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WE'RE GONNA OPEN THE MEETING, UH, FOR THE PARKER COUNTY SALARY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE AGENDA, THE RECORD SHOW.
IT IS 6:00 PM UH, BASED ON THIS, UM, COMMITTEE THAT IS FORMED, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.
[I. Introduction and background to grievance process from Salary Grievance CommitteeChairman/County Judge Pat Deen.]
UH, WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS GO THROUGH SOME BACKGROUND ON THIS AND JUST KIND OF HOW WE GOT WHERE WE ARE.UH, AND THEN ONCE I DO THAT, THEN WE'LL INTRODUCE OURSELF AND THEN WE'LL START THE PROCESS.
AND SO, UM, WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO CONSIDER AND DISCUSS AND ACT UPON THE FOLLOWING AGENDA ITEMS UNDER ITEM A OR ITEM ONE.
UH, THE INTRODUCTION AND AND BACKGROUND TO THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS FROM THE SUMMARY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE, WHICH WE'RE ALL COMPOSED OF, UM, ALONG WITH MYSELF AND SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THIS IS, IS THAT AS TEXAS LAW, THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT OF THE COUNTY SHOWS THAT THE AMOUNT OF THE COMPENSATION OFFICE AND TRAVEL EXPENSES, ALL THEIR ALLOWANCES OF THE COUNTY AND PRECINCT OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES WHO ARE PAID BY THE COUNTY FUNDS UNDER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 1 5 2 0 1 1, THE NOTICE OF THE SALARY AND NOTICE REGARDING CHALLENGE TO SALARY AND EXPENSES.
THE CODE IS SET UP TO, FOR A GRIEVANCE PROCESS FOR ELECTED COUNTY AND PRECINCT OFFICIALS TO CHALLENGE THEIR SALARIES, EXPENSES, AND ALLOWANCES AND SET OUT IN THE COUNTY'S PROPOSED BUDGET.
TEXAS LAW REQUIRES CERTAIN NOTICES TO BE GIVEN TO ELECTED COUNTY AND PRECINCT OFFICERS REGARDING THEIR PROPOSED INCREASES IN SALARIES, EXPENSES, AND ALLOWANCES.
MORE OF A WRITTEN NOTICE MUST ALSO BE I PROVIDED TO EACH COUNTY OFFICER DETAILING THE SALARY AND PERSONAL EXPENSES TO BE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET IN THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT ACTING THROUGH THE COUNTY JUDGE, AS THE BUDGET OFFICER HAS MET THESE REQUIRED STATUTORY NOTICES AND ONE OR MORE AFFECTED COUNTY OFFICERS THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN NOTICE OF THEIR INTENT TO CHALLENGE THEIR PROPOSED SALARY AS PERMITTED BY TEXAS LAW.
AN OFFICIAL ELECTED COUNTY OR PRECINCT OFFICER WHO DISAGREES WITH THE SALARY OR PERSONAL EXPENSES PROVIDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET MAY REQUEST A HEARING BEFORE THE SALARY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE BEFORE THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT ADOPTS THE FINAL BUDGET, WHICH IS UNDER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 1 5 2 0 1 6, THE COMPOSITION OF THE, THE, THE SALARY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE.
UH, THERE'S COMMISSIONER'S COURT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DECIDE ON THE COMPOSITION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SALARY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE AND THE NON-MEMBER SALARY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE GENERALLY CONSISTS OF THE COUNTY JUDGE, SHERIFF, TAX ASSESSOR, COLLECTOR, TREASURER, COUNTY CLERK, THE DISTRICT CLERK, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, OR THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY, AND IN THIS CASE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY JOHN FOR, AND WE'LL GO DO INTRODUCTIONS HERE IN A MOMENT, AND THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC NECESSARY TO PROVIDE NINE VOTING MEMBERS OF WHICH IS BASICALLY THREE, UH, OF FORMER JURORS.
AND THAT'S WHERE Y'ALL COME IN AND WE'LL INTRODUCE Y'ALL IN A MOMENT.
CONVERSELY, THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT MAY VOTE TO HAVE THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS CONSIST OF NON-PUBLIC MEMBERS, WHICH WOULD BE ENTIRELY COMPOSED OF FORMER JURORS.
UM, THAT WAS DONE TWO YEARS AGO, JUST SO YOU KNOW.
AND THIS YEAR THE COURT DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND GO WITH THIS PROCESS WITH THE COMMITTEE, UM, THAT IS HERE NOW TONIGHT, NOTWITHSTANDING THE EXERCISE OF AUTHORITY GRANTED TO THE COMMISSIONER SCORE IN THIS REGARD, WHICH EVERY COMMITTEE MAKEUP IS VOTED UPON THE COUNTY JUDGE AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, BUT IS NOT ENTITLED TO VOTE, TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 1 5 2 1 4 AND THE SALARY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION.
IF AFTER THE HEARING, AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THIS, IS IF SIX OR MORE OF THE MEMBERS VOTE TO RECOMMEND AN INCREASE IN THE OFFICER'S SALARY OR PERSONAL EXPENSES, IF SIX OF US VOTE FOR, THEN THIS COMMITTEE SHALL SUBMIT ITS RECOMMENDATION TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT IN WRITING.
IF SIX TO EIGHT MEMBERS VOTE TO RECOMMEND THE INCREASE, THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT SHALL CONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATION AT ITS NEXT MEETING.
IF NINE MEMBERS VOTE, IF ALL OF US VOTE YES TO RECOMMEND THE INCREASE AND SIGN THE RECOMMENDATION, THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT SHALL INCLUDE IN THE INCREASED BUDGET BEFORE THE BUDGET IS FILED, WHICH MEANS IT GOES INTO EFFECT WITHOUT THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT APPROVAL OR REQUIRED APPROVAL.
AND ANYTHING BELOW OR FILED BELOW, THEN THE INCREASE, UH, WILL NOT PASS.
AND THAT'S UNDER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 1 5 2 1 1 6.
UH, AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO, JOHN, IF, IF WE CAN START ON YOUR END, JUST INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND WE'LL GO, WE'LL GO AROUND.
RUS PARKER, PARKER COUNTY ATTORNEY RUSS OER, PARKER COUNTY SHERIFF JOE ST.
FIELD, UH, JUROR MEMBER, I GUESS
JAMES RASBERRY, JUROR DEFENSE.
I'M THE COUNTY JUDGE, ENA GILLAND, DISTRICT CLERK.
I'M LYLA DLE, I'M THE COUNTY CLERK, AND I'M THE REASON YOU'RE HERE TO THANK
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YOU FOR BEING HERE.I'M JENNY GENTRY, THE TAX ASSESSOR.
I'M BECKY MCCULLOUGH, THE COUNTY TREASURER.
AT THIS POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE ALL, ALL OF YOU FOR COMING AND BEING A PART OF THIS PROCESS, UH, VERY ESPECIALLY TO YOU THREE, BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING AND BEING A PART OF THIS PROCESS AS WELL.
UM, I WANNA READ, UM, WHAT THE, THE GRIEVANCES WERE SUBMITTED, UH, VIA EMAIL.
BUT I WANT TO CLARIFY ONE THING.
'CAUSE THE QUESTIONS GONNA BE ASKED OR YOU'RE GONNA THINK ABOUT THIS.
UM, GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT VOTED TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE THIS MAKE UP OF THE, UH, GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE, UM, THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE GONNA ASK THAT, THAT WHO HAS FILED THE GRIEVANCE IS ON THIS COMMITTEE.
SHE IS ENTITLED TO VOTE AND UNDER THAT, AND SO SHE HAS THAT RIGHT TO DO THAT.
SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NOT WRONG.
IT'S, IT'S A PART OF THE PROCESS.
SO, UM, I WANNA READ TO YOU WHAT THE, UH, LETTER THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO ME.
AND THEN, UH, LILA, I'M GONNA TURN THIS OVER TO YOU THEN.
UM, DEAR COUNTY DEAR JUDGE DEAN, I AM SUBMITTING THIS WRITTEN REQUEST TO FORMALLY REQUEST A SALARY GRIEVANCE HEARING PER LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 1 5 2 0.16.
MY DESIRE CHANGE IN SALARY IS TO BE PAID A BASE SALARY OF 1 6260 2000.
UM, I'M LILA, I'M GONNA LET YOU GET UP AND SPEAK AND KIND OF GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS IF YOU WOULD.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO TO ITEM NUMBER TWO? UH, YES.
[II. Discuss/Take action on the following salary grievances by Parker County ElectedOfficials included but not limited to: (Judge Deen) PUBLIC HEARING]
UNDER ITEM TWO, WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM TWO NOW AND DISCUSS AND TAKE ACTION ON THE FOLLOWING, SALARY GRIEVANCE BY THE PARKER COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS IN CLEVELAND, NOT LIMITED TO JUDGE DEAN, UH, THE RECORD AS IT IS, IS NOW WE'RE IN A PUBLIC HEARING AND THE RECORD SHOW THAT AT 6 0 6 WE ARE IN THAT PUBLIC HEARING.I'M, I'M LINE EAGLE AND, AND BEHIND Y'ALL, Y'ALL CAN SEE WHAT THAT PRESENTATION SHE'S GONNA GET, AND I'LL GET TO THAT IN A SECOND.
UM, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THIS, THIS IS ALL ABOUT FAIRNESS.
DURING THE BUDGET MEETING ON AUGUST THE 25TH, 2025, AGENDA ITEM TWO E DISCUSS AND VOTE FOR PROPOSED ELECTED OFFICIAL SALARIES.
AFTER SOME DISCUSSION, THERE WAS A MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN, AND HE STATED HIS MOTION WAS FOR COMMISSIONERS ONE THROUGH FOUR, THE DISTRICT CLERK, THE COUNTY CLERK, THE TREASURER, AND SH SHERIFF, UM, THE TAX ASSESSOR, MR. INJURY.
SHE WAS, UM, ACCIDENTALLY OMITTED FROM THE LIST, BUT THAT WAS CLARIFIED LATER.
AND ANYWAY, HE SAID THE SHERIFF AND THEIR, THAT THEIR SHERIFFS BE SET AT THE LEVEL OF THE COUNTY AUDITOR.
IF THEY HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE FOR 10 YEARS OR MORE, IF THEY HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE LESS THAN 10 YEARS, THEY WOULD FALL UNDER ANOTHER CATEGORY, AND THAT WOULD BE THE SAME AS THE PURCHASING AGENT.
AND THE MOTION WENT ON TO ADDRESS, IT WAS QUITE A LENGTHY MOTION, AND IT ADDRESSED OUR JP JUDGES AND ADDRESSED OUR COMPARABLES.
AND AS SOON AS HE WAS DONE STATING, UH, THE MOTION, JUDGE DEAN, HE SAYS, I KNOW THAT WAS A LENGTHY MOTION, BUT CAN YOU JUST REPEAT THE FIRST COUPLE OF SENTENCES YOU SAID COMMISSIONER DID? CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME? YEAH, WE, I JUST GOT A MESSAGE.
COMMISSIONER WALDEN REPEATED THE MOTION, HE PARAPHRASED IT.
HE SAID, COMMISSIONERS ONE THROUGH FOUR, DISTRICT CLERK, COUNTY CLERK, TREASURER, AND SHERIFF, IF YOU'VE BEEN IN OFFICE MORE THAN 10 YEARS, YOUR SALARY'S GONNA BE THE SAME AS THE AUDITOR.
YOU'VE BEEN IN OFFICE LESS THAN 10 YEARS.
YOUR SALARY'S GONNA BE THE SAME AS PURCHASING.
THERE WAS SOME MORE DISCUSSION.
AND THEN THE COUNTY TREASURER, BECKY, SHE GOES, SO JUST TO BE CLEAR THOUGH, I MEAN, I KNOW YOU NAMED ME.
I HAVE WORKED HERE LONGER THAN 10 YEARS.
I HAVE NOT BEEN IN OFFICE FOR 10 YEARS, SO I WOULD FALL IN THE SECOND COMMISSIONER WALDEN INDICATED BY SHAKING HIS HEAD YES, THEN THE TREASURER SAID, RIGHT.
SO THE MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CONLEY, THE MOTION CARRIED WITH THE VOTE OF FOUR TO ONE WITH COMMISSIONER HOLT VOTING.
NO, SEVERAL OTHER ITEMS WERE DISCUSSED.
AND THEN THE MEETING WAS RECESSED UNTIL THE FOLLOWING DAY, AUGUST THE 26TH, 2025.
THE FOLLOWING DAY, ELECTED OFFICIAL SALARIES WAS DISCUSSED AGAIN, AND DURING THE DISCUSSION, THE TREASURER SAID SHE HAD SOME CLARIFICATION QUESTIONS.
SHE SAID, I BELIEVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT COMMISSIONER WALDEN WAS YOU HAVE TO HAVE COMPLETED
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10 YEARS IN OFFICE BECAUSE THAT IS GOING TO AFFECT THE NUMBER THAT I HAVE ON YOUR SHEETS FOR THE TAX ASSESSOR, BECAUSE THAT WILL ACTUALLY PUT HER IN THE LOWER TIER.I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT THAT WAS YOUR MOTION, BECAUSE I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE THE REASON BECKY ASKED THIS QUESTION WAS BECAUSE THE TAX ASSESSOR HAS BEEN HERE NINE YEARS IN OFFICE, AND SHE'LL BE GOING IN HER 10TH YEAR THIS JANUARY.
COMMISSIONER WALDEN SAID WE HAD TO DRAW THE LINE SOMEWHERE AND IT WAS 10 YEARS.
HE SAID WE HAD TO DRAW THE LINE SOMEWHERE, AND IT WAS 10 YEARS.
THERE WAS A LENGTHY DISCUSSION ABOUT JP AND CONSTABLE PAY AND OTHER ITEMS THAN THE TREASURER SAID, THERE'S ONE MORE ELECTED SALARY I WANNA BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO.
SO AGAIN, FOLLOWING THE 10 YEARS IN OFFICE, SHE STATED, THE SHERIFF HAS NOT BEEN IN OFFICE 10 YEARS.
THEN THE TREASURER DISCUSSED THE SHERIFF'S SALARY, COMMISSIONER WALDEN SAID WORDS TO THE EFFECT, WELL, MY INTENT, INTENT IS TO ELEVATE THE SHERIFF'S POSITION TO THE SAME AS THE AUDITOR.
SO I'M GONNA MOVE THAT WE DO THAT.
SO LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS MY GRIEVANCE.
THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT UNDERMINED THE FAIRNESS OF ITS CLEARLY ESTABLISHED TOP TIER AND BOTTOM TIER BASED ON LONGEVITY, BY MOVING ONE POSITION FROM THE BOTTOM TIER TO THE TOP TIER THAT CLEARLY DID NOT MEET THE ESTABLISHED CRITERIA WHILE DENYING THE SAME TO EVERYONE ELSE.
SO MY GRIEVANCE IS I WANNA BE AFFORDED THE SAME CONSIDERATIONS THAT WAS GIVEN THE SHERIFF.
SO TONIGHT, YOU'VE HEARD ME SPEAK ABOUT THE SHERIFF'S POSITION.
I WANNA MAKE THIS VERY, VERY CLEAR.
THE SHERIFF DID NOT MAKE THIS DECISION.
THE SHERIFF CANNOT VOTE IN COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
SO MY GRIEVANCE IS NOT ABOUT THE SHERIFF OR HIS SALARY, OR MATTER OF FACT, MY SALARY.
IT'S NOTHING PERSONAL AGAINST ME, THE SHERIFF OR ANYONE ELSE.
I ACTUALLY SUPPORT THE POLICY THAT COMMISSIONER WALDEN CAME UP WITH, BUT IT WAS NOT APPLIED FAIRLY.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE HAS PUT ME IN THIS POSITION.
AGAIN, MY GRIEVANCE IS NOT WITH THE SHERIFF OR ANYONE ELSE ABOUT MONEY.
MY GRIEVANCE IS ABOUT FAIRNESS RIGHT AND WRONG.
AND WHAT WAS DONE HERE WAS WRONG.
AND I WANNA SHOW YOU A LITTLE CHART REAL FAST SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND HOW THE, UM, TEARS LOOK.
UH, OKAY, SO THIS GRAPH HERE, THIS IS THE TOP TIER OF YEARS IN OFFICE.
THIS IS BASED ON, ON COMMISSIONER WALDEN'S ORIGINAL MOTION THAT HE MADE THE DAY PREVIOUS.
SO THE TOP TIER WOULD'VE BEEN, UH, THE COMMISSIONER AND PRECINCT.
ONE WAS 16 YEARS, THE DISTRICT CLERK WITH 15 YEARS, AND THEN COMMISSIONER PRECINCT THREE WITH 12 YEARS.
THAT'S THE TOP TIER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BOTTOM TIER.
UH, AND LET ME GO BACK TO THIS, UM, THESE THREE ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE, THEY WERE ALWAYS ELECTED.
THEY WEREN'T, UH, COUNTY EMPLOYEES THAT GOT ELECTED.
THEY CAME IN, UH, AS ELECTED OFFICIALS.
THE SECOND, SO THIS IS THE BOTTOM TIER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
SO THE FIRST PERSON YOU SEE HERE, THIS IS OUR TAX ASSESSOR.
SHE HAS A TOTAL OF NINE YEARS ELECTED, BUT SHE HAS A TOTAL OF 24 YEARS WITH THE COUNTY.
I HAVE SEVEN YEARS ELECTED AND A TOTAL OF 14 YEARS WITH THE COUNTY.
THEN WE GO TO THE SHERIFF WITH FIVE YEARS ELECTED, 17 WITH THE COUNTY.
AND THEN THE COUNTY TREASURER, SHE HAS A TOTAL OF 17 YEARS WITH THREE YEARS ELECTED.
AND THEN WE HAVE OUR TWO NEW COMMISSIONERS.
NOW THIS IS THE TOP TIER THAT INCLUDES THE SHERIFF.
SO AGAIN, WE HAVE COMMISSIONER ONE, THE DISTRICT CLERK, UM, THE COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT THREE, AND THEN WE HAVE THE TAX ASSESSOR WHO DID NOT GET
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CONSIDERED FOR THIS.AND THEN WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF YEARS WE HAVE THE COUNTY SHERIFF.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME AT ALL AT THIS POINT? I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, ENCOURAGE IF THERE'S ANY VAGUENESS OR ANYTHING THAT WE CAN CLARIFY FOR YOU.
UM, WHAT LILA HAS GIVEN IS AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT HER GRIEVANCE IS ABOUT.
UM, AND SO THIS IS A TIME WHERE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE FOR LILA OR ANY, ANY OF THE PROCESS, THESE TWO DIDN'T, DIDN'T, UH, ASK BE PART OF THIS.
NO, WE ONLY LILO CORRECT, SIR.
AND THAT WINDOW IS CLOSED WHERE IF, IF WHATEVER THE OUTCOME OF THIS IS IT, WHATEVER THAT VOTE IS, NOBODY CAN'T JUMP ON NOW AND SAY, I'LL FILE GRIEVANCE THROUGH THAT WINDOW IS CLOSED.
SO, UM, SO NOW WHERE WE ARE NOW IS, UH, THAT I'M GONNA BE, AFTER WE HAVE SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS, IF THERE'S ANY DISCUSSION.
UM, AND, AND, AND IF WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE, IF, IF YOU HAVE A, UM, A DECISION IN YOUR MIND, WE CAN CERTAINLY MOVE TO THAT.
BUT THIS IS A TIME TO WHERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR NEED CLARIFICATION, WE CAN CERTAINLY PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION.
UH, AND IF I MAY ADD, UH, TO YOUR QUESTION, SIR, IT, IT'S REALLY, IT'S NOT EASY TO STAND UP AND FILE A GRIEVANCE.
YOU KNOW, YOU GET, UM, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC, IT'S REALLY HARD.
IT'S REALLY HARD TO STAND AND TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY YOU MAKE OR WHO DID THIS.
BUT YOU'LL UNDERSTAND, FIRST OF ALL, I'M A CHIEF PETTY OFFICER AND WHAT'S RIGHT AND WHAT'S WRONG, AND THAT'S WHY I FILED THE GRIEVANCE.
AND, AND I CAN'T SPEAK TO WHY ANYONE ELSE.
DIDN'T Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? SO WHAT DIFFERENCE ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE? I CAN, I CAN, I'LL LET THE TREASURER WELL, I, I CAN OR, OR IF Y'ALL CAN, YOU WANT, YOU'RE THE TREASURER IF YOU'D LIKE TO, OR I CAN I HAVE IT HERE IF YOU HAVE THE NUMBERS.
SO SPECIFIC TO YOUR QUESTION IS, UH, MS. DIOL CURRENTLY MAKES ONE TWENTY SEVEN A HUNDRED TWENTY 7,000 4 78.
THIS WOULD TAKE HER THEN TO, UH, ONE 60 TO 162,000, WHICH AGAIN, MATCHES WHAT THE, UM, THE AUDITOR MAKES.
AND THEN, AND THAT'S A, UH, A 27% INCREASE.
AND THEN, UH, SHERIFF HAIER, UH, CURRENTLY MAKES ONE 144,427 AND THEN TAKING HIM TO 162,000, THAT WOULD BE A 12% INCREASE.
AND, AND I THINK THAT THE, THE, THE, I THINK THE OVERALL, I THINK A LOT OF MS. EAGLE REALLY PUT THIS IN A PERSPECTIVE.
IT'S NOT ABOUT YOUR, YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE MONEY IS, I THINK HER FOCUS ON THIS IS, UM, IT'S A, IT'S A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE OF RIGHT AND WRONG.
AND, AND SO HOWEVER THE NUMBERS ARE BECAUSE OF, OF TENURE OR, UM, I, I THINK WHAT HER POINT HAS BEEN TRYING TO REALLY, AND I THINK YOU ACT DID A GOOD JOB WITH THAT, THAT THAT, UM, SHE'S, HER FOCUS IS WHAT IS IS FAIR IN TRYING TO BE FAIR BECAUSE, AND I CAN SPEAK FOR THIS ENTIRE COMMISSIONER'S CORE, I CAN SPEAK FOR EVERYONE UP HERE, THAT WE TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY, UM, WITH TAXPAYER FUNDING AND TAXPAYER MONEY.
UM, THAT'S, WE DON'T OWN THESE CHAIRS WE SIT IN.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE TRY TO BE AS FRUGAL AS POSSIBLE AND TRY TO BE AS CONSERVATIVE AS POSSIBLE WITH A FOCUS ON CERTAIN AREAS OF, OF NEED.
UM, WE'RE THE FOURTH FASTEST GROWING COUNTY IN THE NATION, WHICH BRINGS US INTO A, A VERY UNIQUE SITUATION.
SO, UH, I KNOW THAT MS. KEL, THIS IS NOT EASY FOR YOU.
UM, AND I, IF I MAY ALSO ADD, UM, THE POINT OF COMMISSIONER WALDEN WALDEN MAKING THE MOTION AS HE DID, WAS TO GET OUT OF THE SALARY BUSINESS BECAUSE THE DISTRICT JUDGE, THEY ARE THE ONES THAT SET THE AUDITOR'S SALARY AND THEY SET THE PURCHASING AGENT'S SALARY.
SO BY FOLLOWING THE SALARY THAT THEY SET PUTS US ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD, WE ALWAYS KNOW THIS IS MY LEVEL AND THIS IS MY LEVEL.
UM, BEFORE HE MADE THE MOTION, HE, HE TALKED ABOUT HE WANTS US TO GET OUT OF THE SALARY BUSINESS.
AND SO THAT'S THE TWO LEVELS, UM, THAT HE CHOSE FOR US TO FALL UNDER.
I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT LEVEL TWO, WHICH IS WHERE WE WERE PUT, IS AT 1 44, 5 35 30.
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FROM THAT TO 1 62, NOT FROM THE 1 27 TO 1 62, BUT SHE'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED FOR THE 1 44, 5 30.SO IT WOULD BE ADDITIONAL INCREASE OF 17,004 70 AND THAT WOULD CHANGE THAT PERCENTAGE NUMBER.
WHAT I'M READING, THIS IS COUNT THE WHO, WHO SAID HER, THE DISTRICT JUDGES.
IS HE THE ONE THAT SAID THE 10 YEAR THING AND ALL THAT? NO, SIR.
IF I'M READING THIS RIGHT, HE SET THOSE PARAMETERS THEN GAVE THE JUDGE OR THE SHERIFF THE INCREASE EVEN THOUGH HE'S LESS THAN 10 YEARS.
LONG ANSWER TO A SHORT QUESTION.
IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT, OR ANY CLARIFICATION THAT Y'ALL HAVE? OKAY.
I'M PREPARED TO MOVE TO A VOTE THEN.
WELL, LET ME GET UP HERE SINCE I'VE ALSO RUN, I WAS GONNA ASK 44.
AND UM, YES, IT IS FAIR EXCEPT IT WASN'T APPLIED EQUALLY.
SO THAT, JUST FOLLOW UP QUESTION.
SO YOU GO ON A STATEWIDE, UH, ANALYSIS FOR OTHER COUNTY CLERKS.
DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU FALL WITH 1 44? I I WOULD PROBABLY SAY THAT'S ABOUT AVERAGE.
UM, BUT I DIDN'T LOOK TO SEE WHERE I COMPARED WITH OTHER COUNTY CLERKS.
ONLY LOOKED TO SEE HOW I COMPARED WITH THE MOTION THAT COMMISSIONER WALDEN MADE OF THE TWO SALARIES.
JUST THE DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN I, I GUESS FAIRNESS.
SO DO YOU THINK THAT YOU SHOULD FALL IN LINE WITH COUNTY CLERKS WITHIN THE STATE WITH THE COUNTY OF THIS POPULATION OR DO YOU THINK IT'S BASED ON WHAT OTHER EMPLOYEES IN THAT COUNTY MAKE? I COULDN'T TELL YOU THAT BECAUSE I'M NOT PREPARED TO SPEAK ON WHAT OTHER COUNTY CLERKS MAKE.
I'M ONLY PREPARED TO SPEAK ON WHAT THE COURT CAME UP WITH AS FAR AS THIS IS OUR PAY SALE.
AND AS A FACILITATOR OF THIS TO YOUR QUESTION, UM, COUNSELOR, THAT THE QUESTION THAT YOU ASKED REALLY WOULD APPLY ACROSS THE BOARD WITH EVERYONE, INCLUDING MYSELF, INCLUDING SHERIFF ATHE, INCLUDING YOURSELF.
UH, SO THAT QUESTION WOULD REALLY BE TO, TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US, RIGHT.
AND I DON'T THINK YOU GOT AN INCREASE AND I DIDN'T GET AN INCREASE, I THINK, IS THAT CORRECT OR THROUGH THIS, THROUGH THE STATE SUBSIDY? YES.
I DID NOT GET A RAISE WITHIN THE COUNTY.
BUT AGAIN, THE FOCUS OF YOUR QUESTION I THINK WAS TO BE, AND IN COMPARISON WITH THE OTHER COUNTIES, AND TO BE FAIR WITH THAT QUESTION, IT DOESN'T JUST APPLY TO THE COUNTY CLERK, BUT IT APPLIES TO EVERY SINGLE ELECTED POSITION IN THIS COUNTY.
WE DON'T AND WE DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER TO THAT.
AND, AND, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT TAC THEY MAY DO A COMPARISON AS FAR AS SALARIES FROM POSITION TO POSITION.
AND THAT WAY EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT PARAMETERS ARE FOR CERTAIN POSITIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
THAT'S THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES AS HE REFERRED TO.
BUT THAT WASN'T CONSIDERED WAYNE WALDEN MADE THE MOTION.
AND AND THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING WHAT'S FAIR.
IS IT FAIR THAT TO COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS WITHIN YOUR COUNTY OR IS IT FAIR TO CON CONSIDER YOURSELF AGAINST OTHER POSITIONS IN COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS? SO IT'S JUST WHAT YOU CONSIDER TO BE FAIR, IF IT'S COMPARISON OF SURE.
UM, I THINK I'VE STATED CLEARLY WHAT I FELT WAS FAIR.
IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM ANYONE THAT IT OKAY, THEN WE'RE, UM, I'M PREPARED TO, UH, TAKE THIS TO A VOTE.
HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT IS, SINCE WE'RE SOME OF THESE COMPUTERS ARE NOT LOGGED IN, UH, WE'RE GONNA RAISE OUR HAND TO MAKE SURE, AND THEN WE HAVE A FORM.
RICH, DO YOU HAVE THAT FORM? UH, SO I'M GONNA MARK IT AS WE READ.
AND THEN I'LL OFFICIALLY PUT IN.
UM, SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO THAT VOTE AND I'M GONNA ASK ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE, UH, THE RAISES TO BE FOR THE COUNTY CLERK.
I JUST DID IT TO TRY TO YEAH, 8 1 8 TO ONE.
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SO THEN UNDER THE RULE OF THAT WOULD BE THEN THIS RECOMMENDATION WOULD THEN GO TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.IT WOULD GO TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT ON MONDAY FOR THEIR, UH, CONSIDERATION.
AND EVERYBODY THAT VOTED IN FAVOR OF IT TODAY WILL SIGN THE RECOMMENDATION THAT I HAVE AND THEN YOU'LL SIGN IT AFTER THEY THAT.
UH, SO, AND THEY'LL HAVE TO SIGN UP BEFORE THEY LEAVE, IS THAT CORRECT? YES.
SO, UH, RICH IS AT, RICH CONTRERAS IS OUR, UH, COURT COORDINATOR.
AND, UM, AGAIN, BEFORE WE ADJOURN, I WANT TO THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE AND, UM, I KNOW YOU HAD OTHER BETTER THINGS TO DO TONIGHT.
UM,
GOOD LUCK WITH THAT ONE TONIGHT,
UM, DON'T GET ME STARTED ON THAT.
AND JUST TO CONFIRM, FOR 1 62 AS REQUESTED, THAT'S THE RECOMMENDATION.
THE RECORD SHOW THAT WE'LL, UH, ADJOURN AT 6 25.