Nov 10, 2020 Commissioners Court

[Call to Order]

[00:00:04]

UM, WILL YOU LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE? I'LL I'LL DO NOTIFICATION.

OKAY.

OF COURSE.

IT'S REGULAR MEETING OF THE COFFIN COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT HAS CALLED THE ORDER.

IT IS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10TH, 2020 WE'RE IN THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING ROOM IN THE COURTHOUSE ANNEX IN KAUFMAN.

UH, THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO ASK EVERYBODY TO STAND, I'LL OFFER AN INVOCATION AND, UH, MR. BARBARA IS GOING TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE.

LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS OF THIS LIFE.

UH, UH, THOSE OF US WHO MAKE DECISIONS ON THE BEHALF OF OUR CITIZENS, UH, ARE THANKFUL TO HAVE THAT, UH, RESPONSIBILITY AND THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE.

UH, WE ASK THAT YOU WATCH OVER OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN THE MILITARY WHO PROTECT US EVERY DAY.

AND, UH, GIVE US A SENSE OF PEACE AS WE GO FOR IN THE NEXT, UH, COMING FEW WEEKS.

THANK FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS IN HIS LIFE IN JESUS NAME.

AMEN.

OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO PUBLIC ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL HONOR, THE TEXAS, TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD ONE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UH, THIS IS THE POINT IN TIME WHEN WE WOULD NORMALLY HEAR FROM VISITORS.

I DON'T HAVE ANY CARDS FROM ANYBODY THAT SEEMING THAT'S HOW HE WANT TO SPEAK.

SO WE'LL MOVE ON.

UH,

[1. ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE.]

THAT'S COMING ON.

I ACTUALLY HAVE AN EMAIL FROM BRITTANY AND, UH, SHE HAS TWO BULLET POINTS IN THERE THAT EVERGREEN'S CURRENTLY EVALUATING BUILDING THE PROJECTION CLASSIFICATION PLAN, UH, USING ALL THE REPORTS THAT WERE SUBMITTED BY THE COUNTY STAFF.

AND THEY'RE WAITING ON MARKET DATA COLLECTION INFORMATION FROM OUR REQUESTED COUNTIES, UH, NEXT STEPS.

THEY NEED ABOUT TWO WEEKS TO REVIEW THE PROJECTED CLASSIFICATION PLAN.

UH, AND THAT THAT'S ALL ONGOING.

AND I'D SAY WE'RE PROBABLY MAYBE TWO TO THREE WEEKS BEHIND WHAT WE HAD PROJECTED, BUT I THINK WE'RE TRACKING PRETTY WELL.

THE OTHER ITEM IS A QUESTION ON THE EVERGREEN.

YES, SIR.

UH, SO WE TOLD THEM WHAT COUNTIES TO USE FOR THIS CLASSIFICATION STUDY? UM, NO, I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK THEY SELECTED THAT WITH THE HR DEPARTMENT, JERRY, DO YOU KNOW, OR, YOU KNOW, AND WE COULD ASK BRITTANY.

OKAY.

OKAY.

SO THEY, THEY DID ALL THE, THE APPROPRIATE BACKGROUND FOR ALL THE COUNTIES TO SEE IF THEY'RE SIMILAR.

UH, I I'VE REALLY, I HAVEN'T BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS.

IT WAS HANDED TO HR.

OKAY.

I REMEMBER I'M REMEMBERING THE COMMITTEE MEETING.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT, THAT THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD USE SOME OF THE SIMILAR SIZE COUNTY.

IS THAT WHERE WE'RE USING IT? NO, I GUESS THE ANSWER WE DID NOT PICK THE COUNT.

I MEAN, NOBODY IN THE COUNTY AND THIS, THIS, THIS, WHAT WAS MY QUESTION? NO, WE DIDN'T PICK THE COUNTY.

OKAY.

BECAUSE I KNOW WHERE I USED TO WORK.

WE DO SURVEYS AND STUFF.

THEY WOULD KIND OF LOAD THE SURVEY.

YEAH.

THEIR CDS THAT THEY WANTED, YOU KNOW, SO I THINK IT'S BEEN PRETTY HANDS-OFF.

THAT'S GOOD.

THAT'S GOOD.

YEAH.

UM, SO, UH, UH, OTHER CORRESPONDENCE HE IS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NOTICE IN THE COUNTY PROGRESS MAGAZINE.

UM, ONE OF OUR, UH, PEOPLE OF NOTE IN THE COUNTY WAS LISTED IN HERE.

THEY WERE HAVING A LIST OF VETERANS AND THEY INCLUDED IN THAT, UH, COMMISSIONER, KEN KATES.

DID YOU SEE THAT COMMISSIONER? SO, UH, AND OF COURSE, I THINK AS LONG AS WE HAVE A VETERANS DAY COMING UP TOMORROW, I'D LIKE TO, JUST FOR MYSELF, THANK, UH, COMMISSIONER AND COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS FOR YOUR SERVICE.

AND, UH, YOU HAVE ANY OTHER VETERANS OUT THERE.

JIM, ARE YOU A VETERAN? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THAT'S JUST BARELY A BIT.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S, DON'T GET THAT LIST.

DON'T GET ALL THAT STARTED.

WE DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.

SO, UM, UH, THEN I GUESS THE LAST, THE LAST ITEM I HAVE FOR, UH, FOR, UH, A ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCY IS I HAD

[00:05:01]

UH, KAREN, I THINK ARRANGED THAT FOR US AND YOU, OPENGOV IS OUR UP AND COMING SOFTWARE PROGRAM.

THAT'S GOING TO HELP US MANAGE BUDGET REPORTING AND THIS SORT OF THING.

AND IT WAS IMPRESSIVE.

I THINK, UH, I WOULD SAY, I DON'T WANT TO USE A WORD THAT THE TEENAGERS USE, BUT IT, BUT I HAVE TO, IT WAS AWESOME.

IT REALLY IS.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A FANTASTIC TOOL FOR US AND TOTALLY AWESOME.

TOTALLY AWESOME.

AND KAREN YOU'RE, SO, SO KAREN, KAREN'S LEADING THE CHARGE.

NOW THE PRICE IS ALREADY SET AND THEY, IN ORDER TO GET MORE MONEY, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH KAREN.

SO GOOD LUCK WITH THAT.

I WOULD SAY, UH, BUT, UH, KAREN'S LEADING THE CHARGE ON THEIR PROJECT AND IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF WORK FOR EVERYBODY, BUT THE REPORTING AND THE ACCESS AND THE, JUST HOW EASY IT IS TO USE ARE GOING TO BE REALLY GREAT.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE.

ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING? OKAY.

HEY, THAT BRINGS

[2. CONSENT AGENDA]

WE HAVE ABC AND D UH, COMMISSIONERS.

DO YOU WANT TO PULL ONE OF THOSE ITEMS OFF FOR DISCUSSION, IF NOT, UH, WOULD THERE BE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED? I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION, THAT MOTION COMMISSIONER CASE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR.

AYE.

AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED.

NO MOTION CARRIES.

NOW WE'LL

[3. Lance Washburn; Discuss/Consider accepting award of grant from the Office of the Governor in the amount of $40,292.00.]

WE GOT LANCE WASHBURN OR PROBATION OR PROBATION, CHIEF DISCUSS, CONSIDER ACCEPTING AWARD OF GRANT FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR AND THE AMOUNT OF $40,292 MORNING COMMISSIONERS.

GEORGE, THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE THIS MORNING.

UH, WHAT I HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY FOR CONSIDERATION IS A GRANT THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

IT'S FOR A SAFETY INITIATIVE FOR MY OFFICERS.

WHEN THEY'RE OUT DOING FIELD WORK, UM, THE MONIES WILL BE USED TO PURCHASE, UH, BODY CAMERAS, TASERS, AND RADIOS.

SO THAT THEY'LL HAVE THAT ACCESS, UH, WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE A, IT WON'T BE MONITORED BY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, BUT IF NEED BE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET INTO TOUCH WITH THEM QUICKER THAN WE WOULD WITH CELL PHONES OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

UH, ALL MONIES THAT WILL BE USED WILL BE IN A REIMBURSEMENT GRANT.

SO IT WILL BE STATE MONIES.

UH, WON'T BE ANY COUNTY MONEY'S EVER USED, UH, TO PURCHASE THE EQUIPMENT AND THEN WILL BE REIMBURSED FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR.

I'M JUST HERE TODAY TO ASK FOR Y'ALL'S BLESSING FOR US TO PROCEED WITH THIS, UH, VENTURE.

THERE IS A MATCH, BUT YOU'RE TAKING IT OUT OF YOUR BUDGET, RIGHT? YES.

MA'AM QUESTIONS.

NO, IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE AWARD OF THAT GRANT? I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

COMMISSIONER, PHILLIPS SACRO, COMMISSIONER HUNT, DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

THOSE POSE.

NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I GUESS MORE.

BRING US MORE.

YEAH.

ALL

[4. Constable Brooks; Discuss/Consider hiring Cecil Cathey as Deputy Constable reserve status only for Kaufman County Precinct 4, lateral transfer.]

ITEM FOUR.

WE HAVE CONSTABLE BROOKS HERE WITH US DISCUSS, CONSIDER HIRING CECIL, KATHY, KATHY, KATHY, AS DEPUTY CONSTABLE RESERVE STATUS ONLY FOR KAUFMAN COUNTY PRECINCT FOUR.

IT'D BE A LATERAL TRANSFER.

GOOD MORNING.

BRING OVER CECIL, KATHY AT OUR OFFICE AS A RESERVE.

HE'S COMING FROM PRECINCT THREE QUESTIONS.

OKAY.

UH, IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, UH, IS THERE A MOTION SO MOVED? WE HAVE A MOTION COMMISSIONER CAGE TO A HIGHER CECIL.

KATHY HAS A RESERVE.

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

AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

A

[5. Commissioner Cates; Discuss/Consider approving Project Agreement to mow City of Rosser section of County Road 4087.]

THIS IS JUST A ROUTINE ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER PURSUANT TO OUR EXISTING INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT TO ALLOW US TO HELP THE CITY OF ROSSER.

MOST OF THEM REALLY HIGH WEEDS AND THEN BE REIMBURSED FOR THAT EFFORT.

SO, UH, I WOULD MOVE THAT, THAT BE APPROVED.

UH, COMMISSIONER KATE'S MOVE FOR APPROVING THAT PROJECT AGREEMENT.

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

THOSE OPPOSED.

NO MOTION CARRIES

[6. Raylan Smith; Discuss/consider approval of modification #3 to TSSWCB Contract #CEDR90-REP-ST2-012-20.]

RAYMOND SMITH DISCUSS CONSIDER APPROVAL OF MODIFICATION.

NUMBER THREE TO OUR SHORT VERSION DAMN PROJECT.

YEP.

YEAH.

ANOTHER DAY PROJECT PROJECT.

[00:10:01]

THEY'RE GOING TO ADD A GATE.

IT IS AN INCREASE IN THE CONTRACT FOR $1,650.

HOWEVER, UPON THE LENGTH OF THE CONTRACT, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL DECREASES.

SO WE'RE STILL WITHIN OUR CONTRACT.

ORIGINAL COST.

IS THIS THE ONE THEY'VE HAD SOME DRAMA WITH THE CONTRACTOR? YES.

OKAY.

AND WE ARE, WE ARE WORKING THROUGH EACH MODIFICATION.

SO WE HAD A MEETING THIS PAST WEEK.

COOL QUESTIONS FOR NO QUESTIONS.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT MODIFICATION IS PRESENTED? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.

WE HAVE THAT MOTION COMMISSIONER HUNT.

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

AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES NEXT STEP.

[7. Raylan Smith; Discuss and consider approval of Kaufman County Purchasing Policies & Procedures Manual.]

UM, THEY HAD THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK THROUGH THIS.

YOUR ORIGINAL POLICY WAS WRITTEN BACK IN 2013.

UM, I DID TAKE THIS AND DO A COMPLETE REWRITE.

UM, IN 2013 I FELT LIKE IT REFERENCED A LOT OF THE LAWS AND REGULATIONS, OF COURSE, HOWEVER, TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO DEPARTMENTS AND TO BE ABLE TO DO TRAINING, I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO WRITE IT INTO POLICY.

SO WE STILL READ ALL OF THE LAWS AND REGULATIONS.

HOWEVER, IT'S JUST WRITTEN IN SOME MORE OF A DEPARTMENT FRIENDLY POLICY.

UM, ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT WAS ADDED FROM THE 2013 IS WE DEFINITELY ADDRESS THE CONSTRUCTION PROCUREMENT, WHICH IS BRAND NEW AND IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE REALLY WORKING THROUGH RIGHT NOW.

UM, WE ALSO ADDED CHAPTERS FOR THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, UH, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT ON THE FEMA AND THE GRANT SIDE IN CASE SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN.

UM, THE OTHER IMPORTANT PIECE WAS THE CODE OF ETHICS FOR THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS THE USER DEPARTMENTS.

SO THAT'LL BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN GO OVER WITH THE DEPARTMENTS.

MY GOAL IS TO HAVE KIND OF A PURCHASING ONE-ON-ONE MEETING WITH EACH DEPARTMENT THE FIRST WEEK IN DECEMBER TO ROLL OUT THE NEW POLICY.

SO THIS WOULD BE A STARTING POINT.

AND SO WE CAN MAKE AMENDMENTS FROM THIS POINT FORWARD.

SO THE TRAINING IS REALLY, REALLY GOING TO BE IMPORTANT BECAUSE, UH, I, I DON'T, I, I SPENT A LITTLE BIT OF TIME YESTERDAY GOING THROUGH THAT, UM, THAT I CONFESS, I DIDN'T READ EVERY WORD.

IT'S GONNA BE HARD TO GET SOMEBODY TO READ.

EVERY WORD OF THAT THING IS PRETTY COOL.

UH, ARE YOU GONNA DO TRAINING LIKE WITH, BY DEPARTMENTS, ARE YOU GOING TO GROUP DEPARTMENTS TOGETHER, A GROUP DEPARTMENTS? SO YOU DO LIKE ROAD AND BRIDGE PEOPLE TOGETHER.

YES.

BECAUSE DEPARTMENTS DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF PURCHASING.

THERE'S MORE DEPARTMENTS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DEAL MORE IN QUOTES AND RFPS AND HOW TO DO SPECIFICATIONS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO WE'LL DO SOME MORE INDIVIDUAL.

AND THEN, UM, ALSO BEEN WORKING WITH THE, UH, STW ON GETTING SOME USER MANUALS FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENTS WHO ARE NOT USING THE REQUISITIONS ONLINE.

SO WE'RE HOPING TO START REALLY KIND OF FOCUSING IN ON THAT TOO.

SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO HELP.

I WOULD LIKE FOR, AND I'M THINKING OF PARTICULARLY LIKE FACILITIES IN IT, UM, WHO DO A LOT OF PURCHASING, OBVIOUSLY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

I WOULD LIKE FOR ALL OF THEIR STAFFS TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT DISCUSSION.

OKAY.

CAN DO THAT.

I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE CLASSES BECAUSE WHEN I READ THROUGH THIS, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT CHANGES WERE THERE.

SO IT DIDN'T CAUSE THEY WEREN'T HIGHLIGHTED THE CHANGES, BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND TIME AND EDUCATE WHAT WE NEED DONE, THEN I THINK THAT'S ALL.

AND I WILL SAY I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH, UH, I DID HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS.

UM, THERE ARE NO REAL CHANGES TO THE POLICY.

UM, IT IS OUR DEPARTMENT PRACTICE.

THAT'S NOW BEEN PUT INTO POLICY.

THESE ARE THE SAME RULES THAT WE'VE BEEN REFERENCING FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.

AND SO WHEN WE GO THROUGH THE TRAINING, THAT'S KIND OF HOW I WANT TO REFERENCE IT BACK TO THE STAFF IS WE'VE BEEN QUOTING THE LAW.

UM, WHENEVER WE MAKE PRESENTATIONS TO YOU OR WHEN WE MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO STAFF.

AND SO THIS HAS BEEN COMMON PRACTICE FOR THE DEPARTMENT.

AND SO TRYING TO GET THEM TO MAKE THE CORRELATION REALLY THAT, UM,

[00:15:01]

JUST GETTING THEM TO UNDERSTAND WE'RE NOT JUST TELLING YOU NO, BUT THAT WE REALLY DO HAVE TO FOLLOW.

SO I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO THINK THAT THERE'S ANY CHANGE.

THE CREDIT CARD POLICY WAS WHAT WAS APPROVED LAST YEAR.

WE JUST PUT IT INTO THIS ONE.

UM, THE ASSET POLICY, THERE WERE NO CHANGES.

WE JUST MADE IT A CHAPTER INTO THIS POLICY.

UM, SO HOPEFULLY IT'LL GO OVER REALLY WELL, MADE ME FEEL BETTER THAN YEAH.

WE'VE BEEN DOING IT CHANGES.

I DIDN'T SEE ANY REAL CHANGES.

I MEAN, THERE WERE NO CHANGES AND IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET THROUGH YOU KIND OF FALL ASLEEP.

I TRIED TO MAKE IT USER-FRIENDLY TO WHERE YOU KNEW WHAT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR.

YOU COULD JUST GO TO THAT.

YEAH.

OKAY.

I THINK YOU DID A GOOD JOB.

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO.

OKAY.

OKAY.

I MEAN LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PURCHASING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL, I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION A MOTION COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS.

IS THERE A SECOND? NO.

SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER BARBARA DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED.

NO MOTION CARRIES

[8. Raylan Smith; Discuss/Consider approval of Road Construction Contract and Associated Funding for Precinct 4 County Road & Bridge Projects in the amount of $186,014.57.]

RAVEN, DISCUSS CONSIDER APPROVAL OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT AND ASSOCIATED FUNDING FOR PRECINCT FOR ROAD AND BRIDGE PROJECTS AND THE AMOUNT OF 186,814.

THIS IS A FUNDING MEMORANDUM THAT HAS BEEN FORWARDED FROM ITS FOUR PRECINCT FOUR AND THE AMOUNT OF 186,000 ZERO ONE FOUR AND 57 CENTS.

THIS IS FOR PROJECT PEEL TOWN COUNTY ROADS 2019 BOND FUNDS FOR PRECINCT FOUR.

THIS WILL COVER, UM, OUTSTANDING CONTRACTS FOR A PROJECT.

YES, YES.

MA'AM QUESTIONS.

I'M ALWAYS AMUSED WHEN WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, $186,000 AND WE'RE ALWAYS DILIGENT TO INCLUDE 57 CENTS IN THERE.

THAT JUST SEEMS FUNNY TO ME.

UM, I'D SAY THIS IS A, UH, THIS IS A WRAP-UP OF, UH, ACTUALLY MATERIAL THAT'S BEING USED FOR THAT ROAD STABILIZATION MATERIAL.

UM, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, UH, SINCE, SINCE WE DO HAVE A, UM, THIS BOND ISSUE ON OUR AGENDA TO, TO JUST RECOGNIZE THAT WE ACTUALLY ARE MAKING A, UM, SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS WITH SOME OF OUR COUNTY ROAD PROJECTS, PARTICULARLY IN PRECINCT FOUR COUNTY ROAD, 40 72, WHICH IS REALLY OUR FIRST BIG PROJECT, SIX AND A HALF, ALMOST SEVEN MILES OF ROAD BEING RECONSTRUCTED.

AND PARDON ME, AND THIS IS A, UH, THIS IS AN ESSENCE, THE WRAP-UP OF THAT PROJECT FOR THE LAST PURCHASE OF, UH, OF THE SPECIALTY MATERIALS.

SO, SO THAT, UH, THAT BOND PROJECT IS REALLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR, IN OUR PRECINCT, UH, COMMISSIONER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT, UH, UM, THAT, THAT, UH, PAYMENT OF THIS CONTRACT AS WRITTEN, UH, WE HAVE MOTION COMMISSIONER CAGE TO PROVE THAT FUNDING IS WRITTEN.

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

AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED NO MOTION CARRIES, UH, REGULARLY

[9. Raylan Smith; Discuss/Consider Justice Center Design Updates and meeting schedule.]

AND THIS HAS INCLUDED, UM, A LOT OF THOSE CRITICAL MEETINGS, LIKE THE OPERATIONAL MEETINGS AND ALSO THE USER MEETINGS, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH THE JUDGES AND STAFF, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE, UM, TENANTS WITHIN THOSE FACILITIES.

SO AS YOU KNOW, OUR MAIN GOAL THROUGH THIS PROCESS WAS TO GET THOSE TWO PROJECTS ON THE SAME TIMELINE SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT STARTING TO BID THOSE PROJECTS.

WE FEEL LIKE THIS, THIS IS GOING TO BE, UM, IT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO HAVE A COST SAVINGS TO THE COUNTY IF WE CAN DO THAT.

UM, NOW THAT WE'RE GETTING TO THAT POINT AND WE HAVE INCLUDED THE DEPARTMENTS, THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF ADJUSTMENTS.

UM, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME COMMUNICATION WE'VE MET WITH DEPARTMENTS.

OUR THOUGHT WAS TO POSSIBLY HOST A SPECIAL WORKSHOP WITH THE COMMISSIONERS NEXT WEEK, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, UM, HAVING THE ARCHITECTS FROM THE PET ADOPTION CENTER, THE JUSTICE CENTER, AS WELL AS OUR CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AGENT TO KIND OF WALK YOU THROUGH HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE, KIND OF TALK YOU THROUGH ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED, THE MEETINGS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE,

[00:20:01]

SO IT, IT WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE A GOOD MEETING FOR EVERYONE TO BE IN THE SAME ROOM AND KIND OF CLOSE OUT THE YEAR, BUT GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT NEXT YEAR OR THE BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN REALLY FAST, ESPECIALLY WITH THE HOLIDAYS COMING UP.

UM, I DO THINK WE'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB WRAPPING IT UP WITH THE DEPARTMENTS WE FINISHED THE FURNITURE WE'VE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF MEETINGS WITH PEOPLE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, UM, BUT WE REALLY KIND OF WANT TO BRING EVERYONE ELSE UP TO SPEED SO WE CAN GET EVERYONE ON BOARD NEXT TUESDAY AT NINE FOR A SPECIAL WORKSHOP.

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN MEETING WITH ALL THE ARCHITECTS, INCLUDING I WAS THINKING THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE'S ON THE SAME PAGE WITH JUST THE CONSTRUCTION SECURITY.

AND LET'S JUST HAVE OPEN CONVERSATION IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

OKAY.

UH, THAT SEEMS TO MAKE SENSE TO ME.

UH, SO WHAT I WOULD BE, UM, LOOKING FOR WOULD BE A MOTION TO ESTABLISH.

TYPICALLY I DON'T REALLY, WE DON'T REALLY DO IT THIS WAY, BUT I GUESS IT WON'T HURT ANYTHING, UH, TO CALL A MEETING FOR NINE O'CLOCK ON THE 27TH, A WORKSHOP MEETING.

UM, IN FACT, I'LL JUST MAKE THAT AS A MOTION THAT WE HAVE THAT MEETING ON THE 27TH.

IS THAT GONNA WORK FOR EVERYBODY? UH, OKAY.

THAT'S THE MOTION.

WAS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, 17, I'M SORRY.

17.

I'M ALREADY GETTING PUNISHED THANKSGIVING, RIGHT? 17TH AT NINE O'CLOCK.

UM, AND THAT'S THE MOTION.

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

AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES.

[10. Commissioner Hunt; Discuss/Consider accepting work site release and temporary construction easement for County Road 136 B, Kaufman County Pct. 1.]

ITEM 10.

THANK YOU.

RAELYNN COMMISSIONER HUNT, DISCUSS, CONSIDER A SECOND WORK SITE RELEASE IN TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT FOR COUNTY ROAD ONE 36 B IN PRECINCT ONE.

BASICALLY THIS IS JUST TOO, UM, UH, PROPERTY OWNER WAS GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO LET US USE MORRISON HIS PROPERTY TO HELP DRAIN THE WATER OFF THE ROAD.

SO THIS IS A TEMPORARY EASEMENT TO GET IN THERE TO DO THAT.

SO QUESTIONS WOULD YOU CARE TO MAKE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THE, UH, TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT, UH, COMMISSIONER HUNT MAKES MOTION TO SET THAT WORK SITE RELEASE IN TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT.

IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND WITH COMMISSIONER CAGE DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THE MOTION CARRIES, UH,

[11. Commissioner Cates; Discuss/Consider formally establishing a Kaufman County Public Affairs Policy and designating Administrator Jerry Dean as the KC Public Information Officer. This will include establishing a countywide Public Affairs policy for inclusion in the Employee Handbook and creating a Public Information "network" with Elected Officials/Existing PAO's for the Sheriff's Dept, District Attorney's Office, etc. to better communicate issues, decisions, positive and/or critical information to the citizens of Kaufman County through recurring media interactions.]

UH, IT'S UH, DISCUSSED, CONSIDER ESTABLISHING COFFIN COUNTY PUBLIC AFFAIRS POLICY.

UH, I'LL LET YOU KICK IT OFF FROM THERE, SIR.

SO AT, UH, AS YOU KNOW, JUDGE, I'VE DISCUSSED THIS WITH YOU MANY TIMES.

UH, I REALLY THINK THAT AS, UH, AS THIS YEAR COMES TO A CLOSE, WE HAVE SEEN A REAL NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AS A COUNTY OR EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATING, PARTICULARLY WITH THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY.

UM, SO MANY ISSUES THAT HAVE, HAVE REALLY IN MY TWO YEARS, UH, ON THIS COURT HAVE, HAVE, UH, COME UP THAT I, UH, I THINK ARE, UH, SERVE AS GREAT EXAMPLES FOR THE NEED TO COMMUNICATE EVERYTHING FROM COVID TO, TO THIS, UH, AGENDA ITEM.

WE JUST FINISHED TO THE, THE PROGRESS OF OUR BOND AND WHAT THE CITIZENS, UH, YOU KNOW, ARE, ARE ACTUALLY, UH, GETTING FOR THEIR MONEY FOR THEIR VOTE THAT THEY GAVE.

UM, SO WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE WHAT I THINK IS KIND OF AN INFORMAL, UH, PUBLIC AFFAIRS FUNCTION, BUT, UM, IN A $70 MILLION A YEAR ORGANIZATION, THAT PROBABLY IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW, UM, EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION, UNIFIED COMMUNICATION, I THINK IS A REALLY POSITIVE.

YEP.

AND, UH, I THINK, AND IT, IT ACTUALLY, UH, AS THIS COUNTY CONTINUES TO GROW WILL PROBABLY MORPH ITSELF INTO THE NEED FOR A FULL-TIME PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

I'M NOT SURE WE'RE THERE YET, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US AT LEAST CONSIDER HAVING A DESIGNATED PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER AND A DESIGNATED OR A FORMALIZED PUBLIC AFFAIRS POLICY SO THAT, UH,

[00:25:01]

UH, I THINK WE'VE SEEN, UH, SOMETHING, THE ACCOLADES THAT CAME FROM SOME OF THE COALITIONS, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT IN THIS COUNTY ALREADY, SUCH AS THE BONDS, SUCH AS, UH, OUR COVID COMMUNICATION COALITION.

AND, UH, I THINK, UH, WHILE WE HAVE, WE HAVE SOME OFFICERS AND OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT HAVE PUBLIC AFFAIRS FUNCTIONS, UH, I THINK IF WE HAD A DESIGNATED, UH, AT LEAST A COUNTY LEAD, IF YOU WILL, THAT WOULD SERVE TO, TO HELP ALL OF THOSE OFFICES, UM, MAYBE BUILD A, A GOOD, UH, CONSISTENT COALITION FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS INFORMATION REALLY, UH, UH, IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH A LOT OF MY CONSTITUENTS, UH, I'VE NOTED THAT A LOT OF, UH, AND, AND RIGHTLY SO THAT A LOT OF TIMES THERE'S A FOCUS ON WHAT THEY DON'T GET YEAH.

FROM THE COUNTY.

AND, UH, UH, I REALLY MAKE IT A POINT PERSONALLY, TO TRY TO REMIND EVERYONE OF WHAT, OF HOW MUCH THEY REALLY DO GET FOR THIS COUNTY, FROM THIS COUNTY, HOW MANY, HOW MANY REALLY CRITICAL SERVICES THE COUNTY PROVIDES.

AND I THINK A PUBLIC AFFAIRS FUNCTION WOULD REALLY SUPPORT THAT.

UM, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A WEB PAGE, UM, WHICH, WHICH JERRY, THE ADMINISTRATOR OVERSEES NOW.

UH, WE, I THINK WE HAVE A COUNTY FACEBOOK PAGE THAT, THAT PAM OR SOMEONE ELSE OVERSEE.

SO I JUST THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA, BOTH TO ESTABLISH A CLEAR POLICY ABOUT PUBLIC AFFAIRS, SO THAT WE SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE, UH, YOU KNOW, SPEAKS AND REPRESENTS THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT IN PARTICULAR.

UM, AND, AND THAT WE WOULD HAVE, UH, A SINGLE FOCAL POINT THAT WOULD REALLY, UM, UM, KIND OF CONSOLIDATE AND FOCUS THOSE EFFORTS TO, UH, TO GET OUT THE GOOD NEWS THAT THIS COUNTY DOES AS WELL AS TO CORRECT ANY MISINFORMATION THAT GETS OUT.

SO, UH, WHICH, WHICH DOES OCCUR FROM TIME TO TIME.

SO ALL THAT BEING SAID, I JUST THOUGHT IT'D BE WORTH CONSIDERING, UM, ESTABLISHING A DESIGNATED PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER, AT LEAST FOR THE INTERIM I'M PROPOSING THAT, THAT BE THE ADMINISTRATOR, JERRY DEAN, SINCE HE SORT OF HANDLES THAT FUNCTION INFORMALLY NOW, UH, OBVIOUSLY AS A PART OF YOUR OFFICE JUDGE, UH, AND, AND THAT WOULD, UH, CHARGE HIM WITH, WITH BEING INTERACTIVE WITH, FOR INSTANCE, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, ALL OF THOSE OTHER, UM, ELECTED OFFICES THAT HAVE, UH, EXISTING PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND MOSTLY JUST SERVE AS A RESOURCE FOR SOME OF THESE SMALLER OFFICES.

YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE GREAT WORK THAT THE COUNTY CLERK DOES, OR SOME OF OUR CONSTABLES DO, UM, TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT, UH, THAT COULD REALLY HELP THEM GET THEIR GOOD, THEIR GOOD NEWS OUT, I THINK WOULD BE A POSITIVE THING.

SO ALL THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD PROPOSE THAT, THAT WE ESTABLISH, UM, ADMINISTRATOR JERRY DEAN, AS THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER FOR THE, FOR THE COUNTY AND TASKED HIM WITH DEVELOPING A, A, A PUBLIC AFFAIRS POLICY, UH, THAT HE BRING BEFORE US FOR APPROVAL AND, AND IMPLEMENTATION.

ALSO, COULD I ADD TO THAT? I KNOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PUBLIC AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT WE HAVE SOME PROBLEMS INTERNALLY WITH COMMUNICATING.

SO, I MEAN, IT'S LIKE THE JUSTICE CENTER, IF WE HAVE INTERNAL MEMOS UPDATES THAT AS COMMISSIONERS WE GET AFTER THESE MEETINGS, AND I KNOW JERRY ATTENDS MOST OF THESE MEETINGS, BUT JUST A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF WHAT WENT UNDER THAT MEETING.

AND WE KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT.

CAUSE I GET ASKED BY THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITIZENS, YOU KNOW, WHERE ARE WE AT ON THAT? WELL, NO, SORRY, BUT I REALLY DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN, I KNOW THAT THEY'RE HAVING MEETINGS, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THEY'RE STILL DESIGNING IT AND STUFF, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE, YOU GIVE VAGUE ANSWERS, YOU KNOW, SO IF WE HAVE SOME, SOME INTERNAL MEMOS THAT COME OUT TO KIND OF UPDATE US, I MEAN, THE FACILITIES AND ACTUALLY I'VE BEEN DELEGATED AS FACILITIES BETWEEN ALL THE STUFF THAT WAS SEPARATED HERE.

I JUST KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE GOING AROUND ASKING QUESTIONS.

I MEAN, WE HAD ONE MEETING, IT WAS PRETTY MUCH IT, SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY UPDATES INTERNALLY, IF WE COULD INCLUDE THAT SINCE YOU DO GO TO MOST OF THOSE MEETINGS.

YEAH.

THIS IS JUST A COMMUNICATION PROCESS TO BRING US ALL UP TO DATE.

SO WE CAN AT LEAST GIVE AN EDUCATED ANSWER TO THE PEOPLE WE REPRESENT.

YEAH.

YEAH.

I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS, YOU KNOW, WE, UH, YOU TEND TO THINK SOMETIMES THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT'S IN THE INFORMATION BUSINESS AS BEING, UH, EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS, BUT THAT, UH, SOMETIMES, UH, YOU COULD HAVE INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS AT THE PUBLIC REALLY WOULDN'T BE THAT INTERESTED IN, YOU KNOW, TOO LITTLE, TOO MUCH DETAIL, JUST THE INTERNAL MEMOS.

RIGHT.

AND WE HAVE GREAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, WE ALSO HAVE GREAT INTERNAL SUCCESSES THAT ARE WORTHY OF GETTING COMMUNICATED AROUND, UH, AS PEOPLE GET PROMOTED OR TRANSFERRED

[00:30:01]

I THINK THAT'S, UH, ANOTHER THING THAT WOULD, UH, YOU KNOW, ALMOST A NEWSLETTER KIND OF FUNCTION THAT WOULD BE VALUABLE TO THE EMPLOYEES.

UM, WE HAVE, WE HAVE A GREAT NETWORK, UH, WITH OUR COMMUNICATIONS COALITION.

OUR, I SHOULD SAY OUR AWARD WINNING COMMUNICATIONS COALITION THAT WE WERE HONORED BY THE TAC.

UM, AND, UH, JERRY CAN USE THE USE THOSE RESOURCES TO DEVELOP A REALLY GOOD POLICY BECAUSE REALLY THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, UH, A LOT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS SEEM TO BE ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF THIS STUFF ON, ON HAVING A GOOD COMMUNICATIONS POLICIES AND PRACTICES.

SO I THINK WE CAN LEAN ON THEM A LOT.

WE CAN, WE GOT THIS NETWORK OF, OF AT LEAST EIGHT OR 10 PROS, SO WE CAN RELY ON, I DON'T KNOW IF NEED TO CALL IT CLARIFICATION OR JUST INFORMATION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC CAUSE A LOT OF FOLKS PROBABLY DON'T KNOW THIS, BUT, UH, BECAUSE OF THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, WE CAN'T DISCUSS THINGS LIKE SOME PEOPLE STILL WANT TO TALK, JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER.

WE CAN'T DO THAT.

I THINK THIS WOULD BE A GREAT AVENUE TO GET THAT INFORMATION TO ALL OF US, UH, WITHOUT US HAVING TO DO AN OPEN MEETING OR WHATEVER.

AND WITHOUT US TAKING THE CHANCE OF VIOLATING THAT RULE.

SO, UH, JUST LET FOLKS KNOW THAT'S ANOTHER GOOD REASON FOR THIS.

I THINK THAT'D BE REALLY HELPFUL.

SO WHAT'S THAT CARE'S FUNDING.

I MEAN, I KNOW WE DID THE MONEY FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT I MEAN, THERE'S OTHER GRANTS, I MEAN, ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE APPLYING, JUST UPDATES ON THAT TYPE STUFF, YOU KNOW, JUST SO WE'RE ALL KIND OF AWARE AND, YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAVE CONTACTS, WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT CONTACTS AND WE CAN HELP SPREAD THE WORD TO IS OUT THERE.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS COMMISSIONER AND CASE MENTIONED, AND I, AND I'LL, I'LL FILL THIS DOWN, NOT FOR DECISION NOW, BUT I THINK I WOULD LIKE FOR EVERYONE TO BE, I'D LIKE FOR THE COMMISSIONERS TO BE THINKING ABOUT THIS, UM, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN COMMUNICATIONS IN WHERE WE TRIED TO HIRE A COMMUNICATIONS PER, OR WE TRIED TO DESIGNATE SOMEBODY AS A COMMUNICATIONS PERSON.

AND WHEN I TALK ABOUT COMMUNICATIONS, UH, ONE OF THE, HAVE YOU HAD AN EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE STARTED OFF DOING, UH, JERRY WAS DOING WAS, UH, HE WAS DOING HIGHLIGHT STORIES AND PUTTING IT ON THE WEBSITE ABOUT DIFFERENT PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTY.

UM, HOW MANY OF THOSE DID YOU DO JERRY FOUR OR FIVE AND, UM, THEY WERE GREAT, WELL RECEIVED VERY POSITIVE, BUT, UM, IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY FULFILLING A ROLE LIKE JERRY WITH OTHER THINGS THAT HE'S TASKED WITH DOING THOSE KINDS OF THINGS FALL BY THE WAYSIDE, BECAUSE DOING A STORY, DOING A REGULAR ROUTINE STORY EVERY MONTH ABOUT PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY IS, UH, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO DO THAT, BUT ISN'T IT, THERE'S NO URGENCY TO IT.

AND SO THAT STUFF GETS SHELVED AND I'VE BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE, IT'S YOU ULTIMATELY, IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A REALLY GOOD COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM, UH, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE SOMEBODY THAT THAT'S ALL THEY DO EVERY DAY.

UM, UH, EVEN THE CITY OF KAUFLIN HAS SOMEBODY.

AND, UH, LIKE THE FIRST THING THAT THAT PERSON DOES EVERY SINGLE DAY IS MONITORS THAT LIKE THREE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, CORRECT ANY MISINFORMATION.

UH, AND THIS IS, AGAIN, THESE THINGS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT, BUT, UH, THEY'RE RARELY URGENT.

UH, SO WE NEED TO BE THINKING, THINKING ABOUT IN THE FUTURE SOMETIME I THINK JERRY CAN DO, UH, UH, HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB SO FAR DONE SOME FANTASTIC STUFF WITH OUR WEBSITE.

UM, BUT WE NEED TO BE LOOKING TOWARDS MAYBE HAVING SOMEBODY IN THE FUTURE THAT THAT'S ALL THEY WOULD BE DOING.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, AS WELL TO, UH, UH, TO CONSIDER THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE TODAY ARE REALLY, I MEAN, LIFE IS BUSY.

AND SO, UH, A LOT OF INFORMATION AND NEWS THAT PEOPLE GET IS REALLY, THEY'RE, THEY'RE SORT OF IN A PASSIVE ROLE, THEY GET WHAT'S PRESENTED TO THEM AS OPPOSED TO SEEKING IT OUT.

AND, UH, UM, I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT SERVES US ALL THAT WELL, IT DOESN'T, UH, SO I THINK THERE'S, THIS IS THE RIGHT FIRST STEP.

AND, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST, JUST AS A, YOU KNOW, A GLARING EXAMPLE TO ME IS WE HAD REPRESENTATIVE BELL COME DOWN HERE A FEW, A FEW WEEKS AGO AND, AND COMMEND THE COUNTY ON, ON OUR, UH, ON OUR BUDGET AND OUR TAX, UM, OUR TAX RATE.

AND, UM, AND YOU KNOW, HIS PUBLIC AFFAIRS, YOU KNOW, MADE A, MADE A LOT OF GOOD MENTION OF THAT.

AND, AND WHILE I THINK IT FINALLY DID GET IN THE PAPER FOR US, IT REALLY JUST,

[00:35:01]

SO, UH, I REALLY THINK THAT, UH, IT, IT WILL BE A BENEFIT TO THE CITIZENS AS WELL TO REALLY KEEP THEM, HELP THEM, KEEP THEM ENGAGED AND INFORMED ABOUT THE THINGS THAT DO GO ON HERE.

SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE WAY THINGS WORK AND IN PARTICULARLY IN PUBLIC, UH, ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE COUNTY, IF THERE'S NOT INFORMATION, IF THERE'S, IF THERE'S A QUESTION THAT COMES UP, IF THERE'S NOT INFORMATION PUT OUT THERE, THEN PEOPLE JUST MAKE STUFF UP AND WHATEVER THEY MAKE UP IS ALWAYS WORSE THAN WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENED.

SO, UM, IF YOU CAN FILL THAT VOID QUICKLY WITH THE RIGHT, WITH THE CORRECT INFORMATION, PARTICULARLY WHEN SOMETHING BAD HAS HAPPENED, IF YOU CAN FEEL THAT VOID AND GET THAT INFORMATION OUT THERE, UM, YOU CAN TAMP DOWN A LOT OF THE MISINFORMATION THAT HAPPENS.

SO YEAH, LIKE THOSE RUMORS ABOUT HOW KAREN YELLS AT MIKE ALL THE TIME, THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT SHE DOES.

ALL RIGHT.

ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING ON THAT SUBJECT? SO, UH, I'LL MAKE A MOTION JUDGE, IF OKAY.

READY FOR THAT? YES, SIR.

ON MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ESTABLISH, UH, A KAUFMAN COUNTY PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER FUNCTION, AND THAT, UH, THE INITIAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER BE DESIGNATED TO BE ADMINISTRATOR JERRY DEAN, AND THAT HE, UH, WOULD BE TASKED TO DEVELOP A COUNTYWIDE PUBLIC AFFAIRS POLICY AND THEN BRING THAT BEFORE THE COURT FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL.

OKAY.

YOU'VE HEARD THAT MOTION.

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

THOSE OPPOSED? NO, THAT MOTION CARRIES AND REALLY INTERESTING SORT OF THE SAME

[12. Judge Richards; Discuss/Consider amending Court Order designating Commissioners' Court meeting dates.]

UH, THIS ITEM 12 IS MINE DISCUSSED, CONSIDER AMENDING COURT ORDER, DESIGNATED COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING DATES.

UM, THIS IDEA OF GOING TO A ONCE A WEEK MEETING INSTEAD OF AN EVERY OTHER WEEK MEETING IS REALLY ALL ABOUT COMMUNICATION.

MR. BARBARA WAS TALKING ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY OF, UH, WHEN I'M AWARE OF SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE GOOD TO SHARE WITH THE COMMISSIONERS EVERY DAY.

THIS COMES UP EVERY DAY AND I AM I'M HANDCUFFED AS FAR AS BEING ABLE TO, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE COMING TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT IN THE FUTURE FOR CONSIDERATION, THEN I CAN'T DISCUSS IT WITH YOU INDIVIDUALLY.

UM, IS THIS A PAINFUL SUGGESTION ME BECAUSE, UH, IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE MEETING EVERY WEEK, AT LEAST AT MY OFFICE IS, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT'S, UH, ABOUT A TWO DAY PROCESS.

I MEAN, IT TAKES UP A LOT OF OUR TIME AND ENERGY TO PUT AN AGENDA TOGETHER AND, AND, YOU KNOW, GET ALL THE QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALL THE BACKUP DOCUMENTS.

SO I'M JUST INTERESTED TO HEAR WHAT YOU GUYS SAY ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF CHANGING OUR ORDER TO MEET EVERY WEEK INSTEAD OF EVERY OTHER WEEK THAT LOOK ON YOUR FACE.

ISN'T A GOOD THING.

IT'S ALWAYS YOUR NUMBER ONE.

AND YOU ALWAYS GET YOUR KIND OF SET THE TONE, I GUESS, EVERYBODY ELSE.

AND IT PUTS A LOT OF PRESSURE ON YOU, BUT COMMUNICATION IS KEY WITH ANY ORGANIZATION.

ABSOLUTELY CUT AND DRY, THAT'S IT.

AND SO IT WILL BE AN INCONVENIENCE, A NECESSITY.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.

OKAY.

JUST BECAUSE I PUT THAT MUCH EMPHASIS ON COMMUNICATING WITH THE PEOPLE YOU'RE WORKING WITH.

I MEAN, BUT IT WILL BE, IT WON'T BE, I MEAN, AND WE MIGHT NOT ALL BE ABLE TO MAKE IT HERE EVERY TIME, BUT YOU'RE STILL ACHIEVING WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE.

SO THAT'S MY TWO BITS.

I AGREE WITH YOU, MIKE.

I THINK THAT, UH, THAT'S, UH, I'M DOING MY BEST TO AGREE WITH THAT NUMBER ONE.

AND THEN WE WENT RIGHT TO FOUR, SO THAT'S OKAY.

NO, WE'RE GOOD.

SO, UH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT INFORMATION SHARING IN THIS COUNTY, PARTICULARLY IN, IN OUR FUNCTION AS THE COURT IS REALLY A CRITICAL THING.

UM, I, IN MY SHORT, ALMOST TWO YEARS, I HAVE FOUND IT INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING THAT THE, THE BURDEN THAT OPENED MEETING THAT THE STATE'S OPEN MEETING ACT, UH, PUTS ON ELECTED OFFICIALS, UH, PARTICULARLY IN THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

UM, I ALMOST THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT A, A $70 MILLION A YEAR ORGANIZATION, THAT IN ESSENCE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION, UH, AND, UH, NOT, NOT NECESSARILY MAKE DECISIONS, BUT EVEN JUST, UH, GET AND RECEIVE INFORMATION AND, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, CONSIDER SOMETHING

[00:40:01]

UH, IT, IT, IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING.

I THINK THAT, UH, UH, JUST LIKE YOU ALL THAT, UH, ONCE A WEEK MEETING IS, IS GOING TO REQUIRE A SCHEDULING ADJUSTMENT AND, AND YOU'RE, YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.

SOMETIMES ALL OF US WON'T BE ABLE TO MAKE IT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T THINK WE'LL BE, IF YOU DO HAVE TO MISS A MEETING, YOU WON'T BE SO FAR BEHIND, YOU KNOW, AS YOU WOULDN'T BE IN A TWO WEEK CYCLE.

SO, UM, JUDGE, I THINK IT'S A, I THINK IT'S AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME, UH, TO, TO RESUME THE WEEKLY MEETINGS.

OKAY.

NOW LET'S GO BACK TO NUMBER TWO.

OKAY.

OH, ONE, THREE.

NO, I THINK, I THINK COMMUNICATION IS A GOOD THING.

UM, UH, I DON'T, I DON'T NECESSARILY LIKE, UM, LIKE IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT OUT OF IT THOUGH AT THE MEETINGS EVERY SINGLE WEEK, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED THEM, WE NEED THEM.

AND, UH, THERE'LL BE SOME MONTHS LIKE, YOU KNOW, UH, CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS AND THINGS WE COULD PROBABLY NOT HAVE.

WE JUST HAVE TO LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE AND SCHEDULE THE MEETINGS.

YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S HOLIDAY WEEKS, WE MIGHT AROUND THOSE INSTEAD OF HAVING A MEETING EVERY WEEK.

OTHER THAN THAT, I'M FINE.

OKAY.

I AGREE WITH YOU.

YEAH, THAT'S GOOD.

YEAH.

I WOULD JUST ADD TO THAT TOO, THAT, UH, I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH IT.

I THINK IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD THING.

UH, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, MONITORING WHATEVER WE'LL MAKE THAT WORK.

BUT, UH, I THINK IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE NEED TO ALSO CONSIDER LOOKING AT A WORKSHOPPING MORE ITEMS THAN WE DO.

UH, CAUSE I KNOW THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT JUST SEEM TO KIND OF SLIDE THROUGH COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND WE REALLY HAVEN'T DISCUSSED IT MUCH.

UM, SO I THINK IF WE MAYBE LOOK AT THINGS MAYBE PRIOR TO IT ACTUALLY ON THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT, WHEN HE SAID, WELL, THIS IS SOMEBODY THEY SPEND A LITTLE MORE TIME ON AND LOOK AT DOING SOME MORE WORKSHOP, UH, MEETINGS, UH, BEFORE WE, UH, BRING INTO COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

OKAY.

SO I THINK TO ADDRESS THAT, WHAT WE CAN DO IS, UH, IF THERE'S NOT SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES ACTION ON THE UPCOMING MEETING, WE'D JUST PUT IT ON FOR DISCUSSION.

WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE OPTION OF IS CUTER IN IT, BECAUSE THAT WAY WE ACTUALLY, I TRIED TO, THAT'S KINDA WHAT MY INTENTION WAS WHEN I FIRST STARTED, BUT WE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE THAT EVERY WEEK WOULD WANT TO PUT, I REALLY THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE A WORKSHOP MEETING EVERY OTHER WEEK AND WE WOULDN'T EVEN, WE WOULD RARELY DO ANY ACTION ITEMS, BUT WE HAD A HARD TIME FIGHTING ALL FED UP BECAUSE YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ALWAYS WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING INTO THE AGENDA, BUT WELL, MAYBE EVEN AS SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS THIS CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE OUT THERE DIGGING THE DITCHES AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT TWO WEEKS AND ALL IT TAKES IS ONE RAIN OR A HEAVY RAIN AND THEN THAT'S PUT OFF AND YOU MIGHT MISS IT FOR THE WHOLE SEASON.

YEAH.

SO I MEAN, IT WILL EXPEDITE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE DO TO DO OUR JOBS.

SO I MEAN, IT'S JUST LITTLE STUFF LIKE THAT.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL.

AND, AND, AND ONE THING THAT IT IS, WE TALKED EARLY ON ABOUT THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION WITH ALL OF OUR, OUR ITEMS THAT COME TO THE COURT.

I, I DO READ THOSE THINGS AND IT'S FRUSTRATING TO ME TO GET SOMETHING AND THERE'S NO SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION TO THAT.

I JUST DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS THE PLACE TO START ASKING QUESTIONS AND, AND, AND DO THAT KIND OF STUFF.

I MEAN, IF TERRY PUTS IT ON THE AGENDA, YOU KNOW, I, WHAT IS THIS ABOUT TYPE DEAL? WELL, SO, SO HERE'S WHAT I WOULD SAY.

THE GROUND RULES WOULD BE IF WE'RE HAVING A MEETING AND YOU HAVE SOMEBODY, YOU OR SOMEBODY OTHER, SOMEBODY ELSE WANTS TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA, IF IT'S A COMPLEX ISSUE, UH, LET'S SAY SOMETHING LIKE THE, THIS, THE FIRE SUPPRESSION THING THAT WE HAVE, IT'S A COMPLEX ISSUE IT'S GONNA, THEN LET'S JUST, WE CAN AGREE THAT WE'RE JUST GOING TO PUT IT ON FOR DISCUSSION BECAUSE WE NEED TO HAVE TIME TO GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND THAT SORT OF THING, BEFORE WE EVEN PUT IT ON THE AGENDA FOR CONSIDERATION NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT A COMPLEX ISSUE IS.

IT'LL BE, YOU KNOW, IT'LL BE DIFFERENT, BUT NO, BUT I LIKED THAT.

I LIKED THE DISCUSSION PART FIRST BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WHEN I CAME ONTO THE COURT WAITING TO GET TO, AND KAREN CAN ESTABLISH, SET BACK THAT UP, WE'D GET THE AGENDA ON FRIDAY.

WE HAVE MEETING ON MONDAY.

YOU CAN'T GET ANY INFORMATION ON WEEKEND, FIND OUT ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT THE SEVENTIES WAS.

AND I MIGHT NOT GET THAT IN THE, IN THE PACKAGE UNTIL FOUR O'CLOCK NOW.

AND THEN YOU HAVE AN EIGHT O'CLOCK ON MONDAY MORNING.

SO ONE OF THE FIRST THING WE DID WAS ESTABLISH, UH, UH, SO MANY THEY RULE AND WE TRIED TO SEVEN, CAME DOWN TO FIVE, BUT THE PEOPLE HAD TO GET THE BACKUP INFORMATION AND EVEN, YOU KNOW, TODAY'S, YOU KNOW, THE BACKUP

[00:45:01]

AND SO WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING PAST THAT POINT.

NOW WE MIGHT NOT HAVE IT NOW.

YEAH.

YOU DON'T NEED BACKUP INFORMATION FOR THIS DECISION, YOU KNOW, SO YOU DON'T ALWAYS HAVE IT.