Dec 08, 2025 Commissioners Court

[00:00:04]

ORDER,

[Call to Order]

THE AGENDA HAS BEEN POSTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW AND MEMBERS OF THE COURT THAT ARE PRESENT WITH THE QUORUM.

UH, WE ALSO HAVE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE PRESENT AND WILL BEGIN WITH AN INVOCATION LED BY JAMES RA FROM DIVINE MERCY LUTHERAN CHURCH, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE, LED BY PARKER COUNTY JUDGE PROM.

COMMISSIONER CONNOLLY, PLEASE STAND, UH, PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS AND JOIN YOUR HEARTS WITH ME IN PRAYER.

DEAR FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL, ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR, FOR YOUR GIFT OF YOUR SON, JESUS, OUR SAVIOR, WHO BRINGS JOY AND AND PURPOSE TO OUR LIVES.

UH, WE ASK YOU TO BLESS THE PEOPLE HERE, BLESS OUR FAMILIES AT HOME, AND BLESS THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.

BE WITH US.

BLESS AND GUIDE OUR MEETING TODAY SO THAT ALL WE SAY AND DO IS TO THE GLORY OF YOUR NAME AND TO THE BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU LOVE SO MUCH.

WE ASK FOR THESE BLESSINGS.

IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN.

AMEN.

AMEN.

OUR PLEDGE, ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INVIS WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL, HONOR OUR TEXAS LIFE.

ALLY.

TWO, DEEP TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD.

ONE.

[4. CONSENT]

JUDGE, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT ITEMS AS PRESENTED TO COURT TODAY.

MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN WITH A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HOLT.

ANY OF THE DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, CARRIE FIVE OH.

MOVE TO ITEM D ON INTERDEPARTMENTAL TRANSFERS OF EQUIPMENT INVENTORY REPORTS.

IS, IS KIM HERE? YES.

I DIDN'T SEE YOU OVER THERE.

YEAH.

UH, ANYTHING ON ITEM ONE? NO.

NO.

OKAY.

MOVED TO ITEM TWO AND REQUEST AUTHORIZATION TO CANCEL THE HYPER REACH MASS MESSAGING SERVICE AGREEMENT EFFECTIVE JANUARY 7TH, 2026.

RE REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION TO GO AHEAD AND CANCEL THE HYPER REACH MASS MESSAGING SYSTEM.

EFFECTIVE JANUARY 7TH, 2026.

AND THEN THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS TO REPLACE IT.

OKAY.

MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HOLT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR.

FIVE OH.

MOVE TO ITEM THREE, REQUEST APPROVAL AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO EXECUTE THE CODE.

RED CRISIS 24.

SCOPE OF WORK EFFECTIVE JANUARY 8TH, 2026.

AS STATED, THIS IS A REQUEST BY THE, UM, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR, MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER HOLT, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN.

ANY OF THE DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR.

MOTION CARRIES FIVE OH.

MOVE TO ITEM FOUR AND REQUEST AND APPROVE AND AUTHORIZES THE COUNTY JUDGE TO EXECUTE THE HALF.

AND ASSOCIATES ENGINEERING.

GIS AMENDMENT WITH NUMBER ONE FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

THIS IS ALSO FOR, UM, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ALL OF THE, UM, ADDRESSES FOR, HE'S RIGHT HERE.

SORRY.

UM, YES, IF YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT IT.

SO, UH, THIS HALF AN ASSOCIATES CONTRACT IS, UH, ALREADY IN PLACE FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND A COUPLE OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS HERE IN THE COUNTY FOR CONSULTING ON GIS MAPPING.

UM, AND AS YOU KNOW, I'M WORKING ON SOME GIS MAPPING FOR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND PLANNING AND THAT SORT OF THING.

SO THIS IS JUST, UH, ADDING ME TO THAT EXISTING CONTRACT.

UM, AND, UH, I'LL USE THAT FOR TECHNICAL EXPERTISE.

UM, 'CAUSE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO GENERATE SOME MAPS, BUT IT'S A LITTLE COMPLICATED.

SO, UH, I WANNA MAKE SURE I'M DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT, UM, AND MAKING AS USEFUL AS POSSIBLE.

SO IT'S FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

OKAY.

MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN.

AND SECOND ABOUT COMMISSIONER HALE.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION AS SIGNED BEFORE WE VOTE? YES.

TWO THINGS QUICKLY.

UM, I'D LIKE TO LET THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS KNOW THAT JASON HAS INDICATED THAT HIS GIS MAPPING SYSTEM CAN INTEGRATE WITH IWORK.

AND SO EVENTUALLY THAT COULD LEAD TO A FUNCTIONALITY WHERE WE CAN SEE FROM A MAPPING PERSPECTIVE ALL OF THE ROADS IN OUR PRECINCT AND HAVE THAT KIND OF TOP DOWN VIEWPOINT, ESPECIALLY AS IT COMES TO IF THERE'S A TREE DOWN, SOMEONE DROPS A PIN, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WE CAN HAVE SOME OF THAT FUNCTIONALITY.

AND

[00:05:01]

SO THAT WE CAN EXPLAIN TO OUR RESIDENTS THE FUNCTIONALITIES THERE? SURE.

WHAT I, WHAT I'LL TELL YOU IS, IS THAT, UM, CURRENTLY, UM, WE HAVE HYPER REACH AND THAT WE JUST, Y'ALL JUST APPROVED CANCELING THAT.

UM, THE PRICE ON THAT WENT UP $10,000.

SO THAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE CHANGE.

UM, IT HAS ALL OF THE SAME, UM, CAPABILITIES THAT HYPER REACH DOES IN TERMS OF RESIDENTS CAN SIGN UP AND GET, UH, PHONE ALERTS, TEXT ALERTS, PHONE CALLS FOR SEVERE WEATHER, TORNADO WARNINGS, FLOOD WARNINGS, THOSE TYPES OF WEATHER WARNINGS, UM, DIRECTLY TO THEIR PHONES.

UM, AND, UH, IT HAS SOME OTHER FUNCTIONALITIES IN TERMS OF, UH, NOTIFICATIONS THAT WE CAN USE INTERNALLY AS WELL FOR NOTIFYING.

UH, SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF, IF YOU NEEDED TO, UH, CALL YOUR GUYS OUT ON A WEATHER EVENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU CAN HAVE A GROUP SPECIFIC TO YOUR PRECINCT ON FOLKS THAT YOU CAN CALL UP AND A LOT OF OTHER FUNCTIONALITY LIKE THAT.

BUT I CAN PUT TOGETHER A, A MORE IN DEPTH BRIEFING ON ALL OF ITS CAPABILITIES IN IN FUTURE COURT.

THANK YOU, RICH.

IF YOU WOULD MAKE SURE I PUT THAT ON THE COORDINATE WITH HIM.

OKAY.

UH, MOTION PASSES FIVE OH,

[5.A. Discuss/Take action on ongoing reporting of bond projects to Commissioners Court by Freese & Nichols. (Morgan McIlwain / Commissioner Holt / Judge Deen)]

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD.

LAST TIME I ALMOST PULLED THIS ALL THE WAY OUT.

VERY EXCITED.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

MORGAN MCELWAIN.

FREEA NICHOLS HERE TO PRESENT THE UPDATE ON THE TRANSPORTATION BOND.

SO FOR OUR MONTHLY ACTIVITIES, WE'VE JUST CONTINUED OUR COORDINATION WITH, UH, NET COG TDOT MUNICIPALITIES, BRIAN GRIMES, AND CONTINUED WORKING ON THE A FA FOR THE I 20 FRONTAGE ROADS.

OUR GOOD NEWS STORY FOR THIS MONTH IS THAT TEXDOT AGREED TO A PERMIT FOR THE US 3 77 AND KELLY ROAD SIGNAL.

SO PREVIOUSLY THAT WAS GOING TO NEED AN A FA, WHICH WOULD'VE TAKEN A LOT MORE COORDINATION, A LOT MORE TIME.

SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

THE BOND PROGRAM IS IN GOOD SHAPE, AS YOU CAN SEE.

WE'VE COMPLETED SEVERAL PROJECTS.

WE'VE GOT SEVERAL MORE UNDER DESIGN.

WE HAVE ONE ROADWAY THAT'S IN NEARING THE END OF THE BID PHASE THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT HERE IN JUST A MINUTE.

AND SEVERAL UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

SO FOR OUR PRECINCT, ONE UPDATES CHURCH ROAD RIGHT OF WAY, ACQUISITION IS ONGOING.

WE'RE PLANNING TO ADVERTISE THAT EARLY NEXT YEAR.

MIDWAY HAS ALREADY BID AND BEEN AWARDED.

SO WE ARE EXECUTING THE CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS NOW AND WE'RE ANTICIPATING TO BEGIN THAT PROJECT EARLY NEXT YEAR, EARLY NEXT YEAR.

THOMAS ROAD, WE'RE ANTICIPATING TO ADVERTISE THIS MONTH 51 AND VEAL STATION IS THE ONE THAT'S CURRENTLY ADVERTISING, AND THE BID OPENING IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 11TH, WHICH IS THIS THURSDAY.

AND FOR HUTCHINSON ROAD, THE SURVEY IS COMPLETE.

SO WE SHOULD BE MOVING INTO DESIGN SOON.

THANK YOU.

FOR PRECINCT TWO, WE HAVE OAK RIDGE DRIVE AND WE'VE BROUGHT THAT RECOMMENDATION OF AWARD TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT TODAY, ALONG WITH SOME BUDGET REALLOCATION TO SUPPORT THAT PROJECT AND SOME CONTRACT APPROVALS.

JOHNSON BEND AND GREEN ACRES REALIGNMENT.

THE DESIGN'S BEEN REVISED.

THE CONTRACTOR IS PREPARING THE SITE FOR THAT MODIFIED DESIGN 51 AND CARTER, WE'RE DEVELOPING 60% PLANS AND ANTICIPATING THAT WE'LL GET THOSE, UM, SUBMITTED TO TEXT.

NOT THIS MONTH.

FOR POJO ROAD, WE'VE COMPLETED OUR ANALYSIS AND WE ARE MODIFYING THAT SCOPE.

SO WE ARE EXTENDING POJO ROAD FROM GROSEN TO JE WOODY, BUT WE'RE NOT CONTINUING ON TO FM 51.

THERE WILL BE A SIGNAL AT J WOODY.

SO WE FEEL LIKE THIS STILL MEETS THE GOAL OF THE PROJECT FOR FM SEVEN 30.

UH, STAKEHOLDER COORDINATION IS ONGOING AND TDOT'S AGREED TO THAT SIGNAL AT JU WOODY, CORRECT? OR IT'S, IT'S MET THE, UH, THE WARRANT CRITERIA? YES.

THANK YOU.

FOR PRECINCT THREE, WE HAVE THE RICK WILLIAMSON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY FROM I 20 TO 180.

THE NOTICE TO PROCEED FOR THAT WILL BE ISSUED

[00:10:01]

UTILITY RELOCATIONS ARE UNDERWAY.

UM, THE I 20 FRONTAGE ROADS INITIAL DESIGN WAS PRESENTED TO TDOT DURING THE DESIGN CONCEPT CONFERENCE.

THE I 20 RAMPS FINAL PLANS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO TDOT.

THAT'S THE ONE THAT WE ARE PLANNING TO ADVANCE THE LET DATE TO NEXT SUMMER.

AND FOR FAIRVIEW LANE, WE'RE FINALIZING CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS RIGHT OF WAY.

ACQUISITION AND UTILITY RELOCATIONS ARE STILL UNDERWAY.

FOR PRECINCT FOUR HIGHLIGHTS, WE HAVE BANKHEAD HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS.

THE FINAL DESIGN PLANS FOR PHASE ONE ARE WRAPPING UP ON THAT, AND THAT WILL BE READY FOR BID IN JANUARY.

THE FM FIVE INTERSECTION AT BANKHEAD, 90% DESIGN AND RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION IS UNDERWAY.

A FOR OLD WEATHER FOR ROAD.

THE UTILITIES HAVE COMPLETED THEIR DESIGNS AND THEY'RE OUT ON SITE RELOCATING THEIR UTILITIES.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, SORRY, WE ARE INSTALLING STORM DRAIN FOR FM 1187.

THE SCHEMATIC DESIGN IS UNDER DEVELOPMENT.

KELLY ROAD CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY AND WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THAT SIGNAL AT 3 77 BEING PERMITTED.

AS ALWAYS, WE HAVE THE PROGRAM WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION OR IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS, THERE'S A CONTACT US BUTTON AND THAT'S THE END OF THAT UPDATE.

OKAY.

ANY UPDATES, ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? YEAH, I HAVE A, I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED IT WHILE AGO, BUT THE HUTCHINSON EXTENSION WE'RE GONNA COME FROM 1 99 THERE AT THE TRACTOR SUPPLY AROUND THE 51.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO 51, WHAT KIND OF LIGHT'S GONNA BE THERE? SINCE WE'RE NOT GONNA EXTEND POJO AROUND THE 51, IT WAS GONNA BE A FOUR WAY, NOW IT'S JUST GONNA BE A THREE WAY.

WHAT DO WE HAVE SCHEDULED FOR A LIGHT AT 51 OR IS IT GONNA HAVE A STOP SIGN? IT BE AT THIS TIME? I THINK IT WOULD BE A STOP SIGN FOR HUTCH BECAUSE THERE'S A NOT VERY FAR FURTHER NORTH, UM, THAT WON'T HAVE A SIGNAL.

IT'LL BE PRETTY CLOSE TO WHERE HU WOULD CONNECT.

THAT'S WHY.

HU SO THAT DEPENDS ON HOW MANY CARS GO DOWN THAT ROAD FOR IT TO WARRANT A RED LIGHT LATER? YES.

YES.

I MEAN, ONCE THE TRAFFIC, SO THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF TRAFFIC ON THAT ROAD.

WOULD THE, WAS ENOUGH TRAFFIC IN WOOD WARRANT A SIGNAL AT THAT TIME? OKAY, WE'LL WORK ON THAT.

YES.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

IT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT A LOT DOESN'T QUALIFY.

CHECK FOR A SIGNAL TECH STOP A LOT.

A LOT, BUT THEY HAVE TO HAVE A NUMBER ASSOCIATED WITH, I THINK RIGHT .

THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

I'M SURE THERE, I'M SURE THERE WILL BE A LOT.

YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

, WE NEED TO CIRCLE BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.

YEAH.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE TRANSPORTATION UPDATE? MORGAN? WE HAD BEEN DISCUSSING SOME TYPE OF, UM, OVERALL VIEW WHERE IT WOULD SHOW DEGREES OF COMPLETION.

YES.

HOW MUCH HAS BEEN ENCUMBERED, ET CETERA, UM, ON A PER PROJECT BASIS, AND THEN OVER ALSO ON AN OVERALL BASIS.

DO YOU KNOW WHEN THAT'S SUPPOSED TO HIT THE WEBSITE? UM, I'M HOPING I CAN GET THAT ACCOMPLISHED THIS WEEK.

OKAY.

SO HOPEFULLY MAYBE NEXT WEEK OR THE WEEK AFTER FOLKS CAN GET ON THAT WEBSITE AND SEE WHERE WE'RE AT ON EVERY SINGLE PROJECT.

YES.

PERFECT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

MORGAN.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT THERE'S, IF ANYONE'S LISTENING OR IN THE AUDIENCE HERE THAT HAS A QUESTION THAT THEY CAN SUBMIT THAT QUESTION ON OUR WEBSITE YES.

AND GET AN ANSWER FROM A KNOWLEDGEABLE PERSON.

YES.

YEAH, THERE'S THIS CONTACT US BUTTON HERE AT THE TOP, IN THE TOP BANNER.

OH, Y'ALL CAN'T EVEN SEE MY MOUSE.

IT'S UP IN THAT TOP RIGHT CORNER.

RIGHT? IT'S THE CONTACT US BUTTON.

BUT THAT CONTACT US BUTTON, YOU CAN SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION THERE ON THE WEBSITE.

YES.

AND MORGAN'S GONNA GET THE ANSWER FOR YOU.

IS THAT RIGHT? YES.

I WILL HUNT IT DOWN AND IT'S LINKED TO OUR WEBSITE.

RIGHT.

SO VERY GOOD.

I THANK YOU.

I WANT PEOPLE TO, EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

YES.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION THAT'S NOT THERE, THAT'S SOMETHING YOU DON'T SEE ASKED ANYTHING ELSE? , THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[5.B. Discuss and take action on calling the maintenance bond for the Ellis Creek Improvements Project under the November 2023 Transportation Bond. (Morgan McIlwain / Commissioner Holt)]

YES.

WE ARE REQUESTING APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH COORDINATING WITH THE MAINTENANCE BOND COMPANY.

OKAY.

MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER HOLZ.

MAY HAVE A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON FAVOR? YES, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT TO THE RESIDENCE OF FELLAS CREEK.

I APPRECIATE THEIR PATIENCE.

THIS HAS BEEN A JOURNEY TO SAY THE LEAST.

UM, BUT

[00:15:01]

ANYTHING ELSE? ALL IN FAVOR? IT WAS MY MOTION.

IT WAS MY VOTE.

THERE, UH, CARRIES FIVE.

OH, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

MM-HMM .

[5.C. Discuss/Take action on Oakridge Drive budget and contracts. (Morgan McIlwain / Commissioner Holt)]

MORGAN? YES.

SO FOR OAK RIDGE DRIVE, WE'VE GOT A RECOMMENDATION OF AWARD FIRST, AND I'M GONNA LET DUSTIN COME UP AND EXPLAIN THE RECOMMENDATION OF AWARD.

GOOD MORNING.

WHAT HAPPENED? I, UM, OKAY.

THAT'S OKAY.

YEAH.

, THAT'S SO HARD TO CONTROL.

I KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHY MY SCREENS DID THAT.

OKAY.

SO, UH, THE OAK RIDGE PROJECT, WE, UM, WE RECEIVED FOUR BIDS ON THE PROJECT WITH THE LOW BID BEING FROM DDM CONSTRUCTION.

THEIR LOW BID CAME IN AT APPROXIMATELY 20% UNDERNEATH THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE.

UM, WE ACTUALLY SET UP OAK RIDGE WITH FOUR ALTERNATIVE BIDS, UH, AND WITH, UM, WE'VE DECIDED TO AWARD THE BASE BID AND THEN ALTERNATE B AND ALTERNATE D, WHEREAS, UH, ALTERNATE B REMOVES, UM, THE, THE NORTH END OF THE PROJECT HAS THREE LANES OF ASPHALT THAT'S ALREADY OUT THERE AND IT'S IN FAIRLY GOOD SHAPE.

AND INSTEAD OF RIPPING IT OUT AND PUTTING IN CONCRETE, WE'RE GONNA REMOVE IT AND PUT IN ASPHALT AND JUST REFRESH IT AND, UH, UM, RECONSTRUCT IT AS IT IS.

AND THEN, UH, ALTERNATE D IS JUSTIN.

CAN WE, CAN WE PAUSE ON THAT FOR JUST A SECOND? SO THE PORTION HE'S TALKING ABOUT IS IN FRONT OF A SCHOOL IN, IN THAT AREA AT THE NORTH END OF OAK RIDGE.

IT'S ALREADY SET TO THE WIDTH THAT WE NEED.

SO WE DON'T NEED TO EXPAND THAT, THAT EXPANDING THAT PORTION WAS NEVER A PART OF THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY THREE LANES.

SO IN A COST SAVING EFFORT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO CONVERT THAT TO CONCRETE, WHICH FRANKLY, CONSIDERING, YOU KNOW, HOW EASY IT IS TO REPLACE ASPHALT VERSUS CONCRETE, I THINK IS A GOOD THING.

SINCE ANY REPAIRS IN THAT LOCATION WOULD NEED TO BE DONE OVER THE SUMMER WHEN IT DOESN'T IMPACT SCHOOL TRAFFIC IN AND OUT OF A SCHOOL.

THIS CHANGE ALLOWS US TO RECONSTRUCT THE ROAD RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL WITHOUT IMPACTING THE SCHOOL WHILE THEY'RE ACTIVELY NEARING SCHOOL.

SO WE CAN DO THAT WORK OVER THE SUMMERTIME AND ALSO ALLOWS TO, UH, SAVE SOME MONEY AT THE SAME TIME.

UM, SO WE'RE ASKING TO AWARD THIS CONTRACT TO DDM CONSTRUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $11,869,805 AND 4 CENTS.

UM, I MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE APPROVE DDM WITH THE HIGHLIGHTED AMOUNTS USING THE BASE BID, ALTERNATE BID B AND ALTERNATE BID D.

OKAY.

MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER HOLT, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR CARRIES FIVE.

OH, THANK YOU.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

SO I'VE GOT A FEW MORE THINGS ON OAK RIDGE.

LEAVE THAT.

OKAY.

I CAN'T READ THAT FAR.

YOU NEED THESE GLASSES? YEAH, I MIGHT NOT USE, I DON'T KNOW WHY MY SCREEN'S SPLIT.

OKAY.

SO FOR OAK RIDGE DRIVE, WE'VE GOT PHASE ONE CONTRACTS AND PHASE TWO CONTRACTS.

SO OUR PHASE ONE CONTRACTS GOT US THROUGH THE DESIGN PHASE.

OUR PHASE TWO CONTRACTS, AS YOU CAN SEE, ARE THE ADDITIONAL DESIGN THAT DUSTIN MENTIONED, UM, THE RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITIONS, THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT THAT THE RECOMMENDATION OF AWARD WAS JUST APPROVED FOR, AND THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE SERVICES.

SO WITH THE PHASE TWO CONTRACTS, THE TOTAL AMOUNT FOR THE PROJECT IS RIGHT AT 15 MILLION.

AND THE BUDGET FOR OAK RIDGE PHASE ONE IS RIGHT AT 11 MILLION.

SO WE ARE PROPOSING SOME BUDGET REALLOCATION FOR OAK RIDGE PHASE TWO THAT'S GONNA BE DONE BY COUNTY FORCES NOW.

SO WE'RE PROPOSING ALL OF THAT MONEY GETS REALLOCATED TO OAK RIDGE PHASE ONE FOR POJO ROAD.

WE DISCUSSED EARLIER THAT WE'RE KIND OF MODIFYING THAT SCOPE.

SO WE'RE, UM, SLIGHTLY MOVING THE ALIGNMENT FROM GOSHEN AND JE WOODY AND MAYBE BEEFING THAT UP A LITTLE BIT.

SO THE PHASE TWO IS GOING AWAY, AND SO WE'RE GONNA BE DONE AT A LATER TIME.

SO WE'RE TAKING, WE'RE PROPOSING THAT WE REALLOCATE THAT BUDGET INTO POJO PHASE ONE AND OAK RIDGE PHASE ONE.

SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE LISTENING ONLINE, WHEN WE SAY OAK RIDGE, WHAT WE'RE

[00:20:01]

IT WILL AT THAT POINT TRANSITION TO THREE LANES OF ASPHALT UP TO WHERE IT IS AT THE SCHOOL RIGHT NOW.

THEN THERE'S A PORTION FROM, FROM WHERE IT GOES FROM THREE LANES TO TWO LANES RIGHT NOW UP TO WHITE SETTLEMENT ROAD.

THAT PORTION IS NOT IN TERRIBLE SHAPE, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO OURSELVES.

THE COUNTY PRECINCT TWO WORKERS CAN DO OURSELVES AT SOME POINT, IT'LL PROBABLY BE WITHIN THE NEXT 12 TO 18 MONTHS.

WHAT REALLY NEEDS TO HAPPEN THOUGH, IS AT SOME POINT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE INTERSECTION OF WHITE SETTLEMENT AND OAK RIDGE BECAUSE THAT, THAT INTERSECTION NEEDS SOME SERIOUS ATTENTION THAT WAS NEVER CONTEMPLATED AS PART OF THIS BOND.

AND SO THAT'S A, THAT'S A PROJECT WE'LL TACKLE AT A LATER, AT A LATER DATE.

CAN I JUST ASK YOU ABOUT THAT REAL QUICK? SURE.

WHAT'S THE URGENCY OF THAT? WHEN YOU SAY IT'S NOT IN GOOD CONDITION, IS IT YOU'RE LOOKING AT A FUTURE BOND? OR IS IT SOMETHING WE CAN BE ABLE TO DO BEFORE THAT? SO THE, WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WITH THAT ENTIRE AREA IS SIMPLY HOW WIDE IT IS VERSUS THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC THAT IT GETS.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S GONNA BE DETERMINED BY CONVERSATION WITH ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED.

UNDERSTOOD.

OKAY.

UM, OKAY.

THAT'S, I, I WAS LEADING INTO SOMETHING, BUT I'M GONNA, IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA, SO I'M GONNA HAVE TO WAIT ON THAT.

UM, OKAY.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT? WELL, SO WE'RE SEEKING A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT APPROVALS.

THE FIRST IS AN APPROVAL OF THE PHASE TWO CONTRACTS.

MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE PHASE TWO CONTRACTS.

OKAY.

MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER HOLT.

AND THE SECOND IS THE APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET REALLOCATION.

OKAY.

WELL WE HAVE A MOTION, BUT COMMISSIONER SECOND, BUT COMMISSIONER WALDEN.

SO THESE NEED TO BE SEPARATE MOTIONS, CORRECT? YEP.

YES.

SEPARATE MOTIONS.

OKAY.

SO ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT ITEM? ALL IN FAVOR APOLOGIES.

OKAY.

AND THEN ON THAT SECOND, WOULD YOU REPEAT THAT PLEASE? SECOND ONE IS, UH, THE APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET REALLOCATION.

OKAY.

I NEED A MOTION ON THAT BEFORE I MAKE THE MOTION.

FOR THE SAKE OF TRANSPARENCY, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT WAS NOT, WHAT IS NOW NOT GOING TO HAPPEN ON POJO THAT WAS ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED TO HAPPEN? SO, POJO ROAD PHASE TWO IS THE SECTION FROM JE WOODY TO FM 51.

MM-HMM .

AND AFTER THE ANALYSIS WAS DONE OF POJO ROAD, WE FEEL THAT THE SECTION FROM GOSHEN TO JE WOODY SATISFIES THE GOAL OF THE PROJECT.

MM-HMM .

AND SO WE'RE NOT DOING THAT SECOND PART RIGHT NOW.

SO IF I PUT THAT IN LAYMAN'S TERMS, AFTER WE DID A TRAFFIC ANALYSIS AND WE LOOKED AT ALL OF THE TURNING PATTERNS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, WHAT WE DISCOVERED WAS IF YOU PUT A SIGNAL AT JE WOODY AND THEN YOU CONNECT JE WOODY AND GOSHEN, THAT ALLEVIATES A LOT OF THE TRAFFIC BACKFLOW AND CONCERNS IN THAT AREA.

IS THAT FAIR TO SAY? YES.

OKAY.

YES.

AND SO WE CAN SAVE QUITE A BIT OF MONEY BY NOT DOING THAT SECOND PHASE RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN STILL LOOK AT IN THE FUTURE LOBBY.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

I APPROVE.

OKAY.

MOTION MOVED BY COMMISSIONER HOLT SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT ITEM? ALL OF FAVOR.

MOTION CARRIES FIVE.

OH, I'M

[7.A. Approve the Docusign Renewal Contract for the District Attorney’s Office. (Jeff Swain / Judge Deen)]

UM, I TO ITEM SEVEN A I'M GONNA APPROVAL, I WOULD APPROVE THE DOCUSIGN RENEWAL CONTRACT FOR THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

UH, MAY HAVE JEFF SWAIN, OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

UH, SO BASICALLY THIS IS A PART OF OUR DWI ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM.

THIS BENEFITS, UH, OUR OFFICE THAT BENEFITS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, BENEFITS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND ALL OF OUR JUDGES WHO CAN SIGN, UH, WARRANTS.

UM, AND ESSENTIALLY WE STARTED THIS PROGRAM BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR, UH, OUT OF CONTRACT SERVICES ALLOCATION THAT WE HAVE.

UM, AND THIS WILL BE PAID FOR OUT OF THAT SAME LINE ITEM, BUT WE, UH, TOOK A FEW MONTHS TO GET IT.

UH, THE PROGRAM STOOD UP AND, UH, IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL SO FAR.

THE NUMBERS THAT I GOT ARE IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS THAT WE HAD IT UP AND RUNNING, UH, THE JUDGES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT USED IT TO EXECUTE 80 SEARCH WARRANTS.

UM, AND THOSE ARE FOR DWI CASES.

UM, WHEN A DEFENDANT REFUSES TO GIVE A BREATH SAMPLE, THE OFFICER CAN PRESENT, UH, PROBABLE CAUSE TO A JUDGE.

IF THE JUDGE FINDS THAT THERE'S PROBABLE CAUSE THEY CAN EXECUTE OR ORDER A SEARCH WARRANT TO BE ENTERED, UH, THAT SEARCH WARRANT CAN BE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND THEN A BLOOD DRAW BE TAKEN FROM THAT SUSPECT.

UM, AND OBVIOUSLY EVIDENCE IS WHAT EVIDENCE IS.

SO USUALLY IT IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT IS INCULPATORY, BUT OCCASIONALLY IT IS EXCULPATORY.

SO IT GOES BOTH WAYS.

THE EVIDENCE IS WHAT IT IS AND WE FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE.

SO I THINK IT'S BEEN PRETTY SUCCESSFUL SO FAR.

AND, AND I THINK OUR JUDGES HAVE HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SOME SLEEP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

AND THAT BENEFITS ALL OF US WHEN OUR JUDGES ARE HAPPY.

SO, OKAY.

MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HOLT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES FIVE.

OH, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

SORRY TO MAKE YOU WAIT.

OH, YOU NEED A COPY OF THAT? OKAY.

DO YOU NEED THIS BACK? IT, WELL, YOU PROBABLY NEED A COPY OF IT.

WELL, HE, YOU JUST GAVE IT.

OKAY, GOOD.

YEAH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

[6.A. Discussion/Update on MTUG Conference. (James Caywood / Commissioner Holt)]

[00:25:03]

UPDATE ON M TUG MTUG CONFERENCE.

UH, MR. KAYWOOD AND COMMISSIONER HOLT MORNING COURT.

UH, WE HAD THE MT CONFERENCE, UH, DOWN IN BURN TEXAS.

I FEEL OVERALL WAS A GOOD REPRESENTATION OF PARKER COUNTY THERE.

AND, AND I REALLY FELT WE MADE SOME GOOD HEADWAY.

YOU KNOW, MY GOAL WITH HELPING WITH THIS PROJECT IS TO KIND OF CHANGE THE PERCEPTION WITH MOTOROLA, HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE, UH, BEST PRICING, GET THE WORK DONE, STAY ON TOP OF IT.

UH, THAT, THAT'S BEEN A CHORE.

UH, AND WE'RE PUSHING FORWARD.

BUT I FEEL AFTER THIS MEETING, WE, WE ACTUALLY HAD SOME ONE-ON-ONE, UH, TIME, FACE TO FACE WITH THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM THERE WITH MOTOROLA.

AND, UH, I CAN TELL YOU AFTER THAT, UH, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF MOVEMENT.

UH, WE HAD A MEETING THE 10TH WITH SOME EXECUTIVES HERE AT THE LC.

UH, WE'RE GETTING SOME MOVEMENT GOING, UH, TO FINISH, UH, JUST SUPPORT AND TO GET THE OVERALL UPGRADE DONE.

UH, NEXT SPRING, UH, EARLY SUMMER, IT'S PROBABLY A LOT OF PEOPLE WONDERING WHAT MTUG MEANS.

THAT THAT'S THE, UH, UH, MOTOROLA TRUNK USERS GROUP.

SORRY, IT'S THE TRUNK USER GROUP.

UH, MOTOROLA FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS.

IT'S ACTUALLY THE BIGGEST GROUP MOTOROLA HAS OUT OF ALL THE, UH, STATES, UH, SORRY.

SO THE SEVERAL, UH, BIG GROUP OF PEOPLE THERE, UH, RELYING ON, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S OUR PLATFORM TO SPEAK UP, SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, ALL THIS, UH, COST COMING IN, UH, THE END OF LIFE PRODUCTS.

CAN WE PUSH IT OUT FURTHER? UH, WHAT'S YOUR NEW NEXT STUFF LOOKING LIKE? UH, WHAT'S IT GONNA COST? UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, TALKING REALLY GOOD DIS UH, WE GOT SOME, UH, DISCOUNTS EXPIRING INTO THIS YEAR, PUSHING 'EM REALLY HARD, UH, TO KEEP, TO EXTEND THOSE OR COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT'S EQUIVALENT, UH, THERE.

BUT IT'S, WE COULD SIT DOWN WITH THEIR EXECUTIVE TEAM, KIND OF, UH, LOOK FACE TO FACE AND, UH, HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM.

SO IF, IF THE COURT DOESN'T MIND, I TOLD Y'ALL, I'D GIVE Y'ALL MY PERSPECTIVE ON IT AS WELL SINCE I WENT.

UM, THIS WAS A, A, A CONFERENCE THAT WAS BOTH TECHNICAL AND PERSONAL.

OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF THE TECHNICAL STUFF, SINCE I DON'T HAVE A RADIO BACKGROUND, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THAT WENT OVER MY HEAD OR I HAD TO SIT NEXT TO JAMES AND, AND, YOU KNOW, COPY OFF HIS NOTES EFFECTIVELY.

BUT IT WAS AN EXCELLENT CHANCE FOR ME TO GET TO MEET SOME OF THE HIGHER UPS IN MCA, WHICH IS OUR DIRECT ACCESS POINT TO MOTOROLA, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE HIGHER UPS AT MOTOROLA.

ALSO, FOR THOSE OF Y'ALL WHO MAY BE LISTENING, WE HAVE INVESTED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN OUR RADIO INFRASTRUCTURE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

SO I FELT LIKE IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOME HANDS-ON, UH, ONSITE PRESENCE AT THIS MEETING WHERE THERE WERE QUITE A FEW EXECUTIVES.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT, UH, JAMES HAS EXPRESSED SOME CONCERNS OVER.

AND I WAS ABLE TO SIT WITH JAMES WITH THOSE FOLKS FACE TO FACE AND EXPRESS VERY CLEARLY THOSE CONCERNS.

AND I THINK WE SAW SOME QUICK POSITIVE MOVEMENT AS A RESULT OF SOME OF THOSE MEETINGS.

UM, IT WAS VERY BENEFICIAL FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'LL ATTEND EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

I THINK IT'LL PROBABLY DEPEND ON WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON WITH OUR RADIO SYSTEM AT THAT POINT.

BUT GIVEN THE LEVEL OF INVESTMENT THAT WE'VE MADE AND GIVEN THAT THIS IS THE, A CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SUPPORTS EMS FIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ALSO ALLOWS US TO GET TO RESIDENTS IN NEED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, I FELT LIKE THIS WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO ATTEND AND I THINK IT WAS VERY BENEFICIAL.

VERY GOOD.

ANYTHING ELSE? I HAVE A QUESTION.

IT DID, UM, YOU KNOW, BACK IN BUDGET I HAD ASKED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MONEY THAT WE'RE HAVING TO INVEST IN THE TOWERS AND THIS TECHNOLOGY.

TO ME, IT SEEMS LIKE THE FUTURE WOULD BE SATELLITE TYPE TECHNOLOGY THAT HAS BETTER COVERAGE, THINGS OF THAT.

WAS ANY OF THAT BROUGHT UP OR DISCUSSED? IT WAS, YES, SIR.

IS MOTOROLA PLANNING TO BE INVOLVED WITH THAT? IDEALLY THE RF RADIOS OR ABOUT FIVE, 10 YEARS BEHIND CELLULAR.

UH, THE BIG PUSH RIGHT NOW IS, YOU KNOW, CELLULAR FIXING IT ON THE SATELLITE.

BUT FROM THOSE MEETINGS, OTHER MEETINGS, I AM GETTING VERY CREATIVE.

UH, HOPEFULLY NEXT, UH, BUDGET CYCLE.

I, I GOT SOME THINGS IN THE WORK RIGHT NOW I'M PRESENTING TO GET CREATIVE TO HELP OVERCOME SOME OF THE, UH, AREAS WE NEED HELP WITH, UH, WITHOUT TOWERS AND STUFF.

SO I AM, I AM REALLY, UH, PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF WHAT'S, WHAT'S HERE NOW, WHAT'S COMING ON BOARD AND GOT SOME CREATIVE THINGS I WILL BE PRESENTING TO THIS COURT.

AND JAMES, PLEASE CORRECT ME WHERE I MISSPEAK HERE, BUT COMMISSIONER, IT SOUNDED LIKE THEY RECOGNIZE IT'S AROUND THE CORNER, BUT IT'S SUCH A MASSIVE CHANGE THAT AROUND THE CORNER IS STILL PROBABLY FAR ENOUGH AWAY THAT WE CAN'T NOT INVEST IN OUR CURRENT SYSTEM RIGHT NOW.

YEAH.

HOPING THAT THAT'LL COME IN,

[00:30:01]

AND WITH THE GROWTH RATE THAT WE HAVE IN THE COUNTY, UM, I THINK THAT THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE ARE PRUDENT RIGHT NOW.

WE'LL CERTAINLY KEEP A VERY CLOSE EYE ON THAT, BUT WE DIDN'T GET ANY INDICATION THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA BE AVAILABLE IN 12 TO 36 MONTHS.

YEAH, I UNDERSTAND.

I MEAN, THIS IS UNDERSTOOD, VERY VITAL COMMUNICATION IS, BUT HOW WE DEAL WITH THAT TRANSITION AND WITH MOTOROLA BEING PROACTIVE IN COMMUNICATING WHERE THEY SEE THIS, THIS SECTOR GOING, I GUESS WOULD BE THE TERMINOLOGY.

YEAH, WE HAD SOME GOOD CONVERSATIONS.

ALRIGHT.

UH, THEY'RE A LITTLE BEHIND ON THAT, BUT, UH, WE ARE, UH, GOT SOME CREATIVE THINGS I'LL BE PRESENTING.

GOOD.

HOPEFULLY NEXT BUDGET.

THANK YOU, JAMES.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND THAT'S AN UPDATE ONLY ON

[7.B. Approve the qualifying applicants for the Child Safety Program Funding for July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 and the pro rata percentage quarterly share. (Jenny Gentry / Judge Deen)]

OKAY.

WE'LL MOVE DOWN TO ITEM SEVEN B ON APPROVE THE QUALIFYING APPLICANTS FOR THE CHILD SAFETY PROGRAM FUNDING FOR JULY 1ST, 2025 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2026.

AND THE PRO RATA PERCENTAGE QUARTERLY SHARE.

JENNY, SORRY TO MAKE YOU WAIT.

NO, YOU'RE FINE.

OKAY.

SO WE HAD THREE APPLICANTS, AGAIN, THE SAME ONE, CP, S BOARD, CASA, AND C.

A C.

SO WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU APPROVE THEM AT 11 POINT 19%, 36 POINT 57%, AND 52.2 0.24% OF OUR ALLOCATIONS.

HOW'S THAT COMPARE WITH LAST ALLOCATION? IT'S PERCENT OFF BY MAYBE 1%.

MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HALE.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL OVER FAVOR.

MOTION ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? AROUND $260,000.

THANK YOU, JENNY.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

[7.C. Discuss/Take Action on Grant application for the U.S. Department of Justice for the Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) Program. (Bianca Lord / Judge Deen)]

BIANCA? YES.

GOOD MORNING.

UM, THIS IS THE ONE THAT WE DID SIGN THE RESOLUTION TO APPLY FOR THAT, FOR THAT, UM, THAT GRANT.

AND WE'RE GONNA REQUEST 20 VEST BULLETPROOF VEST, AND HALF OF THAT IS ABOUT 17,000 THAT WE'LL GET OUT OF THIS GRANT.

OKAY.

MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HALE.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL FAVOR? OKAY.

MOTION CARRIES.

FIVE.

OH, THANK YOU.

[7.D. Discuss and take action on initiating departmental reviews by Budget Committee as determined by Commissioners Court. (Commissioner Holt).]

THANK YOU, BIANCA, BY THE WAY, MR. HALL COMMISSIONERS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DISCUSSED IN BUDGET, THAT THE BUDGET COMMITTEE FELT LIKE IT WOULD BE PRUDENT FOR US TO FOLLOW UP ON THE RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS.

THERE'S, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A FINE LINE TO WALK WHERE, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE CAN'T TELL AN ELECTED OFFICIAL COMMISSIONER'S COURT CAN'T TELL AN ELECTED OFFICIAL HOW TO RUN THEIR DEPARTMENT.

THAT, UH, THERE'S A VERY CLEAR SCOPE THERE.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE APPOINTED, UM, IN, IN TERMS OF WHO RUNS THAT DEPARTMENT.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMITTEE, FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE HEARING ABOUT THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT WAS A, IT WAS A DOGE STYLE EFFICIENCY COMMITTEE WHERE WE GOT ALL OF THE NEW PERSONNEL REQUESTS AND ADDITIONAL CAPITAL REQUESTS ON THE YEAR AND THEN RANKED ALL OF THOSE REQUESTS FROM A HOLISTIC STANDPOINT AND THEN GAVE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS BACK TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

I THINK IT WAS A VERY EFFECTIVE TOOL.

I THINK FOR THE MOST PART, MORE THAN 90% OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS WERE FOLLOWED BY COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

UM, BUT I, I THINK THAT WE ALL ALSO RECOGNIZED THAT AS HELPFUL AS IT WAS, IT WAS ONLY A STARTING PLACE.

SO I HAVE TWO ITEMS ON THIS AGENDA FOR TODAY.

AND THE FIRST IS TO DISCUSS INITIATING THESE REVIEWS.

AS WE HAD TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, WE SAID WE WOULD CIRCLE BACK SOMETIME BEFORE THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.

AND SO I WANNA OPEN THIS UP TO THE COURT TO SEE IF ANYONE HAS ANY RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO PROCEED WITH THAT.

I HAVE MY OWN, BUT I CERTAINLY WANNA HEAR FROM Y'ALL AS WELL.

SO MY, MY SUGGESTION IS THAT WE, UH, UH, MAKE A LIST, UH, GENERATE A LIST OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WE WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT, AND THEN HAVE DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF THE COURT THAT WOULD WANT TO PARTICIPATE AS WELL.

UH, NOT JUST OUR COMMITTEE, THAT WE EXPAND OUR COMMITTEE, UH, TO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COURT THAT WOULD WANT TO SERVE AND, UH, PARTICIPATE IN THOSE REVIEWS.

BECAUSE I CAN, I THINK WHEN WE, UH, DIVVY UP THE ONES THAT ARE THE DEPARTMENTS AND THE, WITHIN THE COUNTY, THAT, UH, SEVERAL MEMBERS OF US WOULD'VE EXPERTISE IN CERTAIN AREAS AND BE MORE THAN WILLING TO PARTICIPATE.

OBVIOUSLY, UH, WE'D NEED TO KEEP THAT TO, TO KNOW MORE THAN TWO MEMBERS OF THE

[00:35:01]

AND, AND THAT'S FINE.

BUT I THINK WE NEED TO DO THAT AND KIND OF DIVIDE THE, UH, DEPARTMENTS UP AND SEE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED.

AND I SEE LOTS OF SHAKING HEADS ACROSS THE, THE TABLE UP HERE THIS MORNING.

SO, UH, THAT'S MY SUGGESTION OF HOW, AS TO HOW WE DO IT, GENERATE THE LIST OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WE WANT TO EVALUATE AND THEN LOOK AT MEMBERS OF THE COURT THAT MIGHT WANT TO PARTICIPATE AND BE MEMBERS OF THAT REVIEW PROCESS.

CAN I JUST ONE THING TO THAT.

JUST, UH, IF THERE'S A, AN OPPORTUNITY TO ROTATE IF THERE'S NO, THAT'S WHAT I'M, WHAT I'M JUST WANNA BE SURE WHAT I'M, WE'RE COVERING? NO.

OKAY.

THANK YOU SIR.

NO, WE, WE WOULD HAVE A LIST THERE AND SAY, I, I WOULD, I WOULD, UH, AND, AND DIVVY THOSE UP DEPENDING ON, UH, WHO WANTS TO PARTICIPATE IN WHICH DEPARTMENT.

YEAH.

I GOT, I GOT ONE DEPARTMENT ROTATIONAL BASIS, ONE DEPARTMENT WE, WE, WE REALLY NEED TO WORK ON.

SO I'LL BE WILLING TO HELP WITH THAT ONE.

SURE.

AND I BET BE WE'RE TALKING DEPARTMENTS, NOT PRECINCTS, RIGHT? DEPARTMENT.

YEAH.

YEAH.

I THINK IT'S, UH, I THINK IT'D BE WORTH OUR TIME TO, TO SIT BACK AND, AND MAKE A LIST, PRESENT THAT TO, TO COURT.

WE CAN DO THAT, UH, OUTSIDE OF COURT AND THEN SEE, SEE WHO'S INTERESTED IN HELPING WITH EACH ONE OF THEM.

BECAUSE I, I RECOGNIZE THAT WITH ONLY TWO OF US THERE.

LAST TIME, SOME OF Y'ALL FELT LIKE YOU WERE LEFT OUT AND YOU'D LIKE TO BE A PART OF IT.

SO I, I THINK, UH, I APPRECIATE THE WILLINGNESS TO BE A PART OF JUDGE AND, UH, COMMISSIONERS TOO FORWARD.

UH, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD APPROACH.

YEAH.

SO I WONDER IF WE CAN DO THIS.

TAKING YOUR SUGGESTION, I WONDER IF WE COULD HAVE RICH COORDINATE WHERE WE ASSEMBLE THAT LIST MM-HMM .

AND THEN INDIVIDUALLY WITH RICH, THE COMMISSIONERS INDICATE WHICH DEPARTMENTS THEY'D LIKE TO BE A PART OF, AND MAYBE WE CAN JUST GIVE A BLANKET APPROVAL TODAY FOR THAT PROCESS MOVING FORWARD SO WE DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK EVERY SINGLE TIME.

YEAH.

I THINK WHAT THE APPROVAL IS TODAY IS THE CONCEPT OF THIS AS TO WHAT WE'RE APPROVING IS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OUTLINING HOW THIS IS GONNA BE DONE.

AND I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT, THAT WHAT WE CAN DO IS COORDINATE.

SO WHEN WE COME BACK TO THIS, THEN WE'LL HAVE SET PEOPLE THAT WE'VE HAD A DISCUSSION TO APPROVE THROUGH THE COURT ON THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA BE APPOINTED ON THIS, ON THESE COMMITTEES.

DO YOU THINK WE NEED TO COME BACK TO IT? OR, OR DO YOU THINK THE APPROVAL TODAY COULD HANDLE THAT ASPECT AS WELL? SO I'M, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION HERE THAT WE EXPAND THE COMMITTEE TO INCLUDE ALL MEMBERS OF THE COURT, UH, NO MORE THAN, UH, TWO TO PREVENT A QUORUM FOR ANY PARTICULAR MEETING ON A PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT.

OKAY.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER WALDEN, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HALE.

UM, BASED ON WHAT YOU JUST SAID, COMMISSIONER, I THINK THAT THAT WOULD COVER IT THEN, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO BRING THAT BACK.

I THINK THAT WILL, YEAH.

I THINK WE'LL BE GOOD WITH THAT THEN.

UH, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? ALL IN FAVOR? UH, CARRIE'S FIVE.

OH,

[7.E. Discuss and take action on expanding the Budget Committee with additional spots. (Commissioner Holt)]

TAKE ACTION ON EXPANDING THE BUDGET COMMITTEE WITH ADDITIONAL SPOTS.

SO IN THE PROCESS OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, WE HAD ORIGINALLY, I THINK WE HAD SEVEN MEMBERS, AND THEN IT, IT DROPPED DOWN TO SIX MEMBERS.

IT WAS MYSELF, COMMISSIONER WALDEN, MRS. BECKY MCCULLOUGH, MR. JEFF SWAIN, MR. RICHARD HEISER, AND SHERIFF RU RUSS, ER.

AND I THINK THAT, UH, IT WOULD IN LIGHT ALSO OF WHAT COMMISSIONER WALDEN JUST ACCOMPLISHED WITH THAT MOTION WHERE WE EXPAND IT TO INCLUDE EVERY MEMBER OF COURT.

I THINK IT WOULD ALSO BENEFIT US TO OPEN UP ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OR ADDITIONAL SPOTS FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THAT.

AND THEN THE OTHER RECOMMENDATION THAT I HAVE IS THAT WHEN WE HAVE THOSE BUDGET COMMITTEES, WE POST THAT MEETING ONLINE AND PERHAPS DO A MEETING IN THIS STYLE RIGHT HERE WHERE WE CAN ALSO HAVE FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE SHOW UP BECAUSE WE'RE ONLY AS TRANSPARENT AS FOLKS KNOW ABOUT.

IN OTHER WORDS, IF, IF WE'RE TRYING TO DO ALL OF THESE THINGS WITH TRANSPARENCY AND HOLDING GOVERNMENT DOLLARS ACCOUNTABLE, BUT FOLKS DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT OR THEY CAN'T ATTEND THE MEETINGS, THEN I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'RE REALLY HITTING THE MARK THAT WE'RE AIMING TO.

SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO OPEN UP THREE ADDITIONAL SPOTS TO THE PUBLIC.

SO THAT WOULD BE FOUR SPOTS TOTAL FILLED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

UM, I HOPE MR. MR. HEISER WOULD BE WILLING WHEN, WHEN IT COMES TIME TO DISCUSS THAT IN THE FUTURE, HIS PARTICIPATION, I HOPE HE'D BE WILLING TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE IN THAT CAPACITY.

BUT I'D LIKE TO ADD THREE ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE OR THREE ADDITIONAL SPOTS.

I DON'T HAVE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS AT THIS TIME.

THREE ADDITIONAL SPOTS SUBJECT TO US DISCUSSING WHO SHOULD FILL THOSE ROLES AND THEN ALSO MAKE THOSE MEETINGS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND HOSTED IN AN AREA LIKE THIS.

THAT'S MY MOTION.

DO YOU HAVE, UM, WILL WE HAVE A MOTION? DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND TO GET TO THE DISCUSSION PAGE ON THE, UM, DO YOU SEE ANY, IS IS IT GOING TO BE IN,

[00:40:01]

SO I, I THINK THAT MY, MY PREVIOUS MOTION WILL COVER THAT AND THAT WE CAN ROTATE.

OKAY.

VERY WELL IN THESE MEETINGS AS WELL.

UH, I DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT, UH, UH, THE, THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IS THAT WE ARE THE ONES RESPONSIBLE FOR, UH, THE BUDGET.

THE, WE ARE ELECTED TO, TO BE THE ONES WHO ARE, UH, RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BUDGET AND THAT PROCESS.

AND WE DO ALREADY HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS REGARDING THE, THE, OUR BUDGET PROCESS.

AND I'M, I'M, I HAVE CONCERNS, I'LL SAY THAT, UM, I DON'T MIND HAVING PEOPLE ON THE COMMITTEE, BUT, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO A VOTE OR WHATEVER, WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST IS WE'VE RATED, WE'VE RATED THEM, AND THEN WE BRING THAT AS A RECOMMENDATION TO COURT.

I THINK WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THAT WE'RE TRANSACTING BUSINESS OF THE COURT THROUGH THIS COMMITTEE COMMITTEE.

I AGREE.

BECAUSE THIS IS ONLY A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE BRING TO COURT.

RIGHT.

AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, UH, WE CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE COMPLETE AGREEMENT.

WE DIDN'T HAVE A COMPLETE AGREEMENT ON EVERYTHING THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR.

BUT I, I, I'LL SAY THAT MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED, THAT'S GREAT.

BUT IF WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE WHO ARE GOING TO BE, UH, UH, MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, BASED ON A BIASED VIEW OF WHAT'S GOING ON, THEY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHEN THEY COME FORWARD THAT THIS IS NOTHING MORE THAN YOUR OPINION.

WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE, GLAD TO HAVE YOU PARTICIPATE.

BUT AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR, FOR, UH, DECISIONS MADE, UH, FOR THE TAXPAYERS OF THE COUNTY FOR THIS BODY.

YES.

AND WHEN WE HAVE NON-ELECTED PEOPLE IN THAT POSITION, SOMETIMES IT GETS DIFFICULT.

AND THAT'S WHAT I KEEP, KEEP SAYING.

WE HAVE, WE HAVE NON-ELECTED PEOPLE OR PEOPLE THAT, UH, WILL NEVER HAVE AN OPPONENT THAT ARE ELECTED MAKING DECISIONS THAT, UH, AFFECT THE TAXPAYERS OF THE COUNTY.

THAT'S WRONG.

AND SO I WANNA BE SURE THAT WHAT WE DO HERE, AND I'M, THE IDEA IS GREAT.

I DON'T MIS DON'T MISUNDERSTAND, BUT, BUT WE MAKE THAT WITH CAUTION.

YEAH.

UNDERSTOOD.

OKAY.

OKAY.

LEMME, LEMME GET FOR CLARIFICATION.

ARE YOU SAYING AN ADDITIONAL FOUR TO THE SIX OR FOUR TOTAL? SO THERE WOULD BE 10 TOTAL.

OKAY.

FOUR TO THE SAME.

SIX WOULD BE COMPRISED OF COUNTY INDIVIDUALS, BUT, BUT KEEPING IN MIND, FIVE OF THOSE SIX ARE NOT THE MEMBERS OF THE COURT.

TWO SPOTS ARE RESERVED FOR MEMBERS OF THE COURT.

FOUR SPOTS FOR OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY OFFICES.