[00:00:01] >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR COMING TO CALDWELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. [A. CALL MEETING TO ORDER] WE'RE GOING TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2024 AT 9:00 AM AND COMMISSIONER THOMAS, WOULD YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION THIS MORNING? >> DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER WE COME BEFORE YOU THIS HOUR WE ASK YOU TO GUIDE US AND BLESS US ALL THINGS TO BE DONE [INAUDIBLE] ALL OF THESE THINGS WE ASK THROUGH YOUR SON JESUS CHRIST AMEN. >> AMEN. >> COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS MORNING? >> NO ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM ME, JUDGE. >> NONE FOR ME, JUDGE. >> COMMISSIONER THERIOT. >> NONE FOR ME, JUDGE. >> COMMISSIONER THOMAS. >> NONE FOR ME. >> WE'RE GOING TO GO TO CITIZENS COMMENTS. [E. CITIZENS' COMMENTS] WE HAVE QUITE A LOT OF COMMENTS THIS MORNING. IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE TO GET THROUGH THEM. OUR CITIZENS COMMENTS, WE ASK THAT YOU COME UP AND STATE YOUR NAME WHERE YOU'RE FROM. YOU WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES AND DO THE AMOUNT OF COMMENTS THAT WE HAVE. WE'RE GOING TO HOLD STRICTLY TO THAT FOUR MINUTES. YOU GET FOUR MINUTES AND YOU'RE OUT OF TIME. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ASK YOU TO WRAP IT UP. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED. >> JORDAN BUCKLEY. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. >> GOOD MORNING. >> MY NAME IS JORDAN BUCKLEY. I'M A PROPERTY OWNER HERE IN CALDWELL COUNTY, HAVE MY OFFICE ACROSS THE STREET AT THE SOLBERG GALLERY. I BROUGHT A BOOK THAT MY SON OR TAMI AND I ENJOY READING. THE PICTURES ARE STUNNING. IT'S FROM THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC. RECENTLY, WE PERUSED THE SECTION ON THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY AND THE BIRDS THAT MIGRATE NORTH OF THE US BORDER IN THE SPRINGTIME. IT'S CALLED THE MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY. IT'S WHERE VAST CARAVANS OF BIRDS MAKE THEIR WAY INTO CANADA, AND THEY HAVE FOR GENERATIONS. I'M NOT SURE IF SOME OF YOU DUCK HUNT, BUT YOU MAY KNOW THAT SOME MALLARDS STAY PUT IN THE US, WHILE OTHERS TAKE WING FLOCKING INTO CANADA AND ALASKA BEFORE THEY BREED. SOME OF THE OTHER TRANS NATIONAL MIGRANTS INCLUDE THE GLORIOUSLY COLORED WOOD DUCTS, ELEGANT SWANS, WHITE PELICANS THAT HAVE NINE FOOT WINGSPANS ENABLING THEM TO SORT AT VERY HIGH ALTITUDES. YOU HAVE PEREGRINE FALCONS WHICH ARE FOUND ACROSS THE CONTINENT AND ARE KNOWN TO RETURN TO THE VERY SITES THAT THEY'VE USED FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS BY SUCCESSIVE GENERATIONS. YOU HAVE CANADA GEESE THAT TRAVEL IN THEIR DISTINCTIVE V, ESSENTIALLY AN ARROW OF GROUP FLIGHT. YOU HAVE SANDHILL CRANES AMONG THE OLDEST BIRDS ON EARTH WITH FOSSILS DATING BACK NINE MILLION YEARS. THEN YOU HAVE THE BALD EAGLE, THE NOBLE SYMBOL OF OUR NATION, WHICH SEEKS ITS BREEDING GROUNDS AND PLENTIFUL FOOD IN CANADA. THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE TRANSNATIONAL MIGRANTS. THE PLANETARY REALITY OF MIGRATION IS OBJECTIVE FACT. IT'S DIVINE WILL. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HUMAN ARROGANCE CAN CONTROL WRANGLING GOD'S WAY INTO OUR SELFISH POSSESSION. THE NATURALNESS OF MIGRATION IS EXTREMELY OBVIOUS TO ANY CASUAL OBSERVER OF OUR NATURAL WORLD. IN 2021, MY WIFE AND I TRAVELED TO THE MICHOACAN TO WITNESS THE RESPLENDENT CROSS CONTINENT ARRIVAL OF THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY, AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE. WE COULD BE TALKING ABOUT ARMY ANTS IN CENTRAL AMERICA, SOCKEYE SALMON, AND BRITISH COLUMBIA, ALASKA, THE PRONGHORN ANTELOPE AND THE GRAND TETONS, ELEPHANTS IN MALI AND BURKINA FASO, ZEBRAS IN THE BOTSWANA AND BORLAND, WILDEBEESTS IN KENYA AND TANZANIA, RED CRABS IN THE ISLANDS AROUND AUSTRALIA, ORANGUTANS IN BORNEO, MALAYSIA AND INDONESIA, PACIFIC WALRUSES IN THE BARON SEA, WHALE SHARKS AND BELIZE IN MEXICO, SPERM WHALES IN THE ATLANTIC PACIFIC AND INDIAN OCEANS. THE LIST GOES ON. MIGRATION IS NATURAL. IT IS PERFECTLY DIVINELY NATURAL. NOW, IN A HUMAN CONTEXT, A CALDWELL COUNTY CONTEXT, THE GREATER THE AMOUNT OF MIGRANTS, THE SAFER WE ARE. THAT'S BECAUSE DATA FROM THE CONSERVATIVE CATO INSTITUTE REVEALS THAT UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS ARE HALF AS LIKELY TO COMMIT CRIME COMPARED TO US CITIZENS. LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO INVITE THE COURT TO ENGAGE IN A THOUGHT EXPERIMENT THAT'S ROOTED IN LOCAL HISTORY. AS YOU DENIGRATE WITH FALSE STATEMENTS, IMMIGRANTS. IMAGINE FOR JUST ONE MOMENT THAT YOU SUBSTITUTE ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE FOR ANOTHER. WOULD YOU EVER, FOR EXAMPLE, JUDGE HAYDEN, COMMISSIONER THERIOT, COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND, WOULD YOU EVER PASS A RESOLUTION DECLARING SAY THAT BLACK PEOPLE SPREAD CONTAGIOUS DISEASE, OR BLACK PEOPLE ARE MORE PRONE TO COMMIT CRIMES? IF WE DON'T DENOUNCE BLACK PEOPLE, CALDWELL COUNTY WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL FUNDING. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT IF ANY OF US ARE LUCKY [00:05:01] ENOUGH TO GET TO HEAVEN AND GAZE DOWN ON THE EARTH, WE WILL SEE NO INVISIBLE LINES. INDEED, BORDERS WILL NOT MATTER. BUT WHAT MATTERS IS HOW WE TREATED ONE ANOTHER. WHO ACTED NOBLY AND WHO MALICIOUSLY LIED ABOUT THEIR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST AND ABUSED THEIR SACRED POWER TO PERSECUTE THEIR VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS. I ASK YOU TO REPEAL THE DISASTER DECLARATION. >> KAREN. [OVERLAPPING] >> PLEASE DON'T ENGAGE WITH PLAN THAT IN THE AUDIENCE. >> KAREN TREVINO. >> GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. MY NAME IS KAREN MUNOZ TREVINO. I'M AN ATTORNEY AT LATINO JUSTICE, A NOT FOR PROFIT CIVIL RIGHTS LAW FIRM. I'VE LIVED IN THE REGION FOR OVER 10 YEARS. I LIVE IN SAN MARCOS. I'VE DONE A COUPLE OF TRIALS HERE IN CALDWELL COUNTY, AND MY FIRST JOB AFTER GRADUATION AT TEXAS STATE WAS ACTUALLY AT THE HAYS CALDWELL WOMEN CENTER. I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME HERE IN MARCOS. I'M ALSO FROM THE TEXAS MEXICO BORDER. I'M HERE TODAY URGING YOU TO WITHDRAW THE RESOLUTION 3-2023, THE SO CALLED DISASTER DECLARATION. I'M HERE BECAUSE THERE'S NO EMERGENCY AT THE BORDER. THERE'S NO CRISIS AT THE BORDER, AND THERE'S CERTAINLY NO EMERGENCY DISASTER CRISIS IN CALDWELL COUNTY. THERE IS, HOWEVER, A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS HAPPENING AT THE BORDER AIDED BY RESOLUTIONS LIKE THIS ONE AND THE FEAR MONGERING LANGUAGE AND MISINFORMATION WHICH THIS RESOLUTION IS BUILT ON. SINCE THE DISASTER DECLARATION FAILS TO MENTION THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS THAT OUR GOVERNOR AND GOVERNMENT HAS CREATED, I'D LIKE TO MENTION JUST A FEW OF OUR GOVERNMENT'S CRUEL ACTIONS. THE INSTALLATION OF RAZOR WIRE AND BOUYS IN THE RIO GRANDE RIVER. IN AUGUST, TWO BODIES WERE FOUND IN THE RIO GRANDE NEAR THE BORDER BARRIER, ONE OF WHICH WAS TANGLED IN THE BOUYS. THAT'S A REPORT FROM SEPTEMBER 2023. OPERATION LONE STAR, WHICH HAS REPORTEDLY COST TEXAS WAY OVER $11 BILLION SINCE IT BEGAN IN MARCH 2021, HAS LED TO IMMIGRANTS BEING PLACED IN PRISONS, NOT JAILS, PRETRIAL FOR CRIMINAL TRESPASS CHARGES, A CHARGE THAT WOULD KEEP ME IN FOR A $500 BOND, FOR EXAMPLE. HAS INCLUDED MASS MAGISTRATIONS, HELD OUTDOORS, HAS LED TO THE SEPARATION OF AT LEAST 26 FAMILIES THAT'S DOCUMENTED, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY WAY MORE THAN THAT AND WAS FOUND TO VIOLATE THE EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE FOR TARGETING ONLY MEN INITIALLY. OPERATION LONE STAR IS, OF COURSE, STILL IN EFFECT TODAY. IT'S ALSO LED TO FURTHER MILITARIZATION OF BORDER COMMUNITIES, LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM LOUISIANA, MISSOURI, SOUTH DAKOTA, FLORIDA, IOWA, INDIANA, HAVE ALL BEEN DEPLOYED TO THE TEXAS BORDER. IN FEBRUARY, THE FBI ARRESTED A TENNESSEE MAN WHO ALLEGEDLY PLANNED TO SHOOT MIGRANTS IN EAGLE PASS TO STOP AN INVASION, ECHOING MUCH OF THE RHETORIC THAT GOVERNOR ABBOTT HAS HIMSELF SAID. TEXAS TROOPERS HAVE BEEN TOLD TO PUSH CHILDREN INTO THE RIO GRANDE AND NI WATER TO MIGRANTS, ACCORDING TO RECORDS FROM HOUSTON CHRONICLE. ACCORDING TO A NOVEMBER 2023 REPORT TITLED SO MUCH BLOOD ON THE GROUND, DANGEROUS AND DEADLY VEHICLE PURSUITS UNDER TEXAS' OPERATION LONE STAR. OLS COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING A DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE OF VEHICLE PURSUITS ACROSS THE STATE, LEADING TO AN INCREASE IN PROPERTY DAMAGE. THIS INCREASED MILITARIZATION OF THE BORDER. AT MINIMUM HAS LED TO PROPERTY DAMAGE, AND AT WORST HAS LED TO DEATH. BETWEEN THE START OF OLS AND MARCH 2021 AND JULY 2023, AT LEAST 74 PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND ANOTHER 189 INJURED AS A RESULT OF 49 PURSUITS BY TEXAS TROOPERS OR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OR BOTH IN OPERATION LONE STAR COUNTIES. ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT I JUST MENTIONED AND THAT'S NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST HAVE CREATED A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS ON THE BORDER, AND THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT THE SUBJECT OF THESE CONVERSATIONS SHOULD BE. AT LATINO JUSTICE, MY COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE SPENT TIME ON THE BORDER. MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME MEETING PEOPLE ON THE BORDER, TALKING TO THEM ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES AND DOCUMENTING THEIR STORIES. WE PUBLISH A SIX PART SERIES CALLED THE BORDERS BEAUTIFUL ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA, AND I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO WATCH THAT SERIES. IF YOU DO, YOU'LL HEAR DIRECTLY FROM RESIDENTS OF EAGLE PASS AND LAREDO, AND YOU'LL HEAR THEM TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH IMMIGRATION IS A PART OF THEIR LIFE AND HAS BEEN, LONG BEFORE OPERATION LONE STAR STARTED, LONG BEFORE THE FIRST OF THESE DISASTER DECLARATIONS WERE EVER SIGNED. YOU'LL HEAR THEM TALK ABOUT HOW OPERATION LONE STAR AND SB4 AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT I MENTIONED BEFORE HAVE CREATED A DEEPER SENSE OF DISTRUST BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND MIXED STATUS IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. YOU'LL HEAR THEM TALK ABOUT THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS ON THE BORDER. COMMUNITIES ON THE BORDER NEED TO BE LISTENED TO AND DECLARATIONS LIKE THIS DO THE OPPOSITE OF THAT. I URGE YOU TO RESCIND IT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> ERB SLOTI. >> GOOD MORNING. WANT TO SAY, APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO THE COUNTY. >>SIR, DO YOU MIND JUST FOR THE RECORD, [00:10:02] STATING YOUR NAME, PLEASE, AND WHERE YOU'RE FROM? STATE YOUR NAME AND WHERE YOU'RE FROM? >> ERB SLOTI, DALE, TEXAS. >> THANK YOU. >> AGAIN, I ASKED THE SUPPORT FOR GOVERNOR ABBOTT AND THE DISASTER DECLARATION, AND WOULD HOPE THAT SOME OF THOSE FUNDS MIGHT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT AND INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, ALLOWING FOR MORE PATROL AND OUTREACH INTO THAT COMMUNITY THAT IS JUST GONE VIRAL IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT NOW RESIDE IN THE COUNTRY, OUT IN THE RURAL AREA. WE NEED MORE DEPUTIES COVERAGE AND ABILITY TO RESPOND AND THE SAME THING WITH FIRE. MORE PEOPLE, MORE BUILDINGS AND ALL THAT, THEY'RE OUT IN THE WOODS, AND WE ALL NEED SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO INCREASE THE SAFETY AND WELFARE OF PEOPLE LIVING IN THE COUNTY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> THOMAS MONAGHAN. >> GOOD MORNING. I RECEIVED THE MESSAGE TALK ABOUT THIS. [OVERLAPPING] >> SIR, STATE YOUR NAME AND WHERE YOU'RE FROM, PLEASE FIRST. >> SORRY. I'M HARD OF HEARING. THOMAS MONAGHAN, LOCKHART RESIDENT, 24 YEARS. ANYHOW, I RECEIVED THE MESSAGE, TALK ABOUT THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEM, WHICH HAS BEEN A FEDERAL PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME. THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS ALLOWED THESE PEOPLE TO COME IN. GOVERNMENTS ARE ESTABLISHED TO GO AND SERVE THE PEOPLE AND PROTECT THEM. WE HAVE LAWS ON THE BOOKS. THE FIRST SPEAKER BRINGS OUT HIS PICTURE BOOK AND TALKS ABOUT ANIMALS IN MIGRATION THAT IT'S NATURAL. YES. BUT WHAT WE HAVE CODIFIED LAWS. WE JUST DON'T OPEN UP THE BORDERS AND HAVE PEOPLE REACH INTO OUR POCKETS TO GO AND PAY FOR WHAT THEY SHOULD BE SOLVING IN THEIR OWN COUNTRIES. THEY SAY HE ALSO WENT AND MENTIONED THAT THEY COMMIT HALF THE CRIMES OF US CITIZENS. THAT'S A FALSE STATISTIC. EVERY WEEK, YOU READ IN THE PAPER ABOUT MURDERS BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, RAPES, SUCH AS THAT 12-YEAR-OLD IN HOUSTON, THAT TWO OF THEM RAPED HER AND THAT KILLED HER. WE DON'T NEED THAT HERE. YOU READ ABOUT AURORA COLORADO WITH THE VENEZUELAN GANG, TAKING OVER APARTMENT BUILDINGS, FORCING PEOPLE TO PAY THEM RENT WHEN THEY HAVE NO STANDING. PLEASE. WE NEED TO GO AND FOLLOW OUR LAWS. THEY NEED TO FOLLOW OUR LAWS, AND WE NEED TO GO AND HAVE ABLE BODIED PEOPLE COME IN HERE THAT WE WILLING TO WORK, NOT SINGLE MALE ADULTS OF MILITARY AGE. THIS IS AN INVASION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, SIR. JUST REMIND EVERYBODY WHEN YOU COME UP, STATE YOUR NAME WHERE YOU'RE FROM FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE. >> ARNOLD PROCTOR. >> GOOD MORNING. I AM ARNOLD PROCTOR. I'VE BEEN A HOMEOWNER HERE IN LOCKHART FOR OVER 40 YEARS. I'M A RETIRED ARMY OFFICER. I'M PROUD OF THE REPRESENTATION THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THIS COURTHOUSE. I RECEIVED AN EMAIL LAST NIGHT REGARDING THE ACTION THAT YOU'VE TAKEN ON THE GOVERNOR'S PROCLAMATION. I'M HERE TO TELL YOU STAND BY YOUR PREVIOUS ACTION. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> JAMES GILLIAM. >> GOOD MORNING, COURT. MY NAME IS JAMES GILLIAM, 804 NIXON STREET, LOCKHART, TEXAS. I WOULD LIKE TO ENTER INTO THE RECORD. THIS ARTICLE FROM THE CALDWELL COUNTY HAYES EXAMINER GOES AS FOLLOWS. THE CONSERVATIVE CATO INSTITUTE EXAMINING DATA FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOUND THAT THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CRIMINAL CONVICTION RATE WAS 45% BELOW THAT OF THE NATIVE BORN AMERICANS IN TEXAS. [00:15:05] IN OTHER WORDS, TEXAS CITIZENS ARE NEARLY TWICE AS LIKELY TO COMMIT CRIMES COMPARED TO THE UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS. THE SECOND ALLEGATION THAT IMMIGRANTS IN PARTICULAR SPREAD THE CONTAGIOUS DISEASES IS SIMILARLY UNTRUE IN PART OF A LONG XENOPHOBIC TRADITION IN THE UNITED STATES OF SCAPEGOATING IMMIGRANTS, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES OF PANDEMIC. >> FOLKS, PLEASE SILENCE YOUR PHONES. >> NO NATION ON THE PLANET WAS HARDER HIT BY COVID THAN THE UNITED STATES, NOT DUE TO IMMIGRATION, BUT ON ACCOUNT OF THE PREVALENT FLOUTING OF SAFETY PROTOCOLS AND WIDESPREAD SKEPTICISM OF THE VALUE OF LIFESAVING IMMUNIZATION. THAT FINISHES MY COMMENT. I WOULD LIKE THIS PLACED IN THE RECORD. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> GEORGE HOUSE. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. I JUST LEARNED ABOUT THIS LAST. >> DO YOU MIND JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND WHERE ARE YOU FROM, SIR? >> GEORGE HOUSE, NORTHERN CALDWELL COUNTY. I'VE BEEN HERE 34 YEARS. >> THANK YOU. >> I HEARD ABOUT THIS LAST NIGHT. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING PREPARED, BUT I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE IMMIGRATION THAT'S BEEN CAUSED, THE RUINATION OF OUR COUNTRY AND OUR GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POLICY ON PERHAPS ALLOWING US SOME FUNDS TO POLICE OUR COUNTY. I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT ANY RACIAL, RELIGIOUS OR ETHNIC GROUP COMING ACROSS ILLEGALLY. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT OVER TWO DIVISIONS OF CHINESE MILITARY AGE MEN COMING INTO THIS COUNTRY. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT FENTANYL. THESE ARE BROUGHT OVER BY IMMIGRANTS AND A LOT OF THEM ARE THE GOTAWAYS. I'M AWARE OF STUDIES THAT SHOW THAT FOR THE MOST PART, THE ILLEGAL CRIME SITUATION IS WORSE THAN OUR LONG TIME AMERICAN CITIZENS. I SUPPORT YOUR EFFORTS IN TRYING TO GET SOME FUNDING FROM GOVERNOR ABBOTT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> BOB LIBAL. >> [NOISE] THANK YOU, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS BOB LIBAL. I AM A TEXAS BASED CONSULTANT TO HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH, WHICH IS A NONPROFIT NONPARTISAN INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATION THAT INVESTIGATES ALLEGATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN MORE THAN 90 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES. FOR THE PAST 2.5 YEARS, I'VE WORKED WITH HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH TO EXTENSIVELY DOCUMENT THE IMPACT OF OPERATION LONE STAR. THE BORDER PROGRAM CREATED IN 2021 BY GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S DISASTER DECLARATION, AND I WANTED TO ADD SOME OF OUR FINDINGS AND HOPEFULLY, SOME NUANCE TO THE CONVERSATION. OPERATION LONE STAR, WHICH HAS NOW COST TEXAS TAXPAYERS MORE THAN $11 BILLION HAS NOT SUCCEEDED IN REDUCING MIGRATION OR DRUG SMUGGLING, ACCORDING TO SEPARATE ANALYSIS BY THE WALL STREET JOURNAL IN THE SUMMER OF 2023 AND THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE JUST LAST MONTH. I WILL NOTE THAT TODAY BORDER CROSSINGS NATIONALLY, IN TEXAS AND IN OTHER BORDER STATES ARE AT FOUR YEAR LOWS, THE SAME LEVEL THEY WERE AT IN THE SUMMER OF 2020. WHILE NOT HAVING A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON MIGRATION, OPERATION LONE STAR HAS LED TO INJURIES AND DEATHS HAS VIOLATED THE RIGHTS OF MIGRANTS AND US CITIZENS ALIKE. LAST WEEK, A REPORT FROM THE WASHINGTON OFFICE ON LATIN AMERICA DOCUMENTED EXTENSIVE REPORTS OF ABUSE BY TEXAS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD UNDER OPERATION LONE STAR, INCLUDING FIRING RUBBER BULLETS AND PEPPER BALLS AT ASYLUM SEEKERS, INCLUDING WOMEN AND CHILDREN, BEATINGS AND PUSHING PEOPLE INTO CONCERTINA WIRE, WHICH IS THE RAZOR WIRE THAT WE'VE PROBABLY ALL SEEN ON THE NEWS. AT LEAST 17 TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD SERVICE PERSONNEL [00:20:01] HAVE DIED WHILE DEPLOYED UNDER OPERATION LONE STAR. THESE DEATHS INCLUDE SUICIDES, DROWNING, ACCIDENTAL SHOOTINGS AND VEHICLE ACCIDENTS. THERE'S ALSO BEEN AT LEAST ONE DPS OFFICER DEPLOYED UNDER THE PROGRAM WHO HAS PASSED AWAY. ACCORDING TO AN EXTENSIVE REPORT BY HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH, MY ORGANIZATION IN 2023, OPERATION LONE STAR HAS CONTRIBUTED TO SCORES OF DEADLY VEHICLE PURSUITS. AT LEAST 74 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED AND ANOTHER 189 INJURED AS A RESULT OF PURSUITS BY TEXAS TROOPERS OR LAW ENFORCEMENT UNDER THE PROGRAM IN THE FIRST 29 MONTHS OF OPERATION LONE STAR. THOSE KILLED HAVE INCLUDED BYSTANDERS, INCLUDING A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL, AND 81% OF THOSE VEHICLE PURSUITS, AND THESE ARE HIGH SPEED VEHICLE PURSUITS, SOMETIMES MORE THAN 100 MILES AN HOUR, WERE INITIATED BECAUSE OF A TRAFFIC VIOLATION, NEARLY ALL OF THOSE TRAFFIC MISDEMEANORS, THINGS LIKE SPEEDING. THESE HIGH SPEED VEHICLE PURSUITS DO NOT FOLLOW POLICING BEST PRACTICES. ACROSS THE COUNTRY, POLICE DEPARTMENTS LIMIT VEHICLE PURSUITS, ESPECIALLY HIGH SPEED VEHICLE PURSUITS, RECOGNIZING THE HIGH RISK OF LOSS OF LIFE, SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY, AND SERIOUS PROPERTY DAMAGE. THERE'S ALSO ONGOING LITIGATION AGAINST THE STATE AND SEVERAL COUNTIES PARTICIPATING IN OPERATION LONE STAR OVER THE DETENTION OF MIGRANTS WHO ARE HELD FOR DAYS OR WEEKS BEYOND THE DISPOSITION OF THEIR CRIMINAL CASES. OPERATION LONE STAR HAS RAISED SUFFICIENT CONCERNS ABOUT POSSIBLE VIOLATIONS OF NONDISCRIMINATION LAWS, THAT IT HAS COME UNDER THE INVESTIGATION. IT HAS COME UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. THERE'S NO INDICATION THAT DECLARATIONS OF SUPPORT FOR THE PROGRAM OR REISSUING A DISASTER DECLARATION WOULD UNLOCK ANY FEDERAL FUNDS TO THE COUNTY. I WANTED TO ADD THIS DATA TO THE RECORD, AND I'M AVAILABLE TO BE A RESOURCE AS YOU CONSIDER WHAT YOUR NEXT STEPS ARE. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, STATE GOVERNMENTS, FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS OPERATE IN FACT, AND THAT WE OPERATE WITH A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE PROGRAM. I WILL SEND AN EMAIL TO FOLKS WITH THIS INFORMATION, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU AS YOU MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> JURIS K. >> MORNING, JUDGE COMMISSIONERS, AND EVERYBODY PRESENT TODAY. MY NAME IS JURIS KHARKOV. I'M 46. I BECAME A US CITIZEN THREE WEEKS AGO. I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY IN 2016. I'VE BEEN FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IN BELGIUM FOR 20 YEARS, AND I'VE DONE UNITED NATIONS OPERATIONS AS AN INSTRUCTOR IN 35 COUNTRIES. I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT BIRDS AND SWAINS. ALSO THE FACT THAT I TRAIN DOGS. I TRAIN DOGS FOR OUR MILITARY. I'M HAVING A COURSE GOING ON RIGHT NOW FOR OUR TIER 1 OPERATORS THAT ARE GOING TO BE IN ISRAEL TO SAVE US FROM EVERYTHING THAT WE DO NOT WANT. EVERYTHING THAT WE DON'T WANT TO COME OVER THE BORDER. I'M TRAINING DOGS ON FENTANYL. YOU ALL HAVE NO IDEA WHAT FENTANYL IS DOING. IT'S KILLING PEOPLE. MY CITIZENSHIP HAS COST ME A SHIT OF MONEY. >> EXCUSE ME FOR THAT. PLEASE ACT ON YOUR LANGUAGE, SIR. >> I'M SORRY. COST ME A LOT OF MONEY. I'M PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN. THIS MORNING, I DID MY PLEDGE FOR THE FIRST TIME. [NOISE] AFTER THAT, I HAVE BEEN PRACTICING IT FOR HUNDREDS OF TIMES WHEN I DID MY IMMIGRATION TEST. I'M WAITING TO GO TO MY TICO CERTIFICATION TO JOIN CALDWELL COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. I THINK I HAVE SOMETHING TO GIVE WITH MY 20 YEARS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. PEOPLE THAT HAVE QUESTIONS. YOU CAN FIND ME, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO ME. I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THE REAL STORY. I TRAINED WITH THE BORDER GUYS. I TRAINED WITH DPS. ONCE A MONTH, I'M AT THE BORDER TO HELP THE DOGS THAT I TRAINED TO SAVE THE LIVES OF AMERICAN CITIZENS TO AVOID THAT WE'RE GOING TO A PLACE WHERE WE REALLY DON'T WANT TO BE. I LIVE IN THE COUNTY SINCE 2021. I LIVED IN DEL, PROBABLY NOT FAR AWAY FROM YOU. WHERE I LIVED TURNED OVER IN CARTEL LANDS. [00:25:03] SHOOTINGS. I KNOW THAT MR. RANGEL IS TRYING TO CHANGE THINGS IF HE BECOMES A SHERIFF, ALL THE ILLEGAL SHOOTINGS, PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE THE 10 ACRES, WHERE IT SHOULD BE. IT'S WAY MORE THAN SHOOTINGS. IT'S WAY MORE THAN FENTANYL. IT'S A LOT OF THINGS. YES, YOU'RE THE BOSS OF THE COUNTY. YOU NEED MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT. PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO GO IN LAW ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE THEY ARE GETTING SUED BY EVERYBODY WHO HATES LAW ENFORCEMENT. I KNOW I HAVE FOUR MINUTES. I CAN GO ON ALL DAY LONG. I'M GOING TO LEAVE THE SPOTS FOR THE OTHER PEOPLE. I THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. I THANK ALL THE LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR WHAT THEY ARE DOING. FOR OTHER PEOPLE PRESENT, HAVE SOME COMMON SENSE. KNOW WHAT TOOK TO BECOME WHAT YOU WERE AND TO HAVE WHAT YOU HAVE, WHAT YOU WORKED HARD FOR IN A LEGAL WAY. I SPEAK SEVEN LANGUAGES, AND ONE OF THEM IS LATIN, [FOREIGN]. THE LAW IS THE LAW AND THE LAW IS THERE FOR EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> JOE SMITH. JOE SMITH. >> I DON'T SEE HIM. >> JOSHUA [INAUDIBLE]. >> [NOISE] JUST REMIND HER FOLKS PLEASE SILENCE YOUR PHONES. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. JUDGES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR OUR COUNTY. MY NAME IS JOSHUA [INAUDIBLE]. I AM A RESIDENT OF LOCKHART. [NOISE] I'M HERE TO SHOW MY SUPPORT IN FAVOR OF NOT RESCINDING THE DISASTER DECLARATION. I AGREE WITH THE STATEMENT THAT THE YOUNG LADY MADE THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS CAUSED WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY HUMANITARIAN CRISIS DOWN AT THE BORDER DUE TO THEIR INCOMPETENCE. [NOISE] UNDER THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, LEGAL IMMIGRATION WAS AT A RECORD LAW THAT WAS NOT SEEN IN SEVERAL DECADES. NOW, THE FLOODGATES HAVE ESSENTIALLY BEEN OPENED, AND PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO COME INTO THIS COUNTRY UNFETTERED AND UNVETTED. A LITTLE ABOUT MYSELF. I AM A SECOND GENERATION MEXICAN AMERICAN. MY GRANDPARENTS CAME TO THIS COUNTRY. THEY WORKED HARD TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES AND TO MAKE TO LEAVE A LEGACY BEHIND, EVENTUALLY BECOMING CITIZENS. MY GRANDFATHER, GOD REST HIS SOUL, CAME TO THIS COUNTRY LEGALLY FROM PERU. HE WORKED FOR ACDELCO, A SUBSIDIARY OF GENERAL MOTORS, FOR 25 YEARS MAKING LEAD ACID BATTERIES UNTIL HE WAS FORCED TO RETIRE DUE TO HEALTH COMPLICATIONS. THIS OPEN BORDER POLICY NOT ONLY SPITS ON HIS LEGACY, BUT THAT OF MANY OTHER IMMIGRANT FAMILIES WHO CAME TO AMERICA AND BECAME CITIZENS THEMSELVES. THEY WORKED TIRELESSLY TO BECOME CITIZENS AND BE PROUD TO BE CALLED AMERICANS, WHICH AT ONE POINT IN THIS COUNTRY'S EXISTENCE WAS SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF AND WAS A GREAT THING TO SAY. I HAVE NO ISSUES WITH IMMIGRATION, SO LONG AS IT'S LEGAL. LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, DON'T CALIFORNIA, MY TEXAS, WITH BRINGING THESE POLICIES HERE FROM CALIFORNIA. I LEFT THAT STATE FOR A REASON, AND I DON'T WANT IT HERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> LINDA RIVAS VASQUEZ. >> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. MY NAME IS H JANA. I'M HAVE AN OFFICE HERE AT THE SPELLER BERG GALLERY. I'VE PREPARED SOME WORDS TODAY. BUT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED. I'M A MOTHER. I'M A TEACHER. I'M A WRITER. I'M AN IMMIGRANT. I CAME HERE LIKE A CLICHE, IMAGINING A COUNTRY WHICH WOULD EMBRACE ME. SOMETIMES IT HAS, BUT NOT ALWAYS. I WAS TOLD I COULDN'T DO MANY THINGS. LIKE, GO TO COLLEGE BECAUSE I WAS ILLEGAL, AND I THOUGHT, WELL, THAT'S JUST WRONG. I'M NOT A NOUN. THAT'S GRAMMATICALLY CORRECT. WHO HIRED YOU? DESPITE ALL OF THAT, I GOT A MASTER'S OF FINE ARTS AND CREATIVE WRITING IN 2021. [00:30:02] THIS YEAR, I'M FOR THE FIRST TIME REGISTERED TO VOTE. I'M COMING FOR YOU AND ALSO IN YOUR FACE TO THE PERSON AT TCC WHO DOESN'T KNOW THAT PEOPLE CAN'T BE PROPER NOUNS. I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO RESCIND THE DISASTER DECLARATION. THAT IS BECAUSE WE ARE ALREADY IN A STATE OF DISASTER. WE'RE IN A STATE OF DISASTER AT THE GROCERY STORE, WHERE EACH TIME MY HEART SPEEDS DOWN AISLES QUIETLY HOPING FOR INVISIBILITY, WHERE I WON'T SPEAK TO MY TODDLER AND MY MOTHER TONGUE WITHOUT PROMPTLY FOLLOWING IT WITH ENGLISH JUST IN CASE. JUST IN CASE THERE IS A REAL DISASTER, A REAL DISASTER LIKE IN 2019, A WALMART FLOOR SOAKED WITH OUR BREAD, 23 BED, DEAD GRANDMOTHER LOOKING FOR A NEW BACKPACK FOR HER GRANDSON, DEAD MOTHER WAITING FOR HER DAUGHTER'S PLANE TO LAND, STOPPING FOR HYDRANGEAS TO SURPRISE HER WITH THAT HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE. THAT'S A DISASTER AND ONE THAT I DON'T FORGET. BUT I THINK A LOT OF US HAVE. WEST MARLA, TERRIO, YOU ARE PARTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR PERPETUATING GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT'S HATE. IN HIS OWN WORDS, INVASION, INVADERS, THE SEAS, DANGER. THOSE WORDS THAT HE SENT OUT IN AN EMAIL THE DAY BEFORE THE EL PASO SHOOTING IN 2019, THEY WERE FOUND THE VERY NEXT DAY IN THE MANIFESTO LEFT BY THE SHOOTER. >> HE CALLED TO ACTION, DEFEND TEXAS AGAINST INVASION, AND GUESS WHAT THE MANIFEST WAS TITLED, A RESPONSE TO THE HISPANIC INVASION OF TEXAS. I AM THAT INVASION, MY MOTHER IS THAT INVADER, MY BROTHER IS THE DANGER, MY DREAMS HAVE BECOME A DISASTER. I GREW UP TO UNDERSTAND AND WITNESS HERE IN AMERICA, THAT IT WASN'T THE ONE THAT I HAD IMAGINED BEFORE I CAME HERE. BUT THIS ONE WAS, IN FACT, SICK WITH HATRED AND IT IS BEING STOKED BY THE RHETORIC THAT WE ARE SPREADING DISEASE AND THAT WE'RE BRINGING IN DRUGS. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT WE'RE NOT, WE ARE FAMILIES, AND WE ARE HERE JUST TRYING TO MAKE IT OUT IN THE WORLD JUST LIKE THE REST OF YOU. I REALLY FEEL EMBARRASSED THAT I HAVE TO QUOTE BIBLE VERSES. I'M NOT A CHRISTIAN MYSELF, BUT I DO ENJOY SOME OF THE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST, AND THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SECTIONS, SO IT'S MATHEW 40. FOR I WAS HUNGRY AND YOU GAVE ME SOMETHING TO EAT, I WAS THIRSTY, AND YOU GAVE ME SOMETHING TO DRINK, I WAS A STRANGER, AND YOU INVITED ME IN. I NEEDED CLOTHES AND YOU CLOTHED ME. I WAS SICK AND YOU LOOKED AFTER ME. I WAS IN PRISON AND YOU CAME TO VISIT ME. THE KING WILL REPLY. SURELY, I TELL YOU WHATEVER YOU DID FOR ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF MINE, YOU DID FOR ME. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING, AND I URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU USE WHENEVER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS. THANK YOU. >> MIKE LEWIS. >> GOOD MORNING, COURT. MY NAME IS MIKE LEWIS. I LIVE HERE IN LOCKHART. I WANT TO START OFF JUST BY RECITING THE WORDS THAT ARE ON THE STATUE OF LIBERTY, SINCE WE'RE COMING UP ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY NEXT MONTH. "GIVE ME YOUR TIRED, YOUR POOR, YOUR HUDDLED MASSES YEARNING TO BREATHE FREE. THE WRETCHED REUSE OF YOUR TEEMING SHORE. SEND THESE, THE HOMELESS, TEMPEST-TOSSED TO ME. I LIFT MY LAMP BESIDE THE GOLDEN DOOR." THAT'S THE COUNTRY THAT I LIVE IN, AND THAT'S THE ONE I'M PROUD TO LIVE IN. I'M HERE TODAY TO JOIN THE CALLS OF OUR COURT TO RESCIND THE COLDWELL COUNTY DISASTER DECLARATION THAT IS AIDING AND ABETTING OPERATION LONE STAR, WHICH I BELIEVE IS A CRIMINAL OPERATION LED BY GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT. I GREW UP HERE. I'M A FORMER AIR FORCE OFFICER. IN MY OPINION, IT IS A GREAT EMBARRASSMENT TO THIS WONDERFUL COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE A DECLARATION ON THE BOOKS FALSELY ASSERTING THAT PEOPLE BORN OUTSIDE THE US ARE SOMEHOW MORE PRONE TO CRIME AND DISEASE THAN NATIVE-BORN PEOPLE. THAT'S BS. WHEN I CHALLENGED JUDGE HAYDEN ON THIS DECLARATION ON FACEBOOK, [00:35:02] HE REPLIED CLAIMING TWO THINGS. ONE, THAT IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OPERATION LONE STAR, TWO, THAT IT PUTS CALDWELL COUNTY IN POSITION FOR FEDERAL FUNDING AND RESOURCES. LET'S TAKE EACH OF THESE LIES ONE AT A TIME. >> SIR, I'LL ASK YOU NOT TO CALL ME A LIAR. I'VE BEEN. >> I DID NOT CALL YOU A LIAR, I CALLED WHAT YOU SAID LIES OR FALSEHOODS. FIRST, OPERATION LONE STAR IS AN $11 BILLION ILLEGAL AND DISCRIMINATORY SCHEME CREATED BY GOVERNOR ABBOTT THAT TARGETS OUR MIGRANT COMMUNITY FOR ARREST, JAIL, AND DEPORTATION. IT VIOLATES THE CONSTITUTION, IT PROMOTES RACIAL PROFILING, AND IT FUELS MASS INCARCERATION THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS PEOPLE OF COLOR. OPERATION LONE STAR ALSO INSTITUTES BARBARIC CONCERTINA WIRE DEATH TRAPS THAT HAVE KILLED AND WILL CONTINUE TO KILL AND MAIM PEOPLE ON THE BORDER. "I BELIEVE WE HAVE STEPPED OVER A LINE INTO THE INHUMANE." THAT'S NOT MY QUOTE, THAT'S THE QUOTE OF TEXAS DPS TROOPER AND MEDIC, NICHOLAS WINGATE, WHO SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE BARBARITY OF ALL OF THIS OVER A YEAR AGO. SEVENTEEN TEXAS NATIONAL GUARDSMEN HAVE DIED UNDER OLS, INCLUDING A STRING OF FOUR SUICIDES, WHICH, ACCORDING TO THE ARMY TIMES, "RAISES URGENT QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MISSION'S CONDITIONS AND PURPOSE, AS WELL AS THE WAY IT'S ORGANIZED AND MANNED THROUGH INDEFINITE INVOLUNTARY CALL-UPS." WHAT ENABLES GOVERNOR ABBOTT TO DEPLOY THE NATIONAL GUARD AND SO MANY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF OUR PUBLIC RESOURCES TO THIS CRUEL POLITICAL THEATER, IT'S DISASTER DECLARATIONS LIKE THESE, ACCORDING TO THE TIDC, TEXAS TRIBUNE, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH, SEVERAL OTHER NEWS OUTLETS, THESE DISASTER DECLARATIONS, WHICH PARROT ABBOTT'S LANGUAGE ABOUT HOW THERE'S A SUPPOSED "FAILURE OF FEDERAL AUTHORITIES" WHICH SOMEHOW "PLACES CALDWELL COUNTY UNDER AN IMMINENT THREAT OF DISASTER." IT'S EXACTLY WHAT WAS IN THE RESOLUTION, YOU CAN'T CLAIM IT WASN'T A PART OF THE EXACT SAME PROJECT. AS A REMINDER, OLS DEMONSTRATES RACIAL PROFILING AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL POLICING. THE ARREST RATES FOR TRESPASSING ARE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOR LATINOS. MORE THAN 96% OF ARRESTS FOR ALLEGED TRESPASSING WERE LATINO. OPERATION LONE STAR HAS PRIMARILY ARRESTED PEOPLE ACCUSED OF LOW-LEVEL OFFENSES, NOT SERIOUS CRIMES. NEARLY 70% OF COURT APPEARANCES WERE FOR MISDEMEANOR CHARGES. IMAGINE IF WE CHARGE PEOPLE AND PUT THEM IN PRISON BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T COME UP HERE AND STATE THEIR NAME AT THE BEGINNING, AND THEN WE PUT THEM IN PRISON. WE'RE DOING THAT FOR MISDEMEANOR CHARGES. AND A PART OF OPERATION LONE STAR HAS OVERWHELMINGLY PROSECUTED US NATIONALS RATHER THAN MIGRANTS FOR DRUG-RELATED OFFENSES, HUMAN SMUGGLING, AND WEAPONS CHARGES. A REMINDER ACCORDING TO THE DATA, A MAJORITY OF FENTANYL COMES ACROSS THE BORDER ILLEGAL POINTS OF ENTRY BY US CITIZENS. DO THE RIGHT THING. WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A CLASSIC DIVIDE-AND-RULE TACTIC TO KEEP PEOPLE IN POWER LIKE STAN GERDES, [INAUDIBLE], BJ, AND ED, WHO THINK THAT THEY CAN STAY IN POWER BY KEEPING US DIVIDED. PLEASE DON'T DO THIS ANYMORE. RESEND THE DECLARATION. >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> HEATHER BRANCH. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS HEATHER BRANCH. >> MA'AM, DO YOU MIND PULLING THAT MIC DOWN, PLEASE? THANK YOU. >> I'M A LITTLE SHORT. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS HEATHER BRANCH. I'M FROM LOCKHART, TEXAS. I GREW UP HERE. MY GRANDFATHER WAS JIM BRANCH. HE BUILT SOME OF THE SCHOOLS, AND HE BUILT THE GOLDEN CHICK, AND WHEN I WAS A LITTLE KID, WE WOULD SPEND A LOT OF TIME AT THE LOCKHART MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. HIS BACKGROUND IS GERMAN AND IRISH. MY MOTHER'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY ACTUALLY CAME HERE MANY GENERATIONS AGO FROM MEXICO. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW LOCKHART WAS THAT OLD. BUT I DON'T KNOW MANY PEOPLE ON THAT SIDE OF THE FAMILY. I'M HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY MY GRANDFATHER WHO TAUGHT ME TO READ, STUDY, AND THINK, AND SO I DID. I'M HERE TO DISCUSS THE DISASTER DECLARATION SUGGESTED BY GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT. IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED ON, I BELIEVE, AT THE END OF 2022. I WATCHED THE VIDEO. IT WAS ITEM 19, I BELIEVE, AND I WAS STRUCK BY THE TONE OF THE PERSON WHO READ THE DECLARATION. I THINK IT WAS YOU, JUDGE HAYDEN, IF I'M CORRECT. I WAS STRUCK BY HOW GENTLE AND FATHERLY THE TONE WAS WHEN YOU READ THE DECLARATION BECAUSE I THOUGHT, OH MY GOODNESS, THIS IS THE KIND OF PERSON I CAN TRUST, AND I WANT TO GO ALONG WITH WHATEVER HE SAYS, HE MUST BE RIGHT. I DO TRUST YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE ZACH'S DAD, [00:40:02] AND I REALLY LIKE ZACH. BUT ANYWAY, I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE IT WAS IN STARK CONTRAST, THE TONE WAS IN STARK CONTRAST TO THE ACTUAL LITERAL WORDS OF THE DECLARATION. THE WORDS CLAIM THAT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE BRINGING DISEASE AND CRIME. IT'S BEEN MENTIONED MANY TIMES, THERE'S SO MUCH RESEARCH TO SHOW THAT THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE. THEN IT WAS VOTED ON UNANIMOUSLY, THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION, THERE WEREN'T ANY QUESTIONS, THERE WAS NO DOUBT. I WAS SO SURPRISED BY THIS. WHY WASN'T THERE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF DISCUSSION? IT'S A BIG THING TO CLAIM A WHOLE GROUP OF PEOPLE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CRIME AND DISEASE IN YOUR LITTLE COUNTY. ANYWAY, IF IT'S NOT REALLY ABOUT CRIME AND DISEASE, WHAT IS IT ABOUT? IT'S ABOUT MONEY. A LONG TIME AGO, WELL, NOT THAT LONG AGO, BUT WHEN FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS IN OFFICE, HE REALLY WANTED A BORDER WALL, AND MICK MULVANEY TOLD HIM THAT ONE WAY TO GET THE MONEY FOR IT WAS TO DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY, AND IT WORKED. HE GOT A LOT OF MONEY THAT SHOULD HAVE GONE TO OTHER GOVERNMENTAL PROGRAMS. GREG ABBOTT FOLLOWED SUIT AND HE ENCOURAGED MANY COUNTIES TO DECLARE A DISASTER. ACTUALLY, I THINK HE DID IT FOR 34 OF THE COUNTIES. HE DIDN'T EVEN ASK, HE JUST DID IT, AND IT WORKED. MONEY WAS TAKEN FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND OTHER GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS TO BUILD THE WALL. THIS IS JUST SO COMMON IN HISTORY. PEOPLE WHO DONATE TO GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S CAMPAIGN, THEY BENEFIT FINANCIALLY FROM THIS. ONE EXAMPLE IS, HIS LAST NAME IS STEDMAN, I CAN'T REMEMBER HIS FIRST NAME, BUT HE HAS A LOT OF LAND. HE DONATED $1.1 MILLION TO ABBOTT'S CAMPAIGN, BUT THEN HE RECEIVED $1.5 MILLION TO LET THE WALL BE BUILT ON HIS LAND. HE'S NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO'S BENEFITTING FINANCIALLY AND HAS TIES POLITICALLY, AND HE WAS APPOINTED TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION. >> MA'AM, YOU ARE ALMOST OUT OF TIME, I'M SORRY. >> WELL, I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULD RECONSIDER CAREFULLY, QUESTION, AND HOPEFULLY REPEAL THIS DISASTER DECLARATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. >> LEN GABBAY. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. WHEN WE HAD COVID. >> DO YOU MIND JUST STATING YOUR NAME? >> OH, YEAH. LEN GABBAY. I'M A RESIDENT HERE IN LOCKHART. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. DON'T ARREST ME. DURING COVID, MY BUSINESS LAW FIRM RECEIVED PPP FUNDS, AND THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I EVER DIRECTLY BENEFITED FROM A DISASTER RELIEF, AND IT WENT TO PAY MY EMPLOYEES ALL OF IT. I THOUGHT, WOW. THE GOVERNMENT IS SAYING, HERE YOU GO, IT'S A DISASTER, HERE'S MONEY, YOU CAN DO X, Y, AND Z WITH IT SO LONG AS IT IS FOR THE BENEFIT OF YOUR BUSINESS. MY WIFE AND I ARE HERE TO SUPPORT CALDWELL COUNTY, WE'RE PART OF CALDWELL COUNTY, WE PUT A SIGN UP ON PRAIRIE LEE STREET ON THE CORNER, IT SAYS, VOTE PEACE, HOPE, COMMUNITY. WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE AND KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE FRIENDS OF OURS AND THEY'RE ALSO IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. THEY'RE HAVING A PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT TIME IN THE COUNTY, ESPECIALLY WITH SOME OF THE CARTELS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING, DRUG TRADE, AND DOING A WHOLE LOT OF MESS IN CALDWELL COUNTY. SO THE DISASTER RELIEF MONEY THAT IS COMING IN TO CALDWELL COUNTY CAN BE USED, LIKE WE USED THE PPP FUNDS, TO HELP SUSTAIN THE COMMUNITY. WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT THAT, WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT ALL OF YOU, WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM THAT LIVES IN CALDWELL COUNTY. [00:45:02] WE THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. WE KNOW IT'S NOT AN EASY THING. ALL OF A SUDDEN, 100 PEOPLE SHOW UP. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE HERE, THE LAST COMMISSION, OR WERE HERE IN 2022 WHEN THE PROCLAMATION WAS FIRST READ TO DISCUSS IT. BUT EVERYONE IS HERE TODAY, AND I WOULD URGE THAT ALL SPEAKERS AND EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM CONSIDER SUPPORTING THIS COMMUNITY AND THE FIGHT THAT VERY GOOD PEOPLE, FRIENDS OF ALL OF OURS AND NEIGHBORS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN KEEPING CALDWELL COUNTY SAFE AND HEALTHY AND A COMMUNITY, THAT THEY THINK ABOUT THAT AND REALLY LEND THE SUPPORT TO YOU GUYS, THE ADMINISTRATION, THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE TO DO THE JOB THAT YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> PARDON. >> MA'AM, COULD A PLEASE NOT ENGAGE EACH OTHER? THANK YOU. >> SAM BENAVIDES. >> GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS SAM BENAVIDES. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN LAREDO, TEXAS, A BORDER COMMUNITY, ALL THE WAY DOWN 35. I LIVED THERE FOR THE FIRST 19 YEARS OF MY LIFE. MY ENTIRE FAMILY STILL LIVES THERE, I VISIT PRETTY OFTEN. I ALSO WORK FOR MANO AMIGA, A LOCAL NON-PROFIT THAT WORKS AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE CRIMINAL LEGAL AND IMMIGRATION SYSTEMS. OUR OFFICE IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. BOTH MY LIFE AND WORK HAVE PUT ME IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS, AND AS SOMEONE WHO HAS CLOSE FRIENDSHIPS WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING TO GET THEIR CITIZENSHIP FOR YEARS, WHO LEFT THEIR HOME COUNTRIES DUE TO THE INSTABILITY CAUSED BY THE US, WHO HAVE SPENT SEVERAL YEARS AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORKING TOWARDS BECOMING A US CITIZEN AND WHO ARE THE LIKELY TO COMMIT CRIMES BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE MOST TO LOSE, THE RACIST RHETORIC SPEWED IN THIS DISASTER DECLARATION IS DEEPLY TROUBLING TO ME. AS SOMEONE FROM LAREDO, I HAVE COME ACROSS MULTIPLE PEOPLE WHO RAISE THEIR EYEBROWS IN SHOCK WHEN I STAND FROM LAREDO AND ASK ME ABOUT ALL THE CRIME AND DRUG, AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING HAPPENING THERE. AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP IN THIS COMMUNITY AND WHOSE ENTIRE FAMILY STILL LIVES THERE, I CAN TELL YOU THAT LAREDO LOOKS NOTHING LIKE THE WAR ZONE THAT THE RACIST MEDIA MAKES IT OUT TO BE, MUCH LESS DOES THIS COUNTY THAT SITS OVER 200 MILES AWAY FROM THE RIO GRANDE. THE ONLY CRISIS HAPPENING AT OUR SOUTHERN BORDER IS THE UNNECESSARY MILITARIZATION, DEADLY BUOYS BARBED WIRE, AND WASTE OF BILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO PAY FOR IT. THAT, IN MY OPINION, IS CRIMINAL. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EACH OF YOU TO THINK DEEPLY ABOUT THE DIVISION THE RHETORIC AROUND THIS DISASTER DECLARATION CREATES AND HOW YOU AS LEADERS CAN WORK TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS CRIME BY INSTEAD INVESTING IN THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE CRIME HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE'S BASIC NEEDS GO UNMET. >> ASK YOURSELVES, DO YOU WANT TO BE LEADERS WHO SO FEAR AND DIVISION AS THIS DISASTER DECLARATION DOES, OR DO YOU WANT TO BE LEADERS WHO BUILD COMMUNITY AND BRIDGES? I ALSO QUICKLY WANT TO ADDRESS THE INDIVIDUAL STILL USING THE TERM ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. ON MY WAY OVER INTO THIS COURTHOUSE, [INAUDIBLE] WALKED THE STREET HERE. DOES THAT MAKE ME AN ILLEGAL PERSON, OR DID I JUST DO SOMETHING ILLEGAL? DO WE DESCRIBE EVERY PERSON WHO'S EVER RUN A STOP SIGN, GONE OVER THE SPEED LIMIT, ETC AN ILLEGAL? SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> MEGHAN WALKER BISSELL. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MEGHAN WALKER BISSELL, AND I LIVE RIGHT HERE IN LOCKHART. I HAVE FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS, THOUGH SOMETIMES WE MAKE MISTAKES AND CHANGE OUR MINDS AND THEN REALIZE WE DID THE WRONG THING, AND HERE I AM NOW. I'M HERE TODAY TO ADDRESS THE ACCUSATIONS AND COMMENTARIES SURROUNDING RESOLUTION 3-2023, AND THE MEMBERS OF OUR COURT WHO MOTION TO APPROVE AND SUPPORTED ITS INCEPTION. WHILE I UNDERSTAND SOME RESIDENTS ARE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH ITS LANGUAGE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS, [00:50:03] CONVENIENT TIMING OF THE SUDDEN OUTRAGE, TWO YEARS AFTER ITS PASSAGE, TO BE LESS A GENUINE CONCERN FOR RACISM AND MORE AN ATTEMPT TO SMEAR CURRENT ELECTED OFFICIALS. I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT I'M NOT DISMISSING THE VALID FEELINGS OF THE OPPOSITION, BUT I AM SUGGESTING STRONGLY THAT NOT ALL THE VOICES YOU'VE HEARD HAVE GOOD INTENTIONS OR HONESTY BEHIND THEM. SOME OF OUR MORE RURAL RESIDENTS MAY FEEL THAT THIS RESOLUTION ALIGNS WITH THEIR CONCERNS AS THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS STEMMING FROM RELATED MATTERS FOR YEARS. NOT LIVING IN THOSE AREAS, I WON'T SPEAK FOR THEM, BUT THEY SHOULD ALSO HAVE A VOICE, AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO INTENTIONALLY GARNER THEIR OPINIONS AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES. I BELIEVE IT'S ALSO DISINGENUOUS TO PRETEND THIS IS ALL ABOUT ENDING A RACIST RESOLUTION. THIS SUDDEN UPROAR IS ABOUT PUBLICLY MANIPULATING THE LANGUAGE OF THE RESOLUTION FOR POLITICAL GAIN. THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION WAS ROOTED IN THE REALITY THAT OUR COUNTY LACKS SUFFICIENT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO HANDLE AN INFLUX OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY AS OUR ONCE SMALL COMMUNITY IS ALREADY GROWING AT A NEARLY UNMANAGEABLE RATE. IT'S NOT ABOUT TARGETING INDIVIDUALS BASED ON RACE, IT'S ABOUT PROTECTING THE WELL BEING OF ALL RESIDENTS WHO ALREADY LIVE HERE AND CONTRIBUTE TO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGH TAXES. TWISTING THIS INTO AN ISSUE OF RACE AND IMPLYING THE LANGUAGE IS A REFLECTION OF THE INCUMBENT'S CHARACTER NOT ONLY DISRESPECTS AND MISINTERPRETS THE RESOLUTIONS AND COMMISSIONERS INTENT, BUT ALSO DIMINISHES THE REAL CHALLENGES THAT WE ALREADY FACE IN PROVIDING ADEQUATE SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY. I ENCOURAGE THE COURT AND THE PUBLIC TO LOOK AT THE FACTS, NOT THE SENSATIONALIZED ACCUSATIONS THAT HAVE CONVENIENTLY SURFACED NOW RIGHT BEFORE AN ELECTION. THAT SAID, I DO SUPPORT REVISITING THE RESOLUTION TO USE MORE RELEVANT AND SOFTER LANGUAGE THAT MORE ACCURATELY REFLECTS OUR CURRENT STATE AS THE CONVERSATION AROUND COVID-19 HAS CHANGED. I BELIEVE IN THE DUE PROCESS LEADING TO THAT IN FUTURE CHANGE AS WELL. I UNDERSTAND THAT MANY RESIDENTS HAVE EXPRESSED FEELINGS OF DISCOMFORT REGARDING THE RESOLUTION'S LANGUAGE AND INTENT, AND I RESPECT THEIR RIGHT TO VOICE THESE CONCERNS. IT'S WORTH RECOGNIZING THAT THIS IS NOT AN EMERGENT ISSUE, REQUIRING IMMEDIATE ACTION, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING HOW MUCH TIME HAS PASSED SINCE ITS INSTITUTION. INSTEAD OF UNDERMINING OUR CURRENT COURT, THOSE SEEKING OFFICE COULD BRING THESE ISSUES TO THE COMMUNITY'S ATTENTION IN A WAY THAT PROMOTES BETTERMENT AND PROGRESS WHILE ALSO SHOWING RESPECT TO THOSE CURRENTLY SHOULDERING THE BURDEN OF CARE AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS. RATHER THAN RESORTING TO DIVISIVE RHETORIC, FOCUSING ON FINDING WAYS TO UPDATE THE RESOLUTION COLLABORATIVELY TO BETTER REFLECT OUR CURRENT SITUATION AND ENSURE WE REMAIN POSITIONED FOR ANY FUTURE AVAILABLE RESOURCES SHOULD WE NEED THEM, SEEMS A MORE EFFICIENT USE OF THE COURTS AND THE COMMUNITY'S TIME. IN CONCLUSION, I URGE US ALL TO REMEMBER THAT CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE AND COOPERATION CAN LEAD TO POSITIVE CHANGE. WE ALL SHARE THE GOAL OF A SAFE AND THRIVING COMMUNITY, AND I BELIEVE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS IN A WAY THAT BRINGS US CLOSER, RATHER THAN TEARING US APART. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> ALICIA TORRES. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS ALICIA TORRES. I'LL BE VERY HONEST. THE LANGUAGE USED HERE TO DESCRIBE PEOPLE THAT LOOK AND SOUND LIKE ME. EVERY TIME I HAVE TO OFFER UP TESTIMONY AND IN SOME WAY JUSTIFY OR DEFEND MY HUMANIZATION AND THE HUMAN THAT EXISTS WITHIN MY FAMILY IS VERY SCARY. YOU HEAR THAT TREMBLE IN MY VOICE IS BECAUSE OF THE LANGUAGE THAT SOMEONE IS ASKING ME TO OFFER GOOD INTENTION, BUT IT'S REALLY SCARY BECAUSE WORDS ARE WORDS AND THEY HAVE IMPACT. YOU'RE ASKING ME TO MOVE WITH THE BELIEVE THAT A DECLARATION THAT IS NAMING THAT PEOPLE LIKE ME BRING IN DISEASE AND ARE HERE TO COMMIT CRIME IS OFFERED WITH THE BEST OF INTENT. THAT'S SIMPLY NOT TRUE, AND I DO NOT FEEL THAT. WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO OFFER UP IS THAT I COME FROM A LARGE FAMILY THAT HALF OF THEM LIVE OFF OF HOMANNVILLE TRAIL, PRECINCT 3. THE OTHERS LIVE IN OFF OF JOHNSON STREET, PRECINCT 1. I REMEMBER WHEN THEY WOULD ASK ME, COME DOWN, VISIT. YOU WOULD LOVE IT. TOOK THEM A WHILE, TOOK ME A WHILE TO GET HERE TO COME AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY HAD LOVE, WHY THEY HAD FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THIS LITTLE TOWN THAT MICHAEL 25 YEARS I HAD, LIKE, REALLY NEVER COME DOWN EVEN THOUGH I LIVE ABOUT 40 MINUTES. I SOON FOUND MYSELF COMING AND SPENDING LUNCH WITH [00:55:03] MY LITTLE NEPHEW NOW AT THE CLEAR FORK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I'VE COME TO PLENTY OF THE FIRST SATURDAYS. I'VE COME FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS TO THE ANNUAL BARBECUE FESTIVALS. I WAS REALLY SHOCKED TO DISCOVER THAT LOCKHART ALSO HAS A THIS [FOREIGN] FESTIVAL. THAT Y'ALL LOCK DOWN THE STREETS AND CELEBRATE AND EMBRACE MEXICAN CULTURE AND OUR CELEBRATION AS A PEOPLE. ONE OF THE FUNNIEST MEMORIES THAT I'VE HAD IN THE LAST YEARS THAT HAVE BEEN VERY TOUGH. IT HAS BEEN WHEN I CAME WITH MY ENTIRE FAMILY AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, LIVED WHAT FELT LIKE A HALLMARK MOVIE, CHRISTMAS PARADE. THAT IS WHAT LOCKHART MEANT TO ME. THAT IS WHY I COULD UNDERSTAND WHY MY FAMILY SAID YOU WOULD LOVE IT HERE. THIS IS HOME. AFTER WE'VE BEEN DISPLACED, NOT ONCE BUT TWICE FROM WHAT WE CALLED HOME. IT FELT LIKE THIS COULD BE THE HOME, THAT WOULD BE FOREVER. UPON READING THE DECLARATION, AND UNDERSTANDING THE LANGUAGE AND FEELING THAT LANGUAGE TO MY CORE, I'M REALLY SCARED TO GO BACK TO MY FAMILY AND TELL THEM. YOU MIGHT NOT BE SAFE HERE. YOUR ACCENT, WHEN YOU'RE AT AT THE LOCAL HP, MIGHT GET YOU IN TROUBLE. I'M AFRAID TO GO AND SHARE THE NEWS WITH MY NEPHEW WHO WORKS AT THE LOCAL BANK, MY NIECE WHO'S TRYING TO PURCHASE A HOME HERE AND SAY, THIS IS NOT THE PLACE WHERE YOU MIGHT WANT TO STAY HERE. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE IMPACTS THAT THE DECLARATION ITSELF IS HAVING RIGHT NOW. AT THE HUMAN IMPACT. NOT JUST ON POLICE OFFICERS THAT, YES, IF THE FUNDS ARE NEEDED, THE FUNDS ARE NEEDED, BUT ON US, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ALSO PART OF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE. IF THIS DECLARATION IS NOT RESCINDED, THE MESSAGE THAT THIS COURTHOUSE IS SENDING, IS THAT PEOPLE THAT LOOK AND SOUND LIKE ME THAT ARE REMOVED FROM CITIZENSHIP, PROBABLY JUST ONE GENERATION ARE NOT WELCOMED HERE. I COULD SIT HERE AND TALK ABOUT MOVING WITH FACTS AND COULD CITE AGAIN THE FACTS THAT PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY DONE SO ABOUT HOW FENTON, ALTHOUGH YES, IT IS VERY IT IS SCARY. THANK YOU. IT IS COMING TO ACTUAL PORTS OF ENTRY. LET'S TALK ABOUT BEING CREATIVE, COMING TO A COMMUNITY, AND IF WE NEED FUNDS, FINDING THEM THE CREATIVE WAY, BUT IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT HUMANIZE PEOPLE. I ASK THAT YOU RESCIND THIS DECLARATION BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. BECAUSE THIS COUNTY, I WANT TO BELIEVE REALLY EMBRACES THE HUMANITY OF ALL PEOPLE. WE DO NOT HAVE TO TEAR EACH OTHER APART TO MOVE TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND MOVE FORWARD. THE FACT THAT THERE ARE $12 BILLION, LET US NOTE THAT THERE ARE ENOUGH FUNDS WITHOUT HAVING TO DEHUMANIZE EACH OTHER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> SULMA FRANCO. >> HI. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS SULMA FRANCO. MY FIRST LANGUAGE IS THE SPANISH. I'M FROM GUATEMALA CITY. ALICIA, SHE CAN HELP ME. SHE'S INTERPRETER FOR ME. >> WELL, I HAVE LIVED IN CALDWELL COUNTY FOR MORE THAN 14 YEARS. >> OLES HAS IMPACTED ME DIRECTLY BECAUSE OF MY PROFILE, MY SKIN TONE. I AM AN IMMEDIATE MARK BECAUSE OF THIS LAW. I AM HERE TODAY FOR ME, FOR MY FAMILY AND MY FRIENDS THAT WHO WE ARE AND THEY ARE BEING PUT IN THE DARK FOR BEING IMMIGRANTS. YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE THE CLEAREST IDEA OF THE TERROR AND THE FEAR THAT WE FEEL AND LIVE DAY TO DAY, WHEN WE HAVE TO GO OUT TO WORK, WHEN WE HAVE TO GO OUT TO A PARK, OR WHEN WE HAVE TO GO OUT TO EAT WITH OUR FAMILIES. [01:00:11] THIS FEAR AND TERROR IS REAL. THIS COMES FROM A PLACE OF KNOWING THAT THERE'S ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY THAT ONE OF US COULD BE ARRESTED AND BE DEPORTED AND NOT RETURN HOME. OLES SEPARATES FAMILIES AND INCARCERATION IS NOT THE SOLUTION. NEITHER IS DEPORTATION AND THE SUSPICION IS NOT AN ARGUMENT TO PREVENT FAMILIES FROM BEING TOGETHER AND LIVING IN LIBERTY AND JUSTICE. TODAY, I ASK THAT YOU ARE THE CHAMPIONS AND BE THE FIRST TO STAND WITH US AND BE THE FIRST COUNTY IN PROTECTING US AND SAYING NO, TO OLES AND BY RESENDING THIS DECLARATION. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU MA'AM. >> NO MORE CITIZENS COMMENTS. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS. WITH THAT, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO CONSENT. [F. CONSENT AGENDA] IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS ABOUT CONSENT. I WOULD LOOK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE, PLEASE. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER HORNE AND A SECOND. >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND. ANY DISCUSSION? NOW ALL IN FAVOR. SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> OPPOSED, HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. WE DO HAVE, NEVER MIND, WE CAN WAIT. IT'S NOT TIME DEPENDENT. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO DISCUSSION ACTION. [G.1 To approve a Proclamation designating October 2024 as Manufacturing Month.] ITEM G-1, DISCUSSION ACTION TO APPROVE A PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING OCTOBER 2024 AS MANUFACTURING MONTH. I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THE PROCLAMATION AND I THINK RACHEL'S HERE AND WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND GET A PICTURE. PROCLAMATION MANUFACTURING MONTH 2024. WHEREAS THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY IS A VITAL COMPONENT OF OUR ECONOMY, CONTRIBUTING SIGNIFICANTLY TO ECONOMIC GROWTH, INNOVATION, AND JOB CREATION, AND WHEREAS MANUFACTURING EMPLOYEES MILLIONS OF WORKERS ACROSS THE NATION PROVIDING HIGH WAGE, HIGH SKILLED JOBS AND SERVING THE FOUNDATION FOR COMMUNITY PROSPERITY. WHEREAS MANUFACTURING IN CALDWELL COUNTY, TEXAS PRODUCE A DIVERSE RANGE OF PRODUCTS, UTILIZING ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES, MAKING OUR REGION A LEADER IN THE INNOVATION QUALITY AND PRODUCTION. WHEREAS MANUFACTURING MONTH PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF INVESTING IN THE FUTURE WORKFORCE THROUGH EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND COLLABORATION, AND WHEREAS MANUFACTURING MONTH ENCOURAGES STUDENTS, PARENTS, EDUCATORS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MODERN MANUFACTURING, INCLUDING CAREER PATHWAYS, TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES, AND THE CRITICAL ROLE OF SKILLED WORKERS, AND WHEREAS BY SUPPORTING THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, WE PROMOTE ECONOMIC GROWTH, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, AND HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL RESIDENTS. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE CALDWELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT OCTOBER 2024 SHOULD BE DESIGNATED AS MANUFACTURING MONTH PROCLAIM THIS 24TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2024. >> RACHEL? >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS RACHEL SOTELO. I'M THE NEWEST CAREER COACH WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS RURAL CAPITAL AREA. MY PRIMARY JOB IS TO GO INTO THE SCHOOLS AND TEACH THE STUDENTS VARIOUS WAYS AS FAR AS WRITING RESUMES, JOB SKILL INTERVIEWS, ANYTHING LIKE THAT, IN ADDITION TO EXPOSING THEM TO THE DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT I'VE BEEN IN THIS POSITION, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITIZENS OF CALDWELL COUNTY AND THE STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY ARE AWARE OF THE VARIOUS MANUFACTURING COMPANIES THAT ARE HOUSED HERE IN CALDWELL COUNTY. DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, I WILL HELP COORDINATE THE ISDS WITHIN OUR COUNTY TO BE [01:05:04] ABLE TO DO TOURS OF VARIOUS MANUFACTURING FACILITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY SO THE STUDENTS KNOW WHAT IS AVAILABLE HERE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> I THINK YOU WANTED TO DO A PHOTO WITH THE COURT. >> YES, SIR, PLEASE. >> YES MA'AM. [BACKGROUND] >> ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONERS. I'LL LOOK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROCLAMATION, DESIGNATING OCTOBER 2024 AS MANUFACTURING MONTH. >> SO MOVED. >> WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER WEST MORAN AND A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS. ANY DISCUSSION. NOT. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM G2. [G.2 To approve a request for a 12-month extension for the approved plans for Sunset Oaks VI, Phase 1 PICP.] DISCUSSION ACTION TO APPROVE A REQUEST FOR A 12 MONTH EXTENSION OF THE APPROVED PLANS FOR SUNSET OAKS FOR PHASE 1 PICP. >> GOOD MORNING. I RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM BEN GREEN, WHO'S THE PROJECT MANAGER AT KIMLEY HORN, ON BEHALF OF SUNSET OAKS SECTION 6, PHASE 1 FOR THE PICP PROJECT. THEY'RE JUST ASKING FOR A 12 MONTH EXTENSION. THEY SAID JUST THE CONDITIONS OVER THE LAST 12 MONTH THEY HAVEN'T JUST REALLY DELAYED THE PROJECT. AT THIS TIME, I'M ASKING FOR AN EXTENSION ON THEIR BEHALF, ACCORDING TO OUR DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE, THIS IS AN ACTUAL SITE CONSTRUCTION PERMIT, BUT ANYTHING THAT REQUIRES AN EXTENSION THE COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS TO APPROVE. >> COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR A 12 MONTH EXTENSION. >> SO MOVED. >> MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER TERRIO. SECOND? >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HORN. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> IF YOU COULD PLEASE JUST MAKE A NOTE THAT WE WOULD DO A 12 MONTH EXTENSION FROM THIS DAY FOR THE NEXT 12 MONTHS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ITEM G3. [G.3 To consider public streets and drainage in Tumbleweed Estates Subdivision Phase 3 as complete and ready to begin the two-year performance period as evidenced by a maintenance bond in the amount of $71,941.82 for maintenance security. ] DISCUSSION ACTION TO CONSIDER PUBLIC STREETS AND DRAINAGE AND TUMBLEWEED ESTATES SUBDIVISION PHASE 3 IS COMPLETE AND READY TO BEGIN THE TWO YEAR PERFORMANCE PERIOD AS EVIDENCED BY MAINTENANCE BOND IN THE AMOUNT OF $71,941.82 FOR MAINTENANCE SECURITY, DONALD. >> A [INAUDIBLE] THAT'VE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AND READY FOR ACCEPTANCE. >> THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO CONSIDER THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE DRAINAGE BOND AS COMPLETE AND READY TO BEGIN THE TWO YEAR PERFORMANCE PERIOD? >> SO MOVED. >> WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS TO APPROVE, IS THAT RIGHT, COMMISSIONER, MOTION TO APPROVE? SECOND? >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER TERRIO. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. ITEM G4. [G.4 To release the construction bond in the amount of $719,418.15 back to 2302 Tumbleweed Estates Phase 3, LLC. ] DISCUSSION ACTION TO RELEASE THE CONSTRUCTION BOND IN THE AMOUNT OF $719,418.15 BACK TO 2302 TUMBLEWEED ESTATES, PHASE 3. >> JUST WAITING FOR APPROVAL TO RELEASE IT. >> COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO RELEASE THE CONSTRUCTION BOND IN THE AMOUNT OF $719,418.15? >> SO MOVED TO APPROVE. >> MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS. SECOND? >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WEST MORAN. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. EXCUSE ME. ITEM G5. [G.5 To consider public streets and drainage in Lively Stone Phase 1 Subdivision as complete and ready to begin the two-year performance period as evidenced by a maintenance bond in the amount of $146,335.67 for maintenance security. ] DISCUSSION ACTION TO CONSIDER PUBLIC STREETS AND DRAINAGE AND LIVELY STONE PHASE 1 SUBDIVISION IS COMPLETE AND READY TO BEGIN THE TWO YEAR PERFORMANCE PERIOD AS EVIDENCED BY MAINTENANCE BOND IN THE AMOUNT OF $146,335.67 FOR MAINTENANCE SECURITY. >> ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AND READY FOR TWO YEAR MAINTENANCE. [01:10:06] >> COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR THE MAINTENANCE BOND FOR LIVELY STONE, PHASE 1. >> SO MOVED. >> MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS, SECOND? >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER TERRIO. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. ITEM G6. [G.6 To release the construction bond in the amount of $1,463,356.73 back to Lively Stone Investments, LLC. ] DISCUSSION ACTION TO RELEASE THE CONSTRUCTION BOND IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,463,356.73 BACK TO LIVELY STONE INVESTMENTS, LLC. >> JUST LOOKING FOR APPROVAL TO RELEASE THE BOND. >> COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO RELEASE THE BOND FOR LIVELY STONE INVESTMENTS? >> SO MOVED. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS. EXCUSE ME, SECOND? >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HORN. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM G7. [G.7 To approve the Kinder Morgan Development Agreement for the Bluebonnet Pipeline. ] DISCUSSION ACTION TO APPROVE THE KINDER MORGAN DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE BLUEBONNET PIPELINE. >> JUDGE, EXCUSE ME. THERE'S BEEN A REQUEST TO DELAY ITEMS G7 AND G8 FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY KINDER MORGAN. >> ALL RIGHT SO I'D LOOK FOR A MOTION TO TABLE THIS UNTIL FURTHER DISCUSSIONS FOR ITEM G7. >> I'LL MOVE TO TABLE ITEM G7. >> COMMISSIONER WEST MORAN MOVES TO TABLE ITEM G7, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HORN. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM G8. [G.8 To approve the Kinder Morgan Investment Agreement in reference to the Bluebonnet Pipeline Project.] WE ALSO HAVE A REQUEST TO TABLE THIS ITEM BY KINDER MORGAN, DO I HAVE MOTION TO TABLE? >> MOVE TO TABLE. >> COMMISSIONER HORN MOVES TO TABLE. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER TERRIO. ANY DISCUSSION. NOT. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM G9. [G.9 To approve a professional services agreement between the County and Someday Strategies, LLC, for professional oversite of pre-construction activities for the evacuation center.] DISCUSSION ACTION TO APPROVE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND SOMEDAY STRATEGIES LLC FOR PROFESSIONAL OVERSIGHT, A PRE-CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES FOR THE EVACUATION CENTER, IN THE AMOUNT OF $49,000. SOMEDAY STRATEGIES HELPED US FOR THE PAST YEAR AND VERY MUCH EXPEDITED GETTING A CONTRACTOR SELECTED AND GETTING US TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE READY TO BREAK GROUND. WE HAVE ASKED THEM TO PROVIDE SOME CONSTRUCTION OVERSIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PROJECT MOVES SMOOTHLY AND EFFICIENTLY SO THAT'S WHAT THIS IS. IF IT PLEASES THE COMMISSIONERS, I'D LOOK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SERVICE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND SOMEDAY STRATEGIES. >> MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE. >> COMMISSIONER HORN MAKES A MOTION TO APPROVE, AND THE SECOND? >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM G10. [G.10 To discuss and possibly approve a waiver for Order 13-2024 for CTPS Training School.] DISCUSSION ACTION TO DISCUSS AND POSSIBLY APPROVE A WAIVER FOR ORDER 13-2024 FOR CTPS TRAINING SCHOOL. COMMISSIONER TERRIO. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. WE HAVE A REQUEST BY AN EXISTING TRAINING SCHOOL RELATED TO SECURITY TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION, AND THEY HAVE A FACILITY ON SITE THAT INVOLVES SHOOTING AND CERTIFYING THE PARTICIPANTS. THEY'RE REQUESTING A WAIVER. I THINK THEY HAVE 3, 3.5 ACRES THERE AND WE RECENTLY PASSED THE 10 ACRE LIMIT. THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED ALONG SPOKOLO, AND IT'S IN AN AREA THAT'S CALLED ON THE TAX ROLLS AS MAXWELL ACRES SUBDIVISION SO I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSIONS AS TO WHETHER THAT'S REALLY A SUBDIVISION OR JUST A CONGLOMERATION OF MEETS AND BOUNDS LOTS. BUT TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE AND TO PROVIDE THE SECURITY TO THESE FOLKS THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO RUN THEIR BUSINESS, I RECOMMEND THAT WE PASS THIS WAIVER, AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS ON THE SIDE. >> ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONERS. COMMISSIONER TERRIO HAS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE WAIVER FOR ORDER 13-2024 FOR CTPS TRAINING SCHOOL. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? WE GOT TO GET A SECOND BEFORE WE CAN HAVE DISCUSSION. >> A SECOND. >> WE HAVE A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HORN. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER. [01:15:01] >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE A DISCUSSION THAT WE DISCUSSED THAT ABOUT WHETHER IT WAS A UNDOCUMENTED SUBDIVISION OR WHETHER A PLATTED SUBDIVISION BECAUSE OUR ORDER STATED THAT IT SHOULD BE A PLATTED SUBDIVISION. I WANT TO PUT IT ON RECORD THAT WE DISCUSSED IT, AND WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT IT FURTHER TO EXAMINE WHAT'S THE UNDOCUMENTED SUBDIVISION BECAUSE IT MEETS THE MEETS AND BOUNDS. WAS A PLATTED SUBDIVISION IS WHAT THE ORDINANCE OR WHAT SHOOTING A GUN COVER. THE WAIVER IS FINE BECAUSE THAT'S A BASIS, BUT WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE MOVING FORWARD THAT EVERYTHING IS CORRECT. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S IN RECORD. I ALREADY TALKED TO RICHARD. >> THANK YOU, SIR. I APPRECIATE THAT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE WAIVER ORDER 13-2024 FOR CTPS TRAINING SCHOOL, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? >> ARE YOU WANTING TO SAY SOMETHING? >> DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS ITEM, STEVE? >> I'M ACTUALLY THE INSTRUCTOR FOR THAT SCHOOL. I'M GOING TO TEST THAT THE RANGE IS SAFE RANGE WITH A GOOD BERM AND IT'S BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR SEVERAL YEARS. >> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? NOT. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, STEVE. ITEM G11. [G.11 To discuss and possibly approve submitting nominations for the CAPCOG 2025 Executive Committee. ] DISCUSSION ACTION TO DISCUSS AND POSSIBLY APPROVE, SUBMITTING NOMINATIONS FOR THE CAPCOG 2025 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. I THINK THAT I'M THE NOMINEE AND HAVE BEEN FOR SOME YEARS SO IF YOU GUYS WANT TO KEEP THAT THE SAME, THEN I'D LOOK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE. IF ONE OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO TO CAPCOG EVERY SECOND WEDNESDAY, THEN BY ALL MEANS, NOMINATE YOURSELF. >> I MOVE TO NOMINATE JUDGE HAYDEN AS THE 2025 CAPCOG EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE. >> THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION TO NOMINATE ME AS THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >> I SECOND IT. >> WE HAVE A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HORN. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM G12, DISCUSSION ACTION TO DESIGNATE [G.12 To designate a day of the week on which the Court shall convene in regular term each month during the next fiscal year, pursuant to Section 81.005 Texas Local Government Code. ] A DAY OF THE WEEK ON WHICH THE COURT SHALL CONVENE IN REGULAR TERM EACH MONTH DURING THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR PURSUANT TO SECTION 81005 TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE. WE DO THIS EVERY YEAR. WE'VE HAD THE SECOND AND FOURTH TUESDAY AT 9:00 DESIGNATED AS THE DATES AND TIMES. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THAT, THEN I WOULD LOOK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT TO A DIFFERENT DAY PLEASE MAKE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT. >> SO MOVED, WE KEEP IT AS IT IS. >> WE HAVE A MOTION TO KEEP OUR MEETING DATE THE SECOND AND FOURTH TUESDAY AT 9:00. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS. THE MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER TERRIO. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM G13, DISCUSSION ACTION APPROVE ORDER 15-2024, [G.13 To approve Order 15-2024, exempting from competitive bidding requirements and approving an agreement between Caldwell County and PHI Health, LLC d/b/a PHI Air Medical for membership into the PHI Cares Program. ] EXEMPTING FROM COMPETITIVE BIDDING REQUIREMENTS AND APPROVING AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN CALDWELL COUNTY AND FA HEALTH, LLC DBA FIRE MEDICAL FOR MEMBERSHIP INTO THE PHI CARES PROGRAM. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, JAMES GREEN WITH PHI MEDICAL. I'M GLAD TO BE BACK AGAIN TO REPORT ON THE LAST YEAR. YOU ALL HAVE BEEN PART OF THE PHI CARES MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM FOR THREE OR FOUR YEARS NOW, I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK. IT'S BEEN WILDLY SUCCESSFUL. I THINK YOU GUYS NEED TO WRITE THE BOOK ON RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR AS FAR AS ALL THE COUNTIES THAT WE PROVIDE THIS. YOU ALL ARE PROBABLY IN THE NUMBER ONE POSITION AS FAR AS RETURN ON INVESTMENT. WE DID A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE HAD TO CHANGE. SOME OF THE NUMBERS LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT, I JUST WANTED TO RUN THROUGH THAT REAL QUICKLY. THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS, IT LOOKS LIKE THE HOUSEHOLDS WENT DOWN, I'M SURE YOU'RE WELL AWARE, THE HOUSEHOLDS DID NOT GO DOWN IN CALDWELL COUNTY LAST YEAR. WE EXTRACTED OUT THE MEDICAID HOUSEHOLDS JUST FOR LEGAL REASONS BECAUSE WE CAN'T COVER THOSE PERSONS, THEY'RE CAPPED IN WHATEVER MEDICAID PAYS IS WHAT WE ACCEPT. IT LOOKS LIKE THE HOUSEHOLD COUNT WENT DOWN. WITH THAT, WE ADJUSTED THE PER HOUSEHOLD VALUE FROM A RATE OF $6-6.21. BUT I'M ACTUALLY GLAD TO REPORT THAT YOUR TOTAL PREMIUM FOR THE COUNTY ACTUALLY WENT DOWN LAST YEAR. ANY OTHER BILLS GONE DOWN OVER THE PAST YEAR? YOU FEEL FREE TO POINT THOSE OUT, BUT IT WENT DOWN $43 AS A TOTAL SO IT'S RELATIVELY FLAT. INCLUDED THE ILA BREAKDOWN BETWEEN THE CITIES AND THE COUNTIES FOR YOU ALL'S REFERENCE. I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >> COMMISSIONERS, JUST REAL QUICKLY, [01:20:03] BEFORE WE ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T AWARE OF EXACTLY WHAT THIS PROGRAM IS. WE DID IT SEVERAL YEARS AGO. BASICALLY, IF YOU'RE A CITIZEN OF CALDWELL COUNTY AND YOU'RE IN AN ACCIDENT THAT REQUIRES PHI SERVICES, THAT TRANSPORT IS FREE FOR YOU NOT ONLY IF IT HAPPENS TO YOU IN THIS COUNTY, BUT IF IT HAPPENS TO YOU IN ANY OF THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES THAT TOUCH THIS COUNTY. JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE PERSONAL HISTORY AND THIS WAS SOME TIME AGO, 2013. MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT REQUIRED AIR FLIGHT, AND THAT ACCIDENT WAS NOT COVERED BY MY INSURANCE, AND THAT ACCIDENT COSTS US $45,000 OUT OF POCKET SO THIS IS A VERY, VERY, VERY WORTHWHILE PROGRAM FOR THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU, COMMISSIONERS TO CONSIDER ALL THAT. >> WELL SAID. IT'S A REMARKABLE SAVINGS FOR THE AVERAGE COST OF A COUPLE OF FLIGHTS, YOU COVER EVERYBODY IN THE COUNTY WHETHER THEY HAVE INSURANCE OR NOT. WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING ABOUT TWO TO THREE CALLS A WEEK HERE IN CALDWELL COUNTY, NOT ONLY FOR ACCIDENTS, BUT FOR MEDICAL EMERGENCIES AS WELL. THAT INCLUDES HOSPITAL TRANSFERS FROM ST LUING TO OTHER HOSPITALS. IT IS A LIMITED SCOPE, AS YOU TALKED ABOUT, IT COVERS EVERYBODY IN THE HOUSEHOLD, THE RESIDENT OF CALDWELL COUNTY, IF WE PICK THEM UP ANYWHERE IN CALDWELL COUNTY OR ANY COUNTY TOUCHING CALDWELL COUNTY. PEOPLE CAN ELECT TO UPGRADE TO THE NATIONAL PLAN THAT ACTUALLY FEE WENT DOWN. IT USED TO BE $45 A YEAR WITH THIS AGREEMENT TO DROPPED DOWN TO $30 A YEAR FOR UPGRADES AND WE'LL PROVIDE A LOT OF THE LITERATURE AND PRESS RELEASE AND THINGS LIKE THAT, IF YOU'LL WOULD ELECT TO APPROVE IT. >> ARE THERE ANY ISSUES WITH OUR EMERGENCY PERSONNEL CALLING THE OTHER PROVIDERS? >> VERY RARELY. THERE ARE TIMES THAT WE'RE NOT AVAILABLE AND DUE TO THE TIME SENSITIVITY, WE HAVE MULTIPLE AIRCRAFT AROUND THE STATE, BUT OBVIOUSLY, IN THAT TYPE OF EMERGENCY, IF WE'RE NOT AVAILABLE, THEN THEY'RE CALLING STAR FLIGHT. IT HAS IMPROVED DRAMATICALLY. WE HAD SOME ISSUES ON THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY TOWARD THE BEGINNING OF LAST YEAR, BUT THAT IN MY OPINION, IS COMPLETELY RESOLVED AND FIRST CALL ON ALMOST EVERY CALL. >> THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR. COMMISSIONERS, IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS, I'D LIKE FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDER 15-24. >> MOVE TO APPROVE. >> WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER THERIOT. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> OPPOSED. HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. >> WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. >> APPRECIATE IT. >> ITEM G14, DISCUSSION ACTION REGARDING THE BURN BAN. [G.14 Regarding the burn ban.] >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COMMISSIONER STAFF, AND GALLERY. JUDGE, JUST A REPORT ON AN UPDATE ON OUR FIRE SITUATION AROUND THE COUNTY. IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS FIRES. A LOT OF THEM WERE CAUSED BY HUMAN ERROR, CONTROLLED BURNS THAT WEREN'T ATTENDED, AND GOT INTO SOME HEAVY BRUSH AND HAD SOME ACREAGE OF ABOUT SEVEN ACRES THAT WERE BURNED. SOME WERE CAUSED BY PEOPLE PULLING TRAILERS AND NOT STOPPING, AND RUNNING ON A RIM AND CAUSING FIRE DOWN ALONG FM 86 FOR ANOTHER LOSS OF SEVEN ACRES. WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS FIRES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. WEATHER WISE, WE'RE SAYING 50% TODAY AND 20% TOMORROW. I DON'T SEE IT COMING TO CALDWELL COUNTY. IT MIGHT BE FOR OUR NORTHERN COUNTIES. THERE'S NOTHING IN THE GULF OF MEXICO AND THE NORTH-WESTERN SIDE. SAY SO WE CAN GET SOME RAIN OF SOME SORT, I'M NOT SEEING IT. RIGHT NOW, OUR TOTAL NUMBERS FOR KBDI, 513 FOR THE MINIMUM. OUR AVERAGE IS 609 WITH A CHANGE IN PLUS SIX. OUR NUMBERS ARE GOING UP, SO WE'RE GOING TO BE HITTING 700 PRETTY SOON. WEATHER IT'S GOING TO STILL BE IN THE 90S FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING COMING AROUND, SO I WANT TO PUT THE BURN BAND BACK ON. >> OKAY. THANK YOU, HECTOR. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO PUT THE BURN BAND BACK ON? >> SO MOVE. >> WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HORNE TO PUT THE BURN BAND ON. > WE HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS. ANY DISCUSSION. NOW ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> OPPOSED. HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIER. >> THANK YOU. >> THANKS, HECTOR. ITEM G15, [G.15 To approve Order 14-2024, permitting the sale of certain fireworks in unincorporated areas of Caldwell County during Diwali holiday period.] DISCUSSION ACTION TO APPROVE ORDER 14-2024 PERMITTING THE SALE OF CERTAIN FIREWORKS IN UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF CALDWELL COUNTY DURING DIWALI HOLIDAY PERIOD. [01:25:04] COMMISSIONER, I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THAT ORDER. ORDER 14-2024, AUTHORIZING DIWALI FIREWORK SALES, WHEREAS THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF CALDWELL COUNTY IS AUTHORIZED UNDER OCCUPATION CODE SECTION 2154.202H, TO ISSUE AN ORDER ALLOWING RETAIL FIREWORK PERMITS HOLDERS TO SELL FIREWORKS TO THE PUBLIC IN CELEBRATION OF DIWALI, AND ON THE 24TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2024, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT CALDWELL COUNTY HAS DETERMINED THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE TO ISSUE SUCH AN ORDER. NOW, THEREFORE, COMMISSIONERS COURT OF CALDWELL COUNTY ADOPTS THIS ORDER AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF FIREWORKS TO THE PUBLIC BY RETAIL FIREWORKS PERMIT HOLDERS DURING DIWALI PERIOD BEGINNING OCTOBER 25TH, 2024, AND ENDING AT MIDNIGHT ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 2024, SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING RESTRICTIONS. A, THIS ORDER EXPIRES ON THE DATE, THE TEXAS A&M FOREST SERVICE DETERMINES DROUGHT CONDITIONS EXIST IN THE COUNTY OR MIDNIGHT, NOVEMBER 3RD, WHICHEVER IS EARLIER. B, A PERSON MAY NOT SELL, DETONATE, IGNITE, OR IN ANY WAY, USE FIREWORKS CLASSIFIED AS SKY ROCKETS WITH STICKS UNDER 49 CFR PART 173100R2100186 EDITION, OR MISSILES WITH FANS IN ANY PORTION OF THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF CALDWELL COUNTY. C, THIS ORDER DOES NOT PROHIBIT PERMISSIBLE FIREWORKS AS AUTHORIZED IN THE OCCUPATION CODE SECTION 2154.003A. ORDER THIS 24TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2024 BY THE CALDWELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. [NOISE] COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDER 14-2024? >> SO MOVE. >> WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVED BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >> I SECOND. >> WE HAVE A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HORNE. DISCUSSION, NOT ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE? >> AYE. >> OPPOSED, HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM G16, DISCUSSION ACTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 25-2024, [G.16 To approve Resolution 25-2024 regarding MOU between Caldwell County, Texas and TXDOT for placement of Flock Cameras. ] REGARDING MOU BETWEEN CALDWELL COUNTY, TEXAS, AND TEXTO FOR THE PLACEMENT OF FLOCK CAMERAS. ORDER 15-2024, ORDER OF CALDWELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT, ORDER EXEMPTING FROM COMPETITIVE BIDDING, THE REQUIREMENTS AND THE APPROVAL AND AGREEMENT. THAT'S THE WRONG ONE, GOODNESS. 25-2024, A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF CALDWELL COUNTY, TEXAS, THE COUNTY, AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY TO ENTER INTO A MULTI USE AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE INSTALLATION OF AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READER CAMERAS AMONG STATE RIGHTS AWAY, AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY JUDGE TO EXECUTE SAID AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS THE COUNTY HAS ENTERED INTO THAT CERTAIN ORDER DATED MAY, 31ST 2024 WITH THE FLOCK GROUP, INC, FOR THE PROVISION OF CERTAIN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WITH REGARDS TO AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READER CAMERAS, WHICH ASSISTS THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT DATA, ACQUISITION, AND MANAGEMENT, THE FLOCK SYSTEM, AND WHEREAS, IN ORDER TO INSTALL AND MAINTAIN THE FLOCK SYSTEM, IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE COUNTY TO ENTER INTO A MULTI-USE AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS, THE AGREEMENT. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY CALDWELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT SECTION 1, THE AGREEMENT IS SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE FORM ATTACHED HERE TO AS EXHIBIT A IS APPROVED. SECTION 2, THE COUNTY JUDGE IS AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY. SECTION 3, THE RESOLUTION SHALL BE IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY FROM AND AFTER ITS PASSAGE, RESOLVE THIS 24TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2024. COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 25 2024? >> SO MOVE. >> WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER THERIOT. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> OPPOSED, HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM G17. [G.17 To approve an Interlocal Cooperation Contract between Caldwell County and Texas State University for Tobacco Enforcement Program FY 2024 - 2025. ] DISCUSSION ACTION TO APPROVE AN INTERLOCAL COOPERATION CONTRACT BETWEEN CALDWELL COUNTY AND TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY FOR TOBACCO ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM FY 2024, 2025. STEVE. [01:30:04] >> GOOD MORNING. THIS IS OUR CONTINUING CONTRACT WITH TEXAS STATE TO DO TOBACCO ENFORCEMENT. IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, WE CONDUCTED 120 TOBACCO STINGS AND RESULTED IN THE ISSUANCE OF FOUR CITATIONS FOR THE YEAR, WHICH IS ABOUT 33% LESS THAN THE REST OF THE STATE'S AVERAGE. I THINK WE'RE DOING ALL RIGHT. THIS CONTRACT WILL BE I THINK THE SIXTH TIME WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS. THE CONTRACT STIPULATES ARE THE SAME AS LAST YEAR, 120 STINGS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE INTERLOCAL CONTRACT BETWEEN CALDWELL COUNTY AND TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY FOR TOBACCO ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM, FY 2024, 2025. >> SO MOVE. >> MOVE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND FOR APPROVAL. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HORNE. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> OPPOSED, HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ITEM G18. [G.18 To approve Budget Amendment #27 moving $12,702.00 from Non-Departmental Medical Contingency (001-6510-4864) to IT Machinery & Equipment (001-6610-5310) to pay for Verkada cameras at PCT. 2 annex building. ] DISCUSSION ACTION TO APPROVE BUDGET AMENDMENT 27, MOVING $12,702 FROM NON-DEPARTMENTAL MEDICAL CONTINGENCY 001-6510-4864 TO IT MACHINERY EQUIPMENT 001-6610-5310 TO PAY FOR VERKADA CAMERAS AT PRECINCT 2 ANNEX BUILDING. EXACTLY WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE, COMMISSIONERS, I THINK WE'RE PUTTING IN. I GO TO DO AT MY HEAD, I THINK EIGHT CAMERAS? >> I BELIEVE IT'S NINE. >> NINE? >> YES, SIR. >> NINE CAMERAS. IN THE PRECINCT 2 BUILDING, IT'S ONE OF OUR ONLY ONES THAT DIDN'T HAVE CAMERAS YET, AND THERE'S A NEED FOR IT. WE HAVE OUR TAX ASSESSOR OFFICE THERE WHICH HANDLES QUITE A LOT OF MONEY, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE PRECINCT 2 JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURTROOM THERE. WOULD HOPE FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE BUDGET AMENDMENT 27. >> MOVE TO APPROVE. >> COMMISSIONER HORNE MOVES TO APPROVE BUDGET AMENDMENT 27. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS. ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? NOT ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> OPPOSED, HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM G19, DISCUSSION ACTION TO APPROVE PAYMENT OF BLUE AREA OR INVOICE NUMBER 85063 IN [G.19 To approve payment of Blue Layer Invoice #85063 in the amount of $12,702.00 for security cameras located at PCT. 2 annex building. ] THE AMOUNT OF $12,702 FOR SECURITY CAMERAS LOCATED PRECINCT 2 ANNEX BUILDING, MARIE. >> YES, GOOD MORNING. WE'RE SEEKING APPROVAL TO GO AHEAD AND GET THAT BLUE AREA INVOICE PAID. THIS IS FOR THE CAMERAS AT PRECINCT 2. THEY HAVE RECEIVED AND THEY'RE READY TO INSTALL, AND WE ALSO WANT TO GET THIS PAID THIS FISCAL YEAR. >> OKAY. VERY GOOD. COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE MOTION TO APPROVE INVOICE 85063. >> MOVE TO APPROVE. >> MOVE TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER HORNE. SECOND? >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER THERIOT. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> OPPOSED, HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. WE'RE GOING TO SKIP G20 BECAUSE IT WOULD PERTAIN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND GO TO G21. [G.21 To approve final draft and solicitation of RFP 24CCP04P for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program grant administration services.] DISCUSSION ACTION TO APPROVE FINAL DRAFT AND SOLICITATION OF RFP24 CCP04P, FOR THE US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, EPA ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE JUSTICE COMMUNITY, CHANGE GRANTS PROGRAM, GRANT ADMINISTRATION SERVICES. >> AGAIN, WE'RE SEEKING APPROVAL FOR THAT FINAL DRAFT AND TO GET THAT SOLICITED SO WE CAN START GETTING OR ACCEPTING THOSE RESPONSES. >> COMMISSIONERS, IF YOU'LL RECALL, THEY CAME AND ASKED FOR A PERMISSION TO PURSUE THE GRANT. THIS IS PERMISSION TO SOLICIT PROPOSALS. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE RFP24 CCP04P? >> SO MOVE. >> WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND AND THAT WAS A MOTION TO APPROVE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> OPPOSED, HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM G22 DISCUSSION ACTION TO APPROVE [G.22 To approve Evaluation Committee for RFP 24CCP04P Grant Administration Services for the EPA Community Change Grant Project. ] EVALUATION COMMITTEE FOR RFP 24 CCP04P GRANT ADMINISTRATION SERVICES? >> SO FOR THIS, I WOULD WANT TO SUGGEST FOR THAT EVALUATION COMMITTEE, FOR YOU, YOURSELF, JUDGE, AMBER, OUR GRANTS ADMINISTRATOR, DANNY TELTO, AUDITOR, MYSELF, THE PURCHASING AGENT, AND THEN I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE IN MIND OR IF ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER. >> COMMISSIONERS, YOU'LL WANT TO VOLUNTEER TO BE ON THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE? [01:35:01] >> JUST REFRESH ME. THERE WERE FOUR NAMED ALREADY? >> YES. >> OKAY. IF YOU NEED A FIFTH, I'LL BE WILLING TO DO IT. >> ALL RIGHT. THE NAMES ARE MYSELF, AMBER QUINLEY, DANNY TELTO, MARIA GONZALEZ, B. J. WESTMORELAND. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE? >> SO I MOVE. >> WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HORNE, ANY DISCUSSION? NOT ON IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> OPPOSED, HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. >> THANK YOU. >> WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 10:35 TO [H. EXECUTIVE SESSION] RULE ON APPEALS SUBMITTED BY CLAIMANTS IN REGARD TO CALDWELL COUNTY'S UNIFORM RELOCATION ASSISTANCE AND REAL PROPERTY ACQUISITION ACT, URA, RESIDENCY AND ASSOCIATED COST DETERMINATIONS. WE ARE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, AS I SAID AT 10:35, AND WE WILL RETURN SHORTLY. WE ARE GOING TO RETURN FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 10:48 TO RULE ON APPEAL, SUBMITTED BY CLAIMANTS IN REGARD TO CALDWELL COUNTY UNIFORM RELOCATION ASSISTANCE AND REAL PROPERTY ACQUISITION ACT, RESIDENCY AND ASSOCIATED COSTS. COMMISSIONERS, RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE [G.20 To approve recommended reimbursement to the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Act (URA) Residency and Associated Cost Determination claimants] DO $632.75 FOR NINE HOUSEHOLDS, WHICH COMES TO $5,694.75. THEN THIS IS FOR ITEM 20. IF ONE OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE OR DENY THAT, I'LL APPRECIATE IT. >> WELL, I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE THAT AMOUNT STATED IN THE MINUTES. >> OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? WE HAVE A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE? >> AYE. >> OPPOSED, HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM I. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? >> SO MOVE. >> WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HORNE. SECOND? SECOND BY COMMISSIONER THERIOT. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE? >> AYE. >> OPPOSED, HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 10:49. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.