[A. CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
[00:00:03]
ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CALL THE BUDGET WORKSHOP INTO SESSION. I BETTER PUT MY GLASSES ON SO I CAN ACTUALLY READ THIS.
ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 27 AT 11:16AM. IF I COULD GET A MOTION TO SKIP INVOCATION, PLEDGE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND.
MOTION CARRIES. WE HAVE ANY CITIZENS COMMENTS FOR WORKSHOP? OKAY.
[F.1 Air Methods, LLC. - Spencer Gunn and Ann Rolfe]
PRESENTATION. I'VE ASKED AIR METHODS AND PH I AIR TO BOTH COME TO THIS AND EACH GIVE US A PRESENTATION ON THOSE TWO PROGRAMS. AND SO FIRST UP IS AIR METHODS.SPENCER GUNN WITH AIR METHODS.
I PRESENTED TWO WEEKS AGO AND SENT YOU GUYS EMAILS LAST WEEK WITH A COPY OF THE PRESENTATION. WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE THE COURT IS THE AIR METHODS COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP MODEL. AND JUST TO HIT THE HIGH NOTES ON IT, THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP IS COVERS THE CITIZENS OF CALDWELL COUNTY SO THAT THEY NEVER HAVE AN OUT OF POCKET COST FOR TRANSPORT BY AIR METHODS. THIS INCLUDES BEING FLOWN BY AIR METHODS IN ANOTHER COUNTY OR EVEN ANOTHER STATE. AIR METHODS DOES HAVE OVER 300 BASES IN THE CONTINENTAL US RIGHT NOW SERVING PATIENTS. THERE IS NO UPFRONT COST TO THE COUNTY.
YOU PAY AS YOU GO ON A QUARTERLY BASIS. THE COUNTY ONLY PAYS THE ACTUAL COST SHARE AMOUNT OF THE CITIZEN AND THAT IS CAPPED AT $800 PER TRANSPORT. SO AS AN EXAMPLE, IN THIS MODEL, IF YOU GUYS HAD USED THIS OVER THE PREVIOUS 12 MONTHS, THERE WERE ABOUT 210 RESIDENTS FLOWN FROM CALDWELL COUNTY.
THE AVERAGE OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE OVER THE TRAILING THREE YEARS IS $125.
AND SO THAT PUTS US AT JUST OVER $26,000, WHICH YOU WOULD HAVE SPENT FOR THE PREVIOUS 12 MONTHS HAD YOU DONE THE PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT HERE, OUR LOCKHART BASE IS THE ONLY AIR MEDICAL AIRCRAFT IN CALDWELL COUNTY. WE REGULARLY PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES SUCH AS NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, THE WATERMELON THUMP BALL DROPS, OUTREACH EDUCATION FOR OUR EMS PROVIDERS AND THE HOSPITAL AND LOCAL HEALTH FAIRS. WE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF BOTH EDGAR B. DAVIS AND CALDWELL COUNTY EMS FOR THIS PROGRAM. AND I'VE EMAILED THOSE LETTERS OF SUPPORT TO YOU GUYS LAST WEEK. I LOOK FORWARD TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE FOR ME TODAY.
I HAVE ONE. AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, AS PLAINLY AS YOU CAN TELL ME, LET'S SAY I'M. I'M IN A CAR WRECK. I USE YOUR SERVICE PICKS ME UP, FLIES ME TO HOSPITAL AND I HAVE NO INSURANCE. AM I GONNA. AM I, AS THE PATIENT WHO HAS FLOWN, GONNA HAVE ANY COST OUT OF POCKET? NO, SIR. ZERO COST.
OKAY, SO IT WOULD BE EIGHT TO THE COUNTY AND THEN YOU GUYS TAKE CARE OF THE REST.
I GUESS WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT. IT SEEMS WHEN YOU'RE PRESENTED THIS WAY, AND I KNOW THAT THE OTHER VENDOR HAS A CHANCE TO SPEAK TOO, BUT IT KIND OF IS JUST LIKE, WHAT IS THE CATCH HERE? BECAUSE WE'RE PAYING OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR OUR PORTION AND YOU'RE ONLY SAYING THAT WE'RE ONLY GOING TO PAY $26,000.
AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK DIRECTLY FOR SOMEONE ELSE, BUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS YOU'RE PURCHASING MEMBERSHIP FOR ALL COUNTY RESIDENTS UP FRONT WITH THE OTHER COMPANY. THEN THEY'RE COVERED WHEREVER THEY GO THAT PHI OFFERS THAT SERVICE. I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFICS OF THEIR SERVICE.
ON OURS, IT'S JUST ONCE A PATIENT IS FLOWN. SO WE'RE NOT COVERING EVERYONE IN ADVANCE.
WE'RE WAITING UNTIL SOMETHING ACTUALLY HAPPENS AND THEN COST SHARING. ANY BALANCE BILL THAT WOULD GO TO THE INDIVIDUAL ON THAT. AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, I'M NOT STATING THAT YOU SHOULD DO ONE VERSUS THE OTHER. THERE ARE CASES WHERE BOTH MIGHT BE BENEFICIAL TO THE COUNTY. I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S THE CASE HERE, BUT WE'RE JUST SPEAKING TO THE. THE PREMISE OF OUR AGREEMENT.
OKAY, COMMISSIONERS, Y' ALL HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I'VE GOT TWO, JUDGE. SO, I KNOW PHI. IS IT THE CONNECTING COUNTIES. IF I WAS IN GUADALUPE, SAME WITH YOU.
ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY, YES, SIR. THE OTHER IS TO HIT ON THE JUDGE'S NOTE WITH NO INSURANCE. BUT IT. IF I REMEMBER LAST TIME YOU SAID THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GO AFTER CO. I MEAN, GO AFTER CO PAYS IF IT'S AVAILABLE OR INSURANCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
SO IF IT'S A CAR WRECK, WE WOULD GO AFTER AUTO INSURANCE, WE GO AFTER THAT.
BUT WOULD IT STILL. WOULD IT COME OUT OF THE PATIENT'S POCKET OR YOU GUYS WOULD TRY TO GET THE CO PAY FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY? NO, SIR.
IF YOU GUYS PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM, ANY RESIDENT
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OF THE COUNTY WOULD NEVER RECEIVE A BALANCE BILL.OKAY, THAT'S NOT. THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY TRUE. IF THEY GO AFTER THE INSURANCE AND THE INSURANCE DOESN'T PAY. RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT. IF THEY GO AFTER THE INSURANCE, THE INSURANCE IS GOING TO GO AFTER WHOEVER.
THAT'S. I HATE TO SOUND JUST ROUTINE, BUT THAT'S JUST THE WAY INSURANCE COMPANIES OPERATE.
THE INSURANCE IS GOING TO GO UP BECAUSE THEY HAD A RACK.
BECAUSE THEY FLEW ON HELICOPTER. YEAH, THEY'RE GONNAĀ SOMEBODY'S GONNA PAY BECAUSE THE INSURANCE IS NOT GOING TO PAY THE FULL AMOUNT.
YEAH. AND SO, THERE'S THE CAR INSURANCE THAT WOULD GO UP BECAUSE THEY HAD A WRECK AND THEN MY MEDICAL INSURANCE MIGHT GO UP IF YOU GUYS FILED ON IT. IS THAT NOT TRUE? MAYBE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
COULD YOU RESTATE THE QUESTION? I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T.
SO I'VE GOT TWO INSURANCE POLICIES AND I THINK WE ALL DO.
I HAVE CAR INSURANCE AND I HAVE MEDICAL INSURANCE. YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO GO TO THE MEDICAL INSURANCE.
THAT IS OUR FIRST STOP. AND I CAN'T SPEAK TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY GO TO BOTH. I'D HAVE TO ASK OUR PATIENT BILLING SERVICES THAT QUESTION.
OKAY, THAT. THAT MIGHT BE IMPORTANT TO KNOW SOMETHING.
CLAIMS ON OUR INSURANCE ESSENTIALLY BALANCE THAT.
OH, OKAY. YOU DO ARE SAID THAT YOU WERE GOING TO GO FOR THE AUTO INSURANCE. NOW OUR MEDICAL INSURANCE AS AN INDIVIDUAL. I HAVE A $3,000 DEDUCTIBLE TO MEET. SO WOULD I STILL HAVE TO PAY THE 3,000 AND THEN YOUR INSURANCE. YOU KNOW THAT YOU GO THROUGH THE INSURANCE TO COLLECT THE REST.
I CAN'T SPEAK TO WHAT YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD CHARGE YOU. WE WOULDN'T HAVE ANY OUT OF POCKET COST FOR YOU.
THAT'S WHAT SHE'S TRYING TO ASK. SHE HAS A. WE HAVE A $3,000 DEDUCTIBLE. YOU'RE GOING AFTER OUR INSURANCE. SHE'S STILL GOING TO GET A BILL JUST LIKE WE STILL GET A BILL FROM THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE.
I'D HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT ONE. I DON'T KNOW THAT ANSWER.
THAT'S. YEAH, WE. SO THAT'S A BIG. THAT'S A BIG HIT. SO FOR.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY DON'T GET THAT HIT UNDER THE CURRENT PLAN AT ALL. SO. SO THAT'S ONE. AND WOULD THERE BE A CAP ON THIS? SO NOT TO EXCEED NUMBER.
THERE IS A CAP. SO THAT'S $800 PER INDIVIDUAL. AND THEN THERE'S A CAP ON. I BELIEVE IT'S PAGE TWO OF THE AGREEMENT. THAT ONE'S CALCULATED THE SAME WAY THAT MEMBERSHIP IS. SO IT'S THE NUMBER OF CITIZENS TIMES $2.50 AHEAD. YOU GUYS WOULDN'T GET ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THAT.
WHAT. WHAT WOULD. WHAT WOULD THAT CAP BE? I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN THE AMOUNT.
OKAY. I WON'T HOLD YOU TO IT. I'M JUST TRYING TO.
JUST FOR ROUGH NUMBERS. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY, THANK YOU. WE'LL HEAR FROM PHI CARES. NEXT. MR. GREEN. IS HE HERE? HE'S NOT HERE.
(INAUDIBLE) AND WE PAY FOR MARTIN.
RIGHT. BUT WE'RE PAYING AROUND $120,000 EVERY YEAR.
THAT'S NO COST TO ANYBODY APPLYING. THERE'S NO CLAIMS ON YOUR MEDICAL INSURANCE, AUTO INSURANCE. WE PAY A CERTAIN DOLLAR AMOUNT.
EVERYBODY THAT'S BEEN ACCOUNTING FOR. UNFORTUNATELY IT'S NOT WITH THE COUNTY OR NATIONWIDE, BUT IT IS...
(INAUDIBLE) THEY DO HAVE A PLAN WHERE YOU.
I THINK YOU PAY LIKE 40 SOMETHING DOLLARS. AND IF YOU'RE COVERED NATIONWIDE.
YEAH, YEAH. YOU CAN'T OPT FOR THAT. IT'S JUST OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE FOR THE, FOR THE EMPLOYEE. OKAY, I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, BUT IS PHI ALWAYS CALLED OR IS THERE OTHER.
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SO WE HAD. THAT'S A. YEAH, I CAN ANSWER THAT.BUT BEFORE WE WERE HAVING A SITUATION WHERE ESD11, THIS IS PRE. PRE AIR METHODS EVEN COMING INTO THE PICTURE.
AND SO WE WERE HAVING AN ISSUE WITH TRAVIS COUNTY GETTING CALLED FIRST AND THEN, AND THEN PHI ERROR. AND WE GOT THAT STRAIGHTENED OUT. SO THAT'S, THAT'S NOT REALLY. AS FAR AS I KNOW, SEAN, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THAT HASN'T BEEN A BIG DEAL ANYMORE. WE HAD SOME CONVERSATION JUST BETWEEN THE ENTITIES AND GOT THAT WORKED OUT. BUT NOW, SO NOW WE HAVE
[F.2 PHI Cares - Scooter Green]
ERROR METHODS AND PHI ERROR.AND SEAN, YOU CAN TELL US, YOU KNOW, WHAT SITUATION IS, WHO'S GETTING CALLED WHEN NOW, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE, THE, I GUESS THE, THE SHORTEST VERSION IS THAT LIKE FOR EMS, TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODES, THE RULES, HOW WE OPERATE. SO ME DRIVING RIGHT PAST A LEVEL TWO TRAUMA CENTER TO GET TO ANOTHER LEVEL TWO TRAUMA CENTER IS KIND OF LIKE A NO GO, LIKE I'M GOING TO GET INVESTIGATED FOR THAT.
THAT BECOMES A PROBLEM THAT KIND OF FOLDS INTO OUR NORMAL RESPONSE PLAN INSIDE THE COUNTY. SO WE HAVE TO, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO USE THE CLOSEST, CLOSEST APPROPRIATE, NOT ONLY FACILITY, BUT RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE. SO HAVING ONE THAT CAN MAKE IT TO THE AIRPORT IN THREE MINUTES VERSUS 17 MINUTES.
THE WAY IT'S SET UP RIGHT NOW, AIR METHODS IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE FIRST CALL FOR NOW BECAUSE IT'S THREE MINUTES VERSUS, YOU KNOW, 17 TO 20 MINUTES.
AND JUST FOR REFERENCE, LAST YEAR, ESD 5, AS FAR AS EMS AND EMS FLIGHTS GO, OUT OF THAT 210, WE HAD 70, ALMOST 80 FLIGHTS. AND FIVE OF THOSE WERE PHI. SO THAT, THAT AGREEMENT PAID FOR FIVE FLIGHTS.
(INAUDIBLE) OKAY, THANK YOU. GOOD.
THAT'S GOOD. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONERS, I GUESS, DANIEL, KIND OF CRUNCH THE NUMBERS AND THEN WE'LL, WHEN WE BRING THE BUDGET BACK OUT ON THE 10TH AND WE'LL HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU TO CONSIDER. I THINK JUST FROM MY UNDERSTANDING OF IT, AS LONG AS THAT RESPONSE TIME IS THE, IS GOING TO BE DRIVEN, THAT'S GOING TO, THAT'S GOING TO HAVE A LARGE EFFECT ON WHICH CARRIERS COVER.
YEAH, WELL, YEAH, THAT'S NOT, THAT'S A THING THAT. SO THAT'S A BIG DEAL TO TWO OF THE THINGS. AND ONE OF THEM WAS JUST ANSWERED THE COPAY DEAL WAS A BIG DEAL TO ME BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT OUR, OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES, YOU KNOW, HAVING TO COME OUT OF POCKET WITH THEIR COPAY. AND I, AND I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW HOW FIRE DOES IT. THEY MAY, I HAVE TO BELIEVE THEY STILL GO AFTER THE INSURANCE AND TRY TO GET THE MONEY. I MEAN, I'D BE SHOCKED TO FIND OUT THEY DIDN'T. SO THERE'S NO WAY THEY'RE NOT DOING THAT.
SO, SO THAT, SO THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, SIX TO ONE, HALF A DOZEN OF THE OTHER BETWEEN THE TWO, BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO GO TRY TO GET AS MUCH MONEY. EITHER ONE, IT'S JUST BUSINESS.
THEY'RE GOING TO GO TRY TO GET THEIR MONEY WHERE THEY CAN.
OKAY. BUT THAT WAS, THAT WAS A BIGGIE FOR ME. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE. AND THE OTHER ONE IS, YOU KNOW, ON ITS SURFACE, I'LL JUST SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE PAYING BY THE FLIGHT, THERE'S 200 FLIGHTS. THAT'S A LOT LESS MONEY THAN WE'RE PAYING RIGHT NOW. SO. OKAY, WE'LL CRUNCH IT AND MAKE SURE IF WE HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS WE MAY ASK. AND SO
[G.1 To discuss current and future Caldwell County budgetary needs in anticipation of the upcoming Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budgeting process.]
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE INTO THE WORKSHOP, DISCUSS CURRENT FUTURE CALDWELL COUNTY BUDGETARY NEEDS AND ANTICIPATION OF THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. I WANTED TO GIVE EVERYBODY ONE LAST STAB. IF THERE'S SOMETHING YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT, WE CAN GO INTO THAT SECTION AND TALK ABOUT IT. IF NOT, THEN WE'LL BE WRAPPING IT UP AND BRINGING SOMETHING TO YOU ON THE 10TH.I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS AND KIND OF STAGES OR STATUS UPDATE ABOUT THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW. IT DOES SHOW A DEFICIT. I HAVEN'T GOT IN THERE AND REALLY CLEANED UP BALANCING THOSE FUNDS YET.
SO IT DOES SHOW A DEFICIT. I WILL BE GETTING IN THERE THIS NEXT COMING WEEK BEFORE WE ADOPT TO BALANCE THAT BUDGET OUT OR SEE WHERE WE'RE AT.
TWO, I KNOW COMMISSIONER HORNE AND I HAD SPOKE ABOUT COMING UP WITH SOME ORGANIZED CHAOS TO, TO TAKE CARE OF THE CONSTABLES AND THEIR VEHICLE NEEDS AND REQUESTS. SO WHAT WE DECIDED TO DO OR MAYBE TALKED ABOUT IT THEN NO DECISION NEEDS TO BE MADE HERE RIGHT NOW, BUT I DO WANT TO JUST BRING IT TO THE TABLE IS POTENTIALLY PUTTING A CAP ON THE UPFITTING. SO SET A
[00:15:03]
DOLLAR AMOUNT 15,000 OR YOU KNOW, WE CAN TALK OR DISCUSS WHAT YOU GUYS WANT TO DO.BUT RIGHT NOW PUTTING A CAP ON THE UPFITTING AND THEN ALLOWING TO. TO BE WITH THE UPFITTER, GET WHAT THEY WANT ON THERE.
IF THEY GO OVER THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT, IT'S EITHER GOING TO GET DENIED BY MY OFFICE FOR PAYMENT OR PURCHASING OR THEY CAN PULL THAT MONEY, THOSE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES OUT OF THEIR OWN BUDGET. THIS IS RIGHT NOW ALL THE VEHICLES AND THE UPFITTING IS COMING OUT OF NON DEPARTMENTAL. AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WHEN YOU'RE PULLING FROM A NON DEPARTMENTAL LINE ITEM AND YOU'RE GETTING TO HAVE THE ROLLS ROYCE OF WHATEVER YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WANT AND THERE'S NO STANDARDIZED UPFITTING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES.
IT'S BECOMING AN ISSUE. IT'S BECOMING AN ISSUE THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO VENDORS BEHIND MY BACK ADDING ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT TO THE OPEN POS.
THERE'S ALSO THE ISSUES OF WE'RE TRYING TO STAY STANDARD, WE'RE TRYING TO STAY UNIFORM.
BUT ONE PERSON COMES TO ME AND WANTS ONE THING, ANOTHER PRECINCT COMES TO ME AND WANTS ANOTHER THING AND ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, SO ON AND SO ON. SO I THINK IF WE CAP IT AND GET WHATEVER THE HECK THEY WANT, BUT THEY GOT TO STAY UNDER THAT BUDGET AND ALSO ALLOW FOR THEM TO STILL PERFORM THEIR JOB DUTIES.
AND YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT, YEAH. MAKE SURE THE CAP MEETS THE YOU KNOW, MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFETY, YOU KNOW, FOR NOT JUST FOR THE CONSTABLE, BUT FOR THE CITIZENS. BUT YEAH, IT IS BEING BECOME A HUGE ISSUE EVERY BUDGETARY CYCLE. AND THEN EVEN AFTER WE ADOPT THE BUDGET, THEY'RE KIND. THERE'S PEOPLE ARE DOING IN AROUND, YOU KNOW, AND TRYING TO. TRYING TO GET A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA TOSSED ON THEIR VEHICLE. AND IT'S.
IT'S BECOME A REAL BIG ISSUE AND I THINK WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO.
AND WE CAN VISIT MAYBE EVERY TWO YEARS TO ALLOW FOR INFLATION OR YOU KNOW, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
BUT I THINK, I WOULDN'T SAY AUTOMATICALLY GIVE A 3% INCREASE EVERY YEAR. I THINK IT NEEDS TO. I THINK WE'D BE OKAY AT MAYBE ANALYZING IT EVERY.
JUST. JUST DO IT OFF THE INFLATION RATE OR SOMETHING.
SO. YEAH. OKAY. ANY. ANYTHING ELSE COMMISSIONERS YOU CAN THINK OF.
SO, WE HAVE A CAMPO GRANT COMING IN THIS YEAR, THIS FISCAL YEAR FOR 2720. YOU KNOW, IT'S A 4 MILLION I THINK IT IS. AND THERE'LL BE A MATCH ON. ON THAT. AND THEN I THINK IT'S A 20% MATCH. AND THEN WE'VE APPLIED FOR A SAFE STREETS GRANT FOR HIGHWAY 80.
THAT'S ANOTHER. I THINK THAT ONE WAS 3 MILLION. AND THERE'LL BE A MATCH ON THAT. I MEAN WE, WE CAN HANDLE THAT AT THE TIME. I KNOW FROM FUND BALANCES OR HOWEVER YOU. YOU DECIDE TO DO BEST, BUT THAT ALMOST HAD TO BE A FUN BALANCE THING BECAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE RIGHT NOW AS WE WERE ON OUR AD VALOREM TAX IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $2 MILLION PLUS AD VALOREM THIS YEAR, EVEN KEEPING IT AT THE CURRENT RATE. SO WE'RE HAVING TO GO BACK IN AND LOOK AT FEES AND FINES AND FINE TUNE SOME OF THE BUDGETS. AND SO WE BALANCE LEGALLY WE HAVE TO BALANCE. SO THERE'S NO WAY WE COULD THAT WAS THOSE TWO MATCHES BE LIKE A MILLION BUCKS OVER A MILLION.
IT, IT HAVE TO COME OUT OF UNBALANCE.
BUT WELL THAT, THAT, THAT'S TWO HITS THAT MIGHT BE COMING.
RIGHT NOW. FINDING IT DIFFICULT (INAUDIBLE) AND THERE, THERE'S SOME STRATEGIES WE MAY USE TO REDUCE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO IN KIND OR YOU KNOW, TXDOT IS A PARTNER WITH US ON THAT 2720 GRANT AND MAYBE SOME OF THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES CAN COUNT TOWARD THAT, THOSE KIND OF THINGS. BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE KNEW THOSE WERE OUT THERE.
I THINK. AND THAT'S WHAT THE FUND BALANCE IS KIND OF FOR.
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YEAH. AND THOSE WE WOULD FINANCE LIKE THE JAIL WE'D FINANCE SOMEHOW BUT. AND SAME WITH THE BUILDING.BUT STILL THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME MONEY THAT GOES ALONG WITH THE FINANCE EVEN IF IT'S A CO. SO.
BUT THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO DO THAT. THAT'S WHY WE ASKED FOR THAT RFPS SO WE COULD GET SOME ESTIMATES WITH ESCALATORS ON THEM SO WE CAN THEN AT LEAST HAVE SOME GOOD DATA TO DECIDE WHAT NEEDS WHAT WE WANT TO DO FIRST.
(INAUDIBLE) AND THEN WE'RE GOING OUT FOR AN RFQ ON THE FACILITIES PLAN.
AND THAT'LL. WE. WE'VE GOT THAT BUDGETED TO DO THAT.
YEAH. WELL, YEAH. TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT PLAN. WE DON'T.
IT'S NOT IN THE BUDGET TO BUILD $5.
YEAH. THEIR SERVICES ARE BUDGETED TO, YOU KNOW, FINITE AMOUNT OF MONEY IS BUDGETED FOR IT SO THEY CAN GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS OF GETTING THIS DESIGN ESTIMATE AND CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATE AND THEN THEY WOULD ALSO PUT ESCALATORS ON IT. SO LET'S SAY THE JAIL CAME BACK AND IT WAS $150 MILLION. WE SAID WE'RE NOT GOING TO TRY TO DO THAT THIS YEAR. WE'RE GONNA, WE MAY WANT TO DO THAT THIS YEAR WHILE WE CAN STILL PASS A CO BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE, YOU KNOW, GUTS US AGAIN. SO. SO BECAUSE OTHERWISE THE ONLY WAY TO GET THAT MUCH MONEY IS A BOND AND THEY'VE GOT SOME THINGS ON THE HORIZON THAT THEY'RE KNOCKING AROUND. YOU'D HAVE TO GET A 2/3 MAJORITY VOTE OF THE VOTERS TO EVEN GET A BOND TO PASS.
AND IF IT DIDN'T PASS, YOU GOTTA WAIT LIKE THREE YEARS I THINK TO GO BACK OUT FOR A BOND AGAIN OR MAYBE IT'S FIVE AND SO I CAN'T REMEMBER BUT YOU KNOW, SO SOME OF THOSE BIG TICKET ITEMS, WHILE WE STILL CAN, WE NEED TO BE REALLY THINKING HARD ABOUT GETTING THEM DONE.
AND THEN THE LAST THING I HAD WAS A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE, OUR LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
YEAH. AND WE, WE HAVE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH, WITH FRED AND THAT'S GOING TO BE COME BACK ON ANOTHER AGENDA. PROBABLY THE NEXT AGENDA BUT. BUT YES, THAT'LL BE ON THE AGENDA TO DISCUSS AT THE NEXT ONE.
I THINK WHERE WE NEED TO DECIDE THOSE SOONER THAN LATER...
(INAUDIBLE) IT COULD BE UP TO 250,000. I WOULD, I WOULD HAVE THAT AS YOUR TOP END NUMBER IN MIND.
AND JUDGE, I THINK ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT BROUGHT UP, I THINK COMMISSIONER THERIOT WANTED TO MOVE THE CIVIL ATTORNEY OUT FROM UNDER CONTROL OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
IS THAT CORRECT? WELL THAT'S, THAT'S AN OPTION.
I, I JUST DIDN'T KNOW HOW MUCH DISCUSSION WE'VE HAD ON THAT.
WE'D BE ESSENTIALLY ADDING A POSITION TO OUR, OUR FUND. OUR WHATEVER BUDGET.
I MEAN YOU COULD GO SAY FOR INSTANCE COULD GO TO BIGGER STAFF AND SAY WE WANT TO HIRE BIGGER STAFF TO BE OUR ATTORNEY WHEN WE NEED HIM AND THEY WOULD ASSIGN AS A LAWYER AND THAT MAY BE A CHEAPER WAY TO GO. BUT I'M STILL THINKING JUST SO WE'VE GOT A NUMBER THAT'S AT THE HIGH END IF WE DECIDE TO GO WITH AN INDIVIDUAL AND THEY WERE, THEY WERE NOT IN THE DA'S OFFICE BUT IS. I GUESS THEY'D BE A NON DEPARTMENTAL LIKE ANY, ANY OF THE REST OF US. AND SO I THINK IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANOTHER PERSON THAT CAN DO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STUFF FOR WHAT WE ARE PAYING. SO WE NEED TO HAVE A REAL, A REALISTIC NUMBER IN MIND AND IT COULD BE THAT MUCH.
(INAUDIBLE) IT'S A HUGE RANGE.
(INAUDIBLE) AND I WOULD JUST SAY THIS. WE, WE, WE HAVE TO HIRE SOMEBODY GOOD BECAUSE THEY CAN'T BE A BRAND NEW LAWYER THAT'S ONLY BEEN DOING THIS
[00:25:02]
FOR A YEAR. BECAUSE I MEAN, I THINK FRED WILL ATTEST THERE ARE SOME REALLY COMPLICATED THINGS THAT HAVE TO GET DONE.LIKE 312 AGREEMENTS AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS AND ALL OF THOSE KIND OF THINGS. AND THEN THERE'S JUST DAILY, JUST REGULAR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS WITH SUBDIVISIONS. I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE 12 OF THEM RIGHT NOW SITTING THERE THAT NEED TO GET LOOKED AT.
AND SO SPEED'S A THING TOO. I MEAN WE CAN'T, WE'VE HAD IN THE, IN THE PAST, I DON'T WANT TO SAY ANYBODY'S NAME, BUT WE'VE HAD SOME TIMES WHERE IT JUST TOOK MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS TO GET ONE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. YEAH, WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T HAVE THAT EITHER. SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE WHATEVER, WHATEVER WE DO IN THE BUDGET. I THINK WE HAVE TO SET A NUMBER AND THEN WHEN WE, AND THEN WE CAN AT THE NEXT, WE CAN HAVE IT AS AN ITEM TO DECIDE, YOU KNOW, HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.
WE'RE GOING TO GO OUT FOR A, FOR A FIRM. WE'RE GOING TO JUST HIRE AN ATTORNEY IN NON DEPARTMENTAL OR, OR IN THE DA'S OFFICE. SO THAT WOULD BE MY QUESTION.
BUT AS YOU SAY, LIKE HIRE A FIRM. IF YOU HIRE THE FIRM, YOU GET THE ADVANTAGE OF JUST HAVING EVERYBODY THERE AT ONCE FOR THE FIRM. WELL, SO IF YOU HIRE A FIRM, THEY'RE NOT DEVOTED TO CALDWELL COUNTY. OKAY. I MEAN YOU GOT, GOT 18 LAWYERS AND THEY MIGHT HAVE 20 COUNTIES.
YEAH. AND THEY JUST CHARGE HOURLY RATES WHEN THEY WORKING ON YOUR STUFF. THE ADVANTAGE TO ME OF HAVING AN ATTORNEY THAT'S DEVOTED TO US IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY BUILD UP A FAMILIARITY WITH WHAT KIND OF THINGS ARE GOING ON. I MEAN WE'VE GOT, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY CONTRACTS THAT THEY HAVE TO REVIEW EVERY YEAR. AND, AND JUST EVEN AS SIMPLE AS SOME OF THESE GRANT AGREEMENTS HAVE TO BE REVIEWED. AND SO IT'S A LOT, IT IS A FULL TIME, ALL THE TIME JOB.
I GUESS DEPENDING ON WHICH WAY WE END UP GOING.
LIKE IF THE ATTORNEY'S UNDER THE DA'S OFFICE, THEY CAN THEORETICALLY GET LIKE PARALEGAL SUPPORT OR ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FROM THE DA'S OFFICE. BUT IT, IF WE WENT WITH A, AN INDEPENDENT ONE, WE MAY NEED TO LOOK AT.
WELL, WHAT WE DID IN OUR LAST ARRANGEMENT IS STEPHANIE FUNCTIONED IN THAT ROLE AND DID ALL THAT STUFF.
AND WE DON'T HAVE PARALEGALS IN OUR OFFICE.
WELL, I MEAN, IF NEEDED, THEY CAN GET SUPPORT.
YEAH. SO. BUT STEPHANIE PRETTY MUCH WAS FUNCTIONING IN THAT ROLE ALONG WITH BEING YALLS ADMIN. AND IT WAS WORKING AND SHE WAS DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB AT IT. SO THAT'S THERE.
AND JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS. THAT NUMBER ONE, YOU'RE PERFECTLY WITHIN YOUR RIGHTS TO DO THAT. A LOT OF COUNTIES HAVE GENERAL COUNSEL UNDERNEATH THE COURT.
IT'S BECOMING MORE AND MORE COMMON. SO IT'S DEFINITELY WITHIN THE CASE LAW, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE OPINIONS, EVERY, EVERYTHING. YOU'RE WELL WITHIN YOUR RIGHTS TO PROCEED ALONG THOSE LINES. A COUPLE OF THINGS I THINK I'M ASKING FOR TO ACT SOONER, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ON DOING THIS BECAUSE WE'RE KIND OF, THAT POSITION'S KIND OF IN LIMBO RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I CAN'T POST IT, TALK TO ANYONE BECAUSE I CAN'T TELL THEM WHAT THE SALARY IS GOING TO BE. I CAN'T TELL THEM WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO BE WORKING FOR ME OR YOU'RE GOING TO BE WORKING FOR THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
AND WE'LL HAVE IT ON THE TENT.
WE, WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T REALLY ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS WITHOUT GETTING IT ON THE AGENDA AND MAKE IT OFFICIAL.
BUT. AND YOU KNOW, JUST, I THINK ABOUT THIS LINE TONIGHT. IT'S KIND OF THE, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S, CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY ATTORNEY'S KIND OF IN A UNIQUE POSITION. AND THERE ARE PRIMARY OBLIGATIONS TO PROSECUTE CRIMINAL CASES.
THAT'S BY STATUTE. IT'S WHAT WE'RE MEANT TO DO. AND THEN KIND OF DOWN TOWARDS THE BOTTOM, IT DISCUSSES REPRESENTING COMMISSIONER'S COURT. AND WHEN WE DO THAT, IT CREATES AN ATTORNEY CLIENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OUR OFFICE AND THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT JUST AS IF IT WAS TWO PRIVATE PARTIES.
FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, I WOULD URGE Y' ALL TO SEEK OUTSIDE COUNSEL, WHETHER YOU HIRE YOUR OWN ATTORNEY OR. GO WITH THE FIRM. I THINK THAT FOR THE, FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, IT'S PROBABLY BETTER THAT OUR OFFICE AND THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT THAT WE, WE DON'T HAVE THE LEGALITY, THE LEGAL OBLIGATIONS OF AN ATTORNEY CLIENT RELATIONSHIP. I
[00:30:03]
THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR US. I THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR Y'ALL.OKAY. AND WE'LL HAVE THAT ON THE 10TH SO WE CAN MAKE UP OUR MIND AND THEN TRY TO HURRY UP AND GET SOMEBODY HIRED SO FRED KNOWS WHAT TO DO WITH THIS.
HE'S GOT A POSITION JUST SITTING THERE THAT HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH RIGHT NOW, SO. ALL RIGHT.
ANYTHING ELSE? YES. WOW. MY ISSUE IS NOT QUITE AS HEAVY AS YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING. GEEZ. IT'S JUST.
GOT A QUESTION. I KNOW WE GOT THE THREE POINT SOMETHING MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE COURTHOUSE RESTORATION, AND I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF ANY OF THAT INCLUDED THOSE WINDOWS THAT WE COULD COVER. BECAUSE DEPENDING ON WHAT SEASON YOU'RE IN, IT HITS ANYWHERE FROM DANNY OVER HERE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO GLORIA. AND IT'S ANNOYING.
YES. WE'RE ONLY HERE TWICE A MONTH, BUT IT'S REALLY ANNOYING WHEN YOU HAVE THE SUN HITTING ON YOUR FACE.
I'LL BET WE CAN WORK IT IN THERE EVEN IF IT'S NOT COVERED BY THE GRANT. WHILE WE GOT SOME WINDOW COVERINGS ARE IN THE MASTER PLAN THAT WE HAD DONE AND THE GRANT IS GOING OFF OF THAT MASTER PLAN. SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION WAS THE SOUND AND THE LIGHTING IN HERE. SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THAT ALL WORKED IN.
YEAH, I ALWAYS FEEL BAD. I LOOK OVER THERE IN ONE OF YALLS AND GETTING FRIED BY THE SUN EVERY TIME. CAN WE MAKE SURE WE CAN GET IT SEALED UP FOR YELLOW JACKETS TOO? YES.
I DON'T GET STUNG AGAIN ON THE EAR. OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT. WELL, IF NOT, BUT FOR MOST. OH, GOT ONE MORE.
THE COURTHOUSE RENOVATION, SOMETHING YOU HAD BROUGHT UP IN ONE OF THE WORKSHOPS PREVIOUSLY WAS A METAL DETECTOR OR BETTER SECURITY DOWNSTAIRS.
THAT IS ALSO IN THE MASTER PLAN. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU KNOW TO THE EXTREME. WE'D RARELY HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT AND SEE IF IT'S EVERYTHING. YOU MAY HAVE TO PAY SOME ADDITIONAL MONEY TO GET EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED WANT. BUT I DO KNOW THAT THEY'VE GOT NEW SECURITY FEATURES WORKED INTO THAT PLAN.
OKAY, THAT'S GREAT. I MEAN, THE ONE THING WE WILL HAVE TO DO IS HIRE AN EXTRA BAILIFF JUST BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING DOWN THERE.
BUT WE'VE ALREADY DONE KIND OF TAKING CARE OF THAT, SO.
ALL RIGHT, ANYTHING ELSE? GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE. ALL RIGHT, LOOK FOR A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
MOVE ADJOURNMENT BY COMMISSIONER HORNE. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS.
WE'RE ADJOURNED AT 11:49.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.