[00:00:03] OKAY. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. THANK YOU FOR COMING TO. [A. CALL MEETING TO ORDER] CALDWELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. OH, GOODNESS. THANK YOU FOR COMING TO CALDWELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. WE'RE GOING TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER APRIL 9TH, 2026 AT 9 A.M.. AND I THINK PASTOR JODY IS HERE TO DO THE INVOCATION. OKAY. LET US PRAY TOGETHER. DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER HERE TODAY. THANK YOU FOR FOR PROTECTING US AS WE TRAVELED AND FOR PROVIDING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET, LEARN, AND TO GROW. AS WE BEGIN THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT, WE DEDICATE THIS TIME TO THE GOODWILL OF OUR NEIGHBORS IN CALDWELL COUNTY. WE PRAY FOR OUR COMMISSIONERS, OUR COUNTY JUDGE, THE ATTENDEES, AND THE VOLUNTEERS WHO STEWARD THIS COUNTY. GRANT US HUMILITY AND WISDOM. PLEASE GUIDE OUR ELECTED LEADERS IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN. AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR. TEXAS. FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE. TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. OKAY, COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS MORNING? [D. ANNOUNCEMENTS] NONE FOR ME, JUDGE. NONE FOR ME, JUDGE. NONE FOR ME, JUDGE NONE. OKAY. I JUST HAVE 150 LINES THAT CAN COOK. IS FRIDAY FOR THE LOCKHART EDUCATION FOUNDATION. PLEASE COME OUT AND BUY A TICKET AND SUPPORT IT. IT'S A REALLY FUN TIME. LOTS OF GOOD FOOD AND LOTS OF PEOPLE THERE TO, TO MEET AND VISIT WITH ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME OUT AND ATTEND IT ALL THAT ALL THE PROCEEDS GO TO TEACHERS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS, EVERY PENNY. SO WE REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME ON OUT. I KNOW WE HAVE ONE STAFF ANNOUNCEMENT. EZZY. YES. ALL RIGHT. GOT OUR MONTHLY UPDATE ON CYBER SECURITY. JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU GUYS THAT WE HAD 226 ENROLLEES AND 182 HAVE COMPLETED. THAT MEANS THAT WE HAVE 44 LEFT. SO THOSE PEOPLE WILL BE GETTING EMAILS SAYING TO COMPLETE IT. AND IF YOU CAN COMPLETE IT BY JULY, THAT'D BE GREAT. JULY THE 1ST. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS? [E. CITIZENS' COMMENTS] NOT WE'LL GO TO CITIZENS COMMENTS. PASTOR JODY FISHER. MORNING. GOOD MORNING. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK OUR PRECINCT FOUR, CONSTABLE'S AND HECTOR RANGEL AT THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ON MARCH 28TH. THE LINTON SPRINGS PARK ASSOCIATION HAD OUR ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT, AND THE AMOUNT OF DEDICATION THAT LED TO THE SUCCESS OF THAT EVENT WAS AWESOME. DEPUTY MARY TEAGUE BOUGHT AND DONATED A 55 INCH FLAT SCREEN. I'M SHOWING MY AGE A TV. FOR A RAFFLE. WE HAD EGGS, PINATAS, AND WHILE I WAS HOLDING THE RAFFLE HOSTAGE, I WAS ABLE TO DO A LOT OF PSA ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT. THE BURN BAN THE CALDWELL COUNTY FOOD BANK, NARCAN, MANY OF THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE COUNTY THAT THE CITIZENS JUST DON'T KNOW ARE HAPPENING. SO I JUST WANT TO REALLY THANK DEPUTY MARY TEAGUE FOR THE TV COMMISSIONER THOMAS FOR ATTENDING AND SUPPORTING US. HECTOR RANGEL FOR BEING OUR EASTER BUNNY. AND AND WE HAVE PICTURES AND ESPECIALLY CONSTABLE ART VILLAREAL, WHO REALLY PUT TOGETHER A TEAM THAT HAS BEEN SO EASY TO WORK WITH FOR THE VOLUNTEERS IN LINTON SPRINGS. SO JUST THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN PRECINCT FOUR. AND A QUICK PLUG, THE PLANNING MEETING FOR THE 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS AND DALE IS GOING TO BE THIS SUNDAY AT THE DALE COMMUNITY CENTER AT 6:00. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. HOPE YOU CAN BE THERE. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. MARK MCLAUGHLIN. GOTTA MAKE SURE. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS MARK MCLAUGHLIN. I LIVE AT 708 SOUTH WALNUT IN LULING, TEXAS. MY BUSINESS ADDRESS IS 509 EAST CROCKETT STREET IN LULING. I AM THE CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF LULING. I'VE BEEN THERE FOR 15 MONTHS, AND I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO START OUT THAT IN THE LAST 15 MONTHS, [00:05:02] WHAT I'VE SEEN THE INTEGRATION BETWEEN THE COUNTY, CITY OF LULING, CITY OF LOCKHART, I THINK WHERE WE'RE GOING IS JUST FANTASTIC. AND KUDOS TO YOU GUYS FOR MAKING IT HAPPEN AND HELPING US OUT IN THE CITY OF LULING. BUT I DO WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION SOMETHING THAT CAME TO LIGHT TO ME YESTERDAY, WHICH IS KIND OF SHOCKING. AND THAT IS THE EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT NUMBER FIVE, PUTTING ON THE BALLOT A SALES TAX INCREASE FOR THE GREATER COUNTY THAT'S NOT ALREADY MAXED OUT AT THE 8.25%. THE I DISCOVERED THIS YESTERDAY, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT SD FIVE IS DOING, BUT THEY'RE CERTAINLY SLIDING THIS ELECTION UNDER THE RADAR. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY KNEW. IT'S NOT IN ANY OF THE PAPERS. I HAVEN'T FOUND IT YET. BUT WHAT IT MEANS TO US IS THAT SD NUMBER FIVE PLANS TO ASK THE CITIZENS THAT ARE IN THE VOTING AREAS OF THEIR DISTRICT, OUTSIDE THE CITY MUNICIPALITIES, TO INCREASE THE SALES TAX BY 1.5% TO THE MAX OF EIGHT AND A QUARTER, SO THAT THEY CAN HELP FUND THE ESD'S OPERATIONS. THAT HAS A SERIOUS IMPACT TO NOT ONLY THE CITY OF LULING. IT PROBABLY HAS AN IMPACT ON THE CITY OF LOCKHART, MARTINDALE, UHLAND, NIEDERWALD. ANYBODY ELSE THAT HAS COUNTY PROPERTY RIGHT UP TO THE CITY LIMITS THAT DOESN'T ALREADY HAVE THE FULL 8.25%? THE LOCAL TAX OF 2%. OKAY. BECAUSE THE SIX AND A QUARTER GOES TO THE STATE EVERY TIME THE. I CONSIDER THIS AN INFRINGEMENT OF THE CITY'S ABILITY TO MANAGE THEIR EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION. WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THAT WE PLAN NO DIFFERENT THAN LOCKHART OR ANY OTHER CITIES. HOW THE CITIES WILL GROW AND EXPAND THEIR CITY LIMITS WHEN CUSTOMERS ASK TO BE ANNEXED TO GET CITY SERVICES. WE RELY ON SALES TAX AND AD VALOREM TAX TO RUN THE CITY'S. WHAT THIS LAW OR IF THIS SALES TAX WERE TO GO INTO EFFECT, IT WOULD LIMIT THE ABILITY OF THE CITY TO COLLECT SALES TAX ON ANY NEW ANNEXED PROPERTY. IF THE SD NUMBER FIVE ALREADY HAS RIGHTS TO THAT SALES TAX. SO CITY OF LULING, FOR INSTANCE, LET'S SAY A SUPERTARGET IN FIVE YEARS DECIDES TO COME IN AND BUILD RIGHT OUTSIDE OF OUR CITY LIMITS AND THEY REQUEST TO BE ANNEXED. WE WOULDN'T GET A DIME OF THEIR CITY SALES TAX BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY IN THE ESD. NUMBER FIVE, ASSUMING THAT THIS WERE TO PASS THAT WOULD BASICALLY RESTRICT US AS THE CITY OF LULING TO FACILITATE GROWTH OUTSIDE OF OUR CITY LIMITS, BECAUSE WE REALLY RELY ON SALES TAX AND AD VALOREM. WE NEED BOTH. OKAY. I'M JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW IF ANY OF YOU KNEW ABOUT THIS VOTE COMING IN, BECAUSE I'M SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOUR ECONOMIC ENGINES THAT RUN THE COUNTY ARE THE CITIES THAT HELP YOU WITH THAT. AND THIS WOULD REALLY SEVERELY IMPACT THE ECONOMIC DRIVERS FOR THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE. SO I JUST WANTED TO RAISE THAT UP, ASK FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. WE'RE ALREADY WORKING WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY ON WHAT ARE THE LEGALITIES OF DO WE HAVE ANY LEVERAGE IN OUR ETJ TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE ESD ON ANY OF THIS STUFF? BUT I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION BECAUSE IT IS CONCERNING TO ME. AND I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY, AND EARLY VOTING STARTS IN ABOUT 12 DAYS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANDREW MACLEISH. GOOD MORNING, ANDREW MACLEISH. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, I HAVE PRESENTED THE FACTUAL HISTORY AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND SURROUNDING THE INSTALLATION OF STOP SIGNS IN PRAIRIE. LEA AND I NOW TURN TO THE POINT WHERE JUDGE HAYDEN HANDED THE TRAFFIC STUDY AN EXPLANATION OF THE PROJECT TO COMMISSIONER HORNE, AND THAT HANDOFF LACKED CRITICAL CONTEXT AND OMITTED KEY FACTS NECESSARY FOR A FULL AND ACCURATE UNDERSTANDING. MY PURPOSE TODAY IS TO ENSURE THAT THIS COURT, ESPECIALLY COMMISSIONER HORNE AND THE PUBLIC, HAVE A COMPLETE AND ACCURATE ACCOUNT OF WHAT OCCURRED TO MY KNOWLEDGE. COMMISSIONER HORNE. YOU WERE NEVER GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH COMMISSIONER SHELTON TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE. JUDGE HAYDEN REPEATEDLY STATED THAT THE TRAFFIC COUNT WAS THE CONTROLLING FACTOR IN DETERMINING IF THE STOP SIGNS WERE WARRANTED. HE UNDERSTOOD ITS IMPORTANCE AND HAD A RESPONSIBILITY TO CLEARLY AND ACCURATELY CONVEY THAT INFORMATION. INSTEAD, THE PROJECT WAS ADVANCED IN A WAY THAT REFLECTED A PREFERENCE FOR KEEPING THE STOP SIGNS IN PLACE, DESPITE THE DATA FAILING TO ADJUST TO JUSTIFY THEM BY NOT FULLY DISCLOSING THE DEFICIENCIES IN THE TRAFFIC COUNT AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS. JUDGE HAYDEN SHIFTED RESPONSIBILITY TO COMMISSIONER HORNE WITHOUT PROVIDING THE FACTUAL FOUNDATION NECESSARY FOR AN INDEPENDENT EVALUATION. THIS WAS NOT A NEUTRAL OR COMPLETE TRANSFER OF INFORMATION, BUT ONE SHAPED TO SUPPORT A PREFERRED OUTCOME. HOWEVER, RESPONSIBILITY DOES NOT REST WITH JUDGE HAYDEN ALONE. COMMISSIONERS, WESTMORELAND AND ONTARIO WERE BOTH AWARE THAT THE TRAFFIC COUNT WAS THE DETERMINING FACTOR. [00:10:05] COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND ACKNOWLEDGED THIS IN COURT AND COMMISSIONER THERIOT STATED TRAFFIC VOLUME WAS INSIGNIFICANT TO WARRANT THE STOP SIGNS. BOTH UNDERSTOOD THAT THE DATA DID NOT SUPPORT THE OUTCOME BEING PURSUED. YET, WHEN THE TRAFFIC STUDY WAS MISUNDERSTOOD OR MISCHARACTERIZED, NEITHER COMMISSIONER INTERVENED TO CORRECT THE RECORD. FOLLOWING THE INITIAL MEETING DESIGNATED AS DISCUSSION ONLY, THEY HAD ANOTHER CLEAR OPPORTUNITY TO ENSURE THAT ACCURATE AND COMPLETE INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BEFORE THE MATTER MOVED FORWARD, AND THEY CHOSE NOT TO ACT. THEIR SILENCE WAS NOT NEUTRAL BY ALLOWING AN INCOMPLETE AND MISLEADING NARRATIVE TO STAND UNCORRECTED. THEY ENABLED THE DECISION TO PROCEED ON A FLAWED BASIS. IN DOING SO, THEY SHARED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE OUTCOME AND FOR THE BURDEN PLACED ON COMMISSIONER HORNE. IN PRACTICAL TERMS, THIS MEANS COMMISSIONER HORNE WAS LEFT TO BEAR RESPONSIBILITY FOR A DECISION SHAPED BY OMISSIONS, MISCHARACTERIZATIONS AND BIAS WITHOUT BEING GIVEN A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THE UNDERLYING FACTS. AND THE FACTS ARE CLEAR. THE SUMMER TRAFFIC COUNT WAS 96, WHILE 300 IS REQUIRED TO JUSTIFY AN ALWAYS STOP. THE TRAFFIC STUDY ITSELF WARNS OF SAFETY CONCERNS AT LOW VOLUME INTERSECTIONS AND RECOMMENDS REMOVAL UNDER SUCH CONDITIONS. NOW AS COMMISSIONER NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MATTER, THERE ARE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO CORRECT THESE FAILURES. FIRST, ACKNOWLEDGE ON THE RECORD THAT THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE STOP SIGNS WERE BASED ON AN INCOMPLETE AND MISLEADING INFORMATION. SECOND, DIRECT THAT THE TRAFFIC STUDY BE FULLY EVALUATED AND CLEARLY PRESENTED, INCLUDING, IF ACCEPTED STANDARDS ARE MET. THIRD, THIS PUT THIS ISSUE ON THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AGENDA FOR OPEN DISCUSSION AND ACTION. FOURTH, RESTORE TRANSPARENCY BY ENSURING DECISIONS ARE GROUNDED IN OBJECTIVE DATA AND PROPER PROCESS, NOT SILENCE OR OMISSION. FINALLY, TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS AS WARRANTED BY THE FACTS, INCLUDING REMOVAL OF THE STOP SIGNS IF THEY ARE NOT JUSTIFIED. THESE STEPS ARE NECESSARY FOR NOT ONLY NOT ONLY TO RESOLVE THE PRESS RELEASE STOP SIGN ISSUE, BUT TO REAFFIRM PUBLIC CONFIDENCE THAT DECISIONS OF THIS COURT ARE BASED ON ACCURATE INFORMATION, ACCOUNTABILITY AND OPEN DELIBERATION. THAT'S ALL I GOT. OKAY. THANK YOU SIR. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THERE ARE NO OTHER CITIZEN COMMENTS. OKAY. THANK YOU. WITH THAT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GO TO CONSENT COMMISSIONERS. [F. CONSENT AGENDA] IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS ON CONSENT ITEMS. I'D LOOK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE. MOVE FOR APPROVAL. MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER HORNE. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND. ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? NOT ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. I OPPOSED HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. DISCUSSION. [G.1 To discuss and take possible action regarding the approval of the Minutes for the March 26, 2026, regular meeting. ] ACTION ITEMS. ITEM G ONE. DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR THE MARCH 2020. MARCH 26TH, 2026. REGULAR MEETING. COMMISSIONERS. MOVE FOR APPROVAL. MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER HORNE. 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 G TWO. [G.2 To discuss and take possible action regarding the Development Agreement for EDC Austin, LLC pertaining to 127.328 acres located in Caldwell County, Texas (Phase I).] DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR EDC AUSTIN LLC. PERTAINING TO 127.328 ACRES LOCATED IN CALDWELL COUNTY, TEXAS. PHASE ONE. COMMISSIONERS. I THINK YOU'RE ALL AWARE OF THIS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. WE WE HAVE ALL THE ALL THE BACKUP NECESSARY TO GO FORWARD WITH IT NOW AND, AND WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION AND THEN WE CAN HAVE DISCUSSION IF WE NEED TO ALSO MOVE APPROVAL. MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER TERRY. OH. DO WE HAVE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND? ANY DISCUSSION? NOT ALL. OH. GO AHEAD. SORRY, COMMISSIONER. I WAS JUST GOING TO REITERATE THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT PROVIDES FOR RESTRICTIONS ON THE OPERATION OF, OF THIS INDUSTRY LIMITS THE WATER USE TO. UTILIZING NON-POTABLE WATER FOR THE INITIAL FEEL OF A CLOSED COOLING SYSTEM TO WHERE THERE'S NO DAILY OR MONTHLY RECHARGE OF THAT SYSTEM. AND THE WATER USE WILL ESSENTIALLY BE THE WATER USE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PLUMBING FIXTURES IN THE BUILDING. AS ANY OTHER INDUSTRY WOULD UTILIZE THERE ARE ALSO NUMEROUS [00:15:07] NEGOTIATED POINTS RELATED TO WATER QUALITY TREATMENT RIGHT OF WAY, DEDICATION TO THE COUNTY DISCHARGE QUALITY IF, IF THERE IS WASTEWATER DISCHARGE AND OTHER FACTORS THAT THE COUNTY WOULD NOT ORDINARILY OR WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO REQUIRE OTHERWISE THAN THROUGH THIS AGREEMENT. SO THIS IS A A GOOD DEAL FOR THE COUNTY AND I FULLY SUPPORT IT. OKAY. THANK YOU. AS DO I. ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? NOT ALL IN FAVOR, SAY I. I OPPOSED HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM G THREE DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR EDC AUSTIN LAND COMPANY, [G.3 To discuss and take possible action regarding the Development Agreement for EDC Austin LandCo, LLC pertaining to 192.608 acres located in Caldwell County, Texas (Phase II).] LLC PERTAINING TO 192.608 ACRES LOCATED IN CALDWELL COUNTY, TEXAS. PHASE TWO. SAME THING, DIFFERENT PHASE COMMISSIONERS. ALSO MOVE APPROVAL. MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER THERIOT. DO WE HAVE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND. ANY DISCUSSION? THIS IS THE OTHER HALF OF THE SAME SITE. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? NOT ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. I OPPOSED HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM G4 DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR TEXAS LAND DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS [G.4 To discuss and take possible action regarding the Development Agreement for Texas Land Development Partners I, LLC, Bar H Ranch Partnership LTD, and The Estate of Janice Lee Tipton Harrison, deceased pertaining to 155.227 acres located in Caldwell County, Texas.] ONE, LLC, BAR H RANCH PARTNERSHIP LIMITED AND THE ESTATE OF JANICE LEE TIPTON HARRIS, DECEASED, PERTAINING TO 155.227 ACRES LOCATED IN CALDWELL COUNTY, TEXAS. AT THIS TIME, EVERYTHING HAS BEEN ADDRESSED AND WE ARE READY FOR APPROVAL. OKAY, COMMISSIONERS. I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE. MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER TERIO. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM G5 DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A VARIANCE REQUEST TO ALLOW ONE FLAG LOT FOR A THREE LOT SHORT FORM [G.5 To discuss and take possible action regarding a variance request to allow one-flag lot for a three-lot Short Form Plat on approximately 10.16 acres located on Barth Road.] PLAT ON APPROXIMATELY 10.16 ACRES LOCATED ON BATH ROAD. OKAY, AND THIS IS A REQUEST FROM A MR. JOHN GARZA. MR. GARZA CAME TO US ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO TO START THE PROCESS TO SUBDIVIDE HIS PROPERTY. AT THAT TIME, WE ALLOWED THE ONE LOT FLAG. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, WE CAME IN AND OUR ENGINEER DISCUSSED WITH NO LONGER ALLOWING THAT UNLESS A VARIANCE WAS APPROVED. SO AT THIS TIME, MR. GARZA WOULD LIKE TO DO A THREE LOT SHORT FORM PLAT. ONE OF THE LOTS WOULD NEED A FLAG. THE OTHER LOT WOULD BE A ONE ACRE LOT THAT HE WOULD RETAIN FOR HIMSELF. THEN ONE OF THEM WOULD BE A ONE ACRE FOR HIS DAUGHTER. AND SO AT THIS TIME, WE'RE JUST ASKING TO FOR THE COURT TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY WOULD ALLOW A FLAG FOR MR. GARZA TO PROCEED WITH THE SHORT FORM PLAT. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND COMMISSIONER THOMAS. YES, JUDGE, ON THAT DISCUSSION. WE IT WAS BROUGHT TO ATTENTION THAT THE SITUATION HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE FOR THE COURT. SO WE KIND OF AGREED THAT THE VARIANCE SHOULD BE GRANTED BY THE COURT TO ALLOW MR. GONZALES FOR ITS FLAG LOT. OKAY, SO YOU MOVE APPROVAL. MOVE TO APPROVE. OKAY. MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS. DO WE HAVE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HORNE. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. I OPPOSED HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM G6 DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A VARIANCE REQUEST TO ALLOW A FAMILY MEMBER IN THE THIRD DEGREE. [G.6 To discuss and take possible action regarding a variance request to allow a family member in the third degree (1st cousin) to convey a 2.09-acre tract through a Family Land Grant located at 3381 FM 1984 in Maxwell, Texas.] FIRST COUSIN TO CONVEY 2.09 ACRE TRACT THROUGH A FAMILY LAND GRANT LOCATED AT 3383381 FM 1984 IN MAXWELL, TEXAS. OKAY. THIS VARIANCE REQUEST CAME FROM A MR. GENE BAGWELL COMMISSIONER. TERRY AND I MET WITH HIM ABOUT A YEAR AGO, DISCUSSED THE PROCESS. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE PROPERTY WAS ACTUALLY IN THE ETJ OF SAN MARCOS. SO WE SENT HIM TO SAN MARCOS. SAN MARCOS SAID THAT THEY REALLY COULDN'T HELP HIM. THEY SENT HIM BACK TO US AND HE WOULD LIKE TO DO A FAMILY LAND GRANT. BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT'S OF THE THIRD DEGREE AND WE ONLY RECOGNIZE FIRST AND SECOND. SO HE'S ASKING FOR A VARIANCE FOR THAT. OKAY. COMMISSIONER, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AND I'LL DISCUSS. OKAY. MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER. THERIOT. DO WE HAVE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND. THIS IS A UNIQUE SITUATION. THAT THEIR, THEIR INITIAL INTERACTION WITH THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS [00:20:04] DID NOT PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING OUR REGULATIONS RELATED TO WHAT'S THE WORD SAYING, WOODY? YES, SIR. AND SO THE DIVISION WAS, WAS MADE. AND IT'S GOTTEN PRETTY FAR DOWN THE LINE. IT'S A TRANSIT LAND TRANSACTION TO A COUSIN. OUR, OUR, OUR RULES NORMALLY LIMIT THAT TO DIRECT FAMILY MEMBER. BUT I'M, I'M COMFORTABLE THAT THERE'S ENOUGH UNIQUE SITUATIONS RELATED TO THIS THAT THIS IS NOT SETTING A PRECEDENT. AND I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE VARIANCE. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONERS NOT WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND, SECOND. WE HAVE, WE HAVE, I THINK WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND ALREADY. YEAH. COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ITEM G7 DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION ON PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING APRIL 26TH THROUGH MAY 3RD, [G.7 To discuss and take possible action on a Proclamation designating April 26-May 3, 2026, as Caldwell-Travis Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) Stewardship Week.] 2026 AS CALDWELL. TRAVIS. CALDWELL. TRAVIS. SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT S W C D STEWARDSHIP WEEK. I WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS HEALTHY SOIL AND CLEAN WATER IS A BENEFIT TO EVERYONE. AND WHEREAS EFFECTIVE CONSERVATION PRACTICES PROVIDE THE SOIL, WATER, ANIMALS, PLANTS AND AIR THAT CAN ENSURE A RICH STANDARD OF LIVING AND WHEREAS, OUR SECURITY DEPENDS UPON THE ROBUST MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND. WHEREAS, STEWARDSHIP CALLS FOR EACH PERSON TO CONSERVE THESE PRECIOUS, PRECIOUS RESOURCES. THEREFORE, I DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 26TH THROUGH MAY 3RD, 2026 AS TEXAS SOIL AND WATER STEWARDSHIP WEEK. OKAY, COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROCLAMATION, SO MOVE. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER. WESTMORELAND. DO WE HAVE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HORNE. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING APRIL 2026 AS CALDWELL COUNTY CHILD ABUSE [G.8 To discuss and take possible action regarding a Proclamation recognizing April 2026 as Caldwell County Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month.] PREVENTION AND AWARENESS MONTH. AND I WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION WHILE THEY'RE COMING UP. WHEREAS MORE THAN 51,985 VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT WERE CONFIRMED IN TEXAS IN 2025, RESULTING IN 4287 CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE IN TEXAS AND THE DEATH OF 125 CHILDREN IN TEXAS IN 2025. AND WHEREAS 100 121 CHILDREN WERE CONFIRMED VICTIMS OF ABUSE IN CALDWELL COUNTY IN 2025. AND WHEREAS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION IS A COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY, AND FINDING SOLUTIONS DEPENDS ON INVOLVEMENT AMONG ALL PEOPLE THROUGH THE PRESENT, PRESENT, PRESENT, PRESENT OF OUR MANY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WORKING DAILY TO END CHILD ABUSE. WE CONTINUALLY SERVE CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC. LOCALLY, REPRESENTATIVES FROM CALDWELL COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, HAYS CALDWELL WOMEN'S CENTER AND ROXANNE'S HOUSE, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES. COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES CASA LOCKHART, LULING AND MARTINDALE POLICE DEPARTMENTS. CALDWELL COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. BLUEBIRDS, HOPE AND CHRISTUS SANTA ROSA, SAN MARCOS HAVE JOINED FORCES TO PROVIDE PREVENTATIVE AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO CHILD VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES. WHEREAS, EVERY CHILD IN CALDWELL COUNTY DESERVES TO BE SAFE, NURTURED AND SUPPORTED IN CARING RELATIONSHIPS NOW THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE CALDWELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT THE MONTH OF APRIL 2026 IS RECOGNIZED AS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND AWARENESS MONTH, AND DO HEREBY CALL UPON THE CITIZENS OF CALDWELL COUNTY TO WORK TOGETHER TO RAISE AWARENESS AND PREVENT CHILD ABUSE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND BEYOND. PROCLAIM THIS NINTH DAY OF APRIL 2026. LADIES. HELLO. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ASHLEY RIOS. I AM A PROGRAM DIRECTOR AT ROXANNA'S HOUSE AT CWC. WE PROVIDE FREE, CONFIDENTIAL SERVICES TO ALL FAMILIES IMPACTED BY CHILD ABUSE, AND WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT AND THE RECOGNITION OF APRIL BEING AWARENESS MONTH. WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNER AGENCIES, THE DA'S OFFICE, LAW ENFORCEMENT, CPS, CASA AND OUR MEDICAL COMPONENT, AND ALL TOGETHER, WE'RE ABLE TO SUPPORT THOSE FAMILIES. SO WE DEFINITELY RELY ON ONE ANOTHER AND COULDN'T DO THE WORK WITHOUT THE GENERAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND EACH OTHER. SO I WANT TO RECOGNIZE EVERYONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DO YOU WANT TO? YEAH, SURE. WE HAVE TO APPROVE. YEAH. LET ME LET ME GET A GET IT APPROVED REAL QUICK. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONERS. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROCLAMATION. [00:25:03] MOVE TO SOMETHING ELSE. OH. I'M SORRY. MY NAME IS SHELLEY DINKLER, AND I'M A CASEWORK SUPERVISOR FOR COST OF CENTRAL TEXAS. AND JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THIS MONTH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US. CASA STANDS FOR COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE, AND WE REPRESENT THE CHILDREN'S BEST INTEREST THROUGHOUT THE CPS CASE IN 2025. CASA OF CENTRAL TEXAS SERVED 47% OF THE CHILDREN IN CALDWELL COUNTY. THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HORNE. DO WE HAVE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. I OPPOSED HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. ALI. THANK YOU, JUDGE. OH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. ADAM. G10 DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING APRIL 6TH THROUGH 10TH, 2026 AS NATIONAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WEEK, AND I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION. IT'S OVER ON G9. G9 THEY'RE VERY THEY'RE VERY SIMILAR. [G.9 To discuss and take possible action regarding a Proclamation recognizing April 2026 as Caldwell County Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.] OH THEY ARE. THAT'S I SAW I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW IT AND I THOUGHT I ALREADY DID IT. DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING APRIL 26TH, CALDWELL COUNTY SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH. AND I'LL READ THAT PROCLAMATION. 6,300,000 TEXANS HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME FORM OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THEIR LIFETIME. TWO AND FIVE WOMEN AND 1 IN 5 MEN IN TEXAS HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN THEIR LIFETIME, AFFECTING ALL RACES, AGES, GENDERS, AND ECONOMIC SITUATIONS. AND WHEREAS THE HAYS CALDWELL WOMEN'S CENTER PROVIDED DIRECT SERVICES TO 471 ADULT VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN HAYS AND CALDWELL COUNTIES LAST YEAR. AND WHEREAS CALDWELL COUNTY IS INTOLERANT OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN ANY FORM AND RECOGNIZES THAT EDUCATION AND AWARENESS MAY PREVENT SEXUAL ASSAULT. AND WHEREAS EFFORTS TO REDUCE SEXUAL ASSAULT CAN ONLY BE SUCCESSFUL THROUGH CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT AND THE SAFETY OF CITIZENS OF CALDWELL COUNTY DEPENDS UPON OUR ACTIONS TO END SEXUAL ASSAULT. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE CALDWELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT THE MONTH OF APRIL 2026 IS RECOGNIZED AS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH, PROCLAIMED THIS NINTH DAY OF APRIL 2026. HEY. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS SANDRA SANDY GONZALEZ. I'M ONE OF THE LEGAL ADVOCATES AT CWC. AND JUST A QUICK NOTE LAST YEAR, CWC PROVIDED SERVICES TO 639 ADULT SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS. OUR SERVICES INCLUDED COMPANYMAIN TO LAW ENFORCEMENT MEETINGS, HOSPITAL SAFE EXAMS COUNSELING, AND THEN LEGAL ADVOCACY SERVICES IN CASE THEY WANT TO PROCEED WITH FURTHER ACTION, SUCH AS PROTECTIVE ORDERS OR DIVORCE CUSTODY ORDERS, ETC.. AND JUST TO ALSO A QUICK NOTE RELATED TO THE CHILD ABUSE, THREE OUT OF FIVE CHILDREN NEVER DISCLOSE CHILDHOOD ABUSE OR SEXUAL ABUSE WHILE THEY'RE MINORS. 1 IN 6 TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS REPORTED HAVING EXPERIENCED SOME TYPE OF SEXUAL ABUSE IN THEIR LIFETIME, AND 64% OF THE OF THE ABUSE CASES. I'M SORRY, CHILD ABUSE CASES THAT ARE SEEN BY THE LOCAL CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS, OF WHICH ROXANNE'S HOUSE IS ONE 64% OF THESE CASES WERE ACTUALLY SEXUAL ABUSE. [00:30:06] SO IT IS PRETTY WIDESPREAD. PROBABLY A LOT MORE THAN PEOPLE RECOGNIZE OR ARE AWARE OF. SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR Y'ALL HELPING US SPREAD AWARENESS OF THIS BECAUSE WE CAN'T, YOU KNOW, WE NEED EVERYBODY'S HELP. THIS IS A COMMUNITY PROBLEM THAT WE NEED YOUR HELP TO STOP THE WHOLE COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. COMMISSIONERS. YES. YOU MOVE APPROVAL. COMMISSIONER HORNE. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. DO YOU WANT ANOTHER PICTURE? YEAH, SURE. OKAY. ONE MORE. YOU ARE ON A DIFFERENT ORDER THAN THE LAST PHOTOS. [G.10 To discuss and take possible action regarding a Proclamation recognizing April 6-10, 2026, as National Community Development Week.] OKAY, NOW WE'LL DO ITEM TEN. DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING APRIL 6TH THROUGH 10TH, 2026 AS NATIONAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WEEK. WHEREAS APRIL. WHEREAS THE WEEK OF APRIL 6TH THROUGH 10TH, 2026 HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS NATIONAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WEEK BY THE NATIONAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPACT OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT C, B, D, C, CDBG PROGRAM AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION. AND WHEREAS, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM, ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1974, HELPS COMMUNITIES ADDRESS CRITICAL NEEDS SUCH AS PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING AND SERVICES BENEFITING LOW TO MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. AND WHEREAS, IN TEXAS, CDBG FUNDING IS ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL AGRICULTURE'S TEXAS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, TX. CDBG PROGRAM, WHICH SUPPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN RURAL AND SMALLER COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE. AND WHEREAS COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE CAPITAL AREA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, CAPE COD REGION HAVE AUTHORIZED TX CDBG FUNDING TO IMPROVE WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS, SIDEWALKS AND OTHER PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT STRENGTHEN THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS. AND WHEREAS, THE CAPITAL AREA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS THESE EFFORTS BY DISSEMINATING PROGRAM INFORMATION, PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND ESTABLISHING REGIONAL PRIORITIES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE SCORING OF CDBG APPLICATIONS WITH. WITHIN THE CAPITAL REGION. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF CALDWELL COUNTY, TEXAS, THAT APRIL 6TH THROUGH 10TH, 2026 IS HEREBY RECOGNIZED AS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WEEK IN CALDWELL COUNTY AND WE ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO RECOGNIZE AND SUPPORT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS THAT STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGHOUT CALDWELL COUNTY. PROCLAIM THIS NINTH DAY OF APRIL 2026. COMMISSIONERS. MOVE TO APPROVE. MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER. WESTMORELAND. 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 G 11 DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING APRIL 12TH THROUGH 18TH, [G.11 To discuss and take possible action regarding a Proclamation recognizing April 12-18, 2026, as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.] 2026 AS NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATIONS WEEK. WHEREAS, CAPITAL AREA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS IS. POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE SERVING BASTROP, BLANCO, BURNET, CALDWELL, FAYETTE, HAYS, LEE, LLANO, TRAVIS AND WILLIAMSON COUNTIES. AND WHEREAS CAPCO IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE REGION AND WHEREAS CAPCO RECOGNIZES PROFESSIONAL AND UNENDING SERVICE OF TELECOMMUNICATORS WHO ANSWERED 911 CALLS ON A DAILY BASIS, AND WHEREAS THE 911 TELECOMMUNICATORS ARE THE LINK BETWEEN PEOPLE CALLING FOR HELP AND EMERGENCY SITUATION, AND THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE AGENCIES WHO ARRIVE ON THE SCENE. AND WHEREAS THE 911 TELECOMMUNICATORS ARE THE TRUE BACKBONE OF THE 911 SYSTEM. AND WHEREAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS HISTORICALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THE SECOND WEEK OF APRIL AS NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATIONS WEEK, [00:35:06] AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF CALDWELL COUNTY, TEXAS, THAT APRIL 12TH THROUGH 18TH, 2026 IS HEREBY RECOGNIZES PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK IN CALDWELL COUNTY, AND WE ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO RECOGNIZE THE DEDICATED SERVICE AND VITAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS WHO WORK TIRELESSLY TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. PROCLAIM THIS NINTH DAY OF APRIL 2026. COMMISSIONERS. I MOVE APPROVAL. MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER THERIOT. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HORNE. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM G 12. [G.12 To discuss and take possible action regarding a Caldwell County Burn Ban.] DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING CALDWELL COUNTY BURN BAN. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, STAFF AND GALLERY. IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, WE'VE HAD A FEW FIRES. NOTHING MAJOR. JUST WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE COUNTY DIDN'T GET RAIN. MOSTLY. MOSTLY THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF CALDWELL COUNTY. SOME AREAS GOT BETWEEN 2IN TO 3IN OF RAIN, USUALLY STARTING FROM ABOUT ULAN ALL THE WAY TO LYTTON SPRINGS. WE DO HAVE RAIN COMING STARTING TODAY WITH 40% TODAY, FRIDAY 50%. SATURDAY 40 SUNDAY 60 WITH SEVERE STORMS IN THE EVENING AND MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS WITH ABOUT 30% CHANCE OF RAIN. SO IF WE GET ENOUGH RAIN, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT FROM FM20 FROM FENTRESS ALL THE WAY TO THE BASTROP COUNTY LINE SOUTH DID NOT GET ANY RAIN. IT'S DRY. SOME SOME OF THE PEOPLE LIKE OUT IN MCMAHON MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN A 10TH OF AN INCH. I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND TO COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT WE EXTEND THE BURN BAN TILL WE GET SUFFICIENT RAIN THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE COUNTY. OKAY. THANK YOU. OH, LET ME GIVE YOU THE KBI NUMBERS, JUDGE. THE MINIMUM IS 349. THE MAX IS 644. AN AVERAGE OF 512 WITH A CHANGE OF PLUS THREE. OKAY. COMMISSIONERS MOVE TO KEEP THE BURN BAN ON COMMISSIONER HORN MOVES. KEEP BURN BAN ON. DO WE HAVE A SECOND SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND ANY. DISCUSSION. NOT ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. I OPPOSED HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ITEM G 13 DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE CALDWELL COUNTY FINANCIAL AUDIT REPORT FOR FY [G.13 To discuss and take possible action regarding the Caldwell County Financial Audit Report for FY 2025.] 2025. ACTUALLY LOOKING ACTUALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT THIS TIME. SO. OKAY, LET ME TRY AGAIN. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. MY NAME IS KARL GEHRING. I'M WITH ARMSTRONG VAUGHAN AND ASSOCIATES, AND I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE RESULTS OF THE SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025 AUDIT FOR CALDWELL COUNTY. OKAY. THE THE PURPOSE OF AN AUDIT IS TO FORM WHAT WE CALL AN AUDIT OPINION. THE AUDIT OPINION. YOU COULD THINK OF IT LIKE A KIND OF LOOSE ANALOGY OF LIKE A LETTER GRADE OF THE AUDIT, THE RESULTS OF AN AUDIT, THE AUDIT OPINION THAT WE GAVE FOR THE COUNTY WAS ONE THAT IS UNMODIFIED. IT MEANS THAT THERE ARE NO MATERIAL MISSTATEMENTS AND THAT THE FINANCIALS CONFORM WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES. YOU COULD THINK OF THAT AS LIKE YOUR GRADE OF A OR YOUR PASSING GRADE. IT'S THE BEST AUDIT THAT WE BEST OPINION THAT WE CAN GIVE ON AN AUDIT. FROM OUTSIDE. YOU KNOW, FINANCIAL OR ANYONE WHO ACTUALLY HAS AN INTEREST IN THE AUDIT REPORT, THEY'LL ALWAYS TURN TO THAT FIRST PAGE AND SAY, WHAT WAS THE AUDIT OPINION? AND THEY'LL SEE THAT IT WAS UNMODIFIED IN THE BEST OPINION. WE ALSO HAD A SINGLE AUDIT OVER FEDERAL GRANT EXPENDITURES BECAUSE THE COUNTY DID SPEND OVER A MILLION IN FEDERAL GRANT EXPENDITURES. AND THE OPINION THERE WAS THAT CALDWELL COUNTY COMPLIED IN ALL MATERIAL RESPECTS WITH THE COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL, FEDERAL, MAJOR FEDERAL PROGRAMS. AND THE SINGLE AUDIT WAS OVER THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT. OKAY. JUST A FEW FINANCIAL STATEMENT HIGHLIGHTS IN THE REPORT. [00:40:01] THIS WOULD BE AROUND PAGE 21 AND 22 FOR YOUR FUND STATEMENTS. THE GENERAL FUND, THE GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE AT THE END OF 2025 WAS 26.1 MILLION. THE COMBINED FUND BALANCE WAS 96.3 MILLION, AND OF THAT 26.1. THE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE IS 26 MILLION. YOU COULD THINK OF YOUR FUND BALANCE AS LIKE YOUR EQUITY, YOUR RESIDUAL YEAR AFTER YEAR. SO IT'S WHAT THE COUNTY HAS BUILT UP AND RESERVES. AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT NUMBER, 26 MILLION, IT SOUNDS LIKE A LARGE NUMBER. HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO A COUNTY THIS SIZE? HOW DOES IT COMPARE IN GENERAL TO ANYONE. AND HOW WE PUT THAT IN TERMS IS WE USUALLY TAKE THE TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR THE YEAR, DIVIDE THEM BY 12 TO GET A MONTHLY AND THEN DIVIDE IT INTO FUND BALANCE. YOUR NUMBER OF MONTHS OF FUND BALANCE ARE GENERALLY A GOOD YOU KNOW, SETTING FOR DO WE HAVE ADEQUATE RESERVES? AND THAT NUMBER FOR THE COUNTY IS 11 MONTHS OF OPERATING EXPENDITURES. SO IF YOU DID NOT EARN ANOTHER DOLLAR OF REVENUE, YOU WOULD HAVE ESSENTIALLY 11 MONTHS OF OPERATING ROOM BEFORE YOU RAN OUT OF FUNDS. GFOA SET STANDARDS AND THE COUNTY DID EXCEED THE GFOA IN THAT FOR BEST PRACTICES FOR ACCOUNTING. BUT THE REAL ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS MORE ON THE COMMISSIONERS YOURSELVES. IT'S REALLY DEFINED BY WHAT YOU FEEL IS A COMFORTABLE MARGIN OF, OF RESERVE. AND I ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THINK OF YOUR OWN PERSONAL LIFE. HOW MUCH, HOW MANY MONTHS WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE IN YOUR OWN PERSONAL SAVINGS ACCOUNT TO WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU COULD HANDLE ANY KIND OF, YOU KNOW, DISASTER OR ECONOMIC EVENT IN WHICH YOU HAD TO DRAW ON RESERVES. AND SO THAT'S THE BEST KIND OF FRAME OF REFERENCE FOR ACCOUNTING ON, ON HOW MANY MONTHS HE SHOULD HAVE. BUT FROM AN AUDIT PERSPECTIVE, 11 MONTHS IS A GREAT HEALTHY FUND BALANCE. ANYWHERE, EVEN A YEAR IS. IT SHOWS THAT THE COUNTY HAS ENOUGH RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE ANY KIND OF MAJOR EVENT. OKAY, SO THIS IS ALSO COMING FROM THE GENERAL FUND. I'M NOT GOING TO GO OVER EACH LINE, BUT JUST SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS. THIS WOULD BE PAGE 54 IN YOUR AUDIT REPORT. I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IS THE ORIGINAL BUDGET THE FINAL BUDGET. THE MIDDLE COLUMN IS THE 2025 ACTUAL AND THE 2024 PRIOR YEAR HISTORY IS THE FURTHEST TO THE RIGHT COLUMN. THAT WAY WE CAN SEE A BIT OF COMPARATIVE INFORMATION FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT, PRIMARILY IN REVENUES. PROPERTY TAXES IS YOUR BIGGEST SOURCE OF REVENUE, AND IT INCREASED $1.3 MILLION FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. EVEN THOUGH YOU LOWERED THE TAX RATE JUST BECAUSE OF THE SHEER VOLUME OF CONSTRUCTION AND INCREASE IN VALUES. THE OVERALL PROPERTY TAXES INCREASED 1.3 MILLION. OTHER TAXES. THE LINE RIGHT BELOW IT IS BASICALLY SALES TAXES. IT INCREASED BY 258,000 COMPARATIVELY TO THE PRIOR PRIOR YEAR. THE REST OF THE REVENUES DID FLUCTUATE. YOU KNOW, SOME WENT UP, SOME WENT DOWN. BUT PRIMARILY THE TWO LARGEST INCREASES WERE TAXES. THE LAST TWO LINES, INVESTMENT EARNINGS AND MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE INVESTMENT EARNINGS ACTUALLY DECREASED BY 158,000, WHICH IS NATURAL AS YOU SPEND BOND PROCEEDS AND OTHER FUNDS AND MISCELLANEOUS DECREASED BY 198,000. THIS IS SIGNIFICANT TO US BECAUSE WHEN I LOOK AT YOUR COUNTY REVENUES, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO SEE THE OPERATIONS OF THE COUNTY LIKE PROPERTY TAXES OR FEES OF OFFICE, YOU WOULD EXPECT THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE YOUR YEAR AFTER YEAR REVENUES. SO IT'S A GOOD SIGN WHEN YOU SEE THOSE INCREASING MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE, INTEREST INCOME, YOU KNOW, THOSE WILL NOT BE A FOREVER TYPE RESOURCE. AND SO THOSE DECREASING DOESN'T REALLY PLAY INTO THE THE OVERALL FINANCIAL HEALTH OF THE COUNTY. OVERALL TOTAL REVENUES INCREASED BY 1.3 MILLION. AND THAT WAS THE EXACT INCREASE OF THE PROPERTY TAXES. SO AGAIN, IT JUST SHOWS THE FLUCTUATIONS IN HOW IMPORTANT TAXES ARE FOR EXPENDITURES. I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT ONLY TWO PLACES. YOU KNOW, MOST EXPENDITURES EITHER INCREASE BECAUSE OF PAYROLL AND OTHER NON CAPITAL MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT. JUDICIAL THOUGH INCREASED BY ABOUT $1 MILLION FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. THOSE THAT WAS A RESULT OF TRANSFERS TO JUVENILE PROBATION, NOT NECESSARILY A REAL EXPENSE TO THE PROGRAM AND THEN HEALTH AND WELFARE. SORRY. I HAVE A QUICK NOTE. HEALTH AND WELFARE DECREASED BY 630,000 FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. AND SO I DID A LITTLE DIGGING BEFORE I CAME, AND IT IS ACTUALLY DUE TO LESS FUNDS THAT THE COUNTY GAVE TO THE ESDS SPECIFICALLY, A COMBINED TOTAL IN 2025 WAS JUST OVER 100,000. BUT IN THE PRIOR YEAR, THE COUNTY GAVE LOCKHART ESD ALONE ALONE 350,000. SO A LOT OF THE DECREASE WAS ACTUALLY DUE TO DECREASED FUNDING TO THE ESDS OVERALL. ON THE LAST LINE OF THIS PAGE, YOU CAN SEE THE EXCESS OF REVENUES OVER EXPENDITURES. [00:45:04] YOU CAN THINK OF THAT AS LIKE YOUR NET INCOME FROM OPERATIONS IS 7.1 MILLION. HOWEVER, WHAT'S NOT SHOWING HERE, WHICH WE'LL SHOW IN THE AUDIT, IS THAT YOU DO HAVE OTHER FINANCING SOURCES, SUCH AS TRANSFERS OUT AND AFTER TRANSFERS AND OTHER FINANCING SOURCES, THE TRUE CHANGE IN FUND BALANCE AN INCREASE IS 2.5 MILLION. AND SO MOST OF THE TRANSFERS THAT I WAS REFERRING TO ARE ACTUALLY TO ROAD AND BRIDGE. AND THEN THIS ONE I'M GOING TO KEEP SUPER BRIEF. THIS IS THE ROAD AND BRIDGE BUDGET TO ACTUAL. I NOTED THAT TOTAL REVENUES DECREASED BY 700,000 COMPARATIVELY TO LAST YEAR. EXPENDITURES INCREASED BY 700,000 ROUGHLY FROM 2024. AND SO OVERALL THERE'S A NET LOSS OF 1.4 MILLION. HOWEVER HERE I DO SHOW THE OTHER FINANCING SOURCES. YOU CAN SEE THAT THE GENERAL FUND TRANSFERRED OVER TO ROAD AND BRIDGE 4.9 MILLION. AND SO THE REAL NET CHANGE WAS ONLY A $10,000 LOSS. SO THE GENERAL FUND IS SUPPLEMENTING THE OPERATIONS OF THE ROAD AND BRIDGE. OKAY. AND QUICKLY, ON THIS LONG TERM DEBT, I JUST WANTED TO BRING THIS UP BECAUSE THE COUNTY IN OUR FISCAL YEAR DID HAVE A 50 PLUS MILLION DOLLAR BOND FOR IMPROVEMENTS. AND THIS IS REFLECTED IN THE, IN THE DEBT NOTE. SO THE TOTAL PRINCIPAL DEBT OUTSTANDING AT THIS AT SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025 IS 68 MILLION. AND LAST TWO SLIDES, I ALWAYS LIKE TO TALK ABOUT TCRS AND JUST GIVE A COUPLE OF TIDBITS FROM THAT. YOU CAN SEE THE CHANGE HERE BETWEEN AND IT SAYS DECEMBER. THAT'S BECAUSE TCRS RUNS ON A CALENDAR YEAR END. SO DECEMBER 2024 WOULD BE OUR FISCAL YEAR. AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IT INCREASED IN PARTICIPATION BY UP TO A TOTAL OF 782. THE DISCOUNT RATES BELOW. CURRENTLY, THEY'RE PROJECTING THAT YOUR INVESTMENT GAINS WOULD BE 7.6%. AND SO CURRENTLY THE NET PENSION LIABILITY IS ACTUALLY AN ASSET FOR THE COUNTY. YOU HAVE EXCEEDED CONTRIBUTIONS TO WHAT YOU'RE EXPECTED TO OWE BY 747,000. BUT LET'S JUST PRETEND IF YOU GOT A DISCOUNT RATE OF 8.6, SO 1% BETTER ON YOUR INVESTMENTS, YOU'D HAVE AN OVERALL ASSET OF 4.9 MILLION. BUT THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE, IF YOU DID 1% LESS IN INVESTMENTS, YOU'D HAVE AGAIN A LIABILITY OF 4.3 MILLION. SO IT CAN JUST SHOW YOU HOW, HOW MUCH OF A SWING THE INVESTMENT ASPECT OF THIS CAN BE ON YOUR OVERALL LIABILITY FOR PENSION. AND THEN MY LAST SLIDE, AND THIS IS PAGE 60 OF THE AUDIT REPORT. I JUST WANT TO GO THROUGH THE ARROWS. SO I'VE KIND OF SCRUNCHED EVERYTHING TOGETHER. JUST SHOWING THE TOTAL LIABILITY IS $34 MILLION. THE NET INVESTMENT INCOME AS OF THIS FISCAL YEAR IS $3.2 MILLION. AND YOU CAN SEE AGAIN, THE KIND OF UPS AND DOWNS OF THE ECONOMY AND HOW THAT AFFECTS THE NET INVESTMENT INCOME, AND THEN YOUR OVERALL NET PENSION LIABILITY. ESSENTIALLY WHAT YOU HAVE TO COMBAT THE LIABILITY AS AN ASSET IS 35 MILLION, RESULTING IN A NET ASSET OF 747,000. THE REAL LINE TO LOOK AT IS THE PERCENTAGE. IN THIS CASE YOU HAVE 102%. THE GFOA, WHICH I MENTIONED EARLIER, SETS BEST PRACTICES FOR THIS. ANYTHING OVER 70% FUNDED IS CONSIDERED BEST PRACTICE FOR THEM. AND SO YOU HAVE 102%. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK DANI AND HER OFFICE. YOU KNOW, WITHOUT THEM, WE CAN'T GET THIS AUDIT DONE. AND EVERY YEAR THE BOOKS ARE JUST IMPROVING AND IMPROVING LESS JOURNAL ENTRIES. EACH YEAR AND I ASK, YOU KNOW, FOR HER AUDITS AND SHE'S MAKING HER ROUNDS AROUND THE COUNTY AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE THAT. SO A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS AND OVERALL VERY HEALTHY FUND BALANCE FOR THE COUNTY AND THEY'RE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE IT. AND I TOO WANT TO ECHO I DON'T THINK PEOPLE TRULY REALIZE HOW HARD IT IS FOR THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND THE GRANTS DEPARTMENT AND THE TREASURER TO KEEP ALL THIS STRAIGHT. AND SO IT IS, IT IS A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING EVERY DAY OF EVERY YEAR. AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ALL DO. YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS. I'M GOING TO TAKE A VOTE ON ON THE FINANCIAL AUDIT EXCEPT FOR ACCEPT IT. I'LL MOVE TO ACCEPT. OKAY. COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND MOVES TO ACCEPT. DO WE HAVE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HORNE. ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? NOT ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. I OPPOSED HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. [G.14 To discuss and take possible action regarding Budget Amendment 07-2026, moving $38,332.58 from Contingency (001-6510-4860) to Other Expenses (010-5000-4851) to cover Grant funding repayment.] G 14 DISCUSSING BUDGET AMENDMENT 072026 MOVING $38,332.58 FROM CONTINGENCY. [00:50:03] 00165104860 TO OTHER EXPENSES. 001 5004 851 TO COVER GRANT FUNDING REPAYMENT. YES. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. THIS IS A REPAYMENT OF PREPAID PREPAID FUNDS FROM HURRICANE HARVEY. BACK IN 2017. WE WERE GIVEN MONEY UP FRONT FOR FORCE ACCOUNT LABOR. WE THEY WANTED BACKUP DOCUMENTATION FROM AN AUDIT THEY JUST DID NOT LONG AGO AND OUR TIME SHEETS WOULDN'T SUFFICE. AND GOING BACK THAT FAR, WE WERE ON PAPER. WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY CODE THEN. SO UNFORTUNATELY WE JUST GOT TO PAY THIS 38,000 BACK TO THEM. OKAY. COMMISSIONERS MOVE TO APPROVE THE BUDGET AMENDMENT. MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND. DO WE HAVE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM G 15. [G.15 To discuss and take possible action on payment to the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) with the approval of Budget Amendment 07-2026 in the amount of $38,332.58.] DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION ON PAYMENT TO TO THE TEXAS DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. TEDOM. WITH THE APPROVAL OF BUDGET AMENDMENT 072026 AND THE AMOUNT OF $38,332.58 COMMISSIONERS. THIS IS JUST PAYING THE MONEY. MOVE TO APPROVE. MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER HORNE. DO WE HAVE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER THERIOT. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM G16. [G.16 To discuss and take possible action to approve donation to the Hays Caldwell County Child Protective Board.] DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE DONATION TO THE HAZ CALDWELL COUNTY CHILD PROTECTIVE BOARD OF $30,000. WE DISCUSSED THIS LAST MONTH. IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME UP, THAT'S GREAT. WE DISCUSSED THIS LAST MONTH. COMMISSIONERS. AND JUST LOOKING FOR APPROVAL TO TO MOVE THE MONEY. WE CAN GO AHEAD AND I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE THE DONATION. MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND. DO WE HAVE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER TERIO. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. GO AHEAD. MA'AM. OKAY. WELL. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. I AM MARY KORBEL. I'M THE TREASURER WITH THE HAYS COUNTY CHILD PROTECTIVE BOARD. AND YOUR ACTION THIS MORNING WILL ASSIST OUR BOARD IN CONTINUING TO SUPPORT CALDWELL COUNTY CHILDREN WHO ARE INNOCENT VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. WE BELIEVE THEY ARE TRULY YOUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS AND I THANK YOU. AND IF YOU EVER HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE LET US KNOW. WE WOULD LOVE TO GIVE YOU ANSWERS. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I ALSO JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU ON THE CALDWELL COUNTY SUPERVISOR FOR CPS, AND I JUST WANTED TO ASK SOME OF OUR MEMBERS IN THE BACK IF THEY COULD JUST STAND UP. WHO'S IN CPS ADOPTIONS THERE? THEY'RE THE ONES MAKING THOSE REQUESTS. SO I KNOW THAT THEY WILL BE VERY HAPPY WHEN THOSE START GETTING APPROVED AGAIN. AND THEY'RE THEY'RE OUT IN THE FIELD, THEIR BOOTS ON THE GROUND. SO I APPRECIATE THEM AND THEY APPRECIATE Y'ALL AS WELL FOR DOING THIS FOR US. THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU GUYS DO. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT COMMISSIONERS, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GO TO G17 DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING BUDGET. [G.17 To discuss and take possible action regarding Budget Amendment 08-2026 moving $30,000.00 from Contingency (001-6510-4860) into Donations (001-6510-3200).] BUDGET AMENDMENT. 082026 MOVING 30,000 FROM CONTINGENCY. 00165104860 TO DONATIONS. 00165103200. SORRY, THESE ARE JUST KIND OF REDUNDANT FOR THE PROCESS. IT'S OKAY. COMMISSIONERS MOVE FOR APPROVAL. MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER HORNE. DO WE HAVE A SECOND SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM G18. [G.18 To discuss and take possible action on payment to Hays Caldwell County Child Protective Board in the amount of $30,000.00.] DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION ON PAYMENT TO HAYS CALDWELL COUNTY CHILD PROTECTIVE BOARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $30,000. COMMISSIONERS MOVE APPROVAL 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 G 19. [G.19 To discuss and take possible action regarding a 3-year Kologik agreement to interface with the JP's case management system.] DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A THREE YEAR AGREEMENT TO INTERFACE WITH THE JP CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. YES. I DON'T KNOW IF COMMISSIONER HORNE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS AFTER AFTER I DISCUSS IT, BUT THIS IS BASICALLY TO HELP THE JP OFFICES WITH THEIR CASE MANAGEMENT. RIGHT NOW THEY'RE ON NET DATA, BUT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ARE ON CO LOGIC. SO WHEN THEY ARE TRYING TO INTEGRATE AND GATHER INFORMATION FOR EACH OTHER, THE CLERK'S OFFICE OR THE JP OFFICES ARE JUST GETTING OVERWHELMED AND INUNDATED WITH, WITH PAPERWORK. HAVING TO MANUALLY ENTER THAT A LOT IN THEIR. [00:55:03] NET DATA SYSTEM. SO WITH THIS, IT IS GOING TO INTERFACE WITH ONE ANOTHER. AND THAT WAY THE DATA FROM CO LOGIC GOES STRAIGHT INTO NET DATA. AND IT DECREASES THAT THAT EXTRA BURDEN ON THE JP OFFICES. OKAY. I MOVED FOR TO APPROVE THIS. OKAY, I'LL DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT. YEAH. LET ME GET A SECOND REAL QUICK. GIVE ME A SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS. OKAY. GO AHEAD. PRETTY MUCH. THERE IS ONE THING TO THE GPS OFFICE. Y'ALL KNOW THEY'RE ON NET DATA. THERE IS A ONE TIME TRANSFER RIGHT OF 1450, I BELIEVE. AND DANNY WORKED HARD WITH THIS, AND THEY GOT US A 10% DISCOUNT. IT IS A THREE YEAR CONTRACT, AND IT HELPS THE GPS LIKE SHE SAID. THEY'RE PUTTING, THEY'RE PUTTING EVERYTHING. THE CONSTABLE'S OR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, RIGHT, A TICKET, THEY'RE PUTTING EVERYTHING IN MANUALLY. AND SO THIS, THIS WILL HELP THEM OUT. OKAY, GREAT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? NOT ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. I OPPOSED HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM G20 DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING RESOLUTION 2024 2026, AUTHORIZING CALDWELL [G.20 To discuss and take possible action regarding Resolution 24-2026 authorizing Caldwell County to apply for the USDOT FY26 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant funding.] COUNTY TO APPLY FOR THE US DOT FY 26 SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL SF FOUR A GRANT FUNDING. I'M NOT GOING TO READ THE WHOLE RESOLUTION COMMISSIONERS IT'S IN YOUR BACKUP. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER. TERI. OH, DO WE HAVE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HORNE? ANY DISCUSSION? THIS IS THERE'S A, A GRANT CYCLE OCCURRING. THERE'S APPROXIMATELY A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN $1 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR PROJECTS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE SAFE STREETS AND ROADS STUDY THAT WAS DONE. AND I THINK WE'RE LIMITED TO ONE PROJECT THAT WE CAN SUBMIT FOR. THAT'S CORRECT. THERE'S NUMEROUS PROJECTS IN THE, IN THE PLAN TO LOOK AT. SO I GUESS THE NEXT STEP AT A LATER AGENDA WOULD BE COMING BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION ON WHICH PROJECT TO GO FOR. OKAY, SO THE HANDOUT THAT I JUST GAVE Y'ALL THIS WAS ACTUALLY PREPARED BY HNTB, WHO IS HANDLING ALL OF OUR ROAD BOND PROJECTS. AND THEY LOOKED AT BOTH OUR SAFETY ACTION PLAN AND WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN OUR ROAD BOND. AND THEY'VE GOT SOME SUGGESTIONS HERE LISTED. YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S HIGH PRIORITY MEDIUM OR LOW THERE'S SOME PRETTY GOOD SUGGESTIONS HERE. I DON'T THINK NICOLE IS HERE. SHE WAS ALSO GOING TO REVIEW LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT THE OTHER DAY AND SEE WHAT PROJECTS SHE THOUGHT WOULD, WOULD FIT THE CRITERIA THE BEST. SO I DO THINK THAT WE PROBABLY STILL NEED TO DISCUSS THIS A LITTLE BIT AND FINALIZE WHICH PROJECT EVERYBODY IS IN AGREEMENT WITH. WE JUST HAVE A SHORT DEADLINE. SO. MAY 26TH IS WHEN THIS IS ALL DUE. SO WE WANTED TO AT LEAST GET THE RESOLUTION PASSED THAT WE DO. WE ARE INTERESTED AND WE WANT TO APPLY. AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK WITH HNTB TO, TO FIGURE OUT WHAT, WHAT PROGRAM WOULD WORK BEST. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? NOT ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM G 21 DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION ON APPOINTING A COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE RECOMMENDED [G.21 To discuss and take possible action on appointing a committee to review and recommend the selection of a pre-procured engineering firm to provide engineering services and grant-related support for the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) Outdoor Warning Siren Grant.] SELECTION OF PRE PROCURED ENGINEERING FIRM TO PROVIDE ENGINEERING SERVICES AND GRANT RELATED SUPPORT FOR THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD. OUTDOOR WARNING. SIREN GRANT. OKAY. FOR THIS WE ARE ALLOWED TO CHOOSE SOMEONE OFF OF OUR PRE PROCURED VENDORS THAT WE DO. SO IT WAS SUGGESTED BY THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE THAT WE GO AHEAD AND SET UP A COMMITTEE SO THAT WE CAN START RECEIVING THOSE PROPOSALS AND SELECT SOMEONE. SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE INCLUDE SOMEBODY FROM EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, WHETHER THAT BE HECTOR OR JOANNE SOMEONE FROM THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE. DOMINIQUE FOR PURCHASING MYSELF AND THEN ONE MEMBER OF THE COURT JUDGE. I FIGURED SINCE YOU'VE ALREADY KIND OF BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS GRANT THAT THAT WOULD BE YOU. AGAIN, ON THIS ONE, WE HAVE A SHORT TURNAROUND. SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET THIS THOSE THE INFORMATION OUT TO THOSE VENDORS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE CAN RECEIVE THIS AND GET SOME SOMEONE SELECTED TO START WORKING WITH. OKAY. DANNY, DO YOU WANT TO DO IT OR DO YOU GOT SOMEBODY ELSE? [01:00:01] OF COURSE YOU DO. AND I GUESS HECTOR, I WOULD E-M-C. YEP. SO WE'RE TALKING HECTOR, DANNY, DOMINIQUE, AMBER AND MYSELF ON THE COMMITTEE. OKAY. COMMISSIONERS NEED A MOTION. I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE THE COMMITTEE AS READ. MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND FOR THE COMMITTEE AS READ. DO WE HAVE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HORNE? ANY DISCUSSION? NOT ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. I OPPOSED HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. WE HAVE A DISCUSSION ONLY ITEM. [H.1 Discussion regarding a proposal between Caldwell County and Unified Strategic Resources for development of the Caldwell County 5-Year Strategic and Operational Plan (2026-2030).] I ASKED FOR THIS ONE TO BE BROUGHT FORWARD. NOT LOOKING FOR ANY ACTION TODAY. UNIFIED STRATEGIC HAS HAD PUT A PROPOSAL THAT'S FOR THAT'S FOR THE. YEAH, I SKIPPED IT ON PURPOSE, WHICH IS RARE, BUT I DID WE GOT A DISCUSSION ONLY I ASKED FOR THIS TO BE BROUGHT COMMISSIONERS UNIFIED HELPED US FIND CHRISTOPHER CUNNINGHAM. WE WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND AND LOCATED A REALLY GOOD IT DIRECTOR. THEY, THEY HAVE PROPOSED TO DO A STRATEGIC STRATEGIC PLAN. IT'S THEY'RE EXPENSIVE IF YOU GET ANYONE TO DO THEM. I THINK THIS PROPOSAL WAS LIKE $250,000 NOT LOOKING FOR Y'ALL TO DO ANYTHING OR EVEN PARTICULARLY THIS GROUP. BUT WHAT I AM ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER, AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK AT A LATER DATE IS THE COUNTY HAS NEVER, EVER, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, HAD A STRATEGIC PLAN. AND WE, WE HAVE NEEDS AND WANTS. WE HAVE, I CAN THINK OF AT LEAST FIVE BUILDINGS THAT HAVE COME UP LATELY, RANGING FROM AN ANIMAL SHELTER TO ANOTHER BUILDING TO HOUSE EMPLOYEES TO THE RODEO ARENA AND THE SHOW BARN. BUT THERE'S ZERO PLANNING BEING DONE. EXCEPT WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE MY HEAD. AND IF I GET RUN OVER BY BY A TRUCK TOMORROW, STEPPING OFF THE SIDEWALK, THEN THAT'S GONE. AND SO. OR I DON'T GET REELECTED. COMMISSIONER THOMAS DOESN'T GET REELECTED. YOU KNOW, TWO YEARS FROM NOW, WHEN Y'ALL DON'T GET REELECTED, WE'RE ALL OFF THE COURT IN TWO YEARS, AND IT'S A BRAND NEW COURT. THESE THINGS HAPPEN. AND SO THERE'S THERE IS REALLY NO PLAN FOR CONTINUITY OF SERVICES. THERE'S NO PLAN FOR FUTURE PROJECTS. YOU JUST SAW HOW MUCH FUN BALANCE WE HAVE. WE HAVE SOME FUNDS THERE THAT WE COULD USE. BUT WE HAVE, WE HAVE NO PLAN FOR HOW TO EXECUTE USING THOSE FUNDS. AND SO I'M NOT LOOKING FOR, FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN DISCUSSION TODAY, BUT I THINK THAT WE HAVE GROWN TO A POINT AND WITH SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING ON BOARD, WE WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS. AND I THINK WITH THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS WE'RE LOOKING AT HAVING IN THE FUTURE, WE'RE GOING TO NEED A PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD, ESPECIALLY ON THESE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ITEMS. YOU KNOW, I, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE MAKING ALL THOSE DECISIONS BY MYSELF AND THEN MEETING WITH ARCHITECTS, COMING TO YOU GUYS TELLING YOU, THIS IS WHAT I THINK WE SHOULD DO. I LIKE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF A ROADMAP THAT THAT WE ALL AGREE ON. AND THEN I CAN, YOU KNOW, FOLLOW THE ROADMAP AND YOUR WISHES AND I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT. BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, IT'S ALL IN MY HEAD. AND, AND I, I JUST, I MEAN, YOU SEE HOW I FORGET, I FORGET TO READ ITEMS. SO YOU DON'T WANT THINGS ALL IN MY HEAD. WE NEED TO HAVE A PLAN. SO THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING. AND I'M, I'M WANTING YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT AND SHOULD I PURSUE SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND LOOK INTO GOING OUT FOR AN RFQ FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM Y'ALL. HE'S LOOKING AT ME, SO I'LL GO FIRST. NO, I, I DO THINK WE NEED TO WE NEED SOME SORT OF GUIDELINE AND PLAN IN PLACE TO, TO NAVIGATE THE COUNTY'S GROWTH OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. SPECIFICALLY FOR COUNTY INFRASTRUCTURE, WE ARE WOEFULLY EVEN BEHIND AS WE SIT HERE TODAY. AND I WOULD WELCOME I WOULD WELCOME ANY FORWARD ACTION ON MOVING THIS, THIS IDEA FORWARD TO TO START THIS PROCESS. I THINK IT'S PRUDENT THAT WE DO SO. THANK YOU, MR. HORN. NO, I, I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND. YOU KNOW, WE'RE NEW. I'M NEW, YOU KNOW, AND SOME OF THESE PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, [01:05:05] YOU KNOW, TWO WEEKS AND TRYING TO FIGURE ALL I CAN ABOUT IT. SO YES, I'M I'M MUCH AGREEMENT WITH COMMISSIONER. WESTMORELAND. OKAY, I AGREE ALSO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING DISCUSSED AND YOU KNOW, HAVING A PLAN AND, AND SOME FINANCIAL WITH SOME NUMBERS ASSOCIATED WITH IT WILL HELP US MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. YES, SIR. COMMISSIONER THOMAS. YES, I'M IN AGREEMENT FOR PLANNING TO JUST LOOK AT THINGS. AND I WOULD ASK THAT IN MAKING THIS PLAN, YOU KNOW, WORKSHOPS WOULD BE INCLUDED SO WE CAN HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS AND. SURE. AND WE WOULD ALSO HAVE TO BECAUSE THEY'RE EXPENSIVE ENOUGH, WE'D HAVE TO PUT A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS OUT AND ALL, ALL THOSE THINGS. THE, THE MAIN THING I WORRY ABOUT IS WHEN I'M LOOKING AT IT AND I'M, I'M CONSIDERING, YOU KNOW, WHAT I JUST RATTLED OFF A WHILE AGO WAS WAS PROBABLY $40 MILLION WORTH OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS EASILY. AND WE, WE HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE $26 MILLION IN THE FUND BALANCE. YOU KNOW, WE CAN TAKE A PORTION OF THAT EVEN UP TO HALF OF IT AND STILL HAVE SIX MONTHS OPERATING EXPENSE. APPLY THAT TOWARDS A CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION. BUT, YOU KNOW, EVEN EVEN DOING THAT, WE, I, I NEED SOME HELP WITH SOMEBODY GOING OUT AND DOING CALCULATIONS. AND WHAT DOES THAT DO TO OUR DEBT SERVICE? AND WHAT DOES THAT DO TO OUR, OUR, OUR RATING FOR BEING ABLE TO GO OUT AND, AND PROCURE THAT? YOU KNOW, AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS. SO IF, IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO ME, WHOEVER, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE COMMISSIONER THERIOT WOULD, I WOULD LIKE FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO JUST GO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PLAN AND SAY, OKAY, THIS IS WHAT WE ALL AGREED TO AND WE'LL KEEP IT MOVING. AND SO THAT THAT'S REALLY WHERE I'M AT WITH IT. SO I'LL, I'LL GET WITH PURCHASING AND, AND THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND START TRYING TO TALK ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF DOING A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS. UNIFIED'S A COMPANY THAT WE'VE USED, BUT ON SOMETHING THIS LARGE AND UNDERTAKING THIS LARGE, I WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO BE A COMPETITIVE PROCESS BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHERS OUT THERE THAT DO THIS VERY SAME THING. SO ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR THOUGHTS. WITH THAT, WE'LL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. IT IS 1007 PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 551087 DISCUSSION AND DELIBERATION [I. EXECUTIVE SESSION] REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH PROJECT MOCKINGBIRD. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND EXIT EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 1032 PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551087 DISCUSSION, DELIBERATION REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH PROJECT MOCKINGBIRD. NO DISCUSSION WILL FOLLOW IN OPEN COURT. SO COMMISSIONERS, IF I COULD GET A MOTION TO TABLE ITEM G 22, [G.22 To discuss and take possible action regarding updates on Project Mockingbird economic development negotiations. Commissioners Court may provide further instruction or take necessary action as appropriate.] I'D APPRECIATE IT. SO MOVED. I MOVED TO TABLE BY COMMISSIONER, ONTARIO ON G 22. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HORNE. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT ALL IN FAVOR, SAY I. I OPPOSED HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES. AND COULD I GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED. MOVE TO ADJOURN BY COMMISSIONER HORNE. SECOND BY SECOND. COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND. WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 1033. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.