We have one left in this calendar year and we have one left for commissioners and county business.
Commissioners, public notices, according to the Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551.
We do have a quorum. Do we have a motion to make the motion?
Seconded by Grace and all in favor of these meetings.
Please say aye. This meeting is open.
Let's rise for the end location and pledge for commissioner precinct one, Randy Stinson.
Thank
you Lord. What do you
have to pay for us? Thank you
Lord. We've got a few
gifts. Thank you so much for
coming with you this one day.
Praise you once again Lord for
this coming. Thank you Lord for
the ones that protect us. Praise
you once again Lord for this
coming. Thank you Lord for the
you once again Lord for
We have all of them. There is
a solution to all of the things that are in this world.
And we know that it's
a part of my life.
I pray for each of you.
Amen.
This
is the flag of the United States of America.
And to the Republic of the United States,
one nation under God, indivisible with liberty
and justice for all.
I honor the Texas flag.
I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas,
We're going to try to expedite today's meeting, so if you will look at the consent agenda,
I do want to make a comment that anybody that wishes to speak before the court today, we
have participation forms in the lobby.
Please pass those to my right to our deputy county clerk, Ms. Tina, and Ms. Tina will
help us at the agenda time. The consideration action includes the administrative A1, A11,
and the financial agenda F1 through F2. Commissures, this is routine payroll, regular bills, interest
court meeting approvals, and regular cash audits, financial transactions that are required
by the county. Please review and we'll be happy to accept a motion.
was
able to review this over the holidays the weekend, so moved.
Commissioner Perry makes the motion to approve the consent agenda.
Do we have a second?
Seconded.
Seconded by Commissioner Stinson.
Any discussion?
All in favor say aye.
Aye.
Motion carries.
Okay, I'd like to invite Ms. Stinson up with our Department of Development agenda.
We'll move on over to that.
That would be item 1.1.
And I will read that for the record, discussion, consideration, and action plan of the Walker
Track.
That is 5.008 acres site that's located 2,630 feet north of the intersection of Schenkel
Road and FM 660.
That's our DELAPENIA survey in the extra-territory jurisdiction of the city of Ennis, Rodenbridge
1.
Sarah?
Good afternoon, Judge Commissioner.
Walker track plat application was submitted on April 17th of 2023 prior to the changes in state law regarding plat review effective September 1st as they waited the completion of a flood study.
The applicant wishes to plat to create for residential use water per east gear at water with a two inch line that confirmed availability on March 17th of 2023.
Sir, does this have conditions?
Yes, this one actually they have a flood study and it's indicated on the
plat that has a flood study was submitted to engineering only item I'm
waiting on I actually have the file or plat copies in possession in my
possession but I just want to make sure that the line and the shading is
correct with our county engineer. Okay, motion to accept. Commissioner Stinson
makes the motion to approve 1.1 seconded by Commissioner Grayson. Any
discussion. All in favor please say aye. Any opposed? Okay, motion carries. Item 1.2 ratified
state staff action on a preliminary plat of the Chateau's Manor that is 11.057 acres site that's
located 4,630 feet northeast. The intersection of that road in FM 18 that's situated in the
eighth slayback survey and walks the Hatchey Road and Bridge Precinct number one. Thank you.
The applicant wishes to plot the property to create six slots for residential units.
The City of Waukesha Hatchee approved the ETJ petition withdrawal request for property on September 18th of 2023.
City Order 3 3 9 9.
The applicant will address all items listed within Attachment Number 3 prior to the approval of the final plot application.
The preliminary plot proposes dedicating 60 foot of rider for Rob net road and rocket has indicated as an eight inch line with that availability being November 28th.
So Sarah just for the record the withdrawal from the walk statue.
Actually this is a preliminary plot application so final plot application will be forthcoming once the applicant has met all the requirements listed within attachment number three.
Perfect.
There are some drainage requirements on there as well extending the fire hydrants to cover all the proposed lots.
Perfect. Thank you.
Motion to accept with conditions.
Second.
Commissioner Stinson makes the motion to accept item 1.2 with the condition by staff seconded by Commissioner Grayson.
Any other discussion?
All in favor say aye.
Aye.
Any opposed?
Motion carries.
I don't want to ratify staff action on a plat of Wilson Place.
The 1.90 acre site is located 470 feet west of the intersection of Youngblood Road and
FM-78.
That is situated in the S. Wilson Survey that is in Walkshaven Bridge, Precinct Number
1.
Thank you.
The applicant wishes to plat the property to create one lot for residential use and
Commissioners Court approved a road frontage variance request for this property on September
19, 2023. That's minute order 432.3. And the City of Waukesha had to approve an ETJ petition
withdrawal request for this property on the 20th of 2023, city ordinance number 3427.
Rocket has confirmed availability of water for this lot via an 8-inch line, and that
was on November 28th, and staff can confirm that this plot has since met all conditions
within the review letter and is ready to be filed with the county clerk's office.
This is one come through several months ago about the man's only son, which is disabled
to build.
Yes, sir.
That's correct.
Motion to accept.
Second.
Commissioner Stinson makes the motion to approve item 1.3, and that is seconded
by Commissioner Grayson.
All in favor of approving, please say aye.
Aye.
Any opposed?
Motion carries.
Item 1.4, ratify staff action on a plat of Ashley Edition.
The 2.800 acre site is located 3,490 feet northwest of the intersection of FM 877 and Highway 34.
That is situated in the San Antonio and the Mexican Gulf Railroad Company Survey.
That is in us, Road and Bridge Precinct Number 2.
Thank you.
This applicant wishes to plot the property to create one lot for residential use.
The water source is Files Valley.
They have confirmed availability of service via a two-inch line on November 21st of 2023,
and they're just going to have to do a road board text in that line to provide water
for the slots.
So Commissioner Grayson makes the motion to approve item 1.4, do we have a second?
Seconded by Commissioner Stenson.
All in favor of approving item 1.4, please say aye.
Any opposed?
Okay, motion carries.
Item 1.5, ratify staff action on a preliminary plat of Cotton Creek subdivision.
The 13.979-acre site is located in the northwest corner of the intersection of Sand Switch
Road and Ramon's Road, or Ramone's Road, and that is situated in the Joseph Garwood
Survey that's in Ennis Road and Bridge Precinct number two.
Thank you.
Per the staff report, it shows that the applicant wishes to plat the property into
to six lots, since this submittal of this agenda item,
they have reduced the number of lots proposed
for the preliminary plot to four lots.
The overall acre to stay the same,
but the lot size has increased.
Was it because of water?
Yes, sir.
For sufficient water meter availability?
Prairie lands, yes.
The groundwater availability.
The groundwater well.
Yes.
I mean, anticipating that we're going to get
a revised letter from Prairie lands,
that may reduce the overall number of required items
for this preliminary plot.
Otherwise, everything that's listed
within the plot review letter will remain.
Sir, we're still showing the six.
No, this is four.
We're showing four.
Yes, sir.
Yeah, we're showing four.
And what's the revision for?
It's gonna be reduced to four lots.
It was originally presented as six
and that's what was submitted within the staff report.
Is that what this one is?
And I provided a copy of the revised layout
for the chemistry score.
And Prairie Land said four was okay,
but that is still the groundwater availability.
Yes, sir.
So moved.
Commissioner Grayson makes the motion to approve item 1.5
with staff conditions.
Do we have a second?
Seconded by Commissioner Stinson, all
in favor of approving item 1.5.
Please say aye.
Any opposed?
Motion carries.
Item 1.6 is to ratify staff action
on a plat of Molly's acres.
The 1.546 acre site is located 320 feet west
of the intersection of Highway 287 North and Old Church Road that's situated in the G Carpenter
Survey in Waukes-a-Hatchee Road and Bridge Precinct Number 2. Thank you. The applicant wishes to
plot the property to create one lot for existing commercial use. The City of Waukes-a-Hatchee
approved the ETJ petition withdrawal request for this property on November 6 of 2023,
City Ordinance Number 3420, and Rocket has confirmed availability of water for this proposed
law via a two inch line on October 3rd of 2023. And this plot has since met the
conditions stated within the review letter issued on December 18th and is
ready to be filed with the County Clerk's Office.
Commissioner Grayson makes the motion to approve item 1.6. Do we have a second?
Seconded by Commissioner Stinson. One quick question, Sarah. Yes, sir. Has it
just been since September that we've been receiving these withdrawals from
the WalksVatGTJ? That's correct. Based on the new state law. Yes, sir.
Okay. Thank you very much. We have a motion in a second. All in favor of approving item 1.6, please say aye.
Any opposed? Okay. Motion carries.
Item 1.7 is ratification of staff action on a plat of Castaneda-Gira Estates.
The 2.214-acre sites located 6700 feet east of the intersection of FM667 and White Rock Road
situated in the IH Low Survey that is in Italy, Texas,
Road and Bridge Precinct number three.
Thank you.
The applicant wishes to plat the property to create,
and I confirm it'll be one lot for residential use.
The water source is South Ellis County Water Supply Corp.
And they have confirmed availability
via a two inch line on November 16th of 2023.
And this plat has since met all the conditions stated
within the review letter and is ready to be filed with the county clerk's office.
Awesome.
So moved.
Commissioner Perry makes the motion to approve item 1.7. Do we have a second?
Seconded.
Seconded by Commissioner Butler. All in favor of approving item 1.7, please say aye.
Aye.
Any opposed? Okay. Motion carries.
Item 1.8 is ratify staff action on an amending plat of May Pearl Hidden Hills,
Lot number 48 that is 1.72 acre site is located north of the intersection of
Dubose Way and Sullivan Way that's in the ETJ of the city of May Pearl,
Waukes-Hatchey Road and Bridge Precinct number three. Thank you. The applicant
request to amend this plot to correct a Scrivener or clerical error
listed below from a previously filed replat approved by Commissioner's
Court on April 25th of 2017. The proposed amending plot affects one lot
within the subdivision and no new lots are proposed.
The following correction is proposed.
It'll revise the side building line from 20 feet to 10 feet
and the amending plot addresses the applicant's request,
corrects the error and meets the criteria established
under Chapter 232-011, item A.
Staffer, okay.
Commissioner Perry makes the motion to approve item 1.8.
Do we have a second?
Second.
Seconded by Commissioner Butler.
All in favor?
Please say aye.
Any opposed?
Motion carries on 1.8.
Item 1.9, ratify staff action on a plot of Woodward Farms Edition, Phase 3.
The 6.413 acre site is located 1750 feet west of the intersection of North Armstrong Road and Matthews Road.
That is situated in the A in the Adam T. Miller Survey in Venus.
That is Rodenbridge Precinct Number 4.
Thank you.
The applicant wishes to plot the property to create three lots of record for proposed residential use.
Mountain Peak Water is the water provider and has confirmed availability on November 16th of 2023 via a 12 inch line.
Staff review this flat and conditionally approved it on December 18th. Since the date
of the approval letter, staff has confirmed that the applicant has met all of the conditions
set forth, but since then has added one additional condition regarding drive cuts as it is located
along a thoroughfare road. And the condition is only two drive cuts shall be allowed for
these three lots. This will be determined by the applicant at the time of permitting.
Staff recommends approval.
Approval.
Okay.
Quick question.
Yes, sir.
On that last condition, is that a text dot requirement, or is that a county requirement?
It is a county requirement, one that the road has been classified as a thoroughfare
road within the county's thoroughfare plan.
They still meet the 150 minimums?
Yes, sir.
Okay.
Like a setback drive?
It's essentially, so instead of having three access points or three driveway cuts,
it reduces it to two.
so essentially you have a shared driveway at some point between the three lots.
Got you.
Sounds good.
Commissioner?
So moved.
Commissioner Butler makes the motion to approve item 1.9,
and that is seconded by Commissioner Perry, all in favor of approving item 1.9.
Please say aye.
Any opposed?
Motion carries.
Item 1.10, ratify staff action on a plat of Hirtic Edition.
The 3.995 acre site is located 960 feet west
of the intersection of Smith Road and Jackson Road that is situated in the
Margaret Cheek Survey in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the
City of May Pearl Road and Bridge Precinct number four. Thank you. The
applicant wishes to plot the property to create one lot for proposed
residential use and the applicant intends to use water wells as their
primary source of water. Since the submission of the staff report staff
can confirm that all conditions have since been met and this plot is
It's ready for filing.
Perfect.
Second.
Commissioner Butler makes the motion to approve item 1.10,
seconded by Commissioner Perry.
All in favor of approving 1.10, please say aye.
Motion carries.
Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Garcia.
Happy New Year.
OK, commissioners, that concludes our Department
of Development agenda.
We'll move on to our purchasing agenda today.
That would be inviting Mr. Eric Test, our assistant
purchasing agent, on item 2.1.
discussion, consideration and action to approve an interlocal agreement between
the City of Italy and Ellis County in accordance with the Interlocal
Cooperation Act chapter 791 of the Texas government code. Eric? This is next in a
series of interlocals that have come to the court for approval and just getting
all the agreements with the consistency and all in line.
Recommend
approval. I will make the motion to approve that interlocal and I
appreciate Mayor Cochran coming by the office a month ago to discuss
this and hopefully we can provide them with some savings at the city of Italy
and I'll make the motion to approve.
Wait a second.
I'm sorry. I'll back. We have
tried to work with that city again and again and again and I want that on the
record. Yes. And matter of fact we have a we've had different agreements with
them over the years and they have not gone to the trouble to get the
business done that we needed done.
The under the roads of that town are full of gas lines
and metal obstructions.
And we've asked them to be clearly marked.
In many cases, we have damaged the T on our equipment
trying to take care of that.
It is not a matter of whether we have an agreement.
It is a matter of them following through to where
our equipment is not damaged.
So I just want to be on the record.
Yeah, and just to clarify, this should not have gone on this agenda without consulting with me.
Okay, that's my mistake. I'm going to refer to Article 1, the purpose of this interlocal.
They did not, there's some items that we purchase here at the county level that cities can piggyback on.
So the purpose of this is specific, it will allow each party to purchase goods and services under the competitive bidding contracts
contracts that the county also has and also our purchasing cooperatives.
This is not specifically related to Road and Bridge, Commissioner, just so you know.
There may be some equipment, some furniture, some apparel, some things that we buy that
allows the city of Italy to piggyback on us because the bidding process for them would
be very cumbersome and this is what the mayor brought to my attention about a month
ago.
I said, we do this all the time, Mayor.
We'll get it done.
And Commissioner, I'm not trying to get in the way of road and bridge.
That's not our intent.
We continually try to cooperate with them.
We have sold them under agreement with the county.
We have sold them material at our cost before.
We've had issues with that, with leakage and spoilage.
Right.
I'm just saying that I should have been brought
into this conversation. And it's not something that I will not remember going forward with
the city of Italy. They in my mind need to coordinate with us on the areas we need to
coordinate with. Like I say, we have sold the material before and there's been spoilage
and issues with that. Now they paid for it, but at the same time there were complications
with that as well. So I think the best way we deal with cities is to bring the
commissioners in on it. I appreciate your desire to serve them. I don't want to
punish anybody, but at the same time anything that my precinct is involved
with the city of Italy, we are going to thoroughly explore that before we
participate. Absolutely. We'll bring you into is if we're aware of anything
in the future. This is specifically generic to just general purchasing
I think for their benefit and I've got a motion on that Commissioner. Do we have a second before we make a motion?
I just want to agree with Commissioner Perry
I think it was
Wrong way to come out without his approval him being brought into the loop on that because it is
Commersome on us to take care of cities that don't want to take care of themselves
I too have people in my precinct that I don't like to work with I will do my best to share our
Resources with them to a degree, but they don't not every customer is the same sure
And I I certainly feel you pain over there and I want to know I want to be on record agreeing with that as well
Well, and I appreciate that and it's not road and bridge related. Let's hope it's not. It's not. Yeah, it's not hope
It's not because if it is that's a problem. Well, we will several thousand gallons of emulsion one time
Which the city of Italy paid for but it was based on an employee's carelessness. Yeah, so
Once what's the terminology?
full me once, shame on me, full me twice, yep, all right, so let's just have our eyes
open as we assist them in their business.
And I do appreciate the mayor coming to me, sometimes that happens, but not regularly.
One of the examples is Oakleaf with the Hampton Road project that we've talked with the mayor
over there several times, and we did do an interlocal agreement with Oakleaf in the
same situation, but this is actually over and above Rodenbridge, and this will
I get it, I get it. So we did discuss some ARPA, we did discuss some ARPA stuff as well.
And for some reason the city of Italy was unable to, they didn't meet the deadlines.
So I said, Hey, mayor, this is the situation. You know, we're not going out for rehab
reapplications. We've done that already. And that was part of the conversation as well.
Just so you know, and I appreciate the mayor coming up and visiting and Commissioner,
sure we just need this for some of their their ancillary type stuff and we're
willing to help them when we I'm certainly willing to help them that's not
the issue but at the same time I think we need to have our eyes open and make
sure communications are very exact preferably in writing we'll do that okay
so we have a motion do we have a second on item 2.1 second seconded by
commissioner Grayson all in favor of approving item 2.1 please say aye any
Any opposed?
No.
Okay.
Motion carries.
All right.
Item 2.2, discussion, consideration and action to modify minute order 47.23, a request for
statement of qualifications for a professional engineer or engineering firm to review the
county's flood study and other general engineering services as needed by the county.
Eric?
Yes.
This was an item that was brought forth a couple months ago that was specific
to flood study services, and as we were about to get ready to open that item a couple weeks ago,
Alberto and Ted met with JB and I and wanted to add to that RFQ that's going out,
and it's going to include general engineering services such as plan review,
and there's a few other items that Alberto and Ted are working on to include in the scope,
But that's the general idea.
Okay.
Just for the record, we do have the ability to go into a professional services exemption for engineering.
Is that correct?
But in this case, we chose to go towards an RFP, which is understandable.
An RFQ, yeah.
And generally what you do on that exemption is an RFQ because it's not based on...
I see.
An RFQ.
Okay.
Perfect.
So, commissioners, you understand what we need there?
We're trying to go outside for some additional engineering work, and I think some of that
involves Commissioner Butler as well in some of these surveys and road assessments and
design for textile.
So, Commissioner Butler, any comments on that?
Is this some of the stuff we've discussed?
That is specifically to things that we cannot do in-house.
And also to even help in engineering if time comes where they need help in there
to help get those.
That's right.
Yeah, I'll make motion.
Commissioner Butler makes the motion to approve item 2.2.
Do we have a second?
Second.
Seconded by Commissioner Stinson.
All in favor of approving item 2.2, please say aye.
Any opposed?
Motion carries.
Item 2.3, discussion, consideration and action to allow the County Judge
to execute one lease agreement with American National Leasing for one 2024 Chevrolet Silverado
PPV for the Ellis County Constable Precinct II using the TIPS contract under our current
purchasing process.
Eric?
Yes, sir.
This is a vehicle that was in the budget for Constable Borders.
He's been out looking for vehicles.
We were finally able to get one that is on the ground from Sills Befored.
And it's a 2024 Silverado PPV, an amount of $51,970.25.
And then the outfit, which is going through Marshall, Inc.,
is an additional $22,000.
OK.
Commissures, this is the budgeted vehicle
that we put in the fiscal 24 budget for the Constable
and Precinct II.
Just for your knowledge and recommendation and updates,
we'll have a couple of more vehicles coming
that are not budgeted funds that we'll have to consider where we pull those
funds from but those are items that we need for for precinct one and precinct
is it three and those will probably come up in January so we'll make sure
you're aware of that we have a motion to approve item 2.3 so move
Commissioner Butler makes the motion do we have a second seconded by
Commissioner Grayson all in favor of approving item 2.3 please say aye
Any post?
Okay, motion carries.
Item 2.4, discussion, consideration, and action to allow the county judge to sign a one-year contract for jail maintenance with Texas Air Systems LLC,
utilizing Heritage Air Services LLC to perform the maintenance using the TIPS contract.
Yes, sir, this is a contract for generally jail maintenance,
but there's also, I believe the LEC is also included in that contract.
contract. This is a vendor that has been performing general repairs at the jail for the past year,
Heritage Air, and we're using Texas Air as a pass-through on our TIP contract, who was
subcontracting with Heritage Air in order to perform the maintenance of the jail.
So that's not the same people.
Heritage is not the same people. Heritage is new.
I'm not sure.
For the maintenance?
Yes, sir. Yes, it was AMS.
And I think there's been...
And so AMS was subbed into?
No, AMS had a jock contract on tips themselves.
And so the...
Just wondering how we got the heritage.
So the jail wanted to move a different direction.
Okay.
And the only way to really use Heritage was to use a contract that was already in place.
There's a Jock contract that Texas Air has that allows them to perform the maintenance at the jail.
But that's for the annual maintenance.
Yes, sir, for the annual maintenance.
There's an Alton and all that.
Yep.
And whose call was that?
Yeah, that was the general argument.
Yes, sir.
Okay.
Well, he'll know better than any of them.
And Eric, because this is a new vendor, they'll go through the screening process and everything
as it relates specifically to them.
They're technically not a new vendor that they've done, I think, a little bit over 40,000
in jail maintenance year to day.
So they've already started to kind of take over for AMS, but once you hit that 50,
you have to have some sort of contractual agreement.
So the question is will heritage air be receiving the checks on the service the maintenance?
Not from us directly so they'll get paid through Texas air's contract. Okay, so it's a true subcontractor arrangement
Correct. Okay, and we've already done the homework and all the audit stuff for Texas air systems correct. We bought them before perfect
Okay, so we'll probably need a new what is it a W9? Probably need a new W9 for a subcontractor
Okay, that explains that. Do we have a motion on 2.4?
So moved.
Commissioner Grayson makes the motion on 2.4. Do we have a second?
Seconded.
Seconded by Commissioner Stinson. All in favor of approving item 2.4, please say aye.
Aye.
Any opposed?
Okay, motion carries. Item 2.5, discussion, consideration, and action to allow the county
judge to sign a five-year contract with AXON Enterprise Inc. for body cameras, tasers, and
related equipment for the Ellis County Constable Precinct II in the amount of $27,196.20 to
be paid in annual installments using the byboard contract here. Eric?
Yes, sir. This was an item brought by a constable who was this precinct to boarders
to pay his
annual fee to ax on for his body cameras
tasers, and I think there's a cradle point a couple other things that are within this contract
But it's a five-year contract for those 27,196 dollars. And he will use budgeted funds for this as well
So we have a motion to approve item 2.5.
So Commissioner Butler makes a motion seconded by Commissioner Perry,
all in favor of approving item 2.5, please say aye.
Any opposed?
Motion carries.
Item 2.6 is similar, discussion, consideration, and action to allow the
County Judge to sign a five-year contract with Axon Enterprise Inc.
for body cameras, tasers, and related equipment for the Ellis County
Constable Precinct 3.
That's in the amount of twenty five thousand one hundred and twenty five
dollars and twenty two cents to be paid an annual installment using the buy
board contract. Yes sir this is the same item as the one before just with
precinct three and I think the difference if you're wondering between the two
is probably one of the constables got some newer tasers than the other one.
Yeah so it's a little bit lower and these will be from budgeted funds in
in their departments as well.
We have a motion to approve.
Motion.
Commissioner Stinson makes the motion to approve item 2.6,
seconded by Commissioner Grayson.
All in favor?
Please say aye.
Any opposed?
OK.
Motion carries.
Thank you, Eric.
We may need you, though, here a little bit later
on a couple of other items as well.
OK.
We'll move into the administrative agenda, item 3.1,
to the approval to classify a heavy equipment operator
position to an assistant foreman. No funding or budget change is required to
fund this reclassification. This is probably a this is a request
from Commissioner Randy Stinson and I know that, Commissioner, you've brought
this to us.
Well as you know my foreman is retired. Yeah he starts tomorrow.
for me.
We just sort of change switch guards. His man's moving here in the
next two days. Although you did hire one of my guys, I was fixing to hire him. But
they all's fair. That's right. That's right. Yeah, I'm reclassifying him as our
assistant foreman. I want to make the change at this time. Some born to have
I'm going to have an assistant for me.
At this time, I'm going to move Brown Almonds to an assistant for me.
Okay.
Pending further notice and we'll see how it goes.
Sounds good.
And that's a motion to approve.
Commissioner Stinson makes the motion to approve on item 3.1 and seconded by Commissioner
Grayson.
All in favor of approving?
Please say aye.
Aye.
Any opposed?
Okay.
Motion carries.
Item 3.2 is approval to reclassify a part-time civilian coordinator in the amount of $32,118
to a deputy part-time 20 hours a week at $32,992.
No funding or budget change is required to support this reclass, and Sheriff Normans
here to discuss it.
Sheriff?
It
was a part-time deputy position that came to y'all and asked if we'd change this to be important.
This is my drone coordinator, which is Clay Reagan.
Clay is the commander of the Mid-Local PD and is very instrumental in implementing our drone program here.
And he retired from the local and continued to reserve with him and therefore he works for us.
Yorkshire County Parktime has for the last year, year and a half. But he has decided that it would be more advantageous for him to be a
deputy and doing this instead of a civilian. So, at the time, while I had no issue with the Chief Smith of a middle-ocean,
David one of us allowed dual commissions, so it couldn't be commissioned as a reserve there and a Parktime deputy would meet.
He has since resigned his position as a reserve and a local, still a county employee,
but we're just going to do it where he is a deputy.
He is sworn in with a commander in the middle of him when he gets called out.
He's out on that up in Laverg County.
An entertainer called me just a little bit ago,
and they got a guy in that pursuit looking at Laverg County,
and they ran up into just south of Ennest.
We got a belt out of the car, we could tease on foot, and we've got our friends out there right now helping the Reddick County Court find this fugitive.
So there really, there was actually no budgetary differences when we moved it from a deafening position to a civilian coordinator.
And evidently now, when Ms. Brown looked it up, there's a few dollars difference in the coordinated position versus the, it's like $8 million a year or something like that.
Yeah, but from a budgetary standpoint,
commissioners, you'll pull from existing funds.
There should be no impact on the general at this point.
That's correct.
Any questions?
Commissioner Grayson makes the motion
to approve item 3.2.
Do we have a second?
Seconded by Commissioner Stenson.
All in favor of approving item 3.2, please say aye.
Any opposed?
Motion carries.
Thank you.
Thanks, Chair.
Item 3.3, discussion, consideration and action to allow the county judge to sign a temporary
lease with the Waukesha GISD for a staging area to be used for the construction of the
new justice of the peace precinct to subcourt house. The lease will be at no cost to the
county but remains subject to certain conditions by Waukesha GISD.
Commissures, we can approve this now. I do recommend that I believe that I had
I talked to legal last week, I recommend that we pay $10 so that we have an offer and
acceptance on this lease agreement because that way the $10 calculates a payment to the
Waukes-Hatchee ISD.
I think me and Keith had generally talked about that, Uriel.
It was just kind of in passing.
Commissures, there are some conditions.
If you feel free to approve it now or to go into executive on it, we have a posting
on that.
But specifically, this staging area will be required to be fenced for safety and it will
also require us to name them as an additional insured and give them a certificate holders
for our general liability insurance.
It will allow for the Waukesha ISD students to conduct educational walkthroughs, specifically
with their career and technology program for their construction project team, and
And it will be restored to its pre-lease condition at the end of our term, which is to last no
longer than nine months.
Those are the stipulations.
Jerry and the school board has already approved this.
Mr. Hollingsworth, the superintendent, and you should have some of the details.
I don't believe that we need to really go into executive.
This is a staging area for the trailer construction crew, and it is to the east
side, which if you're facing the building, it'd be to the left side of the property,
and adjacent directly to 287 business.
Well, if you do it, if the agenda item says no cost, you want to put a cost in the unit
of consideration there?
I'm asking for us to consider, based on what Keith's deal, I'd like to amend that
in the motion to say $10 instead of no cost, yes.
So with the motion to approve, the lease will be approved with a $10 cost for the purposes of, you know, making the contract legal.
So moved.
Commissioner Grayson makes the motion to approve the staging area agreement, and do we have a second?
Second.
Seconded by Commissioner Stinson.
This would be at a cost of $10 for the county, and then I'll sign the staging agreement and we'll get that out to them as soon as possible.
All in favor, please say aye.
Aye.
Any opposed?
Motion carries.
Okay, item 3.4 is I'm going to invite the sheriff and I believe Ryan is up as well related
to ARPA.
This is discussion, consideration and action to renew the Office 365 using the ARPA funds
in the amount of $120,376 for the subscription agreement beginning December 1st of 23 and
ending November 30th of 24.
Ryan?
The Office 365 was funded out of ARPA last year.
The court had approved them to do so.
Those funds have been exhausted, and so now the Sheriff's Department is asking to
re-up for another year.
The funding is available within the ARPA funds.
And the attorneys have agreed that we can continue this process with the specific
to Office 365?
Outside counsel.
This will be the last year for that?
I mean, are you talking about ARPA funding or are we going to use Office 365?
That's a Ryan question if there's any funds left over and the request is made I mean it
Commissioners I think we're rounding up we're getting around 2.5 to 3 million remaining and
I think that our process with the remaining ARPA funds will be prioritized based on necessity
and importance for example if we have a bridge go out that we're not aware of in the spring
You know, we know that some ARPA funds are available, but they're very specific to drainage
and flood and bridge repair.
I think that we're going to need to keep a small reserve there for unanticipated funds.
This is not unanticipated, but I believe that using ARPA funds means that Sheriff
is going to have an extra $120,000 in his general line because we probably didn't budget
for that in those general lines.
so we're utilizing ARPA here.
And he won't be coming to us to ask for this much money
from the general, specifically, related.
That's not in my budget.
Evidently, over a year ago, the whole county
went to Office 365, and that was all paid for by the county.
Ms. Brown got a bill the other day for $120,000.
She says, I don't have this money.
We talked to Stacy in audit.
And Stacy said, yeah, we've used ARPA funds
for that in the past.
Just go back to court and tell them what the deal is.
and obviously that's why we're here.
We have no interest in going away from Office 365
at this point.
I was that extra because of what she wanted, the extra ones.
Does that end up what IT wanted,
that additional license for was for him?
Yes, that's right.
Well, there were two elements of this.
There was one for the conversion over.
Correct.
So we went back and got another.
And then there was an annual subscription
that we also paid.
And that's for current year subscription.
Well, it's not for licenses, it's for...
It is now.
It wasn't then.
It is.
This time it is the second year of 283 licenses specifically for the Sheriff's Department.
But at some point the county will have to cover it going forward.
You know that.
That's right.
Yes, sir.
I hope so.
I just didn't want this to be a trough that we thought was still available for
a year to come.
We knew that when we did.
Right.
I remember the conversation, because it was a disco put down to get it started.
I remember that.
And then we didn't have enough licenses.
When it came back for some more, so, okay, we'll take care of it when it comes time again.
Just wanted you to know that.
Well, and there may be a point at some period of time where we're going to be required
to put this in our general budget line items instead of doing it through ARPA.
That will happen.
And we will...
That's why I was bringing it up.
We will budget...
We've got a timeline on it about another 12 months.
Yeah, we'll budget appropriately at that time and really we'll need a breakdown of
all departments, not just the sheriff.
This is easy because they have their own IT section and that's what this pertains to
here.
Any more questions?
Okay.
Do we have a motion to approve item 3.4?
Commissioner Grayson makes the motion.
Do we have a second?
Seconded.
Seconded by Commissioner Stinson.
All in favor of approving item 3.4, please say aye.
Motion carries.
and this is sort of similar to the ARPA request,
but it's different, but it is qualified.
Item 3.5, discussion, consideration, and approval
to use the ARPA funds in an amount
not to exceed 820,000 as a partial contribution
for the replacement of 10 temp trawl air handling units
at the Ellis County Jail.
Now, on the next item, item 3.6,
This is discussion and consideration and approval to replace the 10 temp crawl air handling units.
That is $1.1 million, $57,513, but 3.5 and 3.6 are related due to what we budgeted for in 3.5.
We budgeted around, what, $460,000 last year, Terry?
Around 460, Ryan?
Well, for jail repairs, it comes from two areas, one from the jail budget, the other
from permanent improvement.
So there were two projects that were on the radar at the time, and that was for elevators
and for the air handlers.
The two quoted amounts that I used to budget that covered those two things.
It did not include the normal wear and tear repairs that are done during the jail,
which is approximately about 100 and 185,000 per year.
So that being said, there was also a misunderstanding
on my part that we budgeted for the lowest bid
for the air handler project.
And I did not know that those bids that were out there
were not necessarily qualifying bids.
It only bided part of the project,
not the full installation of the air handlers.
So there was a shortfall of approximately $820,000 not budgeted for the jail repairs.
So I am proposing that the 820 come from ARPA.
I have gone to outside council. They did confirm that this does, in fact, check all the boxes for an allowed ARPA expense.
And let's see, we have approximately 3.2 million prior to this approval, so that would then take us down to about 2.656 million of remaining ARPA funds.
If this is approved.
I want to bring it back. I don't know that Ryan and I really made a mistake on this.
I know that when Terry submitted his budget packet, it was included at the
460,000 amount. We plugged in the budget item for that jail repairs. And then when we actually executed on what we need to buy,
it's actually the 1.1. So we're correcting sort of what Terry had requested.
Right.
All the quotes were included in our budget.
Correct.
Right.
The other thing I want everybody to know is that these particular units were scheduled
in the life 2017.
That's correct.
So we've been living on barred time for the last six years basically until this.
So it's definitely in the meat.
And McKinstree did recommend replacement of these
back four years ago.
We chose as a court not to spend that $500,000, $600,000.
But now we're having to do it because we're definitely
at five years beyond the end of life.
So we knew that it was end of life
and we knew we were gonna be at this day where we are.
Yeah.
And the best way to do that is to use our ARPA funds.
Oh, that's...
It makes a lot of sense.
Very fortunate for our citizens.
Yep.
So...
And I like to me somebody's really lucky
that they didn't get this bid.
Somebody's lucky they didn't get it.
And nobody even got it with my whole food permit.
I was going to say, yeah, you missed something.
400,000 was a pretty different stretch
of a different equipment.
Right.
Well, getting it on the building is one thing.
Getting it installed on the building is one thing.
I mean, I don't know if you could buy the equipment
for that.
There's going to be the same issue
with the chillers that are
watching you.
But there won't be anything left now.
This is all of them.
This will be all of them.
This will be the rest.
Take care of the rest, so that way we've done it all.
This is a 30 month parts and labor warranty.
Is that pretty standard, Commissioner?
30 months?
30 months.
I was thinking we could get more.
But that's probably a minimum.
Yeah.
You can buy more than the 30 months.
The other thing that Chief Ogden was just mentioning is and Commissioner Grayson has worked with
us through all this stuff, a lot of these jail repairs.
Again, this is not something we want to do in the dead of winter or in the middle of
the summer.
We want to do it in spring preferably, so we're not dealing with having the whole
jail shut down.
I mean, having no heat or no air, summertime and wintertime.
And one of y'all can bird dog the mobilization when we get there.
it may not take what they've got figured in there for that.
Somebody can put their eyes on that and say.
Right, I believe if we do the phasing correctly,
it should come in actually beneath the 1.15 million.
Yeah, especially if we can coordinate better.
Yeah, and y'all have always been willing to do that.
Well, Mike, I've got a couple concerns,
but they're not deal breakers.
The question would be, in this quote,
it says they come with Johnson controls.
Well, didn't we end up going with the proprietary system?
Assuming that whoever's got this number knows what we've got, right?
Do they not?
They'll have to come in with...
So it's not all of them who got changed down to the fire-o-matics, right, controllers?
Everything on the first section did.
Yeah.
That's the whole section.
Correct.
That's what we're talking about here.
Correct.
But that's why I'm saying they're going to have...
So who wants someone to communicate if those are coming with Johnson controls?
Because we're going to need it.
that we're going to need to integrate. To integrate, right? We're going to need that.
Who can answer that? Can he answer it? Who is he? Come on up. Come on up. Come and earn your
teeth.
Mr. Butler was my baseball coach with the Timberman. Oh boy. Look at that. We won't hold
So to answer the question, it's not Johnson Controls as far as the BMS, it's just a valve
that they make.
It's an actuated valve that's being utilized.
That will come under the, be able to be used under the same controls that we speak of.
Yes.
All that heartache on that.
Yes, sir.
Okay.
It's just a, like I said, it's just an action.
Johnson Controls is a big thing.
Raise your right hand and say that again.
It's just a valve.
No, that helped a lot.
It's perfect.
Because we had a lot of heartburn over that.
I'm aware.
Yes.
We did not enjoy that at all.
No, not fun.
Okay.
And am I right in saying it's a 30-year parts and labor warranty, I mean, a 30-month?
I don't know about 30 years, at least I have to look at it as far as the labor warranty.
The labor warranty is a full year, and then the parts and the equipment, 30-month sounds
about right.
I'll look and see if we can extend that.
I would be interested in extending if commissioners would agree with me.
We want all that we can get.
On a million dollars, I mean, if we could get five, 10 years, that'd be wonderful.
But obviously avenues to extend it because that may be standard for the manufacturer right to extend it
Like I was on the other with the school district
There's third-party warranty firms that will ensure right now and so we'd also like you to consider another year or so when you're in
Okay, see what that's worth to us. That's a big enough contract you squeeze another year to
Okay, I think it'd be good. It'd be good labor sides easy the equipment equipments harder labor. Yeah
We would like to hear back from you.
Okay, thank you for being here.
Thank you.
Okay, commissioners on item 3.
We need to authorize item 3.5 first.
That's the actual allocation for ARPA funding of 820,000.
Do we have a motion on that?
So moved.
Commissioner Grayson makes the motion on item 3.5.
Do we have a second?
Seconded by Commissioner Butler.
All in favor, please say aye.
Aye.
Motion carries.
Now, item 2 on this item is discussion and consideration
to approve the replacement of the 10 temp trawl air handling units
in the amount of $1,157,513, specifically for the rooftop
of the Elks County Jail.
So moved.
Commissioner Grayson makes the motion to approve that.
Do we have a second?
Second.
Seconded by Commissioner Stinson.
All in favor, please say aye.
Aye.
Any opposed?
Okay, motion carries.
Thank you, Sheriff.
Thank you.
That's what we needed on that.
Commissures, item 3.7.
we will hold until executive session, item 3.8.
We can go ahead with and approve.
That is discussion, consideration, and action
on an advanced funding agreement and resolution with tax
dot for the replacement of the National Bridge
inventory structure.
That would be the bridge on Lowell Road over Mill Creek
with no equivalent matching cost.
And Ted brought this to us.
I believe it's in Commissioner Stinson's precinct.
Is that right?
No, it is in Precinct 3 that's where the city of Italy is. It's in my precinct 2. I'm just gonna do now. Yes, sir
So
On 3.8 commissioner Ted had asked that the commissioner would actually bring it forward
Yes, because he was unable to be here. I've discussed this on the phone with perfect
So move commissioner Perry makes the motion to approve item 3.8 seconded by commissioner Grayson all in favor
Please say aye.
Aye.
Motion carries.
All right.
So we got that done.
Item 3.9, discussion, consideration, and action on the appointment of an employee to serve
as the Ellis County Director of Human Resources.
That is an executive agenda item.
Commissures, that concludes everything except for 3.7 and 3.9.
We'll come back to those after executive.
Let me read the exemption here.
The Ellis County Commissioner's Court reserves the right to adjourn into executive session
at any time during the course of this meeting to discuss any matters listed in this agenda
in order deemed appropriate as authorized by Texas Government Code Chapter 551 or to
seek the advice of its attorney and or attorneys representing Ellis County on any matter in
which the duty of the attorney to the Commissioner's Court under the Texas Disciplinary Rules
of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas clearly conflicts with the Texas
Texas, government code chapter 551.
Item 4.1 is pursuant to Texas government code 551.071, paragraph 1, consultation with
legal counsel regarding pending or contemplated litigation concerning TCEQ matters, specifically
pending Texas pollutant discharge elimination systems, permits and pending petitions for
the creation of municipal utility districts, 4.2, to deliberate on the appointment of
employment evaluation, and the duties of the Ellis County Human Resources Director candidates.
And that is under Chapter 551.074, and Item 4.3 is Texas Government Code Chapter 551.072
to deliberate the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property if the deliberation
in an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the position of the governmental
body.
In negotiation with the third party regarding the temporary lease to help with the construction
of the new justice of the peace precinct two.
We have accomplished that today already.
We've done that, so we will not necessarily need executive
on 4-3, on 4-4, pursuant to Texas government code 551.071
paragraph two, consultation with outside legal counsel
on a matter in which the duty of the attorney
to the governmental body under the Texas Rules
of Disciplinary Rules of Conduct,
the State Bar of Texas clearly conflicts with this chapter
regarding questions about the first Baptist purchase
contract.
Okay, commissioners. It is now 255. Do we have a motion to adjourn to executive?
So move.
Commissioner Perry. I'm sorry, Commissioner Butler makes the motion. Seconded by Commissioner Grayson.
All in favor, please say aye.
Aye.
Motion carries a static legal counsel. I'm going to ask, do we need a finding since there is a real estate piece on item 4-4?
I don't think we need one. Perfect. Sounds good.
Okay. We will reconvene after executive session. Thank you.
okay commissioners it is 435 we do have a quorum present we are ready to
reconvene after executive session do we have a motion to reconvene into regular
session moment mr. Perry makes a motion seconded by commissioner Grayson all in
favor please say aye we are back live in executive session I'm going to go back
to our regular agenda on item 3.7 discussion consideration and action to
amend the purchase and sale agreement for the old first
Baptist church property to complete the performance of the
contract commissioners I have the revision here handy you've
you've seen it and heard from our attorneys today. We need a
motion to approve the amendment motion to prove is stated
commissioner Grayson and commissioner Grayson makes the
motion to approve the amendment as written do we have a
second seconded by commissioner Stinson all in favor of
So approving item 3.7, please say aye.
Aye.
Motion carries.
Commissures on item 3.9, discussion, consideration,
and action on the appointment of an employee
to serve as the Ellis County Director of Human Resources.
I have my list here of considerations.
Commissures, will we have any discussion on that item?
My only consideration was that we go back out.
My only consideration.
Commissures, we had the list of about ten applicants in which we had about five to six
of those were qualified.
We sort of narrowed the search down to four of the ten, and any discussion on a particular
member or motion on a particular member for the appointment?
Just read the names of the final two that we talked to.
The names of the final two were Brent Durrow and Rolanda Parham.
And Commissioner Grayson, did you have a motion?
I would like for the court to have not made it a motion, but I'd like for discussion before I make a motion.
I'd like to know if there's any discussion for any interest in going back out.
Not to take away from what's being presented today.
They can obviously be added, not trying to wipe those away.
We'd just like to open it up again.
I'm not opposed to go back out.
But I mean if the court is strong on one particular,
I'm not going to beat that down.
There's support for it going back out.
I'd like to make a motion to go back out.
Okay.
Commissures, there's been a motion to go back out on the search for HR Director.
I know that we've done a good search so far for – Theresa, have we been open
for about 30 days on this position, or 45,
closer to 45 days?
that's what I thought commissioners we have a motion from Commissioner Grayson to
go back out for a search for the HR director for Ellis County I don't I don't
think that we are going to do any better than we have done and I think the
market the market is what the market is and I think we have more than one
satisfactory candidate
I would say that we have one or two satisfactory
accurate candidates. I do favor one over the other, but we have a motion to go
back out. I personally think that for the budget
budgeted salary that we have in Ellis County. We're probably not going to get a whole lot
more than what we've seen. I know that our HR director has done a very deep, a very deep
dive on the qualifications of all candidates that applied. And I would like to honestly
see us make a decision today, just because I think time is of the essence. The first
of the year is important to us, starting out 2024 correctly. I think it's good for
any organization to do that.
I do believe that we have, on any hire that we make
in Ellis County, we have a probationary period.
I'd like to give one of the candidates
a probationary period and then review that candidate
after the period is over to see their criteria,
their candidate, their support, their duties
and their performance.
Evaluate what they've done over the first 90 days
and determine at that point whether they see that as a fit and whether we see that as a
fit for the department.
That would be my discussion on it.
I think that would be helpful for HR and for all departments to go ahead and make a decision
today, honestly.
It's hard to lead an organization without having somebody in the back office supporting
us from a human resource standpoint, whether that be risk management, whether that be
filing of the correct tax documents and paperwork.
work. I know that December 31, everybody's going to get their W2s, and I mean there's
a process by which all this has got to happen. And that HR director works hand in hand with
our treasure as we proceed to end of the new year. This is not a budget year vote. This
is a January 1 starting out the new calendar year. We could come back, we could come
back in April, have a review and evaluate duties of whatever candidate we decide to
pick today. But I don't think that going back out we're going to see a lot of progress
We did have ten candidates in which we narrowed that scope to six qualified,
and then we interviewed four of the top six.
So we did a pretty substantial effort.
I know one night we left here at about 8 p.m. after interviews, about a month ago,
and today is the day.
So commissioners, any second on Commissioner Grayson's motion?
Okay.
There's a second.
All in favor of going back out to search.
There's a motion by Commissioner Grayson, a second by Commissioner Stinson, all in
favor of going back out to rehire or to reconsider additional candidates for the
Ellis County HR Director, please say aye. Any opposed? No. No. So motion carries, we
will go back out and search for a new for the future HR Director. It's a 3-2
vote and I would certainly encourage anybody today that did apply to
reapply when we go back out and see what the process is.
Commissures, that concludes our business today, and it is 442.
We have a motion to adjourn today's business.
Commissioner Grayson makes the motion.
Do we have a second?
Second.
Second by Commissioner Stinson.
All in favor of closing today's meeting, please say aye.
Meeting is adjourned.
Thank you.