[Call Meeting to Order] [00:00:03] GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER TUESDAY, THE 28TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2023 AT 9 A.M. WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND AND JOIN US FOR THE INVOCATION? COMMISSIONER, WOULD YOU DO THE HONORS THIS MORNING? PLEDGE] . OKAY, COMMISSIONERS, ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS MORNING? NO ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR ME, JUDGE. NO, SIR. COMMISSIONER THERIOT? OK. STAFF, ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? NONE. OKAY. [Citizens' Comments] CITIZENS COMMENTS? BRUCE JENNINGS? OKAY. MR. JENNINGS, IF YOU WILL JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND WHERE YOU'RE FROM. HI, I'M BRUCE JENNINGS. I LIVE AT 541 RIVERBEND LANE JUST OUTSIDE OF MARTINDALE. AND I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS ALONG HIGHWAY 80 AND THE DRAINAGE ISSUES THAT THEY'RE CAUSING THE RESIDENTS OUT THERE. YOU MIGHT KNOW, BUT WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 100 FAMILIES THAT LIVE BETWEEN SAN MARCOS RIVER AND HIGHWAY 80 DOWNSTREAM OF THE NEW FARM TO MARKET BRIDGE. AND THESE FOLKS HAVE TWO CREEKS THAT RUN ACROSS THEIR PROPERTIES THAT BLOCK THEIR DRIVEWAYS WHEN THEY'RE FLOODING. THE EXPANSION OF HIGHWAY 80 THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW, EVERY BIT OF IT IS DRAINING STRAIGHT INTO THESE CREEKS WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF RETENTION AT ALL. THE SILT AND TRASH YOU CAN ALREADY SEE GOING INTO THE CREEKS. WE CAN'T HANDLE THAT. THOSE CREEKS ARE SHALLOW. AND WHEN THEY SILT AND FILL UP, WE FLOOD. AND SO WE NEED YOUR HELP IN DISCUSSING THIS WITH THE RESIDENTS OUT THERE. WHEN I STAND AND I LOOK AT THE NEW BRIDGE THAT'S GOING OVER 120 OR 21, RATHER, YOU CAN SEE OVER 500 FEET OF SLOPED DRAINAGE WITH NO BARRIERS WHATSOEVER COMING STRAIGHT DOWN TO THE CREEKS, A ONE INCH RAINFALL. SILT WENT RIGHT OVER THE ONE ROCK BARRIER THAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVE. SO IT'S A PROBLEM, FOLKS. LIKE LAST YEAR, SAN MARCOS HAD A FIVE INCH RAINFALL. WE GOT A TEN FOOT RISE IN THE RIVER BECAUSE THEY CONTINUE WITH THEIR PROJECTS AND IT AFFECTS ALL OF US DOWNSTREAM. SAN MARCOS IS REALLY LATE TO THE GAME WHEN IT COMES TO RETENTION OF FLOOD WATERS AND RAINFALL. WHAT I'M ASKING FOR YOU ALL, THOUGH, TO ALSO CONSIDER IS THAT THIS SMART TERMINAL THAT THEY ARE IMPOSING UPON CALDWELL COUNTY IS NOW 2000 ACRES, 70% IMPERVIOUS COVER. THEY'RE ONLY PLANNING ON RAIN CATCHMENT OF ONE AND ONE HALF INCHES ACROSS WHAT WILL BE 1700 ACRES OF IMPERVIOUS COVER. DO THE MATH. THAT RAINFALL COLLECTION IS ENORMOUS. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HOLD ON TO IT. IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO US. LAST SUNDAY, 45 OF US MET OF CONCERNED NEIGHBORS, VOTERS THAT WANT SOME HELP AND PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS BECAUSE EVERY BIT OF THIS 2000 ACRES, SAN MARCOS WANTS TO ZONE HEAVY INDUSTRIAL. THERE ARE SO MANY VAGUE STATEMENTS MADE IN THEIR DEVELOPER'S AGREEMENT THAT IT'S VERY, VERY HARD FOR US TO GET ANSWERS. FORTUNATELY, WE'VE BEEN GOING TO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND PLANNING AND ZONING MEETINGS OVER THERE AND PLANNING AND ZONING. FLAT OUT TOLD THE DEVELOPERS THEY HAD DONE AN INSUFFICIENT JOB OF PROVIDING INFORMATION. MOST OF US JUST FOUND OUT SIX WEEKS AGO THAT THERE WAS A NEW OWNER FOR THE SMART TERMINAL PROPERTY. THEY ARE PLANNING ON STRIP ANNEXATION. THEY'RE NOT STOPPING AT 142. SAN MARCOS WANTS TO COME ALL THE WAY DOWN TO CHERRY CREEK IF THEY CAN. CHERRYVILLE, WHATEVER YOU CALL IT. MR. JENNINGS YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. ALL RIGHT, SO WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS NEXT TIME WE HAVE ONE OF OUR MEETINGS, I'D REALLY APPRECIATE SOME OF Y'ALL SHOWING UP. [00:05:06] YOU WERE INVITED, I BELIEVE. I DIDN'T GET AN EMAIL. I SENT EACH OF YOU ALL AN EMAIL. I DON'T HAVE IT, BUT I'LL TELL YOU. I SENT YOU ALL EMAIL. OKAY, BUT I DIDN'T. I DIDN'T SEE THAT EMAIL EITHER. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ARE YOU GOING TO BE AROUND TOWARD THE END OF THE MEETING? OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. OTHER CITIZENS COMMENTS? NO MORE CITIZENS COMMENTS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE TO CONSENT. [CONSENT AGENDA] ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE CONSENT AGENDA? IF NOT, I'D LOOK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE. SO MOVED. JUDGE, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. [SPECIAL PRESENTATION] ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION FROM MARTHA JOYCE CENTRAL TEXAS DISPUTE RESOLUTION CENTER. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. JUST THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW ME. I'M THE DIRECTOR FOR THE CENTRAL TEXAS DISPUTE RESOLUTION CENTER. MY NAME IS MARTHA JOYCE. I HAVE BEEN IN THIS POSITION FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS NOW. I STARTED OUT I ONLY GOING TO STAY FOR TWO. BUT WE'VE MADE GREAT CHANGES IN THE DRC IN THIS LAST FIVE YEARS, WHICH I WANT TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT. THIS SUMMER. BACK IN AUGUST, WE WERE APPROACHED BY THE COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS IN NEW BRAUNFELS THAT THEY HAD AN OFFICE LOCATION THAT THEY WANTED TO SELL. THE PRICE WAS VERY GOOD, AND THANKS TO THE MCKENNA FOUNDATION, WE WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE AN OFFICE SPACE, SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF NONPROFITS WISH THEY COULD DO. AND I'LL BE TRUTHFUL WITH YOU. I NEVER THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THIS. UH, BUT THE MCKENNA FOUNDATION HELPED US TO BE ABLE TO GET MOVED IN. WE'RE STILL MAINTAINING A LOCATION IN SAN MARCOS. THE OFFICE SPACE IN SAN MARCOS IS NOW LOCATED AT THE OLD MILL. AND IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN OVER THERE, IT'S QUITE A QUAINT AREA. THE TRAINS THAT YOU CAN THAT THEY HAVE OVER THERE ARE REALLY THE TRAIN CARS THAT AT SOME POINT WE'LL PROBABLY BE TRYING TO UTILIZE THEM TO FOR OPEN HOUSE AND STUFF LIKE THAT. WE HAVE BEEN CONTACTING LOCAL ATTORNEYS RECENTLY FOR OUR FREE LEGAL CLINIC THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE HELD THAT'S GOING TO BE HELD ON APRIL THE 13TH. PASSED OUT SOME SOME FLIERS FOR THAT. IF Y'ALL IF YOU CAN HELP ME AND PUT THEM UP AND PROMOTE THE LEGAL CLINIC BECAUSE WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A GOOD TURNOUT. JJ WELLS IS GOING TO HELP US AS ONE OF THE ATTORNEYS. HE'S ALWAYS SO HELPFUL WHEN IT COMES TO THIS. AND ANYWAY, THEN WE ALSO HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN AS MANY HEALTH FAIRS AND AS MANY ACTIVITIES AS WE FOUND OUT ABOUT. WE'VE BEEN OVER TO STRAWN ELEMENTARY ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. WE'VE BEEN TO LULING ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, AND ANY OTHER TYPE OF PLACES THAT WE CAN GO TO. AS SOON AS WE FIND OUT ABOUT THEM, WE WILL GO BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO PROMOTE THE DRC. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALIZE IS THAT MANY PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT MEDIATION IS, AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO IT AS AN EDUCATIONAL EVENT AND TO LET PEOPLE UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MEDIATION. I TALKED ABOUT THE TWO LOCATIONS. ACTUALLY. OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE FOUR LOCATIONS, ONE IN EACH COUNTY. SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING TOWARD. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'LL BE UNDER MY WATCH, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING TOWARD THAT. LAST YEAR IN CALDWELL COUNTY, WE DID A TOTAL OF NINE MEDIATIONS AND WORK, TWO THAT NEVER MADE IT TO MEDIATION. THIS SAVED THE COUNTY OVER $50,000 JUST IN COURT COSTS JUST THOSE TEN MEDIATIONS. SO WE'D LIKE TO HAVE MORE AND I'M GONNA TRY TO BE WORKING WITH THE JUDGES TO TRY TO GET MORE SO WE CAN MAKE THOSE DOLLARS COUNT MORE. THERE'S A CHART AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS OF THE SHEET THAT YOU'VE GOT. BASICALLY WHAT THIS IS, IT'S A THREE MONTH CHART AND WHAT IT'S SHOWING IS THAT OUR MEDIATIONS ARE ON THE RISE. [00:10:08] ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF THESE DAYS ARE DEBT MEDIATIONS. AND UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK THE TIMES HAVE KIND OF CAUGHT UP WITH PEOPLE AND TRYING TO USE CREDIT AND NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY THEIR CREDIT CARDS. SO CREDIT CARD COMPANIES ARE COMING ON STRONG AND WE HAVE QUITE A FEW OF THOSE, UH, FROM ALL THE COUNTIES, NOT JUST CALDWELL. I CAN'T TELL YOU EXACTLY HOW MANY WE'VE GOT FROM CALDWELL, PROBABLY NOT AS MANY AS WE'VE GOTTEN FROM THE THE OTHER THREE. BUT DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? COMMENTS, COMMISSIONERS? OKAY. UH, NO, NO, MA'AM, I DON'T THINK SO. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE YOU, AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE WORKING WITH THIS COURT. IT'S ONE OF THE EASIEST COURTS THAT I'VE HAD. HAD TO WORK WITH. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR THE DRC AND THANK YOU AS WELL. OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO ITEM SEVEN DISCUSSION ACTION REGARDING THE BURN BAN, HECTOR. [7. Discussion/Action regarding the burn ban.] GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, STAFF AND GALLERY TO GIVE YOU A QUICK BRIEF UPDATE. WE'VE HAD A FEW FIRES SINCE THE LAST COMMISSIONERS COURT. MOSTLY ALL UNDER 100 FEET. THE PEOPLE THAT WERE BURNING BRUSH IN THEIR BACKYARD AND GOT AWAY FROM THEM DUE TO WINDS BLOWING KIND OF HARD. BUT THEY DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION AND IT TOOK OFF. WE HAD ONE CAMPER FIRE SOUTH OF TOWN THAT WE HAD BURNED DOWN A CAMPER TRAILER. THAT RV SEASON IS COMING UPON US AGAIN AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GETTING THEIR RV READY FOR CAMPING TRIPS AND SO ON. PLEASE DO NOT USE 110 LINE POWER CORDS TO POWER UP YOUR TRAILER. USE THE PROPER RV CONNECTIONS TO RUN YOUR POWER AND GET YOUR THINGS READY FOR YOUR TRIP. ON THIS ONE. IT BURNED DOWN THE TRAILER PRETTY GOOD AND WE PUT IT OUT. WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A PRESCRIBED BURN TODAY NORTH OF TOWN AT THE PLUM CREEK PRESERVE, 35 ACRES, BUT IT'S BEEN DELAYED DUE THAT WE HAVE TO CUT MORE FIREBREAKS IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE CONTROLLED. AND WITHIN THOSE 35 ACRES, CHANCES OF RAIN OR HIT OR MISS WITH THE BIGGEST CHANCES BEING MARCH THE 14TH AND MARCH THE 10TH, THERE'S THE CHANCES OF ABOUT 40 TO 60%, BUT IS HIT OR MISSED FROM NOW UNTIL THEN. SO FAR, OUR VDI NUMBERS OR MINIMUM IS 107 MAX 179 WITH AN AVERAGE OF 124 WITH A CHANGE OF EIGHT. I'D LIKE TO KEEP THE BURN BAN OFF AND LET'S SEE HOW IT GOES. OKAY. THANK YOU. HECTOR. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO LEAVE THE BURN BAN OFF? SO MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND MOTION? AND SECOND? ALL IN FAVOR. SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. THANKS, HECTOR. ITEM EIGHT, DISCUSSION ACTION TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 07-2023, AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF A COUNTY ESSENTIAL [8. Discussion/Action to consider the approval of Resolution 07-2023 authorizing the submission of a County Essential Services Grant application to the Criminal Justice Division of the Office of the Governor.] SERVICES GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION OF THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR. DENNIS. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, THIS IS A GRANT RELATED TO BEING ABLE TO SECURE SOME FUNDING FOR OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS THEY CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE CAPITAL MURDER CASE. THE BRIAN HAYNES CASE. APPARENTLY A TRIAL DATE HAS BEEN SET FOR OCTOBER THE 16TH. WE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A GRANT THROUGH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION, AND WE ARE MAKING AN APPLICATION FOR 190,000. AND ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS TO GET THE GRANT IS TO ADOPT THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY. AND I'D LIKE TO READ THE RESOLUTION AT THIS TIME. RESOLUTION 07-2023, RESOLUTION FOR CALDWELL COUNTY APPROVAL OF A CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION, OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR COUNTY ESSENTIAL SERVICES GRANT, WHEREAS THE CALDWELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT FINDS IT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITIZENS OF CALDWELL COUNTY THAT A 2023 COUNTY ESSENTIAL SERVICES GRANT APPLICATION BE SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION TO HELP DEFRAY THE ANTICIPATED EXPENSES OF A CALDWELL COUNTY CAPITAL MURDER TRIAL. AND. WHEREAS, THE CALDWELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT AGREES THAT IN THE EVENT OF LOSS OR MISUSE OF THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR FUNDS, THE CALDWELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT ASSURES THAT THE FUNDS WILL BE RETURNED TO THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR IN FULL. AND. WHEREAS, THE CALDWELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT DESIGNATES THE COUNTY JUDGE AS THE GRANTEES AUTHORIZED OFFICIAL, THE AUTHORIZED OFFICIAL IS GIVEN THE POWER TO APPLY FOR, [00:15:07] ACCEPT, REJECT, ALTER OR TERMINATE THE GRANT ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT AGENCY. AND, WHEREAS, THE CALDWELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT DESIGNATES THE COUNTY AUDITOR AS THE GRANTEES FINANCIAL OFFICER, COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY AS THE GRANTEES, PROJECT DIRECTOR AND THE GRANT ADMINISTRATOR AS THE GRANTEES GRANT WRITER. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CALDWELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVES THE SUBMISSION OF A 2023 COUNTY ESSENTIAL SERVICES GRANT APPLICATION TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION. OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR PASSED AND APPROVED THIS 28TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2023. I ASK FOR YOUR ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION. OKAY, COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE A MOTION TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 07-2023. SO MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY I. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, COMMISSIONER THERIOT'S OUT OF THE ROOM SO DID NOT VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ITEM TEN DISCUSSION ACTION TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 09-2023 SUPPORTING LEGISLATIVE ACTION TO PROVIDE COUNTIES WITH WINDS, WIND AND SOLAR POWER FACILITY SITING ORDINANCE. OH, JUDGE, YOU SKIPPED ITEM 9. I APOLOGIZE. SURE DID. [9. Discussion/Action to consider the approval of Resolution 08-2023, supporting legislative action to provide certain counties with dog microchipping authority.] DISCUSSION ACTION. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 08-2023 SUPPORTING LEGISLATIVE ACTION TO CONSIDER CERTAIN COUNTIES WITH DOG MICROCHIPPING. COMMISSIONERS, WE WE THE COMMITTEE THAT COMMISSIONER THERIOT ASKED US TO PUT TOGETHER HAS ONE OF THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS IS TO SEEK SUPPORT FROM THE LEGISLATURE TO ALLOW COUNTIES UNDER 50,000 IN POPULATION TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO REQUIRE FOLKS TO MICROCHIP THEIR DOGS. THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONVERSATION WITH [INAUDIBLE] OFFICE AND REPRESENTATIVE CURTIS'S OFFICE ABOUT THIS. I LEARNED TODAY [INAUDIBLE] OFFICE HAD SAID THEY'D BE HAPPY TO FILE THAT BILL ON OUR BEHALF. IT'S ALREADY WRITTEN AND BUT THEY WANT THIS RESOLUTION AS AS RIGHT NOW. I DON'T KNOW WHAT GARY'S OFFICE IS GOING TO DO. I'M GOING TO TALK TO THEM THIS AFTERNOON. BUT AT ANY RATE, IF EITHER. OFFICE IS GOING TO FILE THIS, THEN WE NEED THIS RESOLUTION IN ORDER FOR THAT TO OCCUR. AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THE RESOLUTION. RESOLUTION 08-2023 IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION AUTHORIZING CALDWELL COUNTY TO REQUIRE MICROCHIPPING OF DOGS, WHEREAS THE RESIDENTS OF CALDWELL COUNTY ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF DOG OWNERSHIP, BUT AT TIMES MAY BECOME SEPARATED FROM THEIR THE AT TIMES DOGS MAY BECOME SEPARATED FROM THEIR OWNERS AND WANDER AT LARGE IN THE COUNTY. AND. WHEREAS, NOT ALL DOGS HAVE ID TAGS ATTACHED TO THEM THAT WOULD ALLOW THESE LOST DOGS TO EASILY BE IDENTIFIED AND REUNITED WITH THEIR OWNERS. AND. WHEREAS, A LARGE NUMBER OF THESE LOST DOGS END UP AT THE COUNTY'S ANIMAL SHELTER WHERE THEY MAY BE ADOPTED BY A NEW OWNER. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, MANY OF THESE DOGS END UP HAVING TO BE EUTHANIZED IF THE DOG'S ORIGINAL OWNER CAN'T BE IDENTIFIED AND THE DOG IS ADOPTED BY A NEW OWNER. AND. WHEREAS, MICROCHIPPING OF DOGS ALLOWS FOR A NEAR PERMANENT METHOD OF IDENTIFYING A DOG'S OWNER AT A VERY LOW COST, AND NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF CALDWELL COUNTY SUPPORTS THE ENACTMENT OF LEGISLATION BY THE 88 REGULAR SESSION OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE TO AUTHORIZE CALDWELL COUNTY TO REQUIRE THE MICROCHIPPING OF DOGS IN THE COUNTY AND SUBSTANTIALLY AND SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE FORM AS ATTACHED AS EXHIBIT A TO THE RESOLUTION. SO, COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS OR WHAT THIS WOULD MEAN AT THIS TIME? ALL THIS WOULD DO IS GIVE THE OFFICE OF SENATOR ZAMPERINI AND THE OFFICE OF REPRESENTATIVE CURTIS A RESOLUTION THAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN PASSING THIS AND GETTING THIS BILL FILED AND HOPEFULLY GETTING IT PASSED. AND JUDGE, IF IF THIS WERE PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE, THIS WOULD JUST BE AUTHORITY FOR A COUNTY THAT MEETS THAT BRACKET TO CONSIDER IT IF THE COUNTY DECIDES TO. SO THIS WOULDN'T THE LEGISLATURE CREATING THIS WOULDN'T CREATE ANYTHING IN CALDWELL COUNTY TO WE AS A COURT TALKED ABOUT IT. AND IF IT'S SOMETHING WE WANT TO DO. THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S FOR ANY OTHER COUNTY. JUST IT JUST GRANTS THE AUTHORITY WE WOULD WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE TO TAKE ACTION AND DO IT AT THAT POINT. IF YOU'RE READY FOR A MOTION, I'M READY TO. [00:20:01] YES, SIR. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE MICROCHIPPING, BILL. OKAY. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 08-2023. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? WE HAVE A MOTION. SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. NOW I DON'T END DISCUSSION ACTION TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 09-2023 SUPPORTING LEGISLATIVE [10. Discussion/Action to consider the approval of Resolution 09-2023, supporting legislative action to provide counties with wind and solar power facility siting authority.] ACTION TO PROVIDE COUNTIES WITH WIND AND SOLAR POWER FACILITY SITING AUTHORITIES. THIS ONE THERE IS AN EFFORT AT THE LEGISLATURE AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SUPPORT FOR COUNTIES TO ALLOW COUNTIES TO SITE RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS SUCH AS SOLAR OR WIND. PARTICULARLY IN WEST TEXAS, THERE IS THERE ARE QUITE A FEW COUNTIES SUPPORTING THIS. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEIR ENTIRE COUNTY IS NOW COVERED IN WINDMILLS AND AND IT'S IMPACTING THEIR ABILITY TO ATTRACT ANY SORT OF TOURISM OR ANYTHING ELSE. NOW, WHERE FROM A PERSONAL STANDPOINT, WHERE I SEE THIS HELPING US IS WE CURRENTLY HAVE NO LESS THAN FIVE SOLAR FACILITIES IN CALDWELL COUNTY RIGHT NOW. AND I'M BEING TOLD THEY CAN'T PEOPLE CAN'T HEAR ME. CALDWELL COUNTY RIGHT NOW AND THEY WOULD BE TAKING UP THE SMALLEST ONE WILL BE TAKING UP 1000 ACRES. SO YOU'RE TALKING 5000 ACRES OF POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL LAND BEING COVERED UP IN SOLAR PANELS WITH NO OTHER ABILITY TO DO ANYTHING ELSE WITH THE LAND. IT ALSO WOULD BE TAKEN VIABLE LAND OUT OF AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION BECAUSE EVERY BIT OF THE LAND THAT'S BEING TARGETED AT THE MOMENT IS IN USE. SO THIS RESOLUTION SEEKS SUPPORT FROM OUR COUNTY TO ALLOW COUNTIES TO AT LEAST SAY WHERE WHERE THESE TYPE OF OPERATIONS MIGHT OCCUR. AND SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THE RESOLUTION. RESOLUTION 09-2023 COUNTY SITING AUTHORITY FOR WIND AND SOLAR POWER ACTIVITIES. WHEREAS, THE CALDWELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT, ACTING AS THE DULY ELECTED GOVERNING BODY, COLWELL COUNTY, TEXAS, SERVES TO IDENTIFY AND TAKE ACTION ON LOCAL ISSUES AND CONCERNS THAT LIE WITHIN ITS STATUTORY GRANTS OF AUTHORITY. AND. WHEREAS, CALDWELL COUNTY'S ECONOMY IS SUPPORTED IN PART BY AGRICULTURAL LAND USE, INCLUDING FARMING AND RANCHING, HUNTING AND FISHING, TOURISM, FILMING AND RECREATION INVOLVING THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE REGION, INCLUDING OPEN SPACES, RURAL SKYLINES AND LACK OF NOISE POLLUTION. AND, WHEREAS, WIND AND SOLAR POWER FACILITIES ARE SUBSTANTIAL INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS THAT LIMIT OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND IMPAIR AGRICULTURAL LAND USE, LOCAL WILDLIFE, TOURISM, FILMING AND RECREATIONAL VALUE. AND, WHEREAS, WIND AND SOLAR POWER FACILITIES ALSO DETERIORATE LOCAL ROADWAYS AND NEIGHBORING PROPERTY VALUES NEGATIVELY IMPACTING COUNTY TAXPAYERS AND LANDOWNERS WHO UNDER CURRENT LAW MAY THEN BE BURDENED WITH THE FINAL DECOMPOSING AND CLEAN DECOMMISSIONING AND CLEANUP OF ABANDONED WIND AND SOLAR POWER FACILITY AFTER ITS OPERATORS DETERMINED THAT CONTINUED OPERATION IS NO LONGER FINANCIALLY ADVANTAGEOUS. AND, WHEREAS CALDWELL COUNTY, IS NOT ALONE IN ITS CONCERN THAT UNREGULATED WIND AND SOLAR POWER FACILITIES MAY HAVE SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE EFFECTS ON LANDOWNERS, THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND THE CITIZENS OF TEXAS AS A WHOLE. AND. WHEREAS, WHILE THE LEGISLATURE HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITIES IN UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF COUNTIES AND PROVIDED COUNTIES WITH A MECHANISM TO DESIGNATE AREAS WHERE SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITY IS PROHIBITED, NO COMPARABLE STATUTORY AUTHORITY EXISTS FOR WIND AND SOLAR POWER FACILITIES, WHEREAS SENATOR [INAUDIBLE] SB 624 SEEKS TO REGULATE WIND AND SOLAR POWER FACILITIES THROUGH THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION'S OVERSIGHT. AND, WHEREAS, SENATOR SPRINGER AND REPRESENTATIVE STILLER AND SB 154 AND HB 171 RESPECTIVELY, HAVE FILED BILLS THAT PROVIDE COUNTIES WITH SITING AUTHORITY TO PROHIBIT ONLY WIND POWER FACILITIES IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE COUNTIES. AND. WHEREAS, ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION, LEGISLATIVE ACTION IS NEEDED TO PROVIDE COUNTIES WITH A MECHANISM TO DESIGNATE AREAS WHERE WIND AND SOLAR POWER FACILITIES ARE PROHIBITED. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY CALDWELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT, THAT ONE COURT SUPPORTS SB 624 AND APPLAUDS SENATOR [INAUDIBLE] EFFORTS TO REGULATE WIND AND SOLAR POWER FACILITIES FOR THE BENEFIT OF TEXAS CITIZENS. [00:25:04] AND THE COURT SUPPORTS SB 154 AND HB 171 AND APPLAUD SENATOR SPRINGER AND REPRESENTATIVE SPILLERS EFFORTS TO PROVIDE COUNTIES WITH A MECHANISM TO PROHIBIT WIND POWER FACILITIES IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE COUNTY, AND THE COURT SUPPORTS ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE ACTION TO PROVIDE COUNTIES WITH A MECHANISM TO PROHIBIT SOLAR POWER FACILITIES IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE COUNTY. LONG RESOLUTION. SO COMMISSIONERS PROBABLY LOOK FOR A MOTION IN A SECOND. ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, AND THEN WE CAN HAVE SOME DISCUSSION. WELL, I MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 09-2023. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE 09-2023. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. [11. Discussion/Action to consider the approval of the creation of a full-time payroll clerk position within the Human Resources Department, at a $40,000 annual salary.] ITEM 11 DISCUSSION, ACTION AND CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF THE CREATION OF A FULL TIME PAYROLL CLERK POSITION WITHIN THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AT A $40,000 ANNUAL SALARY. COMMISSIONERS, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT CONTINUES TO COME UP OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN OUR AUDITS IS THAT THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE PERFORMS WORK THAT THEY ALSO AUDIT, WHICH HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE A DEFICIENCY BY OUR EXTERNAL AUDITORS EACH TIME THEY'VE COME IN FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS. THIS IS ONE OF THE REMAINING DEFICIENCIES, ONE OF THE LAST ONES THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH, AND IT SIMPLY INVOLVES CREATING A PAYROLL POSITION, HR THAT WOULD DO OTHER FUNCTIONS AS WELL, BUT THAT WOULD REMOVE THAT FUNCTION FROM THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE. AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET THIS THIS DEFICIENCY DEALT WITH BEFORE OUR NEXT OUTSIDE AUDIT. WHICH WOULD BE BEFORE WE HAVE TIME TO GO THROUGH OUR BUDGETING CYCLE. SO THAT'S WHY THIS IS HERE. AND IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD, THEN? UM, NO JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS? I MEAN, I HAVE A PORTION OF THE OUTSIDE AUDIT THAT JUST SAYS THE COUNTY AUDITOR'S OFFICE SHOULD AUDIT THE OFFICE OF ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS AS REQUIRED IN THE AREAS WHERE IT IS DETERMINED THAT THEY ARE AUDITING THEIR OWN WORK. CHANGES SHOULD BE MADE. SO IN SHORT, THAT JUST MEANS WE NEED TO MOVE THAT FUNCTION OUT OF THEIR OFFICE AND INTO ANOTHER OFFICE. WHAT OFFICE WOULD IT BE GOING INTO? HUMAN RESOURCES. TO ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION, I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM 11. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 11. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A TIE FOR A SECOND. YOUR CHOICE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I WOULD JUST ADD THAT WHEN THIS WAS DONE FOUR YEARS AGO, IT WAS DONE. I DON'T WANT TO USE THE WORD OF AT A NECESSITY, BUT IT WAS AND IT WAS KIND OF THE OFFER, THE WE OPTION THAT WE WERE LEFT WITH AT THE TIME. AND IT'S BEEN THAT WAY SINCE SINCE THAT DECISION WAS MADE. BUT AT THE TIME I VIEWED IT AS SOMETHING THAT WAS DEFINITELY TEMPORARY AND NEEDED TO BE RECTIFIED AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE. AND AT THIS POINT IT SEEMS THAT WE'RE AT THE POSITION TO MAKE THAT OCCUR. OKAY, WE DO HAVE IT IN THE BUDGET AND YOU'LL SEE FOLLOWING THIS ITEM THAT WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND FOR, THERE ARE ITEMS TO TO DEAL WITH THAT TRANSFER OF FUNDS. SO IF THERE IS NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING. JUDGE? YES, SORRY, COMMISSIONER. SO WE'RE MOVING WE'RE GOING TO MOVE SOMEBODY OUT OF THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE. NO, THIS IS A NEW POSITION. CREATING A NEW WHOLE. NEW. RIGHT? YEAH. AND THEY WOULD ALSO ASSIST IN HUMAN RESOURCES AS WELL, NOT JUST PAYROLL. YES, SIR. THE CURRENT ASSISTANT AUDITOR THAT'S IN THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE WILL REMAIN IN THAT POSITION. WE STILL WILL BE AUDITING PAYROLL. IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, THE ACTUAL PAYROLL ITSELF NEEDS TO BE OUTSIDE THE OFFICE. AND THEN IN ANOTHER PHASE OF THAT, WE THEN AUDIT PAYROLL TO RELEASE IT OUTSIDE THERE. AND. THE YOUNG LADY THAT'S DOING PAYROLL RIGHT NOW IS COMPLETELY EFFECTIVE AND SHE'LL BE ABLE TO AUDIT IT VERY WELL. AND I DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THAT. I DON'T SEE ANY ISSUES WITH HER AUDITING IT. I THINK IT WILL GO PRETTY SMOOTHLY. WE'RE GOING TO BE THERE TO HELP THE TRANSITION, PHASE IT IN AS AS BEST AS WE CAN. [00:30:03] IF OUR NEEDS IS FOR ANYTHING, WE'LL BE THERE. SO AND TO THAT, RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE A BACKUP FOR PAYROLL. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, IT'S KIND OF NICE THAT IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN TO THE NEW PAYROLL CLERK, THERE IS A SECONDARY POSITION THAT CAN TAKE THAT ROLE ON IF IT NEEDS TO BE. SO THE REAL ISSUE HERE IS WE HAD TO SEPARATE THAT FUNCTION. SHE WILL STILL AUDIT IT. SHE JUST WON'T DO THE PAYROLL. I UNDERSTAND. YES. AND AND COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND PASSED OUT A COPY OF THAT. OKAY. SO YOU SHOULD HAVE IT. I GOT IT. I GOT IT. YEAH. SO THIS KIND OF BUILDING ON WHAT COMMISSIONER HORNE WAS ASKING. WELL, WE NEED TO DO A REWRITE OF THE JOB DUTIES OF THE PERSON AND ACCOUNTING THAT'S DOING IT RIGHT NOW. I CAN, COMMISSIONER, IF WE NEED TO. SHE WOULD BASICALLY BECAUSE WHEN SHE WAS HIRED ON, SHE WAS HIRED ON ITS PAYROLL CLERK SLASH ASSISTANT AUDITOR. SO SHE DOES DO SHE'LL DO PAYROLL FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. AND THEN OUTSIDE OF THAT, SHE DOES ALL THE NORMAL ASSISTANT AUDITOR FUNCTIONS SO I CAN WRITE IT UP JUST TO HAVE THAT THAT FINAL PAPERWORK THAT SAYS THAT SHE'S NOW NO LONGER THE WHAT WHAT DUTIES WILL THAT PERSON BE? I KNOW YOU SAID IT'S AN ASSISTANT AUDITOR POSITION, SO BUT WHAT DUTIES WILL THAT PERSON BE UNDERTAKING THAT THAT CURRENTLY OR SHE WOULD BE AUDITING PAYROLL ONCE IT COMES OVER GOING ON OUTSIDE AUDITS WHICH WE WERE TRYING TO DO, BUT JUST BEING BOGGED DOWN WITH SOME OTHER DUTIES THAT NEED TO BE OUTSIDE THE OFFICE, THAT FREES HER UP TO GO OUTSIDE AND DO OUTSIDE AUDITS ON ELECTED OFFICIALS, APPOINTED OFFICIALS DEPARTMENTS, HELPING ME RIGHT NOW GET THE BANK RECONCILIATIONS UP TO DATE. WE'RE STILL PRETTY FAR BEHIND. WE'RE ONLY IN MARCH OF 2022 AND OUTSIDE AUDITORS ARE COMING NEXT OR THEY'RE COMING FIRST WEEK OF APRIL. AND THAT NEEDS TO BE CAUGHT UP TO OCTOBER 2022. SO WE STILL HAVE A GOOD COUPLE OF MONTHS. AND THEN SHE HELPS ALSO WITH THE AP SIDE OF THINGS. SHE DOES DATA ENTRY FOR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AUDITS THAT AS WELL. SO THERE'S MANY FUNCTIONS THAT BUT I CAN GET SOMETHING FORMAL WRITTEN UP BEFORE I LEAVE IT UP TO THE JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND. IF Y'ALL THOUGHT THAT WAS SOMETHING NEEDED OR IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T HURT TO REWRITE THE REWRITE IT TO REFLECT EXACTLY WHAT SHE'S DOING. NO PROBLEM. OKAY. ANY MORE DISCUSSION? FORGOT WHERE WE ARE. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, SO WE HAVE IT. ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, WE JUST NEED TO CALL THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. [12. Discussion/Action to consider the approval of Budget Amendment #21 for the New Payroll Clerk position $33,743.24 from Contingency.] ITEM 12 DISCUSSION ACTION TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF BUDGET AMENDMENT 21 FOR THE NEW PAYROLL CLERK POSITION $33,743.24 FROM CONTINGENCY. COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BUDGET AMENDMENT 21. SO MOVED, JUDGE. WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 13 DISCUSSION ACTION TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL TO TRANSFER PAYROLL DUTIES FROM THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE TO HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT. [13. Discussion/Action to consider the approval to transfer payroll duties from the auditor's Office to the Human Resources Department.] COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF THE TRANSFER OF DUTIES FROM THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE TO HUMAN RESOURCES? SO MOVED, JUDGE. WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND MOTION A AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES ITEM 14 DISCUSSION ACTION TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF BUDGET AMENDMENT NUMBER 15 TO TRANSFER MONEY FROM COUNCIL PRECINCT [14. Discussion/Action to consider the approval of Budget Amendment #15 to transfer money from Constable Pet. 4 (001-4324-1036) Deputy Constables to (001-4324-1090) Chief Deputy Constable for full time salary position.] 400143241036. DEPUTY CONSTABLE 200143241090. CHIEF DEPUTY CONSTABLE FOR FULL TIME SALARY POSITION. WE TABLED THIS LAST TIME, COMMISSIONERS. SINCE THEN I'VE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH CONSTABLE VILLAREAL. HE SUGGESTED THAT WE AND I AGREE WITH THIS, THAT WE COULD LOWER THAT AMOUNT TO THE SAME AMOUNT THAT WE'RE PAYING THE FULL TIME DEPUTY IN PRECINCT THREE. BUT THIS POSITION WILL TAKE ON THE SCHEDULING OF ALL OF THE OFFICERS THAT WILL GO INTO THE SCHOOLS WITH UNDER OUR AGREEMENT WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND THERE IS A STIPEND ASSOCIATED WITH COMPENSATING THAT PERSON ALREADY IN THAT AGREEMENT THAT SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL PAY. AND THAT WOULD MAKE UP MOST, IF NOT ALL, OF THE DIFFERENCE ON THIS SALARY. [00:35:04] SO IN OTHER WORDS, THE COUNTY WILL ONLY BE PAYING OUT OF OUR BUDGET THE AMOUNT THAT THE DEPUTY CONSTABLE FULL TIME IS MAKING NOW IN PRECINCT THREE. WHAT IS THAT? 30, I THINK. HOW MUCH DOES CONSTABLE CANEY MAKES IN THE 30. 30. I MEAN IT'S. YEAH, THAT'S FINE. BUT YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE SCHOOL THAT WE APPROVED IS GOING TO SO WE DIDN'T WHEN WE DID THAT AGREEMENT WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. YES. FOR THEM, FOR THE CONSTABLES TO BE COMPENSATED THAT ARE WORKING IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND THEY'RE HIRING. I THINK THEY'VE HIRED SEVEN, THEY HAVE SEVEN MORE TO HIRE. THOSE CONSTABLES WILL NEED TO BE SCHEDULED. AND SO WHEN WE NEGOTIATED THAT CONTRACT WE NEGOTIATED A STIPEND FOR THE PERSON WHO IS GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP TRACK OF THAT PROGRAM AND THAT WOULD THAT STIPEND WOULD GO TO THIS POSITION. YES, SIR. PAID FOR BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND I'VE REVIEWED OUR IN OUR LOCAL AGREEMENT THIS MORNING BEFORE COURT PRIOR TO THIS. AND THERE IS A, IT CALLED SPECIFICALLY, THEY CALL IT THE CONSTABLE SECURITY PROGRAM COORDINATOR. SO THAT PERSON TAKES ON ADDITIONAL DUTIES DUE TO THE SCHEDULING ASPECT. THEY ALSO ARE THE POINT OF CONTACT PERSON FOR LISD, BETWEEN LISD AND THE COUNTY. DANNY, CAN YOU LOOK UP REAL QUICKLY ON THE BUDGET? CAN YOU GO ON AND SEE WHAT WE'RE PAYING? PRECINCT THREE, PRECINCT THREE. STEVE KINNEY YES, I ALREADY LOOKED IT UP. JUDGE IT'S $37,634. HOW MUCH? 37,634. YES. OKAY. AND SO THAT, I WOULD LOOK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT FOR THIS BUDGET TRANSFER, AND THEN THAT PERSON WOULD THEN TAKE ON THE ROLE OF THE COORDINATOR FOR THIS. FOR OUR MOU AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. YES. COME ON UP, CONSTABLE. I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M LIKE, OKAY, THAT'S FINE, BUT HOW MUCH MORE IS THAT OTHER PART TO THAT? I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T HAVE THE AGREEMENT. IT'S NOT SET OUT AS AN ACTUAL NUMBER AND THERE'S NO ACTUAL PHYSICAL DOLLAR AMOUNT IN THERE BECAUSE ALL OF THE RATES WERE BASED UPON HOURLY PAY. IT WOULD BE BASED ON HOW MANY HOURS HE SPENT DOING THAT AT THAT PAY RATE. I KNOW I BUDGETED FOR THAT POSITION, THE 88,000. SO WHAT DO WE DO WITH THAT EXTRA MONEY THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE? 88,000 FOR THE BUDGET FOR THE FULL YEAR DEPUTIES FOR THE FULL TIME AND THE PART TIME? YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. SO BUT THAT WAS PRESENTED AS THAT ONE PRESENTED AS ONE PERSON GETTING 51,000 EVER DURING THE BUDGET. BECAUSE I CAN ALMOST ASSURE YOU THAT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN APPROVED. YEAH. IF I CAN EXPLAIN? THE REASON I DID THAT IS BECAUSE I CHECKED AROUND AND I'VE ASKED, DO WE HAVE A PAY SCALE FOR SET DEPUTIES WHEN THEY COME ON, WHEN THEY'RE HIRED LIKE DEPUTY ONE DEPUTY, LIKE OTHER COUNTIES DO. WE DON'T. AND THEN WHEN I QUESTION WHAT'S MY AMOUNT THAT I CAN PAY AND SOMEONE SAID. AS LONG AS WE STAY WITHIN MY BUDGET. SO I ASSUME THAT'S RIGHT. BUT WE ASSUME MORE THAN ONE PERSON WAS GOING TO BE GETTING THE LION'S SHARE OF THAT WHEN WE MADE THAT AGREEMENT. OKAY. SO SO THIS IS A CHANGE TO WHAT WAS DISCUSSED DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS. YEAH. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT HE HAS ENOUGH MONEY TO SURVIVE HIMSELF. WELL, I MEAN, WHAT WE'RE WILLING TO DO IS WHAT WE JUST SAID. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I'LL SPEAK WITH HIM ABOUT THAT. WE WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN A MOTION YET, SO WE REALLY NEED TO GET A MOTION FOR THIS FIRST AND IN A SECOND ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, AND THEN WE CAN CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION. OKAY. SO, COMMISSIONERS, I'M LOOKING FOR A MOTION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. WELL, I MOVE TO APPROVE BUDGET AMENDMENT 15, AS DISCUSSED AS TO THE CONCURRENT AMOUNT THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING PAID IN PRECINCT THREE, WHICH IS $37,634. THANK YOU, SIR. I DIDN'T WRITE THAT DOWN. YEAH, PLUS THE STIPEND. WITH THE ADDITIONAL STIPEND, UH, THROUGH THE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH LOCKHART ISD. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. OKAY, NOW WE CAN HAVE MORE DISCUSSION. SORRY, I DIDN'T WANT TO GET TOO FAR DOWN THAT RABBIT HOLE, SO. OH, SO WHAT IS THE ADDITIONAL STIPEND? IS THAT AN EXTRA? IT'S, THAT COMES FROM OUR AGREEMENT AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THEY GET PAID AN HOURLY RATE. SO HE WOULDN'T, THIS PERSON WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE IN THE SCHOOLS, BUT WOULD HAVE TO COORDINATE 14 DEPUTIES TO BE IN THE SCHOOLS EVERY [00:40:10] DAY, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. SO WHATEVER TIME THEY SPENT DOING THAT, THEY WOULD BE COMPENSATED BY THE HOUR. BY THE HOUR BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THAT'S CURRENTLY THE WAY THAT THE AGREEMENT IS STRUCTURED, IT'S AN HOURLY CALCULATION. IT'S NOT A SET DOLLAR AMOUNT IN THERE. AND ONE MORE ALSO I KNOW ON THAT LINE ITEM IS CHIEF DEPUTY. I NEVER ASKED FOR THE CHIEF DEPUTY FULL TIME BECAUSE I WAS HE'S A DEPUTY CONSTABLE. CAN THAT BE CHANGED? I CHANGED IT ALREADY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SO WHAT IS A CHIEF DEPUTY CONSTABLE MAKING RIGHT NOW? 37,634. THAT'S CHIEF THAT, THAT'S TOPPING. THAT'S WHAT. SO IF WE MAKE HIM FOR THE SAME POSITION, WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS IF WE BUMP THIS UP TO 51,000, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ALL THE CONSTABLES GOING TO WANT THE SAME THING. SO WE CAN'T DO THAT. ON THE OTHER COUNT WAS ALREADY KNEW WHAT I WAS PAYING DEPUTY RIGHT. THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CONFLICT ABOUT IT. I MEAN THAT WOULD BE A BUDGET DEAL IN THE COMING AND THEY HAVE A CONFLICT NOW, BUT I GUARANTEE YOU YOU'RE GOING TO WORK IN MY OFFICE AND ASK FOR 51,000 FOR EVERY CHIEF DEPUTY. RIGHT. WELL, I WORRY ABOUT WHAT I WORRY ABOUT WHAT THAT IF THAT IS SAID AT THAT RATE CARTE BLANC IN THE BUDGET, THEN THAT THAT WILL CREATE SOME ISSUES. IN MY OPINION, WHEN THE NEXT BUDGET BEGINS TO BE WRITTEN. AND I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY IN HERE THAT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE TAX RATE IS CALCULATED, IT DROPPED 14 PENNIES LAST YEAR AND LEFT US WITH A HALF A MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT ALREADY. AND I DON'T SEE ANY REASON TO THINK THAT THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN THIS YEAR. FUEL PRICES AREN'T AS HIGH, BUT THEY'RE HIGH. INSURANCE RATES ARE NOT GOING TO GO DOWN. THE ECONOMY IS STILL NOT GREAT. SO WE'VE GOT OUR PAY SCALE. WE GAVE A 5% RAISE LAST YEAR TO TRY TO OFFSET SOME OF THAT INFLATION. THOSE THREE THINGS TOGETHER FOR $2 MILLION. AND WE TOOK IN AN EXTRA A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS IN REVENUE. SO IT LEFT US WITH A HALF MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET SHORTFALL. AND THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN THIS YEAR AND THE YEAR AFTER THAT AND THE YEAR AFTER THAT BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT IS CALCULATED. AND THERE'S NO TALK AT ALL AT THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW. THAT'S WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO SAY. NO BILLS HAVE BEEN FILED TO CHANGE THAT AND THEY'VE GOT TILL MARCH THE 8TH. SO I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. SO WE'VE GOT ANOTHER THIS YEAR AND TWO MORE YEARS AFTER THAT TO LOOK FORWARD TO THE SAME CALCULATION AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE STATE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE CONTINUING TO PRESSURE OUR COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT TO RAISE FUNDS. IS HE GETTING OTHER BENEFITS LIKE COUNTY BENEFITS? INSURANCE AND STUFF LIKE THAT? I MEAN, SO THAT'S A BIG DEAL, TOO. AND DON'T GET ME WRONG, I UNDERSTAND PRECINCT FOUR IS TAKING ON A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY, ESPECIALLY IN MY PRECINCT ALSO. YEAH, BUT, AND I'M ALL ABOUT TAKING CARE OF MY PEOPLE, EMPLOYEES. I'M IN BUSINESS MYSELF AND I UNDERSTAND THE MORE MONEY AND I UNDERSTAND TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING. DEPUTY SALAS DOES A WHOLE LOT FOR OUR COUNTY AND FOR PRECINCT FOUR. HE TAKES A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY IN PRECINCT TWO. WE'RE DONE. I'M NOT TRYING TO BASH THE COUNCIL IN PRECINCT TWO, BUT WE'RE DOING 100% OF HIS WORK. I UNDERSTAND. YEAH, I THINK. THANK YOU. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE BUDGET AMENDMENT 15 AT $37,634. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. [15. Discussion/Action to consider the approval of Budget Amendment #19 for the Jail to transfer money from (001-4340-1052) Jailers to (001-4310-1150) Overtime to increase Overtime line item.] ITEM 15 DISCUSSION ACTION TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF BUDGET AMENDMENT 19 FOR JAIL TO TRANSFER MONEY FROM 00143401052 JAILERS 001. 4310115 OVERTIME TO INCREASE OVERTIME ITEMS. WE CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH GETTING MORE JAILERS HIRED, SO THE JAILERS THAT WE HAVE CONTINUE TO HAVE TO WORK OVERTIME AND WE'VE RAISED THEIR PAY. WE'VE TRIED EVERYTHING WE CAN THINK OF TO TRY TO ATTRACT MORE JAILERS, BUT NOBODY'S APPLYING FOR THOSE POSITIONS. SO WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE TRANSFERS TO COVER THE OVERTIME. NOW WE HAVE A MOTION TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF BUDGET AMENDMENT 19. SO MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? MOTION AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? THE AMOUNT THAT WE'RE TRANSFERRING IS 50,000. [00:45:04] IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY DISCUSSION, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. [16. Discussion/Action to consider the approval of Budget Amendment #20 to transfer money from Non-Departmental (001-6510-4860) Professional Services to (001-6510-3300) Lobbyist, for higher education MOU with City of Luling.] ITEM 16 DISCUSSION ACTION TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF BUDGET AMENDMENT NUMBER 20 TO TRANSFER MONEY FROM NON DEPARTMENTAL 00165104860. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO 00165103300 LOBBYISTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION MOU. AND THIS IS AN MOU THAT IS OUTSIDE OF WHAT WE WHAT WE'RE PAYING NOW. IT IS FOR, THERE IS A COMPANY CALLED ACME THAT IS SEEKING TO GET FUNDING TO CREATE AN ENERGETICS HUB CAMPUS, SEPARATE AND APART FROM CROSSBOW FOR SOME LEGISLATIVE ACTION. THAT FUNDING COULD AMOUNT TO SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS THAT WOULD FLOW THROUGH TEXAS STATE AND THE SMART TERMINAL. AND THEN THEY WOULD CREATE THE HUB, BASICALLY BE A HUB R&D FACILITY HERE IN CALDWELL COUNTY. BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE IT'S GOING TO TAKE THIS AGREEMENT WITH US AND THE CITY OF WHEELING, THEY PASSED THIS ALREADY TO CONTINUE THAT EFFORT AND SEEK THAT FUNDING IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. YEAH. SO MOVED. MOTION TO APPROVE BUDGET AMENDMENT 20. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. WE HAVE MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. [17. Discussion/Action to consider the approval of payment to Invoice #47805 in the amount of $2,765.00 to RCI Consultants.] ITEM 17, DISCUSSION ACTION TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF PAYMENT TO INVOICE NUMBER 47805 IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,765 TO RCI CONSULTANTS. CAROLYN. GOOD MORNING. RCI CONSULTANTS. THEY COME TO US ABOUT ONCE A YEAR. THEY ARE THE ONES THAT GO THROUGH ALL OF OUR FILES. THEY DIGITIZE EVERYTHING FOR US. IT'S JUST TO HELP US KEEP OUR RECORDS IN ORDER. THEY CAME IN YESTERDAY. THEY WILL BE HERE THIS WEEK. THIS IS JUST FOR US TO GIVE THEM THEIR INITIAL PAYMENT FOR THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY STARTED. OKAY. COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYMENT OF INVOICE 47805? DO WE HAVE A MOTION? DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 18 DISCUSSION ACTION TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF THE 381 AMENDMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CALDWELL COUNTY AND VISIONARY FIBER [18. Discussion/Action to consider the approval of the amendment 381 Agreement between Caldwell County and Visionary Fiber Technology.] TECHNOLOGIES. COMMISSIONERS, AS YOU'RE AWARE, VISIONARY FIBERS IS EXPANDING THEIR OPERATION AND HAS IS SEEKING TO CHANGE THE THE 381 THAT WE ALREADY HAVE EXISTING TO 60% FOR. CAN YOU COME UP AND REFRESH MY MEMORY ON THE PERCENTAGES AND THE TIME? SURE. JUDGE, GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. SO AS THE JUDGE MENTIONED, VFT WILL BE ADDING 6800 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE SPACE AT THE CORNER OF FM 20 OF BLACKJACK AND MLK INDUSTRIAL BOULEVARD. ADDITIONALLY, THEY WILL BE REDOING THE INSIDE THE CURRENT BUILDING NOW THAT THE OFFICES WILL BE OUT, WHICH CAN BE USED FOR MORE R&D AND MANUFACTURING AT THAT POINT. SO THE BULK OF IT ACTUALLY IS IN THE OLD BUILDING AS THEY REVAMP THAT AND CAN GROW THEIR OPERATIONS IN THE FUTURE. THE AMENDMENT ONLY CHANGES YEARS SIX AND SEVEN FROM 50% TO 66% AND THEN YEARS EIGHT, NINE AND TEN, WHICH WE HAVEN'T SLID. IT'LL STILL END. THE TERM HASN'T CHANGED, WILL REMAIN AT 50%. SO THE TOTAL INCENTIVE IS ESTIMATED TO GO UP BY $47,672 DUE TO THAT CHANGE. THIS WILL AGAIN RESULT IN ALMOST A $10 MILLION INVESTMENTS INTO THE FACILITY AND MORE JOB JOB CREATION BY THE COMPANY. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE 381 AGREEMENT AND THE CHANGES IN IT BETWEEN CALDWELL COUNTY AND VISIONARY PROPERTY? DO WE HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY MORE DISCUSSION? IS THAT. DID YOU SAY THAT SAYING IT WAS FOR MORE JOBS? [00:50:01] IN THERE INVESTING, I THINK 10 MILLION MORE DOLLARS. WHAT WAS THE FACILITY? WHAT WAS THE SQUARE FOOTAGE? ABOUT 6800 SQUARE FEET IN THE NEW BUILDING. YEAH. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 19, DISCUSSION, ACTION, AND CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF A COUNTY PURCHASING CARD POLICY. [19. Discussion/Action to consider the approval of a County Purchasing Card Policy.] CAROLYN. HELLO AGAIN. CURRENTLY, THE COUNTY DOESN'T REALLY HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE CREDIT CARD POLICY, AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE STARTING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IMPLEMENTING P CARDS. THAT WAY, INSTEAD OF JUST THE FEW CREDIT CARDS THE COUNTY HAS, WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE PURCHASING CARDS FOR A LOT OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS WITH THE PURCHASING CARDS. WE ALSO WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A TIGHTER CONTROL OF SPENDING AND BEING ABLE TO SEE WHO IS ACTUALLY CHARGING ON THE CARD. AND WITH THOSE CHANGES, WE DID WANT TO SIT DOWN WITH OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY AND PUT TOGETHER SOMETHING THAT IS MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND MORE IN LINE WITH WHAT SURROUNDING COUNTIES HAVE WITHIN THEIR POLICIES. COMMISSIONERS, THIS PROVIDES US SOME EFFICIENCIES. CURRENTLY, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF CARDS THAT ALL THE DEPARTMENTS USE. AND SO CAROLYN AND GABBY HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND CHARGE BY CHARGE, FIGURE OUT WHO DID WHAT, AND THIS SPREAD THAT OUT SO THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT THE CARD, TELL IT PURCHASE WAS ASSIGN IT TO THE PROPER DEPARTMENT AND IT GIVES US A WAY TO MORE ACCURATELY TRACK ANY CHARGES. AND THESE CARDS ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE USED FOR ANYTHING OUTSIDE THE BUDGET. IT'S JUST AT TIMES THEY NEED TO PAY FOR TRAINING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO AND THE POLICY THAT WE ARE SEEKING APPROVAL ON IT DOES OUTLINE WHAT THE CARD SHOULD BE USED FOR, WHAT THE CARD SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR. AND ALSO JUST KIND OF REITERATES THAT THESE CARDS DO STILL NEED TO BE UNDER THE PURCHASING POLICY. SO PURCHASE ORDERS, ANYTHING OVER $500. AND ALSO JUST BASICALLY KIND OF REMINDS EVERYBODY THAT, LIKE JUDGE SAID, THESE CARDS AREN'T JUST FOR EVERYDAY PURCHASE. AND ONE JUST PROCEDURAL THING, THIS IS JUST THE THE POLICY AS A WHOLE. THE COURT, BY SEPARATE ORDER, WILL DETERMINE HOW DEPARTMENTS, WHICH DEPARTMENTS, WHAT AMOUNT EACH DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE. THAT'S ALL A SEPARATE FROM THIS. THIS IS JUST THE POLICY AS A WHOLE. AND I WOULD, I NOTICED, I DON'T SEE IT IN HERE. I WAS LOOKING AT THIS BEFORE WE ISSUE A CARD. I'D LIKE FOR THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS TO SIGN A DOCUMENT THAT SAYS THEY'VE READ THIS AND UNDERSTAND IT. YES, JUDGE, THAT IS ACTUALLY IT SHOULD BE IN THERE. GIVE ME A SECOND. I CAN FIND IT FOR YOU. OKAY. I MISSED IT, MAN. CHASES IT UNDER CHAPTER TWO CARD APPLICATION PROCEDURES. I DIDN'T SEE IT WHEN I SCANNED HERE. WHERE DO YOU SEE IT, COMMISSIONER? IT IS. IT'S UNDER CHAPTER TWO. SECTION 2.02B EACH REQUESTING DEPARTMENT HEAD AND ANY DESIGNATED PERSONNEL PRIOR TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVAL MUST SIGN AN AGREEMENT ACKNOWLEDGING AND AGREEING TO THIS POLICY. AND THE DEPARTMENT HAS RESPONSIBILITIES RELATED TO THE ISSUANCE OF THE P CARD. VERY GOOD. OKAY. WITH ALL THAT SAID, DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE COUNTY PURCHASING CARD POLICY? DO WE HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY. SO THE THE THERE WILL BE A FOLLOW UP ORDER AFTER THIS THAT WILL SET THE LIMITS ON EACH CARD I WAS FAMILIAR WITH. [00:55:05] WE HAD THESE 20 YEARS AGO WHEN I WORKED FOR A&M AND WE HAD LIMITS ON ONE THAT THAT I HAD. AND THEN THEY WERE KIND OF GRADUATED DEPENDING UPON WHAT LEVEL OF THE ORGANIZATION YOU WERE IN, AS FAR AS WHAT AUTHORIZATION YOU HAD AND SO FORTH. YES, COMMISSIONER, UM, WHEN WE WERE ORIGINALLY DRAFTING THIS, THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE'D DO IT IN THE POLICY OR BY SEPARATE ORDER. AND IN THE EVENT THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE IT, WE FIGURED IT WOULD BE EASIER TO CHANGE THE SEPARATE ORDER RATHER THAN AMENDING THE POLICY, THE WHOLE POLICY SO OFTEN. YEAH. OKAY. OKAY. SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND? MM HMM. DID WE GET IT? OH, I MISSED THAT. ALL RIGHT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 20 DISCUSSION, ACTUALLY, CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF FORM CONTRACT FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT OF COUNTY EXPENDED FUNDS BY SHERIFF'S OFFICE CADETS IN CERTAIN [20. Discussion/Action to consider the approval of a form contract for the reimbursement of County-expended funds by Sheriffs Office cadets in certain circumstances.] CIRCUMSTANCES. AS SHERIFF PLAINS, CHIEF DEPUTY CRAIG. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. COMMISSIONER. MORNING. BEFORE YOU IS A CONTRACT THAT WAS DESIGNED AND WRITTEN WITH THE HELP OF CHASE IN MUCH DISCUSSION ON THE SIDE TO TRY TO HELP BOLSTER OUR VACANCIES AND TO ALLOW US TO ATTRACT PEACE OFFICERS TO THE KABUL COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. IN THE TWO YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, WE HAVE BASICALLY HELD FOUR POSITIONS WITH PEOPLE COMING AND GOING. WE'VE NEVER BEEN FULL, AND IT'S HARD TO ATTRACT FOLKS. TO GIVE YOU A PRIME EXAMPLE, I HAVE ONE IN THE ACADEMY NOW, AND A CITY TO THE NORTH OF US IS TRYING TO POACH THEM OUT OF THE ACADEMY, EVEN THOUGH HE'S WORKING FOR US NOW. IT'S A VERY LUCRATIVE OFFER AT 75,000 FOR A CADET COMING STRAIGHT OUT. SO WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO TRY TO SECURE THESE FOLKS WHILE THEY'RE IN THE ACADEMY AND STAY WITH US. THIS CONTRACT WOULD FACILITATE THAT. IN ADDITION, AT ANOTHER TIME, PROBABLY THE NEXT COURT, I'D LIKE TO EXPLORE ACTUALLY HIRING THESE FOLKS AT A LOWER PERCENTAGE RATE WHILE THEY'RE IN THE ACADEMY TO ACTUALLY GIVE THEM INSURANCE BENEFITS VEHICLE TO OPERATE WHILE THEY'RE BACK AND FORTH, JUST AS THEY WOULD AS A DEPUTY TO EVEN SWEETEN THE POT A LITTLE FURTHER AND GIVE US SOME BUYING POWER, IF YOU WILL, AT THE TABLE AS FAR AS WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY APPROVING TODAY, BECAUSE THIS IS A FORM CONTRACT. WHAT THIS WILL DO IS BASICALLY APPROVE THE THE SUBSTANCE OR THE FORM OF IT AND THE SUBSTANCE OF IT. AND THEN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE COURT CAN WORK THROUGH HIRING WITHOUT INVOLVING THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO REVIEW EVERY SINGLE CONTRACT, WHICH WOULD SUBSTANTIALLY BE THE SAME. AND SO THAT'S JUST WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS OR WHY IT'S A FORM CONTRACT AS OPPOSED TO AN ACTUAL SIGNED AND READY TO BE DONE AGREEMENT. OKAY. BEFORE WE GET INTO TOO MUCH MORE DISCUSSION, WE'VE KIND OF OUTLINED THIS. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF CONTRACT FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF COUNTY EXPENDED FUNDS BY SHERIFF'S OFFICE CADETS? I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. MOTION TO APPROVE. SO MOVED. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 20. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ITEM 21, DISCUSSION, ACTION TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN CALDWELL COUNTY AND CORRIDOR TITLE [21. Discussion/Action to consider the approval of a Professional Services Agreement between Caldwell County and Corridor Title company for the development of a Title Commitment for the Evacuation Shelter property. Services rendered not to exceed $10,000.00.] COMPANY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A TITLE COMMITMENT FOR THE EVACUATION SHELTER PROPERTY SERVICES RENDERED NOT TO EXCEED $10,000. YES, JUDGE COMMISSIONERS. ONCE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AT A RECENT MEETING APPROVED THE CONVEYANCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LULING AND THE COUNTY, WE PURCHASED THE LAND, THE 20 ACRES FOR THE PROPOSED SITE FOR THE EVACUATION SHELTER. WE FELT THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE DO A TITLE SEARCH ON THAT PARTICULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY. WE SUBMITTED OR ANNOUNCED AND REQUESTED TITLE COMPANIES TO CONTACT US, EXPRESSING THEIR INTEREST AND WANTING TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE. WE HAD TWO TITLE COMPANIES THAT DID RESPOND TO THAT REQUEST, AND AFTER REVIEWING THEIR LETTERS OF INTEREST, WE DECIDED TO CHOOSE THE CORRIDOR TITLE COMPANY TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES FOR US. AND YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN CALDWELL COUNTY AND THE CORRIDOR TITLE COMPANY. [01:00:01] I THINK THERE BEEN SOME MINOR TWEAKS TO THE PROPOSAL YOU HAVE AND I'LL YIELD THE FLOOR TO CHASE FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. SO SINCE PUBLICATION THROUGH THE BACKUP, THERE WERE SOME MINOR CHANGES AT THE. ONE ON THE COUNTY SIDE, BUT ALSO AT THE REQUEST OF CORRIDOR TITLE. I'M GOING TO GO AND WALK YOU THROUGH THOSE CHANGES. SO FIRST OFF, ON PAGE ONE, YOU'LL IN SECTION FIVE COMPENSATIONS CONTRACTOR WILL BE CONTRACTED FOR THE WORK ON A PER CLOSING BASIS. ORIGINALLY IT WAS PER HOUSING BASIS. WE'RE NOT DOING HOUSING. SO THAT'S JUST A CHANGE TO REFLECT THE ONE TIME PAYMENT FOR CLOSING IN MUTUAL INDEMNITY SECTION TEN, PAGE TWO. WE EXPLICITLY, THE COUNTY EXPLICITLY WANTED LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT WE WOULDN'T CREATE AN INTEREST IN SINKING FUND FOR MUTUAL INDEMNITY. WE CAN'T INDEMNIFY, AND EVEN IF WE COULD, THAT JUST JUST SOLVES THE ISSUE FOR. EXHIBIT A ON PAGE SIX. THEY ASKED FOR LANGUAGE JUST ADDING THE QUOTE, ISSUANCE OF A TITLE POLICY POST CLOSING. AGAIN, THAT'S JUST REFLECTIVE OF HOW THE AGREEMENT WORKS. IT'S NOT PARTICULARLY SUBSTANTIAL. AND THEN LASTLY, THE FEE LIST THEY THEY REMOVED OR THEY INCREASE THE TAX CERTIFICATE FEE TO $48.30, WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS TO BE REFLECTIVE OF THE ACTUAL COST. REMOVED AND E FILING FEES LOWERED THE FEE FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE WARRANTY DEED FROM $100 TO $75. SO THERE'S A $25 SAVING THERE. AND THEN THEY MADE US AWARE THAT THE CLOSING FEE FOR THIS TYPE OF TRANSACTION IS TYPICALLY $750, NOT THE $325 WE ORIGINALLY PITCHED. SO IT'S. CHANGE TO REFLECT WHAT THE ACTUAL COST IS AND THAT SHOULD BE. ALL OF THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE SINCE POSTING IN THE BACKUP. COMMISSIONERS DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN POWELL COUNTY AND CORRIDOR TITLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A TITLE COMMITMENT? SO MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ITEM 22 DISCUSSION ONLY OF THE GLO INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT FOR ROADS. [22. Discussion only of the GLO Infrastructure Grant Roads.] THANK YOU AGAIN, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER, JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE. PENDING WEATHER THIS WEEK, WE ARE UNDER THE BELIEF THAT BIG ROAD WILL BE PAVED THIS WEEK AND I WILL TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO DAVID CLARK TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS GOING FORWARD AFTER AFTER THAT. JUDGE MOORE, COMMISSIONERS, SPOKE WITH THE CONTRACTOR THIS MORNING, THEY SHOULD HAVE PAVEMENT AT THE BIGGS ROAD SITE, EITHER TODAY OR TOMORROW. WE'RE PLANNING FOR A SITE WALK THROUGH EITHER THURSDAY OR FRIDAY, MOST LIKELY GOING TO BE THURSDAYS. WE CAN GET IT DONE WITH AND GET THE SITE CLOSED OUT. IF THERE ARE ANY PUNCH LIST ITEMS. THEY SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY NEXT WEEK. BUT THEY'VE BEEN DOING A PRETTY DILIGENT JOB OF PICKING UP THE SITE. ONCE THE SITE IS DONE, WILL ISSUE A LETTER OF CONCURRENCE AS BUILT AND BEGIN PROJECT CLOSEOUT PAPERWORK WITH GLO. AND THEN ANY FOLLOW UP MEETINGS WILL SCHEDULE WITH JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS INDEPENDENT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ITEM 23, DISCUSSION, ACTION TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF A DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE VARIANCE REQUEST BY [INAUDIBLE] [23. Discussion/Action to consider the approval of a development ordinance variance request by the Sagado Dos, LLC for the construction of a privately - maintained concrete roadway.] LLC FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PRIVATELY MAINTAINED CONCRETE ROADWAY. COMMISSIONER THERIOT? THANK YOU, JUDGE. WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ON THIS AT A PRIOR MEETING AND THEN SEVERAL PRIVATELY WITH THE DEVELOPER COMING UP. AND I JUST WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK HIM FOR WORKING WITH US ON THIS AND AND COMING UP WITH THE SOLUTION, POSSIBLE SOLUTION OF THE 100,000 MAINTENANCE BOND TO PROVIDE FOR THE FUTURE WORK ON THIS ON THIS CONCRETE ROAD IF NECESSARY. AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, I'M WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THIS SO THAT WE CAN GET HIM IN PROCESS, GO AHEAD AND GET HIS PLANS UNDERWAY UNDER REVIEW. NOT HOLD HIM UP ANY LONGER. BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF DISCUSSION THAT WE WANT TO HAVE WHEN THIS COMES BACK TO US AS A PLOT. [01:05:04] WHAT KIND OF KIND OF REVOLVING AROUND WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT IT TO BE A PUBLIC OR PRIVATE STREET AND WITH WITH THIS BOND PUT UP? SO WITH THAT SAID, I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE VARIANCE REQUEST. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE VARIANCE. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. WE HAVE MOTION. AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 24, EXCUSE ME, DISCUSSION ACTION CONCERNING APPROVAL OF AN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF A FINAL PLAT SHORT FORM PROCEDURE [24. Discussion/Action concerning approval of an Order authorizing the filing of a Final Plat (Short Form Procedure) for Brooke Acres located on Tumbleweed Trail.] FOR BROOK ACRES LOCATED ON TUMBLEWEED TRAIL. CASEY? ALL RIGHT, GOOD MORNING. I DO WANT TO START BY SAYING INITIALLY WHEN THIS WAS PROPOSED, WE WERE THINKING THAT IT WAS IN PRECINCT TWO, BUT IT IS ACTUALLY IN PRECINCT FOUR. BUT NEVERTHELESS, EVERYTHING IS INCLUDED IN THE ATTACHMENTS, ALL CORRECTIONS. THERE WERE JUST JUST VERY MINOR THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN CORRECTED. TRACY HAS A RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL LETTER IN THERE, AND WE'RE JUST LOOKING. AND MS. HINKLE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT. OKAY. I JUST WANT [INAUDIBLE] 1109 SOUTH MAIN STREET, LOCKHART ON THE LETTER THAT DOUCETTE WROTE, IT SAYS THE COURT HAS FULL DISCRETION IN APPROVING AND DENYING THE REQUEST. THAT THERE ARE NO RULES THAT HAVE CHANGED SINCE THE PRELIMINARY PLAT WAS APPROVED. WE SUPPORT THE COURT APPROVING THE EXTENSION. I DON'T NEED ANY OF THAT PARAGRAPH AND I DON'T WANT IT TO COME UP LATER THAT WE WERE ASKING FOR AN EXTENSION OR THAT WE HAD A PRELIMINARY PLAT. THIS IS A SHORT FORM PLAT TWO LOTS. I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT STATEMENT'S IN THERE ON THAT LETTER FROM DOUCETTE AND ASSOCIATES, BUT CAN, I JUST DON'T WANT IT TO BE AN ISSUE. OKAY. AND I DIDN'T REALLY GET IT AND READ IT UNTIL YESTERDAY. SO I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT AND MAKE A NOTE. WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR THE PLAT TO BE APPROVED. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WILL ACTUALLY DISCUSS IT WITH KIMBERLY TO GET US A CORRECTED LETTER AND EVERYTHING. IF Y'ALL WANT TO GO AHEAD WITH WHATEVER MOTION YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE, AND THEN I CAN GET A CORRECTED LETTER TO MAKE SURE THAT IT GETS FILED CORRECTLY. OKAY. SO WE WOULD BE CHANGING THE LANGUAGE TO SHORT FORM? SHORT FORM APPROVAL, YES. VERY GOOD. OKAY, COMMISSIONERS, WITH THAT CHANGE, DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF AN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF FINAL PLAT SHORT FORM PROCEDURE FOR BROOK ACRES LOCATED ON TUMBLEWEED TRAIL. SO MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 25, MOTION TO ADJOURN. AND DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? AND DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OH, I'M SORRY. WHO MADE THE MOTION? THE FIRST. WHO MADE THE MOTION? THE FIRST ONE. WHO WAS THE FIRST ONE TO ADJOURN? WHO MOTIONED? I THINK ED MOTIONED. COMMISSIONER THERIOT MADE THE MOTION. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY, WE GOT IT. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. WE WERE ADJOURNED AT 10:09. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.