[0:03] Good afternoon, and welcome to Commissioner's Court. Thank you for joining us today. We open all of our meetings with an invocation and the pledges. Please rise.

[0:14] Please join me in prayer.

[0:18] Your Lord, since Friday, we've heard a lot of a lot about the life of one of your servants, Charlie Kirk. We sent an example of the path forward to connect those who disagree appropriately through debate and free speech. We have courage to everyone to come before the spotty and speak, let the voice be known.

[0:36] We don't always have to agree that we should at least hear each other.

[0:40] Let's pray now in silence for 31 seconds for Charlie's 31 Years of Life.

[1:14] Jesus name we pray. Amen.

[1:17] We join us in a pledge to all the public in our flag.

[1:21] A pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America,

[1:25] and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God,

[1:52] We'll begin with our consent agenda.

[1:55] These are items of a routine nature.

[1:57] The court will consider a single vote unless a member of the court would like to separate

[2:00] an item out for independent consideration.

[2:04] At this time, I need to hold item 1M1,

[2:09] and I'll entertain any motion or discussion on the remainder.

[2:13] Move for a little.

[2:14] Second.

[2:15] I have a motion and a second on the remainder.

[2:17] All in favor say aye.

[2:18] Aye.

[2:19] Any opposed?

[2:20] Motion carries, 4 to 0.

[2:23] We will hold 1M1 for general discussion.

[2:26] and in fact we'll go ahead and move it up to now.

[2:31] One M1 is a public hearing regarding a replat of lot 1A

[2:35] of Arnold Creek Farms.

[2:37] Welcome, Mr. Doherty.

[2:40] Clarence Doherty, Director of Engineering.

[2:43] The owners of lot 1A in Arnold Creek Farms desire

[2:50] has made a request to subdivide this track

[2:53] back into the proposals, the publications have been made

[2:58] and so the public here is required and you can ask it.

[3:04] Very good. All right, this is a public hearing.

[3:09] So anyone may speak to this item who is with us today.

[3:12] You do not have to have completed a card before the meeting to speak.

[3:16] If you are present and you would like to speak,

[3:18] we would be happy to recognize you.

[3:20] Just raise your hand to indicate.

[3:22] and I will recognize it. Seeing none, we'll close the public hearing and open up for discussion

[3:28] amongst the court.

[3:31] I have a motion and a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed?

[3:38] Motion carries. 4-0. Thank you, Mr. Doherty.

[3:45] Our next item on our general discussion list

[3:48] is our Regional Transportation Council update, Commissioner Webb.

[3:51] Thank you, Judge.

[3:54] We passed this out.

[3:56] The meeting was, as I explained the last two months,

[4:00] we spent a lot of time talking about transit and transit 2.0

[4:05] and what the RTC could do.

[4:09] So, as a result, this meeting had a lot of boilerplate

[4:13] and general items that needed to be approved

[4:15] because we had been delaying a lot of agenda items.

[4:19] is really not much impacts calling county.

[4:25] They're all policy updates and goal updates

[4:28] that we do every year, two years.

[4:32] The most interesting thing I've passed out

[4:36] related to we got a call address crash

[4:40] and fatality update for 2024.

[4:44] The concern it get from my perspective

[4:48] for our county is if you look at the fatalities, they've increased 17.74% in the last year versus Dallas

[4:58] went down, didn't went down, Tarant went down, and we were up 17%. So that should give us a

[5:05] little bit of cause for concern and so probably need to continue to look at ways to reduce those numbers

[5:18] whether it's in terms of design of our roadways and whatever, so that's one of the things

[5:24] that's on my agenda to try to figure out with text.work with text.txt to see what we

[5:29] can do is of the major urban counties in the DFW region where the only one there is going

[5:36] up and we went up substantially. Other than that, the other thing of interest occurred before

[5:45] For the RTC meeting, we had our first subcommittee meeting related to what we could do to bring

[5:54] the transit agencies together and formulate a policy that could push the Metroplex into

[6:03] a situation where we could have a unified transit system that's equitable to everybody.

[6:10] and we and so that was our first meeting and RTC has certain policies and

[6:17] procedures that can adopt that could help implement some of the recommendations and

[6:24] transit 2.0 so our first meeting went well I sit on that committee and so we're

[6:32] going to be meeting twice a month for the next year at least trying to draft

[6:38] something that we can take to the three transit agencies and the members and

[6:46] non-members of those transit agencies see what we can come up with.

[6:51] So that was it. That's my report.

[6:54] Commissioner, could you let us know or I guess pass it along when they study this

[7:00] about the increase in the 17% increase in deaths and highways.

[7:08] If they could

[7:09] and also about all the construction that we're having here and if a lot of them are concentrated within construction,

[7:18] you know, that might tell us something and how to address that problem so that we can keep our community safe.

[7:24] It could be, it could be a contouring effect or the issue though is with that,

[7:29] then counties grown almost as fast as we are.

[7:32] That's true.

[7:33] We're almost as fast as we are and yet they saw reductions.

[7:37] Yeah. Good points. Very good points.

[7:39] And so the question is, what can we do in this county?

[7:46] And again, it's primarily a text.issue.

[7:49] Is what can we do to look at how we're approaching congestion

[7:57] and those type of things?

[8:00] So we'll see what it's on text.radar.

[8:02] So we're going to start pushing.

[8:04] know. I know we all get a lot of comments from our constituents about construction and

[8:10] you know the increase in traffic and then all of the trucks and you know potential dangers

[8:17] from that and them going through different neighborhoods and there's a lot of that

[8:21] but at the same time there's got to be there's got to be a reason so I look forward to hearing

[8:25] what they have to say because it is a concern. I'm going to try to get some more information

[8:29] to really write down where these fatalities are occurring and what intersections and where,

[8:36] so we'll get a little better items.

[8:37] That'll be helpful.

[8:38] Let's go on.

[8:39] Very good.

[8:40] Thank you.

[8:43] Commissioner, do you anticipate that the study committee is going to look for ways to push

[8:49] non-member cities into a transit authority?

[8:52] Wish no.

[8:53] I think they're going to hopefully create ways to entice member cities.

[9:01] but that has to do with equity of the transfer cities or non-member cities, non-member cities,

[9:07] ties and non-member cities.

[9:11] Dart reduces its one-cent to a half-cent.

[9:15] You could be...

[9:17] You don't mean by holding...

[9:19] by holding transportation funds hostage to entice people.

[9:25] You just mean making it so that it's attractive that they want to join.

[9:28] Yes, I

[9:34] mean all the big cities in

[9:36] Colin County have expressed an

[9:37] interest already and we did the

[9:40] transit study. They all were

[9:43] interested in it. They just weren't

[9:46] interested in the terms that were

[9:48] being presented by the transit

[9:49] agencies. So all of them expressed

[9:54] interest in micro transit using

[9:58] their M&O funds to pay for it.

[10:03] the promise couldn't get the transit agencies express interest in doing that. So that's

[10:09] to provide those services, provide those services at a cost. So there's a lot of things.

[10:18] Members not purchasers. The transit agencies have historically wanted members only, not customer.

[10:24] Right. Is that fair? That's one of the transit agencies, yes, start.

[10:28] I'm

[10:32] assuming that they'll be looking at the public cost versus riders and ridership and all that.

[10:39] Again, it's going to be up to every city as to whether they want to transit services or not.

[10:47] But the hope is that if we get this re-equalize the transit agencies and we provide,

[10:55] we went get the transit agencies to really provide the services that the

[11:02] non-member cities want and the members cities want whether that safety is a big

[11:07] one equitable is another big one going to where they want to go then their

[11:15] non-member cities will probably start small and work through to what their

[11:22] budget allows and what they want for their citizens want. That's the whole

[11:28] objective. It's not to push anyone anywhere. I mean personally I would always

[11:33] advocate for costs for these types of situations to be as close to the end

[11:41] user as possible and not put on as a general blanket for the entire community to

[11:48] pay for, so that very few, you know, are actually benefiting and paying for what it costs to

[11:57] do that.

[11:58] I mean, it's just such an enormous cost, and with all of the infrastructure and changes

[12:03] in transportation overall, I hope they're really looking at that, because with self-driving

[12:10] cars, I mean, there's a lot of situations where they've done studies, and you could use that,

[12:15] you know the self-driving cars to get people where they need to go and that's

[12:20] that's not going to handle the masses I understand that but but in the end

[12:25] the public cost of it is my biggest concern. I think there's going to there

[12:31] is going to be some really good solutions come out of this now whether

[12:34] again the transit agencies are willing we have about a year to get something

[12:41] being re-structured, it is

[12:45] markable and the cities are

[12:47] interested in, I'm not just

[12:48] talking non-members, I'm talking

[12:50] members too, that the

[12:53] trans agencies can live with

[12:56] because 2026 is going to be

[12:58] the year in which, with your

[13:00] elections can occur for

[13:02] several of the big cities.

[13:05] And so, if something doesn't

[13:07] get re-structured,

[13:10] for those withdrawal elections are called upon then I think you're going to see the whole system collapse

[13:20] and at that point there is going to be no integrated transit system and as I tell everybody we're projected to double in size, the Metroplex

[13:30] will be within the next 30 years will be it effectively 16 million people.

[13:40] And if you didn't have, and I'm talking about metrics, and if you don't have any kind

[13:45] of transit for 16, then I think you just can't build enough roads to handle the capacity

[13:53] issues or needs, are not issues, needs.

[13:58] There are so many big think tanks that are out there.

[14:00] I would hope they would engage with those groups, you know, Toyota is famous for looking

[14:07] at big problems and helping community partners and government especially.

[14:12] And that's what we hired, we hired, we did a call and we basically paid to have the

[14:19] expert worldwide experts. That's what Transit 2.0 is. It's basically them spending a year

[14:28] studying everything and bringing all the recommendations both low-hanging fruit and higher-level stuff.

[14:35] So we'll see.

[14:37] It's interesting.

[14:38] I mean, there have been talks about putting down the Dallas North Toaway and putting some

[14:43] type of a monorail system that's already on that corridor, and I've heard all the different

[14:47] things.

[14:48] I'm wishing for that.

[14:49] I still think that's where the heaviest, maximized use of people needing to ride on a

[14:57] trance it would be down the north-house tollway.

[15:00] It was all the way from Cowboys headquarters, all the way to downtown and you hit all the big ones. Yeah. It would make a lot of sense, but.

[15:11] TTA controls that word or. Understood. Well, thanks. That's an interesting update. Thanks for the information as well. Thank you, Commissioner.

[15:22] All right. Before we move to our next item on the general discussion list, staff has asked me to pull item 1M4

[15:30] from our consent agenda so that it can be considered next week, and so I'd like to make a motion that we

[15:40] re-vote on our consent agenda. We pulled 1M1 and I'd like us to also pull 1M4 if the court will entertain that.

[15:49] So I'll second your motion to pull it. Do we need to vote on it again now or do we need to just vote to pull it?

[15:55] My motion is to reconcent agenda with without 1M1 and without 1M4.

[16:03] Does that work for you?

[16:04] That works for me.

[16:05] Okay.

[16:06] Any questions on that?

[16:07] All in favor say aye.

[16:09] Aye.

[16:10] Any opposed?

[16:11] Motion carries.

[16:12] 4-0.

[16:13] Thank you, staff, for bringing that to my attention.

[16:17] Move to approve the consent agenda without 1M1 and 1M4.

[16:22] Second.

[16:22] That was the motion.

[16:23] And, well, okay, to reconsider, okay.

[16:26] We can do it again just to make sure, that's fine.

[16:28] All in favor say aye.

[16:30] Aye.

[16:31] Any opposed?

[16:32] Motion carries, forward to zero.

[16:35] All right, our next item, regards the central appraisal district, board of directors elections.

[16:41] The county is one of many entities that's entitled to votes for some of the director's seats.

[16:48] And each year we have the opportunity to allocate our votes.

[16:51] Does anyone, we do not have a proposal this year in our agenda, so I'll open it up for discussion.

[17:00] I'll open up for any proposals that anyone would like to make.

[17:05] I mean, I'll just do it the same way we've done it every year.

[17:08] I'll see your reason to change since we don't have anything else.

[17:11] Yeah, I mean, our votes are such a small portion.

[17:14] We're not the ones that actually get to control anything.

[17:18] They do matter, but they're a very small portion of the greater number based on our tax rate.

[17:23] and how much people are paying, so.

[17:26] Mr. Kim, I believe we're only at the nominations step, is that correct?

[17:32] I don't believe we're at the auditing step yet.

[17:35] I think you're right, yeah.

[17:36] Judge, my understanding based on the letter from the CAAD is we're at the allocation

[17:40] of votes step, which needs to be done before October 1st.

[17:44] And that's their action.

[17:46] They allocate the votes and tell us how many that we each have.

[17:50] And then once we have our votes, once we're told how many votes we have been allocated then we can we can turn in between now and I think October 15th, we can submit nominations, but we don't really have a ballot yet as we have in years past.

[18:07] So I'm thinking that perhaps we're a little early.

[18:09] Correct, Judge.

[18:10] I stand corrected.

[18:11] That is correct.

[18:11] We are at the nomination of Canada's step.

[18:13] Okay.

[18:14] Yes.

[18:15] So then let's do this if the pleases the court.

[18:18] All nominations are acceptable.

[18:21] If you want to bring one forward in the intervening weeks, we can vote on nominations to forward

[18:27] over to the appraisal district.

[18:30] I'm sure they're going to get nominations from other entities as well.

[18:33] And then that will come back to us in the form of a ballot in a few weeks.

[18:37] Okay.

[18:37] Okay, the no action is required today.

[18:40] Thank you, Mr. Kim.

[18:45] With that, we do have one speaker for public comments, not related to the agenda.

[18:51] And so I would like to at this time recognize Barbara Lyck, welcome, ma'am.

[18:56] Thank you for joining us today.

[18:58] You can join us at the podium and you have three minutes.

[19:00] As

[19:07] Barbara Dawn like, my husband's name is Dan Lyme. Our home address is 1-3-0's

[19:12] Girl Ridge, Wally, Texas, 75098. The population growth that is happening in

[19:18] Colin County and adjoining cities of Colin County is tremendous. With this

[19:23] amount of growth it brings extra responsibilities to all government agencies.

[19:29] This year's budget workshop held on August 4 through the 7th, 2025, in my opinion, was held

[19:38] with a castrotic after effects from actions given for most of the government agencies of

[19:46] Colin County.

[19:48] At the budget workshop, Jim Skinner invited Commissioner Fletcher, precinct one, Commissioner

[19:54] Williams, precinct two, Commissioner Hale, precinct

[19:58] three, Commissioner Webb, precinct four, and Judge Hill to come and visit the

[20:03] Column County Sheriff's Department to actually see hands-on needs for the

[20:08] Sheriff's Department financial responsibilities. Sometimes working in

[20:13] theory on paper for money's needed does not happen as easy with certain plans and

[20:18] possibly a more hands-on approach to a plan could have a better outcome for

[20:23] financial money's needed. The sheriff also talked about the many letters

[20:28] he had written to the commissioners court before the budget workshop or

[20:32] assistant needs for the sheriff's department and received only one letter back

[20:36] from the commissioner court to the sheriff. Hopefully with the year 2025 and into

[20:43] to 2026 before budget workshop in 2026, the doors for better communication will

[20:50] be done by all. In viewing videos of the commissioner court meetings that have

[20:55] been held since the budget work job on 2025 possibly the actions of better

[21:02] communicating are happening. The Column County Sheriff's Department gives

[21:06] excellent service to the Column County citizens. The citizens know this to be

[21:11] true with past services provided by the Sheriff's Department and they trust it

[21:17] will continue into the future for all the citizens. Thank you commissioners

[21:22] Court for allowing this time for the citizens to speak freely.

[21:29] Thank you, ma'am.

[21:33] This concludes the Commissioner's Court meeting.

[21:36] I'll adjourn the Commissioner's Court meeting and call to order.

[21:40] The toll road authority meeting, we have a consent agenda to consider.

[21:43] I'll entertain any motion or discussion.

[21:46] Move for approval.

[21:47] Motion in the second.

[21:48] I want to favor say aye.

[21:49] Aye.

[21:50] Any opposed?

[21:51] Motion carries, four to zero.

[21:52] I'll adjourn the toll road authority meeting and call to order the health care foundation meeting.

[21:58] We have a consent agenda to consider, I'll entertain any motion or discussion.

[22:01] I have approval.

[22:02] I have a motion in a second.

[22:04] I'll say aye.

[22:05] Aye.

[22:06] Any opposed?

[22:07] Motion carries, 4-0.

[22:08] We'll adjourn the health care foundation meeting and we stand adjourned for the day.

[22:12] Thank you.

Sep 15, 2025 Collin County Toll Road Authority

Transcript