[00:00:06]
I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE.
CAN I GET EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION? I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE, UH, WHAT, BECAUSE I HAD SAID YOU, I TURNED UP THE VOLUMES WHAT IT IS NOW.
[Call to Order]
EVERYONE.I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED AND, UM, THE RECORD SHOW.
UM, WE'LL START THIS MEETING AT THE PARKER COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT ORDER ON THE 25TH DAY OF AUGUST.
AND THE AGENDA HAS BEEN POSTED, THE RECORD SHOW.
WE DO HAVE A QUORUM AND POSTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW, UH, WITH THE COUNTY CLERK AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PRESENT.
WILL WE BEGIN WITH AN INVOCATION BY MARK JULIAN FROM NORTHSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH, FOLLOWED BY THE P BY PARKER COUNTY JUDGE COURT, CONY.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE PRAISE YOU TODAY.
WE THANK YOU FOR BEING SO GOOD.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR LOVING US.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE TODAY, ANOTHER DAY FOR THIS COUNTY, FOR ITS JUDGE, THESE COMMISSIONERS AND THE DECISIONS THEY HAVE TO MAKE.
GOD MAY WE CONTINUE TO SEEK YOU AND LOOK TO YOU OUR SAVIOR AND LORD IN JESUS' NAME.
I PLEDGE LADIES TO FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN INVIS WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL, HONOR TEXAS FLAG OUR PGI TO THE TEXAS ONE SAYING, UNDER GOD ONE, INVIS.
[4. CONSENT]
ITEM FOUR ON THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER ITEM A, UNDER AUDITOR, ITEMS ONE THROUGH FOUR, ITEM B, UNDER TREASURER ITEMS ONE, TWO, AND ONE, THREE AND FOUR.AND UNDER COUNTY JUDGE ITEMS TWO AND THREE, I ASK FOR MOTION.
JUDGE, I MOVE TO, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT ITEMS AS PRESENTED TO COURT.
MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN.
UH, WHO MADE THE SECOND ON THAT? I DID.
UH, COMMISSIONER HOLD HAS MADE THE SECOND.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR CURIOUS.
[5.D. Approve the re-appointment of Jamie Bodiford to serve another two-year term for Pecan Valley Centers Board of Trustees, September 2025 through August 2027. (Ruben DeHoyos I Judge Deen)]
MOVE DOWN TO ITEM FIVE D.I APPROVE THE REAPPOINTMENT OF JAMIE BONINGER TO SERVE ANOTHER TWO YEAR TERM ON THE PECAN VALLEY CENTER'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
SEPTEMBER 25TH TO AUGUST 20, 27TH.
UH, WE HAVE RUBEN DE HOAS HERE.
WE'RE REQUESTING THAT, UH, JAMIE VOER BE, UH, REAPPOINTED FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS FOR PECON VALLEY SENATORS BOARD OF TRUSTEES FROM SEPTEMBER, 2025 THROUGH AUGUST 20, 27.
JAMIE'S, UH, BEEN A FRIEND OF THE, UH, AGENCY AND HAS, UH, SERVED US, UH, IN THAT CAPACITY FOR A FEW YEARS, BUT ALSO HAS SERVED ON ANOTHER BOARD FOR MANY, MANY YEARS BEFORE THAT.
SO WE'RE JUST ASKING, THIS SHOULD BE REAPPOINTED.
JAMIE WOULD LIKE YOU TO SAY SOMETHING.
UH, JUDGE, DEAN, AND COMMISSIONERS.
UM, IT HAS BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO BE WITH PECAN VALLEY.
UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT WE SERVE FIVE COUNTIES, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND I'M REAL EXCITED.
AND, UM, MAYBE AFTER WE GET THROUGH NOVEMBER APPROVAL OF OUR NEEDS FOR THE COUNTY, UH, WITH A POSITIVE WAY Y'ALL COULD COME OVER AND SEE.
WE DO HAVE A GROUP HOME FOR, UH, YOUNG TEENAGERS.
WE'RE THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS, HAS IT IN THE FIVE COUNTIES, AND IT'S SERVING ABOUT 14 JUVENILES RIGHT NOW.
AND IT'S TAKING THESE CHILDREN THAT ARE UNDER A LOT OF DURESS AT HOME WITH CHALLENGES WITH FAMILY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND WE JUST HAD A REAL GOOD, UM, MEETING LAST WEEK ON LAST FRIDAY, WHERE THE COUNSELOR AT WEATHERFORD HIGH SCHOOL SAID THAT SHE IS SO PLEASED THAT THERE'S BEEN THREE REALLY EXCITING, UM, TURNING POINTS FOR THREE CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN THERE.
SO THANK Y'ALL FOR WHAT Y'ALL DO, AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE APPOINTED REAPPOINTED.
IF Y'ALL WOULD, UH, IF Y'ALL WOULD JUST STAY RIGHT THERE FOR ME.
UH, I'D ASK FOR A MOTION REAL QUICK.
OH, I'M, I HAVE, I'VE SHOWN NOTHING ON MY SCREEN.
MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN.
WHO? COMMISSIONER HA MADE THE SECOND.
Y'ALL COME ON TO GET A PICTURE WHEN IT COMES TIME TO VOTE.
[00:05:06]
ALL RIGHT.[5.A. Public Hearing for 2025-2026 fiscal year proposed budget. (Judge Deen) PUBLIC HEARING ]
TO, UH, DOWN TO ITEM FIVE A IN A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE 20 25, 20 26 FISCAL YEAR PROPOSED BUDGET.I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND OPEN THAT PUBLIC HEARING AT 9 0 5.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND SPEAK, UM, TO THAT BUDGET.
AND THIS IS, OH, THIS IS YOUR TIME.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK, SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE? MM-HMM.
LARRY, THIS IS YOUR CHANCE, LARRY.
I KNOW YOU WANT TO COME UP
OH, THERE HE, AGAIN, THIS IS A, AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, THAT'S MADE FOR FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY ON THE BUDGET THAT WE'VE, UH, BEEN WORKING ON NOW FOR MONTHS.
AND, UH, AND SO, UH, IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK? YES, JUDGE.
THANK YOU, JUDGE DEAN AND COMMISSIONERS.
HAVING BEEN A MEMBER OF THE WEATHERFORD SCHOOL BOARD MANY YEARS, AND, UM, ON THE CITY COUNCIL, IT'S A HARD POSITION THAT YOU'RE IN.
AND HAVING BEEN A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF PARKER COUNTY, IT IS AMAZING AND ASTONISHING, UH, HOW THE GROWTH, AND AS A REALTOR, I SEE IT EVERY DAY.
PEOPLE HAVE FOUND OUR COMMUNITY.
I ASK THEM, HOW DO YOU FIND WEATHERFORD? WELL, I LOOK ON A MAP AND I SEE THAT YOU'RE 60 MINUTES FROM THE AIRPORT AND YOU CAN BUY ACREAGE, WHICH YOU CAN'T FIND IN OTHER COUNTIES.
BUT, UM, I'VE SEEN IN THE PAST WHERE BONDS HAVE FAILED.
AND GUESS WHAT? WE FINALLY PASS THEM IN FUTURE YEARS.
BUT IT'S ABOUT DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY.
UM, I KNOW OUR COURTS ARE FULL.
WE NEED, AND I WAS KIND OF DISAPPOINTED THAT WE HAVE SO MUCH CRIME AND HERE WE'RE NOT, BUT WE HAVE LIFE IN OUR COUNTY.
AND WITH THAT GOES CHALLENGES.
SO, UM, I THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I KNOW IT'S GONNA BE HARD TO PUSH IT, BUT I HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL KEEP AN OPEN MIND AND REALIZE THAT OUR OUR GROWTH IS HERE.
WE'VE GOT TO GET IT TAKEN CARE OF, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, IT'S GONNA BE MORE EXPENSIVE LATER.
SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME UP? I'D LIKE TO SAY SOME THINGS IF IT'S PERMISSIBLE, JUDGE, PLEASE.
UM, WE ARE, UH, WE'RE GROWING.
UH, OUR NEEDS ARE GROWING, UH, A LOT FASTER THAN OUR, UH, REVENUES.
TAX MONEY IS GROWING AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION EACH AND EVERY YEAR, JUST LIKE WE, UH, HAVE BEEN SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE AND TRYING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COUNTY AND, AND KEEP A TAX RATE THAT, UH, IS ACTUALLY AT THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE IS WHAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED.
OUR, OUR COUNTY TAX RATE HAS DECREASED FROM 42 SINCE DOWN TO WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED AS 28.
NOW, GRANTED, UH, ANYBODY'S GONNA LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, OH, BUT THE BUDGET HAS GROWN.
YES, IT HAS, BUT IT HAS, WE, UH, ARE AN EXTREMELY CONSERVATIVE GROUP HERE.
AND THE REASON THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP THAT TAX RATE LOWER, UH, IS BECAUSE OF, OF WE SCRUTINIZE EVERY EXPENDITURE.
WE SCRUTINIZE EVERYTHING THAT COMES ACROSS HERE, LOOKING FOR BETTER VALUE FOR THE COUNTY, UH, LOOKING FOR, UH, A LESS EXPENSIVE WAY OF, OF MANAGING IT WHILE STILL KEEPING EMPLOYEES HERE, UH, THAT MIGHT TRAVEL OVER SOMEWHERE ELSE AND GET A JOB.
AND, UH, UH, I I JUST THINK THAT, UH, I'M PROUD OF OUR HISTORY, UH, AS FAR AS KEEPING THE TAX RATE WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.
WE HAVE HAD BOND ELECTIONS SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE FOR TRANSPORTATION.
AND WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE YEAR, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ABSORB THAT INCREASE IN DEBT SERVICE BY THE GROWTH.
NOW GRANTED, PORTION OF THAT EXACTLY IS THROUGH YOUR, UH, APPRAISAL, UH, OF YOUR PROPERTY GOING UP.
UH, WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THAT.
HOWEVER, IF YOU LOOK AT OTHER TAXING ENTITIES IN THE COUNTY, YOU'LL SEE THAT THEIR TAX RATE'S PROBABLY THE SAME AS IT WAS 10 YEARS AGO.
AND, AND, UH, SO IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T HAVE NEEDS,
[00:10:01]
IT'S JUST THAT WE HAVE FIVE PEOPLE SITTING HERE WHO WORK EVERY DAY TO CONTROL THE COST OF GOVERNMENT AND CONTROL THE REACH OF GOVERNMENT.AND I'M, I'M JUST PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS GROUP, AND I'M PROUD THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO, WHO WATCH WHAT WE DO.
I WISH THAT THEY WOULD WATCH OTHER TAXING ENTITIES AS CLOSELY AS THEY WATCH US.
SO, UH, I WANT TO THANK THE GUYS THAT, THAT ARE SITTING UP HERE THAT HAVE TO MAKE THOSE HARD DECISIONS.
UH, NOBODY ELSE IN THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT HAS TO MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE.
NOBODY ELSE IN THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS UNDER THE SCRUTINY THAT WE ARE.
AND WE HAVE LOTS OF PEOPLE TELLING US WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING.
AND, UH, WE RELY ON OUR OWN, UH, ABILITIES TO DETERMINE WHAT'S BEST FOR THE TAXPAYERS OF PARKER COUNTY.
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEST.
I WAS WAITING FOR YOU TO INTERJECT AND REMIND FOLKS THAT THE PERCENTAGE OF THE OVERALL PROPERTY TAX CHECK THAT WE WRITE, THAT THIS COURT ACTUALLY, OR THE COUNTY ACTUALLY IS, IF YOU, I BE GLAD TO.
UM, YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL, YOUR ONLY 15% OF THAT BILL GOES TO COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
AND OF THAT 15% OF YOUR TOTAL TAX BILL, 80% OF IT GOES TO THE JUDICIARY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
UH, THAT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE ALL THE OTHER COUNTIES SERVICES, ALL THE OTHER COUNTY ELECTED FOLKS THAT WE HAVE AND EVERYTHING ELSE, UH, THAT COMES TO US.
AND, AND, UH, I I I TELL YOU THAT WHEN WE ARE CRITICAL OF SOMEBODY, IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T LIKE YOU, IT'S NOT THAT WE, UH, WE'RE WE'RE SITTING HERE BEING THE EBENEZER SCROOGE, IT'S THAT WE'RE SITTING HERE PROTECTING WHAT WE HAVE TO HAVE TO MANAGE OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT WITH A, WITH A RAPIDLY GROWING POPULATION, PEOPLE WHO EXPECT MORE SERVICES THAN WE PREVIOUSLY HAD, AND TRYING TO SPREAD THAT IN THE BEST WAY THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN.
I THINK COUNTY GOVERNMENT IN THIS COUNTY DOES A BETTER JOB OF, UH, OF MANAGING OUR BUDGET THAN MANY OTHERS THAT I SEE AROUND THE STATE.
BUT ALONG WITH THAT COMES A TRADE OFF AND, AND NOT HAVING SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN A CITY.
AND, UH, SO WE'RE, WE'RE BETWEEN BETWIXT, UH, SITTING HERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S BEST FOR EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY, EVERY TIME THAT WE COME UP HERE TO THIS BUDGET AND TAX RATE ISSUE, AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MANAGE IT.
THANKS FOR ASKING THE QUESTION AND THE PROMPT THERE.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK? AGAIN, THIS IS YOUR TIME SET ASIDE FOR YOU TO HAVE AN INPUT ON THE, UH, THE PROCESS.
UH, IT'S YOUR BUDGET WE'RE, WE HAPPEN TO WORK ON IT.
AND AS, UH, THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE STATED, UH, WE'RE VERY CONSERVATIVE IN TRYING TO KEEP OUTTA YOUR POCKETBOOK AND TRYING TO DO AS BEST WE CAN, UH, WITH WHAT WE HAVE.
UH, BUT IT IS YOUR MONEY, AND SO THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO COME UP AND SPEAK IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
COME ON, RICHARD HEISER, UM, PARKER COUNTY AND, UH, WEATHERFORD, TEXAS.
BUT I WANNA SAY, UM, YOU GUYS, UH, NOT ONLY WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY, I I WANT TO COMMEND YOU ON GOING ABOUT CHANGING YOUR PROCESS SOMEWHAT.
AND I THINK THAT PROCESS CAN ONLY IMPROVE, AND I'M SPEAKING OF, AND THOSE THAT DON'T REAL, DON'T REALIZE.
THERE WAS A BUDGET COMMITTEE THIS TIME THAT SAT AND WENT THROUGH AND LEARNED ABOUT THAT YOU HAD FOLKS ON YOUR, YOU KNOW, FROM THE COMMISSION AS WELL AS, UH, COMMISSIONER'S COURT, AS WELL AS OTHERS.
SO I APPRECIATE THAT PROCESS, AND I THINK IT CAN IMPROVE OVER TIME TO WHERE, UM, I THINK AN EDUCATION PORTION OF IT IS AS GOOD AS ANY, BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THE MAGNITUDE THAT YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS AND WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU PUT TOGETHER THE TAX RATES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT, THAT, UH, WHAT, WHAT SERVICES YOU HAVE TO, YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE AND ALL OF THE UNFUNDED MANDATES THAT YOU, YOU FOLKS RECEIVE.
[00:15:01]
AND THAT, THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT A LOT OF US DON'T EVEN REALIZE, BUT WE LOOK AT OUR TAX BILL.SO, UH, I WANT YOU TO STAY AS CONSERVATIVE AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN, BUT I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY OF PARTICIPATING AND, AND SEEING WHAT, WHAT YOU DO ON THOSE DAILY BASIS.
AND I HOPE THAT ONLY, UH, UH, NOT ONLY IMPROVES, BUT INCLUDES OTHERS.
THANKS FOR SERVING ON ALL THOSE COMMITTEES.
I'D LIKE TO FOLLOW UP WITH MR. HEISER, IF YOU'LL PERMIT ME.
UM, MR. HEISER POINTED OUT THAT WE HAD A BUDGET COMMITTEE.
THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE'VE HAD A SEPARATE BUDGET COMMITTEE, BECAUSE IT WAS IN ITS INFANCY.
WE TRIED TO START A LITTLE BIT SMALL, MAKE SURE WE DIDN'T LOSE SCOPE IMMEDIATELY.
UM, WE REVIEWED ALL NEW PERSONNEL AND ALL NEW CAPITAL REQUESTS, AND THERE WERE QUITE A FEW HOURS AND QUITE A BIT OF TIME, QUITE A BIT OF EFFORT PUTTING, UH, PUT INTO THAT BUDGET COMMITTEE TO RESPOND BACK TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT WITH A SCORING SYSTEM FOR RECOMMENDATIONS TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT ON NEW PERSONNEL AND ON NEW, UH, NEW CAPITAL PURCHASES.
AND I WANNA THANK MS. BECKY MCCULLOUGH, MR. JEFF SWAIN, MR. RICHARD HEISER FROM THE PUBLIC COMMISSIONER WALDEN.
UH, THE SIX OF US FORMED THAT BUDGET COMMITTEE, AND AS MR. HEISER INDICATED, HE WAS A PART OF IT.
HE WAS THE MEMBER FROM THE PUBLIC.
WE HAVE ALREADY HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW WE WANT TO EXPAND THAT COMMITTEE GOING FORWARD AND ADD ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
SO IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THAT NEXT YEAR, PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME, LET ME KNOW, AND WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN'T GET YOU A SPOT.
WE WILL ALSO TRY TO MAKE THOSE, UH, KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC AHEAD OF TIME WHERE YOU CAN PARTICIPATE, EVEN IF IT'S JUST FROM AN OBSERVING STANDPOINT, BECAUSE AS MR. HEISER SAID, SOME OF THIS IS EDUCATION.
WE, WE GET A LOT OF GREAT SUGGESTIONS FROM FOLKS THAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING.
I JUST DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB OF TELLING Y'ALL WE'RE WE'RE ALREADY DOING IT.
I, I DO WANNA SPEAK ON THE BOND QUICKLY.
UM, WE HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF FEEDBACK OF, WELL, Y'ALL SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS A LONG TIME AGO.
IF THAT'S HOW YOU FEEL, THAT'S HOW YOU FEEL.
AND I CAN'T ENCOURAGE ANYONE TO VOTE FOR IT OR VOTE AGAINST IT.
BUT I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT SAYING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE DONE IT A LONG TIME AGO, DOESN'T MAKE IT ANY BETTER OF AN IDEA TO REJECT IT.
ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK AT THIS POINT? I'M NOT GONNA BEG YOU.
UM, JUST GOING FOR THE LAST CHANCE.
UH, I'M GONNA ASK JUST THIS LAST TIME, IS THERE ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO COME UP? AND, UM, IF NOT, I'M GONNA GO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING HERE AT NINE 18.
UH, AND THEN, UH, THERE'S NO ACTION TO BE TAKEN ON THAT ITEM.
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND, AND LISTEN TO THIS PROCESS AND GOING THROUGH THIS AND WORKING WITH US AGAIN.
UH, MR. HEISER, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THAT WITH THIS COMMITTEE.
IT'S MADE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT'S TAKEN AND PUTTING TRANSPARENCY OUT TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT WE DO HERE.
AND SO THAT WILL BE EXPANDED TO GET MORE INVOLVEMENT FROM THE COMMUNITY INTO THIS.
AND, UH, IT, IT EXPANDS THE OWNERSHIP OF WHAT WE'RE DOING TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO, UH, I THINK THAT WAS A GREAT IDEA TO DO THAT.
ONE MORE COMMENT, JUST, JUST FOR INFORMATION AND EDUCATION PURPOSES.
UH, WE GET HANDED THE BILL WITHOUT HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND CHANGE IT IN ANY WAY IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS.
IT MAKES UP A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE COUNTY BUDGET.
AND, AND I'M TALKING ABOUT UNFUNDED MANDATES.
I'M TALKING ABOUT, UH, DEPARTMENTS THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER.
AND, UM, WE SIT HERE AND, AND PRESENT A BUDGET.
AND, AND, AND THE, THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE TO, UH, RAISE THAT MONEY AND ALL THOSE, THERE'S A, THERE'S A LOT OF IT THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER AT ALL.
HERE IT IS, YOU FIGURE OUT HOW TO RAISE THE MONEY TO PAY THIS.
AND I, I, I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT GOES UNKNOWN, UH, OUT IN, UH, AWAY FROM HERE.
BUT IT IS THE WAY THAT IT'S, SO AGAIN, I COMMEND THE COURT FOR THE, FOR THEIR WORK AND, UH, CERTAINLY FOR THE COMMITTEE TOO AS WELL.
WE'RE GONNA GO BACK UP TO ITEM.
[5.F. Discuss and approve early vote and Election Day polling locations for the November 4, 2025 election. (Crickett Miller/ Judge Deen) ]
DOWN TO ONE MORE.UM, UNDER, UNDER FIVE F UH, WE DO HAVE OUR ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR HERE DISCUSSING, DISCUSSING APPROVED EARLY VOTE AND ELECTION DAY POLLING LOCATIONS FOR THE NOVEMBER 4TH, 2025 ELECTION.
[00:20:01]
CRICKET.UM, WE'RE USING THE SAME POLLING SITES THAT WE'VE USED PREVIOUSLY.
UM, WE HAVE CHANGED THE EARLY VOTING HOURS JUST A LITTLE BIT, SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S AWARE OF IT.
SUNDAY, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE OPENED AT ALL ON, AT ANY OF THE LOCATIONS.
UM, THE EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS AT OUR, AT THE NEW ELECTION BUILDING WILL BE SEVEN TO SEVEN THE LAST DAY, BUT THE OTHER SITES WILL ALL BE EIGHT TO FIVE.
SO JUST MAKE YOU AWARE OF THAT.
UM, OTHER THAN THAT, EVERYTHING'S THE SAME.
AND WE DO NEED TO APPROVE THAT WITH A MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HOLT.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE SIDE BEFORE WE VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR.
OH, THANK YOU FOR, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? UH, YEAH, I HAVE QUITE A FEW
[5.G. Discuss and approve the appointment of Presiding Judges, Alternate Judges and Central Count Station for elections conducted by Parker County for a one-year term effective September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026. (Crickett Miller/ Judge Deen) ]
MOVE TO G ON DISCUSSION.APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF PRE PRESIDING JUDGES, ALTERNATE JUDGES CENTRAL ACCOUNT STATION WHERE ELECTIONS CONDUCTED BY PARKER COUNTY IN A ONE YEAR TERM, EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2025 THROUGH AUGUST, 2030 FIRST, 2026.
THIS IS PART OF OUR TEXAS ELECTION CODE 32.001 AND 32.002.
THE PRESIDING JUDGE AND THE ALTERNATE JUDGE ARE PRESENTED TO ME BEFORE JULY, THE 31ST BY EACH PARTY.
AND THESE NAMES THAT ARE ON THIS LIST HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO ME BY THE PARTIES AT THE TIME, AND SO YOU JUST NEED TO APPROVE THOSE SO THAT WE CAN USE THEM FOR THE ELECTION COMING UP THIS YEAR.
MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER HALE, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HOLT.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR HEARING FIVE OH.
[5.H. Discuss and approve number of clerks to be used at each Election Day polling location for the November 4, 2025 election. (Crickett Miller/ Judge Deen) ]
H.DISCUSS APPROVING NUMBER OF CLERKS TO BE USED AT EAST ELECTION DAY.
POLLING LOCATION FOR THE NOVEMBER 4TH, 2025 ELECTION.
WELL, BASED ON OUR LAST CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ELECTION, I DO KNOW THIS ONE HERE MAY BE A LITTLE BIT MORE BUSY DUE TO THE BONDS THAT ARE GONNA BE ON THE BALLOT.
UM, BUT THIS IS WHAT I'M RECOMMENDING THE CLERKS, THE NUMBER OF CLERKS TO BE USED.
MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HALE.
[5.I. Approve joint contracts for November 4, 2025 election and authorize County Attorney to sign contracts. (Crickett Miller/ Judge Deen) ]
ITEM AYE.APPROVE JOINT CONTRACTS FOR NOVEMBER 4TH, 2025.
ELECTION AND AUTHORIZED COUNTY ATTORNEY TO SIGN CONTRACTS.
OKAY, SO THIS IS OUR LAST ONE.
AND THESE ARE THE CONTRACTS THAT WE'VE ALREADY GOTTEN SIGNED BY THE ENTITIES THAT WE'RE GONNA BE CONTRACTING WITH.
AND NOW WE'LL GIVE MR. FOREST THE PERMISSION TO SIGN 'EM, BUT IT'S EMERGENCY SERVICE DISTRICT ONE, EMERGENCY SERVICE DISTRICT SIX, GRANBERRY, ISD, PEACE, ISD PER WITT.
I, UH, CISD, WEATHERFORD, ISD AND SANTO SPECIAL UTILITY DISTRICT.
THOSE ALL WILL BE CONTRACTING WITH US FOR THIS ELECTION.
MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER HALE, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OF THIS ITEM? ALL IN FAVOR HEARINGS FIVE O JUDGE.
UH, CRICKET, UH, SOME OF THESE, UH, I'M CERTAINLY NOT AWARE OF WHAT THE PROPOSITION'S GOING TO BE.
IS THERE A PLACE THAT WE OR THE PUBLIC COULD ACCESS THAT SO THAT WE WOULD KNOW WHAT THESE ELECTIONS ARE ACTUALLY FOR? YES, SIR.
I'M WORKING ON IT RIGHT NOW, BUT IF YOU'LL GO TO OUR SAMPLE BALLOTS PAGE, IT'S CALLED A SUPER BALLOT MM-HMM
AND IT'S GONNA LIST EVERYTHING THAT'S GONNA BE ON THE BALLOT, UM, BECAUSE THERE ARE BONDS AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF WORDING THAT ARE GONNA BE ON THESE, UH, SO ANYWAY, SO EVERYBODY CAN LOOK AT IT.
THE ONLY THING IS, REMEMBER, JUST BECAUSE YOU SEE IT ON THERE DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE GONNA GET IT.
SO YOU NEED TO KNOW IF YOU'RE IN THAT DISTRICT.
SO IF YOU'RE IN THE SANTOS SAID, YOU, YOU'LL GET TO SEE WHAT YOU'RE VOTING ON.
SO THROUGH THE COUNTY WEBSITE THEN? YES, SIR.
THROUGH ELECTIONS, AND THEN GO TO SAMPLE BALLOTS.
AND SAMPLE BALLOTS WILL ACTUALLY BE POSTED HOPEFULLY MID-SEPTEMBER.
OKAY, JUDGE, I'M SEEING, UH, I'M SEEING LIKE A, A FIVE E HERE, PERHAPS, UH, CHRIS HUMMEL'S BACK HERE.
[5.E. Accept donation of 4 AED's to Constables from Parker County Hospital District Citizen EMS. (Chris Hummel I Judge Deen) ]
MOVE TO FIVE FIVE E ON ACCEPT DONATION OF FOUR AEDS TO CONSTABLES FROM PARKER COUNTY HOSPITAL, DISTRICT CITIZEN EMS, CHRIS HUMMEL, WE COME ON UP.I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE PARKER COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT, CITIZEN EMS. AND WHAT OUR GOAL IS, IS TO MAKE PARKER COUNTY A FOUR MINUTE COUNTY.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS WITH THE AEDS, WE WANT TO GET THE WHOLE COUNTY COVERED IN AEDS.
IT TAKES 216 TO COVER THE 920 SQUARE MILES OF PARKER COUNTY SO FAR.
OUR GROUP HAS BEEN TOGETHER A YEAR AGO TODAY,
[00:25:01]
AND WE HAVE PURCHASED 14 AEDS.WE'VE GOT SEVEN OF 'EM OUT, AND TODAY WE'RE GONNA PUT SEVEN MORE OUT.
WHAT WE'RE WANTING TO DO IS EQUIP THE CONSTABLES WITHIN A ED IN THEIR UNITS, BECAUSE THEY ARE OUT INTO THE COUNTY.
THEY COVER MORE AREA AND WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TO PUT, UH, SOME MORE AEDS IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT VEHICLES.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR TODAY.
AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TELL Y'ALL, WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT.
THE AEDS HAS COME FROM PRIVATE DONATIONS AND ALSO HAS COME FROM BUSINESS DONATIONS.
AND WE'VE HAD A, UH, A FUNDRAISER THAT WE'VE ALSO DONE.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTY, WITHIN FOUR MINUTES, FOUR MINUTES IS THE MOST CRITICAL PART OF A CARDIAC ARREST.
WHEN YOU GET CHEST COMPRESSIONS AND YOU GET AN A ED ON 'EM, THEIR SUCCESS RATE IS LIKE 96, 90 7%.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS GET THESE OUT, GIVE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY.
WE ARE THE ONLY COUNTY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AS I KNOW OF THAT HAS A CITIZEN'S EMS. AND ALSO, WE WANNA BE THE FIRST COUNTY IN TEXAS TO BE A FOUR MINUTE COUNTY, NOT A FOUR MINUTE CITY, BUT A FOUR MINUTE COUNTY.
AND THAT'S WHAT OUR GOAL IS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
AND SO WE APPRECIATE ALL Y'ALL HELP, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
WE'VE, UM, WE'VE ALREADY, UH, GIVEN A COUPLE, UH, AEDS TO, UM, SHERIFF ER, AND WE'VE GOT SOME MORE THAT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING.
AND THE SUPPORT AND ALL THAT WE HAVE IN THE COUNTY SO FAR HAS BEEN UNBELIEVABLE.
THE PEOPLE HERE ARE REALLY BEHIND US.
I'VE TALKED TO A COUPLE OF COMMISSIONERS BEFORE.
UM, MR. CONLEY, WE WAS UP IN SPRINGTOWN WHEN HE WAS THERE.
MR. WALDEN, I'VE TALKED TO YOU A COUPLE TIMES ABOUT IT.
UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE DONE.
YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT A FIRE PLUG AND EVERY, EVERY TIME YOU TURN AROUND, YOU LOOK A FIRE PLUG SOMEWHERE.
THE FIRE PLUGS ARE GREAT, GOT NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM, BUT THIS RIGHT HERE CAN SAVE SOMEBODY'S LIFE.
IT'S OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF WIT OR OUT IN THE MIDDLE, UH, MILLSAP THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE FIRE HYDRANTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
WE NEED THESE OUT, AND WE NEED 'EM TO BE OUT AS SOON AS WE CAN TO GET THIS COUNTY COVERED, AND I APPRECIATE IT.
WE'VE GOT SOME, UM, DEFIBRILLATORS.
UH, JIM BCA IS OUR, UH, EMS DIRECTOR.
I'VE GOT HIM AND SOME OF THE OTHER ONES FROM OUR EMS CREW HERE.
AND WE'D LIKE TO PRESENT THE AEDS TO THE COURT.
THESE, THESE DEFIBRILLATORS ARE $3,000 A PIECE IS WHAT THEY RUN.
THE TIMES YOU GET THE, THE HARDWARE AND THE ELECTRONICS AND ALL THAT.
AND SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT THESE, IF SOMEBODY HAPPENS TO STEAL IT OR MOVE IT, THEY'VE GOT AN A TRACKER IN 'EM,
SO IT, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THEY TAKE IT TO 10 BUCK TWO, WE CAN, I'LL GO THERE AND GET IT FOR US.
UM, BUT THAT'S THE WHOLE THING, YOU KNOW.
UH, WE WILL DO THE, UH, THE TRAINING AND EVERYTHING AT NO COST TO ANYBODY TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS, TO GET THESE OUT INTO THE PUBLIC.
UM, JIM, JIM, UM, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP AND, YES.
WELL, THANK, UH, JUDGE DEAN AND, UH, ALL THE COMMISSIONERS FOR JUST, UH, CONSIDERING THIS.
UH, JUST LIKE CHRIS SAID, IT'S, UH, IT'S OUR PASSION AT THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT TO, UH, MAKE AN IMPACT IN THE COUNTY ON, UH, INDIVIDUAL'S HEALTH.
AND, UH, JUST LIKE CHRIS SAID, A SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST CAN AFFECT ANYONE.
WE'VE, WE'VE HAD TWO YEAR OLDS WHO HAVE CHOKED AND GONE INTO CARDIAC ARREST, AND WE'VE ALSO ALL THE WAY UP TO THE ELDERLY THAT IT DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE.
THE ONLY THING THAT BRINGS SOMEONE BACK EFFECTIVELY IS GOOD CPR AND A, UH, SHOCK.
AND, UH, JUST BECAUSE YOU LIVE OUT IN A RURAL AREA DOES NOT MEAN IT SHOULD BE A DEATH SENTENCE BECAUSE YOU HAVE A, A SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST.
AND, UH, WE'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT.
WE WOULD LOVE TO PUT A, UH, FIRE DEPARTMENT OR A, UH, AMBULANCE EVER, UM, UH, TWO BLOCKS, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S, UH, NOT COST, UH, EFFECTIVE BY DOING THAT.
BUT JUST FOR, UH, $3,000, WE CAN PUT THESE, UH, ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTY.
THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY THAT WE, UH, INITIALLY, UH, WANNA ROLL THIS PROGRAM OUT IS PUTTING THESE ON, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT IN, IN LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES.
UH, THEY'RE OUT THERE IN THE COUNTY.
THEY'RE, UH, THEY'RE REALLY, UH, MOST, UH, WE, WE PLAN ON TRAINING THEM.
SO WE, THEY HAVE ADEQUATE, UH, THEY KNOW HOW TO DO GOOD QUALITY CPR AND, UH, THROUGH, UM, MODERN INNOVATION,
[00:30:01]
UH, THROUGH OUR CAD SYSTEM AT THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT EMS DEPARTMENT.IF YOU'LL NOTICE THEY HAVE A, UH, LED SCREEN.
AND WHEN THESE, UH, OUR DISPATCHERS TONE THESE, UH, THINGS OUT, THEY'LL, THEY'LL ALARM.
AND THEN A MAP WILL BE DISPLAYED ON THIS LED SCREEN, SO THE OFFICER WILL KNOW WHERE TO TAKE THIS.
UH, RECENTLY, UH, THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, UH, BLAKE REX WROTE, HE IS OUR MARKETING DIRECTOR.
HE'S, UH, HE'S A PART OF OUR, UH, OF OUR CITIZENS EMS PROGRAM.
HE WAS SITTING AT HIS HOUSE, UH, DOWN IN BROCK, UH, GOT AN ALERT AND, UH, WENT TO THE VICTIM'S HOUSE AND BEGAN CPR.
AND THAT INDIVIDUAL WALKED OUTTA THE HOSPITAL.
EVERY MINUTE THAT GOES BY WHEN YOU'RE IN CARDIAC ARREST WITHOUT COMPRESSIONS AND WITHOUT A SHOCK, YOUR CHANCES OF SURVIVAL GOES DOWN BY 10%, FIVE MINUTES.
YOU ONLY GOT 50%, UH, CAPABILITY OF, UH, SURVIVING EFFECTIVELY.
SO NOT ONLY IS THIS A EMS, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, THING THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS, BUT IT'S A COMMUNITY.
AND THAT'S WHY THE COMMUNITY, UH, THIS IS A DONATED BY THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE, UM, UM, WELL, LET ME FIND THE GROUP.
UM, WE HAVE MULTIPLE GROUPS BAD ENOUGH TO WEAR.
BLUE HAS DONATED, UH, SEVERAL OF THESE AEDS, UH, PARK COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT, CITIZENS, EMS, UH, CHICKEN E JUST AS CHRIS SAID.
AND STEVE AND ANGELA HUGHES, THEY'RE ALL, THESE ARE ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE DONATING THESE THINGS BECAUSE WE SEE THE NEED AND THE, UH, THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING THESE DEVICES OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, WE'RE EXCITED TO GET 'EM ON, UH, ON, UH, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES IN THE COUNTY.
AND IT'S GONNA BE IMMENSELY, UH, SUPPORTIVE FOR THEM IN DOING THEIR JOB.
IF YOU WOULD SAY RIGHT THERE, UH, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HALE AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HOLT.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? JUST A WORD, UM, BEFORE WE, BEFORE WE, UH, GO ON TO THE PICTURE TIME, UH, BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT, THAT CHRIS HAS DONE, WE, WE HAVE THOSE AT MY SHOP AND IN MY OFFICE RIGHT NOW.
AND, UH, WE'VE HAD CPR AND OPERATION OF THE A ED TRAINING FOR ALL OF OUR STAFF AND EVERYBODY THERE.
MOST EVERYBODY THERE HAD BEEN THROUGH SOME KIND OF TRAINING FOR CPR OR SOMETHING BEFORE.
UH, I SAT THERE AND WATCHED THOSE GUYS PAYING ATTENTION TO EVERY WORD BECAUSE THEY HAD A REALLY GOOD TRAINER.
AND, UH, UH, HE DID A GREAT JOB.
AND IT CAME BACK AND WE CAME BACK AND WE DID THE, UH, STOP BLEEDING TRAINING AS, AS A FOLLOW UP TO THAT.
AND, UH, IT'S BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT THESE GUYS HAVE DONE TO, TO ADVANCE THE INFORMATION, TO RECOGNIZE THE, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE AEDS.
AND, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE GOT IN THERE YET OR NOT, BUT THE ABILITY WHEN YOU POP THAT THING OPEN AND USE IT TO CALL AN AMBULANCE FOR YOU, UH, TO HAVE THEM COME TO THAT LOCATION.
AND, UH, SO WE LEARNED A LOT, UH, IN THE, THE COUPLE OF HOURS THAT WE SPENT IN THE TRAINING, THAT IT'S VERY, VERY BENEFICIAL.
UH, BADNESS WEAR BLUE, UH, IS THE, UH, FOUND MEN'S HEALTH FOUNDATION OF PARK COUNTY SHERIFF'S POLICY.
I'M ALSO VERY PROUD OF THE MONEY THAT WE'VE RAISED TO BE ABLE TO PUT THOSE OUT.
HAVE THAT MOTION INCREASE FIVE OH, IF Y'ALL WOULD COME ON IT IN.
WE'LL GET TO THE, UH, EVERYBODY.
[00:35:30]
THANK Y'ALL AGAIN.[5.C. Select salary grievance committee and take any action as necessary. (Judge Deen) ]
C ON THIS SELECT SALARY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE AND TAKE ANY ACTIONS NECESSARY.I BELIEVE WE'RE SET UP FOR THIS.
STEVEN WATKINS, CODY PHELPS, TRINA PRITCHET, RANDALL JOSLYN.
I, JAMES RASPBERRY, ANNETTE DOWNS.
JONATHAN TABOR, BRANDI, MCDONALD'S.
COUNSEL, ANY ACTION ON THAT TO APPROVE THAT? ANY MOTION? OKAY.
ALL MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE ALL RIGHT.
ACTUALLY IT WAS COMMISSIONER WALDEN THAT MADE THE MOTION.
THEN SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HALE.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? YEAH, JUST, JUST TO MENTION WHO IT IS.
THESE ARE MEMBERS, UH, PAST MEMBERS OF THE GRAND JURY WHO WILL FILL OR BE ASKED TO FILL THE ROLE ON THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE IF THERE IS INDEED A NEED FOR ONE.
UH, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? THE ONLY, OH, GO AHEAD.
THE ONLY QUESTION I HAD IS THE OTHER, UM, ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT ARE ON SPECIFIC BY STATUTE.
ONE OF 'EM SAYS COUNTY ATTORNEY OR CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE ESTABLISHING THE COMMITTEE, IF THAT SHOULD BE, UM, DECIDED BY THE COURT AT THIS TIME.
AND SO ALSO THERE WILL BE, WHICH YOU DREW THE NAMES FOR THREE, UM, PUBLIC MEMBERS TO BE ON THERE.
AND THE REASON WHY THERE WERE SO MANY ADDITIONAL ONES.
SO IF THOSE FIRST THREE WERE DRAWN, THEN YOU WOULD GO IN THAT ORDER OF ALTERNATIVES TO MAKE UP THOSE, UM, THREE PUBLIC MEMBERS FOR THE NINE COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? WELL, DO YOU NEED A MOTION THEN TO MAKE EITHER, EITHER THE COUNTY ATTORNEY OR THE CRIMINAL? I WOULD THINK THAT IF WE'RE ESTABLISHING THE COMMITTEE, UM, THE COURT SHOULD DETERMINE THAT.
SO IF, UM, IT DID GO TO IT, YOU ALREADY KNOW WHO THAT IS AND THE COURT HAS MADE THAT DETERMINATION.
SO DOES THE MOTIONS THAT ARE HELD BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN, COMMISSIONER A, DOES THAT REFLECT THAT? NO.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA NEED ANOTHER MOTION.
[00:40:01]
OKAY.AND THIS MOTION HERE IN THE DISCUSSION.
JOHN, YOU HAVE ANY INPUT ON THIS? HE WOULD LOVE TO BE ON THAT COMMITTEE.
YOU HONOR, I KNOW YOU'D BE HONORED.
I MOVED TO APPROVE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AS A REPRESENTATIVE TO THE SALARY, SALARY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE.
MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HILL.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR CARRIES FIVE.
[D.1. Interdepartmental transfers of equipment and inventory reports. ]
GO BACK TO ITEM D ONE ON INTERDEPARTMENTAL TRANSFERS OF EQUIPMENT INVENTORY REPORTS.KIM, ANY? NO, WE DO HAVE SOME INTERDEPARTMENTAL TRANSFERS OF EQUIPMENT AND INVENTORY REPORTS.
THEY ARE MOSTLY IT RELATED ITEMS THAT WERE PURCHASED WITH IT'S, UM, DEPARTMENTAL FUNDS AND THEN TRANSFERRED AS THEY WERE PROGRAMMED AND READY TO BE, UM, ISSUED OUT TO THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
SO THAT'S THE TRANSFERS MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR CARRIES FIVE.
[D.2. Purchasing Policy Amendment. (Kim Rivas/ Judge Deen)]
ITEM 2D TWO PURCHASING POLICY AMENDMENT.SO I'VE MENTIONED TO YOU ALL SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT SENATE BILL 1173, UM, THAT WOULD CHANGE THE THRESHOLD FOR PARKER COUNTY, UM, FROM $50,000 TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR PURCHASES.
AND SO, UM, WE, THE LAW WAS PASSED INTO BEING INTO EFFECT ON SEPTEMBER ONE.
AND SO WE NEED TO GET THE AMENDMENT DONE FOR THE PURCHASING POLICY AS WELL TO COINCIDE WITH THE STATUTE.
SO I AM REQUESTING AT THIS TIME THAT WE AMEND THE POLICY FROM 50,000 TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND.
THIS CHANGE PROVIDES, UM, GREATER FLEXIBILITY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO MANAGE RESOURCES AND MAKE PURCHASES WITHOUT BEING SUBJECT TO COMPETITIVE BIDDING FOR SMALLER EXPENDITURES.
I'M ALSO REQUESTING THAT WE CHANGE THE POLICY AS WELL FOR ITEMS THAT ARE LESS THAN THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, UM,
ANYTHING ELSE? UM, SO, SO WE WOULD NEED TO, I'M, I'M REQUESTING CHANGES FOR PURCHASE OF A GOODS TOTALING BETWEEN 5,000 AND $19,999 AND 99 CENTS TO, UM, FOR WRITTEN QUOTES, THREE WRITTEN QUOTES FROM AT LEAST THREE REPUTABLE VENDORS.
I'M ALSO REQUESTING PURCHASES OF SERVICES TOTAL BETWEEN 5,000 AND $19,999 AND 99 CENTS.
UM, AS WELL FOR THREE WRITTEN QUOTES PREVIOUSLY, THAT WAS AT 5,000 TO 10,000.
I'M ASKING FOR AN INCREASE, UM, BETWEEN 20,990, I'M SORRY, $99,999 AND 99 CENTS FOR ALL OTHER PURCHASES INCLUDING, UH, FOR GOODS AND SERVICES.
UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, ANYTHING OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, UM, WOULD NEED A FORMAL PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
EITHER BE IN-HOUSE OR, UM, THROUGH A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT.
ALSO, THAT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IS STILL A CUMULATIVE AGGREGATE EXPENSE COUNTYWIDE.
UM, SO IT, IT JUST, IT GIVES US A $50,000.
I THINK WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HELD.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN? WE'RE IN THE DISCUSSION PLEASE.
ANY, ANY DISCUSSION WITH, SO SO THIS EXPANDS OUR CUTOFF, OR IT RAISES THE CUTOFF FROM 10,000 TO 20,000 ON THAT FIRST TRANCHE.
THAT LOWEST TRANCHE, IT'S 5,000 TO 20,000.
YES, BUT IT WAS 5,000 TO 10,000.
ALL IN FAVOR, CARRIE, IF I WILL.
[D.3. Final Report on Results of Online Surplus Auction ended 05/02/2025. (Kim Rivas / Judge Deen)]
MOVE TO ITEM THREE ON FINAL REPORT ON RESULTS OF ONLINE SURPLUS AUCTION ENDING 5 2 20 25.KIM REQUESTING, UM, JUST, OR THIS IS ACTUALLY JUST A NOTIFICATION FOR FINAL REPORT ON THE RESULTS OF THE AUCTION THAT ENDED ON MAY 2ND.
THE TOLL AMOUNT OF PROCEEDS WAS 29,000 372 97, FUND 10 RECEIVED $18,062 AND 22 CENTS.
AND THAT INCLUDED A, THE SALE OF A BOX TRAILER, A 94 MAC TRUCK AND SOME PULL PAD CASES.
UM, FUND ONE PRECINCT ONE SOLD A TUB GRINDER AND IT WAS FOR 20, IT BROUGHT IN $2,525.
PRECINCT THREE HAD A TOTAL OF $6,172 FOR THE SALE OF, OF VARIOUS ITEMS. AND THEN SEIZURE FUNDS, UM, HAD PROCEEDS OF $2,251 FOR THE SALE OF A 2013 YAMAHA AND A 2004 SATURN.
UH, THERE'S NO ACTION ON THAT ITEM.
[D.4. PCSO Total Loss Summary - VIN #22334. (Kim Rivas/ Judge Deen) ]
ON PARKER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.TOTAL LOSS SUMMARY, VI NUMBER 2, 2 3 3 4.
KIM REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY JUDGE TO ACCEPT A TOTAL LOSS OFFER FROM TEXAS ASSOCIATION WITH COUNTIES AS A RESULT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON JULY 29TH
[00:45:01]
OF A 2023 CHEVROLET TAHOE.ENDING IN VIN NUMBER 2 2 3 3 4 ASSIGNED TO THE PARKER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
UM, THE TOTAL LOSS OFFER, UM, WAS $48,126 AND 67 CENTS LESS A DEDUCTIBLE OF A THOUSAND DOLLARS, WHICH BRINGS IT TO 47,000 126 67.
THESE FUNDS WILL GO BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND 'CAUSE THEY WILL NOT BE REPLACING THIS TAHOE.
I WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION ON THAT.
MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL FAVOR CARRIED FIVE OH.
[D.5. Approve the salvage/destruction of Stinger Spike Systems. (Kim Rivas / Judge Deen) ]
MOVE TO ITEM FIVE.APPROVE THE SALVAGE DESTRUCTION OF STINGER SPIKE SYSTEMS REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION TO DESTROY THREE STINGER SPIKE SYSTEMS THAT ARE DATED 2010 AND HAVE BEEN UPDATED WITH NEW SPIKE SYSTEMS. THE SERIAL NUMBERS END IN 3 2 5 6 3 2 6 0 AND 3 2 6 2.
DO I HAVE A MOTION OR ANY COMMENT? MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN? A SECOND.
I'LL SECOND THE MOTIONS OR ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? JUST, JUST INFORMATION.
UH, THESE ARE, THESE ARE EXPIRED FROM THE DATE, UH, NOT FROM USE ON THESE, IS THAT, AM I CORRECT? THE STINGER IS ONE OF THE FIRST SYSTEMS TO COME OUT.
UH, A LOT OF COPS GET WRAPPED UP IN THE WIR AND DRUG DOWN THE ROAD.
SO WE USE A DIFFERENT SYSTEM THESE DAYS.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? A HERE FIVE.
DOES YOUR COMPUTER WORK? PARDON? NO, I CAN'T VOTE OR MAKE MOTIONS OR ANYTHING, SO.
LET'S, UH, WAIT, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT OVER HERE,
I THINK YOU, YOU JUST SAY NAME YOUR NAME AND WE'LL, WE'LL STILL CONTINUE.
[D.6. PCSO Axon Enterprises, Inc. Agreement for Body Cameras, In-Car Cameras, Interview Cameras and Taser Leases. (Kim Rivas / Judge Deen) ]
ON PARKER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.ACTUALLY IN ENTERPRISE INCORPORATED AGREEMENT PROVIDED CAMERAS AND CAR CAMERAS, INTERVIEW CAMERAS AND TASER LEASES.
SO I'M REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION TO APPROVE THE COUNTY JUDGE, EXECUTE THE LEASE FOR BODY CAMERAS IN CAR CAMERAS, INTERVIEW ROOM CAMERAS AND TASERS FROM EXXON FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR THE PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026.
THIS IS JUST TAKING ALL THOSE SEPARATE LEASES AND COMBINING THEM INTO ONE FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.
MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER HOLT.
UH, DO WE HAVE A SECOND ON THIS ITEM? SECOND.
SECOND MADE BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN.
DO WE NOT HAVE TO, IS THERE ANY SENSE THAT WE'RE APPROVING THIS THOUGH BEFORE WE'VE EXECUTED THE BUDGET WHERE WE ALLOCATE THE FUNDS TO THIS? I KNOW IT'S JUST TECHNICALITY, BUT THAT'S WHAT WAS MY FAULT AS WELL.
YEAH, DON, THE UH, EXPIRATION DATE SHOULD BE THE SAME.
SO WE'RE NOT EXTENDING THE PERIOD OF TIME ON IT, CORRECT? WE'RE COMBINING NO, THIS, THIS ACTUALLY RENEWS THIS, THIS IS BASICALLY CANCELS ALL THE FORMER CONTRACTS, COMBINES AND BEEN A ONE, ADDS THE FEATURES THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT DURING BUDGET AND EXTENDS IT FOR FIVE YEARS, WHICH WE'VE PRELIMINARILY APPROVED, BUT WE HAVEN'T APPROVED THE BUDGET THAT ACTUALLY FUNDS IT YET.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I I DON'T SEE THAT THAT'S GONNA CHANGE.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE WERE FOLLOWING THE RIGHT STEPS THERE.
UH, NORMALLY THIS FALLS UNDER OPERATIONAL COSTS AND NOT, YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE THE, WHAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY APPROVE.
UM, BUT IN ORDER FOR ME TO GET THE ORDER IN TO GET THE NEW EQUIPMENT STARTED AND FOR US TO GET STARTED ON THE CONTRACT, UM, WE, UH, THAT'S WHY I'M COMING TO YOU TODAY TO GET IT, GET IT APPROVED.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SO, YEAH, UM, THE, THE LENGTH OF THE CONTRACT, ARE WE OBLIGATING FUTURE COURTS? THAT'S SOMETHING ALWAYS COMES UP AS WELL, AS LONG AS THAT, IS THAT GONNA BE IN THE CONTRACT? AS LONG AS WE HAVE A TERMINATION CLAUSE IN THERE, WE COULD.
SO WOULD THAT ALSO COVER THEN US APPROVING IT PRIOR TO THE BUDGET BEING APPROVED? NOT WHAT ATION, RIGHT.
I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT DOING SOMETHING THAT, WELL, THE NON APPROPRIATE STATE IS STATES IF IT'S NOT FUNDED YEAH.
BECAUSE THE FUNDS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, THEN THAT CONTRACT WILL BE TERMINATED.
THAT FAIR? IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE GOOD.
ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL MY FAVOR? AYE.
WELL, KIM MAY HAVE YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? NO.
WE'RE GONNA MOVE DOWN TO, UH, WITH THE AUDIENCE.
YEAH, LET'S GET SEVEN OUTTA THE WAY BEFORE WE MOVE DOWN.
[D.7. BUY PC25-42 Volvo Wheel Excavator & 36" Toothed Bucket Pct. 1. (Kim Rivas/ Commissioner Conley) ]
SEVEN D BY PC 25 DASH 42 VOLVO WHEEL EXCAVATOR AND 36 TOOTH BUCKET PRECINCT ONE REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF THIS BO PC 25 DASH 42 VOLVO WHEEL EXCAVATOR, AND A 36 INCH TOOTH BUCKET FOR PRECINCT ONE.THIS IS THROUGH THE BO CO-OP CONTRACT NUMBER 6 85 22 FROM ROM CO EQUIPMENT
[00:50:01]
AND THE AMOUNT OF $198,223 MOVE TO APPROVE THAT ITEM.AND THE REASON WE'RE BUYING THIS IS TO WORK ON OUR BRIDGES.
WE NEED AN EXCAVATOR, WE'VE ALWAYS NEEDED ONE.
AND, UH, THIS IS A WHEEL EXCAVATOR, NOT A TRACK EXCAVATOR.
AND IF ANYBODY EVER WANTS TO USE IT, WHEN ARE YOU GETTING IT? UH, A WEEK OR SO.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CONLEY AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HALE.
THAT INCLUDES THE SCHEDULE FOR ALL THE PRECINCT COMMITTEE.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM.
[5.N. Discuss/ Take action regarding posting Fire Marshal position. (Commissioner Walden) ]
MOVE DOWN TO FIVE IN ON THE DISCUSSION.REGARDING THE POSTING OF THE FIRE MARSHAL POSITION.
UM, GIVEN OUR AUDIENCE HERE, I APOLOGIZE TO MAKE Y'ALL WAIT, UM, JUST AGAIN, UH, TRY TO DO THE BEST WE CAN TO GET TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.
UM, SO, UM, COMMISSIONER WALDEN, YOU HAVE PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA? YEAH, UH, I SAID THAT I WOULD PUT IT BACK ON THE NEXT COURT AND HERE WE ARE.
UH, MY, UH, MOTION'S GONNA BE THAT WE, UH, POST THE FIRE MARSHAL POSITION TO HAVE THE FIRE MARSHAL, UH, UH, IN-HOUSE, UH, AS A COUNTY EMPLOYEE.
AND, UH, THERE'S, THERE'S, I DON'T KNOW THAT I'M GONNA CHANGE ANYBODY'S MIND BY, UH, BY THROWING THIS OUT HERE, BUT THE, UH, IN A, IN A TIMEFRAME WHEN WE'RE LOOKING VERY CLOSELY AT OUR EXPENDITURES, UH, I THINK IT'S A MONEY SAVING, UH, THING FOR THE COUNTY FROM ONE.
AND SECONDLY, I THINK IT, IT FILLS ANOTHER NEED THAT WE HAVE, UH, OVER AT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
'CAUSE THAT GIVES THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR, UH, SOME, SOME HELP FROM A BACKUP.
AND, UH, IT WOULD ACTUALLY REPLACE A POSITION, UH, THAT, THAT HE HAS ASKED FOR AS WELL AND MIGHT TRANSITION THAT INTO, UH, EITHER NOT NEEDED OR IN A PART AS A PART-TIME ROLE EITHER WAY.
AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT THAT UP.
AND, UH, UH, THAT'S MY MOTION IS THAT WE POST THAT AS A, A COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL POSITION.
I'M GONNA SECOND IT JUST TO GET TO THE DISCUSSION PHASE, 'CAUSE I KNOW THERE'S GONNA BE SOME DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM.
UM, SO, UH, THIS HAS BEEN, TO ME, IT'S, IT'S BEEN IN, WHEN MY TIME WENT WHEN I WAS IN HUDSON OAKS, UM, WE LOOKED AT A VARIETY OF THINGS AND CONTRACTING OUT SERVICES.
UH, AND IT WAS ALWAYS MY INTENT TO HAVE A UNIFORM ON THAT REPRESENTED.
THE ENTITY THAT I WORKED FOR IN THAT CASE WAS HUDSON OAKS.
AND I FELT LIKE THAT WAS A, A, A ASSET THAT NEEDED TO BE IN PLACE.
AND, BUT KIND OF LOOKING AT THIS THING FROM 10,000 FOOT DOWN, I KNOW THAT WE'VE, UH, HAD SOME, UH, CHALLENGES HERE AND CHANGES NEVER EASY.
AND IT'S, UH, LOOKING AT WHAT THE RESOURCES ARE AND WHAT CAN BE PROVIDED HERE.
WHAT I INITIALLY THOUGHT WAS WE COULD DO BOTH AND HAVE THIS, AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
UH, WE CAN'T HAVE A FIRE MARSHAL.
AND THEN I ALSO HAVE A CONTRACT WITH ESD ONE THAT HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FIRE MARSHAL POSITION.
BUT MY, MY, MY RESPECT FOR THE ESDS AND ESD ONE, UM, JUST BY THE HISTORY OF, OF GOING BACK, UH, DURING MY TIME, EVEN IN THE, AT THE CITY LEVEL, UH, HAS, HAS BEEN, IT IS BEEN A GODSEND TO HAVE THESE ESDS IN PLACE TO COVER THE FIRE COVERAGE IN THE COUNTY THAT, UH, DESPERATE NEEDS IT AND HAS A LOT OF ET JS, UH, IN IT.
UH, AS WELL AS WORKING WITH CITIES WHO HAVE ADOPTED THESE, UH, FOR THESE ESDS, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY WE HAVE.
AND, AND SO, UM, IT'S AN ITEM THAT, I MEAN, FROM A COUNTY STANDPOINT, UH, I MEAN, AGAIN, IT'S ALWAYS KIND OF THE, THE IMPORTANT TO HAVE A ROLE WITH A A IN MY, IN MY MIND, A WITH A UNIFORM ON FROM THE COUNTY.
BUT AGAIN, I WANNA LOOK AT THIS FROM A 10,000 FOOT DOWN, WHAT IS THE BEST OPTION IN THE SOLUTION AND THE BEST SERVICES TO THE TAXPAYER? UM, THIS IS A, THIS IS A TOUGH ONE BECAUSE, UH, IT IS A CHANGE.
IT REPRESENTS A CHANGE TO THE COUNTY IN OUR MINDSET OF HOW WE DO THIS.
AND AS WE GROW, WE GOTTA LOOK AT HOW, WHAT'S THE BEST SERVICE POSSIBLE.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION THAT ANY OF THE COURT HAS ON THIS ITEM? I THINK MY OPINION IS THAT WE SHOULD AT LEAST GO A YEAR, TRY THEM FOR A YEAR.
THEY'RE DOING A GOOD JOB WITH WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW.
AND I'M, UH, WILLING TO, IF IF IT DOESN'T WORK OUT, THEN WE WON'T DO IT NEXT YEAR.
CAN SEE, I I, NO, I WON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT THE INTERVIEW.
[00:55:01]
BUT WHILE HE'S COMING UP, I WANNA SAY THIS, I APPRECIATE THE SD ONE AND I, I TOLD YOU THIS AT THE VERY BEGINNING.I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO STEP IN AND FILL A NEED THAT WE HAD VERY MUCH.
CAN I WANT JUST ECHO ONE THING BEFORE YOU, AND I'M GONNA INTERRUPT YOU HERE.
UM, WE GO BACK A LONG WAY AND THIS IS A UNDERSTANDING OF, I, I GUESS WHAT YOUR, YOUR CULTURE IS, WHAT YOUR, YOUR YOUR, YOUR ETHICS OF, UM, LOOKING AT HOW YOU HANDLED YOUR BUSINESS.
AND, UM, I GO BACK TO THOSE DAYS IN HUDSON OAKS AND UM, I'M LOOKING IN ESTABLISHING YOURSELF, AND I BELIEVE YOU WERE THE VERY FIRST ESD IN THE COUNTY.
IT CAME OUT AS ORIGINALLY JUST TO MEET THE EQUIPMENT SIDE.
NO, IT WAS AN UNPAID FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT I BELIEVE YOU IN, 'CAUSE WE WERE LOOKING, 'CAUSE WE ESTABLISHED CSD THREE WHEN I WAS IN HUDSON OAKS, AND WE LOOKED AT THE SD ONE AS KIND OF THE MODEL BECAUSE YOU ESTABLISHED A MODEL FOR EVERYONE TO FOLLOW BECAUSE YOU WERE TO GET EQUIPMENT THAT YOU NEEDED A FUNDING MECHANISM TO KEEP THIS, UH, AT, AT A MINIMAL AND 10 CENTS ON THE DOLLARS WHERE IT'S KEPT AT.
AND YOU CAN, AND I KNOW IN WILLOW PARK DID THIS, THEY, THEY, I THINK THEY WERE OVER 20 CENTS PER HUNDRED, UH, THAT THEY WERE PAYING.
AND SO THAT SAVED THEM A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY.
BUT, UH, WE GO A LONG WAY BACK IN UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE, THE ESDS ARE.
UM, CAN YOU JUST KIND OF FROM THE STANDPOINT, NOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN IN THIS POSITION A WHILE, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS AND, AND HOW'S IT GONE SO FAR? AND WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE APPRECIATE THE TRUST FROM THE COURT TO, TO PARTNER UP WITH YOU AND, AND FULFILL THIS IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE INTERIM, UH, WHEN YOU DIDN'T HAVE FOUND YOURSELVES WITHOUT THE PERSONNEL IN PLACE TO HANDLE IT.
UM, IN THE LAST, I THINK IT'S, UH, ROUGHLY 55 DAYS SINCE, UM, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS, UH, WE'VE UNCOVERED, I THINK WITHOUT TRYING TO POINT FINGERS AT ANYONE, JUST A LACK OF OVERALL ACCOUNTABILITY, UM, AND FULFILLMENT OF THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE FIRE MARSHAL IN PARKER COUNTY.
UM, NUMEROUS SCHOOL CAMPUSES AROUND THE COUNTY AND DIFFERENT ISDS FROM, UH, BROCK TO VILLE TO AZEL TOLEDO ARE ACTIVELY WORKING TO BRING THEIR FIRE SUPPRESSION AND DETECTION AND ALARM SYSTEMS ONLINE.
SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS, IS THOUSANDS OF SCHOOL KIDS TODAY AS WE SPEAK, ARE BECOMING SAFER AND BETTER PROTECTED AS WELL AS TAXPAYER PROPERTY, UM, BECAUSE OF THE EFFORTS OF, UH, FRANK WATSON AND, AND THE PARTNERS THAT HAVE HELPED US, UM, DURING THIS INTERIM PERIOD.
AND SO I THINK THAT SPEAKS TO, IT'S MORE THAN A ONE PERSON JOB.
AND RATHER THAN COMING HERE AND TELL YOU THE COUNTY'S GROWING, YOU BASICALLY HAVE THE CITY OF PARKER COUNTY OUT THERE THANKS TO LEGISLATIVE REFORM OF ANNEXATION.
AND A LOT OF THE GROWTH IN PARKER COUNTY IS HAPPENING IN UNINCORPORATED AREAS, WHICH RESULTS IN MUCH MORE SIZABLE OCCUPANCIES BEING BUILT LIKE A TWO STORY, UH, 110,000 SQUARE FOOT INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL CAMPUS.
UH, THAT JUST USED TO NOT BE A THING THAT WOULD HAPPEN IN UNINCORPORATED TERRITORY.
REGARDLESS, YOU'RE THE COUNTY IS THE AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION TO, UM, HOLD OCCUPANTS ACCOUNTABLE TO STATE LAWS.
ALSO, THERE'S, UH, TEA RULES IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE THAT HOLDS SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACCOUNTABLE TO THAT.
BUT YOU'RE, YOU CURRENTLY HAVE BEEN THE HISTORICAL AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION.
SO, UM, WE TAKE SERIOUSLY TO OUR CONTRACTED RESPONSIBILITY AND OUR STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY AS LONG AS WE'RE FULFILLING THAT WORK, UM, TO DO IT APPROPRIATELY AND TO DO IT RATIONALLY WITHOUT JUST THROWING THE BOOK AT PEOPLE.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LIFE SAFETY AND, UM, PROTECTION OF PROPERTY TO THAT END.
UM, RATHER THAN COME HERE AND TELL YOU YOU NEED TO SPEND MORE MONEY TO, UM, BRING THAT DEPARTMENT, UH, UP TO, UP TO THE SCALE OF GROWTH THAT THE COUNTY'S GROWING WITH, UH, YOU SHOULD HAVE A, A LETTER THAT I SENT TO THE JUDGE'S OFFICE.
I THINK MAYBE IT WAS MADE AVAILABLE COURT A COPY FOR EVERYONE MADE.
IT'S, UM, THE PARKER COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY ALLIANCE, WHICH IS A GROUP OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, LEADERSHIP IN THE COUNTY MET ON FRIDAY.
AND IT, AT LEAST IN PRINCIPLE, WE, WE HAVE, WE AGREE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO COME TO THE TABLE WITH THE COURT, UM, OVER THE NEXT YEAR TO EXPLORE TRANSITIONING THE, THE OPERATIONAL BURDEN OR THE RESPONSIBILITY BURDEN AND THE FUNDING BURDEN OF OPERATING THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE OFF OF THE COUNTY AND TO THE ESDS.
UM, THE, WE'VE HAD ES D ONE AND THE OTHER ESDS IN THE COUNTY ARE BECOMING, ARE MATURING AS LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.
UM, WE'VE ACHIEVED MILESTONES IN, UM, STAFFING AND, AND BRINGING SERVICES UP TO, TO MEET THE, THE DEMANDS OF GROWTH.
SOME OF US ARE IN DIFFERENT PLACES IN THAT, BUT, UM, AND IT WOULD TAKE SOME TIME
[01:00:01]
TO, TO GO VISIT WITH OUR RESPECTIVE GOVERNANCE TO SEE IF EVERYONE COULD BE ON THE SAME PAGE WITH THAT.BUT OUR STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY IN 7 7 5 SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT AN ESD MAY BE CREATED TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY.
AND IT ALSO AUTHORIZES US TO DO THAT THROUGH FIRE PREVENTION.
UM, IT'S ACTUALLY REDUNDANT IN STATUTE CHAPTER 3 52 ALLOWS THE COUNTY TO HAVE A FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE.
IT COMPELS THE COUNTY TO HAVE A FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE.
IF YOU'RE IN A COUNTY OF GREATER THAN 250,000 PEOPLE, I DON'T THINK WE'RE THERE YET, BUT WE'RE CLOSE OR YOU'RE ADJACENT TO A COUNTY THAT'S GREATER THAN 250,000 PEOPLE.
CHAPTER 7 7 5 ALSO ALLOWS EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICTS TO DO THAT SAME THING EXCEPT THERE'S NO POPULATION THRESHOLD.
SO WHAT WE'RE OFFERING IS TO PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS AND, UM, OR AT LEAST COME TO THE TABLE AND, AND HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
AND, UM, THE LETTER IS OFFERING THAT THE, THE PUBLIC SAFETY ALLIANCE HAS APPOINTED A, A COMMITTEE OF INDIVIDUALS FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY LEADERSHIP IN THE COUNTY THAT'S WILLING TO COME TO THE TABLE WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COURT TO TRY TO PLAN A LONG-TERM SOLUTION THAT, UH, IS SUSTAINABLE IN SCALES WITH THE GROWTH OF THE COUNTY.
I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT SD ONE TRYING TO TAKE SOMETHING OVER.
THIS IS NOT ESD ONE VERSUS THE COUNTY.
THIS IS US, UH, TRYING TO FULFILL OUR STATUTORY MISSION.
AND PART OF OUR JOB IS TO INFLUENCE THE PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY BEFORE THE INCIDENT HAPPENS.
AND THROUGH HELPING MAKE SURE THAT, UM, FIR AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS AND OUR TARGET HAZARDS LIKE SCHOOLS AND DAYCARES AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS ARE IN PROPER WORKING ORDER IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW.
SO THAT'S OUR REQUEST IN LINE WITH THAT.
THE REQUEST WOULD BE THAT YOU CONSIDER, UM, ENGAGING, UH, WITH US IN, UH, AN AGREEMENT SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'VE HAD THROUGH THE INTERIM TO GIVE A YEAR FOR THE COUNTY AND THE ESDS TO COME TOGETHER AND PLAN OUT A LONG-TERM SOLUTION THAT COULD POSSIBLY GRADUATE THE COUNTY OUT OF THE FUNDING RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OFFICER OF THE FIRE MARSHAL.
WE DID THIS ABOUT A DECADE AGO WITH FIRE DISPATCH AND THAT WAS, I THINK THAT WAS FA THE COUNTY'S FUNDING OF IT WAS PHASED OUT OVER FOUR YEARS.
UM, AND NOW THE, THE ESDS FULLY FUND THAT THROUGH INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THEMSELVES AND WE'RE, WE'RE OFFERING A SIMILAR SOLUTION.
SO I'D BE HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS? COUPLE COUPLE QUESTIONS.
WHEN YOU SAY WE ONE PERSON WON, WHEN WE HAVE A FIRE MARSHAL, WHEN WE HAD A FIRE MARSHAL AND YOU SAID, ONE, THIS IS NOT ENOUGH FOR ONE PERSON, HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD YOU SAY WOULD TAKE? WE BELIEVE THAT IT, IT'S A AT LEAST A FOUR PERSON, UM, OFFICE.
'CAUSE I WANT TO COMPARE ORANGES TO APPLE HERE WHEN WE SAY WE'RE PAYING A PREMIUM, BUT YET WE'RE, ARE WE MEETING THE NEED WITH ONE PERSON WHEN WE'RE SAYING IT'S NOT ENOUGH AND THEN WE, IT LOOKS AT THE EXPANSION OF THAT DEPARTMENT TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.
I, IT'S, I WANTED TO JUST GET AN OPINION ABOUT WHAT YOU, UM, MEANT BY THAT.
AND THE SECOND THING IS THE LETTER THAT YOU SENT ME THAT I, I GAVE OUT TO THE COURT HERE AT THE BOTTOM, IT SAYS, PLEASE ACCEPT THIS LETTER.
AND, AND I DON'T WANNA READ THE WHOLE THING HERE.
UM, BUT PLEASE ACCEPT THIS LETTER AS A FORMAL INVITATION TO COORDINATE WITH YOU AND DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE IS, UH, ON THE COURT IN IMPORTANT MATTER.
AND, UH, I HAVE BEEN TO THOSE MEETINGS, UH, BEFORE AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONSISTENTLY GO TO.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED TO DESIGNATE A REPRESENTATIVE.
WE CAN HAVE A ROTATION AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA FOR THE COURT TO DO.
BUT I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A REPRESENTATION FROM THE, THE COUNTY ON THE COURT, UH, TO GO TO THOSE MEETINGS.
'CAUSE IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE WHEN I WENT TO THOSE.
AND SO, UM, I, I WOULD WELCOME THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO GO AND WE CAN HAVE TWO, TWO COMMISSIONERS GO, OR COMMISSIONER AND MYSELF OR TWO COMMISSIONERS.
UH, BUT I, I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT THAT BE DONE.
UM, AS FAR AS THE, UM, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND RIGHT NOW.
SO THAT'S WHAT'S IN, IN FRONT OF US BEFORE WE CONSIDER ANYTHING ELSE, JUDGE, I APPRECIATE THE, THE COMMENTS FROM, UH, ESD ONE, UH, PRESIDENT, UH, OF THE, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY ALLIANCE.
THE, THE DIFFERENCE IS, WHAT I SEE IS WHAT THE COST IS.
IF WE HAVE, UH, UH, EXTEND A CONTRACT, UH, WE HAVE BEEN PAYING, UH, THE RATE OF A THOUSAND DOLLARS A DAY FOR THESE SERVICES.
AND I, I, UH, I RECOGNIZE ALL THE THINGS AND ALL THE, THE, THE TIMEFRAME THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO COVER AND EVERYTHING.
UM, BUT AS I LOOK AT TRYING TO BALANCE EVERYTHING ELSE HERE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $360,000.
UH, AND WE DON'T HAVE, I'M SURE THAT, THAT THAT WOULD BE A NUMBER THAT COULD CARRY FORWARD, BUT I, WE DON'T KNOW THAT ACTUALLY.
BUT THE, THE RATE OF A THOUSAND DOLLARS A DAY IS WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE.
AND, AND THE ABILITY TO, UH, HAVE A COUNTY EMPLOYEE THAT, THAT, UH, COULD DO THAT.
NOW, AS TO THE THINGS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN DONE, UH,
[01:05:01]
I THINK THAT MAY HAVE, UH, QUITE A BIT TO DO WITH THE, THE SUPERVISION OF EMPLOYEE THAT WE HAD AND THE, THE LACK OF REPORTS BACK TO US ABOUT, ABOUT WHAT'S BEING ACCOMPLISHED.AND I, I APPRECIATE THAT INFORMATION AND HEAR THAT.
BUT, UM, THE, UH, THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE'VE, WE'VE GOT, UH, WE'RE THE ONES RESPONSIBLE FOR RAISING THE MONEY, WE'RE THE RESPONSE ONES RESPONSIBLE FOR, UM, GETTING THE WORK DONE.
AND AS FAR AS THE ONE YEAR IS CONCERNED HERE, THAT'S A GOOD, GOOD THOUGHT.
UH, STRINGS IT ALONG THOUGH, AND, AND SPENDS $360,000 AT LEAST, UH, PLUS VEHICLE AND, AND ALL THOSE THINGS THAT COME ALONG WITH THE EQUIPMENT THERE.
I KNOW IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY.
UH, I RECOGNIZE THE, THE PUBLIC SAFETY THINGS, BUT, UH, I, I SEE, YOU KNOW, I HAVE PEOPLE COME UP HERE AND SPEAK, UH, PREVIOUS COURT AND ALSO SOME OF THE PEOPLE HERE THAT REPRESENT SOME OF THE ESDS.
AND AS I CIRCLE BACK AROUND AND TALK TO THE ESD BOARD MEMBERS, THAT'S NOT WHAT I, UH, I FIND OUT THAT THERE'S BEEN NO ACTION TAKEN BY THOSE ESD BOARDS.
I FIND OUT THAT I ASKED FOR THE MINUTES FOR THEIR MEETINGS, AND, UH, THERE ARE NONE.
IN FACT, UH, THEY, UH, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDS TELL ME SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAT THEY WANT THE COUNTY TO HAVE OUR OWN FIRE MARSHAL THAT WORKS FOR THE COUNTY.
AND I KNOW THAT'S HARD, UH, HARD PILL TO SWALLOW RIGHT NOW, BUT IT'S THE TRUTH.
UH, I DON'T HAVE THAT DOCUMENTATION OTHER THAN THE LACK OF DOCUMENTATION.
SO IF WE HAVE A FIRE MARSHAL, OUR, OUR FIRE MARSHAL NEEDS ARE, ARE DIFFERENT IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTY.
I RECOGNIZE THE, YOU KNOW, THE EASTERN PARTS OF THE COUNTY ARE, UH, UH, PERHAPS MORE IN NEED OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAN WE ARE OUT WEST.
I RECOGNIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE, UH, THE HILLBILLY IS OUT HERE AND WE DON'T, UH, WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT I THINK, UH, WE NEED A COUNTY EMPLOYEE FOR THIS POSITION.
AND I'M GOING TO AMEND MY MOTION BY MAKING A COMMITTEE OF, UH, MYSELF, COMMISSIONER HALE, UH, SHERIFF ALLIER AND BECKY MCCULLOUGH TO SCREEN THOSE APPLICANTS AND BRING THE COURT, UH, UH, THE, UH, CANDIDATE FOR THE JOB.
SO MOTION STANDS, I'LL KEEP, I'LL KEEP MY A SECOND.
ONLY THE, SO WE CAN KEEP THE DISCUSSION PHASE OF THIS OPEN.
AND STEVEN, THAT YOU HEARD THIS, UM, ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WANT TO ADD TO THIS? OR IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS AS WELL, THAT YOU HAVE ON YOUR TEAM? WELL, RESPECTFULLY, WE'VE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO THE TABLE WITH THE COUNTY AND TALK ABOUT WHAT A LONGER, LONGER TERM ARRANGEMENT WOULD LOOK LIKE, AS FAR AS COST GOES.
UM, WE'VE NOT REALLY BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THAT BUDGET PROCESS.
I SEE WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR PROPOSED BUDGET THAT YOU HAD A HEARING ON.
IT'S NOT FAR OFF FROM THAT NUMBER.
UM, WE'VE ALSO HAD SOME TIME TO, UH, UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S COSTING US TO DO THIS.
I'VE, I'VE PAID OUT THOUSANDS IN OVERTIME BECAUSE WE'RE NOT HIRING NEW POSITIONS TO, UM, FULFILL THE DUTIES IN A THREE MONTH LONG CONTRACT.
BUT, UM, THERE'S DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN AT LEAST CLOSE TO 70, 80 HOURS A WEEK EASILY GOING INTO THIS.
SO THAT'S MORE THAN A ONE PERSON JOB, UH, AT LEAST TO DO, TO DO THE JOB.
AND AS LONG AS WE'RE CONTRACTED WITH THE COUNTY, WE WILL DO IT PROPERLY.
UH, I JUST WANNA MAKE CLEAR THAT OUR OFFER, FORMAL OFFER IS TO COME TO THE TABLE, UH, WITH THE COUNTY, UM, WITH, WITH A COMMITTEE OF THE PUBLIC PATIENT SAFETY PROFESSIONALS OF THE COUNTY TO TRY TO PUT TOGETHER A LONG-TERM PLAN THAT RELIEVES YOU OF THE FUNDING BURDEN AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OPERATING THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE.
I'M SURE THAT, UH, SINCE THAT MEETING WAS JUST HAD ON FRIDAY, UM, OUR RESPECTIVE GOVERNANCE OF THE DIFFERENT ESDS HASN'T HAD TIME TO, TO CONSIDER THAT CONCEPT YET, WHICH IS PART OF WHY WE WERE ASKING FOR, UM, TIME TO SET THIS UP.
THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT JUST HAPPENS OVERNIGHT.
I'M SURE THERE MAY BE DIFFERING OPINIONS, UM, ON, ON A, UH, A GRADUATING FUNDING SCHEDULE THAT STARTS TO OBLIGATE ESDS TO DO THIS.
UM, SO I HOPE YOU DON'T FEEL MISLED THAT THAT HAD BEEN SHOPPED WITH EVERYONE'S RESPECTIVE ESD BOARDS.
I'M PRETTY SURE I MADE CLEAR THAT THAT HADN'T HAPPENED YET, BUT IT'S NOT, NOT, NOT WHAT THOSE FOLKS CAME TO THE, TO THE MICROPHONE AND SAID, THEY SAID THAT THE ESD SUPPORTED, UH, HAVING ESD ONE BE THE FIRE MARSHAL.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT YOU'LL FIND.
AND I JUST HAPPEN TO DISAGREE SINCE I'VE GONE TO THOSE BOARD MEMBERS AND THEY TOLD ME THE DIRECT OPPOSITE.
IN FACT, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY, UH, PREFERRED TO HAVE THE COUNTY FILL THAT ROLE.
[01:10:01]
OPINION IS THE CITIZENS OF SPRING, THE CITIZENS OF PARKER COUNTY, ARE MUCH SAFER WITH THE SD ONE FULFILLING THAT ROLE.THAT'S JUST MY, CAN I GO BACK TO COMMISSIONER WALDEN? WHAT, WHAT DID YOU SAY THAT YOU HAD SPOKE WITH WHO NOW? THE, THE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE ESD IN THREE DIFFERENT ESDS HERE.
AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD NOT DISCUSSED THIS AT THEIR ESD BOARD MEETING.
THERE WERE NO MINUTES TO VERIFY THAT THEIR ESD SUPPORTED THIS CONCEPT.
IN FACT, THEY PREFERRED TO HAVE THE COUNTY HIRE FIRE MARSHAL AS AN EMPLOYEE.
LET'S, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S HEAR FROM HIM.
HE'S, HE'S FROM YOUR PRECINCT.
ARE YOU HEARING THAT? UH, MOST ESD COMMISSIONER WALDEN, YOU'RE EXACTLY CORRECT.
WE HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO OUR COMMISSIONER TO OUR ESD BOARDS YET.
AS IN, WE NEED, JUST LIKE IF WE CAME UP HERE AND ASKED YOU FOR FUNDING, WE NEED TO GET ALL OUR DUCKS THROUGH IN A ROW.
WE NEED TO GET A PLAN IN PLACE, AND THEN WE NEED TO PRESENT THIS PLAN, THEN WE START WORKING THROUGH IT.
SO IT'S BEEN MENTIONED, IT'S NEVER BEEN IN A FORMAL MEETING ABOUT WHERE THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE COULD GO, WHAT IT MIGHT DO IN THIS COUNTY.
SO YOU'RE RIGHT, WE HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO 'EM BECAUSE WE'RE NOT READY FOR THAT PART YET.
WE'VE GOTTA FIGURE OUT WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE, PUT IT ON PAPER, GET A DIRECTION, GET A PLAN BEFORE I PRESENT ANYTHING TO MY BOARD.
I DON'T JUST SHOW UP AND GO, HEY, LET'S TRY TO DO THIS.
WE HAVEN'T MEET, WE HAVEN'T, I HAVE NOT PERSONALLY SPOKEN TO MY BOARD ABOUT IT YET, OTHER THAN IN PASSING CONVERSATIONS.
SO AGAIN, THIS, THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS, THE FIRE CHIEFS, THIS, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY ALLIANCE, THEY'RE IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT.
DOES EVERYBODY THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD DO? SOMETHING WE SHOULD PRESENT? YES, IT IS.
SO NOW WE COME TO YOU GUYS, WE START WORKING OUT DETAILS, SEE WHAT THIS IS GONNA LOOK LIKE.
ONCE WE UNDERSTAND ALL OF THAT, THEN WE PUT TOGETHER A PRESENTATION TO OUR BOARDS OF THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, THIS IS HOW WE'VE DONE IT IN THE PAST, AND THIS IS WOULD BE THE PLAN GOING FORWARD OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, WHATEVER THAT NUMBER COMES OUT TO BE.
DID I HEAR YOU CORRECTLY? COULD YOU MENTION THAT? SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME.
THE PUBLIC SAFETY ALLIANCE POSITION IS WHAT NOW? THE, THE PUBLIC SAFETY ALLIANCE MO THE GUYS THAT ARE MEMBERS OF THAT, THE FIRE CHIEFS THAT ARE MEMBERS OF THAT ARE ON BOARD WITH THIS, OR WE WOULDN'T EVEN BE TALKING ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE ON BOARD WITH THE, WITH THE ESDS, PICKING UP THESE AS WE GO.
IF WE GOTTA, WE GOTTA SELL IT TO YOU, THEN I GOTTA GO SELL IT TO MY ESD BOARD AS TO THE BENEFITS, THE DOWNFALLS, ALL OF THOSE, WE GOTTA GO THROUGH ALL OF THAT FIRST.
SO JUDGE, I, HE'S REFERENCING THE LETTER HERE, WHICH IS ACTUALLY, I GUESS, RE RENAMED FROM THE FIRE CHIEF'S ASSOCIATION, OR DOES IT CALL THE FIRE CHIEF'S ASSOCIATION? NO, WE'VE RE WE'VE RENAMED IT FROM THE FIRE CHIEF'S ASSOCIATION.
I, I APPRECIATE THE, THE INPUT.
THERE'S ANOTHER MAN THAT WANTS TO TALK WELL BEFORE, I DON'T KNOW, THREE, AND I'LL SAY I, WE REALLY LIKE TO SEE COUNTY HAVE ITS OWN, UM, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE WORKING WITH NOW.
CAN YOU COME UP TO THE MIC? I MEAN, YOU'RE GETTING INTO SOME VERY RELEVANT POINTS HERE THAT NEED TO BE HEARD AND ON RECORD.
STATE YOUR NAME PLEASE, YOUR HONOR.
COMMISSIONERS, UH, JERRY STOCK, AND I'M ON ESD BOARD THREE.
AND, UH, LIKE I SAID, WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS SEVERAL TIMES.
WE HAVE NOT HAD IT ON THE AGENDA.
WE JUST, UH, HAD TALKED ABOUT IT, UH, SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UH, SUPPORTING A, A COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL.
UM, LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE A CITY, HUDSON OAKS THAT DOESN'T HAVE A, A, UH, YOU KNOW, AN EMPLOYEE FIRE MARSHAL, THEY CONTRACT OUT MOST OF THAT.
WHO DO THEY CONTRACT OUT WITH? EXCUSE ME? WHO DO THEY CONTRACT OUT WITH? I THINK THEY HAVE A GUY THAT RETIRED FROM IRVS, FROM WEATHERFORD THAT'S DOING THEIR, UH, REVIEW OF PLANS AND SO FORTH.
RIGHT NOW THEY'RE NOT DOING ANY OF THE, UH, DAYCARE INSPECTIONS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT THOUGH.
SO, BUT LIKE I SAID, WE, WE JUST, AND, AND IN FAIRNESS OF ESD ONE, WE JUST WANT MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S SOMEBODY GONNA SHOW UP IF WE HAVE A FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, QUESTIONABLE.
WE REALLY NEED A FIRE MARSHAL THERE TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION WHETHER WE SECURE THE SCENE OR NOT.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE KIND OF TIRED OF NOT HAVING THAT.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK A COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL, AND OBVIOUSLY AS FAR AS SAFETY, I
[01:15:01]
MEAN, I WOULD EXPECT THE COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL TO DO ALL OF THE STUFF.DO YOU NOT, DO, DO, DO YOU NOT SEE ESD ONE FILL IN THAT ROLE? NO, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S UP TO Y'ALL AS FAR AS THE COMMISSIONERS.
UH, WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS SOMEONE FILLING IN THAT ROLE.
SO THE, YOU, YOU'RE, BUT THE BOARD IMPORTANT, THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL IS, IS WHAT WE'RE USED TO AND WHAT WE, IF THEY TAKE AN ACTION ON THAT, OR THEY HAD A FORMAL OPINION, WE'VE NOT TAKING ACTION ON THAT.
WE CAN, I MEAN, IF WE NEED TO.
I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY.
SO, UH, STEVEN, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YEAH, THANK YOU FOR COMING UP.
STEVEN, IF YOU WOULD COME BACK UP, IS THERE ANYBODY HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ALSO, WELL, BEFORE I DO THIS, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE FROM ANY OTHER ESD THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP HERE AND SPEAK? I JUST WANT TO COVER THAT REAL QUICK.
STEVEN, YOU'VE, OKAY, YOU'VE HEARD THIS.
UM, ANY FEEDBACK THAT YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT? WELL, I GUESS OUR ASK WOULD BE THAT IF, IF THE COUNTY, UH, IS VERY INTENT ON HAVING IT'S, UH, OPERATING THE OFFICER OF THE FIRE MARSHAL THAT YOU GET BOTH FEET IN AND YOU DO IT RIGHT.
'CAUSE HISTORICALLY FOR THE LAST DECADE, IT HASN'T BEEN DONE CORRECTLY, AS IS EVIDENCED BY WHAT WE'VE UNCOVERED FOR THE LAST 55 DAYS OF OUR WORK DOING IT FOR YOU.
UM, AGAIN, WE FULFILLED OUR CONTRACTUAL AND, UM, STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THE JOB THE WAY THAT WE HAVE DONE IT.
UM, AGAIN, I, I'M NOT REALLY FIGHTING FOR ES D ONE TO BE THE ONES THAT DO THIS.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, I CARE ABOUT THE LIFE SAFETY AND PROPERTY, UM, SAFETY OF THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY.
AND OUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSIONS, WHICH ARE OUR KIDS, WHICH ARE IN OUR SCHOOLS.
THERE'S TENS OF THOUSANDS OF THEM IN SCHOOL CAMPUSES AROUND THE COUNTY AS WE SPEAK RIGHT NOW.
AND WHAT WE HAVE UNCOVERED HAS BEEN DERELICT.
THE JOB HAS NOT BEEN DONE FOR ALMOST A DECADE, AND WE'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT PROTECTING LIVES AND PROPERTY, AND WE'RE OFFERING YOU A SOLUTION THAT PHASES YOU OUT OF HAVING TO PAY FOR IT AND US TAKING ON THE RESPONSIBILITY, THE STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE HAVE.
I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE TIME FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'VE BEEN UNDER THE GUN ON TIME THIS WHOLE THIS THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS.
UH, WE JUST HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONVENE, UM, THE NON-G GOVERNING SIDE LEADERSHIP SIDE OF THE RESPECTIVE SDS IN THE COUNTY ON FRIDAY.
WE'VE NOT HAD TIME TO SHOP THIS CONCEPT WITH OUR BOARDS.
UH, WE NEED THAT TIME AND WE'RE WE'RE OFFERING TO COME TO THE TABLE WITH THE COUNTY, UM, FOR A SOLUTION ON THAT.
WELL, I WILL, I WILL SAY THIS THOUGH.
I WILL COMMEND YOUR BOARD AND YOUR LEADERSHIP BECAUSE WE WENT INTO THIS ON A NEED BASIS.
YOU'VE BEEN ABSORBING THESE OVERTIME HOURS AND EATING THAT BECAUSE WE DID THIS ON THE FLY AND GOT THIS QUICKLY DONE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE A FIRE MARSHAL.
AND SO YOU JUMPED INTO THIS AND WITHOUT HIRING ANYBODY, BECAUSE IT WAS, IT WAS VAGUE WHAT WE WERE GONNA DO.
AND IT'S ONLY FAIR NOW THAT WE MAKE A DECISION, AND IT'S ONLY FAIR TO YOU THAT WE DO THAT.
SO YOU CAN COMMIT THE RESOURCES YOU NEED.
AND COMMISSIONER CONLEY MADE THE COMMENT, UH, IF IT COMES TO THAT WITH A, WITH A YEAR EVALUATION OF, OF WHAT THAT WOULD, IT WOULD STILL BE DIFFICULT FOR YOU EVEN IN A YEAR BECAUSE IT'S NOT COMMITTING A LONGER TERM OUT WHERE YOU CAN PROVIDE THOSE RESOURCES THAT YOU NEED.
BUT IT WOULD BE A YEAR OUT AND IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT IF WE DIDN'T REVIEW THAT.
AND THEN YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE HERE, WHETHER YOU NEED TO LAY OFF OR WHATEVER, HAVE TO ABSORB THAT AND PUT 'EM SOMEWHERE ELSE OR DEPLOY 'EM SOMEWHERE ELSE.
SO EVEN A YEAR I THINK IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR YOU AND YOUR POSITION.
SO IT'S ONLY FAIR TO YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT THAT WE MAKE A DECISION ON WHAT IS IT THAT WE'RE GONNA DO? WE'RE GONNA HIRE FIRE MARSHAL.
WE'RE ARE WE GONNA COMMIT TO THIS AND, AND MOVE FORWARD WITH IT? WOULD YOU AGREE? I, I WOULD AGREE THAT IT, IT'S DIFFICULT, BUT IT'S NOT UNMANAGEABLE.
UM, WE'VE MADE IT WORK FOR, FOR TWO MONTHS AND, AND A YEAR IS A LITTLE MORE TIMEFRAME TO, TO DETERMINE WHO'S FULFILLING WHAT DUTIES.
AND AS WE'RE, UM, GROWING ON, OKAY, ON OUR OWN, IT, IT, WE HAVE A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY OVER THAT KIND OF TIMEFRAME TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT WORK.
UH, ALSO TO ESTABLISH, UH, TO BRING INTERLOCAL RELATIONSHIPS TO BEAR WITH THE OTHER ESD SOME OF THEM HAVE SOME, UH, TRAINED FIRE INVESTIGATORS THAT CAN HELP OUT ON THE ON-CALL KIND OF STUFF AND MAYBE EVEN SOME OF THE INSPECTIONS.
UM, I, YOU KNOW, I, I WOULD DISCOURAGE YOU FROM, UH, I MEAN, I GUESS AS A COURT, YOU EITHER WANT TO PURSUE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RELIEVE YOURSELF OF THE FUNDING BURDEN OR RESPONSIBILITY OR NOT, BUT I WOULD DISCOURAGE YOU FROM MAKING A, A KNEE JERK DECISION WHEN YOU'VE GOT SIX AGENCIES OR AT LEAST FIVE AGENCIES IN THE COUNTY THAT I THINK ARE WILLING TO HAVE TO SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE AND HAVE THE DISCUSSION WITH YOU.
SO, UH, I'D LIKE TO INTERJECT SOME COMMENTS, IF Y'ALL DON'T MIND.
UM, PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF OUR DUTY AS A GOVERNMENT.
WE'RE THE DECLARATION SAYS THAT IT IS THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT TO SECURE THE GOD-GIVEN RIGHTS OF LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.
IF WE'RE NOT MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS ARE SAFE, WE'RE NOT DOING THE MOST BASIC
[01:20:01]
FUNCTION THAT WE'RE TASKED WITH DOING.WE SPEND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A DAY ON LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND I THINK THAT WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT THAT'S A GOOD AND VALID AND IMPORTANT THING.
UM, I WANT PEOPLE TO SHOW UP IF MY HOUSE IS ON FIRE AND MY KIDS ARE INSIDE.
I WANT PEOPLE TO SHOW UP WITH DANG GOOD EQUIPMENT WHO ARE WELL TRAINED AND ARE GONNA GET THERE IN A HURRY.
AS I LOOK AT THE BUDGET WE'RE OPERATING UNDER RIGHT NOW, OUR FIRE MARSHAL DEPARTMENT HAS $385,000 ALLOCATED TO IT.
AND THAT IS WITHOUT A LINE FOR AN ACTUAL FIRE MARSHAL.
SO THAT 3 85 WOULD NEED TO GO UP.
AND I'M SURE THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WOULD BE MOVED AROUND, BUT WE WOULD BE WELL OVER 400,000 WHEN WE ADD THAT FIRE MARSHAL IN PROBABLY CLOSER TO 500,000.
SO ON A COST PER DAY BASIS, THAT'S SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN A THOUSAND A DAY.
I WOULD ASSUME THAT PERHAPS NOT ALL, BUT A HEALTHY AMOUNT OF WHAT WE'RE BUDGETING RIGHT NOW IF WE WERE TO OUTSOURCE TO SD ONE FOR ANOTHER YEAR WOULD GO AWAY.
SO I THINK, I THINK FROM AN APPLES TO APPLES PERSPECTIVE, THAT A THOUSAND DOLLARS PER DAY IS A, IS A VERY, UH, ACCURATE NUMBER.
BUT IT ALSO NEEDS TO INCLUDE THAT US GOING OUR OWN ROUTE WITH OUR OWN FIRE MARSHAL WOULD PROBABLY BE A LITTLE BIT MORE.
THE LAST THING THAT I'LL SAY IS, COMMISSIONER WALDEN HAS POINTED OUT THAT WE'VE GOT A BUNCH OF MANDATES ON OUR PLATE.
WE HAVE A COUNTY THAT'S GROWN FASTER THAN JUST ABOUT ANY OTHER COUNTY IN THE NATION SINCE 2020.
TIER TWO, UH, NO INVOLUNTARY ANNEXATION.
WHILE I PERSONALLY BELIEVE IT'S A FANTASTIC IDEA AND LAW, LIKE EVERYTHING, IT'S GOT SOME DOWNSIDES.
AND ONE OF THOSE DOWNSIDES IS IT SHIFTS A LOT OF THE BURDENS FOR BASIC SERVICES ONTO THE COUNTY.
THAT THAT'S NEVER BEEN THE CASE BEFORE.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT TIER TWO'S BAD LEGISLATION, IT JUST MEANS THAT'S THE NEW REALITY WE HAVE TO LIVE IN.
ES D ONE HAS A MACHINE IN PLACE THAT DOES A VERY, VERY GOOD JOB.
AND IF WE CAN ACCESS THAT MACHINE WHERE WE ALREADY HAVE ECONOMIES OF SCALE IN PLACE, AND WE CAN GET EFFECTIVELY FOUR PEOPLE TO DO A JOB FOR A THOUSAND DOLLARS A DAY, EVEN IF IT'S JUST FOR A YEAR, PERSONALLY, I THINK THAT'S PRETTY DARN GOOD BANG FOR OUR BUCK.
SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS GONNA BE THAT WE STICK WITH ESD ONE FOR AT LEAST ONE MORE YEAR, EXPLORE THIS OPTION WHERE IT REMOVES THE COUNTY'S FUNDING OBLIGATION, GIVEN OUR BUDGET CONSTRAINTS AND REVISIT THIS AGAIN IN 12 MONTHS.
SO THE, UH, THE NUMBER THAT YOU QUOTE THERE FOR A BUDGET NUMBER HAS NOT BEEN FINALIZED, AND IT INCLUDES AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT THAT IS SHARED.
IT WAS ALL IN, IT ALL HAS BEEN REPORTED AS FIRE MARSHAL, BUT IN ACTUALITY IT'S ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT THAT'S SHARED BETWEEN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND FIRE MARSHAL.
AND, UH, WE, WE DIDN'T HAVE A NUMBER TO PLUG IN THERE.
AND SO I, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL LOOK AT WHEN WE GET BACK ON BUDGET HERE.
SECONDLY, THE ONLY, THE ONLY, UH, NUMBERS THAT I HAD TO WORK WITH WERE THROUGH THE FIRST 44 DAYS, I THINK.
AND THERE, THERE HAD BEEN 41 DIFFERENT CALLS.
I THINK IT COST $910 PER, UH, PER CALL.
AND I'M JUST TRYING TO BRING BACK INTO CONSIDERATION THE, THE NUMBERS HERE.
I'LL ALSO REMIND YOU THAT, THAT IN MY VISITS WITH FOLKS OUT THERE, I CAME UP WITH A DIFFERENT PLAN.
HOWEVER, UH, I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION JUDGE AND, UH, LIVE WITH THAT DECISION.
OKAY, I GOT A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
UM, ONE WITH MR. LANE IN THE EOC IN REGARDS TO THE DISCUSSIONS WE HAD HAD WITH THE FIRE MARSHAL POSITION WITH THE COUNTY AND WORKING AND THE NEED IN THE EOC.
UM, I WANNA MAKE SURE, 'CAUSE YOU HAD JUST HIT ON IT AGAIN, AND I HAD BEEN UNDER, AND WHILE I HAVE NOTHING BUT I APP PRAISE FOR ESD ONE AND HAVING PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AS WELL, I KNOW THAT THEY DO A GOOD JOB WITH THE COUNTY.
BUT WITH THE, BUT FROM A COUNTY LEVEL, WHEN THIS ALL STARTED COMING DOWN, I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE COUNTY WOULD HAVE A FIRE MARSHAL.
AND I, I KNOW THAT THAT CHANGED ON SOME OF THE OTHER COURT INTERACTIONS IN HERE.
SO I'VE, I'VE, IT KIND OF MADE ME TAKE A STEP BACK, BUT TO KEEP LOOKING AT IT, I STILL FEEL I HAVE THE OVERALL FEEL THAT IT'S A LITTLE BIT RUSHED ON SETTING
[01:25:01]
UP A NEW SYSTEM.A LOT OF WHAT I'M HEARING THOUGH, AND THE, THE FUNDING BEING RELIEVED FROM THE COUNTY'S PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S APPEALING 'CAUSE WE ARE UP HERE, BUT WE ALSO ARE DEALING WITH GROWING PAINS.
I THINK THE TIMELINE IS SOMETHING THAT I'M STRUGGLING WITH OVER HERE.
UM, MR. LANE, WOULD YOU, I WAS JUST ABOUT TO BRING HIM UP.
I WAS GONNA ASK IF YOU WOULD MIND COMING UP AND INTERJECTING A LITTLE BIT ON HOW THIS INTERACTION CAN, CAN I BE SPECIFIC ALSO IN WHAT'S BEEN YOUR RELATIONSHIP SO FAR? HOW IT'S GONE AND HOW, HOW YOU SEE THIS GOING FORWARD? UM, UH, THAT'S A, THERE'S A LOT TO UNPACK.
UM, THERE IS, SO I'LL JUST GIVE YOU SOME OF MY INITIAL THOUGHTS.
UM, WHEN I GOT HERE, UM, ONE OF MY BIG TASKS WAS TO FIX A LOT OF BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS.
I THINK ESDS WILL TELL YOU THAT THE COUNTY AND THE ESDS AND MY PREDECESSOR, UM, THERE WERE SOME BUMPS IN THE ROAD AND SOME CHALLENGES.
SO I'VE BEEN TRYING TO BUILD BRIDGES.
AND SO AS A RESULT OF THAT, UM, I THINK, UM, THAT WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS ON THAT FRONT.
UM, I GET ALONG, I CAN, I WORK REALLY WELL WITH ALL OF THE ESDS AND I TRY TO SUPPORT THEM HOWEVER I CAN, JUST LIKE I DO FOR, FOR ANYBODY ELSE.
THE RELATIONSHIP SINCE, UH, THE, UH, ESD HAS TAKEN OVER, UH, AS WITH THE FIRE MARSHAL DUTIES, UM, I THINK THAT IT'S, IT'S BEEN GOOD.
I'VE BEEN TRYING, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT THE COURT CONTRACTED WITH.
SO MY JOB WAS TO TRY TO FACILITATE THAT, THAT TRANSITION AND MAKE THAT AS SMOOTH AS POSSIBLE.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO TO HELP THEM AS MUCH AS I CAN.
HOWEVER, I WILL TELL YOU THAT, UM, WHAT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND REALLY IS EXACTLY WHAT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DOES.
AND, UM, THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE, FIRE MARSHAL JOB DESCRIPTION ROLE IS, IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN, THAN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
SO MY JOB IS TO PREPARE FOR, RESPOND TO AND RECOVER FROM DISASTERS.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT IT SPECIFICALLY FROM THE ROLE OF FIRE IN REVIEWING PLANS AND MAKING SURE OCCUPANCIES ARE SAFE.
UH, FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS WORK, IT'S A VERY TECHNICAL, UM, ROLE THAT THEY ALSO DO ARSON INVESTIGATIONS AND THEY CAN ARREST PEOPLE THAT COMMIT ARSON, UM, AND THAT SORT OF THING.
SO MY JOB IS TO DEVELOP THESE PLANS THAT COVER ALL HAZARDS, FLOODING, WILDFIRES, HAZMAT SPILLS, PANDEMICS, ALL THE BAD STUFF THAT CAN HAPPEN IN A COUNTY.
UM, THEY'RE SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON THE FIRE PIECE OF THAT.
SO WHAT, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS, IS THAT, UM, JUST FOR Y'ALL'S CLARIFICATION, UM, YES, HAVING A A COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL IS A BACKUP FOR ME, SO THAT WHEN THAT CALL COMES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND I'M OUT SICK OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, BUT I WOULD ALSO ARGUE THAT THAT SAME THING CAN HAPPEN WITH THE, UNDER THE CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT WE HAVE NOW.
WE HAVE AN, AN ACTING FIRE MARSHAL FRANK WATSON, AND I CAN CALL HIM UP AND I HAVE CALLED HIM UP LATE AT NIGHT ON ISSUES THAT COME UP.
SO, SO FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S ONE PIECE OF THAT IS TO HAVE MORE THAN ONE, YOU CAN'T HAVE A SINGLE POINT OF FAILURE.
SO HAVING A BACKUP, WHETHER THAT'S A COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL, UM, OR THE ESD ACTING IN THAT ROLE FOR ME, ACCOMPLISHES THE SAME THING.
UM, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS, IS THAT, UH, PLANNING FOR, UM, SHELTERING OPERATIONS AND ALL THAT SORT OF THING, UH, THE, THE FIRST RESPONSE TYPE STUFF IS, YES, THERE'S SOME OVERLAP THERE, BUT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS AFTER BOOM.
SO CASE MANAGEMENT OF FOLKS THAT ARE IMPACTED BY A TORNADO DAMAGE ASSESSMENT WALKTHROUGH WITH THE WEATHER SERVICE ON TORNADOES, IDENTIFYING TORNADO DAMAGE.
THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE DOESN'T DO ANY OF THAT.
SO, SO A FIRE MARSHAL AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, IT'S REALLY APPLES AND ORANGES.
SO WHILE, YES, WE BACK EACH OTHER, I KNOW ENOUGH A LITTLE BIT TO HELP OUT ON THE FIRE MARSHAL SIDE AND THEY KNOW A LITTLE BIT TO HELP OUT ON THE EMERGENCY
[01:30:01]
MANAGEMENT SIDE TO GET US THROUGH TILL I CAN GET THERE.SO, UM, I THINK THAT WHEN IT COMES TO PREPARING FOR DISASTERS, A REAL CRITICAL PIECE THAT'S OFTEN MISSING IS MAKING SURE THAT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THAT'S EVERYTHING FROM PRIVATE RESIDENCES TO COMMERCIAL STRUCTURES, NEEDS TO BE BUILT AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.
BECAUSE TORNADOES ARE GONNA OCCUR, HAILSTORMS ARE GONNA OCCUR, HIGH WINDS ARE GONNA OCCUR, HIGH STORMS ARE GONNA OCCUR.
SO AS, AS BEST WE CAN DO AS A COUNTY TO, TO BUILD SOLID STRUCTURES AND MAKE SURE THOSE ARE PROTECTED WITH THE FIRE MARSHAL, FIRE ALARM, FIRE INSPECTION STUFF, THAT HELPS US IN THE LONG RUN.
BECAUSE IF YOU THROW SOMETHING UP AND IT'S NOT BUILT VERY WELL AND NOT FOLLOWING THE BASIC CODES THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS REQUIRES US TO FOLLOW, YOU'LL WE'LL HAVE PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE THAT, THAT HOUSING AND THAT COMMERCIAL, UH, BASE THAT'S BUILT UP NOW IS GONNA BE IN PLACE IN 50 YEARS.
AND WE WANT IT TO BE AS ROBUST AS POSSIBLE SO THAT IT'S STILL SERVICEABLE 50 YEARS FROM NOW.
UM, I MEAN, THIS BUILDING WAS BUILT A LONG TIME AGO AND THEY BUILT IT WELL, AND I THINK THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT HAS SUNK A BUNCH OF MONEY INTO IT SUBSEQUENTLY OVER THE YEARS, BUT IT'S SERVED THE CITIZENS WELL.
THAT SAME THING APPLIES TO SCHOOLS AND OTHER COMMERCIAL STRUCTURES AND EVEN HOMES.
SO THAT, UM, THAT ALL OF THAT STUFF'S GONNA STAY IN PLACE.
SO IT, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A ROBUST SYSTEM OF INSPECTIONS AND ENSURING THAT COMPLIANCE WITH ALL OF THESE CODES THAT THE STATE REQUIRES, UM, ARE IN PLACE.
AND WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH A COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL, UM, WHICH I THINK, AT LEAST WHERE I'M GAUGING FROM, WHERE THE DISCUSSION IS SO FAR, IF, IF THE COUNTY DOES THAT WOULD BE ONE PERSON OR DO YOU GET THE ESD AND YOU GET FOUR FOR THE PRICE OF ONE, THAT SEEMS TO MAKE A LOT OF SENSE TO ME.
UM, HOWEVER, I THINK IT'S WORTH PURSUING AT LEAST HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH ESD TO, BECAUSE I THINK THAT, UM, THE, THE, THE PUBLIC SAFETY FOLKS ACROSS THE COUNTY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THESE STRUCTURES AND STUFF IS IN PLACE SO THAT THEY'RE BETTER PROTECTED.
AND I THINK THAT IT SEEMS TO ME, BASED ON THE DISCUSSION FROM CHIEF WATSON, THAT THERE'S A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY THAT THE COST FOR THAT FIRE MARSHAL OFFICE CAN GET TRANSFERRED TO, UM, THOSE PUBLIC SAFETY ALLIANCE OR THE ESDS AND TAKE AT LEAST ONE PIECE OF FUNDING OFF OF THE PARKER COUNTY'S PLAY.
NOW, THAT'S NOT MY ROLE, THAT'S Y'ALL'S DECISION TO MAKE, NOT MINE.
AND I'LL SUPPORT WHATEVER Y'ALL WANT TO DO, BUT, UM, HOPEFULLY MAYBE THAT HELPED A LITTLE BIT ON YOUR QUESTION.
WE, WE, WE, WE KIND OF PUT YOU IN THE CROSS YEAH.
WELL, AND, AND, AND THIS IS A DIFFICULT DECISION AND I CAN APPRECIATE THAT.
AND, UM, WHATEVER I CAN DO TO HELP, THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE FOR.
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR BECKY, IF YOU DON'T MIND THAT QUICK.
I KIND OF HAD A FOLLOW UP WITH, OH, SORRY.
SO THE COMMITTEE, WHICH, WHICH YOU BROUGHT UP, UM, THOSE COMMITTEES HAVE BEEN REAL BENEFICIAL TO THIS, TO THIS COURT THIS YEAR.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU RECOMMENDING MY NAME ON THERE BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE MY PRECINCT IN FOUR IS THIS TIDAL WAVE OF FORT WORTH AND FIVE STORY BANK BUILDINGS COMING IN, IN THESE MUD DISTRICTS.
WHILE I ALSO RESPECT THE WESTERN Y'ALL'S PRECINCTS THAT MAY NOT BE EXPERIENCING IT AT THIS TIME, OR THE HOW RAPID IT IS, THE TIMELINE IS WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT HERE, BECAUSE I DO WANT TO BE A PART OF A COMMITTEE LIKE THAT.
'CAUSE I DO WANT TO DO THE BEST JOB AND WHAT'S BEST FOR US IN THE COUNTY.
UM, BUT THAT MEANS ALL OF US AS WELL.
NOW I REPRESENT PRECINCT FOUR.
THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT, THERE'S SOME STATE STATUTES THAT ESDS CURRENTLY
[01:35:01]
OP OPERATE UNDER THAT GIVE Y'ALL THE AUTHORITY TO DO INSPECTIONS AND THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.SO THAT KIND OF RATE, THAT KIND OF CAUSES A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION FOR ME, AS IN OKAY, IF WE GO THE COMMITTEE ROUTE AND WHAT, AND DOING THE HOMEWORK AND THE RESEARCH ON, I'M, I'M CON I'M REALLY CONCERNED ON THE TIMELINE HERE BECAUSE WE'RE UNDER BUDGET.
I FEEL LIKE THE OTHER ESDS, THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE DONE THERE.
SO I FEEL LIKE THE TIMELINE IS VERY, I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING KNEE-JERK REACTIONS ON THINGS THAT ARE THIS BIG AND STRATEGIC PLANNING, YOU KNOW, PLANNING ON WHERE ARE WE NOT JUST IMMEDIATELY 12 MONTHS, 24, 60 MONTHS, AND IF WE HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS AND THINGS THAT WE NEED TO PLAN FOR AS A COUNTY IN, IN FIVE YEARS, THEN WE HAVE NOW, MAYBE THAT'S WHAT Y'ALL HAVE IN FIVE YEARS, BEING ABLE TO HELP ANALYZE THAT AS A COMMITTEE AND MAKE GOOD SOLID STEPS GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
THE FACT OR THE, THE THOUGHT OF THE COUNTY NOT HAVING TO FUND IT, BUT IT'S ALSO, I FEEL LIKE IT'S THE COUNTY HAS SOME RESPONSIBILITY HERE.
SO, SO I'M A LITTLE BIT ON THE FENCE RIGHT HERE.
AND I THINK THAT THERE'S SOME BENEFITS FROM BOTH AND IT'S FIGURING OUT UNDER THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE TIMELINE HERE, HOW TO, HOW TO DO OUR HOMEWORK AND FIND OUT HOW TO INTEGRATE THIS AND GET A GAME PLAN GOING FORWARD.
CAN I SAY SIR, JUST, JUST A WORD IF I COULD? YES, SIR.
IF THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE, THE FIRE MARSHAL, WHOEVER IT IS, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE DON'T LIKE, MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THAT THEY'RE GONNA CALL YOU BECAUSE THEY EXPECT IT TO BE THE COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL SOMEONE WHO IS ACCOUNTABLE TO THE TAXPAYERS OF PARKER COUNTY THROUGH THROUGH COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
THAT'S WHAT MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? BECAUSE WE DO HAVE, WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND A QUESTION TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER HILL, THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE LETTER THAT, THAT WE PROVIDED WAS TO SAY, HEY, WE'VE GOT AN INTERIM PROCESS THAT'S WORKING.
THIS IS A BIG DECISION AND THERE'S A LOT OF PLAYERS.
LET'S TAKE OUR FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL ROLL WITH THIS INTERIM PROCESS FOR A MINUTE TO GIVE TIME TO COME TO THE TABLE TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.
UM, AND THAT WAS OUR INTENT, WAS TO COMMUNICATE OUR WILLINGNESS TO SIT DOWN AND SAY, HEY, THERE MAY BE AN OPTION HERE THAT PROVIDES THE COUNTY SOME RELIEF AND THAT WE NEED TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AS, AS THE ESDS AS A WHOLE.
THERE'S NOT BEEN TIME AGAIN OR THE TIMING IS THE PROBLEM, RIGHT? THERE'S NOT BEEN TIME TO GO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE ESD GOVERNANCE.
THERE'S NOT REALLY BEEN TIME TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATIONS, THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNTY GOVERNANCE.
AND SO WE FIND OURSELVES, YEAH.
DEBATING THIS NOW WITH YOU ALL FROM BEHIND THE DIOCESE IN AN OPEN MEETING WHEN I GUESS WHAT WE'RE SUGGESTING IS LET'S COME TOGETHER TO THE TABLE IN THE FORM OF A COMMITTEE AND HASH ALL THIS OUT AND, AND GARNER A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND EMPLOY THE INTERIM PROCESS THAT'S BEEN SET UP FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
IT WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE TO BE A YEAR, I DON'T SUPPOSE, UM, TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT AND MAKE A, A, A DECISION THAT SETS THE, SETS THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE UP FOR SUCCESS, UM, GOING FORWARD.
SO THAT WAS OUR INTENT OF WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO COMMUNICATE, UM, WITH THE LETTER.
SO THE BUDGET, THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE, IF WE WERE TO SET UP A COMMITTEE, I'M DOING A WHAT IF HERE, MAINTAIN THE CURRENT INTERIM AND THE COMMITTEE AND HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS GOING FORWARD, THE BUDGET THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY OPERATING ON, WOULD IT BE SUFFICIENT IF RECOMMENDATIONS WERE MADE OR CHANGES WERE RECOMMENDED FOR US TO GO THE IN-HOUSE ROUTE? IS THAT BUDGET SUFFICIENT OR NO? I THINK BECKY CAN ANSWER THAT.
LET ME BRING SOMETHING BACK IN HERE, JUDGE.
THIS AGENDA ITEM IS TO, UH, IS TAKE ACTION REGARDING THE POSTING OF THE FIRE MARSHAL POSITION.
LET'S KEEP IT WITHIN THE PARAMETERS.
SO YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND HERE IN FRONT OF YOU.
THE, THE, THE OBJECTIVE OF THAT MOTION IS WHETHER WE WANNA HIRE A FARM MARSHAL OR NOT, NOT CONTRACT OUT TO ANY ENTITY, BUT SPECIFICALLY DO WE WANT TO HIRE A FARM MARSHAL THROUGH THIS BUDGET PROCESS? THAT'S WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU RIGHT NOW.
[01:40:01]
YOU, JUDGE.MY, MY QUESTIONS FOR BECKY ARE DIRECTLY, THEY'RE NOT ABOUT A CONTRACT WITH SOME OTHER PARTY.
THEY'RE DIRECTLY ABOUT HIRING PROCEED A FIRE MARSHAL BECKY, IN OUR CURRENT BUDGET FOR FISCAL 25, THE CURRENT BUDGET FOR THE FIRE MARSHAL IS 3 85 1 16.
AND HOW MUCH OF THAT IS ACTUALLY BUDGETED FOR A SPECIFIC FIRE MARSHAL? A PERSON WHO IS THE FIRE MARSHAL? UM, 67,451 IS THE BUDGETED SALARY FOR A FIRE MARSHAL.
AND IF WE OUT, IF WE SOMEHOW FIND A FIRE MARSHAL THAT CAN DO IT FOR 67,000, WHICH I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU FROM THE SHAKING OF YOUR HEAD THAT THAT'S UNLIKELY.
SO NUMBER ONE, WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA HAVE TO RAISE THAT.
HOW MUCH OTHER MONEY IS IN THE BUDGET THAT WOULD SUPPORT HELP, BECAUSE I BELIEVE CHIEF WATSON HAS INDICATED THAT THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE INTERLOCAL OR WHATEVER WE WANNA CALL IT WITH THEM, WE'VE GOT MULTIPLE PEOPLE AVAILABLE.
IS THERE ANY OTHER MONEY IN THE CURRENT BUDGET? THERE IS $60,000 IN PART-TIME.
AND SO WHAT I DID FOR THIS PURPOSE WAS I TOOK THE FIRE MARSHAL BUDGET THAT WAS SUBMITTED DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS.
SO THE REQUEST WAS TO MOVE THE FIRE MARSHAL SALARY TO 102,000.
IT WAS TO BRING IN ANOTHER FULL-TIME DEPUTY AT 65,000 AND TO LEAVE THE PART-TIME MONEY AT 60,000.
SO IF I PUT A TOTAL COST ON ALL OF THAT IS 3 38, 1 76.
SO CURRENTLY IS THAT ADDITIONAL, HUH? 3 38 ADDITIONAL? WELL, PART OF THAT WOULD BE HIS, THE 60,000 IS IN THERE.
SO 73 762, THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL AND PART OF THE 1 11 4 0 3, WELL ACTUALLY JUST SAY 185,000 OF THE 3 85 BUDGETS.
CAN I, CAN I INTERJECT HERE? UHHUH
I'M GONNA MAKE A POINT HERE AND WITH ALL RESPECT, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR MELINDA, I MEAN, ABILITY TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE ACCORDING TO THE BUDGET.
BUT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS SPLITTING HAIRS.
I MEAN, WHETHER IT'S GONNA COST US THIS OR THIS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY HERE IN LIFE AND DEATH.
OH, I HUNDRED PERCENT AGREE WITH YOU, BUT I WILL INTERJECT FOR THE, AND I DO NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED DISRESPECT BY THAT.
PLEASE DON'T TAKE IT THAT WAY.
BUT I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE FACT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY ABSOLUTELY.
AND SO, UH, WHATEVER THIS NUMBER COMES OUT WITH THAT YOU'RE WORKING AT, UH, WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND HERE IS WHAT WE DO WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT EVERY DAY AND THE INVESTMENT THAT WE COMMIT TO THEM EVERY SINGLE TIME.
I THINK IT FITS BECAUSE IF THIS PASSES THAT WE'RE GONNA, THAT Y'ALL WANNA POST FOR A FIRE MARSHAL, RIGHT? WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DISCUSS THE SALARY IT'S GONNA BE POSTED AT.
AND MY OPINION IS THE CURRENT SALARY IS NOT SUFFICIENT.
AND WE, AND WE LEARNED THAT WITH OUR, OUR BUDGET OFFICER AND, AND, AND, AND THAT OBVIOUSLY WORKED OUT VERY WELL.
AND, UM, THERE'S GONNA BE TIMES WHEN WE NEED TO GET AND PROFESSIONALIZE OUR STAFF, UH, FOR RETENTION PURPOSES AND, AND, AND FOR THE, THE SKILL SETS WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT.
I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ON THE BUDGET FOR US OPERATING IN-HOUSE AND DO SOME MORE RESEARCH ON THIS.
WITH WITH, BUT, BUT I ALSO, GO AHEAD.
SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF, UH, THE TIME CONSTRAINTS, BUT WE'RE DEALING WITH A LOT OF BIG TICKET ITEMS RIGHT NOW.
AND THIS DECISION,
SO I PERSONALLY, I WOULD LIKE SOME TIME TO DO SOME MORE HOMEWORK ON THIS BUDGET NUMBERS THAT YOU JUST BROUGHT UP TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT IT IS IF WE DO THE FIRE MARSHALS IN HOUSE AND DO IT CORRECTLY.
SO MY, MY RECOLLECTION IS THIS AFTERNOON WE'RE GOING TO RESUME OUR BUDGET YEP.
WHEN AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS MEETING.
UH, I'D BE WILLING TO, UH, MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS MOTION UNTIL WE HAVE THE, UH, BUDGET NUMBERS EVERYBODY'S DISCUSSING HERE, THROWING BACK AND FORTH, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
SO WHEN YOU SAY TABLE YOUR MOTION, THE MOTION STANDS, YOU'RE TABLING IT THOUGH.
MY MOTION IS STANDS, BUT I MOVE TO TABLE THE MOTION TO BE BROUGHT BACK AT A, A LATER TIME AND PLACE.
I, I THINK WE SHOULD GO AHEAD AND VOTE.
THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT WE HAVE A BETTER, THE BE THE BEST OFFER IS TO BE WITH ESD ONE.
BUT I MEAN, WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA GET FROM THEM.
WE, WE, WE DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER.
UM, I HEARD CHIEF WATSON SAY THAT WE, HE'S BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS FOR US, BUT HE'S SPENT A DI UH,
[01:45:01]
QUITE A BIT OF MONEY AND OVERTIME.AND THE LAST THING THAT WE WANT TO DO IS COST THE ESD MONEY.
AND SO I THINK THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE CALCULATED AND, AND WE'D BE TOLD WHAT THE NUMBER WOULD BE IF WE'RE GOING TO ENTER IN A CONTRACT TO CONTINUE WITH ES D ONE.
I JUST HEARD THAT THERE WERE MULTIPLE HOURS OF, OF OVER TIME THAT HAD TO BE PAID THERE.
AND I KNOW THAT, UH, SOME OF THAT MIGHT HAVE, HAVE, HAVE TO DO WITH GETTING GEARED UP.
BUT ACTUALLY WE'D NEED TO KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD PAST THE 90 DAY ORIGINAL PLAN.
WELL, SO MR. STOCK, AND, UH, I MEAN, I'D LIKE TO KNOW THAT ALL A SD THE STRUCTURE, ALL THE A ESDS, THE QUESTIONS OF THE OTHER ESDS BOARDS AND WHERE THEY STAND AND EVERYTHING BEING UNDER THE, UNDER THE GUN ON TIMEFRAME HERE IS, UH, WHAT IT'S, I DON'T THINK SITTING EASY WITH ME, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU, YOU ASKING OR MAKING THAT ADDENDUM THERE.
SO MY, MY MOTION IS TO TABLE THE MAIN MOTION OF POSTING A FIRE MARSHAL AND BRING IT BACK AT A LATER TIME.
SO THAT SAID, THEN THERE'S NO ACTION THAT CAN BE TAKEN ON THE SIDE ANY TO THE MOTION AND HAS TO THE POST THAT HAS TO BE APPROVED.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A SECOND TO MY MOTION TO TABLE, GIVEN THE FEEDBACK FROM THE COURT, UM, THAT THAT WILL STAND AND THEN WE'LL BRING IT BACK AFTER THE NEED TO ELECTION PROCESS.
WE NEED TO VOTE, WE NEED TO VOTE WHETHER TO TABLE IT OR NOT.
OKAY, THEN IT'S BACK BEFORE THE FLOOR, THEN I GUESS WE CAN VOTE.
NOW, SOMETHING THAT I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S MENTIONED WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POSTING FOR A FIRE MARSHAL, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE FIVE WEEKS AWAY FROM THE NEW BUDGET KICKING UP.
WHAT HAPPENS IF WE CAN'T FIND A FIRE MARSHAL BY THEN? WHAT HAPPENS ON OCTOBER 2ND? DOES ANYBODY, LIKE IF WE DON'T FIND A FIRE MARSHAL, IF WE POST FOR THE POSITION, BUT WE DON'T FIND A GOOD CANDIDATE, WHAT HAPPENS ON OCTOBER 2ND? WELL, YOU'LL FIND SOME CANDIDATES, BUT IF WE CAN'T FIND GOOD CANDIDATE, IF, IF THERE'S NOT A CANDIDATE THAT THE COUNTY FEELS LIKE DOES A GREAT JOB, WHAT HAPPENS ON OCTOBER 2ND? I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE CLARITY ON THAT.
TO YOUR, TO YOUR POINT, THAT IS NOT REALISTIC TO, TO HAVE SOMEBODY ON BOARD IN FIVE WEEKS.
SO, SO JOHN, WHAT HAPPENS ON OCTOBER 2ND? IF, IF WE ALLOW THE EXISTING ARRANGEMENT TO FALL OFF, WHAT HAPPENS ON OCTOBER 1ST OR SECOND? YOU CONTRACT WITH SOMEONE TO DO IT IN THE INTERIM.
SO WE HAVE FIVE WEEKS TO FIND A NEW FIRE MARSHAL AND A DEPUTY AND ALL THAT.
MY MOTION IS TO TABLE THIS MOTION
MY MOTION IS TO TABLE THE MAIN MOTION.
AND, UH, AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE WOULD MEAN THAT WE WOULD BRING THAT BACK UP LATER.
A NEGATIVE VOTE WOULD MEAN THAT WE'D VOTE ON IT RIGHT NOW.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE VOTING RIGHT NOW ON TABLING THE MOTION? YES.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND AN AFFIRMATIVE, AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE WOULD HAVE US BRING IT BACK AT A LATER TIME.
IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
COULD YOU SECOND THAT? YES, MA'AM.
COMMISSIONER WALLACE MADE THE MOTION.
IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? NA.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? MY MOTION IS STILL BEFORE THE FLOOR AND MY MOTION IS TO POST THE FIRE MARSHAL POSITION.
IT STANDS DO WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN? DO WE HAVE A SECOND? JUDGE? THIS IS THE MOTION.
THIS IS THE MOTION'S ALREADY ON THE FLOOR.
COMMISSIONER, WE, WE, WE, WE VOTED ON THAT.
I THOUGHT WE DID VOTE ON THAT.
HIS ORIGINAL MOTION, UM, IS TO HIRE, UH, FIRE MARSHAL IN-HOUSE.
AND YOU AMENDED IT TO NO, YOU'D, MY, MY MOTION IS TO WHO STOOD POST THE POSITION OF FIRE MARSHAL AND I AMENDED THAT MOTION.
SO I'LL, I'LL ADD TO IT AGAIN, IS THAT WE SET UP A COMMITTEE OF COMMISSIONER HALE, MYSELF, THE SHERIFF, AND BECKY MCCULLOUGH.
THAT'S I TO SCREEN THOSE APPLICANTS? THAT'S THE MOTION.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? NAY.
WAIT, WAIT, WE NEED A SECOND JUDGE.
[01:50:01]
ON THE FLOOR.AND, AND THE, THE JUDGE SECONDED THE MOTION.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
CAN YOU NOT VOTE ON YOUR COMPUTER? HE CANNOT.
COMMISSIONER HALE HASN'T VOTED YET.
I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO VOTE FOR YOU.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER ACTION ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT, WE'LL MOVE FORWARD.
[5.J. Authorize the transfer of funds from the General Fund program contingencies to Department 436 to cover TIDC attorney fees and related litigation expenses. (Brianna Fowler/ Judge Deen) ]
OKAY.WE'RE GONNA GO TO ITEM J ON AUTHORIZED AND TRANSFER OF FUNDS FROM THE GENERAL FUNDING PROGRAM CONTINGENCIES DEPARTMENT 4 36 TO COVER TIDC ATTORNEY FEES AND RELATED LITIGATION EXPENSES.
IN LOOKING AT THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR AND THE YEAR TO DATE EXPENSES FOR THIS DEPARTMENT IN THOSE AREAS, UM, THERE'S GOING TO BE A SHORTAGE IN THAT BUDGET.
THEREFORE, THERE'S A REQUEST TO MOVE, UM, $100,000 FROM PROGRAM CONTINGENCIES INTO THAT BUDGET TO COVER, UM, ATTORNEY'S FEES AS WELL AS ANY SORT OF INVESTIGATIVE OR EXPERT WITNESS CAUSE.
UM, WE'RE ALSO, UM, WORKING WITH THEM TO SEE WHETHER NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET NEEDS TO BE AMENDED, WHICH I THINK IT PROBABLY WILL TO ADD ADDITIONAL COSTS INTO THOSE AREAS.
AGAIN, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED BEFORE, SOME OF THESE ARE VERY, UM, DIFFICULT TO PROJECT AND IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE CASES THAT ARE BEFORE THE COURT.
MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER CONNOLLY.
DID Y'ALL DO THAT? COMMISSIONER HOPES MADE THE SECOND.
ANY OF THE DISCUSSION JUST TO COMMENT ON THOSE.
THOSE WERE CAPITAL CASES AND WISE COUNTY, I SPOKE WITH THEM LAST WEEK, SAID ONE COUNTY THAT DID A CAPITAL CASE, EVEN WITH THE DEFENSE CONTRACT WAS OVER A MILLION DOLLARS FOR EXPERTS.
SO IT, IT WILL DEFINITELY NEED TO BE FUNDED BETTER.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[5.K. Approve professional services agreement with Hilltop Securities for post debt issuance compliance services. (Brianna Fowler/ Judge Deen) ]
TO ITEM K, APPROVE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH HILLTOP SECURITIES FOR POST DEBT ISSUANCE FOR COMPLIANCE SERVICES.BRIA, WHAT'D YOU LEAD FOR? I, I GRAB MY COMPUTER IN CASE I NEED IT.
UH, SO OUR CURRENT CONTRACT, UM, WITH HILLTOP SECURITIES ASSET MANAGEMENT DIVISION, UM, IS EXPIRING.
UM, WHEN WE ENTERED INTO IT, IT'S A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT.
THIS IS FOR ANOTHER FIVE YEAR CONTRACT.
IT DOES HAVE A 30 DAY OUT CLAUSE IN THE EVENT THAT WE NEED TO.
UM, BUT THIS IS FOR OUR POST ISSUANCE COMPLIANCE, UM, FOR ANY DEBT.
SO I'VE, YOU KNOW, COME BEFORE YOU BEFORE, UM, FOR THE ARBITRAGE CALCULATION AND THE YIELD RESTRICTIONS, UM, THE PRICE THAT THEY CHARGE ANNUALLY FOR EACH SERIES IS 1600.
AND THEY ARE, EVEN THOUGH THE IRS REGULATIONS AND WORK THAT THEY HAVE TO DO ON THESE HAVE INCREASED, THEY'RE KEEPING THAT FEE CONSISTENT WITH OUR FIRST AGREEMENT, WHICH IS 1600 FOR EACH SERIES.
UM, THE ONLY PART THAT WOULD INCREASE IS IF THE, UM, IRS REFUNDS SOME OF THE STUFF THAT THEY HAVE TO PUT TOGETHER.
UM, PREVIOUSLY IT WAS $750, UH, BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT GOES INTO IT, THAT WOULD INCREASE TO, UM, I BELIEVE IT IS.
WHILE YOU'RE LOOKING THAT UP, WE DO HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HALE, THE SALE BY COMMISSIONER BARR THREE 3000.
SO AGAIN, THESE ARE RARE INSTANCES THAT THOSE WOULD BE, BUT GIVEN THE WORK THAT IT TAKES FOR THEM, UM, THAT WOULD BE, THAT COST ANY OF THE DISCUSSION? ALL THE PAPER.
[5.L. All Traffic Solutions Renewal for the traffic counter equipment and software for Precinct One. (Commissioner Conley)]
ITEM MAIL ALL TRAFFIC SOLUTIONS RENEW FOR THE TRAFFIC COUNTER EQUIPMENT SOFTWARE FOR PRECINCT ONE.WHAT THIS IS, IS, UH, IT'S OUR ANNUAL FEE, BUT THEY HAVE A TRACKER IN THAT COUNTER THAT WE PUT UP AND TAKES PICTURES.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HOLLY'S TAKEN BY COMMISSIONER.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THE FAVOR.
DOES IT, DOES THAT DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN TRUCK TRAFFIC AND, AND CAR TRAFFIC VEHICLE? IT WILL.
IF YOU, UH, SET IT THAT WAY, IT DOES ALL KINDS OF STUFF.
IS THIS THE ONE THAT GOT STOLEN SO MANY TIMES? IT'S BEEN STOLEN FOUR TIMES AND WE'VE GOTTEN IT BACK ALL FOUR TIMES.
YEAH, IT'S BEEN STOLEN FOUR TIMES.
WAIT TO TAKE OF YOUR STUFF OVER HERE.
[01:55:01]
LAST TIME.IT TOOK A PICTURE OF HIS FRONT OF HIS HOUSE.
LITTLE BIT OF TMI BUT THAT, IT'S ALL RIGHT THERE.
UH, WE MOVED ITEM IN ON DISCUSS, TAKE ACTION ON GIVE, THAT'S ABOUT FIVE OH PASS BY THE WAY.
[5.M. Discuss/Take action on giving the Budget Committee the authority to periodically review individual departments and provide recommendations to court as necessary. (Commissioner Holt) ]
UH, ITEM IN DISCUSS, TAKE ACTION ON GIVING THE BUDGET COMMITTEE THE AUTHORITY TO PERIODICALLY REVIEW INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO COURT AS NECESSARY.COMMISSIONER HOLT, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE.
BASICALLY THE COMMITTEE UNCOVERED, UH, OR JUST IN THE COURSE OF, OF OUR WORK, WE FOUND SOME THINGS THAT WE'D LIKE TO FOLLOW UP ON.
SO FORMALLY ASKING COURT FOR THE AUTHORITY TO DO THIS.
I THINK COMMISSIONER WALDEN HAS REFERENCED THIS BEFORE, PERHAPS ALSO SHARING THE LOAD AMONG COMMISSIONERS.
IF Y'ALL ARE, IF Y'ALL ARE WILLING, I KNOW I'M CERTAINLY HAPPY TO KEEP DOING THIS, BUT WANT EVERYBODY TO BE INVOLVED.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER SHORTEN, I WAS THINKING BY COMMISSIONER Y AND I KNOW YOU AND I'VE DISCUSSED THIS, UH, NOT THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUT THE, THOSE DEPARTMENTS WHERE, UM, WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST WHERE YOU IDENTIFIED A, A POSSIBLE EFFICIENCY SITUATION AND THAT'S KIND OF THE OBJECTIVE.
YEAH, IT'S APPOINTED, APPOINTED ON VERY WELL.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO GET INTO NO, NO, UNDERSTOOD.
NOT TRYING TO, NOT TRYING TO RUN ANYBODY'S DEPARTMENT FOR THEM, BUT SO THAT THERE'S OVERSIGHT FROM THE COURT FOR EACH AND EVERY DEPARTMENT.
THAT THAT WOULD BE A DE DE YOU KNOW, THAT MIGHT, AND NOT NECESSARILY IF THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG, BUT BE ABLE TO GO IN AND JUST LOOK AT RIGHT.
WHAT THOSE DEPARTMENTS', UH, PROCEDURES ARE AND, AND, UH, THEIR, AND LOOK FOR EFFICIENCIES OF COURSE, BUT JUST TO TRY TO HELP MAKE THOSE CLEAR.
I'M VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
I JUST WANTED THAT TO BE HEARD ALSO.
THAT THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD STEP IN, IN A GOOD DIRECTION TO HELP US OVERALL FROM THE EFFICIENCY STANDPOINT.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I, I GOT YOU SAY PERIODICALLY WHO'S GONNA PICK OUT WHAT DEPARTMENT? IT'LL BE A VOLUNTEER BASIS.
WE'LL ASK AND YOU CAN PERIODICALLY YEAH.
AND WE'RE NOT COMING TO YOURS, BUT I GUESS, I GUESS GEORGE, WE COULD CONTRACT THIS OUT FOR, UH, HAVE SOME WELL, WE CAN GET IT.
I, I DON'T KNOW IF WE ANOTHER REMEMBER TO TELL YOU, BUT YOU'RE DOING ALL THIS.
DIDN'T YOU KNOW THAT? NO, I DIDN'T.
IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? OKAY.
YOU CAN THANK US LATER OVER THERE.
[5.O. Medical Examiner District Agreement between Tarrant and Parker Counties for FY2026. (Kim Rivas/ Judge Deen) ]
ITEM O MEDICAL EXAMINER DISTRICT AGREEMENT BETWEEN TERRY AND PARKER COUNTIES FOR FYF 26 KIM REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION, UH, FOR THE COUNTY JUDGE TO BE ABLE TO EXECUTE THE RENEWAL FOR THE MEDICAL EXAMINER DISTRICT AGREEMENT BETWEEN TARRANT COUNTY AND PARKER COUNTY FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026.THERE WAS AN IN INCREASE IN THIS YEAR'S, UM, CONTRACT FROM 459,898 LAST YEAR TO $484,136.
THEY HAD ORIGINALLY PRO IN, IN THE JUDGE'S PROPOSED, UM, BUDGET.
AND UM, SO THIS IS A REDUCTION OF THAT BY $6,667.
AND WE DID MEET WITH THEIR CITY MANAGER AND THEIR, UH, MEDICAL EXAMINER AND WE'RE REALLY GETTING A GOOD DEAL FOR WHAT THEIR SERVICES ARE.
AND, AND A DEAL THAT IS, IS ENVIED BY MANY COUNTIES THAT AREN'T PART OF THAT.
UH, DO WE, IS THERE A MOTION COMMISSIONER? WAL, DID YOU MAKE THAT MOTION UP THERE? OH, I'M SORRY.
I, I SAW THE NUMBERS OF THE TOP.
COMMISSIONER WALDEN'S MADE THE MOTION.
ANY OF THE DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
I THOUGHT, GOSH, THAT'S THE FIRST TIME THERE'S EVER BEEN A REDUCTION IN THAT, BUT IT WAS, IT'S KIND OF LIKE IN WASHINGTON, THIS IS WHAT THE PROJECTED AMOUNT IS, BUT WE'RE REJECT, WE'RE, UH, WE'RE SOMEWHAT LOWER THAN WHAT THAT IS.
SOMETHING IN OUR BUDGET NUMBERS HERE, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY AN INCREASE OF 25,000.
YEAH, IT IT, YEAH, IT'S A, IT'S A GOOD TEST.
[5.P. Approval of the Law Library contract for a terminal to be placed at Weatherford College with Thompson Reuters and take any action the comi deems necessary. (John Forrest/ Judge Deen) ]
MOVE TO ITEM P ON APPROVAL OF THE LAW LIBRARY CONTRACT FOR A TERMINAL TO BE PLACED AT WEATHERFORD COLLEGE WITH THOMPSON ROOTERS AND TAKE ANY ACTION OF THE COURT DEEMS NECESSARY.JOHN, WHEN THE TERMINALS WERE TAKEN FROM THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AT WEATHERFORD, THE WEATHERFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY, UH, THE COLLEGE WAS CONTACTED, THEIR COLLEGE IS OPEN.
EXTENDED HOURS WOULD ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO HAVE ACCESS TO THAT.
AND SO RECOMMENDING THAT ONE OF THE TERMINALS BE PLACED AT WEATHERFORD COLLEGE, ANY MOTION MOVE BY COMMISSIONER HALE SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WON ANY OF THE DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[5.Q. Approval of the Inter local Agreement with Poolville ISD for School Resource Officers and take any action the court deems necessary. (John Forrest/ Judge Deen) ]
MOVE TO ITEM Q, APPROVAL OF THE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH VILLE ISD FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AND TAKE ANY ACTION TO THE COURT TEAMS NECESSARY.AND THIS IS A RENEWAL CONTRACT AND THE PAYMENT FOR THE SCHOOL TO THE COUNTY WOULD BE $46,162 AND 17 CENTS.
OKAY, DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN? WE HAVE A SECOND PLEASE.
[02:00:01]
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL FAVOR.[5.R. Approval of the Inter local Agreement with Garner ISD for School Resource Officers and take any action the court deems necessary. (John Forrest/ Judge Deen) ]
R, APPROVE THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE GARNER ISD FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER, RESOURCE OFFICERS.COURT DE NECESSARY MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER HOLT.
AND THIS IS ALSO A CONTINUATION CONTRACT WITH THE TOTAL PAID BY THE SCHOOL $36,064 AND 20 CENTS.
OKAY, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[5.S. Approval of the Interlocal Agreement with the City of Springtown for Jail Services and take any action the comi deems necessary. (John Forrest/ Judge Deen) ]
TO ITEM MS, APPROVE OF THE HONOR LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF SPRINGTOWN FOR JAIL SERVICES.AND TAKE ANY ACTION TO THE COURT DE IS NECESSARY.
JOHN, IS THAT THE SAME? IT IT IS A CONTINUATION, BUT I'LL LET MARK ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES WITHIN THE CONTRACT.
SO YOU'RE GONNA SEE SOME OF THESE COMING TO COURT HERE.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF CITY POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
WE, OR CITIES WE DON'T HAVE, UH, JAIL CONTRACT WITH.
THIS IS JUST FOR THEM TO PLACE THEIR CITY PRISONERS OR CITY INMATES IN OUR FACILITY.
AND SO WE CHARGE 'EM A DAILY PER DIEM RATE PLUS $5 FOR EVERY DAY.
MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER CONLEY.
UH, DO WE HAVE A SECOND PLEASE? ALSO SECOND BY COMMISSIONER.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[5.T. Approval of the Interlocal Agreement with the City of Weatherford for Jail Services and take any action the court deems necessary. (John Forrest/ Judge Deen) ]
MOVE TO ITEM T, APPROVAL OF THE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF WEATHERFORD JUDGE JAIL SERVICES.MOTION MOVED BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HOLT.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[5.U. Approval of the Addendum with the City of Brock for road repairs to Summer Stone Court and take any action the court deems necessary. (John Forrest/ Judge Deen) ]
TO ITEM U, APPROVAL OF THE ADDENDUM OF THE CITY OF ABROAD FOR ROAD REPAIRS FOR SUMMER STONE COURT AND TAKE ANY ACTION COURT NAMES NECESSARY.WE HAVE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR AYE.
[5.V. Approval of the Interlocal Agreement with Millsap ISD for School Resource Officers and take any action the court deems necessary. (John Forrest/ Judge Deen) ]
MOVE TO ITEM V, APPROVAL OF THE LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH EP ID FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AND THEY, HE ACTUALLY COURT DEEMS NECESSARY AND THIS IS A, ONCE AGAIN, A CONTINUATION CONTRACT.THE SCHOOL WOULD PAY THE COUNTY $46,162.
COMMISSIONER WALL AND SEMAN COMMISSIONER HOLT, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR AYE EVA, SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
[5.W. Permission to park a TxDMV Vehicle (Chevy Traverse) at the Annex Building at 1112 Santa Fe and take any action the court deems necessary. (John Forrest/ Judge Deen) ]
MOVE TO ITEM W.PERMISSION TO PARK A TEXAS DMV VEHICLE CHEVY TRANSVERSE AT THE ANNEX BUILDING AT ONE 12 SANTA FE AND TAKE ANY COURT DMS NECESSARY.
MOTION MAY BY COMMISSIONER HOLT SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HILL.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH JOHN? UH, THEY DON'T HAVE A LOCATION TO PARK A VEHICLE.
CURIOUS TO TALK ABOUT? THANK YOU.
[5.X. Approval of the renewal contract for the RBPM Facility located in Azle, Texas, known as Lease No. 697DCM-20-L-00127, and take any action the comi deems necessary. (John Forrest/ Judge Deen) ]
MOVE TO ITEM X, APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL OF THE CONTRACT OF THE RBPM FACILITY THAT LOCATED NASAL TEXAS AND I'M LEASE NUMBER 6 9 7 D CM DASH 20 DASH L DASH OH OH 1 27 AND TAKING THE ACTION COURT DEEMS NECESSARY JOHN.AND THERE IS A COMPANY THAT WOULD LIKE TO LEASE SPACE OFF OF OUR, ONE OF OUR TOWERS THAT WE ACQUIRED FROM TRI-COUNTY.
UH, SO WE'LL HAVE TO NO ACTION THIS TODAY, BUT THE UM, RATE THAT THEY'RE PROPOSING IS $7,200 A YEAR.
[5.Y. Approve the Interlocal Agreement with Azle ISD for School Resource Officer and take any action the court deems necessary. (John Forrest/ Judge Deen)]
THAT.WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM Y, WE'LL TAKE NO ACTION ON ITEM Y.
[6. ACCEPT INTO THE MINUTES]
MOVE TO ITEM SIX EXCEPT INTO THE MINUTES.UNDER ITEM A, PARKER COUNTY PERMITTING DEPARTMENT QUARTERLY REPORT.
ITEM B EXECUTED AUTOMATIC BANK DRAFT AUTHORIZATION, BONFIRE AUTO SALES AND EQUIPMENT LLC FOR AUTO REGISTRATION TRANSACTIONS.
ITEM C EXECUTED AUTOMATIC BANK DRAFT AUTHORIZATION, SEVERAL CARS AND TRUCK SALES LC FOR AUTO REGISTRATION TRANSACTIONS.
ITEM D EXECUTED AUTOMATIC BANK DRAFT AUTHORIZATION, TEXAS CLASSICS AND CUSTOM SALES FOR AUTO REGISTRATION TRANSACTIONS.
ITEM E EXECUTED BAIRD HAMPTON AND BROWN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR THE REVIEW AND UPDATED PARKER COUNTY SUBDIVISION CRITERIA.
ITEM F, EXECUTED INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT FOR ROAD REPAIRS IN THE CITY OF OLA PARK.
ITEM G EXECUTED CLAIMS COMPENSATION FOR BUREAU OF VISA.
LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT THOSE ARE ACCEPTED INTO THE MINUTES.
[7. EXECUTIVE SESSION:]
MOVE TO ITEM SEVEN UNDER EXECUTIVE SESSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTIONS 5 5 1 0 7 1 0 7 2 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE OBSERVING THE RIGHT TO MEET SESSION TO DISCUSS ITEM A AND EXECUTIVE CLOSED SESSION MEETING WILL BE HELD PURSUANT TO 5 5 1 0 7 1 2 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE AND 1 2 9 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE CONSULTATION WITH THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE COMMISSION'S COURT TO CONSULT WITH AND SEEK ADVICE FROM ITS ATTORNEYS REGARDING ITEM A ACTIVE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS OF PARKER COUNTY ITEM B, LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE AT TEXAS COUNTIES AND I SEE ANY OTHER MATTERS DESCRIBED IN THE MEETING IN THEN ITEM B, DISCUSSION, UPDATE ON THE JUSTICE CENTER AND JAIL AND TAKE ANY EXTRA COURT NAMES NECESSARY RECORD SHOW THAT WE'LL TAKE A RECESS AT 1104 AND THEN MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION IT SESSION AT 1147 AND MOVE TO THE ITEMS DISCUSSED UNDER ITEM A.WE'LL TAKE NO ACTION UNDER ITEM
[02:05:01]
B.[8.A. PRECINCT 1 (Part 1 of 2)]
THIS TO ITEM EIGHT ON PLANNING UNDER ITEM A PRECINCT ONE.NUMBER ONE, I'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON.
UH, IMPROVE THE GROUNDWATER STUDY FOR SUBDIVISION, BE KNOWN AS PLEASANT OAKS, PHASE ONE WITH LOT ONE OF 2.0 ACRES LOCATED OFF OF KNOB ROAD.
BILLED BY JOE ANDREWS AND JESSICA YOUNG TRUSTEES OF WANDA MOOREFIELD LIVING TRUST IN PRECINCT ONE, PRECINCT FOUR.
UH, WE DO HAVE A LETTER FROM CLAY PITS WATER SERVICE STATING THAT UH, THERE IS ADEQUATE GROUNDWATER SUPPLY LOCATED ON THIS SUBJECT PROPERTY.
GOOD JOHN, OR WE'RE GOOD ON THAT? WE'RE GOOD.
ANY MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER CONY? SECOND BY COMMISSIONER A.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS NOT ON THIS ITEM? ALL ON FAVOR? TWO.
NOW PRECINCT FOUR, NUMBER TWO IS HERE.
[8.D. PRECINCT 4 ]
FOUR, ITEM THREE.OKAY, WE'LL MOVE TO PRECINCT FOUR.
IT ALSO PERTAINS TO THAT WHICH TWO.
UH, PROVE THE VARIANCE FOR THE NUMBER TWO VARIANCE FROM THE PARKER COUNTY SUBDIVISION RULES AND REGULATIONS OF PARKER COUNTY OSS F RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE 50 FOOT ROAD WIDTH AND A SUBDIVISION KNOWN AS BLUE JACK RANCH THAT ANY ACCIDENT COURT DEEMS NECESSARY IN PRECINCT FOUR.
CURRENTLY THESE ROADS, UH, DO STAND AT.
SOME OF THEM DO STAND AT 50 FEET, BUT THEY ARE GONNA BE CURB AND GUTTER ROADS.
WE DO HAVE A FEW ROADS IN THERE THAT ARE 87 FEET, UH, TO ALLEVIATE, UM, ENTRANCES THERE.
SO WE'D LIKE TO ASK FOR A WAIVER, PLEASE.
YOU HAVE EVERYTHING IN ORDER, JOHN, FOR THAT? OH, WE DO? YES.
MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER HA.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CONLEY.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, CARRIE SPOT VOTE.
MOVE TO ITEM THREE ON APPROVE THE FINAL PLAN FOR DIVISION KNOWN AS BLUE JACK RANCH.
PHASE ONE WITH 33 RESIDENTIAL AND 12 RESERVE LOTS CONSISTENT OF 95.88 ACRES LOCATED OFF OF HIGHWAY 3 77 SOUTH, DEVELOPED BY ALITO RANCH WITH GRESHAM CROSS ROADS, MUD TWO AND PRECINCT FOUR AND CURRENTLY WE ARE GONNA HAVE ABOUT 45 LOTS IN LOT ONE ALONG WITH UM, DEV RESERVE AREAS.
UH, THEIR MAIN ENTRANCE IS OFF OF 3 77.
UH, TDOT DID FINISH THEIR TURN LANE GOING INTO THERE.
THEY ARE GONNA HAVE ROADS IN HERE THAT ARE GONNA BE MAINTAINED BY CRESCENT MUD.
THEY DID PROVIDE A PERFORMANCE BOND FOR THOSE ROADS, WHICH I'LL PUT ON THE AGENDA NEXT WEEK.
AND THE DEVELOPER HAS PROVIDED A TAX CERTIFICATE INDICATING A ZERO BALANCE PERMITTING HAS APPROVED PUBLIC WATER THROUGH CRESCENT MUD NUMBER TWO AND PUBLIC WASTE DISPOSAL UNDER CRESCENT MUD.
NUMBER TWO, ALL OTHER LEGAL REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET.
MOTION BE BY COMMISSIONER HALE, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MCC CONY.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR CARRIES FIVE.
WHILE YOU'RE HERE, LET'S JUST FINISH OUT.
ITEM FOUR, APPROVE THE WAIVER FOR GROUNDWATER STUDY IN THE SUBDIVISION.
BE KNOWN AS AARON ACRES IN THE ETJ CITY OF FORT WORTH WITH FOUR LOTS CONSISTING OF 10.0061 ACRES LOCATED OFF OF MARK LANE, DEVELOPED BY TRACY AARON PRECINCT FOUR OR ITEM FOUR, PRECINCT FOUR.
WE DO HAVE A LETTER FROM HENDRICKS WORKS.
UH, THEY SAY IT IS IN MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION, PAST EXPERIENCE WITH THIS AREA THAT IS THIS PROPERTY WHERE DIVIDED INTO SMALLER TRACKS MEETING THE SPACING REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH BY THE UPPER TRINITY GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT, THAT THERE WOULD BE SUFFICIENT GROUNDWATER AVAILABLE TO SUPPLY NORMAL RESIDENTIAL USE.
TYPICAL FOUR INCH CASE PVC WELLS IN THE FLEXI ZONE OF THE TRINITY GROUP OF AQUIFERS IN THIS AREA RANGE IN DEPTH FROM TWO 60 TO 3 2320 FEET IN TOTAL DEPTH AND PRODUCE AN EXCESS OF 10 TO 15 GALLONS PER MINUTE.
OKAY, MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER HA SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CONLEY.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? FIVE VOTE.
AND WE CAN TAKE NO ACTION ON NUMBER FIVE, JUDGE.
OKAY, WE'LL TAKE NO ACTION ON FIVE.
WE'LL GO BACK TO ONE POLICY ITEM ONE ON PRECINCT FOUR D ONE, APPROVE THE FINAL REVISION FOR SUBDIVISION KNOWN AS LAGUNA VISTA ESTATES IN THE ETJ CITY OF WEATHERFORD WITH ONE LIKE CONSIST OF 1.794 ACRES LOCATED OFF OF Y SUMMIT ROAD DEVELOPED IN THE SEVEN CLICK WITH AN EXISTING WELL INCREASING FOR IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
THIS IS A COMBINATION OF LOT 31 P AND 32 P.
THEIR ROAD FURNACE DOES COME OFF OF WHITE SETTLEMENT ROAD AND WELL WATER IS GONNA BE THEIR WATER SOURCE.
OKAY, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 1152.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1D
[02:10:01]
ONE PRECINCT FOUR HEARING HERE IC NINE? WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 1152 AND GO TO THE ITEM AND THE PROPER NOTICE WAS PLACED IN NEWSPAPER LESS THAN THE DATE, TIME, LOCATION, AND PURPOSE TODAY'S HEARING, THE DEVELOPER HAS PROVIDED A TAX CERTIFICATE INDICATING A ZERO BALANCE PERMITTING HAS APPROVED PRIVATE WATER AND PRIVATE WASTE DISPOSAL AND THEY HAVE MET ALL OF THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS.MOTION MOVED BY COMMISSIONER HA SECOND BY COMMISSIONER DON LINK.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR.
[8.A. PRECINCT 1 (Part 2 of 2)]
BACK TO PRECINCT ONE.ITEM TWO, APPROVE THE VARIANCE FOR DRIVEWAY DISTANCES ON KNOB ROAD FOR SUBDIVISION.
BE KNOWN AS PLEASANT OAK SPACE FOUR AND PRECINCT ONE.
AND THIS SUBDIVISION CURRENTLY HAS A ROAD FRONTAGE OF 338 FEET AND FOR A 45 MILE AN HOUR WE'RE SITTING AT 360 FEET.
SO NEED TO MOTION MAY BY COMMISSIONER CONNOLLY.
I HAVE A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HALE, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU HAVE? NO SIR.
UH, ALL IN FAVOR CARRIES FIVE.
MOVE TO ITEM THREE, APPROVE THE FINAL PLAT FOR SUDDEN VISION.
BE KNOWN AS THOMAS RANCH WITH ONE LOT CONSISTENT OF 5.05.
NINE ACRES LOCATED OFF OF THOMAS ROAD, DEVELOPED BY JAMES MARK AND DEANNA THOMAS WOOD WATER PRECINCT ONE.
THIS IS GONNA BE A, UH, ONE LOT SUBDIVISION FOR A TOTAL OF 5.0001 ACRES.
ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE VARIANCE OR THE FINAL? WE, FINAL.
WE DID APPROVE THE DRIVEWAY VARIANCE AND HAVE ALREADY PREVIOUSLY WAIVED THE GROUNDWATER STUDY AND THEY'RE ALSO DEDICATING ADDITIONAL RIGHT OF WAY OFF OF THOMAS ROAD.
COUNSEL, EVERYTHING GOOD FOR A FINAL? EVERYTHING IS IN ORDER.
THE DEVELOPER HAS PROVIDED TAX CERTIFICATE INDICATING ZERO BALANCE PERMITTING HAS APPROVED PRIVATE WATER AND PRIVATE WASTE DISPOSAL AND ALL OTHER LEGAL REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET.
MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER MCC CONLEY.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR.
MOVE TO ITEM FOUR AND ACCEPT THE SPECIAL WARRANTY DEED FOR ADDITIONAL RIGHT OF WAY LOCATED OFF OF THOMAS ROAD IN THE SUBDIVISION KNOWN AS THOMAS RANCH IN PRECINCT ONE.
THIS IS FOR AN ADDITIONAL 0.058 OF AN ACRE OFF OF THOMAS ROAD MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER CONLEY.
ANY OF THE DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR WE MOVE TO ITEM FIVE, BEGIN THE CANCELLATION PROCESS FOR SUBDIVISION KNOWN AS HAY GOOD RANCH.
PHASE TWO CONSISTING OF 179.37 ACRES DEVELOPED BY HAY GOOD RANCH PARTNERS, LLC.
SO THE DEVELOPER HAS COME FORWARD, THEY WOULD LIKE TO CANCEL THIS SUBDIVISION BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO REDESIGN AND RENAME IT AS UM, WELL THEY'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK OUT THERE ALREADY, SO, BUT THEY'RE GONNA CHANGE THE NAME.
THEY'RE GONNA CHANGE THE NAME.
WE LOOK AT THAT AND THEY'RE GONNA TAKE IT BACK TO RAW ACREAGE AND PROVE THE PICTURE.
IS IT, IS IT GONNA BE PRIVATE? UH, RIGHT NOW IT'S LISTED AS COUNTY, SO I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE NEW PLANS.
THEY'VE ALREADY WHAT WAS LISTED AS PRIVATE.
THE MOTION TO BANK BY COMMISSIONER CONLEY.
I'M NOT, I'M NOT POSITIVE THEY, I NEED TO KNOW THEY HAVE SUBMITTED THE NEW PLANS, BUT I HAVEN'T, I HAVE NOT LOOKED AT THEM YET.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? DO THEY SAY WHAT THEY'RE GONNA NAME IT OR NOT? UH, THEY HAVE IS THAT A SECRET? IT IT IS A SECRET RIGHT NOW.
BUT IF IT IS, BECAUSE I DON'T, THEY'RE COME PUBLIC, WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE THAT INFORMATION TO HOLD SO YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
I, MAN, I'D RATHER IT BE HAYGOOD ESTATES 'CAUSE THAT'S WHO OWNED THE LAND.
SO PHASE ONE IS STILL IN, I MEAN, THEY DID WHERE THE HOUSES ARE.
IT'S GONNA STAY, IT IS GONNA STAY.
THEY'RE JUST REDOING PHASE TWO.
CARRIE SPA, I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S CHANGED.
BUT I'LL FIND OUT AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT THE NAME OF THE NEW ONE'S GONNA BE TOO.
OH, I PUT THAT ONE ASIDE UNTIL THE CANCELLATION IS FINISHED BEFORE WE PUSH THE NEW ONE THROUGH.
HONOR ITEM SIX EXCEPT THE MAINTENANCE LETTER OF CREDIT AND RELEASE THE CONSTRUCTION LETTER OF CREDIT FOR PREVENTAGE OAKS PHASE THREE IN PRECINCT ONE.
SO THIS NEW LETTER OF CREDIT IS FOR $89,740 AND WE'RE GONNA KEEP THAT IN PLACE FOR TWO YEARS.
MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER CONLEY, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HALE.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR PERIODS VO MOVE TO
[8.B. PRECINCT 2 ]
ITEM B.APPROVE THE GROUNDWATER STUDY FOR SUBDIVISION KNOWN AS SIERRA RANCH WITH ONE LOT CONSISTING OF 4.0 ACRES LOCATED OFF OF KIL KENNEY ROAD DEVELOPED BY GAIL FERNANDEZ IN PRECINCT TWO.
IT'S GONNA BE A COMBINATION OF TWO LOTS.
[02:15:01]
THEY'RE WELL REPORTED NOW IS A PUMPED DEPTH OF 180.WAS THERE ACTUALLY A GROUNDWATER STUDY DONE OR SHOULD THIS SAY APPROVE THE WAIVER? IT SHOULD SAY THE WAIVER.
BECAUSE THERE WAS, I WOULD ASSUME WE DIDN'T MAKE THEM DO A GROUNDWATER STUDY FOR ONE FOUR ACRE LOT.
UM, CAN YOU REPEAT THE WELL INFORMATION PLEASE? UH, PUMPED UP OF 180 FOR A YIELD OF 15 GPM.
MAKING THE MOTION SUBJECT TO THE CLARIFICATION THAT IT'S A WAIVER.
JOHN, CAN WE DO THAT? I THINK THEY, UH, MAKE IT CLEAR ON THE NEXT ONE.
THEY'RE NOT GOING FOR FINAL TODAY.
SO THAT
JUST PUT THAT ON AN AND WE'LL TAKE NO ACTION ON THAT ITEM THEN.
TAKE NO ACTION ON ITEM ONE, ITEM TWO, BEGIN THE REVISION PROCESS FOR SUBDIVISION KNOWN AS SARAH RANCH WITH ONE LOT POSITION OF 4.0 ACRES LOCATED OFF OF KINNEY ROAD DEVELOPED BY GI FERNANDEZ WHEEL, WATER AND PRECINCT TWO.
NO ACTION ON THAT ONE AS WELL.
WE'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND START THAT PROCESS.
SORRY JOHN, THIS IS JUST GONNA BE A COMBINATION OF TWO LOTS.
WE'D LIKE TO START THE PROCESS FOR JOHN.
ARE WE GOOD TO START IT? WE ARE, YES.
MOTION MAY BY COMMISSIONER HOLT SECOND BY WALDEN.
THIS IS A SUBDIVISION THAT I THINK HAS ALREADY BEEN THROUGH THE PROCESS OF HAVING EITHER A WAIVER OR A GROUNDWATER STUDY FOR THE WHOLE SUBDIVISION.
AND NOW THESE FOLKS ARE COMING BACK IN HERE AND COMBINING TWO LOTS.
OR DO WE STILL HAVE TO HAVE THIS GROUNDWATER? WE, WE STILL, EVEN THOUGH IT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE NOW WE'RE COMING BACK AND COMBINING TWO LOTS AND WE STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
THE QUESTION FOR THE COURT, DID Y'ALL, IT'S SOMETHING TO ME TO CHANGE FROM WHAT, FROM WHEN THEY ORIGINALLY DID IT TO TODAY'S DATE WHEN THEY'RE I THOUGHT THIS WAS THAT RULE CHANGE, THAT LEGISLATIVE CHANGE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2023.
THIS WAS THAT CHANGE THAT MADE IT SO THAT ANY REVISION AT ALL, EVEN COMBINING TWO LOTS REQUIRES US TO 'CAUSE BASED ON, YOU KNOW, ONE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE 20 YEARS AGO.
SO, BUT INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH THEY, THEY COULD LEAVE 'EM TWO LOTS AND STILL HAVE WATER IF IT WAS WAIVED PREVIOUSLY 20 YEARS AGO.
COME UP WHERE SOMEONE HAD TO COMBINE TWO LOTS ON A SUBDIVISION THAT IF THE WAIVER HAD BEEN DONE 18 MONTHS BEFORE, I THINK IT WAS TCEQ, THAT WAS THE MS. BAILEY CASE.
TCEQ CAME BACK AND SAID THAT, OR MAYBE THE UPPER TRINITY, SOMEBODY CAME BACK AND SAID, WE STILL HAVE TO DO IT PER THE NEW LAW.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR CURIOUS FAO MOVE TO ITEM THREE, APPROVE THE FINAL PLA SUBDIVISION WILL BE KNOWN AS NICHOLS HILLS IN THE ETJ WITH ONE LOT CONSIST OF 5.5468 ACRES LOCATED OFF OF LENE LANE DEVELOPED BY NICHOLS PROPERTY INVESTMENTS LLC WITH WELL WATER AND PRECINCT TWO.
THIS IS A ONE LOT, UM, SUBDIVISION.
IT WAS RELEASED FROM THE TOWN OF PESTER OVER TO THE COUNTY.
UH, THE PURPOSE IS JUST TO APPLY SOME UN PLATTED PARCELS TO SELL OFF TO AN INDIVIDUAL.
MOTION MOVE BY COMMISSIONER HOLT SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN.
ANY QUE DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR.
CARRIE FIVE OH MOVE TO ITEM FOUR, APPROVE THE FINAL PLAT OR SUBDIVISION BE KNOWN AS PATTON PARK IN THE ETJ CITY OF WEATHERFORD WITH ONE LOT CONSIST OF 4.178 ACRES LOCATED OFF OF GREEN BRANCH ROAD, DEVELOPED BY MARTHA WOOD, NOAH NORTON BRYANT AND FELICIA PATTON WITH EXISTING WELL IN PRECINCT TWO AND UH, THIS IS JUST GONNA BE A ONE LOT SUBDIVISION.
IT WAS RELEASED FROM THE CITY OF WEATHERFORD.
WE'VE ALREADY GRANTED A WAIVER FOR GROUNDWATER AND THE DRIVEWAY VARIANCE AND OUR ROAD FRONTAGE IS OFF OF GREEN BRANCH ROAD.
AND THE DEVELOPER HAS PROVIDED A TAX CERTIFICATE INDICATING ZERO BALANCE PERMIT HAS APPROVED PRIVATE WATER AND PRIVATE WASTE DISPOSAL AND THEY HAVE MET ALL OTHER LEGAL REQUIREMENTS.
AND JOHN, I APOLOGIZE, I SHOULD HAVE ASKED YOU THE SAME ON I I I REVIEWED IT AND IT WAS, EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT.
MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER HOLT.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WALLEN.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL FAVOR, JUDGE.
WE CAN, UH, TAKE NO ACTION ON NUMBER FIVE PLEASE.
OKAY, YOU'LL TAKE NO ACTION ON FIVE.
BEGIN THE REVISION PROCESS FOR SUBDIVISION KNOWN AS SARAH RANCH WITH ONE LOT 'CAUSE THIS, THE 4.0 ACRES LOCATED OFF OF GALWAY ROAD DEVELOPED BY BRIAN.
WE JUST, AND JULIE, WE HAVE THREE IN THERE.
JOLENE RUSHING WITH WOOD WATER AND PRECINCT TWO.
THIS IS GONNA BE ANOTHER COMBINATION OF LOT OF TWO LOTS INTO ONE LOT.
THEIR ROAD FRONTAGES OFF GALLWAY ROAD.
AND WE'D JUST LIKE TO BEGIN THE PROCESS.
SHOULD MAY BY COMMISSIONER, HOLD SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN.
ANY DISCUSSION FOR DIVISION? ALL FAVOR? ONE FINAL I MOVE TO ITEM SEVEN, APPROVE THE VARIANCE FOR DRIVEWAY DISTANCES ON CLOVER DRIVE FOR SUBDIVISION KNOWN AS TRAILS IN AND PRECINCT TWO.
DID MD TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS ONE, JANE? UH, NO SIR.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT KAREN HANDLED AND I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHY THERE'S, SHE DIDN'T
[02:20:01]
LEAVE ME ANY NOTES ON.IT SAYS CLOVER DRIVE IS 40 MILES AN HOUR IS ALL THAT I HAVE.
SO CAN I JUST, WE'LL JUST TAKE NO ACTION.
I THINK THIS IS THE ONE THAT MD ALREADY LOOKED AT.
CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT ONE, JUDGE AND WE'LL COME BACK? SURE.
WE MOVED ITEM EIGHT AND APPROVED THE WAIVER FOR GROUNDWATER STUDY AND SUBDIVISION KNOWN AS TRAILS END WITH FOUR LOTS CONSISTING OF 8.1874 ACRES DEVELOPED BY BAR AND TREE OF MAY IN PRECINCT TO, AND I DO HAVE A LETTER FROM HENDRICKS, UH, WATER WELL AND WINDMILL SERVICE THAT STATES THAT, UM, IF THIS PROPERTY'S DIVIDED INTO SMALLER TRACKS, UM, THAT IT WILL HAVE SUFFICIENT GROUNDWATER.
UM, I'VE PUMPED DEPTHS FROM 200 TO 260 FEET FOR 10 TO 15 GALLONS A MINUTE.
MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER HALL, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN.
AND DISCUSSION ALL FAVOR CARRIES FIVE OH.
ACCEPT THE SPECIAL WARRANTY DEED FOR THE LAND SWAP AT SH VILLAS AND AUTHORIZE PAYMENT FOR THE FENCING PROJECT IN PRECINCT TWO.
AND TH THIS WAS A LAND SWAP TO PLACE A ROAD.
THERE WAS PORTIONS FROM TWO DIFFERENT LOTS.
THIS REFLECTS THE REVISION THAT TOOK PLACE AT THAT TIME.
PLUS IT INCLUDES THE ADDITIONAL COST THAT WE WOULD PAY TOWARDS THE SELLER TO MAKE THEM WHOLE WITH A FENCING ON THEIR PROJECT.
YEAH, AND BASICALLY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALREADY HANDLED IN COURT AND THIS RIGHT NOW IS JUST CLARIFYING A COUPLE OF LOOSE ENDS AND TYING 'EM UP.
SO MOTION TO MOVE BY COMMISSIONER HOLT.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN.
OH, IT'S COMING OUT OF THE PRECINCT.
YOU READY FOR SEVEN JACOB? UH, NO.
CAN WE COME BACK TO IT PLEASE? SURE.
[8.C. PRECINCT 3]
C, PRECINCT THREE.I APPROVE THE FINAL PLA FOR SOUTHERN RIDGE.
BE KNOWN AS 10 TOP ACRES WITH TWO LOTS CONSISTING OF 11.1.
THREE SIX ACRES LOCATED OFF OF 10.
TOP ROAD DEVELOPED BY 10, TOP TWO LLC, JOHNNY AND MARY ANDERSON WITH A EXISTING WELL IN PRECINCT THREE.
ANYTHING GOOD FOR THE FINAL, NOT RUSHING YOU WANT THERE? UH, YES.
THE DEVELOPER HAS PROVIDED A TAX CERTIFICATE INDICATING ZERO BALANCE.
PERMITING HAS APPROVED PRIVATE WATER AND PRIVATE WASTE DISPOSAL.
MOTION BE BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN.
ANY OF OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, CARRIE? FIVE OH.
MOVE TO ITEM TWO, ACCEPT THE SPECIAL WARRANTY DEED FOR ADDITIONAL RIGHT OF WAY OFF 10 TOP ROAD AND SUBDIVISION KNOWN AS 10 TOP ACRES IN PRECINCT THREE.
EVERYTHING GOOD? EVERYTHING IS GOOD.
MOTION MOVE BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? FIVE.
UM, IF WE NEED TO PUSH THAT DRIVEWAY DISTANCE THING BACK TWO WEEKS, IS THAT A BIG DEAL? NO SIR, NOT AT ALL.
I FEEL BETTER WITH KNOWING THE INFORMATION ON IT.
ONE, I WOULD ASSUME THEY'RE NOT AT FINAL PLAT YET.
SO YEAH, JUDGE IF WE CAN JUST TAKE NO ACTION ON THAT.
THEN I WOULD MOVE ITEM NINE ON ADJOURNMENT.
RECORD SHOW WILL ADJOURN AT 1206.