Aug 18, 2020 Special Commissioners Court

[00:00:04]

THE SPECIAL

[Call to Order]

IT'S TUESDAY, AUGUST 18TH, 2020 9:00 AM.

WE'RE IN THE COFFIN COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING ROOM AND A CALL FROM A WE'LL START OFF TODAY.

I'M GOING TO ASK, UH, COMMISSIONER BARBARA, IF HE'LL OFFER AN INVOCATION AND THE COMMISSIONER HANS GONNA OFFER PLEDGES TO THE FLAGS, PLEASE STAND PROBABLY WITH ME.

ALL RIGHT.

HEAVENLY FATHER.

WE WANNA THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY IN KAUFMAN COUNTY.

AND WE WANT TO ASK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED BLESSINGS ON OUR COUNTY AND ON THIS ASSEMBLY THIS MORNING, WE ASK YOU TO BE WITH US WHILE WE DELIBERATE DECISIONS NEED TO BE MADE FOR THE FOLKS THAT LIVE HERE AND TO HELP US TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS.

THAT WILL BE GOOD FOR EVERYONE.

UH, PLEASE BE WITH OUR MILITARY AND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND, UH, KEEP US ALL SAFE.

AND IT'S IN THEIR SON'S NAME.

WE ASK THIS AMEN BY BANK OF AMERICA AND ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

WATCH SAY GOD ONE.

OKAY.

THIS WILL BE THE TIME THAT WE WOULD NORMALLY HEAR COMMENTS FROM VISITORS ABOUT ITEMS ONLY AGENDA.

CAUSE WE DO HAVE PUBLIC HEARING TODAY, SO THAT THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO SPEAK.

UM,

[1. ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE]

IS THERE, DOES HE WANT TO HAVE ANY ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE TO SHARE, MOVING ON TO ITEM TWO, THE

[2. CONSENT AGENDA]

ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS TO THE MINUTES? AND IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? MAKE THAT MOTION? WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM COMMISSIONER KATE'S.

UH, THE SECOND SURROGATE SEGMENT, COMMISSIONER BORROWER, DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES.

OKAY.

NEXT ITEM IS

[3. Judge Richards; Discuss/Consider exiting regular meeting and enter Public hearing.]

CONSIDER EXITING REGULAR MEETING AND ENTER INTO A PUBLIC HEARING.

WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ITEMS THE, TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC OR TO PRESENT TO THE PUBLIC.

IS THERE A MOTION TO EXIT REGULAR MEETING AND ENTER INTO PUBLIC HEARING? I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION OR THAT MOTION COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS IS OUR SECOND, SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER HUNT DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

I WAS SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT MOTION CARRIES.

UH, SO, UH, OUR COUNTY

[4. Laura Hughes; Public Hearing - to receive input regarding the adoption of the Kaufman County Clerk's Records Archive Funding Plan, pursuant to Local Government Code 118.025 (g).]

[5. Rhonda Hughey; Public Hearing - to receive input regarding the adoption of the Kaufman County District Court Records Archive Fee - $10.00, pursuant to Local Government Code 51.305 (b) District Court Records Technology Fund.]

FIRST OF ALL, HEAR FROM SHE'S KIND OF BRIEF ON, BUT HER ON BEHALF OF OUR DISTRICT CLERK ALSO, BUT GO AHEAD, LAUREN, TELL US, TELL US WHAT YOUR, WHAT YOU GOT FOR US THIS MORNING.

RHONDA SENDS HER APOLOGIES.

SHE HAS A ZOOM MEETING FOR A CRIMINAL CASES.

SHE REALLY NEEDED TO BE THERE FOR AN ASSET.

I HELPED HER PRESENT THIS INFORMATION AND BASICALLY WHAT WHAT'S REQUIRED BY THE STATUTE IS FOR PUBLIC NOTICE TO GO OUT FOR THE COUNTY AND DISTRICT CLERK RECORDS, ARCHIVE FUND TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON IT.

THE COUNTY CLERK AND THE DISTRICT CLERK BOTH USED THE MONEY COLLECTED FROM OUR FILINGS TO TAKE CARE AND PRESERVE THE HISTORICAL RECORDS OF KAUFMAN COUNTY.

THIS IS A, UM, UH, THERE'S THERE'S NO TAXES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THE MONEY COLLECTED IS FROM THE FILING TIP.

THERE'S NO FILINGS, THERE'S NO MONEY.

IF THERE'S OTHER FILINGS, WE'LL GET PUT THE MONEY IN A SPECIAL FUND AND IT CAN BE USED BY OUR OFFICES.

WE POSTED THE NOTICE.

THE FIRST ONE IS TO ASK THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO ADOPT THE FUNDING OF THE COUNTY CLERK'S RECORDS ARCHIVE, AND THE RHONDA IS TO ADOPT THE RECORDS ARCHIVE PLAN.

IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.

UH, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING RIGHT NOW CONCERNING THE COUNTY CLERK.

OR DO YOU WANT TO DO BOTH AT THE SAME TIME? BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.

OKAY.

UM, OKAY.

SO THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN.

IS THERE ANYBODY, UH, WITH US TODAY WHO WOULD CARE TO SPEAK AND, UH, OPPOSITION TO THIS PROPOSED ACTION OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT? IS THERE ANYONE, UH, WITH US HE WOULD CARE TO SPEAK AT ALL IN FAVOR, IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION TO EITHER ONE OF THESE, UH, ITEMS. OKAY.

UM, THEN WE'LL BE VOTING ON THAT

[00:05:01]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UM, NEXT ITEM AS A PART OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING, ITEM

[6. Judge Richards; Public Hearing- on Proposed Budget for FY 2020-2021.]

UH, WE'VE HAD, UH, MULTIPLE POSTINGS OF OUR BUDGET ON THE WEBSITE AND THE LATEST VERSION OF THE BUDGET HAS BEEN POSTED ON THE WEBSITE AND WITH THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WITH US TODAY WHO WOULD CARE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO, UH, THIS PROPOSED BUDGET, HOW I'D LIKE TO GO IN AND DISCUSS WHAT WE STARTED DISCUSSING ABOUT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IN TERRIBLE? OKAY.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD THE DISCUSSION AND THEY SHOWED UP WITH THE EXTRA $18,000 FOR, UH, THE TERRELL PUBLIC LIBRARY.

UM, AND YOU EXPLAINED THAT THE CITY OF TERRELL PUT A MILLION DOLLARS IN THEIR LIBRARY AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IT WAS, IT WASN'T THAT BIG OF AN AMOUNT AND THERE WERE TIME CONSTRAINTS AS A REASON.

WE DIDN'T DISCUSS IT BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE.

UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I WANT TO REITERATE THAT I DO UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED THESE NONPROFITS OR THESE, UH, GROUPS THAT WE FUND OR HELP FUND, AND WE'VE SET THE AMOUNTS, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTAND IT, GO AHEAD AND PUT IT IN THE BUDGET CAUSE WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

AND THEN THE OTHER INCREASES WERE FEEDING THE HUNGRY, WHICH, YOU KNOW, MS. POPE HAS ALREADY COME IN HERE EARLIER BECAUSE THEY LOST A LOT OF FUNDING EARLIER IN THE YEAR.

SO YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND FEEDING SENIOR CITIZENS AND TAKING CARE OF CHILDREN.

THAT'S PRETTY MUCH A NO BRAINER.

AND I THANK EVERYBODY THAT PUT ON THE COURT AGREES WITH THAT, BUT ON THIS, YOU KNOW, IF, IF WE WEREN'T DOING ANYTHING FOR THE CITY OF TERRIBLE AT ALL, I MEAN, WE HELPED THEM WITH THEIR BONDS, THEIR ROAD, INFRASTRUCTURE TAX ABATEMENTS, AND THEY'RE GROWING LIKE CRAZY.

AND WE'RE A MAJOR PART OF THAT.

AND I NOTICED THAT THE, IN THE LETTER THAT THEY SENT, THAT THEY WROTE THE DAY THAT WE HIT, THAT WE HAD THE LAST COURT MEETING.

WHENEVER I ASKED YOU HAD REBECCA SEND A LETTER.

AND SHE SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THE CITY OF TERRELL IS SUPPORTING OUR LIBRARY.

WELL, YOU KNOW, TO SEE THE WAS SUPPORTING THEIR OWN LIBRARY WITH A MILLION DOLLARS.

AND THEY HAVEN'T, UH, FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY AND STUFF HAS HELPED ME SUPPORT THEM.

AND WE HAVE THE SAME THING HERE IN COMPLEMENT, BUT OUR LIBRARY BUDGET IS NOT, BUT IT'S A THIRD OF THAT AND WE'RE RUNNING OUR WHOLE LIBRARY.

SO, I MEAN, WE'RE NOT MAKING A TOTAL COMMITMENT TO OUR LIBRARY TO SO, BUT I DO FEEL STRONGLY THAT THAT $18,000 AND WE'RE STRUGGLING TO GIVE OUR EMPLOYEES PAY RAISES AND ADJUST THEIR SALARIES.

AND SINCE THIS WAS PUT IN THERE AS THE ONGOING EXPENSE THAT WE ROLLED THAT OVER INTO SALARIES FOR OUR WHITE STUDY, WITH THE 500,000.

SO WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S TWO OR THREE FOR LOW WAGE EMPLOYEES AND BENEFITS THAT WE CAN GIVE A PAY RAISE WHEN WE DO THE SALARY ADJUSTMENTS.

SO THAT'S MY PROPOSAL TO EVERYBODY ELSE HERE ON THE COURT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER WE DECIDE AS A COURT BECAUSE NOT ONE OF US HAS ANY INDIVIDUAL POWER, THE POWER COMES FROM ALL OF US AND I'LL LIVE WITH WHATEVER THE MAJORITY OF THE COURT WANTS TO DO.

BUT I DO THINK WE NEEDED TO DISCUSS THIS.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS TO SAY, OKAY, THIS IS PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING ANYBODY, UH, INVITE.

I ALSO WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT.

WELL, I, I HAVE TO AGREE AT LEAST IN PART WITH THE COMMISSIONER HOOD, UM, UH, I RECOGNIZE THE, THE GENERIC PUBLIC GOOD AND SUPPORTING PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN GENERAL.

UM, BUT I ALSO, UM, STILL AM A TAD UNCLEAR ON, UM, ON WHAT ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTION THE CITY IS MAKING TO THEIR LIBRARY WHEN WE'RE BEING ASKED TO MAKE ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS OVER AND ABOVE THE, THE AMOUNT THAT WE GAVE LAST YEAR.

SO, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, AND AGAIN, I DON'T MEAN THIS HARSHLY, BUT MY DEFAULT IS ALWAYS TO SUPPORT OUR, OUR COUNTY OPERATIONS FIRST.

I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S OUR OBLIGATION AND TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN SUPPORT, UM, OTHER BENEFICIAL PROGRAMS IN THAT, IN THAT PICKING ORDER, THEN I I'M, I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT.

BUT, UH, I, I JUST, I STILL WAS, IS UNCLEAR FROM THAT LETTER, HOW MUCH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT THIS YEAR, THE CITY WAS PROVIDING THEIR OWN LIBRARY

[00:10:01]

THEY DO NOT LIVE IN THE CITY.

UH, I THINK SHE, UH, REMARKED IN THAT LETTER, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THEY WERE SEEING, UH, THEY WERE SEEING A BIG INPUT OF PEOPLE COMING FROM FORNEY.

AND AFTER THAT LIBRARY AND FORNEY WAS CLOSED AND, AND, UH, THE AMOUNT OF SINCE 2004, WHICH I THINK THAT'S WHERE THAT, THAT AMOUNT FOR THAT LIBRARY HAS BEEN STATIC SINCE 2004, THE POPULATION IN POETRY ENABLED SPRINGS.

AND METALWOOD THE POPULATION OUTSIDE OF TERRELL HAS GROWN A LOT, MUCH FASTER THAN THE CITY.

AND SO THEY CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE MORE PEOPLE THEY SUPPORT, THE MORE COSTLY INCUR.

UH, SO I, IT WASN'T, I DON'T KNOW THAT, UH, I WOULD SAY THAT THERE'S A PRETTY GOOD ARGUMENT AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CITY DID IN THEIR BUDGET, BUT IF ALL VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE GROWTH IN THEIR, IN THEIR SERVICE HAS BEEN TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO ME, IT'D MAKE A LOT OF SENSE FOR THE CITY TO BE PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO IT, JUST TO PAY, JUST TO PAY, TO SUPPORT ALL THE SERVICES ARE GIVEN TO PEOPLE WHO AREN'T EVEN PAYING TAXES IN THE CITY.

WELL, TWO POINTS TO THAT ONE, I THOUGHT WE DIDN'T INCREASE THEIR BUDGET LAST YEAR.

NO, NO.

IT WAS YEAR BEFORE LAST THAT WE WENT TO THE BIG POT OF MONEY, BUT IT'S, RIGHT.

IT'S A FLAT AMOUNT SINCE 2004, BUT WE DID PUT, WAS IT 29,000 SOMETHING DOLLARS? DID WE SENT BACK UNTIL WE DECIDED? AND IT WAS WHEN JUDGE WOOD WAS LEAVING, I THINK IS RIGHT AT THE END OF IT, RIGHT WHEN YOU GOT HERE AND THEN WE DIVVIED IT UP AND, UH, YOU KNOW, NOW WHY WASN'T PASSED ON THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

I HAVE NO IDEA, BUT WE FUND AND WE FUNDED, UH, WE FUNDED THAT KAUFMAN COUNTY LIBRARY, A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THEIR REQUESTS THIS YEAR.

I KNOW, BUT IT'S THIS 200 SOME DOLLARS, BUT THEY ALSO, I THINK THEY DID THEIR BUDGET BECAUSE WE HAD TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GIVE FOR RAISES OR PUT IN THE RAISE WAGE POOL WAS WHAT WE SAVED FROM THIS YEAR.

SO EVERYBODY, AND I DON'T THINK THE LIBRARY IS AUTONOMOUS ON THIS DEAL.

I THINK THAT EVERYBODY HELPED CUT THEIR BUDGETS BECAUSE WE SET UP HERE AND SAID, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO USE WHAT WE DON'T USE FOR THE WHITE STUDY TO COMPENSATE PEOPLE.

SO I THINK IN THEIR MIND TOO, THEY WERE TRYING TO BE, DO THE PRUDENT THING.

BUT I, MY FAMOUS QUOTE, I GUESS, DURING THE ELECTION STUFF WAS DITTO.

I THINK YOU CAN SAY THE SAME THING WITH THE KAUFMAN COUNTY LIBRARY AND THEIR USAGE IS GOING UP WITH THE GROWTH AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND LOSING ELABORATING FORNEY.

BUT THE COPPER CANYON ELABORATE IS NOT SUPPORTING ANYBODY OUTSIDE THE COUNTY DISCUSS A COUPLE OF COUNTY LIBRARIES, ONLY SOMEONE IN THE CITY.

WELL, THE COUNTY LIBRARY CERTAINLY SUPPORTS PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF KAUFFMAN.

YEAH, SURE.

AND EVERYBODY ON THIS, ON THIS END OF THE COUNTY.

YEAH.

SO I MEAN, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, I JUST, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT, THAT THE MONEY BETTER USE OF THE MONEY WOULD BE TO, TO REWARD OUR EMPLOYEES AND COMPENSATE OUR EMPLOYEES AS BEST WE CAN TRY TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

CAUSE WE HAVE SOME SEVERELY LOW END TOP SALARIES OUT THERE THAT REALLY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

AND I JUST DIED AT $500,000.

SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY AND IT IS A LOT OF MONEY TO ME.

BUT WHENEVER YOU START TAKING ALL THE EMPLOYEES IN KAUFMAN COUNTY AND WE, WE DID WHAT 2% AND IT ENDED UP OVER BY MEAGAN A MILLION PLUS.

SO I MEAN, YOU KNOW, 500,000 IS NOT GOING TO GO A LONG WAY.

YOU KNOW, IN 18,000 WHEN YOU'RE TALKING $60 MILLION IS NOT VERY MUCH, BUT IT'S STILL SOMETHING.

AND IT MEANS SOMETHING TO THE EMPLOYEES TOO, THAT WE'RE MAKING A CONCERTED EFFORT TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

YOU KNOW, THE DNA.

I JUST THINK THAT WE'D BE, INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, I THINK EVERYBODY NEEDS TO TALK, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO DELIVER RIGHT HERE ALL DAY.

CAUSE SKEET MUST GET TO THE END TO THE GARDENDALE.

SO, WELL, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA AGREE WITH MIKE AND KIM, BOTH ON THAT.

BUT THE OTHER THING TOO, THAT ACTUALLY CAME UP THE LAST TIME, ALL THIS CAME ABOUT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO NOW, I THINK WAS IF THE LIBRARY IS EXPERIENCING THIS INFLUX OF PEOPLE THAT AREN'T CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF TERRELL, WHY CAN'T THEY HAVE SOME TYPE OF A FEE TO MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENCE INSTEAD OF US HAVING TO ABSORB IT, WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO TAKE CARE OF BETTER CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES, IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT WE NEED TO RETHINK THAT AND THEN MAYBE NEED TO RETHINK THAT AND SAY, OKAY, LOOK, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE NOT A, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T LIVE IN THE CITY LIMITS OF TERRELL, YOU'RE WELCOME TO USE OUR LIBRARY, BUT THERE IS A FEE.

I MEAN, I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH THAT MYSELF,

[00:15:02]

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THEY'D COME UP WITH SOME KIND OF FEE STRUCTURE TO MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENCE OUT THERE.

AND I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT, BUT OF COURSE WE USE THE CITY OF CHAIR LIBRARY.

I MEAN, I GREW UP IN TERRELL, BORN AND RAISED IN TARO, YOU KNOW, AND WE STILL USE THE LIBRARY CAUSE WE'VE ALWAYS USED THE LIBRARY AND TERRIBLE.

AND WE SUPPORT THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, W WE DO ALL THE APPROPRIATE THINGS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE DO USE IT AND WE USE IT A LOT.

SO, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW.

I DIDN'T, I DON'T KNOW.

I WOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM LIVING IN THE COUNTY AND, AND PAYING US A SMALL FEE, BUT THAT'S THEIR DEAL, NOT OURS, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

WELL, YOU CALL THEM THE COUNTY LIBRARY SUPPORTS ANYBODY IN THE COUNTY.

SO IF WE'RE PAYING FOR OUR LIBRARY OR KAUFMAN COUNTY RESIDENTS, THEN I FELT LIKE CALL THEM COUNTY RESIDENTS SHOULD USE OUR KAUFMAN COUNTY LIBRARY.

I MEAN, IT DOES SEEM TO BE PRETTY SIMPLE ANSWER IN SOME SENSE, NOT MAIN, I'M SORRY, WE'RE IN THE CENTER OF KAUFFMAN, THE CENTER OF THE COUNTY.

WHY, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DRIVE FROM FORNEY DRIVE TO COFFIN COUNTY USE, IT'S CALLED THE COUNTY LINE.

AND IF YOU WANT TO USE ONE OF THE OTHERS, MAYBE YOU SHOULD PAY A FEE TO ENTER THEIR LIBRARY.

WHETHER IT'S IN CAMP, IF THEY'RE OUTSIDE THE COUNTY, IF IT'S IN DARRELL, IF FORNEY OPENS UP ANOTHER ONE, THEN IF SOMEBODY OUTSIDE, I KNOW FORNEY HAD A UNIQUE SENSE OF, BECAUSE THERE WAS SO MANY PEOPLE LIVING INSIDE MY PRECINCT RIGHT THERE THAT WAS NOT IN THE CITY.

WE HAD MORE PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE CITY THAN WE DO INSIDE THE CITY.

WE PROBABLY HAVE 20 SOMETHING THOUSAND PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE CITY.

THAT'S IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND VERSUS 17, 18,000 IN THE CITY, JUST THE CITY.

SO SMALL, BUT YOU KNOW, ARROWS, PRETTY LARGE OCCUPIED AREA.

SO I DON'T KNOW.

AND WE, WE DO SUPPORT THEM WITH A LOT OF MONEY.

I THINK BY EXTENSION, I, IF WE, IF WE, AS A BODY RECOGNIZED THE NEED TO SUPPORT COUNTY RESIDENTS FOR LIBRARY USAGE, UH, I WOULD, I WOULD DEFAULT TO SUPPORTING OUR OWN COUNTY LIBRARY IF WE NEED TO EXPAND THAT LIBRARY.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE ALREADY ENGAGED IN THIS FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PROJECTION OF FUTURE NEEDS SO THAT WE CAN BETTER PLAN AND BEGIN TO BETTER ADDRESS, YOU KNOW, THOSE, THOSE, UH, IDENTIFIED NEEDS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE A BETTER USE OF OUR $18,000 UNDER OUR COUNTY OPERATIONAL MODEL WOULD BE TO, TO HAVE THAT MONEY DIVERTED TO THE, TO ENHANCE OR, AND, OR EXPAND THE COUNTY LIBRARY.

UM, AND AGAIN, NOT TO TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM THE GOOD WORK THAT THE CITY OF TERRELL LIBRARY DOES AND ITS HISTORICAL RELATIONSHIP WITH COUNTY RESIDENTS.

BUT, UM, WE, WE REALLY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE GOOD STEWARDS FOR, FOR COUNTY RESOURCES AND COUNTY FUNCTIONS.

AND, AND, UH, IF THERE'S A GENUINE NEED TO ADD $18,000 TO THE LIBRARY SUPPORT ON MY, MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO ADD IT TO OUR OWN LIBRARY.

AND, AND, UH, I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS.

YOU, YOU MAY NOT BELIEVE IT, BUT I ACTUALLY AGREE WITH YOU.

YOU'VE DONE THAT A COUPLE OF TIMES, TIMES, AT LEAST I KNOW WE NEED YOUR TEMPERATURE, BUT IT IS A I DON'T, I REALLY DON'T THINK IT'S, IT'S HEAVILY BURDENSOME.

IF A COUNTY RESIDENT REALLY NEEDS TO USE A QUALITY LIBRARY AND, AND THE CITY OF TERRELL A LIBRARY IS, IS UNWILLING TO MAYBE ADOPT A FEE STRUCTURE.

THEN I THINK OUR RESIDENTS COULD RELATIVELY EASILY COME TO OUR OWN LIBRARY FUNCTION.

SO, UH, AND MAYBE IN THIS STRATEGIC PLANNING IN OUR SPACE, UH, REVIEW THAT IS ONGOING EVEN THIS WEEK, MAYBE WE NEED TO BE, UH, ADDRESSING SOME FUTURE NEED FOR A SATELLITE COUNTY LIBRARY UP IN THE FORNEY AREA WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF POPULATION OR SOMETHING YEAH.

BETWEEN 40 AND TERRELL, YOU KNOW, THAT JUST PICKS UP A LOT OF THE POPULATION YOU COULD.

SO I THINK TO AT LEAST TO WRAP MY COMMENTS UP, I THINK I HAVE TO DO AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER HUNT THAT, UH, THAT, THAT $18,000 IN THIS BUDGET REQUEST PROBABLY SHOULD BE WITHHELD THIS YEAR AND, UH, AND REEVALUATED FOR NEXT YEAR AND, AND DIVERT THAT MONEY BACK INTO THE BUDGET TO, TO WHATEVER, UH, WHATEVER SHORTFALL WE NEED TO FILL.

OKAY.

THE SUBJECT THAT WE'RE ON IN THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WE CARE TO SPEAK TO THE PROPOSED

[00:20:01]

[7. Judge Richards; Public Hearing - on Proposed Tax Rate for FY 2020-2021.]

UM, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING THAT THEY WOULD CARE TO SPEAK TO ABOUT THE PROPOSED TAX RATE? OKAY.

[8. Judge Richards; Discuss/Consider exiting public hearing and enter back into regular meeting.]

IS THERE SUCH A MOTION I'LL MAKE THAT EMOTIONAL COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS? IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SAY SECOND COMMISSIONER HUNT, DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE.

AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED.

NO MOTION CARRIES.

NEXT ITEM.

NINE,

[9. Judge Richards; Discuss/Consider adoption of the County Clerk's Records Archive Funding Plan.]

WE HAD THE BRIEFING FROM, UH, OUR COUNTY CLERK WHILE AGO.

NOBODY'S SPOKEN TO HEARING ABOUT THAT.

IS THERE A MOTION CONCERNING ADOPTION OF THE COUNTY CLERK'S RECORDS FOUND I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.

WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE COUNTY CLERK'S RECORDS, ARCHIVE AND FUNDING PLAN.

THAT'S FROM COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS.

IS THERE A SECOND SEGMENT COMMISSIONER BARBARA DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

OKAY.

THOSE OPPOSED? NO MOTION CARRIES.

NEXT ITEM

[10. Judge Richards; Discuss/Consider adoption of the District Court Records Archive Plan.]

ARCHIVE PLAN IS, UH, WE, WE HAD THAT BRIEF ALSO WHEN THE CLERK DID THAT FOR US.

UH, IS THERE A MOTION REGARDING ADOPTION OF THE DISTRICT CLERK'S RECORDS ARCHIVE? OH, MAKE THAT MOTION, THAT MOTION FOR ADOPTION FROM COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS.

IS THERE A SECOND, SEVERAL COMMISSIONER HUNT DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE, THOSE POSE, NO MOTION CARRIES.

NEXT ITEM DISCUSSED,

[11. Judge Richards; Discuss/Consider setting salaries, expenses and other allowances of all elected county and precinct officers,]

UH, THESE SALARIES WERE PUBLISHED IN THE KAUFMAN HERALD, UH, AND LETTERS WERE MAILED TO ALL OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.

UH, IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, IS THERE A MOTION TO SET, UH, SALARIES AS HAS BEEN PRESENTED IN THOSE TWO WAYS? I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.

WE HAVE MOTION TO SET SALARIES AS PRESENTED IN THE PAPER.

AND ACCORDING TO THE LETTERS WRITTEN TO THE ELECTRIC OFFICIALS THAT FROM COMMISSIONER HUNT, IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER IN CASE DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE.

AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED NO MOTION CARRIES NEXT

[12. Jerry Dean; Discuss the FY 2020-2021 Budget.]

OH, SAUCE.

I KIND OF PRINTED A POWERPOINT.

I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE EASIER TO SEE EVERYTHING.

LET ME GET OUT OF THIS SCREEN REAL QUICK.

FIRST TIME THEY GET TO SEE SYMPTOMS. OKAY.

SO COMMISSIONERS I'LL MAIL EMAILED YOU THE FINAL EDITS YESTERDAY.

DID YOU ALSO RECEIVE THAT IN YOUR EMAIL INBOX? I'VE TOOK NOTE OF WHAT WAS JUST DISCUSSED.

I IN COURT, UH, JUST WANT SOME DIRECTION ON WHERE YOU'D LIKE FOR ME TO MOVE AT 18,000.

LET ME DO THAT.

AND I'LL MAKE THAT EDIT, UH, BEFORE I FILED THIS WITH THE COUNTY CLERK.

UM, SO JUST TRYING TO TRY TO PROVIDING SOME OLDEST POWERPOINT'S NOT PLAYING.

SO GIVE ME JUST ONE SECOND FOLKS.

SORRY, TRY THIS AGAIN.

IT'S SHOWING, BUT NOT PLAYING.

HERE WE GO.

SO, SO THIS BUDGET GENERATES, UM, JUST, JUST RIGHT AT $3 MILLION IN MORE TAX REVENUE THAN PRIOR YEAR.

AND OF THAT, UH, 2.8 MILLION IS COMING FROM NEW PROPERTY VALUES.

NEW PROPERTY VALUES.

THIS YEAR WERE VERY CONSISTENT WITH LAST YEAR HOVERING IN ABOUT $550 MILLION.

UM, THIS YEAR, SOME OF THE TERMINOLOGY HAS CHANGED, YOU KNOW, IN YEARS PAST WE USED TO TALK ABOUT EFFECTIVE TAX RATE AND ROLL BACK TAX, UH, WITH THE PASSING OF SB TWO, THE LANGUAGE HAS CHANGED.

SO OUR PROPOSED TAX RATE AT 0.504957, THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE, WHICH WAS WHAT USED TO BE CALLED AN EFFECTIVE TAX RATE IS 0.495574.

AND THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE ME IS FOR THIS YEAR IS 0.572951.

SO WE'RE SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE, UH, THE NO NEW AND CERTAINLY WELL BELOW THE VOTER APPROVAL, JUST AN OVERVIEW HIGH LEVEL OF WHAT THE FINANCES MEAN.

THIS IS KIND OF SHOWS TAX RATES BY CATEGORY FOR LAST YEAR AND TAX LEVY REVENUE BY LAST YEAR.

THE REAL TAKEAWAY FROM THIS IS WE'RE REDUCING THE TAX RATE THIS YEAR, UM, RIGHT AT 3.20 CENTS.

SO IF YOU REMEMBER LAST YEAR, WE CAME DOWN, UM, ABOUT A NICKEL, UH, THERE ARE ABOUT, SO THIS YEAR WE'RE COMING DOWN,

[00:25:01]

AND SO WHERE DO YOU FOLLOW A HOMESTEAD? THE AVERAGE VALUE, ACCORDING TO THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT LAST YEAR WAS $187,150.

THIS YEAR VALUES ARE UP ABOUT 7%.

SO THAT SAME, THAT SAME HOME THIS YEAR IS BEING VALUED AT 200,009 81.

YOU CAN SEE THE TWO TAXES.

SO WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS IS AN INCREASE OF $9 AND 66 CENTS.

ON THE AVERAGE HOMESTEAD PROPERTY OUT THERE IS WHAT THEY'LL SEE ON THEIR TAX BILL.

AS WE TALK ABOUT A TAX BILL JUST WANTED TO REMIND EVERYONE KIND OF HOW THE ENTIRE TAX BILL LOOKS, YOU KNOW, THAT IN KAUFMAN COUNTY, UH, OUR TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR COLLECTS FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

SO IT COLLECTS FOR 40 DIFFERENT ENTITIES AROUND THERE.

SO THIS, THIS PIE CHART REPRESENTS SOMEONE WHO'S LIVING IN A CITY.

SO IF YOU LIVE IN THE CITY LIMITS OF KAUFFMAN, YOUR TAX BILL, ABOUT HALF OF YOUR TAX BILL, THOSE DOLLARS GO TO YOUR ISD.

ABOUT 5% OF THAT TAX GOES TO TRINITY VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, UH, 28% WOULD GO TO YOUR CITY IN WHICH YOU LIVE KAUFMAN COUNTY ITSELF REPRESENTS ABOUT 18% OF THE TAX BILL THAT WOULD APPLY VIRTUALLY EVERYWHERE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

SO IF YOU DON'T LIVE IN A CITY, UH, YOU MAY HAVE A MUD DISTRICT, A LOT OF MUD DISTRICTS UP IN THE AREA WHERE WE'RE IN PRECINCT TWO OR ET CETERA.

SO INSTEAD OF A CITY TAX, SO THAT'S THE HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET THIS YEAR.

UH, I, UM, I HAVE IT ALL READY TO GO.

UM, PRETTY MUCH WITH A SMALL ADJUSTMENT.

UH, THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO FOLLOW A VERSION WITH THE COUNTY CLERK AND THEN GET IT REALLY, UM, AN EDITED VERSION OR A FORMATTED VERSION AND GET IT ON THE WEBSITE AND MAKE UP SOME BOOKLETS.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THE COURT.

OKAY.

I HAVE A, I HAVE A QUESTION OR A, AND THIS MAY BE A, WE MAY NEED TO ASK REBECCA TO WEIGH IN ON THIS.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT CHANGING THE BUDGET, TALKING ABOUT THIS $18,000.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT CHANGING THE BUDGET FROM WHAT WE HAD THE HEARING ON, WHICH WAS THE BUDGET AS IS POSTED ON THE WEBSITE.

NO SET, THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT'S OUT THERE HAS HAD ONGOING AT IT, BUT WE'VE BOTH THE HEARING THAT WE HAD.

AND WHAT WE POSTED WAS THE SUBJECT OF THE HEARING WAS THAT BUDGET.

MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE IN A I'M LOOKING AT REBECCA I'M CONCERNED THAT THAT THAT'S, THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT ORDER.

CORRECT.

MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE THAT WE, IF WE'RE GOING TO, UH, REMOVE THAT $18,000 FUNDING FROM THE TERRELL LIBRARY, MY SUGGESTION IS THAT WE DO THAT BY BUDGET AMENDMENT.

AND WE COULD DO THAT NEXT WEEK, OR WE COULD DO THAT.

WELL, WE COULDN'T DO THAT UNTIL OCTOBER 1ST.

I DON'T THINK, DO YOU HAVE AN OPINION ABOUT THIS, REBECCA? YOU NEED THIS.

OKAY.

NO, NO, I'M FINE.

I'M LOOKING AT THE WAY THAT IT'S REQUIRED FOR YOU TO HAVE A HEARING TODAY AND THEN YOU'VE LISTED IT AS DISCUSSED.

CONSIDER I THINK THAT IT WILL BE REASONABLE THAT MAKE CHANGES AS OF RIGHT NOW.

OKAY.

HOW ELSE WOULD YOU REACT? OKAY.

I JUST, I, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT AND, UM, UH, SO YOU'RE THE EXPERT ON THAT.

SO THAT'S GOOD.

SO ANYONE HEARD ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING WHAT JERRY JUST SAID? WHAT HIS, HIS BREATHING WAS? WELL, JUDGE, SINCE, UH, SINCE WE'RE JUST, YOU KNOW, DOTTING THE I'S AND CROSSING THE T'S, THEN MAYBE WE OUGHT TO GO AHEAD AND, AND DESIGNATE WHERE THAT 18,000 SHOULD BE, SHOULD BE CHANGED BEFORE WE TAKE THE, UH, JERRY EXTRA THAT INSTRUCTION.

SO YOU JUST LET ME KNOW WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MOVE.

SO I KIND OF AGREE WITH THE FIVE 18.

I DON'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU.

I'M SORRY.

WE DO HAVE THAT STUDY GOING AND THAT WOULD HELP US ADJUST SOME OF THAT, THAT MONEY AT THIS TIME, SINCE THE LIBRARY DIDN'T ANSWER FOR.

NO, I AGREE WITH YOU AGAIN, NEEDS TO BE 18,000 BECAUSE I'M GOING TO FORGET IT THREE 97.

YES.

TO MAKE IT THE SAME AMOUNT.

THANK YOU.

[13. Judge Richards; Discuss/Consider adopting budget of record for FY 2020-2021 and take record vote.]

SO THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 13, WHICH IS DISCUSSED, CONSIDER ADOPTING THE BUDGET OF RECORD FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020 AND 2021.

AND TAKE A RECORD VOTE.

IF SOMEBODY MAKES A MOTION TO ADOPT THE BUDGET, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO INSERT IN THEIR MOTION, THAT AMENDMENT OF 18,300, WHAT IS IT? 67, $18,397.

WOULD IT BE MOVED FROM THAT FUNDING FOR THE TERRELL LIBRARY INTO THE, THE CONTINGENCY FOR RAISES, WHICH WOULD MAKE THAT GO FROM 500 TO, IT WOULD ADD THAT 18,000 TO IT.

SO ARE

[00:30:01]

AND, UH, THAT MOTION ALSO INCLUDES A PROPOSAL TO REALLOCATE $18,397, UH, TO THE WAGE STUDY FUND FROM THE LAB, FROM THE TRAIL LIBRARY, THE DARYL LIBRARY.

UH, OKAY.

WE HAVE THAT MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER KATES.

IS THERE A SECOND? OH, SO GOOD.

SECOND ONE COMMISSIONER BARBER DISCUSSION.

OKAY.

I'M LOOKING FOR AN EYE RNA, UH, COMMISSIONER HUNT, UH, COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS COMMISSIONER, BARBER COMMISSIONER CATES, UH, MYSELF, I, THAT MOTION CARRIES

[14. Judge Richards; Discuss/Consider setting 2020-2021-debt service tax rate as of 0.069704 and take record vote.]

AND TAKE A RECORD VOTE.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION ON THE, UH, DEBT SERVICE RATE? UH, IF NOT, UH, THE SORT OF MOTION TO SET THAT RATE AND I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

IF YOU'D READ THAT TAX RATE INTO THE MOTION, MAKE HIM DO IT.

YOU'LL HEAR SENIOR GUY AGAIN, WE'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.

I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO SET THE DEBT SERVICE RATE AND 0.0697 FOR A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS JUST SAID THAT THE SERVICE TAX RATED 0.69704.

IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER HUNT DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

OH, LET ME SAY THIS.

A RECORD VOTE.

UH, COMMISSIONER HUNT, UH, COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS COMMISSIONER BARBER COMMISSIONER CATES.

HI, UH, MYSELF, I, THAT MOTION CARRIES ITEM

[15. Judge Richards; Discuss/Consider setting 2020-2021 Maintenance and Operations tax rate as 0.346618 and Road & Bridge tax rate as 0.088635 and take record vote.]

AND TAKE A RECORD VOTE OR ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS ITEM.

IF YOU'RE NOT, WOULD SOMEONE CARE TO MAKE A MOTION AND INCLUDE YOUR EMOTION, THOSE TAX RATES, PLEASE I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE, UH, THAT WE ADOPT.

AND, UH, THE 2021 MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS TAX RATE IS 0.346618 AND THE ROAD AND BRIDGE TAX RATE AS 0.088635.

UH, WE HAVE THAT MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER CASES OR SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

OH, I'M SORRY.

RECORD VOTE AGAIN.

NOT IN THAT PRACTICE YET.

UH, COMMISSIONER HUNT, UH, COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS COMMISSIONER BARBER COMMISSIONER CATES, MYSELF.

I, THAT MOTION CARRIES ITEM 16.

UH, HANG ON JUST A SECOND.

ITEM.

16,

[16. Judge Richards; Discuss/Consider ratifying the property tax of 0.504957 reflected in the FY 2020-2021 budget as take record vote.]

AND WE'LL TAKE A RECORD VOTE.

UH, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA MAKE THIS MOTION CAUSE I GOTTA READ THIS SPECIFIC LANGUAGE.

UH, THIS IS MY MOTION.

I MOVED AT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE, BE DECREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF 0.549504957, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 5.99% DECREASE IN THE TAX RATE.

THE DETAILS OF THAT TAKES TAX RATE OR THE MAINTENANCE OPERATION TAX RATE IS 0.3, FOUR SIX SIX ONE EIGHT.

THE ROAD AND BRIDGE TAX RATE IS 0.088635.

THE DEBT TAX RATE IS 0.069704.

AND AGAIN, THE TOTAL TAX RATE IS 0.504957.

SO THAT IS MY MOTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND, THE SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS DISCUSSION, UH, COMMISSIONER HUNT, UH, COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS COMMISSIONER BARBER COMMISSIONER CATES, UH, MYSELF, I,

[00:35:01]

[17. Judge Richards; Discuss/Consider approving resolution for the County Transportation Infrastructure Grant Program.]

NOW DISCUSS, CONSIDER APPROVING RESOLUTION OF THE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT PROGRAM.

YOU WILL REMEMBER, UH, IN THE KEY WORDS FOR ME IS THAT OIL AND GAS RELATED, UH, FUNDING THAT'S AVAILABLE FROM THE STATE.

WE'VE HAD THIS, WE'VE HAD THIS ON OUR AGENDA BEFORE, BUT WE ACTUALLY NEVER PASSED A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE APPROVING, UH, THAT GRANT APPLICATION.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT'S BEFORE US TODAY.

UM, QUESTIONS, IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE, UH, THE SUBMISSION OF THAT GRANT, THAT GRANT APPLICATION? SO MOVE, WE HAVE THAT MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER AND CAGES OR SECOND I'LL SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BARBARA, DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES BEFORE.

SAY SOMETHING.

UH, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.

UH, THEY'VE HELPED US WORK THROUGH THIS BUDGET.

I THINK THAT'S GONE REALLY WELL THIS YEAR AND, UH, PARTICULARLY THANKFUL FOR THE WORKED AT THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE DID AND HOW KAREN MANAGED TO, TO BREAK BRANDY AND THE COLD HARD, FAST WAY.

SO I THINK THAT'S GONE WELL AND I APPRECIATE, AND I THINK JERRY HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB IN SUPPORTING THAT TOO.

SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THOSE PUBLIC THANK YOU AS WELL.

I COULD.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

[18. Motion to adjourn meeting.]

WOW.

I WANT TO THANK ALL THOSE PEOPLE.

IT'S VERY GOOD TO HAVE COOPERATION AMONGST THE COUNTY AND ALL THE EMPLOYEES.

THAT'S VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

UM, I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT THAT PEOPLE, THIS IS, THIS IS TWO YEARS IN A ROW THAT WE'VE LOWERED THE TAX RATE.

SO IF YOUR APPRAISAL DIDN'T GO UP, MAYBE YOUR ACTUAL TAXES WENT DOWN.

SO ANYWAY, BUT I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION DURING THIS MEETING, WE HAVE MOTION OF COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS ADJOURN.

IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND FRONT COMMISSIONER BARBARA DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED.

NO MOTION CARRIES AND UH, LEAVE YET GENTLEMEN, UNTIL WE, UH, SIGN THE SIGN, THESE DOCUMENTS.