMITTEE.
AND I, I STILL TEND TO FAVOR SOME CITY PARTICIPATION IN THIS.
UH, I RECOGNIZE THE, THE CHALLENGES WHEN YOU GET TO LARGER COMMITTEE.
UH, I KNOW THAT THAT'S, IT IS WHAT IT IS, BUT I THINK WE CAN SEE BOTH BY THE TESTIMONY THAT, OR THE STATEMENTS WE SAW TODAY, AS WELL AS I THINK OTHER COMMISSIONERS WILL AGREE WITH ME THE VOLUME OF, OF DIRECT CONTACT WITH OUR OFFICES.
SO I ALSO HAVE A STACK OF LETTERS FROM PRECINCT, FOR RESIDENTS.
I HAVE MANY EMAILS, MANY PHONE CALLS.
UM, AND I ALSO THINK THAT THIS IS A, UM, A REALLY DIFFICULT AND YET CRITICAL DECISION THAT NEEDS TO BE AS BROAD BASED, UH, AS POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO REPRESENT THIS COUNTY AS COMPLETELY AS, AS WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AND, UH, I THINK, UH, I THINK MAYOR JORDAN'S COMMENTS ARE PARTICULARLY, UH, IMPORTANT IN THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT? HE HAS A, HE HAS A STAKE IN THIS BOTH AS A RESONANT, A CITIZEN OF THE COUNTY, BUT ALSO AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF HIS CITY, WHICH HAPPENS TO CONTAIN THE, THE, UH, THE MONUMENT IN QUESTION.
SO I REALLY WOULD JUST LIKE US TO CONSIDER HAVING SOME ENHANCED CITY INVOLVEMENT.
UM, WELL I THINK WE COULD, WHAT I'M, I'M SITTING HERE ADDING UP.
SO IF WE, IF WE HAVE 'EM, IF EACH COMMISSIONER APPOINTED TWO PEOPLE AND ME TWO PEOPLE, SO THAT'S 10.
UM, IF WE OPEN UP THE CITIES, THAT'S GOING TO ADD ANOTHER, I MEAN, DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH PARTITION PATIENT THAT COULD BE.
ANOTHER, IF THEY JUST KNOW ANYONE THAT'D BE ANOTHER EIGHT TO 10 PEOPLE.
UH, I THINK THE MAGIC IS, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT JUST, AND IF YOU ADD UP ALL, I MEAN, YOU, YOU COULDN'T, YOU COULDN'T SAY JUST THE BIG CITIES.
NO, YOU'D HAVE TO OPEN IT UP TO ALL THE, ALL THE CITIES WE'VE GOT.
I MEAN, I WOULD GUESS WE PROBABLY HAVE EIGHT TO 10 CITIES THAT WOULD PARTICIPATE.
SO YOU'RE GETTING TO AN AWFULLY BIG NUMBER TO HAVE ANY OF A CONVERSATION.
AND SO I WOULD ADJUST, I WOULD CONSIDER ADJUSTING THE COMMISSIONERS APPOINTMENT TO JUST ONE FROM THE, FROM THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE AND, AND THE REMAINDER FROM, FROM ANY CITY THAT WANTED TO PARTICIPATE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE COULD ESTABLISH A DEADLINE FOR THEM TO HAVE THEIR, THEIR REPRESENTATIVE IDENTIFIED.
AND, AND IF THAT DEADLINE PASSES, THEN THEY LOSE THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE.
I THINK THAT WHEN WE START BRANCHING OUT RESPONSIBILITIES TO
[02:20:01]
RESPOND OR SOMETHING, IT MAKES IT A LITTLE MORE INEFFECTIVE ON HOW SMOOTH IT'S GONNA GO.AND I THINK THAT IF WE KEEP IT WITHIN US LIGHTING AND WE HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER, AND THEN WE CAN EXPEDITE THIS AND IT'S NOT DRUGGED OUT WITH ANY KIND OF HICCUPS.
I THINK IF WE CAN COMMUNICATE, WE'VE GOT A MASTER COMMUNICATOR WITH THE JUDGE SO HE CAN AGREE, SORRY, EVERY TIME YOU PUT ONE OF US, ANOTHER PERSON OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY IN THAT FACTOR, IT'S GOING TO WIDEN THE SCOPE AND KIND OF MUCKY UP THE WATER.
IT'D BE ABLE TO SAY, UH, BECAUSE THEY, THEY GOT PRESSURE.
SO IF WE PICK INDIVIDUALS OR WHATEVER, CAUSE I'M IN THE SAME BOAT, HAVE NOT ONLY ONE CITY, BUT I'VE GOT MY DISTRICTS THAT WE VOTED IN THE DAY, THEY CLICK TAX AND FOR THEY'RE PAYING TAXES, JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
SO YOU HAVE WINDMILL FARMS, YOU HAVE DEVIN TIRE, YOU HAVE DAMPERS, RIGHT? THERE'S MONEY CITIES BY THE SALE BACK.
THEY'RE BIGGER THAN MOST CITIES.
I ASKED FOR REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH PERSON'S WHERE THEIR WATER BOARD.
YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? SO I, I'M NOT EVEN SURE HOW I WILL PICK THE, BE HONEST.
I MEAN, I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THAT A LOT SINCE THIS CAUSE THERE WAS SOME GOOD SPEECHES THIS MORNING.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE GOOD, GOOD RATIONAL THOUGHTS ON THE WHOLE MATTER, UH, THEY'LL PUT EVERYBODY'S NAME AND I HAD, AND JUST DRAW IT OR DO I SAY, WELL, I NEED ONE MAN, ONE WOMAN, I NEED ONE ELDER PERSON, ONE YOUNG PERSON, YOU KNOW, IF I HAVE TWO PEOPLE.
SO IF YOU TALK ABOUT THESE, DIVERSITY'S IN DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS, DIFFERENT THERE'S TOO MANY THAT FOR, TO, TO, TO DO SO LET ME DO, LET ME, LET ME, LET ME JUST, LET ME SEE.
LET ME TALK ABOUT WHAT THEIR MISSION IS THOUGH.
AND I THINK THIS ADDRESSES, YEAH.
THEIR MISSION IS NOT TO SIT AROUND AND DECIDE WHAT TO DO.
MY, UH, MY INPUT WOULD BE YOU GET, OR YOU GET, OR, UH, INPUT AND OPINIONS FROM YOUR CIRCLE OF PEOPLE.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE IN LIGHTING SO THAT THEY CAN ALL SHARE THAT INFORMATION AMONGST THEMSELVES.
SO THAT THEY'RE NOT, I MEAN, HOPEFULLY THEY'RE NOT GOING TO REAL.
THEY'RE KIND OF REALIZE THAT IT'S, THEY'RE NOT MAKING, THEY'RE NOT MAKING THE, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION.
THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION BASED ALL THE INPUT THEY GET FROM VARIOUS PEOPLE THAT THEY KNOW.
LET ME SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
MY CONCERN WITH THIS, I MEAN, IN SOME WAY I THINK THE COMMUNITY IS A GOOD IDEA, BUT FROM THE NUMBER OF LETTERS THAT KEN HAS, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT I'VE GOT IN MY BRIEFCASE, SAME STACK LIKE THAT, ALL THE, I MEAN, I I'M TELLING 99.9% OF EVERYTHING I RECEIVED IS NOBODY WANTS THAT STATUE TO GO ANYWHERE.
ALL THESE FOLKS HERE TODAY ARE JUST THE OPPOSITE.
THAT'S THE FIRST I'VE HEARD FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THIS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THERE, IF THERE'S A WAY I KNOW WE CAN'T DO IT AS, AS OUR BODY HERE CAN DO IT.
WHAT CAN THE CITIZENS DO TO JUST PUT THIS THING ON THE BALLOT? LET PEOPLE DO THEIR CAMPAIGNING ON EITHER SIDE OF THIS AND VOTE.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT THAT'S REALLY MORE DIFFICULT TO DO IN TEXAS.
WE'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT HOW THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT CAN'T DO IT.
BUT, UM, I THINK THAT IN ORDER FOR PEOPLE TO DO THAT, I THINK IT MIGHT HONESTLY BE SOMETHING THAT HAS TO GO UP THROUGH POSSIBLY THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE LEGISLATURE.
I DON'T THINK IT'S, I KNOW I'VE HEARD DIFFERENT THINGS ABOUT A LITTLE BIT, SO MANY OTHERS.
I REALLY DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT'S THE CASE THAT I KNOW IT SHOULDN'T SOUND LIKE I'M DILUTED, THEN IT KIND OF, IT IS A DIFFICULT PROCESS.
HAVE WE GOT THAT CONFIRMED THOUGH THAT THAT'S HOW IT HAS TO WORK OR IS THAT JUST, I'VE GOT TO CONFIRM THAT THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT CAN NOT DO IT.
AND WHAT I'M SPEAKING ABOUT AS FAR AS PUTTING AN INITIATIVE ON THE BALLOT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, I DON'T, I DON'T, YOU KNOW, THAT WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO PUT ANYTHING EVEN PETITION WISE FROM CITIZENS ON THE LOCAL BALLOT, UNLESS THEY'RE A STATUTORY 42 PETITION AND PUT A POTENTIAL ITEM ON THE BALLOT.
SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS, IS I THINK THAT, UM, IT IS SOMETHING THAT MIGHT HAVE TO GO UP HIGHER THAN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
SO THAT BEING THE CASE, IT'S KIND OF NOT REALLY A SOLUTION, A VIABLE SOLUTION, SO TO SPEAK.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? AND I'M GOING TO DO MORE RESEARCH ON IT.
CAUSE I KNOW THAT TOUCHY ISSUE I'M NOT TRYING TO GET, AND I'M TRYING TO NOT SOUND INCOMPETENT, BUT I WANT TO BE HONEST, THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
[02:25:02]
WELL, MY CONCERN IS THAT, I MEAN, THIS ISSUE ITSELF IS CAUSING ENOUGH DIVISION AS IT IS.I'M REALLY AFRAID THAT THIS COMMITTEE IS GOING TO DIVIDE PEOPLE EVEN MORE.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE HALF THE PEOPLE IN THAT COMMITTEE THAT ARE DEAD SET AGAINST ONE WAY AND THE OTHER HALF THE OTHER WAY, WHAT'S IT GOING TO ACCOMPLISH? I JUST DON'T SEE THIS GOING TO ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING MYSELF.
WHEREAS IF THERE'S AVENUE THAT WE CAN ALLOW PEOPLE TO VOTE ON THIS THEN YEAH.
BUT THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO CAUSE SOME ISSUES AS WELL.
BUT AT LEAST THAT WAY PEOPLE GET THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE BY THEIR VOTE, WHAT THEY WANT OR DON'T WANT.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE CONTACTED ME.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR.
CAN WE PLEASE VOTE ON THIS? AND I'M GOING TO DO MORE RESEARCH.
NOT THAT I'M AFRAID FOR WHAT I'VE SEEN SO FAR, THAT IT IS ANOTHER LOCAL LEVEL.
MY GOAL, AS A STATE LEGISLATOR PUT A MEASURE ON THE BALLOT, THERE'S A LOT MORE TO IT THAN JUST YEAH.
AND THEY PROBABLY, THE LEGISLATOR DON'T WANT TO TAKE IT UP.
I'M JUST TRYING TO BE CAREFUL WHEN I SAY IT STILL WOULDN'T HURT FOR US TO EMAIL AND FIND OUT LET'S FIND OUT WHEN WE CAN AND I WILL.
AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW, I HAVEN'T HAD ENOUGH TIME ON LAST WEEK TO FULLY ADDRESS THAT PART OF THE ISSUE.
BUT, UM, BUT FROM THAT LENS, PEOPLE THINK THAT YOU COULD PUT MORE THINGS ON THE BALLOT AND YOU REALLY CAN LIKE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE PULLING THEM OUT BY PETITION.
ALL OF THOSE HAVE STATUTORY AUTHORITY, WHETHER IT'S TO BE LIKE A HOMEROOM, IT ISN'T PALITY OR TO BE WET OR DRY OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
THERE'S ALWAYS, OR TO BE A CERTAIN PROFESSIONAL DISTRICT OR TO BECOME A LIBRARY DISTRICT.
THERE'S ONLY A SPECIAL STATUTORY AUTHORITY THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE PUT THAT ON THE BALLOT.
AND SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS WHAT I'VE SEEN SO FAR, THAT I'M GOING TO DO MORE RESEARCH WORK ON IT AND TALK TO ALPHA SOME OUTSIDE PEOPLE.
I THINK IT ALMOST BECOMES A MEASURE THAT ALMOST HAS TO GO UP TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE LEGISLATURE TO GET THINGS DONE.
I NEED TO, I NEED TO PUSH YOU FOR A DECISION I NEED, I NEED TO PRESS YOU FOR A DECISION, A LEGAL OPINION.
I THINK, UH, NOW, AND THIS IS GOING TO SOUND, MAY SOUND CRAZY, BUT I KNOW YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS ALREADY AND UM, WE'RE GOING TO BE IN SESSION THIS AFTERNOON.
THIS MEETING CONTINUES, UH, AS A PART OF OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP.
SO I MEAN, I THINK IF THAT'S THE QUESTION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN PUT IT ON THE BALLOT, I THINK WE NEED TO ANSWER.
BUT I CAN'T PROMISE YOU THAT THERE'LL BE AN ANSWER THIS AFTERNOON.
WE'LL DO OUR BEST EFFORT TO GET THAT, BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO DO THIS.
IT'S THE SECRETARY OF STATE I'LL MAKE PHONE CALLS AND I'LL DO OUTREACH WORK.
I'M NOT TRYING TO, NO, I JUST, I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHO ACTUALLY MADE THAT ANSWER TO THAT.
I TALKED WITH TECH LAST TIME, THEIR LEGAL COUNSEL AND THEY TALKED TO ME AND WE TALKED MORE ABOUT IT IN TERMS AND THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
THEY HAVE THE PERSON THAT'S AREA EXPERT ON ELECTIONS.
AND I WILL TALK TO HIM AFTER THIS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PETITIONS BEING ABLE TO GO ON THE BALLOT THAT, THAT HE WAS, WE THOUGHT ONE IN TERMS OF COMMISSIONERS COURT.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER INFORMATION IS DISSEMINATE PUBLICLY AND THEN I GIVE TO YOU ALL THAT.
SO I'LL DO MY BEST TO HAVE AN ANSWER.
WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, I MEAN, THERE'S, I THINK MY OBSERVATION IN THE LAW IS THERE'S, THERE'S NEVER AN ABSOLUTE ANSWER.
A LOT OF TIMES THERE'S NOT UNDER THE ELECTION CODE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME PRETTY SPECIFIC CIVIC THINGS THAT I NEED TO MAKE SURE WHERE THE IS.
UM, YEAH, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT JUST CONTINUING TO KICK THE THING DOWN THE ROAD.
I THINK, I THINK YOUR POINT THAT YOU MADE EARLIER IS, IS, UH, SOMETHING TO TRULY BE CONSIDERED IS WHAT, WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMITTEE.
AND IT'S REALLY NOT TO MAKE A DECISION, NO, UH, ON, ON THE FATE OF THE MONUMENT ITSELF.
AND IT'S CERTAINLY NOT TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER WE SHOULD TRY TO FIND SOME MECHANISM TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT.
SO, SO PENDING LEGAL RESEARCH, WE ULTIMATELY, WE WILL STILL BE CHALLENGED TO MAKE THAT, THAT GOAL.
I THINK THIS MOTION THAT'S ON THE THAT'S ON THE AGENDA IS REALLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS FORM AN INFORMATION GATHERING BODY.
I MEAN, AND LET ME TELL YOU WHAT STARTED, WHAT, WHY THIS CAME OUT, UH, WHAT I WAS TOLD IN DIFFERENT WAYS BY DIFFERENT PEOPLE, WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
IS IT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING? IS EVERYBODY, ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO EXPRESS AN OPINION SHOULD FEEL LIKE THAT SOMEBODY LISTENING TO THEIR OPINION THAT THEY'RE BEING HEARD.
AND THIS IDEA CAME TO ME AS A WAY OF GIVING, UH, YOU HAVE A 10 OR 12 OR 15 PEOPLE OR WHATEVER THAT ARE REACHING
[02:30:01]
OUT AMONGST A REALLY BROAD SPECTRUM OF PEOPLE ASKING FOR THEIR INPUT.AND, AND THEY ARE, THEY ARE NSS IN HERE.
AND IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WHEN THEY'RE, IF THIS GROUP IS ASSEMBLED, THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THE DECISION THEY'RE NOT A DECISION MAKING BODY.
SO THAT BEING THE CASE, IF, IF, IF IN FACT, UH, WE STAY WITH THE COMMISSIONERS, APPOINTING TWO PEOPLE AND YOU EXPAND IT TO ALLOW OUR CITIES TO A POINT A SINGLE REPRESENTATIVE.
IT REALLY JUST, IT REALLY JUST EXPANDS THEIR ABILITY TO RECEIVE INFORMATION.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE VOTING.
THEY'RE NOT GOING, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS THEMSELVES.
SO IT'S NOT AS IF THEY'LL END UP IN A TIE, IT REALLY JUST BROADENS THE FUNNEL FOR THEM TO RECEIVE INFORMATION, PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE, THE CONCEPTS THAT YOU LAID OUT IN YOUR, UH, IN YOUR DOCUMENT, WHICH IS TO ESTABLISH AN EMAIL SITE WHERE THEY CAN RE FACILITATE THEM RECEIVING INFORMATION.
SO, UH, I, I REALLY, I REALLY STILL FEEL, UH, THAT IT'S A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO HAVE A, THE COMMISSIONERS APPOINT EACH OF US APPOINT TWO REPRESENTATIVES AND THEN ALLOW EVERY CITY TO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE IN THAT INFORMATION GATHERING TO ADDRESS A SITUATION THAT COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS WAS TALKING ABOUT, WHERE HE'S GOT, HE'S GOT FOUR OR FIVE CITIES IN HIS PRECINCT.
THAT'S ADDRESSED THAT THAT'S ADDRESSED BY THE FACT THAT COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS IS GOING TO POINT TO REPRESENTATIVES.
HOW ABOUT IF WE AGREED TO APPOINT THREE, EVERY COMMISSIONER APPOINTS THREE PEOPLE.
AND IF YOU, THE COMMISSIONER AND JUDGE APPOINT THREE PEOPLE, AND IF YOU WANT TO GIVE ONE OF THOSE APPOINTMENTS TO A CITY OR TWO OF YOUR APPOINTMENTS TO CITY, YOU CAN DO THAT.
SO, I MEAN, THAT'S GONNA GIVE US A MARK.
THAT'S GOING TO GIVE US A LARGER COMMITTEE THAN, I MEAN, 15 PEOPLE.
BUT THE REALITY IS IF, IF YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE PROBABLY WON'T NECESSARILY PARTICIPATE, BUT NOW YOU'LL GET ABOUT TWO THIRDS PARTICIPATION.
YEAH, I THINK IT, I THINK THAT I CAN, I GET A LOT OF PHONY PEOPLE WERE HERE THIS MORNING.
THAT WAS, AND I'VE GOT A LOT OF PARTICIPATION OUT OF IT.
I MEAN, UM, I WANNA BE ABLE TO HAVE ENOUGH COMMITTEE MEMBERS, IF I'M GOING TO DO THAT, IF I'M GONNA GO THERE, THEN I NEED A, I CAN'T SAY FOR ME, I CAN'T SAY WINDMILL FARMS. I CAN'T SAY THEY HAVEN'T YET.
I CAN'T SAY YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING AND IT'S A BIG, I REALLY DON'T SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
IT HAS TO DO WITH THE DYNAMICS.
YOU CAN'T EVEN HAVE A MEETING WITH A HUNDRED PEOPLE FOR ONE THING, WILLING TO ANY PLACE IN THE COUNTY FOR MANY PEOPLE TO MEET.
SO, UM, I'M GOING TO PUT THIS IN THE FORM OF A MOTION THAT WE, UH, THAT THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT, UH, APPOINT A CITIZENS COMMISSION, UH, EACH WITH MODIFYING THIS THING, I MADE THIS DOCUMENT, I GAVE YOU TWO THAT EACH COMMISSIONER WOULD APPOINT THREE MEMBERS AND THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND THE JUDGE WOULD APPOINT THREE MEMBERS.
AND, UH, PEOPLE THAT WE'D FOLLOW THE PROCESS AND THE GUIDELINES SET OUT HERE.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THESE WILL BE PUBLIC MEETINGS SINCE THIS IS A PUBLIC PUBLICLY APPOINTED BODY.
THEY'LL HAVE TO HAVE OPEN MEETINGS AND MINUTES.
IS THERE A SECOND? SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO A POINT THAT CITIZENS' COMMISSION ANY MORE DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE.
DID YOU PUT MOTION? AND WE'RE JUST DISCUSSING THE PROCEDURES.
WE DIDN'T PUT A PLACE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HOLD THE FARM.
UH, I W I THINK IMPLIED IN THIS IS THAT I WOULD, THE COUNTY, I SAID THE COUNTY WOULD ARRANGE THINGS, SETTING UP THE MEETINGS, SETTING UP THE EMAIL ADDRESS, AND THE COUNTY MEANS, I MEAN, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE A PRETTY LARGE PLACE, I GUESS.
I THINK WE PROBABLY GET OUR CHURCHES.
SO, UH, THAT BRINGS US TO THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, WHICH IS, DID THAT PASS? DID IT, DID IT PASSED ALL VOTES UNANIMOUS? UM, SO THAT GETS
[31. Discuss/Consider exiting regular meeting and enter into an executive session.]
US TO ITEM 31[02:35:01]
IS DISCUSSED, CONSIDER EXITING A REGULAR MEETING AND ENTERING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.IS THERE A MOTION TO DO THAT? SO I'M LIKE MOTION WHERE THAT MOTION COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS IS OUR SECOND COMMISSIONER CASE.
DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES WE'RE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION FIVE, FIVE, 1.07.
ONE OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE COMMISSIONER'S COURT WILL MEET IN, IN CLOSED SESSION TO CONSIDER PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION SUBJECTS OR SETTLEMENT OFFERS.
THE FOLLOWING CASES ARE SUBJECT MAY BE DISCUSSED COFFIN.
WELL, YOU'VE GOT IT IN THE DOCUMENTS HERE.
UM, WE'RE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, UH,
[33. Discuss/Consider exiting executive session and enter back into regular meeting]
FROM COMMISSIONER KATE'S.IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
UH, THERE WAS NO ACTION TAKEN IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[34. Discuss/Consider taking any action as a result of the executive session.]
COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION? THE JUDGE I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.KAREN, REMIND ME THE LAST NAME AGAIN.
UH, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT THE COUNTY JUDGE BE AUTHORIZED BY THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO SIGN ANY DOCUMENTS, UH, SUBMITTED, PREPARED, AND SUBMITTED BY, UH, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE REGARDING RESOLUTION OF THE SULLIVAN EMPLOYMENT MATTER.
WE HAVE THAT MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE JUST SIGNED THOSE DOCUMENTS.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
THE SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS, DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES.
[35. Adjourn Regular Meeting and enter Workshop.]
IT COMES TO THE, NOW WE'RE GOING TO BE LIKE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WE'RE GOING TO GO HAVE RECESS.UM, I WOULD PROPOSE WE COME BACK AT TWO O'CLOCK.
IS THAT A GOOD NUMBER? YOU EVER BY CHANCE TO CATCH UP ON WHATEVER THEY'VE MISSED OUT THIS MORNING WORK.
WE'RE IN RECESS TILL TWO, THEN.