Link

Social

Embed

Disable autoplay on embedded content?

Download

Download
Download Transcript

[00:00:01]

>> WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED WITH THE BUDGET WORKSHOP.

WE HAVE A FEW ITEMS TO GO OVER THIS MORNING AND A COUPLE OF CORRECTIONS TO MAKE AND A BRIEF DISCUSSION ON AN ANOMALY THAT WE HAVE ONCE EVERY 11 YEARS.

WE HAVE 27 PAY PERIODS INSTEAD OF 26 AND LUCKY US, THIS IS YOUR NUMBER 11 [LAUGHTER].

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT AND DISCUSS IT.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET ROLLING.

THE FIRST THING I'D LIKE TO GO OVER, WE DO HAVE THE NO NEW REVENUE AND VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE INFORMATION.

I HAVE A COPY OF IT RIGHT HERE AND I'LL JUST READ THIS ALOUD.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A HEARING ON THIS, [BACKGROUND] 24TH OF THIS MONTH.

PUBLIC HEARING, AND THEN AFTER THAT PUBLIC HEARING, WE CAN ADOPT THE RATE IF WE LIKE TO AT THAT TIME.

I'LL JUST READ THIS.

THE 2020 TAX RATE GCA WAS 0.7053 PER $100 VALUATION.

THE FTM WAS 0.0001 PER $100 VALUATION FOR A TOTAL TAX RATE, 0.7054 PER $100 VALUATION.

THIS YEAR, THE 2021 NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE IS 0.6275 PER 100.

GCA, THE FTM IS 0000 PER 100, AND THE TOTAL, NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE IS 0.6275 PER 100.

THE 2021 VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE IS 0.6719 PER $100.

I'D JUST LIKE TO EXPLAIN THAT SBT GAVE US THE LATITUDE TO ADOPT THREE-AND-HALF PERCENT ABOVE THE NO-NEW REVENUE TAX RATE.

THAT'S WHAT THAT IS.

THEN THERE'S THE 2021 VOTER APPROVAL ADJUSTMENT FOR UNUSED INCREMENT RATE AND THAT IS 0.6720.

A DIFFERENCE OF A FRACTION OF A PENNY PER $100 VALUATION.

THE 2021, THE MINIMIZE TAX RATE WHICH WE WILL NOT USE IS 0.6622 PER $100 VALUATION AND THE 2021 PUBLISHED DEBT RATE IS 0.0355 PER $100 VALUATION GCA, TOTAL 0.0355 PER $100 VALUATION.

THOSE ARE THE RATES.

WE WILL LIKELY SUGGESTS THAT WE ADOPT 0.6720 AT THE HEARING, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE KEEPING TRACK, THAT'S $0.10 PER $100 VALUATION OVER THE PAST.

THIS WILL BE THE THIRD YEAR THAT I'VE BEEN HERE.

THE HIGHEST IT'S EVER BEEN AND IT WAS NEARLY 0.78, SOMETHING THAT I'M AWARE FROM BACK WHEN I WAS COMMISSIONER.

OUR TAX RATE IS WAY DOWN FROM WHAT IT USED TO BE, AND SO WE CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO HOLD IT DOWN.

THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE CONTINUES TO COME TO OUR APPRAISAL DISTRICT AND TELL THEM YOU NEED TO RAISE VALUES EVERY YEAR.

THEY'RE FORCED TO DO THAT AND TO KEEP COMPLIANT WITH THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE.

THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.

WE'LL HAVE A HEARING ABOUT THAT TAX RATE ON THE 24TH.

I'LL SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST.

COMMISSIONER SHELTON, YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO GO OVER AND RAISE IF YOU WANT TO.

WE CAN EXPLAIN WHAT'S GOING ON THERE AND CORRECT IT.

I KNOW THAT YOU HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT DEPUTY CONSTABLE SALARIES, SO LET'S ADDRESS THOSE FIRST AND THEN WE CAN GO BACK AND CATCH THE REST OF THEM.

>> AS I MENTIONED EARLIER ON CONSTABLE 1, IT EXPLAINS ITSELF, I GUESS.

YOU-ALL REDUCE THE REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE FROM THE $1000-$750.

I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHY THE REDUCTION.

BUT I SEE THEY SPENT LESS THAN 300 SO FAR THIS YEAR, SO I'M SURE THAT'S ACCEPTABLE.

>> YES. THEY ACTUALLY BROUGHT THAT UP.

THEY ASKED FOR THAT ADJUSTMENT.

>> IN PRECINCT 2, THE PAYROLL FOR THE DEPUTY CONSTABLES,

[00:05:02]

I THINK THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A TYPO.

IT WAS 4408.

IN OUR CURRENT BUDGET, IT WENT DOWN TO 43640.

I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHY THERE WOULD BE A REDUCTION IN ANY PAY I HOPE.

>> THERE'S NOT. THAT'S CORRECT.

>> YEAH. IT WAS A TYPO THAT WILL GET CORRECTED.

>> OKAY. UNDER PRECINCT 2 AS WELL, THEIR OFFICE SUPPLIES WERE SET AT 3402 FOR THE CURRENT YEAR.

THEY'VE ALREADY MET 3102 AND STILL HAVE A LITTLE WHILE TO GO AND IT GOT REDUCED TO 2500.

IF THEY'VE CURRENTLY ALREADY SPENT 3102, I CAN'T IMAGINE THEY WON'T SPEND THAT AGAIN.

WHY WOULD WE REDUCE THAT, 2500?

>> WHEN WE WENT OVER THEIR BUDGET WITH THEM, I BELIEVE THAT DEPUTY SWANKY SAID THAT THEY HAD PURCHASED SOME ITEMS FOR OFFICE SUPPLIES THAT WILL NOT BE PURCHASED AGAIN THIS TIME.

>> THAT WILL BE LONG-TERM USED.

>> I BELIEVE THAT WAS THE REASON.

>> I GOT IT. THAT WAS A BIG DROP.

>> YEAH. THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.

I THINK THEY BOUGHT A DESK AND SOME OTHER THINGS, SO THEY REDUCED IT.

>> IN PRECINCT 3 UNDER CONSTABLES, NO TRANSPORTATION. THEY WERE 27.

IT DROPPED DOWN TO EIGHT.

THEY ALREADY WERE AT 6939.

IS THAT NOT RUNNING CLOSE? THE 8,000 TO THOSE 6939 WITH THE CURRENTLY ALREADY USED?

>> NO, BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE A MONTH AND A HALF LEFT IN THE FISCAL YEAR.

MAYBE THEY COULD DO A BUDGET TRANSFER LATER, BUT THEY FEEL THEY CAN OPERATE ON THAT.

>> PRECINCT 4, I THINK YOU-ALL HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE AWARE OF THEIR DEPUTY CONSTABLE PAY.

I THINK THAT WAS A TYPO AND I THINK THAT'S ALREADY BEEN CORRECTED.

THAT WAS IT ON THE CONSTABLES.

>> OKAY. GOT ANYTHING ELSE?

>> YES.

>> OKAY.

>> THE ENVIRONMENTAL UNDER THE ENVIRONMENTAL TASK FORCE THAT WE'RE CREATING TO PUT OVER AT THE DA'S OFFICE.

WE ALSO HAVE THE CODE INVESTIGATORS THROUGH, OH, YOU ALL ERASED ALL THAT OUT.

>> YEAH. IT'S GONE.

>> SORRY. I SEE THAT NOW.

I EVEN WROTE THAT, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

[LAUGHTER]

>> IT'S A LOT TO TAKE IN.

>> IT IS A LOT TO TAKE IN.

I THOROUGHLY ENJOY THE WORK YOU ALL HAVE DONE ON THIS BECAUSE IT'S A CHALLENGE TO MY BRAIN, TO DO IT.

>> WE APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE DOING YOUR JOB AND REVIEWING IT.

>> I THINK THOSE WERE IT, EVERYTHING ELSE LOOK GOOD.

>> ALL RIGHT.

BARBARA, YOU HAD MENTIONED SOMETHING TO ME JUST A SECOND AGO, WOULD YOU REPEAT IT, WHAT DID YOU TELL ME A WHILE AGO?

>> WHAT WE WOULD LIKE IS THAT IF EVERYONE DOES REVIEW THEIR BUDGETS, ALL THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS.

WE APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER SHELTON TAKING A LOOK AT THE BUDGET THOROUGHLY, BUT IT IS CRITICAL AT THIS TIME, THIS IS A PRELIMINARY DRAFT OF THE BUDGET, AND WE DO OUR VERY BEST TO GO THROUGH THE BUDGET AND WE'RE STILL REVIEWING NUMBERS.

AS WE SPEAK, THE REVENUES ARE COMING IN.

WE'VE ACTUALLY GONE IN THERE RIGHT AFTER THE CERTIFIED ROLL CAME IN AND WE UPDATED THE NUMBERS.

THE TAX RATE CAME IN, WE UPDATED THE NUMBERS JUST THE OTHER DAY.

THIS NUMBER THAT'S REFLECTED RIGHT NOW HAS BEEN CHANGED A LITTLE BIT ALREADY.

ALL THE NUMBERS, WE JUST ASK THAT EVERYBODY PLEASE GO IN THERE AND LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS.

WE'RE GOING TO MEET WITH JUVENILE PROBATION, AUGUST 10TH WE'VE GOT A MEETING, SO THOSE NUMBERS ARE ALL GOING TO CHANGE.

GRANTS, THOSE NUMBERS WILL ALSO CHANGE WITH THE GUIDANCE OF OUR BUDGET OFFICER, OF COURSE.

BUT PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR NUMBERS.

IT'S CRITICAL AT THIS TIME THAT EVERYTHING BE REVIEWED BY EVERYBODY.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL CONTEST IN JANUARY AND AT THAT TIME IT'S TOO LATE.

EVERYTHING IS ADOPTED WHEN IT'S TIME TO ADOPT IN AUGUST.

HOPEFULLY, FINGERS CROSSED OR SEPTEMBER DEPENDING ON COMMISSIONERS COOPERATE, PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT IT RIGHT NOW.

IT'S CRITICAL THAT EVERYONE LOOK AT IT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT.

[OVERLAPPING]

>> ALSO, IF YOU NOTICE THAT SOME OF THE PAYROLL MAY BE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THIS BUDGET THAN WHAT IT SHOULD BE.

JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT EXTRA PAYROLL AND THERE IS AN ANOMALY THIS YEAR THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, JUDGE.

[00:10:01]

BUT IN SPEAKING WITH BARBARA, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT PUTTING THAT EXTRA PAY PERIOD IN THE ADJUSTMENT ACCOUNT, LINE ITEM THAT IS THERE THAT WE USED A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

JUST SO PEOPLE DO NOT GET CONFUSED THINKING THEY'RE GOING TO GET A HIGHER SALARY THAN THEY'RE REALLY NOT GOING TO.

[OVERLAPPING] WE'LL BE WORKING WITH BARBARA GET ALL OF THAT INPUT.

>> ONCE I HAD SUGGESTED WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT, WHAT THEIR SALARY LINE ITEMS WILL SHOW, IS WHAT THEIR SALARY WOULD BE IN A 26 PAY PERIOD YEAR, A NORMAL YEAR.

THEN WE'LL HAVE A LINE ITEM FOR THE SALARY ADJUSTMENTS.

WHEN WE GET TO THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, WE'LL MAKE THAT ADJUSTMENT AND DO THAT LAST PAYMENT, BUT IT'LL KEEP THINGS CLEAN GOING FORWARD SO THAT WE DON'T POTENTIALLY LEAVE SOME OTHER POOR COMMISSIONERS COURT WITH A MESS DOWN THE ROAD TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE DID 10 YEARS FROM NOW.

LET'S GO TO THE AMERICAN RESCUE FILE.

I'M GOING TO READ WHAT WE HAVE PROPOSED, WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS BEFORE.

THEN I'M GOING TO FILL YOU IN ON SOME UPDATES AND SOME THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE SPECIAL SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE, AND THEN WE CAN HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO, AND HOW WE WANT TO PROCEED.

[NOISE] THIS COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE SOME VERY LARGE IMPACTS TO OUR BUDGET.

BEFORE OUR LEGISLATORS COLLEAGUES GOT TOGETHER, OUR FUND FOR THIS YEAR IS $240,610, IT'S FUN TO 53, 10.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT DOING 250,000 IN THE COMMUNITY SERVICES TO HELP ALL OF OUR NON-PROFITS THAT HAVE BEEN SEVERELY IMPACTED BY COVID, MANY OF WHICH ARE HANGING ON BY A THREAD AND DO GOOD WORK, SO THAT THEY WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES FOUNDATION AND GET GRANTS TO HELP THEM STAY AFLOAT BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC CONTINUES.

WE HAD A $243,750 MATCH FOR OUR TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT GRANT, WHICH IS ALLOWABLE UNDER THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES.

WE HAD $1,090,591 FOR ODYSSEY TO BRING OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE, OUR DA'S OFFICE, AND ALL OF US UNDERNEATH THE SAME UMBRELLA, ALSO ALLOWABLE UNDER THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES.

WE HAD 900,000 FOR A UNIT ROAD FOR ROAD PROJECTS AND EQUIPMENT THAT WOULD BE NEEDED TO COMPLETE THOSE PROJECTS, ALSO ALLOWABLE UNDER THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES.

WE HAD $100,000 FOR OUR VETERAN SERVICES, TO ASSIST OUR VETERANS THROUGH COVID.

FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR MAXWELL ACD TO ASSIST THEM WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT THAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON, TO SUPPLY WATER TO SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA OF THE COUNTY.

THAT WAS A TOTAL OF $2,634,341, AND IT LEFT A BALANCE OF $1,760,069.

THAT BALANCE WE COULD TALK ABOUT HOW TO ALLOCATE THAT ANYTIME.

ONE THOUGHT WAS THIS BEGIN, I'VE BEEN SPENDING A LOT OF TIME LEARNING ALL ABOUT EMERGENCY RADIOS AND TOWERS IN RURAL BROADBAND PROVIDERS AND WHO NEEDS WHAT AND WHAT'S OUT THERE AND TALKING TO CONNECTED NATIONS.

TO GET A TRUE ROBUST RURAL BROADBAND, IT'S GOING TO BE KEPT A MILLION BUCKS EASY.

BUT WE COULD SPEND SOME OF THIS BALANCE THIS YEAR AND THEN TAKE SOME OUT OF WHAT WE GET ALLOCATED TO US NEXT YEAR.

WE SHOULD HAVE THE FUNDING FOR THAT.

NOW, IN THE BACKGROUND OF ALL THAT, OUR TEXAS LEGISLATURE HAS TAKEN UPON THEMSELVES TO DECIDE FOR COUNTIES HOW WE SHOULD SPEND OUR MONEY, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO LEGISLATE IT.

I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

HERE IS THE POSTING FOR A COMMITTEE HEARING THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

[00:15:01]

THIS IS THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE STARTED AT NINE O'CLOCK, TODAY.

SAYS, THE COMMITTEE WILL MEET TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING; STATUS OF STAFFING IN TEXAS HOSPITALS, UNDERSTANDING CURRENT TRENDS AND COVID-19 HOSPITALIZATION AND DATA AND ITS RELATION TO CAPACITY, EVALUATING THE CURRENT NEED FOR MEDICAL EQUIPMENT.

THE COMMITTEE WILL HEAR INVITED TESTIMONY ONLY.

[NOISE] I'VE NEVER EVER HEARD THE COMMITTEE DOING THAT IN MY LIFE.

THAT MEANS THEY PICK WHO THEY WANT TO TESTIFY AND THOSE OF US WHO MIGHT TESTIFY AGAINST, THAT WILL NOT GET THE OPPORTUNITY.

WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE FOR US TO DO WITH THIS MONEY IS PAY FOR NURSES' BONUSES, PAY FOR EXTRA HOSPITAL BEDS, PAY FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT, IN MY OPINION, PRIVATELY-OWNED HOSPITALS SHOULD PAY THEMSELVES WITH THEIR PROFITS [BACKGROUND] AND PROFIT THEY MAKE.

JUST NOW ARE THERE ANY OF THE HOSPITALS BEGINNING TO DISCUSS, SLOWING BACKING UP ON ELECTIVE SURGERIES TO FREE UP MORE BEDS AND THAT TYPE OF THING.

I'M TRYING TO CHOOSE MY WORDS CAREFULLY BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SOUND HEARTLESS, BUT A VERY SMALL PORTION OF THE POPULATION OF THIS COUNTY IS HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID.

THE OTHER 99.02 PERCENT ARE NEEDING THE THINGS THAT WE JUST DISCUSSED HERE.

IT'S A MUCH BETTER USE OF THE MONEY AND IN MY OPINION, IT WAS THE INTENT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S USE OF THE MONEY.

BUT WE HAVE TO SIT TIGHT UNTIL WE SEE WHAT THEY DO IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION OVER THE NEXT MONTH OR SO, IN MY OPINION.

>> WE'RE GOING THROUGH A BUDGETING PROCESS RIGHT NOW, WHERE WE HAVE TO HAVE IT APPROVED OPERATING BUDGET BY THIS FALL FOR OUR YEAR.

IT WOULD BE ASSUMED THAT WE WOULD BUDGET FOR THESE FUNDS, THIS AMERICAN RESCUE FUNDS AS PART OF THAT.

WOULD THEY HAVE AN RETROACTIVE AUTHORITY TO COME BACK AFTERWARDS AND SAY THAT WE HAVE TO NOT SPEND THOSE FUNDS. [OVERLAPPING]

>> I WOULDN'T THINK SO.

I THINK IF WE BUDGET FOR THESE AND WE SPEND IT AND WE WOULD STILL HAVE OUR $1,706,269.

IF WE WERE FORCED TO USE SOME OF THAT FOR THOSE THINGS THAT THEY'RE SUGGESTING AND I THINK THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR OUR COUNTY AND OUR SMALL HOSPITAL IN OUR COUNTY.

I'LL JUST COMMIT POLITICAL SUICIDE TO SAY WHAT I THINK.

[LAUGHTER] NOW I NEED TO GET IT OFF MY CHEST.

I FEEL LIKE THAT ONCE AGAIN, LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO GET SCAPEGOATED FOR BAD DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE AT THE STATE LEVEL.

THAT'S WHAT I FEEL LIKE THIS IS ALL ABOUT, PERSONALLY.

I'M WILLING TO LIVE WITH THAT.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE MAKING BAD DECISIONS HERE.

I DON'T CARE WHO'S SAYS AT THE STATE LEVEL, WHAT SENATOR OR WHAT STATE REPRESENTATIVE, OR THE GOVERNOR OR THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

I THINK WE KNOW OUR CONSTITUENTS WAY BETTER THAN THEY WILL EVER KNOW.

I THINK LOCAL GOVERNMENT KNOWS WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY AND I THINK ONE OF THE PILLARS OF CONSERVATISM, WHICH I'M A CONSERVATIVE, IS SMALL GOVERNMENT AND WHEN YOU START LEGISLATING FROM ON HIGH, WHAT PEOPLE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL SHOULD DO THAT IS NOT SMALL GOVERNMENT, THAT'S CENTRALIZING POWER AT A HIGH LEVEL AND THAT IS THE LEAST REPUBLICAN THING YOU COULD EVER DO, IN MY OPINION.

>> I AGREE. [OVERLAPPING]

>> [INAUDIBLE] WHEN THEY CAME UP WITH ALL THIS MONEY EVERY GOVERNMENT ENTITY, EVERY COUNTY, EVERY CITY, THE SCHOOLS, THE HOSPITALS, EVERYBODY BENEFITED FROM THE ALLOCATED MONEY TO DO, I AGREE WITH YOU, THIS MONEY SHOULD STAY IN THIS COUNTY AND WE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE, OUR BUSINESSES, OUR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE.

THOSE OTHER ENTITIES, THE HOSPITALS, THEY COST MONEY AS WELL. I AGREE.

[00:20:05]

I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY'RE IF THEY'RE DOING THAT AND LIKE YOU SAID, BY INVITATION ONLY, THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT GOT UP THERE IS THE ONES THAT ARE FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THEY HAVE NO OPPOSITION TO SPEAK AND THAT IS VERY UNFAIR, THAT'S NOT TRUE DEMOCRACY AT ALL AND SO I SAY, WE ALLOCATE THIS MONEY DOWN TO WHERE WE CAN.

YOUR SUGGESTIONS EARLIER WE DIDN'T HAVE A COPY OF THAT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A COPY OF THAT.

>> CERTAINLY. I'LL GET YOU ONE TO DAY FOR [OVERLAPPING].

>> I THINK WE'RE ALLOCATED VERY WELL.

I PERSONALLY KNOW SEVERAL OF THE SMALL COMMUNITY, DELHI COMMUNITY, MANN COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT ARE STRUGGLING TO KEEP THEIR BUILDINGS OFF AND GOING.

I KNOW MANN ITSELF WAS INVITED TO A MEETING AND THEY WERE CURRENTLY DOWN TO LIKE $300 IN THEIR FUNDS BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T RENT THEIR BUILDING AND BUT THEY HAVE TO UPKEEP IT.

THEY GOT TO PAY THE ELECTRICITY [NOISE].

SAME THING WITH ANY OTHER COMMUNITY BUILDING.

THIS MONEY WAS GIVEN TO OUR COUNTY TO HELP US KEEP OUR COUNTIES FUNCTIONING AND WE ARE SMALL.

SOME OF THE OTHER PLACES GOT BIGGER MONEY.

I THINK IT'S UNFAIR TO US THAT THEY'RE UP THERE DOING THAT.

>> YEAH, I AGREE.

I THINK COMMISSIONERS, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I WILL PROCEED FORWARD WITH THIS THE WAY WE GOT IT ALLOCATED IN THE BUDGET AND WE STILL HAVE TIME TO, YOU CAN LOOK AT THIS AND IF YOU THINK IT NEEDS TO BE MASSAGED AND SO BE IT, BUT I THINK THAT THE BASIC PRINCIPLE AT STAKE HERE IS, FROM THE STATE LEVEL, THERE HAVE BEEN MOVES TO STRIP LOCAL AUTHORITY AWAY FROM CITIES AND COUNTIES.

WHEN DOES IT STOP? WHEN WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO GO TO A SENATE COMMITTEE AND TESTIFY.

BY THE WAY, DON'T WEAR A MASK, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, YOU HAVE NO POWER TO REGULATE HEALTH IN YOUR COUNTIES, EVEN THOUGH STATUTORILY YOU DO THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS AN ORDER THAT SAYS WE CAN.

IF YOU WANT TO GO SEE THEM, YOU GOT TO GET A NOSE SWAB BEFORE YOU GO IN AND GET A WRISTBAND PUT ON YOU AND THAT IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF HYPOCRISY IN MY OPINION.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THESE OTHER SMALL COUNTIES DOING?

>> WELL, WE'RE ALL JUST FINDING OUT ABOUT THIS SO I DON'T KNOW.

I'M GOING TO BE AT A MEETING THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND FRIDAY MORNING WITH ALL THE JUDGES IN THE FCRA COLORADO RIVER BASIN.

I'M SURE THAT'LL BE A HOT TOPIC OF CONVERSATION, SO I'LL KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT BY THE END OF THE WEEK.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT ONE PERSON THAT I KNOW AT THE STATE CAPITOL, SAID THAT THE COUNTY JUDGES ARE IN AN APOCALYPTIC MOOD, [LAUGHTER] WAS HER EXACT WORDS OVER THIS AND IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT.

IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION, GREAT.

LET'S HAVE THE CONVERSATION, BUT WE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO COME TO THE COMMITTEE HEARING AND TESTIFY ON BEHALF OF OUR COUNTY.

>> THEY'RE SUPPOSED ALLOCATE THE COUNTY SOME MONEY.

[OVERLAPPING]

>> I'M NOT EVEN SURE AT THIS POINT FRANKLY.

I DON'T KNOW HOW FEDERAL FUNDING CAN COME TO A COUNTY AND THE STATE THINKS IT CAN LEGISLATE HOW TO SPEND IT.

AT THAT PART I CAN'T FIGURE OUT EITHER, BUT OR EVEN IF THEY CAN REALLY DO THAT AND SO THAT'S WHY I SAY, I DON'T KNOW, THEY CAN REALLY DO THAT, BUT IF THEY CAN THEY'RE GOING TO STILL THROW US UNDER THE BUS, I THINK.

WE'VE BEEN UNDER THE BUS A LOT WITH THEM LATELY AND SO WE KNOW WHAT THE BOTTOM OF THE BUS LOOKS LIKE NOW, I'M NOT AFRAID TO SEE THE BOTTOM OF THE BUS ANYMORE. DENNIS?

>> I'M GOING TO MAKE A COMMENT.

I'VE BEEN WATCHING AND READING THE RULES FROM THE US TREASURY DEPARTMENT WHICH IS WHAT MAKES MONEY AVAILABLE.

THE RULE THAT'S IN PLACE RIGHT NOW TODAY, AS WE'RE SPEAKING, IS THE FINAL INTERIM RULE ISSUED BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY.

IT PROVIDES A LOT OF LATITUDE FOR THE COUNTY JUDGE TO MAKE THESE KINDS OF DECISIONS.

THERE ARE SOME GUIDELINES AND SOME CATEGORIES LIKE BROADBAND, WATER, SEWER, COVID, [INAUDIBLE] BUT IT ALSO OPENS THE DOOR AND GIVES THE JUDGE OR THE LEGAL AUTHORITY IN ANY OF THESE ENTITIES THE PREROGATIVE TO COME UP WITH SOME LOCAL INITIATIVES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO IN OUR CASE THE COUNTY.

WHAT'S BEING DISCUSSED IN AUSTIN RIGHT NOW IS NOT LAW YET.

I'M JUST SAYING AT THIS POINT RIGHT NOW,

[00:25:04]

WE'RE WORKING UNDER THE GUIDELINES OF THE US TREASURY DEPARTMENT AND THE MINIMAL RULES AND THESE ITEMS THAT THE JUDGE HAS OUTLINED OR LEGITIMATE ELIGIBLE USES OF THOSE FUNDS AND SO ANY DECISION YOU MAKE TODAY, I WOULD SAY IS BASED ON WHAT FEDERAL RULES ARE RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HAVING TO WORK UNDER.

>> THANK YOU, DENNIS.

>> DO YOU HAVE THAT LIST OF THESE PROJECTS THAT YOU'VE IDENTIFIED? THAT'S NOT IN OUR BACKUP MATERIAL, RIGHT?

>> NO. THIS IS JUST SOMETHING, BUT IT DOES AFFECT IT.

FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU LOOK AT UNIT ROADS, EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE, YOU'LL SEE THIS IS VERY LOW BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE WERE PLANNING ON USING THIS MONEY AND IT'S IN A SEPARATE FUND.

IT IS IN THE BUDGET ALREADY, IT'S ALREADY INCORPORATED INTO THE BUDGET IN ITS OWN FUND.

>> GOT YOU. THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW IDENTIFIES THE USE OF ALL OF IT EXCEPT FOR A MILLION OR SOMETHING?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> CAN WE GO AHEAD AND EXPLORE OPTIONS DURING THIS BUDGET PROCESS FOR THE USE OF THAT REMAINING MILLION?

>> WE CAN.

ONE THING WE HAD TOSSED AROUND WAS RURAL BROADBAND.

I JUST DON'T THINK WE'RE AT A POINT YET AND WON'T BE, THAT'S WHY IT'S STILL SITTING THERE TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I STILL AM IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO IDENTIFY IF WE NEED A COUPLE MORE TOWERS, AND THEN SOME SMALLER TOWERS THROUGHOUT FOR PARTS OF THE COUNTY THAT DON'T HAVE FIBER.

I'M STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF WE USE THIS COMPANY OR THAT COMPANY FOR OUR EMERGENCY RADIO SERVICES.

ONE HAS FIBER AND IT GOES RIGHT UP THE MIDDLE OF OUR COUNTY.

ONE DOESN'T HAVE FIBER, BUT ANOTHER COMPANY HAS FIBER NEXT TO THEIRS.

[NOISE] IT'S ALWAYS COMPLICATED AS IT CAN BE.

IN THE BACKGROUND OF ALL OF THIS, WHEN WE STARTED OUT DOWN THE ROAD WITH THIS GRANT AND THIS TOWER, WE WERE TOLD BUILD THE TOWER OR RUN A TOWER, GRANT'S GOING TO PAY FOR ALL THE EQUIPMENT THAT GOES ON THE TOWER, AND THIS WILL SOLVE ALL YOUR PROBLEMS. WELL, SO WE COMMIT TO DOING THAT.

THEN I GET APPROACHED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN, HUGHES GATERS, THEY CALL IT THE BOT PROJECT, AND MOTOROLA AND SAID, "BY THE WAY, YOUR MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT ON THE IRON MOUNTAIN TOWER IS OBSOLETE, NOT GOOD ANYMORE.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND $350,000 FOR A NEW MICROWAVE." WHICH WE HAVE BUDGETED FOR.

THEN RECENTLY THEY SAID, " BY THE WAY, YOUR TOWER IN LOCKHART, THAT YOU LEASE, IS STRUCTURALLY UNABLE TO HOLD A NEW MICROWAVE SYSTEM." SO EITHER THE COUNTY OR THE CITIES OR BRUCE R, IF THEY WANT TO,WHICH THEY PROBABLY WON'T, THEY'LL JUST HANG SOMETHING ELSE ON THEIR TOWER THAT'S NOT SO HEAVY, HAS TO PAY TO FIX THE TOWER AND HANG ANOTHER $250,000 MICROWAVE ON IT.

THEN SUPPOSEDLY THAT WILL SOLVE ALL OUR PROBLEMS. I BELIEVE THAT WILL BECAUSE THEY'RE FRESH OUT OF TOWERS AND MICROWAVES [LAUGHTER] AFTER THAT.

WE ARE THERE. I'VE GOT MEETINGS SETUP WITH CAPCOG, CITY OF BOSTON, OUR LOCAL EMS PEOPLE AND RADIO PEOPLE TO DISCUSS THIS.

IN THE BACKGROUND OF ALL THAT, I HAVE BEEN EXPLORING OPTIONS WITH LCRA BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE RADIO SYSTEM THAT GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE COAST, THEY HAVE FIBER IN OUR COUNTY ALREADY.

CITY OF AUSTIN CAUGHT WIND OF THAT AND DID A STOP WORK ORDER ON OUR TOWER UNTIL WE SAID, OKAY, WE'LL STICK WITH GATERS FOR A WHILE.

WE GOT STRONG ARM ABOUT THE CITY OF BOSTON.

[NOISE] I'M NOT VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT AND I'VE LET THAT BE WELL KNOWN.

I DON'T MIND SAYING IT IN A PUBLIC MEETING.

BUT ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, THAT 1.706269 COULD GO AWAY RIGHT QUICK JUST DEALING WITH OUR BROADBAND AND TOWER ISSUES AND A CHUNK OF THE NEXT ALLOCATION.

>> BUT WE COULD EVEN DISCUSS PROJECTS BESIDE BROADBAND AS FAR AS BUDGETING THAT FUNDING.

>> WE COULD, YEAH. WE ABSOLUTELY COULD.

>> WE STILL HAVE ANOTHER WORKSHOP COMING UP.

[00:30:04]

>> YES. WE COULD ALLOCATE ALL OF THIS WITH THE IDEA THAT OUR NEXT ALLOCATION OF FOUR MILLION WILL ARRIVE.

USE WHAT WE NEED TO FOR RURAL BROADBAND AND CERTAINLY WON'T USE UP THAT WHOLE FOUR MILLION AND GO AHEAD AND GET THE REST OF THIS ALLOCATED.

IF THAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE COURT, THEN YOU NEED TO VISIT WITH DENNIS AND FIND OUT WHAT THE GUIDELINES ARE AND IF THE PROJECTS THAT YOU HAVE IN MIND WILL FIT WITHIN THOSE GUIDELINES.

[NOISE] PLEASE DON'T TALK TO EACH OTHER ABOUT IT.

THEN WE'LL COME BACK AND WE'LL HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT AT THE NEXT WORKSHOP.

>> ANOTHER POINT I WANTED TO MAKE AND YOU'VE ALREADY REFERENCED IT, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE LEGISLATURE DECISION IS GOING TO BE IN REGARDS TO THIS.

MY QUESTION TO THEM IS, ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT THE MONEY WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED OR WILL IT ALSO IMPACT THE BALANCE OF THE 50 PERCENT THAT WE WERE ALLOCATED, ANOTHER 4.2 MILLION WHICH WE WILL GET NEXT MAY?

>> NOBODY KNOWS THE ANSWER TO THAT. [OVERLAPPING]

>> BECAUSE I KNOW WITH COVID, IT'LL BE NEXT YEAR.

>> YEAH. THIS IS ALL UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT THIS SURGE WILL GO ON FOREVER, WHICH I DON'T THINK IT WILL.

I COULD GET ON MY SOAPBOXES, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT COVID.

I THINK PART OF OUR PROBLEM WITH OUR POPULATION THAT'S FRIGHTENED OF GETTING A VACCINE IS AS WE MAKE THESE STATEMENTS AS IF THERE'S SCIENTIFIC FACT AND THEN TWO MONTHS LATER WE FIND OUT THAT THE SCIENCE IS TELLING US SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND WE HAVE TO CHANGE OUR STATEMENT.

I WISH FROM THE VERY BEGINNING THAT WE HAD SAID, "THIS IS A NEW VIRUS.

WE DON'T UNDERSTAND IT VERY WELL.

WE'RE WORKING ON A VACCINE.

WE'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION AS WE GO ALONG AND WE'LL SHARE IT WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC." THAT, IN MY OPINION, IS HOW HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN HANDLING THIS PANDEMIC FROM THE START.

THAT'S EASY TO SAY, WAS 17 MONTHS IN THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR.

I WILL SAY THAT I CANNOT IMAGINE BEING GOVERNOR ABBOTT AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO DURING THIS WHOLE PANDEMIC.

HE'S TRUSTING ADVISORS AND HE MAKES HIS DECISIONS BASED ON WHAT HIS ADVISERS TELL HIM BECAUSE HE'S NOT A DOCTOR, HE'S A LAWYER.

[NOISE] I'M NOT A DOCTOR, SO I HAVE TO TRUST WHAT I HEAR FROM PEOPLE AND SO DO YOU ALL, AND SO DOES EVERYONE.

I THINK THAT THIS SITUATION WE FIND OURSELVES IN NOW WHERE WE OPENED UP A CLINIC AND ON THE FIRST DAY, ONLY 32 PEOPLE OUT OF PROBABLY 18,000 UNVACCINATED PEOPLE SHOW UP TO GET A VACCINE, THAT SAYS SOMETHING.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY? THAT SAYS THAT I DON'T THINK PEOPLE TRUST THE GOVERNMENT AND WHAT WE SAY, AND BECAUSE OF WHAT'S BEEN DONE AND GONE AND THE STORY CHANGES, I THINK THEY'RE FRIGHTENED OF THE VACCINE BECAUSE IT IS NOT FDA APPROVED YET.

BUT HERE IS WHAT WE KNOW.

WE KNOW THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE HOSPITAL, NOT ALL, SOME PEOPLE ARE IN THERE THAT HAD VACCINE AND STILL GOT COVID.

BUT IT'S A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE, 98 PERCENT IS THE LAST NUMBER THAT I'VE HEARD OF THE COVID BEDS THAT ARE BEING OCCUPIED IN THE HOSPITALS AND OUR TRAUMA SERVICE AREA ARE OCCUPIED BY UNVACCINATED PATIENTS.

WE CAN SEE THAT HERE IN OUR OWN EMPLOYEE COUNT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT WITH COVID.

AS FAR AS I KNOW, OUT OF SOMETHING LIKE 15 PEOPLE, 13 OF THEM WERE UNVACCINATED, AND WE'VE HAD ONE PASS.

WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE THAT THAT PERSON PASSED FROM COVID, BUT IT'S A PRETTY GOOD BET.

THOSE ARE THINGS WE KNOW.

THOSE THINGS FROM MY PERSONAL STANDPOINT LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE VACCINE, I'VE TAKEN IT, I'VE HAD COVID, I MADE MY DECISION.

I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD EVER, AS THE GOVERNMENT SAY THAT YOU HAVE TO GET A VACCINE, I STILL THINK IT SHOULD BE A PERSONAL HEALTH CHOICE.

BUT MY BIASES GET IT BECAUSE IT INCREASES YOUR ODDS OF NEVER WANTING NOT GETTING AS SICK, AND NUMBER TWO, POSSIBLY [NOISE] STAYING OUT OF THE HOSPITAL, AND NUMBER THREE AND THE WORST SCENARIO, WHICH IS RARE STATISTICALLY, BUT WE ALL KNOW TWO PEOPLE THAT HAVE PASSED FROM COVID NOW, WHICH IS TWO TOO MANY.

THAT'S MY TWO BITS ON THE VACCINE.

[00:35:03]

THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT IS, WE HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH PEOPLE.

IF WE DON'T KNOW, WE NEED SAY WE DON'T KNOW.

[LAUGHTER] THAT'S AN OKAY ANSWER.

IT'S NOT WHAT PEOPLE ALWAYS WANT TO HEAR, BUT I'D RATHER TELL THEM I DON'T KNOW THAN TELL THEM I KNOW SOMETHING THAT I DON'T KNOW FOR A FACT TO BE TRUE AND THEN FIND OUT LATER IT WASN'T.

THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.

COMMISSIONERS, MY SUGGESTION, GETTING BACK TO WHERE WE'RE AT HERE, I'M SORRY I GOT OUT MY SOAPBOX, IS THAT 1,700,269, IF YOU HAVE PROJECTS IN MIND, GET WITH DENNIS, MAKE SURE THAT PROJECT CLEARLY FITS IN ONE OF THE CATEGORIES, AND GET ACCURATE AS YOU CAN ESTIMATE ON WHAT THAT PROJECT MIGHT COST, AND THEN BRING THAT BACK TO THE NEXT WORKSHOP.

WE'LL HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IT.

BE THINKING ABOUT RURAL BROADBAND, SINCE THAT'S MY BET ONE.

[LAUGHTER] YEAH, SAME HERE AND I LIVE IN YOUR PRECINCT, BUT IT'S A WHOPPER CONCERN AND WITH THIS THING ESCALATING I DON'T KNOW, NONE OF US KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH SCHOOLS YET, BUT IT'S NOT OUT OF THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY AT ALL THAT WE COULD BE BACK TO REMOTE LEARNING AND IF THAT HAPPENS, WE'RE STILL.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE DONE THE BEST THEY CAN, BUT WE HAVE MANY PEOPLE THAT EVEN WITH THAT LITTLE NETWORK THAT THEY PUT IN PLACE THEY DON'T HAVE GOOD BROADBAND.

I'M ONE OF THEM, SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT'S NOT GREAT WHERE I LIVE, IT'S VERY SLOW.

YOU CAN'T WATCH NETFLIX [LAUGHTER] I KNOW IT'S TERRIBLE.

[INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING] IT IS, AND WHAT I'VE LEARNED ABOUT THESE THINGS, THE MORE PEOPLE THAT GET ON, THE MORE KIDS WE HAVE THERE ON THAT LITTLE SYSTEM WE HAVE NOW THE SLOWER IT GETS.

AS WE'RE GROWING, I THINK MORE AND MORE PEOPLE MOVE HERE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO GET OUT OF THE CITY.

THEY'RE TIRED OF EVERYTHING THAT'S GONE ON DURING THE PANDEMIC IN THE CITIES AND THEY WANT OUT.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE MOVE INTO THE COUNTRYSIDE.

WE JUST HAVE TO ADDRESS IT.

THIS IS LITERALLY A ONCE IN A GENERATION OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING BIG FOR OUR COUNTY.

IN MY OPINION, THIS IS AS BIG AS RURAL ELECTRIC CASE AS WAS IN THE 1930S.

OUR FOREFATHERS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY AND ELECTRIFIED TEXAS, AND THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO GET BROADBAND INTERNET TO ALL THOSE SAME PEOPLE SO IT'S A BIG DEAL.

[INAUDIBLE].

SURE.

[INAUDIBLE].

I AGREE, COMMISSIONER. I THINK IT'S OUR DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR CONSTITUENTS TO ADMINISTER THIS IN A WAY THAT WILL HELP OUR CONSTITUENTS.

THAT'S MY TWO BITS.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE BUDGET-WISE ANYBODY WANTS TO GO OVER? IF NOT, I FORGOT TO GET A MOTION TO SKIP THE INVOCATION PLEDGE, CAN I GET A MOTION TO DO THAT SINCE WE ALREADY SKIPPED IT? [LAUGHTER] DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I SECOND.

WE HAVE A MOTION SECOND.

[LAUGHTER] ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

THOSE NONE MOTION CARRIES.

[BACKGROUND] YES. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

THAT'S A HUMONGOUS ONE THAT WE HAD TO TALK ABOUT.

WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE PROPERTIES THAT HAVE COME TO US, THEY HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED FOR ONE REASON OR THE OTHER.

THERE'S 22 ACRES THAT USED TO BE PART OF THE OLD HENSLEY AUTOMOTIVE THAT WE LET BACK, BUT IT DIDN'T HAVE A PHASE ONE DONE ON, WHICH SINCE IT WAS AN AUTO [INAUDIBLE] THEY ELIMINATED THAT.

WE'VE HAD SOME PROPERTIES COME FORWARD TO THIS, BUT THEY JUST WEREN'T BIG ENOUGH.

WE NEED AT LEAST 14 ACRES.

WE'VE HAD SOME PROPERTIES COME TO US THAT HAD NO INFRASTRUCTURE,

[00:40:02]

WATER SEWER, THAT THING.

THEY ARE ELIMINATED BUT WE'VE GOTTEN DOWN TO TWO PROPERTIES THAT HAD BEEN OF REAL INTERESTS, ONE OF WHICH IS OWNED BY ALAN BALLSIR, BUT HE IS ASKING $2 A SQUARE FOOT AND THERE'S NO SEWER THERE, SO COUNTY WOULD HAVE TO SPEND A $0.5 MILLION TO GET THE SEWER THERE, WHICH BLOWS UP OUR BUDGET, THE SEWER PART.

THE VERY GOOD NEWS IS CITY OF LULING HAS APPROACHED US.

THEY HAVE 22 ACRES NORTH OF LULING SOUTH OF LOCKHART.

IT'S IN THE LULING CITY LIMITS.

IT'S RIGHT ON 183 AND THE ONLY THING THAT IS LACKING IS INTERNET AND THEY'RE GOING TO USE SOME OF THEIR AMERICAN RESCUE FUND MONEY TO GET INTERNET TO THAT PROPERTY.

[INAUDIBLE].

NO. THAT PROPERTY WOULD HAVE INTERNET, WATER, SEWER, AND POWER.

IT HAS ALL THE FOUR THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE TO OPERATE THAT EMERGENCY CENTER AS AN EMERGENCY CENTER.

THEY'RE BRINGING THAT TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE BRINGING THAT COMMISSIONERS COURT IS THE OFFER AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.

IT'S15,000 AN ACRE VERSUS $87,000 AN ACRE.

WHICH MAKES IT VERY ATTRACTIVE AND WE CAN AFFORD THE WHOLE 22 ACRES.

THEY HAVE A PERSON THAT'S INTERESTED IN PUTTING A HOTEL ON THE OTHER PART OF IT, SO IT WOULD BE A HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER, WHICH IS VERY ATTRACTIVE.

IT'S BETWEEN THE TWO MAJOR CITIES IN OUR COUNTY, WHICH I THINK IS A MAJOR PLUS.

FOR ME THAT'S ONE THAT I WOULD LOVE TO PURSUE MORE FULLY ONCE THEY BRING A FOOD COUNCIL AND THEN ACTUALLY MAKE US A FORMAL PROPOSAL, THEN WE'LL BRING THAT BACK TO COURT AND HAVE IT AS AN AGENDA ITEM TO DISCUSS HOPEFULLY ON THE NEXT AGENDA AND DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO GO FORWARD ON THAT, BUT I DON'T THINK YOU'LL FIND ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTY FOR $15,000 AN ACRE.

IT'S BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES, IT'S ON THE EVACUATION ROUTE.

I CAN'T IMAGINE SOMEBODY COME INTO THIS WITH THAT UNLESS THEY WERE JUST DONATING IT LITERALLY.

IT'S A VERY GOOD OPPORTUNITY THAT THEY PUT FORWARD AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN WE CAN PURSUE THAT AND IT'LL BE ON THE NEXT AGENDA.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP, COMMISSIONER. I APPRECIATE IT.

ANYTHING ELSE? ALSO I FORGOT TO ASK ABOUT CITIZENS COMMENTS. DO WE HAVE ANY? NO CITIZENS COMMENTS.

I THINK THAT'S IT. I THINK I COVERED EVERYTHING I FORGOT TO DO.

IN THAT CASE, I'D LIKE FOR A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

[INAUDIBLE] MOTION TO ADJOURN.

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. POSE NONE.

BUDGET WORKSHOP IS CLOSED THAT 10:35.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.