Nov 28, 2023 Commissioners Court

[Call Meeting to Order]

[00:00:02]

EVERYONE, THANK YOU FOR COMING TO CALDWELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT.

WE'RE GOING TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH, 2023 AT 9 A.M..

AND, COMMISSIONER THOMAS, WOULD YOU MIND DOING THE INVOCATION THIS MORNING? FATHER. WE COME THIS MOMENT, THIS MOMENT TO ASK YOU TO GUIDE US IN THE WAY YOU WOULD HAVE US GO AND.

ALL OF THESE THINGS WE ASK IN YOUR NAME.

AMEN. AMEN.

[Announcements]

NO, SIR. NONE.

NONE. NONE. NONE FOR ME.

WE DO HAVE SOME STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS.

HI COMMISSIONERS.

JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT CYBER SECURITY IS UPON US.

SO NEXT COMMISSIONERS COURT, WE WILL HAVE AN ENROLLMENT FORM THAT WE NEED TO SEND BACK TO TECH.

BUT IT NEEDS YOUR APPROVAL TO ENLIST, TO ENROLL EVERYBODY TO TAKE THE CYBERSECURITY CLASS AGAIN FOR 2024.

AND AGAIN, I AM ASKING EVERYBODY, ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS TO SEND ME THE NAMES LISTS OF EVERYBODY THAT NEEDS TO TAKE THE CLASS, BECAUSE THIS YEAR IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE CHARGING US $5 PER PERSON.

SO I NEED EVERYBODY THAT AT LEAST ACCESSES THEIR COMPUTER OR OUR NETWORK FOR 25% OF THEIR DUTIES NEEDS TO TAKE THIS COURSE. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CONTACT ME, CONTACT STEPHANIE.

WE'LL HELP YOU. THANK YOU.

OKAY. AND CAROLYN.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS.

I JUST WANTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT OUR AUCTION WITH THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT THAT WE BEGAN IN SEPTEMBER, HAS OFFICIALLY CONCLUDED.

OUR AUCTION WAS ON SEPTEMBER 28TH.

WE DID PUT 32 ASSETS OUT, 31 HAVE SOLD AND WERE PICKED UP.

AND WITH THOSE 31 ASSETS, THE COUNTY WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE $263,540.45.

I DO WANT TO GIVE A HUGE, HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR UNIT ROAD DEPARTMENT, ESPECIALLY TO MIKE CHEATHAM AND ABRAHAM.

THEY WERE OUT THERE EVERY DAY WITH US, HELPING US COORDINATE ALL THE PICKUPS, HELPING US GET EQUIPMENT LOADED.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO LISA AND DONALD BECAUSE THEY HELPED WITH THE SCHEDULING AS WELL.

I WANT TO THANK MY STAFF, CALLIE ESPINOSA AND SARAH FULLEYLOVE.

I COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THEM.

AND I ALSO DO WANT TO THANK GABBY SALDANA.

SHE WAS IN THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT WHEN WE STARTED, AND SHE KIND OF GOT THE BALL ROLLING FOR US.

SO IT TOOK A LOT OF PEOPLE, A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF EFFORT.

BUT IN THE END, I'M REALLY PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE DONE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND THAT HAS ALREADY COME IN VERY HANDY.

SO YOU KIND OF SAVED US ON A COUPLE OF THINGS.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THAT.

AND THEN I THINK ARI'S GOT SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS.

GOOD MORNING. FORGIVE MY VOICE.

I'D LIKE TO CLAIM THAT IT'S ALLERGIES.

A COUPLE OF THINGS BACK, AND I THINK IT WAS FEBRUARY.

THE COUNTY CREATED THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT I AM CHAIR OF, AND I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A COUPLE OF UPDATES ON THAT.

ONE, THE COUNTY SUBMITTED A GRANT FOR THE OVERALL FOR THE COUNTY.

BUT ONE OF THOSE THINGS PLANS IN ESTABLISHING THIS WAS AN ANIMAL SHELTER.

AND SO AND IF APPROVED, THE INITIATIVE WILL CONTRIBUTE TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTY WHILE PROVIDING SHELTER FOR ANIMALS SPECIFIC TO OUR REGION.

AND SO WE'RE STILL WAITING TO HEAR FEEDBACK ON THAT.

NUMBER TWO IS WE'VE BEEN COLLABORATING WITH THE TEXAS HUMANE NETWORK, WHICH IS ANOTHER 501C3 ORGANIZATION THAT IMPROVES ANIMAL WELFARE WITHIN THE STATE.

AND OUR COMMITTEE HAS BEEN WORKING ON ORGANIZING A COMPREHENSIVE ANIMAL CRUELTY TRAINING.

AND THAT TRAINING PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ATTORNEYS, SHELTER MANAGERS AND INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN EXPANDING THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF ANIMAL CRUELTY IN BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS.

[00:05:04]

AND THEN LASTLY, WORKING ON SOME GRANT FUNDING AND WITHIN EVEN OUR OWN DEPARTMENT.

AND WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN AND ENHANCE OUR EXISTING PARTNERSHIP, IN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF LOCKHART ANIMAL SHELTER.

AND I'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH CHIEF WILLIAMSON AND NICOLE, WHO'S THE SHELTER MANAGER FOR LOCKHART, AND SECURING NUMBERS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE Y'ALL WITH THE REPORT THAT YOU ALL HAD REQUESTED FROM US AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO LOOK WITH OUR SUGGESTIONS COMING TO Y'ALL ON WHAT WE SHOULD DO FOR ANIMAL WELFARE IN THE COUNTY.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU ALL KIND OF A BRIEF UPDATE ON JUST KIND OF WHAT'S BEEN GOING DOWN WITH THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

AND YEAH, I HOPE TO GIVE YOU ALL A COUPLE OF UPDATES HERE SOON IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO WITH THAT LEASE, THE GRANT THAT WE SUBMITTED FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTY.

SO THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE.

AND I JUST THANK Y'ALL FOR EVEN PUTTING TOGETHER ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR ANIMAL WELFARE IN OUR COUNTY.

SO THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON THAT AREA.

I SAID THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON THAT COMMITTEE, AND PLEASE PASS THAT ON TO THE REST OF THE FOLKS.

AND JUST JUST SO, COMMISSIONER, SO YOU KNOW, THAT'S PART OF AN EDA GRANT, THE ANIMAL SHELTER.

AND IT'S THAT PORTION OF THAT GRANT IS, I BELIEVE, $5 MILLION.

SO IT'S PRETTY SIGNIFICANT IN WHICH WE CAN EITHER USE TO DO OUR OWN SHELTER OR PARTNER WITH THE CITY TO EXPAND WHAT'S THERE. JUST WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT MAKES SENSE.

IF WE GET THE WE GET THE GRANT.

SO BUT SHE HAS ALWAYS WORKED SUPER HARD ON ALL THAT STUFF.

SO THANK YOU. ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? OKAY. IF NOT, WE'LL MOVE TO CITIZENS COMMENTS.

NO CITIZENS COMMENTS.

OKAY, WITH THAT, WE'LL GO TO CONSENT COMMISSIONERS.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

SO MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED.

HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES.

[G.1 Regarding the burn ban.]

HECTOR. GOOD MORNING JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, STAFF AND GALLERY.

NOTHING MAJOR TO REPORT THESE FROM THESE LAST PAST TWO WEEKS, FIRES HAVE BEEN DOWN SUBSTANTIALLY.

WE ARE ABOUT TO RECEIVE SOME RAIN ON THURSDAY WITH THE 60% AND IN A SMALLER CHANCE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.

I'D LIKE TO KEEP THE BURN BAN OFF ANOTHER TWO WEEKS.

OUR MINIMUM NUMBERS RIGHT NOW ARE THE NUMBERS ARE MINIMUM 63, MAX 167, AVERAGE 69 WITH A CHANGE OF PLUS TWO.

SO I'D LIKE TO KEEP THE BURN BAN OFF ANOTHER TWO WEEKS.

OKAY, COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE A MOTION TO KEEP THE BURN BAN OFF.

SO MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? NOT ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. THANKS, HECTOR.

[G.2 To reappoint the Primary Voting Member and Alternate Member to the 2024 Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) Technical Advisory Committee.]

CAMPO TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

THAT IN THE PAST HAS BEEN WILL CONNOLLY HAS BEEN OUR PRIMARY AND COMMISSIONER THERIOT, OUR SECONDARY AND AND THAT IS WHO WE CURRENTLY HAVE ON THE ON THE LIST TO REAPPOINT CAN ENTERTAIN A REAPPOINTMENT.

BUT WE WOULD WE WOULD NEED A MOTION TO DO SO OR A MOTION TO REAPPOINT THE TWO MEMBERS THAT WE HAVE.

WHAT I WOULD MOVE TO REAPPOINT THE TWO EXISTING MEMBERS TO CAMPO.

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO REAPPOINT WILL CONNOLLY AND COMMISSIONER THERIOT.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? NOT.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM G THREE TO APPROVE THE TRANSFER OF $151,607 FROM CONTINGENCY TO 00165104110.

[G.3 To approve the transfer of $151,607.00 from Contingency to 001-6510-4110 Professional Services for American Structurepoint CIPP project.]

COMMISSIONERS, THIS IS IN ASSOCIATION WITH OUR EFFORTS TO PUT TOGETHER SOME PROJECTS FOR THE ROAD BOND AND TO GO THROUGH CITIZENS COMMENTS AND ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO TO BEGIN THAT PROCESS.

[00:10:08]

AND SO THIS IS JUST MOVING THE MONEY OUT OF CONTINGENCY INTO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.

AND IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, I'D LOOK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE TRANSFER.

ALSO MOVE. WE HAVE A MOTION.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? NOT. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED.

HEARING. NONE. MOTION CARRIES.

[G.4 To approve payment of American Structurepoint Invoice #169225 in the amount of $2,100.45 for October CIPP engineering services.]

INVOICE NUMBER 169225 IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,100.45 FOR OCTOBER CIP ENGINEERING SERVICES.

WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE INVOICE.

SO MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION.

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

SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED, HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES.

[G.5 To approve the American Structurepoint Blanket PO #02802 in the amount of $200,492.46 for SH142 Project Engineering Services.]

BLANKET PO NUMBER 02802, IN THE AMOUNT OF $200,492.46 FOR SH142 PROJECT ENGINEERING. CAROLYN.

I'LL LET YOU TAKE THAT ONE.

YES. SO THIS IS JUST US NEEDING TO ROLL OVER A PREVIOUS AMERICAN STRUCTURE, POINT PO.

IT WAS REISSUED LAST YEAR, AND THE WAY OUR SYSTEM WORKS, WE CAN'T REISSUE A REISSUED PO, SO WE JUST CREATED A NEW ONE. THIS IS FOR THE 142 PROJECT, AND I BELIEVE THAT WE RECEIVED THIS MONEY.

WAS IT THROUGH THE ARPA FUNDS? OKAY, COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BLANKET PO FOR AMERICAN STRUCTURE POINT? SO MOVE. WE HAVE A MOTION.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? NOT ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED.

HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES.

[G.6 To approve Tyler Technologies Blanket PO #02803 in the amount of $524,442.65 for Odyssey Implementation Project.]

IN THE AMOUNT OF 524,442.65 FOR ODYSSEY IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT.

SO THIS IS A SIMILAR SITUATION.

WE RECEIVED THESE FUNDS THROUGH ARPA AND IT'S FOR OUR ODYSSEY IMPLEMENTATION THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

AGAIN WE JUST CAN'T REISSUE A REISSUED PURCHASE ORDER.

SO WE JUST WANTED TO GET A NEW ONE APPROVED.

OKAY COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE PO 02803? SO MOVED. I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER THERIOT AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HORNE.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED.

HEARING. NONE. MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM G SEVEN TO APPROVE A PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND TYLER TECHNOLOGIES FOR INTEGRATION OF THE COUNTY

[G.7 To approve a participation agreement between the County and Tyler Technologies, Inc. for integration of the County Clerk's and District Clerk's case records into re:SearchTX.]

THIS HAS ZERO COST, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE.

AND THE IN THE BOTH CLERKS HAVE EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO HAVE THIS PRODUCT.

SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE A PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND TYLER FOR THIS SERVICE? SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HORNE AND A SECOND.

SECOND. BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? NOT ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED.

HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES.

[G.8 To approve the contract between Caldwell County and Tyler Technologies for credit card machines for the County Clerk's office.]

THAT'S GOING TO BE A COST OF $5,220.

TERESA, YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN THAT? I KNOW YOU CAN EXPLAIN THAT BETTER THAN I CAN.

I SAID, OKAY, BUT YES, WHEN WE DID OUR CONVERSION TO ODYSSEY, WE GOT FOR MY OFFICE, I NEEDED TEN CREDIT CARD MACHINES.

WELL, IT WAS ACTUALLY JUST FOR THE CRIMINAL SIDE.

MY DEED SIDE IS ON A DIFFERENT PROGRAM WITH TYLER, BUT THEIR EAGLE RECORDER.

BUT THEY WEREN'T COMPATIBLE, SO WE HAD TO, THEY'RE GOING TO.

I FORGET WHAT YOU CALL IT, RECONFIGURE THEM, I GUESS.

AND SO BUT IT'S GOING TO COST ME $5,000, A ONE TIME PAYMENT.

FROM NOW ON, I'LL HAVE TO BUDGET FOR THE ANNUAL PAYMENT OF $720.

BUT I WILL NEED THESE SO WE COULD ALL BE ON ONE CREDIT CARD VENDOR INSTEAD OF TWO LIKE WE ARE NOW.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

OKAY, COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND TYLER FOR THE CREDIT CARD MACHINES IN THE CLARK COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE? I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE.

I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND TO APPROVE.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND.

[00:15:02]

YES. ON THE CREDIT CARD MACHINES.

I MEAN, IF THEY'RE SUPPLYING THE CREDIT CARD MACHINES, WHY WOULD THEY HAVE TO? WE'RE MOVING TO, WE'RE MOVING ALL THIS STUFF TO A DIFFERENT COMPANY, AND THEY STILL WON'T SUPPLY THE CREDIT CARD.

WE DID GET THOSE CREDIT.

WE DID GET I DID GET TEN CREDIT CARD MACHINES.

BUT BECAUSE MY DEED SIDE IS ON A DIFFERENT PROGRAM, WHICH ONLY ODYSSEY WAS CONTRACTED FOR, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE COUNTY, BUT I WAS ALREADY ON EGO RECORDER ON MY DEED SIDE, SO THAT WASN'T INCLUDED IN THAT CONTRACT, WHICH WE DIDN'T KNOW.

WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO COVER MY WHOLE OFFICE.

OKAY, THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.

YES, SIR. OKAY.

GOOD DEAL. SO WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND TO APPROVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

NOT, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES.

OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 916 PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071, CONSULTATION WITH COUNSEL

[EXECUTIVE SESSION]

POSSIBLE ACTION MAY FOLLOW IN OPEN COURT AND WE ARE IN SESSION AT 916.

OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 9:46.

PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071, CONSULTATION WITH COUNSEL REGARDING PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION OR SETTLEMENT OFFERS RESULTING FROM THE CITY OF LOCKHART'S CHALLENGE TO CONSTITUTIONALITY OF HB 2038.

NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN, AND PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551 .074, TO DELIBERATE THE EMPLOYMENT EVALUATION DUTIES OF THE ASSISTANT GRANT ADMINISTRATOR, COURT COMMISSIONERS HAVE DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO PROMOTE CHRISTINA TO FIRST ASSISTANT GRANT COORDINATOR, WHICH WOULD RESULT IN A SALARY OF $50,000 RATHER THAN HER CURRENT SALARY.

AND I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT IT IS, BUT IT'S APPROXIMATELY A $2,500 A YEAR RAISE, I BELIEVE.

ALL RIGHT, SO, COMMISSIONERS, WE WOULD NEED A MOTION TO DO THAT.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND SECOND WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED, HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES.

AND THAT TAKES US TO ITEM I.

ADJOURNMENT. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

SO MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND.

SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED, HEARING NONE.

MOTION CARRIES AND WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 947.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.