[00:00:01]
OKAY. GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
[CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING TO THIS VERY SPECIAL SESSION OF COMMISSIONERS COURT TUESDAY.WE'RE GOING TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31ST AT 2023 AT 9 A.M.
AND IT'S GOING TO BE GIVEN BY MR. GEORGE ELLISON.
ARE YOU HERE, SIR? YES, SIR. YOU WOULD COME UP TO THE PODIUM.
LET US PRAY. FATHER IN HEAVEN AGAIN.
WE COME WITH THANKSGIVING IN OUR HEARTS THIS MORNING.
WE THANK YOU, DEAR GOD, FOR LIFE THIS MORNING AND WE THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE THAT IS PRESENT.
DEAR GOD, WE ASK A SPECIAL BLESSING UPON THIS COMMISSIONER COURT THIS MORNING.
FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE AND WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.
WE PRAY FOR THIS COUNTRY IN A VERY SPECIAL WAY.
FATHER, DEAR GOD, GIVE US PEACE BECAUSE YOU WAS ALL ABOUT PEACE.
LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER BECAUSE YOU LOVED US FIRST.
AND WE THANK YOU. IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WE PRAY THIS MORNING.
[CITIZENS' COMMENTS (Part 1 of 2)]
REPRESENTATIVE STAN GERDES IS HERE TO MAKE A PRESENTATION TO DENNIS, AND WE'LL DO THAT DURING CITIZENS COMMENTS.MAKE IT SHORT AND SWEET. WE GOT TO BE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AT 10 A.M.
THIS MORNING, BUT I WANTED TO COME DOWN HERE AND LET DENNIS KNOW HE'S GOING TO BE MISSED.
AND WITH THAT, I WANT TO COME UP HERE AND WE CAN TAKE A PICTURE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, REPRESENTATIVE.
THAT REALLY MEANS A LOT THAT YOU CARVED TIME OUT TODAY.
[ANNOUNCEMENTS]
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GO BACK TO ANNOUNCEMENTS REALLY QUICKLY.DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? NO ANNOUNCEMENTS.
ANY MORE CITIZENS COMMENTS? NO. CITIZENS COMMENTS.
OKAY. WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO OUR FIRST.
[CITIZENS' COMMENTS (Part 2 of 2)]
OH, WE GOT ONE. OH, COME ON UP, EDDIE.COME ON UP. WE'LL DISPENSE WITH THAT TODAY.
WELL, Y'ALL KNOW I CAN'T COME TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT WITHOUT SAYING SOMETHING, BECAUSE I WAS SITTING THERE ONE TIME, AND WE WERE SITTING THERE AND WE WERE SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE NEED A GRANT WRITER.
AND I SAID, YEAH, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW.
AND THEN EVERYBODY SAID, YEAH, WE NEED.
I SAID, OKAY, WE NEED A GRANT WRITER.
AND WE WENT AHEAD AND PUT IT IN THE BUDGET FOR A GRANT WRITER.
AND I WAS AT A FUNERAL, AND IT HAPPENED TO BE DENNIS'S BROTHER'S FUNERAL.
AND BECAUSE I KNOW THE POLICE FOR A LONG, LONG TIME ALL MY LIFE.
AND I SAID, DENNIS, I SAID, HE SAID, YEAH, I'M RETIRED.
I SAID, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? HE SAID, I WAS A GRANT WRITER.
[00:05:01]
I SAID, WELL, CALDWELL COUNTY IS LOOKING FOR A GRANT WRITER.AND HE SAID, I SAID, WHY DON'T YOU GO OVER THERE AND APPLY? YEAH. I'LL GO, I'LL GO.
SO, I'M RETIRED. I GUESS I CAN GO OVER AND REPLY, GO APPLY.
AND WE HIRED HIM ON THE SPOT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE KNEW.
WE HAD SOMEBODY THAT COULD REALLY DO THE COUNTY A GREAT SERVICE BECAUSE ONE THING HE CARED ABOUT THE COUNTY, HE CARED ABOUT OUR AREA. AND HE WAS A GREAT GRANT WRITER.
IN FACT, HE TAUGHT A LOT OF PEOPLE HOW TO WRITE GRANTS ALL OVER THIS COUNTY.
AND I'M GLAD THAT I WAS ON THE COMMISSIONERS COURT WHEN WE HIRED HIM.
AND LIKE I SAID, HE'S BEEN A BLESSING TO US.
HE'S BROUGHT A LOT OF FINANCIAL HELP TO THIS COUNTY, AND I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? COME ON UP, TREY.
JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US TODAY.
I JUST WANT TO SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS ABOUT DENNIS.
THEY WERE LEADERS IN THE FFA PROGRAM.
AND I REALLY ADMIRED THEIR LEADERSHIP AND AND JUST BEING AROUND THEM.
AND I THINK YOU ALL KNOW THAT HE HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS FOR OUR COUNTY, FOR OUR CITY.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, DENNIS, FOR YOUR SERVICE.
HE SERVED ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD IN LULING WITH ME SINCE HE RETURNED.
AND WE'RE REALLY GOING TO MISS HIM, HIS INSIGHT, HIS VISION.
AND, YOU KNOW, HE'S A GODSEND TO THE COUNTY.
MAYBE WE'LL GO FISHING, MAYBE EVEN GO SKYDIVING SOMEDAY.
GOOD DEAL. COME ON UP, MR. ELLISON. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE.
AND NOW, COMMISSIONER, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I WAS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING.
I WAS LOOKING TO LEARN HOW TO DO GRANTS.
AND I FOUND OUT ABOUT DENNIS, AND I TOOK A CLASS A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND HE JUST DID A MARVELOUS JOB.
AND AND I JUST COMMEND HIM FOR EVERYTHING THAT I ACTUALLY LEARNED.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL YET, BUT I PERSONALLY GOT HIS NUMBER SO I COULD PERSONALLY CALL HIM.
SO, WE'LL BE CALLING YOU DENNIS.
YOU'RE NOT QUITE RETIRED YET, BUT GOD BLESS YOU.
NO. OKAY, WELL, WITH THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE DISCUSSION ACTION ITEM.
[F.1 To approve a proclamation recognizing Grants Administrator Dennis Engelke for his dedicated service to the citizens of Caldwell County. Speaker: Judge Haden/Chase Goetz; Backup: 1; Cost: $0.00]
WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING GRANTS ADMINISTRATOR DENNIS ENGELKE FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF CALDWELL COUNTY.WHEREAS COMMUNITIES EXIST, THRIVE, AND ARE ENHANCED THROUGH THE TALENT, SKILLS, AND COMMITMENT OF THOSE CITIZENS WHO DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO A POSITIVE PURPOSE GROUNDED IN PUBLIC SERVICE.
AND WHEREAS, THE CALDWELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT, MINDFUL OF THE IMPORTANCE OF POSITIVE CITIZENSHIP, BELIEVES IN THE SIGNIFICANCE OF RECOGNIZING THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO POSITIVELY, POSITIVELY AFFECT THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY LIVE AND WORK.
ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER 18TH, CALDWELL COUNTY ENTRUSTED ITS INTERESTS AND THE PUBLIC GOOD TO DENNIS ENGELKE BY APPOINTING HIM TO THE POSITION OF CALDWELL COUNTY GRANTS ADMINISTRATOR.
WHEREAS DURING HIS EMPLOYMENT WITH THE COUNTY, DENNIS ENGELKE INCREASED THE COUNTY'S GRANT PORTFOLIO FROM APPROXIMATELY $2 MILLION TO APPROXIMATELY $43 MILLION, GREATLY DECREASING THE TAX BURDEN OF THE CITIZENS OF CALDWELL COUNTY.
WHEREAS DENNIS ENGELKE HAS EXPRESSED HIS INTENT NOW TO RETIRE FROM CALDWELL COUNTY, HIS HIS FOURTH RETIREMENT DURING HIS LONG CAREER TO RETURN HOME TO EAST TEXAS AND HIS FAMILY.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE COUNTY BY THE CALDWELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT IN APPRECIATION OF THE POSITIVE INFLUENCE DENNIS ENGELKE HAS HAD IN CALDWELL COUNTY, THE COURT WISHES TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE HIM UPON HIS UPON RETIREMENT FOR DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF CALDWELL COUNTY,
[00:10:09]
THIS STATE, AND THIS NATION.PROCLAIM THIS 31ST DAY OF OCTOBER, 2023.
COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THIS PROCLAMATION? SO MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND.
AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES.
AND, DENNIS, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF YOU.
AND VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE HAD YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR THE HONOR.
JUST THE RECOGNITION OF OF THE END OF MY CAREER.
I'VE ENJOYED BEING A PART OF THE CALDWELL COUNTY FAMILY, AND I ENJOY BEING AROUND COWORKERS THAT UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR WHO WE WORK FOR, AND THAT IS THE TAXPAYERS AND THE RESIDENTS OF CALDWELL COUNTY AND THAT ALL THAT WE'VE DONE AND ALL THAT THE GRANTS DEPARTMENT HAS DONE.
I'VE KEPT THAT THAT MANTLE BEFORE ME EVERY DAY WHEN I WALK INTO THIS BUILDING AND GO TO WORK.
IT'S JUST REMEMBER WHO I WORK FOR.
WHEN THEY HIRED ME, IT WAS KIND OF AN EXPERIMENT.
AND SO WE CREATED RULES AND GUIDELINES AND SO FORTH AND STARTED LOOKING FOR MONEY.
AND AS THE PROCLAMATION HAS STATED, WE'VE HAD A GRANT PORTFOLIO OF A LITTLE OVER $43 MILLION.
I LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO.
WE'VE GOT GRANTS THAT HAVE HELPED PEOPLE HELP VICTIMS OF CRIME SO THAT THEY CAN GET THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE THEY NEED, THE COUNSELING THEY NEED JUST TO DRIVE TO THE GROCERY STORE IF THEY NEED THAT. THAT'S ALL BEEN FURNISHED BY A GRANT.
I WANT TO INTRODUCE I TELL YOU, THIS IS HALLOWEEN.
IT'S FULL OF TRICKS AND TREATS TODAY.
BUT I WANT TO INTRODUCE MY FAMILY THAT SURPRISED ME AND ARE HERE TODAY.
I WANT YOU TO MEET MY WIFE, ELIZABETH.
AND WE'VE MADE A PROMISE TO EACH OTHER THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO TO AT LEAST 50.
MY OTHER GRANDDAUGHTER IS IN SCHOOL AND WORKS TODAY, WE CALL IT.
AND THAT'S MORGAN. SHE'S A JUNIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL.
WE CALL THEM THE M AND M AND M KIDS.
SO, BUT ANYWAY, I APPRECIATE Y'ALL Y'ALL BEING HERE TODAY.
PEOPLE ASK ME, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN YOU RETIRE? I SAID, THEY'RE SITTING RIGHT THERE IN THAT PEW RIGHT THERE.
I TOLD THEM WHEN THEY INTERVIEWED ME THAT THERE WERE TWO THINGS I WANTED.
AND I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT FROM THE COMMISSIONERS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT FROM HOPPY HAYDEN, A JUDGE THAT IS OPEN MINDED, WILLING TO LOOK AT NEW IDEAS, PERHAPS TAKE A RISK AND PROVIDE THE GUIDANCE THAT WE NEED TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO.
I'M A HUMBLE PERSON, SIMPLE PERSON.
IF YOU WERE TO ASK ME WHAT'S MY FAVORITE MOVIE, I WOULD TELL YOU IMMEDIATELY, IT'S THE WIZARD OF OZ.
BUT I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE IN ITS PRINCIPLE.
AND I WANT TO LEAVE WITH YOU SOME FINAL WORDS, AND THEN I'LL WALK AWAY FROM THE PODIUM.
ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT I ALWAYS ENJOYED READING WAS DR.
[00:15:03]
SEUSS WROTE A BOOK FOR CHILDREN TO HELP EXPLAIN HELP CHILDREN COPE WITH THE DEATH OF A FAMILY MEMBER OF A LOVED ONE.THIS IS THE END OF A CAREER IS NOT A DEATH.
BUT THERE'S SOME AKIN KINDS OF RELATIONSHIPS.
IT'S THE END OF A CAREER, IT'S THE PASSING OF A TORCH, ETCETERA.
AND I THINK SOME OF HIS ADVICE TO ME PLAYS OUT TODAY.
DR. SEUSS SAID ABOUT TALKING ABOUT DEATH.
HE SAID, DON'T CRY BECAUSE IT'S OVER.
AND AS I LOOK AT THIS ASSEMBLAGE HERE TODAY, I SEE SO MANY REASONS TO SMILE.
ALL RIGHT, SO I HAD THIS BIG SPEECH PLANNED, BUT I DON'T THINK I CAN GET THROUGH IT.
DENNIS, YOU'VE BEEN A FRIEND, AND I APPRECIATE THAT FRIENDSHIP MORE THAN I CAN TELL YOU.
THAT'S IT FOR ME. IF THERE IS NOTHING ELSE, WE WILL GO TO THE NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS ADJOURNMENT.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION.
MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
HEARING. NONE. MOTION CARRIES.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.